Evening star., 1954-06-04
Middies Hear e
Anderson, Fling
Caps 70 Rafters
Weapons No Better
Than Those Manning
Them, Class Is Told
By a Stor Stoff Correspondent

Naval Academy's 852 graduates
were told today that weapons
progress "is being telescoped
from generations into years, but
they can never be any better
than the men who must use
them"
White caps scared to the Dahl
gren Hall rafters in traditional
furry after Deputy Secretary Of
Defense Robert B.. Anderson adj
dressed the 1854 graduates.
He touched on the vast and
rapid strides in warfare and
weapons and said: Weapons of
themselves add nothing to the
national security and weapons
are only as effective as those who
conceive and execute the plans
for their employment"
$50 Get Diplomas.
Diplomas were presented to all
854 midshipmen, and all but 13
were to be commissioned in
either the Navy. Marine Corps
or Air Force. OF those commits
stoned, 513 We're as enSigns for
line duty in the Navy, 221 as Air
Force second lieutenanCs, 63 as
Marine second lieutenants, ii in
the Navy's Supply Corps and 3
as ensigns in its Civil Engineer
Corps.
Those not getting commissions
included four who are citizens Of
either Ecuador. Peru or the Phil
ippineS. The rest were for med.
ical or other reasons.
The exercises opened with in
vocation by Capt. John D. Zim-
norman, Academy chaplain, and
was followed by Mr.. Anderson's
address.
Then came the presentation Of
diplomas by Secretary of the
Navy Charles S. Thomas and the
comforting of degrees by Admiral
Joy
The first man who mounted the
rOStrum was MiuSnIL- -.idiI N~uAe %
B. Parks, formerly of Washing
ton but now of San Francisco.
He was the No. student among
the graduating class and also
commander of the 23d Company,
this years color company. He
was commissioned in the Air
Force
He also received the diplomas
for the next 16 top-rated grad
yates, under a system whereby
80 members of the class were to
march to the rostrum and then
take back diplomas for others
IN their row or company. Among
the 80 was Midshipman Robert
M. Flaherty of Annapolis, who
was to pick up diplomas for the
18th Company.
ID. c. Graduate HonOred.
A Washington graduate, Kle-
ber S. Masterson, jr., of 3210 Rit-
tenhouse street NV, was among
112 of the graduates listed as
graduating with distinction. for
having attained averages of not
less than IS per cent. He was
the No. 3 man in the class and
was set for commissioning as Q
Navy ensign.
Those getting commissions
took their oaths of Office alter
presentation of the bachelor
of science degrees and the
singing by the graduating class
of the official academy song.
Navy Blue and Gold"
Gen. Lemuel C. Shepherd, jr..
commandant of the Marine
Corps; Admiral Robert B. Car
ney, chief Of Naval Operations.
and Gen. Thomas D. White, Air
Force vice chief of staff, admin
istered the oat''s for their re-
Spective branches.
That left on.y the rendering
of the National Anthem, and
then the traditional exchange
of cheers-"for those about to
leave u.s." by the second class
men and plebes, and for those
we leave behind" by the gradu-
ates. This was the moment for
the tossing of hats.
10000 Spectators.
The first inkling of a new year
at the academy came yesterday
afternoon during the final dress
parade and official changing Of
colors. When the regiments re-
turned their report on number
of men absent, the first an
swered "19" and the second, "55."
At every similar ceremony DUR
ing the past year. it spelled out
1854.
An estimated 10000 spectators
-one Of the largest crowds in
Academy history-witnessed the
colorful spectacle. in which q
22-year-old Takoma Park (Md.)
girl was the feature performer.
Miss Marina Clarissa Schultz Of
606 Philadelphia avenue was the
official color girl. by virtue Of
her being the flance of Midship-
man-now Second Lieutenant
Parks. They're getting married
this afternoon.
The 45-minute ceremony went
of without a hitch in bright
sunlight and with the Severn
River as a backdrop. Several
times the audience burst into
applause, particularly when the
winning 23d Company stepped
forward.
Among the top officials pres
ent were Vice Admiral Matthias
B. Gardner. deputy chief Of
Naval Operations. whose son.
Bennett Gardner. was among the
graduates. finishing No. 81 in the
class rankings. The Gardners
live at 2300 E street NV.
Rear Admiral Ruthen E. Libby,
commander of the 15-ship At
lantic Fleet task force, which
arrived here earlier this week,
also was present. The task force
will take some 1,700 midshipmen
of the new first and third classes
on a two-month training cruise