Lest We Forget

Proceedings Magazine - June 2008 Vol. 134/6/1,264
By Lieutenant Commander Thomas J. Cutler, U.S. Navy (Retired)

Extraordinary American

In many ways, John J. "Jack" Schiff typified that once very large and now rapidly dwindling group of extraordinary Americans that Tom Brokaw so aptly characterized as "the greatest generation." Like somany of those brave souls in those troubled times when Nazis and Fascists and other monsters roamed the earth, Jack left a promising business in Cincinnati to don his nation's uniform in March 1942.

Because it was not in Jack Schiff's character to tell others of his achievements, we cannot know the full extent of his contributions to the war effort and can only piece together his service by relying on the available fragments. We know for certain that he served with honor as an officer in the U.S. Navy and that he was very proud of his service. We know that he attended the Navy Supply Corps School at Harvard University and then served as a paymaster in New Orleans before going to England, where he played a role in preparing the complex logistical aspects of the D-Day invasion. We know that he was present at the liberation of Paris, later served in occupied Germany, and left the Navy in January 1946. From what little we know, it appears that Jack Schiff served as so many do—significantly, but in the background. War is a fickle thing, and who gets to slay the dragon and who must sharpen the sword is largely a matter of chance.

Yet whatever the circumstances of his service, Jack never forgot his time in the Navy and often made it clear that he viewed it as an honor and a privilege. He once said, "One of the things you learn in the Navy, whether you like it or not, is to take orders. The more we observe discipline, the more we are successful." He took that advice to heart and earned a reputation as a man with an exceptional work ethic.

Like so many others of that great generation, Jack got on with his life after the war, helping to build a stronger nation by living the American dream. Great success in the insurance business allowed him to turn his good fortune toward philanthropic endeavors, and he often donated significant sums of money and much of his valuable time to worthwhile causes.

The Navy is among the many beneficiaries of Jack's generosity. He donated both time and money to a number of Navy organizations, making things happen that otherwise might not have been feasible. Among many other contributions, he provided vital support for the commissioning of the attack submarine USS Cincinnati (SSN-693), he served on the National Board of Directors of the Navy League and as a trustee of the USS Constitution Museum, and his support and counsel to the U.S. Naval Institute earned him an appointment as Honorary Commodore in 1991.

Although nothing more was expected of him, Jack Schiff demonstrated a kind of quiet heroism by continuing to give back to the nation and to the Navy in a multitude of ways long after hanging up his uniform for the last time. His selfless service and his generosity earned him the respect of all who knew him and caused the Secretary of the Navy to award him the Navy's Superior Public Service Award in 1997. Although he consistently avoided personal recognition for his philanthropic work, today there is a Jack Schiff Memorial Library at the St. Mary's Submarine Museum in Georgia, and the U.S. Naval Institute's board room prominently bears his name.

 

Lieutenant Commander Cutler is the author of several books, including A Sailor's History of the U.S. Navy and Brown Water, Black Berets .
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Thomas J. Cutler

Thomas J. Cutler is a retired lieutenant commander and former gunner's mate second class who served in patrol craft, cruisers, destroyers, and aircraft carriers. His varied assignments included an in-country Vietnam tour, small craft command, and nine years at the U.S. Naval Academy, where he served as Executive Assistant to the Chairman of the Seamanship & Navigation Department and Associate Chairman of the History Department. While at the Academy, he was awarded the William P. Clements Award for Excellence in Education (military teacher of the year).

He is the founder and former Director of the Walbrook Maritime Academy in Baltimore. Currently he is Fleet Professor of Strategy and Policy with the Naval War College and is the Director of Professional Publishing at the U.S. Naval Institute.

Winner of the Alfred Thayer Mahan Award for Naval Literature, the U.S. Naval Institute Press Author of the Year, and the U.S. Maritime Literature Award, his published works include NavCivGuide: A Handbook for Civilians in the U.S. Navy; A Sailor's History of the U.S. Navy [one of the books in the Chief of Naval Operations Reading Program]; The Battle of Leyte Gulf; Brown Water, Black Berets: Coastal & Riverine Warfare in Vietnam; and the 22nd, 23rd (Centennial), and 24th editions of The Bluejacket's Manual. His other works include revisions of Jack Sweetman's The Illustrated History of the U.S. Naval Academy and Dutton's Nautical Navigation. He and his wife, Deborah W. Cutler, are the co-editors of the Dictionary of Naval Terms and the Dictionary of Naval Abbreviations.

His books have been published in various forms, including paperback and audio, and have appeared as main and alternate selections of the History Book Club, Military Book Club, and Book of the Month Club. He has served as a panelist, commentator, and keynote speaker on military and writing topics at many events and for various organizations, including the Naval History and Heritage Command, Smithsonian Institution, the Navy Memorial, U.S. Naval Academy, MacArthur Memorial Foundation, Johns Hopkins University, U.S. Naval Institute, Armed Forces Electronics Communications and Electronics Association, Naval War College, Civitan, and many veterans' organizations. His television appearances include the History Channel's Biography series, A&E's Our Century, Fox News Channel's The O'Reilly Factor, and CBS's 48 Hours.

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