“Goodbye Capt. Kurtz…Welcome to town, Jon!”

When the assignment to cover the retirement ceremony of the Base Commander at the Weapons Station dropped in my lap my first thought was, “just another retirement…. No big deal.”

I was told the Change of Command Ceremony was a “time honored tradition” particular to the Navy. No other branch of our services has such a ceremony. Nevertheless I was completely unprepared for the elegance of day.

Captain Jonathan Kurtz was retiring from his Command, after 27 years in the Navy, the  last few as  the Commanding Officer of the Naval Weapons Station in Seal Beach. Technically he was being “relieved” by Captain Terry Auberry, and therein lies what makes such a rite particular to the Navy.

It originated with Royal Navy in the 16th Century and no one is sure how long the U. S. Navy has been doing it but most likely for 200 years. The men and women of the Navy Munitions Command, Continental U.S. West Division made sure that Captains Kurtz and Auberry received the full honors they were entitled to.

Over 250 guests and servicemen and women were present including two Rear Admirals (Hering and French) and a Major General. (USMC)  and I sat behind over 20 four-stripers (Captains) and saw more brass and medals than at a pentagon dinner.

Kurtz was graduated from Annapolis in 1982 and began his duties as an officer on destroyers and after becoming the Flag Lieutenant on the staff of the Group Commander he went back to Annapolis as an instructor. From there his career was blazoned with personal awards, Master’s Degrees and Service Medals and Commendation awards. While at Seal Beach he and his staff received several commendations for environmental improvements and substantial cost saving improvements in excess of $3 million dollars.

Rear Admiral Len Hering, a personal friend as well as a man Capt. Kurtz served under twice during his career, was the guest speaker and he joked that S.B. Weapons Station probably had more green grass than all the other bases under his command . . . . even though in 2008 the base had established a record reduction in water use!

Capt. Auberry who will be the new Base Commander and Auberry is “Mustang.” In military parlance a mustang in an enlisted man who becomes an officer and some of our greatest officers have been “Mustangs.” Auberry graduated from basic seaman training in 1974 and then spent 10 years in various Mine shops and vessels during which time he became a commissioned officer. His last assignment before coming to Seal Beach was as Chief of Staff, Naval Mine and Anti-Submarine Warfare Command in Corpus Christi, TX.

I thought the high light of the ceremony was “Retirement of the Colors.” After Capt. Kurtz was presented with an honor and scroll from President Obama, an honor guard of commissioned men and women presented a flag that flew over the Capital in Washington D.C. to the Captain. The honor guard was made up of officers of different rank, but each one represented a rank that Kurtz had held during his career. An Ensign, a Lt. JG, a Lt, a Lt. Commander, and a Commander and, of course, he was the Captain. Many, including Admiral Hering felt that Kurtz could easily have had his own Star. (Admiral)

The ending was when Kurtz asked to be relieved of command (just as navy captains have for over 400 years) and Capt. Auberry said “I relieve you sir.” The plaintive cry of the boatswain’s whistle followed as Capt. Kurtz and his wife, daughter and parents were whistled into his new life.

The Kurtz family, originally from Delaware, intends to remain in Seal Beach much to the delight of their friends and neighbors. Welcome Home,  Jon Kurtz!