CAVERLY-MICHAEL

           Michael Kent Caverly, Captain, USN, SC (Ret.), 81 years old, died at his home on December 16, 2014 after more than twelve years of courageous struggle with Parkinsonism and associated Lewy Body Dementia. These conditions were judged to be the result of exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange during his Naval service in Vietnam in 1966-67.

            Mike was born on May 24, 1933, in DuBois, PA. When he was four years old he moved with his family to Shickshinny, PA, near Wilkes-Barre. He was a proud and enthusiastic citizen of Shickshinny, enriched by the unique small town experience of cultural diversity and competitive challenge. He matured into a person of integrity with strong leadership skills and a social ease enjoyed by all who knew him. His interests and talents were varied and deep, both artistic and academic with a special emphasis on archaeology, anthropology, and history. Finding something to do was never a problem for Mike. He was well read and loved to make things. His shop tools were well used. Mike was a career Naval Officer, retiring in 1983, followed by an additional eight year career in the private sector. In 1994 Mike and Ingrid moved to Gettysburg, PA. Mike liked the friendly diversity of Gettysburg and looked forward to contributing to the unique blend of town, college, and community found there. Before he became disabled by his Parkinsonism, he served on the local Boards of Directors for the Military Officers Association of America, and Habitat for Humanity. He spent many enjoyable hours volunteering for the Adams County Historical Society as an archival researcher, occasional tour guide, and general supporter. He had a life-long interest in military history, and was a competent student of the American Civil War, the Battle of Gettysburg and beyond.

            Mike began his Naval career as an NROTC scholarship student at Dartmouth College in 1950. In his junior year he transferred to Ohio State University (OSU) to follow a Naval Supply Corps Officer program. Being a great football fan of OSU, he never faltered in his enthusiasm for that alma mater, perhaps fueled by his marriage to a Michigan alumna. He received his Naval Commission there in 1954, retiring 28 years later as a Navy Captain. What he was asked to do, he did well, devising and implementing better methods and creative approaches for meeting complex needs, while inspiring others to work to their very best ability. During his service in Vietnam he was responsible for the movement of all materiel through the I Corps region by way of Da Nang Harbor and Da Nang Airport, still one of the most Agent Orange polluted sites in the world. He developed, and was recognized for implementing, innovative methods to meet the heavy demands of combat, as expressed by field commanders. This was an around-the-clock effort. The methods he developed were formally adopted as standard operating procedures by the Supply Corps. Later, he was the Senior Supply Corps Officer for Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 10 (the Seabees) at Khe Sahn, Vietnam, a strategic jungle location deep in-country, helping the battalion become recognized as the most productive and successful Seabee unit in the US Navy at the time. After his duty in Vietnam, Mike was assigned to Stanford University School of Business where he earned an MBA. Near the end of his career he served as Commanding Officer of the Naval Supply Center, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Mike was a true patriot, unselfishly doing what needed to be done for his country with a commitment to honor, duty, compassion to others, and a strong compass for doing what was right. He inspired many coming after him to rise to their best efforts. Mike’s work was rewarded by many commendations, including: the Legion of Merit with two Gold Stars (three awards); the Meritorious Service Medal; the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V and Gold star (two awards); the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon; the National Defense Service Medal; the Vietnam Service Medal (FMF plus three bronze stars); the Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation, with Gallantry Device and Civil Action Color (MCB 10 and NSA Da Nang); and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. Mike was noted by those who knew him best as a modest and gracious leader, giving quick and generous credit to others working toward their common goals. Despite Mike’s heavy workload and active interests, he was deeply interested in and supportive of his family. For his children he was thoughtful and encouraging as they progressed and expanded their interests and talents. He loved his grandchildren, was proud of them, and supported his entire family emotionally, inspiring us intellectually until the end of his life. He was a treasure to us all.

            Some highlights of his career: During a three year period beginning as a newly minted ensign at age 21, Mike was assigned to USS William Seiverling (DE-441) and USS Regulus (AF-57), both homeported in post-occupation Japan. Mike viewed this as an enriching cultural experience difficult to equal. He looked back on the experience with pleasure for the opportunity. He was very pleased with the compliment of being assigned to the bridge as his General Quarters station. This opportunity, and the confidence of his Captain to take the “Con,” a term used to indicate control of the ship while underway, was rare for a Supply Corps Officer. Among his fond memories were the special sounds and sighs of a phosphorous sea at night as the ship broke through the water. Sea duty was followed by tours of duty in San Diego at the Nuclear Weapons Training Center; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Norfolk, Virginia; his tours in Vietnam; Oxnard, California; Palo Alto, California; and three years as head of personnel training at the Supply Corps School in Athens, Georgia. In Athens, he directed the redesign and modernization of the entire curriculum, enabling new Supply Corps officers to effectively perform at a high level of competency in a shorter period of time. After a subsequent three years in the Office of Naval Personnel in Washington DC as a staff officer for the Chief of the Supply Corps, VADM Wallace Dowd, he served for two years as Executive Officer at the Naval Supply Center, San Diego, followed by a two-year tour as the Senior Supply Officer of the sea command, CTS 73, Subic Bay, the Republic of the Philippines. This assignment was marked by the intense diplomatic crises involving the fall of the Shah of Iran in 1978-79. Mike was responsible for organizing the logistical needs of the entire Indian Ocean and Western Pacific regions. Near the end of his career, Mike served as the Commanding Officer of the Naval Supply Center, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and finally as a Director at the Naval Audit Service in Falls Church, Virginia. After retirement, Mike worked for the defense contractor, TRW, acting as the American Naval Liaison for the Australian Navy as a defense logistics specialist.