Our guest speaker for our 2014 reunion was a special war hero of the
Viet Nam War. Captain Edward F. "Ted" Bronson, USN Retired was born in
1932 in Havre de Grace, Maryland and grew up in Wilmington Delaware,
graduating from Salesianum High School in 1950. Captain Bronson
graduated from La Salle College in 1954 with a BS and from the
University of Chicago, earning a MA in 1958 and was a member of Delta
Upsilon fraternity. He later attended the Naval War College in 1972 and
National War College (1980). He served 29 years on active duty as a
combat Naval aviator. In 1976 he became the 25th Naval aviator to
achieve 1,000 carrier landings. He was awarded the Legion of Merit among
other Navy honors. Lieutenant Bronson's first of seven Viet Nam tours
were in 1963. Upon completion of his tour as Commanding Officer of VA-46
in 1976, and their squadron being one of four designated a
"Congressional Bicentennial Squadron", he reported to the Navy Office of
Legislative Affairs, where he served as liaison of aircraft and missile
programs before congress. After three years as Executive Assistant to
the Navy Director, Command and Control, in 1983 he was chosen to
implement the formation of the Naval Space Command
in Dahlgren, Virginia, for the Secretary of the Navy and Chief of Naval
Operations. After serving as its Deputy Commander, he concluded his
active service in 1985 in the Pentagon with the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Subsequent to his Naval service, he was director of Congressional
Relations for Miltope Corporation, in Long Island, New York for 10 years
and Scholarship Chairman, Washington AFCEA D. C. chapter, 1989-2011. He
received the AFCEA Educational Foundation "Distinguished Service to
Education Award” in 1992 and 2007 and the International Leadership Award
in 2011. From 2007-2012 he served as aviation representative to the
Navy's 'Cold War Gallery' being constructed at the Washington Navy Yard.
In November 2011 he was awarded the LaSalle University John McNally
Alumni Service award for his continuing commitment to public service in
the National Capital area and beyond. In May 2014 he was inducted into
Salesianum High School "Hall of Fame." From 2007 to 2013 he was Special
Events Coordinator and Advisor to Mission Capodanno [formerly
CatholicMil.org], a web based organization that serves U.S. Armed Forces
chaplains and personnel. He supports the Archdiocese of the Military
Services in their actions as petitioners for the Cause of Servant of
God, Father Vincent Capodanno, LT, CHC, USNR. Chaplain Lieutenant
Capodanno died in 1967 on the battlefield, 35 miles southwest of Da Nang
during USMC "Operation Swift." He was awarded the Medal of Honor. In
2007 Captain Bronson facilitated establishment of their annual September
memorial Mass for Father Capodanno in Washington D. C. In September
2011 in Gaeta, Italy he produced a memorial Mass that featured Raymond
Leo Cardinal Burke as celebrant, with Ambassador to Holy See Diaz and
Commander 6th Fleet Vice Admiral Harry Harris attending. He coordinated
another Mass at Santa Susanna church in Rome in May 2012, as well as a
June 2013 Mass in Da Nang, Vietnam Sacred Heart Cathedral by Bishop
Joseph Tri. In 2014 he directed the fundraising efforts to build a
Father Capodanno chapel in the Viet Nam village of Que Chau, next to the
battlefield where Chaplain Lieutenant Capodanno was killed. Ted is also a member of the Washington Navy Yard parish.
