Over a 30 year Navy career one collects a number of meaningful momentos. I suspect that hundreds of Sailors have CNO, MCPON, and assorted other command coins.
Less than 20 Sailors have a "Sutton". I only know one Sailor who has more than one "Sutton". I was fortunate to get my own "Sutton" in 2003 when I completed my assignment as Director of Training at the Center for Naval Cryptology at Corry Station in Pensacola, Florida. Dick Sutton did this commemorative cartoon for me and it's a real treasure.
If you have a "Sutton", let me know.
I don't have a 'Sutton," but have a proof drawing of the famous EP-3E near Mt Fuji, and I cherish it because of its meaning to one whose entire Navy life took place "in the Group."
ReplyDeleteThere are two German military unit plaques in my home,commemorating the partner relationships we shared with people who once were our enemies - whose talent and skill in our 'business' were trumped only by minds very like their own -but, unlike the genius that blossomed in the light and liberty of democracy, the German genius was perverted by totalitarianism and monstrous science. To have served with naval and army descendants who followed our belief system after their fathers perished in shame and infamy, was enlightening in the extreme.
My "Sutton" equivalency is a single sentence on a group picture of the last job I had, at NSA -
"Captain, thanks for letting us do our jobs," it reads, and it bonds us forever.
I didn't do anything special; as a leader I simply did what seemed the rght thing to do: carry out ship's work - by experts.
Vr, Steve Myers
Captain Lambert,
ReplyDeleteIn all that most Navy folks are required to go through during a career, the mementos they received at the end of many events are the things they have to recall those events. Each of those mementos is a part of the life you lived and strived for, and each is important to enhance ones memory of Ships, Stations, accomplishments, events and Shipmates. I honor all these things in my own mind, and will do so as well to anyone present that will witness it, all those memories and mementos that made up an honorable Navy career.
I have no “Sutton”, but I would have been honored to receive one.
My Teutonic heritage provided our family, and our country, with Sailors that made a difference. And I have one uncle (Donald Inselman S1c) who was a USS Arizona survivor at Pearl Harbor.
Thank you for your input, Captain Meyers.
Very Respectfully,
Navyman834
Captain Myers,
ReplyDeleteForgive me for misspelling your name. I will accept the necessary lashes!
Very Respectfully,
Navyman834
Greetings, Captain Lambert. I am Jack Downey, retired CTRC(SW). I too am a proud recipient of original Dic Sutton artwork. I received my own 'Sutton' as a parting gift when I transferred from Corry in 2000. I was a DIRSUP instructor at Corry 1997-2000. That drawing has been hanging in my office here in Charleston since I took a job as a defense contractor in 2008. It is one of my most prized possessions. I was showing it to a fellow former instructor a few months ago. We mused on the idea of opening a Sutton Gallery in Pensacola.
ReplyDeleteNote: My 'Sutton' has a second illustration on the back of it, characterizing all of my fellow shipmates that worked in the upper deck of building 3748. That was a nice touch.
Cheers,
Jack Downey
My name is Steve Sardeson, and I was also blessed to have received a "Sutton" upon my transfer from NTTC Corry to the USS Nimitz. The work hangs in my house where all who enter can see.
ReplyDeleteGreetings, Captain Lambert. I am Roy Williams, Active CTRC(IDW/SWI. I too am a recient recipient of myh original Dic Sutton artwork. I recieved my own "Sutton" as a parting gift upon transfer from CID Unit Corry July 16 2012 where I was a Course Manager/Lead Instructor. From my last conversation with Dic he will be retiring at the end of the month (august) so the days of the great "Sutton" artwork are coming to a close. I am lucky to be a characture in more than one of his artworks that adorn the halls of Bldg 3748.
ReplyDeleteCheers
Roy
Greetings, Captain Lambert. I am Roy Williams, Active CTRC(IDW/SWI. I too am a recient recipient of myh original Dic Sutton artwork. I recieved my own "Sutton" as a parting gift upon transfer from CID Unit Corry July 16 2012 where I was a Course Manager/Lead Instructor. From my last conversation with Dic he will be retiring at the end of the month (august) so the days of the great "Sutton" artwork are coming to a close. I am lucky to be a characture in more than one of his artworks that adorn the halls of Bldg 3748.
ReplyDeleteCheers
Roy
Greetings, Captain Lambert. I too am a recient recipient of my original Dic Sutton artwork. I recieved my own "Sutton" as a parting gift upon transfer from CID Unit Corry July 2012 where I was a Course Manager/Lead Instructor. From my last conversation with Dic he will be retiring at the end of the month (august) so the days of the great "Sutton" artwork are coming to a close. I am lucky to be a characture in more than one of his artworks that adorn the halls of Bldg 3748.
ReplyDeleteCheers
Roy
I was very privileged to be paired with Chief Dick Sutton (USN, Ret.) as a Red Cross volunteer doing damage assessment during the Hurricane Michael response in October 2018. Wile I only had four days with Chief Sutton, I was very privileged to receive a "Sutton" from him today in the mail, which included a well-decorated envelope.
ReplyDeleteMatthew E. Hackman
Warwick, RI
matthewehackman@verizon.net