Past and present unite on USS Yorktown

The past and present united on the deck of the USS Yorktown during a graduation ceremony held May 3, 2024 in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. It was not just any graduation ceremony. Robert Mantel III was graduating from the U.S. Navy's Nuclear Academy on the same ship where his grandfather, Clayton Tess, served on during the 1960s.

 

"Graduating on the same ship was quite the experience. Especially because my grandfather was there and was able to show us around the ship, and talk more about what he did while he was in," explained Mantel. Tess served in the U.S. Navy from 1959 to 1963 as an airplane electrician on the USS Yorktown.

 

Mantel graduated from Liberty High School in May of 2022. In July of 2022, he enlisted and went to boot camp at Great Lakes, Chicago for four months. Mantel graduated in September of 2022.

 

"The biggest factor was my grandfather and uncle telling stories of when they served," began Mantel on why he enlisted. "Being able to create such lasting memories and friendships was quite eye opening to how different and big the world is outside Mountain View. The chance to travel the world was another draw, sightseeing and cuisine specifically."

 

After boot camp, Mantel attended power school in Charleston, South Carolina for 18 months before his graduation ceremony in May of 2024.

 

"The best thing is being able to see up close and touch the technology that is used," Mantel said about serving on the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. "Things like the CIWS, planes taking off and landing on the comparatively short runway is something I don't think I could ever get tired of."

 

The family has a long-standing tradition of serving their country. In addition to Clayton Tess, on his mother's side of the family, Mantel's uncle Jeff Tess served in the Navy from 1982 to 991 as a Navy Chef primarily serving on the USS Augusta. Clayton's two brothers, Keith and Bill, served in the Army. Keith was drafted to serve at Fort Carson from 1966 to 1968 on burial duty during Vietnam and then served until 1972 in the reserves. Mantel's great-grandfather Robert Tess (Clayton's father) served on the USS Beaverhead, which was a supply ship during World War II. Howard Tess served as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne and Gordon Tess was an Army Corman. Lisa Tess served from 1982 to 2002, also serving on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. Mantel's cousin, Christen Taylor, served in the Navy for 12 years and then 7 additional years in the Air Force in the nurse corps where she continues to serve her country.

 

On Mantel's father's side of the family, his grandfather served in the Army during the very end of World War II. His father's great-uncle Chester was in the Navy and served on the USS New Jersey. His father's uncle, Walter Cox, was in the Navy on a PT Boat. The family's line of service can be traced back to his father's great-grandpa, Michael Larwinski, who served in the Polish Army during World War I.

Mantel's parents are Robert and Shelly Mantel of Mountain View. His sisters are Jessica, Jaclyn and Amanda. Mantel is currently stationed on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in Norfolk, Va. where he will serve a total of eight years.

 

"I have a lot of pride in serving my country. Doing my part to ensure that the next generation is able to grow in a free world," stated Mantel.