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B-Deck, South Wing

At the extreme end of the South Wing is reserved an area to honor the most accomplished alumni and Faculty of the Maritime College. Among those honored are U.S. Servicemen who gave their life in the service of their country at the Sailors Memorial, The Irish Brigade, Maritime College Presidents, and extraordinary heroes who faced daunting odds and emerged victorious.

 

 

Arnold Bocksel, a graduate of the NY Maritime College in 1936, is a decorated WW II veteran who endured over three years of barbaric treatment by the Japanese as a POW. His experiences are eloquently told in his book entitled Rice, Men and Barbed Wire. Mr. Bocksel was awarded several medals including the Bronze Star, the Prisoner of War Medal, and the Conspicuous Service Cross from New York State. He has also been acknowledged through several Presidential Citations, both from the United States and the Philippines.

 

Born February 21, 1964, CDR Kelly received a BS degree in Electrical Engineering in 1987 from the NY Maritime College, and went on to earn a MS in Aviation Systems from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. After logging over 2,500 flight hours in more than 31 different aircraft, Kelly was accepted to the space program and became the pilot to the shuttle "Discovery". Between December 19th and 27th in 1999, CDR Kelly took the NY Nautical School (NYNS) pennant into space with him on a mission to upgrade the Hubble Telescope. This is the same NYNS pennant that traveled to the North Pole with Ross Marvin (NYNS, 1902 graduate) on the 1909 Peary Expedition. On that same mission, CDR Kelly had 3 space walks, 120 earth orbits, and traveled a total of 3.2 million miles in 191 hours, 11 minutes.

 

Capt. Gabrys graduated from the NY Maritime College in 1964. He went through Ranger training, and became a member of the US Army Special Forces. He volunteered for two tours of duty in Vietnam. On the 29th of April, 1969, Gabrys was shot once in the chest while commanding his mobile strike force company. He bound his wound and continued to skillfully direct his men in the ensuing struggle with the North Vietnamese forces, during which he was killed by a second shot. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions that day. Nearby are ‘Gallant Ship’ Citations, given to vessels whose crews’ bravery made the difference between an accident and a tragedy. The plaques may be found on the seaward wall of the west wing, near the Irish Brigade exhibit. Maritime College past Presidents are also honored, in chronological order adjacent to the Hall of Honor.

 

Ross Marvin graduated from the NY Nautical School in 1902; School Ship USS St. Marys.