CDR Mort McCarthy Memorial Scholarship

2011-01-11T21:51:00.001-08:00

For those of you that don't know me, I am Captain Paul Stevens (USN, retired) and I am the president of the Naval Helicopter Association Scholarship Fund. This past December, the naval helicopter community lost a good friend, a strong leader and an intrepid aviator, CDR Mort McCarthy. Like many of you, I served with Mort in several HS squadrons and we roomed together on the USS Coral Sea's around the world deployment in the early

80's. Early in our career, we logged our first helicopter night rescue

together as we launch while doing a weekend maintenance turn from NAS Jax.

He also took me on my first night vision SH-60 flight, a truly humbling

experience! Needless-to-say, we shared a lot of good times and great

memories while flying the venerable SH-3 Seaking. Mort was the consummate

aviator and one of the best tacticians in our community. But most of all,

Mort was the consummate mentor for those he worked with. I am sure I'm not

the only one who can say it was Mort that steered (often dragging) me in the

right career direction. He was that good! Based on the comments of the

many people I spoke with at his memorial service, Mort's strong leadership

and determination to succeed followed him into civilian life after he

retired from active duty. While it is hard to picture Mort as a doting

parent/grandpa, he was that and more. There was great sadness among his

family and friends when he passed but great pride in his life's

accomplishments and family ties. He will be missed by all who knew him.

I have served with a number of superb officers during my 30 year career, all

deserving of special and lasting recognition but I don't want to see this

one become a passing memory in our community. After talking with his family

and a number of former squadron mates, we have taken initial steps to set up

a Memorial Scholarship in Mort's name that will be administered by the NHA

Scholarship Fund. This is only the second memorial scholarship in the Fund

and a great way to recognize Mort's many contributions to our community.

The upcoming Rotor Review magazine will have more on this but if you want to

know more about the workings of the Scholarship Fund you can find it at

http://www.nhascholarshipfund.org. Donations to establish this perpetual

scholarship can be sent to the

CDR Mort McCarthy Memorial Scholarship,

Account # 117333633, North Island Credit Union,

PO Box 85833 San Diego

Ca,

92186. The Fund is a 501 C (3) corporation so donations are tax deductable.

We need your help to get this done right.. ......Hold fast, Paul

Post your Questions or Concerns About Application Process, Programs, Scholarship...

2010-08-20T14:10:00.000-07:00

NHA Scholarship Fund Café

CDR Mort McCarthy Memorial Scholarship

Post your Questions or Concerns About Application Process, Programs, Scholarship...