All posts by Tracy Connors

About Tracy Connors

Tracy D. Connors graduated from Jacksonville University (AA), University of Florida (BA), the University of Rhode Island (MA), and Capella University (Ph.D. with Distinction, human services management, 2013). Ph.D. (Honorary), Leadership Excellence, Jacksonville University, December, 2013. Designated a "Distinguished Dolphin" by Jacksonville University, Feb. 2, 2010.

Cold War Dark Operations: Soot, as a weapon? Revenge of the Snipes in the Cold War

When the Cuban Missile Crisis began to heat up in September 1962, the ROOSEVELT (CVA 42) had just left NS Mayport for its umpteenth Med deployment. The newly married JO’s (junior officers) would gather on the fan tail to watch the wake that pointed towards the brides they had left.  Misty eyes were the uniform … Continue reading Cold War Dark Operations: Soot, as a weapon? Revenge of the Snipes in the Cold War

72 Reports that changed and shaped our worlds

I was given the first one in mid-October of 1945. There would be six of them per year for the next 12 years – 72 in all by the time I graduated from high school in 1957. Each was a potential source of strong emotions ranging from simple anxiety up to, and sometimes including, dread. … Continue reading 72 Reports that changed and shaped our worlds

OOD Underway

After commissioning from OCS in Newport, followed by six months of Combat Information Center School at NAS Glynco (Brunswick, Ga), I reported to USS F.D. ROOSEVELT CVA 42, in Mayport, FL.  After qualifying as a CIC Watch Officer in August, 1962, I volunteered to stand bridge watches to train for qualification as an Officer of … Continue reading OOD Underway

The In-Port Watch on a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier in the Sixties

Author’s note: this “blog” was actually written in 1963 while I was the Asst. Navigator for the USS F. D. ROOSEVELT (CVA-42).  It is dedicated to friends who also served in ROOSEVELT and have stood this same watch, including: Bill Brinkley, Paul Dickson and Steve Wood. Shoes shined, lint off uniform, tie straight, buttons buttoned, … Continue reading The In-Port Watch on a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier in the Sixties

Hunting and Gathering on the North Shore

Long before PBS or Nova or the Nature Series, there were reports of bands of bipedal primates roaming the cottage-y territories of the otherwise peaceful inhabitants in North Jacksonville. The reports were true. More shocking was the fact that these orgies included mulberry mashes, persimmon plucking and even fig orgies in the Holiday’s back yard. … Continue reading Hunting and Gathering on the North Shore

Tribute to Congressman Charles E. Bennett, A Great American Patriot

After serving on the House Armed Services for decades and as Chairman of the Seapower and Strategic Materials Sub-Committee, in 1980 Charlie Bennett was the third senior member of the House of Representatives and the second in seniority on the Armed Services Committee. At lunch he asked me to serve as his Chief of Staff. It meant leaving an interesting, fulfilling position as VP of Taft Corporation in Washington, D.C. It was decision time.

Water, Water Everywhere: Just a “Typical” Gator Homecoming in the Sixties

Just A Typical Gator Homecoming? Water, Water (balloons) Everywhere!   I would have to call it a form of temporary insanity that gripped the 60 or so residents of Georgia Seagle Hall as we feverously prepared for Homecoming 1960.  The normally studious, well-behaved, Seagle do-gooders were preparing a racy display to cover the front of … Continue reading Water, Water Everywhere: Just a “Typical” Gator Homecoming in the Sixties

U.S. Navy and back to the future Star Power

Flash: the U.S. Navy plans return to teaching celestial navigation. In my view, this is one of the smarter moves the Navy is making to ensure its ability to safely navigate no matter what and no matter where. In the early 1960s, at OCS, we learned the basics of both piloting and celestial navigation in … Continue reading U.S. Navy and back to the future Star Power