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To all of our Alumni who left us too soon
May they all Rest in the Most Eternal Peace
We HAVE THE WATCH Shipmates!
Gary W. Neisz
Commanding Officer
Worcester (CL-144) Division
U.S. Naval Sea Cadets
2000 to 2004
Gary Neisz served as the third Commanding Officer of Worcester (CL 144) Division of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadets from June 2000 until his death in February 2004. A decorated combat veteran of the Vietnam War, Gary devoted his life to the service of his country and its citizens. He was highly active in the Marine Corps Toys for Tot program and served as the Director of the Family Support Advocacy Program at Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center Worcester, Massachusetts. Gary’s influence on the Sea Cadets was wide reaching. Through his efforts, the division became one of the hallmark units in the New England Region and the Nation. In his honor, the Gary Neisz Memorial Scholarship was established in 2004. Each year a graduating cadet from Worcester (CL 144) Division who best displays the traits of Honor, Courage and Commitment will receive this scholarship. It is a fitting tribute to a man who gave so much, and asked for nothing in return.
1st Lieutenant Joshua Booth
Cadet Petty Officer 2nd Class
Worcester CL-144 Division
Josh was a member of Worcester Cl-144 division and upon graduating from the program he then went to the Citadel of North Carolina and commissioned within the USMC. When he was 7 years old, Joshua L. Booth _ a recent transplant from Virginia to Massachusetts _ hopped on the bus and went to his elementary school dressed as Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. "They had a class on American history and the teacher encouraged him to present the other side," said his father, Jack. "So Josh dressed up and went in school as Robert E. Lee." "Josh was too little and did not realize that the bus would be a vicious place for someone dressed as Robert E. Lee," his mother, Debra, said with a laugh. Booth, 23, of Sturbridge, Mass., was shot dead Oct. 17 while on foot patrol in Haditha. He graduated from The Citadel Military College in 2005 and was assigned to Kaneohe Bay. In Iraq, he led three patrols a day to glean intelligence from Iraqi citizens. He is survived by his wife, Erica, and a 1-year-old daughter, Grace. Erica is pregnant with a boy to be named Tristan Joshua. Booth was buried in a family plot in Bedford, Va., even though he qualified to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. "He felt if anybody should be buried there, his men should be buried there," Debra Booth said.
Gunnar Bjorkland
Chief Petty Officer
Worcester CL-144 divsion
Chief Gunnar Bjorkland - April 11, 1998 - February 20, 2021 (22 years old)
Gunnar N. Bjorkland started with the Worcester Cl-144 Division as a League Cadet. at 11 years old he had large ambitions, and would eventually retain the title of Chief Petty Officer as the Leading Chief for the Unit. Gunnar always was an "Old Soul" and amounted to many things within the Sea Cadets, and further into civilian life. Gunnar is someone that poured his life into the Sea Cadets, and it built him to be the man he ultimately was. Chief Bjorkland always wanted a life of service and after graduating the program Chief found out that he was unable to serve due to an injury he had received as a kid. That never stopped Chief Bjorkland, or his passion to serve, or his will to serve those who served him. Gunnar was always a "hard charger" and after graduating from High School he became an EMT where he served the town of Webster, and Charlton as an EMT. After leaving EMS Gunnar decided to go into business and opened Embie Industries a 3rd party distribution company. He would then go on to form Interesting Logistics Inc. a Trucking/Logistics Distributor, and Galaxy Enterprises Inc. a 3rd party shipping distributor. Gunnar did a lot within his short life. Gunnar was kind, and always saw everyone's potential, and he always did things a different way. Bjorkland always loved a good road trip, BBQ Ribs, or even a walk in the woods. He enjoyed to sing, and he was always up for a business talk. Gunnar N. Bjorkland left this world unexpectedly and leaves behind many lives that he touched. He just wanted to make the world a better place.
© 2023 for Worcester CL-144 Division created by: ITSNHiDeF LLC
Jacob D. Shane
Petty Officer 2nd Class
Worcester CL-144 Division
Jacob D. Shane, 30, of Milford, passed away peacefully at home on Thurs. October 5, 2017 with his family by his side. Jake was born December 19, 1986 in Milford the son of Deborah Shane of Milford and David Shane and his wife Ann of Northbridge. He was a graduate of Nipmuc Regional High School, class of 2005 and entered the U. S. Marines after graduating. Jake wore many hats over his short life but the two closest to his heart were being a United States Marine Reservist and being part of the brotherhood of the Hopedale Call Fire Department. While in the Reserves, he was activated in 2009 and served one tour in Iraq. He loved being a Marine but his true calling and love was being a firefighter. He served as a call fire-fighter on the Mendon Fire Department before joining the Hopedale Fire Department, where he retired as a Call Lieutenant after being diagnosed with brain cancer in early 2015. Throughout his ordeal Jacob was stoic and strong, never complaining or giving in. Jacob called the shots from day one, always running the show. We will miss his sense of humor, his brilliant wit and sarcasm and most of all, Jacob being Jacob.
Patrick Merrick
Seamen
Worcester CL-144 Division
Patrick was born in Worcester on June 1, 1997 the son of Sean C. Merrick and Aimee E. Murphrey. He had attended Our Lady of the Angels School as a young boy and had graduated from Worcester Vocational Technical High School last year where he majored in Welding. Following graduation he continued to work at Ranger Automation Company in Shrewsbury where he had previously held a Co-Op position during school.
Patrick was an adventurous young man. He began riding ATV’s at the age of 6 and over the years enjoyed overnight ATV trips with his father and close friends, as well as several trips to Pismo Beach CA. Patrick loved the thrill of riding motorcycles. He was always looking forward to upgrading to the next better bike. He was passionate about snowboarding, so much that he welded his own rail for practice at home. From an early age he participated in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and as a teenager he was a member of the Worcester Sea Cadets (CL-144) division. He successfully completed an intense basic training, Master of Arms training, and earned a certificate of advancement to Seaman Apprentice. Patrick was an avid traveler and traveled to many places during his life, though he was most fond of trips to California, Florida, Maine, and Bermuda. Family was important to Patrick. He cherished the time he spent with his family, with Carlie McArdle his girlfriend of 2 years and her family, and his close friends, including Adam Wilcox, Josh Willis, Austin Lamonda and Mo Aldarawcheh. Patrick lost his lifelong private battle with depression on May 11, 2016. May you rest in peace shipmate, we hope you are truly at ease from the battle within...
Brendan Ritchie
Founding Member Late 1990's
Worcester CL-144 Division
Brendan Ritchie, 35, of Webster, died Monday, June 28, 2021. Brendan leaves his father Robert M. Ritchie of Shrewsbury; two children, Riley Ritchie and Sandy Fontes, and their mother Helena Perpetuo of Dudley; three brothers, Kevin R. Ritchie of Jamaica Plain, Timothy R. Ritchie, his wife Kirstin and their daughter Teresa of Northampton, and Patrick Ritchie and his wife Tanah of Aurora, Colo.; a sister Mary T. Ritchie and her fiancé Brendan Murphy of Worcester; his maternal grandmother Mary Theresa Ford-O'Connor of South Dennis; several aunts, uncles and cousins; and his cherished dog Delilah. Brendan's mother Judy A. (Ford) Ritchie passed away in 2016.
Brendan was born and raised in Worcester and lived many years in Dudley before moving to Webster.
Brendan attended Doherty High School in Worcester where he ran cross country with his brothers Kevin and Tim. He also participated in the U.S. Naval Sea Cadets program outside of school with Worcester CL-144 Division in Worcester Ma, and was one of the founding and early members of our division with his older brother Kevin.
Brendan was a professional cook and worked many years at the LongHorn Steakhouse in Millbury.
Brendan had a quick wit and kept his family and friends smiling with his tremendous sense of humor. He was a devoted Boston Bruins fan and loved playing basketball with his children. He was always kind and generous, intensely independent and hardworking, and a remarkable handyman around the home who lent his skills in support of others. He liked to read novels and enjoyed vacationing with family at Hampton Beach and Cape Cod.