George Frederick Schilling

Fred entered USNA from Drexel Hill, PA after two years at Penn State.  After graduating, he served aboard the carrier LEYTE before reporting to Submarine School.  He qualified in submarines earning his “Dolphins” while serving aboard BASHAW prior to assignment to nuclear power training.  Thereafter, he served on the Blue Crew of the fleet ballistic missile submarine THOMAS JEFFERSON, and the Gold Crew of JOHN C. CALHOUN.  In January 1966, Fred became Executive Officer of DANIEL WEBSTER (Gold).  In October 1968, he reported to the attack submarine WHALE for a second Executive Officer tour.  Fred was selected for command and, in 1971, became Commanding Officer, Blue Crew, of JAMES MADISON (SSBN-627), which he called his “career highlight”.

 

In 1974, he moved the family to Virginia Beach when he was assigned as Deputy Director for Strategic Operations on the staff of the Commander in Chief, Atlantic, in Norfolk. Fred was promoted to Captain in 1977 and in 1979 reported to the faculty of the Armed Forces Staff College, also in Norfolk, from where he retired in 1982. 

 

In summary, Fred established a stellar record of Navy service deploying on 13 “cold war” deterrent patrols while serving aboard four fleet ballistic missile submarines, making an Arctic under-ice transit to the North Pole while serving aboard WHALE, and commanding MADISON.

 

Fred died of cancer at Portsmouth Naval Hospital, VA on 4 May 1986.  His family includes Joan, his wife of 27 years; daughter Gayle and son George.  Joan continues to live in Virginia Beach.