The U.S. Naval Institute’s (USNI) newly-christened “Fred Rainbow Suite,” in honor of its most visible and diligent former occupant, is situated on the north end of the top floor of the Naval Academy’s Beach Hall – one of the highest vantage points on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay.
The space’s namesake is now a member of the Gettysburg community. A relative newcomer to Adams County, Fred H. Rainbow officially left USNI headquarters in November for the last time.
In one of his final official duties as Naval Institute CEO, retired Navy Vice Admiral Peter H. Daly was quick to include a tribute to Fred’s wife, Peggie. Daly noted Peggie endured late dinners, missed engagements, and postponed appointments since Fred became, to use one his favorite terms, “engaged,” in defending an open professional forum unlike any in the United States—and, some would argue, the world.
Fred’s parents, Ab and Ann settled in Gettysburg in the mid-1980s when Ab retired from being a pilot for United Airlines, his employer after flying combat missions piloting P-47 Thunderbolt fighter aircraft in the European Theater of World War II. The Rainbows bought the former home of President Dwight David Eisenhower’s son, John.
The property sits on 4.5 acres and includes a former one-room schoolhouse that John and his mother, former First Lady Mamie Eisenhower, converted into a home. The Eisenhowers sold the property to Mamie’s Secret Service agent, Herb Dixon, who then sold it to the Rainbows.
“My mother and dad did a great deal to the place—most significantly re-landscaping it and building a full basement,” Fred said.
Local contractor Ross Brownley helped Peggie transform the interior into a “wonderful showcase,” Fred said.
Troubled Water?
The USNI’s principal function is to present new, occasionally controversial, ideas for the good of the nation’s Sea Services–the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and the Merchant Marine.
It wasn’t always easy. Fred usually led the charge in board meetings that decided what would and would not be published by the USNI, mostly in its monthly Proceedings magazine, of which Fred was editor-in-chief. One article in particular threatened Fred’s job as well as the very existence of the organization.
The one-page piece of satire was written by Larry DiRita, who had been a Navy officer and later was Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld‘s spokesman and right-hand man. The article made Fred chuckle, but his superiors did not share his sense of humor.
Leadership accused Fred of using the piece as part of his secret campaign to embarrass senior Navy Leadership. The Chief of Naval Operations and the 4-star [admiral] Superintendent of the Naval Academy demanded Fred’s immediate termination.
The CEO/Publisher at the time, who had approved the original piece for publication decided to appoint a neutral, recently retired 4-star Navy officer to investigate the charges. The Naval Institute would ‘live’ with whatever he found, Fred recalled.
Admiral William Smith’s investigation determined Fred was dedicated to the open forum, the nation and its Navy. His job was saved.
The Rainbow Hall of Fame
When Fred looks back on his long career, a large smile rises upon his face.
Fresh in his bank of memories is the time he met two incredible midshipmen, one a graduate of the Naval Academy who went on to be the Supreme Allied Commander of NATO and the other from Georgia Tech, who flew F-14 Tomcats in the first “Top Gun” movie and went on to be vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Both retired as 4-star admirals and remain Fred’s lifelong friends.
The journalist also fondly recalls one of the first authors he met and worked with, Milan Vego. Vego had recently defected from the Yugoslavian Navy where, as a naval officer, he had commanded Soviet-built patrol boats and was at the time washing dishes at a Washington, D.C., hotel. Vego earned a PhD and now teaches at the Naval War College. He traveled from Newport, Rhode Island for the Fred Rainbow Suite dedication.
Aside from the Naval Institute’s rich history, it is perhaps best known as techno-thriller author Tom Clancy’s first publisher. The Naval Institute Press released its first novel, “The Hunt for Red October,” in 1984. The book’s success may be due, at least in part, to Fred receiving Clancy’s first call regarding a book manuscript he had to peddle. That manuscript turned out to be the basis of one of the largest and longest-running publishing franchises in history.
Fred considers responsibility, ethics, perseverance, and fairness the cornerstones of his career, but recognizes one is not born with such attributes. Aside from his parents, high on the list of Fred’s mentors is one of his high school teachers, Frank Tarsitano.
“Long after I met him,” Fred recalls, “he alerted me by way of a letter that he ‘had joined my profession.’ As a reader of Proceedings, “he told me that he was the current editor-in-chief of the largest-circulation newspaper in the country. My guess was USA Today. Surprisingly, the correct answer was Scholastic News.”
At Slippery Rock, Fred’s major influencer was Assistant Dean of Men Bob Bailey.
“He had gone to Temple University and been a Marine Captain in Vietnam combat,” Fred remembers, and recalls vividly that Baily at one time “owned a Mercedes sedan and a Jaguar XKE!”
In the Navy, one mentor was his department head, then-Commander Bill Duncan.
“Not only did he support me after officer candidate school and commissioning as an officer in December 1971, but he taught me all about naval intelligence. I coached Little League baseball with him, too,” Rainbow recalls.
Rainbow’s first civilian job after leaving the Navy was with the Naval Institute in Annapolis.
“The boss, Clay Barrow, was a retired Marine Corps master sergeant,” Fred said. “He taught me responsibility and was always behind whatever I did.”
Fred also acknowledges that Barrow taught him the importance of illustrations to accompany text. From that point forward, Fred’s staff became indoctrinated to think of “powerful images” as equally important as the words themselves.
Last, but certainly not least, Rainbow heralds now-retired Vice Admiral Daly, who led the ceremony that renamed the office suite after him. Fred first met Daly when he joined Proceedings board of directors and editorial board.
“Not only did he carefully read every article we sent to him. He also supported his people while on active duty, attending our seminars, but only if we could prove to him that they would be good ‘returns on investment’ for his people,” Fred said.
Fred and his wife, Peggie, will continue to give back to their community as volunteers. They are most excited about honoring Fred’s father’s service to America by donating their time to the World War II American Experience museum just west of Gettysburg.