The Lambda Iota Chapter of DU salutes Ernie Fenton ’68
Ernie Fenton
Class of 1968 Mechanical Engineering - Delta Upsilon President
Ernie and his wife Nancy are unable to attend this his 50th reunion year. Ernie is at his home which overlooks the Potomac River as it flows through Maryland and Virginia. He and Nancy are now in stage where they are making Ernie as comfortable as possible as he suffers from war wounds of many years ago. He remains emotionally strong as ever and the Ernie smile is always present. He is blessed to have Nancy and his son and three daughters with him as well.
Ernie graduated from Clarkson and despite excellent job offers in hand he decided to join the armed services as other family members had. Soon after Navy OCS he found himself as officer in charge of a Special Operations Unit of Navy SeaBees, in Vietnam and Cambodia. As you remember, the United States did not confirm that we were in Cambodia at that time, but be assured that Ernie was there. Much of what Ernie did in Southeast Asia remains classified. However, his service there was exemplary and recognized! In fact the CIA / NSA and Navy recommended that Ernie be awarded the Bronze Star with Valor at that time. It took many years for the Navy to work through these classified actions before presenting him with this distinguished award. Finally, on December 7, 2014 along with his entire family, close friends and Navy officers and Navy Seals the moving presentation was held along the water front of his Florida home. One of the most touching moments was when his son, now a Marine helicopter pilot, pinned the Bronze Star on his Dad’s chest.
Ernie was seriously wounded in Vietnam when a mortar exploded nearby and threw him many yards away. He suffered back injuries, which it turns out, were not fully diagnosed at that time as well as many exposures to Agent Orange. After back recovery his next assignment was Antarctica. Here he was in charge of the Palmerland Station which supported scientists. While there, his unit received a desperate emergency radio plea from a Soviet group in peril with little hope of survival. Ernie was determined that his unit could respond. A treacherous helicopter rescue was begun. The team made refueling stops at strategic locations he had established earlier. The grateful Soviets were indeed recovered and saved. Now one can find the “Fenton Glacier” in Antarctica as a reminder of this miraculous lifesaving rescue accomplished by Ernie.
After leaving the Navy Ernie went on with successful careers with Hewlett Packard, Raychem and onto several venture capital projects and consulting. He has worked with many large investors and principles of large companies. His travels have taken him to 147 countries. Eventually, old wounds caught up and prevented him from further travel and lead to retirement.
Injuries from the mortar and the horrible debilitating effects of Agent Orange have caused Ernie to more recently suffer through many operations and painful recoveries. He is now confined to a wheel chair. But otherwise he is the same old Ernie who likes to share a good story with his ever endearing smile.
Ernie would be one of the first to tell you that his journey has been exciting and very much enjoyed. He and Nancy are very proud of what they have accomplished thus far and proud of their four children. We are very grateful that we know this man and were able to share our Clarkson and DU years with him.
Ernie Fenton, thank you for your service and God bless you and Nancy.
Art Scottow ’69
July 2018
The Fenton Glacier
Fenton Glacier is a glacier that drains south into Mosby Glacier just east of Mount Adkins in Palmer Land, Antarctica. It was mapped by the United States Geological Survey from ground surveys and U.S. Navy air photos, 1961–67, and was named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for Lieutenant Ernest R. Fenton, U.S. Navy, Officer-in-Charge of Palmer Station in 1971
Willard G Shafer ’53, LCDR U.S. Navy
As if one footprint on the continent of Antarctica wasn’t enough, we also learned of a second LambdaDU brother, Retired Navy Lt. Commander Willard Shafer ’53, who was the Officer In Charge of the US nuclear power plant in Antarctica. His service achievements were acknowledged with a mountain Peak bearing his name, towering Shafer Peak almost 2 1/4Miles high, on one of Antarctica’s Mountain ranges.
Description: A prominent peak, 3,600 m, standing 3 mi S of Mount Hewson in the Deep Freeze Range, Victoria Land. Mapped by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) from surveys and U.S. Navy (USN) air photos, 1955-63. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) for Lieutenant Cmdr. Willard G. Shafer, (CEC) USN, officer in charge of the nuclear power plant at McMurdo Station, winter party 1965.