Henry Sweitzer

Henry B. Sweitzer known as Hank, 90, of Shillington, passed away January 4, 2009 at 11:45 AM in Reading Hospital & Medical Center where he was a patient since December 16th. He was the husband of Ruth H. (Haas) Heist Sweitzer. Born in 1918 in Laureldale, he was the son of the late Edward E. and Mary A. L. (Becker) Sweitzer.
He was a 1936 graduate of Muhlenberg High School. In 1936 he entered the Navy at Newport, RI and was assigned to the USS Sirius, a cargo ship, operating on the east coast. He was transferred to the USS New York and was on the USS New York until 1937 at which point he entered the Naval Academy Preparatory School at Norfolk, VA Naval Base. Hank then entered the Naval Academy in the summer of 1938. He graduated in December of 1941 in the accelerated Class of 42. Hank was initially assigned to the USS Maryland which was damaged in Pearl Harbor and returned for repairs to the Bremerton, WA Navy Yard where he was sent to Anti-Aircraft School to study Oerklon 20MM guns. After one year on the USS Maryland and participating in the Battle of Midway, Hank was sent to Naval Submarine School in New London, CT. The class was full when he got there so they sent him directly to the USS Cuttlefish SS 171. After three months on the Cuttlefish he was transferred back to Submarine School. Upon graduation he was ordered to Portsmith, NH where the USS Picuda SS 382 was being built. Hank served on the USS Picuda until March of 1945. During the 5 war patrols made on the Picuda, he was awarded a Silver Star and 2 Gold Stars, in lieu of a 2nd and 3rd Silver Star, as well as a Navy Unit Commendation, for duties as head of all departments and Executive & Assistant Approach Officer.
In April of 1945 he graduated from the PCO School at New London, CT, commissioned and served on the USS Sablefish SS 303 until June of 1947 at which time he was ordered to Washington, DC to attend a Naval Post Graduate course in Law at the George Washington University School of Law. Hank graduated in May 1950 with a degree of Juris Doctor with Honors and was admitted to the bar in the State of Virginia where he resided at that time. He was then ordered to the Staff of Commander Submarine Force Pacific Fleet as Flag Secretary and Legal Officer until August 1951 when he was ordered to Command the USS Pickerel SS 524. Hank made several reconnaissance patrols in the North Pacific and a 7 month deployment with The United States Naval Forces during the Korean Conflict.
In April 1954 he attended the Naval School of Justice in Newport, RI, graduating with honors. He then was ordered to the Naval Academy where he taught law and was a co-author of the textbook entitled Military Law, which was used at the academy as a textbook for that course. In 1956, he reported as Operations Officer of Submarine Squadron 112 and in 1958 became Commander of Submarine Division 41 and deployed to the European Theatre for the exercises entitled Fishplay II and Fishplay III.
During Fishplay III, Hank had under his command not only the 6 submarines in Submarine Division 41 but also the USS Nautilus SS 571.
In 1958 he reported as a student to the NATO Defense College in Paris, France. Upon completion of the course, he then reported as Assistant Operations Operator on the Staff of the Commander of the United States Forces in Europe to plan for the eventual deployment of the first ballistic missile submarines. At the time the Polaris was being constructed in the United States. From 1961 to 1963 Hank was the Executive Assistant to the Vice Chief of Naval Operations.
In 1964 Hank attended the Naval War College in Washington, DC and also attended George Washington School of International Affairs and was awarded the degree of Master of Science in International Affairs. Hank was then ordered to Yokosuka, Japan where he was the Commander Submarine Flotilla 7, consisting of the 16 submarines and a sub rescue vessel deployed in the Western Pacific. For this duty he was awarded the Legion of Merit decoration. Hank then returned to Washington, DC where he was Assistant for Legislative and Legal Affairs to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Hank appeared as the Attorney for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Secretaries of Defense Mac Namara, Clifford and Laird for which he was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal. He retired from the Navy in 1969 as a Captain with 33 years of service. He then became administrative assistant to Congressman Bill Scott of Virginia until 1971 and then was the administrative assistant to Congressman Tom Bevill of Alabama until his final retirement in 1985. Hank was a life member of Submarine Veterans of WW II and Reading Base U.S. Submarine Veterans.
Surviving in addition to his wife are 3 daughters, Maria L. (Sweitzer) wife of Sam Farran, Heidi K. (Sweitzer) wife of Peter Lyons , and Lisa C. (Sweitzer) widow of Nicholas Hayes all of Alexandrea, VA, a son Lance V. Sweitzer of San Gabriel, CA., 2 step daughters Jacqueline L. (Sando) wife of Thomas Byrnes of Bethlehem, Patricia A. (Hartman) wife of John Hain of Mohnton, 2 step sons Charles E. Hartman of Long Island, NY and Robert M. Heist husband of Vali Heist of Mohnton, 1 granddaughter Grace Helene Farran and 10 step grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren and 2 sisters Miriam V. (Sweitzer) wife of Raymond Schrum of Reading and Patricia A. (Sweitzer) White of Allentown. He was predeceased by 2 half sisters Katie (Sweitzer) Brobst and Emily (Sweitzer) Borrell and 4 half brothers Abram Sweitzer, Edward Sweitzer Jr., James Sweitzer and John Sweitzer.
Memorial Services will be Tuesday January 27, 2009 at 11:30 AM in Alsace Lutheran Church, Rev. Mark E. Brophy and Rev. Richard A. Nelson officiating. Friends will be received Tuesday January 27, 2009 10:30 to 11:30 AM at the church.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Alsace Lutheran Church Veteran's Memorial Fund, 2201 Kutztown Road, Reading, PA 19605.