I mourn the passing of a great naval aviator, a professional analyst of all things naval, and a soulful and compelling writer of poetry and prose – Ray Mabus, SecNav.
cross-posted at Naval Institute blog
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A Personal Note from Secretary Ray MabusBy Whisper, on March 8th, 2012
March 8th, 2012 | Category: Unfiled
92 comments to A Personal Note from Secretary Ray Mabus |
Targets of Opportunityblog advertising is good for you Credo"Sign on, young man, and sail with me. The stature of our homeland is no more than the measure of ourselves. Our job is to keep her free. Our will is to keep the torch of freedom burning for all. To this solemn purpose we call on the young, the brave, the strong, and the free. Heed my call, Come to the sea. Come Sail with me." -- John Paul Jones "Pardon him, Theodotus; he is a barbarian, and thinks that the customs of his tribe and island are the laws of nature" --George Bernard Shaw, "Caesar and Cleopatra" "And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music."--Friedrich Nietzsche "A kind Providence has placed in our breasts a hatred of the unjust and cruel, in order that we may preserve ourselves from cruelty and injustice. They who bear cruelty, are accomplices in it. The pretended gentleness which excludes that charitable rancour, produces an indifference which is half an approbation. They never will love where they ought to love, who do not hate where they ought to hate."--Edmund Burke “You say that it is your custom to burn widows. Very well. We also have a custom: when men burn a woman alive, we tie a rope around their necks and we hang them. Build your funeral pyre; beside it, my carpenters will build a gallows. You may follow your custom. And then we will follow ours.”--General Sir Charles Napier "Μολὼν λαβέ" -- Leonidas "Blogito Ergo Sum" -- Neptunus Lex Amazon AssociateFor the Effort!Winnar! Subscribe CategoriesPagesTagsacademy
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Very nice. Thank you for posting this Whisper.
May i suggest to the good Secretary that he change the name of LPD-26 to be USS Carroll LeFon?
Hear, here.
+100
You’ve got my vote!
v/r
Completely agree.
RIGHT ON !
Best. Idea. Ever.
Yes. This.
I doubt it, but if there’s anything civilians can do to make this happen, let us know.
While I do not think LPD-26 should go forth with the name she is getting, I don’t think USS Carroll LeFon would be appropriate either, and me thinks Lex would agree and prefer something like USS Fallujah.
Mayhap he prefer something more along the lines of Capt. Carroll “LEX” LeFon Ready Room or Training Room at the (prestigious) Navy Fighter Weapons School a/k/a TOPGUN (one word, all CAPS).
Yes. Lex was about the people…
Agreed…post a plaque in the ward room or other appropriate location ( O Club ?) in his honor.
I feel that a postumous award for service such as the Freedom Medal, given to his cherished wife, The Hobbit would be much more appropriate.
He died in service to his country, albeit as a contractor. The Medal of Freedom is given to people deemed to have made particularly significant contributions to U.S. security, peace generally, or in cultural or other significant areas
This is from the news story of awardees from last year.
Investor Warren Buffett was the one business leader in the group. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma, poet Maya Angelou, and painter, sculptor and printmaker Jasper Johns represented culture and the arts.
A posthumous award went to Dr. Tom Little, an optometrist killed by the Taliban last August while doing humanitarian work in Afghanistan.
Obama, accompanied at the ceremony by his wife Michelle, called the recipients “some of the most extraordinary people in America and around the world,” saying they “reveal the best of who we are and of who we aspire to be.”
I nominate Captain Carroll LeFon, USN (R) to be awarded the The Medal of Freedom as he was deemed to have made particularly significant contributions to U.S. security and peace.
What Say you ??
Concur!
SK1/
I’m all for it, but it’s a long shot. Hate to be the skunk at the picnic here, but imo this request will fall on deaf ears for the same reasons we have discussed here previously when observing/lamenting the fact that recent MOH awardees have been only those who saved lives, it has not been given to ANY whose heroic actions killed numerous of the enemy while on the attack in an aggressive manner. Lexs’ entire Navy career was at the sharp end of the spear and he died while training fighter pilots how better to kill the enemy. Look at the list of people you noted. They are all safely PC. Lex was a Christian, a conservative/libertarian and decidedlynot PC. I would simply note who presently occupies the White House. Good luck with all that. I hope I am wrong in the event and will certainly add my voice/name to any formal request, but don’t hold your breath with this crowd now in power..
Completely agree, Kris. His writing gave us insight into his time, his life. We were there with him and the people he wrote about.
Concur completely.
Nope. A DDG would be in proper keeping with Naval custom. And quite appropriate. I believe that twenty years from now, Lex will be remembered. Not so much for his active duty service, honorable as that was, but as a man who taught and inspired a generation of younger officers…and not a few civilians.
Classy gesture by the head of the DoN.
Thanks, Whisper.
Any other Lexian’s in the San Antonio Area? If so I will Host a meet up at Papa’s Bar and Grill 9200 Broadway in San Antonio To hoist a few pints of Guinness. (for strength)
I’m about 2 hours away from San Antonio but sans transportation. If there are any in the Victoria Texas area, let me know. I’ll hoist some Guinness (For strength)
…I’m not a fan of SecNav, but this was an honorable gesture on his part. Credit where credit is due.
Mike
What Mike said.
Does anyone know if there is talk of a fund being organized, even for his favorite charity – whatever. I have no personal relationship to anyone in the family or here, so I just have on idea and thought it worth a mention.
I could always hit the tip jar, but it would be nice to toss some in where he would want it to go.
Lex was the leader of the Navy Team for Project Valour-IT. http://soldiersangels.org/project-valour-it.html
Lex was the reason I blogged for the Navy during that week. He kind of raised the bar on the standards. It took a lot of thinking to attempt to keep up.
I believe Whisper said something on the other post about a Tailhook Scholarship Fund; I think he’s already working with the family about it. He said something will be up in the next few days.
A nice recognition by the Secratary…
As I mentioned elsewhere, I join the mob when appropriate in challenging some of Secretary Mabus’s actions. It is only fair that I also tip the chapeau when he does something right. This was the right thing to say and acknowledge. Concur on the suggestion that NFWS find somewhere in their spaces to memorialize one of their own.
I second and fully associate myself with your comment, Comjam.
A classy gesture by SecNav – agreed. Sent Galrahn an email suggesting that the milbloggers post a “Lex” icon somewheres on their site to perpetuate Lex’s legacy of passion for the prose, his poetry, and his continuing praise for the everyman that makes our military great.
An Army wife concurs.
His memory rates all these wonderful comments.
A great group doing homage to a real Sailor and Poet.
Kid – there’s some talk of our doing something in his memory, but I don’t think we’ve settled on anything. I’m sure there’ll be a post when the decision is made.
Thanks for the reply. I know it’s not this week’s subject……Just thought I’d ask. I’ll keep a lookout and not expect anything all that soon. Thanks again. Peace and comfort.
Thank you Mr. Secretary for the post.
And thank you Whisper for putting this up.
THE SITE IS DOWN – NO COMMENTS AFTER 10:08 am TODAY
Suspect that it is a problem on your end. Let me know if it persists.
whisper – can u fix?
VADM Daly, CEO USNI
On behalf of the entire membership of the U.S. Naval Institute, our hearts and prayers go out to the LeFon family.
Carroll LeFon, Neptunus Lex, was a respected naval aviator who achieved warrior poet status for his excellent writing and writing style. He truly embodied the attributes of, “read, think, speak and write,” …central to our U.S. Naval Institute mission. He was a valued member of the Naval Institute, joining forces with us in 1986.
At the appropriate time we will discuss publishing the RHYTHMS manuscript – as several have suggested – with Lex’s family.
Again, we extend our sincere condolences from all of us at USNI. He will be missed.
VADM Peter H. Daly, USN (Ret.)
CEO, U.S. Naval Institute
Capt. Lefon’s book may not make the New York Times best seller listings, but I would most certainly have a copy in my library.
Missing a man I’ve never met in person, but have enjoyed his Mil-Blog, with insights of Navy operations…..
If USNI publishes it, and if proceeds can go to his family, I know what everyone on my Christmas list will be getting this year.
What Sarge just said.
Yeah, and Lex probably never figured he’d have a post go over 1K comments, almost entirely about him. Never know, my suggestion over there was to get all his stuff and have a few volumes. I thought later, he’s like Ben Franklin, with some of his seemingly idle musing…lots and lots of wisdom….just scour the categories list and see if you don’t agree, when you scan the content around here…so, yes, I think it could go a ways out there…I almost got that signed copy from the VALOur-IT auction…when it passed $500, I couldn’t justify it then…but one lucky person (I think it was $600 at the end) has a priceless keepsake of American lore.
xFormed: while I was not the winning bidder at the VALOUR-IT auction, I too have a signed copy of the Rhythms manuscript. I donated to something to do with Kat (IIRC) and then offered to double it if Lex would sign it. I had it professionally printed and spiral-bound (he sent me the PDF) and mailed it to him. It was just like him – I asked, that’s all. Fully expected him to say no. Truly one of the most generous people with his spirit and energy.
That manuscript is one of my most prized possessions – has been for years now. It now ranks with family heirlooms as something I will pass on to someone someday. I don’t have children so…I’ll find someone. I may just ask to be buried with it.
+1 … “Warrior poet”…
Thank you Mr. Secretary. Very kind words indeed.
ADM Stavridis (EUCOM) posted a comment on his FB page.
Can you give a link to this comment? Can’t find his page….. or email me the link….
Or even copy the post at Whipers’s post?
Thanks
Thank you Mr. Secretary.
How’s about a Guinness ration (for strength) be issued to the fleet? I think he’d enjoy the humor in that.
Well we would have to breathalize everybody afterwards.
Lt B: Ever the trouble-maker, I see..
Not necessary, just issue Kaliber
RAS
I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Step up the the Breathalyzer, son….I think you had so much you can’t recall….
Thank you, Mr. Secretary. I’m glad to see Lex getting recognition at the highest levels.
And thank you Whisper, for these two threads to allow us to express our love and grief at his passing.
He will be missed.
[...] the better blogs around and certainly an inspiration for the rest of the military blog community. A Personal Note from Secretary Ray Mabus By Whisper, on March 8th, 2012 I mourn the passing of a great naval aviator, a professional [...]
Thanks, Whisper, for posting that up. I like to be there for my friends in times of great sadness as well as celebration, but I can’t. My posts of support and condolence seem paltry from so far away across The Pond.
It was good of the SecNav to write in such a manner.
Whatever memorial is agreed upon, I would be glad for him and his family. For my part, I can do nothing beyond voicing my love and admiration for the man and sharing my deep sorrow with his erstwhile happy, angry, hilarious, curmudgeonly, knowledgable, skilled, patriotic, generous, witty, sardonic, mournful, charming, stoic, eclectic band of blogpals. I’m just grateful that, for the last couple of years, I was one of them.
Whatever happens, I hope that his community will continue to recall their own treasured memories of him and to share them, whenever they can, because surely it’s these things that help to keep alive the distinctive essence of an individual and, in so doing, will etch our much loved Captain’s spirit upon our hearts & minds, so that he continues to remain with us.
I can’t be in Shakespeare’s, Sandy Eggo this Friday at 5pm, but I can be, someday, somewhere, anywhere, to join some of my friends and raise a glass of Guinness (and maybe a wee shot) to his memory.
Thanks for posting this Whisper. I commented on the Naval Institute site.
Another blogger turned me onto Lex years ago. Her latest post, a tribute to Lex, is one of the most touching things I’ve read about this disaster and shows how Lex was beloved by NON-military folks too: http://boudicca.mu.nu/
Very sad news. I served with him in VFA-94 back in the late 90′s. Great skipper if not the best. Great human being and family man. This is a great loss to all who knew him. Rest in Peace skipper.
The USS Carroll LeFon sounds good to me.
I served with Lex as well as worked with him in the Civilian Sector, he was my supervisor at SOLUTE Consulting here in San Diego, the last three years before he went to ATAC to follow his dreams and fly some more. He was also a member of Ye Olde Salts, a loosely formed group of Retired O-6′s here in San Diego….about 25 of us joined last night to raise a glass in honor of Lex. I shared with the group what Lex told me at our prior Join up–”Picture this, I’m a 52 year old guy flying 35 year old jets against 24 year olds in Super Hornets, how cool is that?”…. He died doing what he truly loved, and as Jack Ensch added last night…. “went out with his boots on”. Amen Saltus Neptunus Lex. With Utmost and Deepest Respect, Dennis Schulz, Capt USN Ret, Saltus Emeritus
Dennis,
You can pass to the rest of the Old Salts, San Diego Wake for Lex tonight, 5:00PM, Shakespeare’s Pub. Someone else can give you the location. In fact, there will be simultaneous gathers across the country and the world tonight at 0100Z. How cool is that?
Comjam,
I think his family will join the SandyEggo wake. God Bless them.
Pictures would be nice for those unable to attend. TIA
To All of Lex’s friends and devoted readers… Downs and I will be raising a glass of Jameson’s to him and his wonderful family tonight. We don’t go out at night much any more, but I don’t think he’d mind, knowing that there’s great, lasting affection and respect behind our tribute.
Where do we find such men? Well, there is one living at the family home who bids fair to be of the same sturdy, courageous material as his much loved and respected father.
Marianne
Dang,
I was an infrequent visitor. But I still miss the “Navy talk” from NL.
I went through flight training with Lex in Meridian, MS in the early 80s, then made two cruises aboard Connie with him flying Hornets in the late 80s. Lex and Mary were the “Beautiful People” of Naval Aviation. Whether racing around in the little red Porsche Cabriolet, or just hanging out at the O’Club, Lex was clearly on track to be the warrior king.
As officers, we all receive and deliver lessons in leadership. Often, the takeaway is “I never want to be like that @$$.” Sometimes it is, “I would follow that guy to hell and back.”
The dividend of Lex will come in the years ahead when his JOs are in senior leadership positions. Shaped by his tutelage, they will make the Navy a better place. The power of his influence was always positive, the warrior to emulate, principle over politics.
Rest in peace my friend, and save me a spot at the fighter bar.
Aloha,
Wacko
Would someone who is attending the gathering at Shakespeare’s in SD be kind enough to contact me at roachman140 at homesc dot com ?
V/R
David Roach
TM3 USN (once upon a time)
Thanks for posting this message, Whisper. Lex knew what he was doing when he left you the keys.
Lex did something that we all hope for. He went out doing exactly what he loved and with his boots on.
I’m sad that for one reason or another I stopped reading his blog and forgot about it a few years ago. Real life intervened and my course changed drastically. I forgot how much of a joy it is to read his writing. He will be greatly missed.
God Speed Lex a great man, aviator and good friend …. G8 Targets
His expertise in naval aviation, prolific posts and superb command of the language were certainly enough for correct guesses that this humble O-6 was an USNA graduate, Top Gun grad and an exemplary U.S. military patriot. Lex’s energy was so bountiful, however, that I hardly guessed until he put it into actual words that he had ever retired from the Navy.
It’s been a hard few days. I just couldn’t come here and say anything. Opening up this blog on my browser is like walking into the empty room of a dear friend. All his stuff is there, but he won’t be coming back.
This one is just a real gut punch.
Having said that, what it HAS done is to encourage me to finish what I was writing, and to put down all the memories I still have of the days I served. Good, Bad, Joy & pain. Put them down somewhere so that they won’t be lost. Others should do the same. Perhaps someday, somewhere, some young man or woman will read them and understand a little about us, and maybe learn some lessons to help them in their own lives.
None of us are promised a tomorrow. We have only this day. This time. We must find a way to use it wisely so that it isn’t wasted.
God Bless ya, Lex, and may the Angels of His Mercy bring solace to your family and your many friends.
Very sorry to hear this. I was an advertiser. He was a pleasure to do business with. Condolences.
Worse than a gut punch Tim, in a very real sense, I feel the loss of a friend, mentor and guide.
I spoke to another F/A-18 driver just recently and asked him if he had ever heard of CAPT LeFon. His response? “Sure have. He’s one Hell of an aviator just wish I could have served with him”
We live in a world where things happen without our consent, our knowledge and our planning. This is one of those times and, yes, I’ll raise a glass of Guiness in his honor.
The world is a poorer place now.
Whisper,
A suggestion…
Since the family apparently desires for Lex’s blog to remain open, why not consider making it a blog that Lex’s many followers may contribute posts. Of course, all should be vetted by a central source, just as Lex would have done. Lex trusted you, and if you can spare the time, you should be that gatekeeper. If you cannot allocate the time, then determine whom you would entrust acting in the manner of yourself and Lex.
So many of those of Lex’s extended family have stories to tell, experiences to share, thoughts to express. As long as they hold to Lex’s civilized and considerate principals (BE LEX, damnit!) then they would be a wonderful memorial to his having lived and shared with all.
We can all chip in through the tip jar to become a self-supporting blog keeping the memory and principles of Lex alive and honor the man.
What say you and all?
I’m in. Happy to contribute in any way needed.
Count me in!
Whisper mentioned on the FB Memorial Page that the blog is paid for thru July. And I also read somewhere, I think in the formal announcement from the USNI, that the blog will be preserved and possibly published along with Rhythms. Just something to consider – USNI is already working with the family.
Someone may want to check and make sure the monthly contributions are continuing..Mine usually goes through on the 6th of each month..there may be enough already committed to pay for the blog..it’s an automatic monthly deduction through Paypal..
A life well-lived. Condolences to the LeFons, and best wishes to SNO. Make dad proud.
We’re in, Edward. I’ll write to Mrs. Lex and the children to tell them so.
Marianne
Kris…I’m loveable and available for adoption…I’m just sayin…
Advo – I want to adopt everyone (even if you aren’t so loveable). I wish we could all just rent a gigantic house someplace and hang out, together, in person – swap stories and memories. Perhaps when Rhythms is published…that long talked about meet-up in the middle can take place, even if our beloved man isn’t there in person.
How do we keep finding such men as he…
Warrior, Patriot, Leader, Raconteur, Husband, Father. He is a shining example to each of us. As for his loved ones, he will pilot his little squadron from the heights…
…I’m not terribly sanguine about the future of this Blog without Lex around to ramrod this unruly herd…but its worth a try…count me in.Best, Frank C.
Have only known Lex through his blog yet consider him a friend, mentor and squadron mate. His loss is as bitter and poignant as any of those lost brothers in my 21 years of Marine Corps aviation.
To his Country, his family, his Navy, his friends and the thousands of followers of his blog, he has indeed “filled the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds worth of distance run”.
Thanks for all Lex and God speed. You are missed. Semper Fi! Phantom Phlyer retired, 1988.
Have only known Lex through his blog yet consider him a friend, mentor and squadron mate. His loss is as bitter and poignant as any of those lost brothers in my 21 years of Marine Corps aviation.
To his Country, his family, his Navy, his friends and the thousands of followers of his blog, he has indeed “filled the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds worth of distance run”.
Thanks for all Lex and God speed. You are missed. Semper Fi! Phantom Phlyer retired, 1988.