USC NROTC Class of 1976

Final Call - Class of 1976

Farewell and bon voyage to our departed shipmates.
Mike John
  • Graduated with a BA in Journalism. He served on active duty for several years before transitioning to the Navy Reserve, eventually retiring as an O-6.
  • Mike passed away on October 24, 2023, at the age of 69.
Ed Perkins
Rich Simons
  •  Graduated from USC with a BS in Business Administration and later earned an Masters from University of San Diego.
  • Served as a Surface Warfare Officer in the U.S. Navy, retiring as an O-5.  His service included time aboard the USS Duluth (LPD-6) and assignments as a naval attaché.
  • After his naval service, Rich worked in the private sector, focusing on maritime logistics and defense contracting.
  • Passed away in August 2022 in the San Diego area.  Survived by his wife (Roxanne) and 2 children.
Tom Vonnegut
  • Killed in a training plane accident on 8 July 1982 when two T-44A aircraft collided over Cabaniss Field, a naval aviation training facility near Corpus Christi, Texas. Five other officers were killed in the accident as well.
  • Tom was serving as an instructor pilot aboard a Beechcraft T-44A turboprop belonging to VT-31 of the Naval Air Training Command in Corpus Christi, Texas. His aircraft and another T-44A collided during a training mission approximately 2 miles south of the Cabaniss Field auxiliary landing site. Both pilot instructors and 4 students were killed, with the planes coming down in a grain field. They were flying VFR at the time of the accident.