The Blue Guidon The Newsletter of Andover and the Military
Fall 2022
The Making of Victory at Sea By David Chase, AATM Historian and Faculty Emeritus
Seventy years ago, Victory at Sea premiered on an NBC scriptwriter. NBC. The brainchild of Henry Salomon—Andover In March 1942, Salomon enlisted in the Navy, Class of 1935, Harvard ’39, historian, Navy briefly producing its Victory Hour radio show officer, television producer—the 26-episode series directed to high school students. Soon Salomon’s was broadcast from October 1952 to May 1953. former Harvard history professor, Samuel Eliot It has been rebroadcast hundreds of times since Morison (foremost American maritime histoby local stations, the History Channel, PBS— rian of the 20th-century), recruited Salomon to throughout the United States and beyond. A assist in preparation of the Navy’s official World milestone in television history, War II operational history. it remains perhaps the most Seaman 2nd Class Salomon memorable account of World became Ensign Solomon War II naval warfare—espethat September. Working cially for those who remember on Morison’s project, he the 1950s. A compilation observed battle in the Pacific documentary in format, drawn from the vast motion picture archives generated by the U.S. and U.K. navies, wartime film files of allied governments, and captured German, Japanese, and Italian footage, Above: Opening screen for it brought compelling, neverVictory at Sea before-seen images to the screen. Right: USS Pennsylvania Victory at Sea is more epic than moving into Lingayen Gulf, “straight” history. Homeric in scope January 1945 and approach, it marshals word, image, and music into tight-woven, operatic, emotionally charged narratives. It is a tribute to Allied forces, yet principally the U.S. Navy—to struggles seemingly endless, tragedies endured, victories hard-won. ORIGINS OF AN EPIC How did it come to be? Victory at Sea grew from a series of relationships and experiences that began at Andover in 1934, when Henry Salomon matriculated as a one-year senior. He befriended classmate Robert Sarnoff. At Harvard, they became roommates. Graduating in 1939, they headed to NBC, then the gold standard in radio. Bob Sarnoff’s father, David Sarnoff, was the president and CEO of RCA, which owned NBC. A pioneer in broadcasting, Russian immigrant Sarnoff senior was a legend. In 1939 Bob Sarnoff became a junior executive at NBC; Henry Salomon became
from carriers and cruisers; seven times he joined Marines in amphibious landings. Morison’s idea was that to write history both accurate and vivid one had to experience it, and that is what Morison and Salomon did. After hostilities ended in the summer of 1945, Salomon, now a lieutenant commander, interviewed Japanese officers about the war and collected background material, including film. He continued on page 2
The Cuthbertsons
Three Generations Heed the Call Blue Guidon Associate Editor George S.K. Rider ’51 reconnected last summer with Andover classmate Robert J. Cuthbertson (pictured at right), who retired at the rank of colonel after a distinguished 32-year career in the U.S. Army. Cuthbertson married Martha Jane Thompson ’53, his Abbot sweetheart, and the couple had three children. Their sons, Rand and Kent, would go on to graduate from Andover and, with the guidance of Headmaster John Kemper, graduate from West Point. Daughter June married into the military; she and her husband have three children who have served or are serving in the U.S. military. Here, Rider shares some of the details of the Cuthbertson family’s deep and ongoing commitment to military service. Robert Cuthbertson ’51 Bob went to the University of New Hampshire, where he became first captain of the ROTC detachment. He was commissioned Infantry and assigned to the 505th Parachute Infantry Regt, 82 (ABN), where
he served as a platoon leader and company executive officer. He loved airborne operations and transferred to the Quartermaster Corps to work exclusively in aerial delivery and heavy drop operations. On completing the Rigger School, he was assigned to the 521st Parachute Maintenance, Co, 101st (ABN) Div. His excellence in aerial service led him to command the 549th Aerial Supply Company, the premier aerial specialty company in the Far East. Bob then attended the U.S. Army Special Forces qualification course and was assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group in Vietnam. After his first tour in Vietnam, Bob was assigned as the U.S. Army’s airborne liaison to the Canadian Army. He is one of a very few who have parachuted above the Arctic Circle. Again assigned to Vietnam, Bob served as battalion commander of the 426th S&S Battalion, 101st (ABN) Division.
After completing his second tour in Vietnam, Bob served in several research and development positions followed by command of Natick Laboratories. He completed his career as inspector general for worldwide commissary services and retired as a full colonel. He and his second wife Penny live in Kilmarnock, Virginia. Rand ’72 was commissioned Engineers with assignment to George Washington University Medical School and spent 16
Victory at Sea continued from page 1
left the Navy in 1948, returncommercials. However, ing to NBC before the first Victory at Sea proved NBC book in Morison’s 15-volume inhouse critics wrong. history appeared. Morison was Ultimately, it was as much so appreciative of Salomon’s a financial success as it had efforts that he gave Salomon been a popular and critical television rights to the series. success from the first. Salomon was already scoping Salomon produced the out a naval warfare documen“NBC-TV Navy Project.” He tary utilizing Allied and enemy assembled a team of seafilm. He took his idea to Bob soned professionals to select Sarnoff, who had also been from and edit the thousands in the Navy in the Pacific of hours of archival film availand had returned to NBC in able, utilizing Navy personnel Henry Salomon ’35 1945. Sarnoff sold Salomon’s to assist in the search and proposal to his father, David, who agreed, selection process. Former RKO Pathé editor with the condition that the Navy sign a con- Isaac Kleinerman led the effort. Four million tract making the series a joint venture, yet feet of film were screened and duplicated reserving editorial control to NBC. It took for 26 half-hour programs. It took 16 Salomon a year to win Navy agreement. months. To score the series, Salomon chose Broadway’s leading composer, Richard NO SPONSORSHIP FOR “CASH SINK” Rogers, whose credits included Oklahoma!, David Sarnoff approved a $500,000 budget South Pacific, and The King & I. Rogers (generous for the day), despite objections declined. Salomon cajoled. Rogers acquifrom NBC executives who insisted Victory at esced, provided his work be confined to Sea would be a cash sink. In fact, no spon- writing themes (each only a few minutes sor backed the program; all 26 episodes long) and that his favorite arranger, Robert were broadcast in 1952 and 1953 without Russell Bennett, be engaged to craft full
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scores. Salomon agreed. Bennett signed on, producing nearly 13 hours of music based on Rogers’ tuneful sketches, recorded by the NBC Orchestra under Bennett’s direction. That memorable soundtrack was fundamental to the success of Victory at Sea. A BRILLIANT SYNERGY OF ELEMENTS Salomon created the storyline and managed the whole enterprise, granting much independence to his film editor and arranger to fashion the visual and aural elements of each episode based on his outline. He had engaged a writer of popular maritime yarns, C.S. Forester, to develop the third major element of the project: narration. But Forester was unproductive, so Forester was let go and Salomon himself became lead writer. The writing is powerful, more poetry than reportage. In the second episode, devoted to Pearl Harbor, following a seven-minute sequence portraying the attack without narration, the Rogers/Bennett score is heard over muted sound effects of planes, bombs, sirens, and gun fire. Following that long, wordless dramatic sequence, as scenes of sinking ships and casualties continue, the narrator,
years on active duty. He commanded the West Point Hospital and fully qualified for Special Forces. Rand’s son, Ryan, was commissioned in the Air Force and now practices law in Boston. Rand practices medicine in Charleston, South Carolina. Kent ’73 was commissioned Field Artillery. Assigned to the 82nd (ABN) Div., he met and married Louise, a newly commissioned Army nurse. Their two sons, Robert and Joseph, both graduated from
the Virginia Military Institute. Robert is Special Forces and commander of Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah; Joseph is now a farrier in Virginia. Kent and Louise raise Texas Longhorns on a farm in Virginia. June traveled to Germany in 1982 to help brother Kent and his wife with their dependent deployment in the event of war in Europe. June met and married Mike White (USMA 82), the assistant operations officer in Kent’s battalion. The couple has three children. Son Mick is a major stationed with the Ranger Battalion at Fort Lewis, Washington. Son Gavin (USMA 2011) was commissioned Engineers. Severely wounded in Afghanistan, he now works in the State Department. Daughter Morgan (USMA 2013) was commissioned Aviation and flies Blackhawk helicopters.
Pictured at left, Rand and Kent Cuthbertson at 1st BDE 24 ID in Desert Storm
Leonard Graves, intones: “Suffering. Agony. Death. One thousand one hundred and seventy-eight men wounded. Sixtyeight civilians dead. One hundred nine Marines…dead. Two hundred and eighteen soldiers…dead. Two thousand and eight sailors…dead.” Pause in narration. Then: “But while the hulks are still hot from the attack…The most extraordinary salvage job in history begins. Hidden in the havoc wrought by the new enemy are the seeds of a miracle. In the ruins, new life…. Dead ships sail again. A fleet has arisen from Pearl Harbor.” Salomon stated his approach: “We will not be reporting, nor will we unreel history by the yard…. If we do our work well, our drama will be so alive in its impact that its meanings and emotions will echo and re-echo in the viewer’s mind long after the sight and sound of our programs have disappeared.” THEN—AND NOW As a kid who viewed those programs in 1952 and ’53 with his father, a World War II Navy veteran of the Pacific war, I can attest to the lasting echo of Victory
at Sea. Some critics, especially in the wake of Vietnam, have faulted the series for being an often-elegiac tribute rather than objective history. But a tribute is what Salomon set out to produce. And the programs were accepted by the public and by early reviewers as such. What is the assessment of the premier documentary filmmaker of this era? “My goal,” states Ken Burns, “is to do something as good, as enduring, as remarkable as Victory at Sea. It is an epic poem, a grand opera of the American people. It shows what television can be: a campfire where we sit around and tell stories about what kind of people we are.” For those who haven’t watched Victory at Sea, you have the opportunity. With a few clicks, your search engine will take you to this American saga in its original form, as created by Andover alumnus and Navy veteran Henry Salomon.
Patrick Named New AATM Chair The AATM Executive Committee is pleased to announce that Capt. Rob Patrick ’88, U.S. Navy, retired (pictured below), has rejoined the committee as its new chair. Patrick conducted a turnover of duties with Jim Donnelly ’82 this past summer. A charter member of the Executive Committee when AATM was established, Patrick was the keynote at the Academy’s inaugural Veterans Day program in 2010. He recently completed a 28-year career as a naval officer and began a new role in the defense industry. Patrick graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy. Following flight school, he completed numerous operational and staff tours supporting military operations around the world. Patrick amassed more than 2,500 flight hours and 465 carrier arrestments in the S-3 Viking, P-3 Orion, and P-8 Poseidon. He was selected twice for command and led superbly as the commanding officer of Patrol Squadron 10 and the commodore of Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 10. Patrick is currently director of business development for the ATI defense team and is the lead for ground vehicles and airframes in the ATI defense market sector, developing strategies to grow ATI’s business across all branches of the U.S. military and on all major Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Army platforms. He holds an MBA from Johns Hopkins University, an MS in human resources and leadership from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a BS from the U.S. Naval Academy. He is also a certified defense financial manager. We look forward to Patrick’s steady hand at the helm of AATM. Welcome aboard!
This article draws on many sources; two deserve mention: Duncan S. Harvey, “The NBC-TV Navy Project,” 1970 master’s thesis, and Tony Perry, “War Story with Epic Staying Power,” LA Times, December 3, 1997.
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CURRENTLY SERVING IN THE ACTIVE AND RESERVE FORCES
Kristensen Scholars Inspired by Summer Session JESSIE WALLNER
Andover and the Military created and funds the Kristensen Scholarship to honor Lt. Cmdr. Erik S. Kristensen, USN, SEAL, PA ’91, who was killed in Afghanistan while leading Operation Red Wings in June 2005. Our 2022 scholars are among 16 students who have attended Summer Session at no cost since 2014. Michael is a 12th-grader from Virginia. A member of his high school wrestling team, he hopes to become a Navy SEAL like his stepfather, Ryan Rico, who served with Erik Kristensen. “Summer Session made me realize the importance of going out of your comfort zone,” says Michael. “Although the program is five weeks long, it still feels very short. I’ve learned that you must not waste any opportunity you get. I will apply this mindset to other areas in my life.” Chisaraokwu, an 8th-grader, lives on a military base in Italy. Her father is a U.S. Army major. The oldest of seven children, she is interested in coding and robotics. “I really liked making friends, experiencing different cultures, and going on fun trips,” she says. “The way subjects are taught here makes learning fun!” Sean, also an 8th-grader, is from North Carolina. His father, a 2006 PA graduate, is an infantry officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. Sean has lived in 29 states and seven countries. “Summer Session pushed me to do more than I could ever imagine myself doing,” he says. “My favorite parts were meeting new people from many different
Our 2022 Kristensen Scholars, Michael, Chisaraokwu, and Sean, are grateful for their enriching experiences at Summer Session.
places and learning so much from those people.” To help support the Kristensen Scholarship, please visit www.andover.edu/givenow (or call 978-749-4292). When prompted for a designation, select “Other” and put “Andover and the Military Endowment Fund” in the corresponding text box. Thank you!
From the Editor I wish to pay tribute to our outgoing AATM Executive Committee chair, retired Navy Capt. Jim Donnelly ’82. Jim and I first met in 1978 as juniors in the great Class of 1982. Thus began a lifelong relationship between two young men who shared common beliefs yet embodied different personalities. Isn’t that the stuff of marriages? His steady coolheadedness perfectly suited the future naval aviator. Nothing has changed, we are just older. I am typically willing to say aloud what Jim might be thinking but has the restraint not to vocalize. I mentioned ages back to former Executive Committee chair Charlie Dean ’79, P’10, that Jim ought to be folded into AATM in some capacity and he summarily was enlisted into a leadership role. Jim has always understood the non sibi spirit; to this day we share the belief that we must “be of service” when called. But even more significant than simply answering the call is to be willing to initiate service as a primary motivation to affect positive change. Fair Winds and Following Seas, Shipmate!
—Robert Tuller ’82, P’22, ’23
THE BLUE GUIDON
The Newsletter of Andover and the Military Vol. 11, No. 1 Published biannually by the Office of Academy Resources, Phillips Academy
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EDITOR
Robert Tuller ’82, P’22, ’23
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
George Rider ’51, P’86, GP’22
HISTORIAN
David Chase, Faculty Emeritus
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Rob Patrick ’88, Chair Kenny Weiner ’96, Vice Chair Justin Accomando ’99 Robert Tuller ’82, P’22, ’23
The “Currently Serving” list is based on data we receive from alumni. To add a name, please email Mary Corcoran at mcorcoran@andover.edu.
Daniel Ferris ’22 James Isenhower ’22 Harrison Milbert ’22 Jordan Rayford ’22 Yong Seong Cho ’21 Alexander Grande ’21 David Graves ’21 Matt Veneri ’21 William McGrath ’21 Zachary Peng ’21 Mackenzie Lucas ’20 Joseph Kacergis ’19 Jack O’Neil ’19 Neil Thorley ’19 Nicholas Isenhower ’18 Joseph Simourian ’18 Larson Tolo ’18 Annette Bell ’16 Benjamin Bolduc ’16 AnnaMaria Dear ’16 Anirudh Murali ’16 Eleanor Blum ’15 Nicholas Forti ’15 Eden Livingston ’15 Marcus Thompson ’15 Renee LaMarche ’14 Thomas Mullen ’14 Alexandra Bell Farr ’13 William O’Donnell ’13 Taylor Perkins ’12 Christopher Kent ’11 Lyra Silverwolf ’11 Adrian Lehnen ’10 Ansley White ’10 Hanson Causbie ’08 Jess Choi ’08 Lauren Johnson ’07 Anna Nettleship ’07 Helal Syed ’07 Brendan de Brun ’06 Connor Flynn ’06 Jenn Bales ’04 Livy Coe ’04 Steve Draheim ’04 Nick Ksiazek ’03 Priya Sridhar ’03 Cat Reppert ’02 Eric Chase ’01 Gil Barndollar ’00 Charles Fuller ’00 Jarreau Jones ’00 Matthew Sullivan ’00 Hunter Washburn ’00 Grancis Santana ’99 Phil Risseeuw ’98 Luis Gonzalez ’97 Michelle Kalas ’97 Ian Stephenson ’96 Rush Taylor ’96 Kenny Weiner ’96 Randy Allen ’95 Rebecca Calder ’94 Ryan Shann ’93 Craig Der Ananian ’91 Peter H.U. Lee ’90 Eric Hawn ’89