University of Washington Naval Reserve Training Corps

Wall of Fame

The mission of the University of Washington Naval ROTC’s Wall of Fame is to recognize graduates of the program who have had military and/or civilian careers characterized by a selfless commitment to the Navy and Marine Corps core values of honor, courage, and commitment.

Eligibility Criteria

  1. Must be a UW NROTC Graduate
  2. Has served honorably
  3. Has made a significant impact while serving in the military, as a civilian, and/or in the Husky Battalion

Other Factors that Enhance Eligibility

  1. Military and/or civilian awards
  2. Service time
  3. Continued support of the Husky Battalion
  4. Volunteer actions
  5. Actions that have improved the military and/or community
  6. Contribution in shaping significant military and/or civilian policies, doctrine, and/or standards for the better
  7. Notable selfless action
  8. High Office Government Officials who have served in their respected office honorably. (Ex. Secretary of Defense, Secretary of State, Governor, etc.)

Automatic Selection

  • Medal of Honor Recipients
  • Retired Four Star Flag Officers
  • Navy or Marine Corps recipients of University of Washington’s Distinguished Alumni Veteran Award

Selection Process

  • Nominations can be accepted by any member of the UW NROTC Staff and only on the standard form created for nominations. Nomination forms are available below.
  • The UW NROTC staff will review all candidates and vote for inductees, the Commanding Officer will have final decision authority.
  • All nominees not inducted into the Wall of Fame will be saved for future consideration. There is no limit to the number of times a candidate may be nominated and reviewed for induction.
  • There will be no more than four inductees each year.

Annual Induction Ceremony

An induction ceremony will be held and the inductees will be honored and given an opportunity to speak on their experiences. Family members of an inductee are invited to speak on behalf of those deceased. A perpetual wall plaque will be placed in Clark Hall on UW Campus. 

Nomination Form

Please review Eligibility Criteria and Selection Process prior to completing this form. All submissions will be sent to the UW NROTC staff for consideration.







    Please review Eligibility Criteria and Selection Process prior to completing this form. All submissions will be sent to the UW NROTC staff for consideration.

    Nominee Information


    YesNo

    Your Information

    Please feel free to attach additional documents: Ex. letters of recommendation, pictures, and other
    relevant information to the nominee’s achievements for selection consideration.

    Wall of Fame Inductees

    Induction Date Name UW Gradution Year  
    4 NOV 2016 CDR Laurance V. Friese 1965 Story
    4 NOV 2014 Rear Admiral Horton J. Smith 1945 Story
    4 NOV 2014 Mr. John M. Fluke, Sr. 1935 Story
    27 SEP 2013 Colonel Bruce F. Meyers 1945 Story
    27 SEP 2013 Brigadier General Robert E. Galer 1936 Story
    27 SEP 2013 Rear Admiral Robert W. Copeland 1935 Story
    27 SEP 2013 Lt. Col. Gregory “Pappy” Boyington 1934 Story

    Distinguished Alumni Veteran Award Recipients

    Established in 2012, the Distinguished Alumni Veteran Award (DAVA) is given to a living UW alumnus veteran who made a positive impact on the local, national or international community, the University of Washington or the veteran community. Nominations are open to the public.

    Induction Year Name UW Gradution Year  
    2014 Richard H. Layton, M.D. 1954 Story
    2013 Charles W. H. Matthaei 1942 Story
    2012 Herb Bridge 1947 Story

    Learn more about DAVA

    USS Samuel B. Roberts Battle Ensign

    USS Samuel Roberts Ensign Flag

    USS Samuel Roberts Ensign Flag

    On permanent loan from Naval History and Heritage Command, UW NROTC has the battle ensign from the USS Samuel B. Roberts, a WWII destroyer escort which was commanded by LCDR Robert W. Copeland during the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

    The caption is as follows:

    The flag you see was the battle ensign flying on USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413), lost in October 1944 during the Battle of Samar, climaxing the Battle of Leyte Gulf. During this battle, a collection of relatively light U.S. Warships prevented a much larger Japanese force from attacking the amphibious invasion fleet off the Philippine island of Leyte. Roberts was inadvertently left alone to fend off heavily armed Japanese battleships, cruisers, and destroyers. Steaming aggressively through a gauntlet of incoming shells, Samuel B. Roberts scored one torpedo hit and numerous gunfire hits as she slugged it out with larger enemy warships before finally being sunk. After the battle, Samuel B. Roberts received the nickname “the destroyer escort that fought like a battleship.” Roberts was commanded by LCDR Robert Copeland, a 1935 graduate of the UW NROTC unit. The flag was retrieved by Chief Torpedoman Rudy Skau from the sinking ship as she went down in the melee.

    Update Contact Information

    The UW NROTC will periodically send newsletters, updates, and event invites to people interested in keeping in touch with the battalion. If you are interested in staying involved with the community, please visit the University of Washington’s Alumni Services update your contact information there. The mailing list is not reserved to UW Graduates; friends, family, and donors may sign up as well.

    Update Contact Information

    Donations To Support Student Battalion & Scholarships

    Anyone may donate funding directly to support the Student Battalion and NROTC Scholarships by using the University of Washington “Make a gift” website:  https://www.washington.edu/giving/make-a-gift/  All donations received directly benefit the Student Battalion and the students.  All donations are documented and tax receipts are provided by UW.

    Once on the UW “Make a Gift” website enter one of the following Fund Titles in the “Search Funds” box to make a donation:

    FUND TITLE                                             PURPOSE

    Blue & Gold Foundation                        Supports Battalion, Compass & Chart Society, Birthday Ball and Orientation

    NROTC Contingency Fund                     Supports training opportunities for the students and provided by the faculty

    Bernard & Janice Webber Fund            Supports Student Battalion Competitions and student financial assistance 

    LtCol Pappy Boyington Scholarship     Scholarship for Marine Option Candidates recommended by Dept Faculty

    W. Scott Spirk Scholarship                     Scholarship for NROTC College of Engineering students 

    R. Kenneth Smith Scholarship               Scholarship for any NROTC students with 3.2 or greater GPA

    Richman Leadership Award                   Scholarship for any NROTC College Program student

    CAPT Richard McNees Scholarship       Scholarship for any NROTC student recommended by Dept Faculty