Naval War College Remembers 9/11 Victims
by Naval War College Public Affairs
Newport, R.I., Sept. 8, 2008 – The Naval War College held a ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 11, at the campus memorial to honor those lost at the Pentagon in the terrorist attacks seven years ago.
The guest speaker, retired Vice Adm. Phil Balisle, was the Director, Surface Warfare, in the Pentagon that day. His office was destroyed in the attack, and he and his staff were involved in the rescue efforts. Reflecting on September 11, 2001, Balisle said, "...in New York City, over the rolling hills of Pennsylvania, and in our nation's capital the terrorists sent a vividly clear, graphically frightening message to our nation and the world. Moreover, in doing so they changed the lives of free men everywhere, forever."
The ceremony honored the three Naval War College students and seven alumni who were killed that morning. They included a cross section of active-duty and reserve officers from the aviation, submarine, surface warfare and personnel communities. All were assigned to the Pentagon during the attack.
The three Washington D.C.-based students who were actively enrolled at the time of the attack were: Ms. Angela Houtz, 27, of LaPlata, Md.; Lt. Jonas Panik, U.S. Navy, 26, of Mingoville, Pa.; and Cmdr. Dan Shanower, U.S. Navy, 40, of Naperville, Ill. All three were serving in the Chief of Naval Operations Intelligence Department at the Pentagon. Cmdr. Shanower commanded the 28-person unit, and Ms. Houtz was the youngest civilian to ever be named as senior day analyst. Lt. Panik, a highly-respected briefer, had been with the unit over a year.
The seven alumni were: Capt. Gerald F. DeConto, U.S. Navy, 44, of Sandwich, Mass.; Lt. Cmdr Robert R. Elseth, U.S. Navy, 37, of Vestal, N.Y.; Capt. Lawrence D. Getzfred, U.S. Navy, 57, of Elgin, Neb.; Cmdr. Patrick J. Murphy, U.S. Navy, 38, of Flossmoor, Ill.; Capt. Jack Punches, U.S. Navy (ret), 51, of Clifton, Va.; Cmdr. Robert A. Schlegel, U.S. Navy, 38, of Gray, Maine; and Maj. Kip Taylor, U.S. Army, 38, of McLean, Va.
"Were they with us in person this day, they would thank us for honoring them but would emphatically insist it isn't necessary...after all, they were only doing their job," said Balisle. "We who stand or have stood the watch at their side understand all too well this sincere belief, and it makes our honoring them even more important." After Balisle's speech, Balisle and Deputy Commander/Chief of Staff Capt. Russell Knight, placed a wreath at the campus memorial, called Patriots Memorial, which is inscribed with each victim's name. The wreath was donated to the Naval War College Foundation by a local Newport florist, Water's Edge Flowers. The memorial, which consists of a piece of limestone removed from the damaged portion of the Pentagon, was dedicated in 2002 and was made possible through private donations to a memorial fund sponsored by the Naval War College Foundation.
The Naval Station Newport area chief petty officer selectees also contributed to the ceremony by stating each victim's name while ringing a bell in his or her memory.
Additionally, Balisle was joined by Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy Anita K. Blair and several members of the DeConto family, attending in honor of their brother, Capt. Gerald DeConto.
"It is my fervent hope that as we continue to remember those heroes who stood on on 9-11 with such dedication in service to our nation, we remember also the gravity of the threat we continue to face," said Balisle at the end of his remarks. "The truth remains unchanged. Freedom will never, never be free."
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