United States Naval Academy (USNA) service selection-nuclear power (submarines)—No way, Jose! Another year in school and more and more training? Then ride around in a sewer pipe! Sure does not sound like fun to me. Plus, underwater for 30-60 days at a time steaming in circles—sign me up—NOT!
However, the USNA Class of 1975 had a great one, Vice Admiral James Calvert, our superintendent and submariner. Great leader of men and a true naval professional.
Admiral James Calvert was born on September 8, 1920, in Cleveland. He grew up as an only child. He attended Oberlin College for two years before receiving an appointment to the United States Naval Academy. He graduated on June 19, 1942, completing his coursework at the Naval Academy in three years under an accelerated wartime curriculum.
After graduation, Admiral Calvert was assigned to attend the Naval Submarine School at the Naval Submarine Base New London. Here, he was assigned a post on the Gato-class submarine USS Jack, where he served for three years. On Jack, Calvert was responsible for operating the Torpedo Data Computer, an electromechanical analog computer that was used for torpedo fire-control. The ships and subs on which he served sank over 100,000 tons of enemy ships and damaged an additional 18,000 tons. Admiral Calvert was awarded two Silver Stars and two Bronze Star Medals.
In 1945, he served as Executive Officer of USS Haddo. Here he served one war patrol. And he was on Haddo in Tokyo Bay during ceremonies for the Japanese surrender.
After the end of World War II, Calvert spent three years at the Submarine School as an instructor in the Torpedo Data Computer.
Admiral Calvert’s follow-on assignment was as executive officer on the USS Charr. Next, he was assigned as executive officer of the Tang-class submarine USS Harder when it was commissioned in 1952 and later became commanding officer of USS Trigger, another Tang-class boat.
After training by the Atomic Energy Commission, Calvert was assigned to USS Skate, the Navy’s third nuclear-powered submarine and the first to be designed for assembly line construction rather than as a one-off prototype.
Although Skate first surfaced at the pole on March 17, 1959, Skate first went under the North Pole on August 11, 1958. In 1958, Skate was able to surface in the Arctic, but was unable to surface at the pole itself due to the thickness of the ice. The ability to travel under and break through the ice was a major achievement during the Cold War as it allowed our Navy’s submarines to avoid detection under the ice while being able to launch their Polaris missiles from points far closer to the Soviet Union. The following year, after traveling 3,000 miles to the pole in 12 days, Skate became the first submarine to surface through the ice when it reached the North Pole on March 17, 1959. There they released the ashes of Australian polar explorer Sir George Hubert Wilkins who died in November 1958 and who had been the first to try to reach the pole by submarine. (Wilkins had flown over the pole but was never able to set foot there despite numerous attempts).
With the support of Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, Calvert rose to Vice Admiral.
He was named as Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy in 1968, where he introduced 20 different majors to midshipmen to replace a standardized curriculum of military courses that had previously been taken there.
Through Admiral Calvert’s leadership and guidance, the United States Naval Academy Class of 1975 reached the high-water mark with two 4-star admirals, two 3-star USMC generals, and 13 others in our class pinned on at least 1-star…….not bad. Where did all 811 graduates build our foundation of duty, honor and commitment? It all started at the Naval Academy plebe summer 1971 under Vice Admiral James Calvert. All 1331 who entered the Naval Academy that day in June 1971 were great men. Some left early, did not graduate, but all went on to be very successful in their own right. All honed their ethics, commitment, and honor for their chosen lifestyle under Vice Admiral Calvert. He shaped our futures at the Naval Academy and influenced us in ways that many of us realized later in life, forming the foundation of who we are today. He formed our futures and opened our minds to the future within the military or the business world. He was “the man!”
