USNA ’00

It is with great sadness that we share the word that USNA Out member Travis Haire passed away this evening at Tripler Medical Center in Honolulu. Travis suffered a cardiac arrest earlier in the week, with consequential catastrophic brain damage.

Travis came to the Naval Academy as a prior enlisted from the Naval Nuclear Power School. At USNA, he was a member of the 25th company and majored in Marine Engineering. From Travis’ Lucky Bag page:

Travis, Trav, Trav-ees (like the French say), Pubic, and Hess – no matter what name he goes by, he’s always the same guy. Our salty prior originally hails from the pig-farming hills of East Liverpool. Earning fame as a scarecrow, he entered the navy sure that he wanted to be in submarines (long and hard, just the way he likes ‘em). After four years, he still hasn’t changed his mind. He also hasn’t changed many of his ways since our preacher’s son greeted us on I-day four years ago. Pierced tongues, pierced nipples, and tattoos only start the list. After naming his rifle Virgin E., we all knew we had met an interesting character. This was merely amplified by spectacles like Madonna on a U-Haul and my twin sister. We’ll all miss seeing him ride proudly through the Yard in Goldie and watching selections from his movie collection (especially “Meet the Deedles”). Trav, best of luck in the Navy and life, and I hope your first CO lets Stinky deploy with you.

After graduation, Travis entered the nuclear power training pipeline and the submarine service. He served as a junior officer onboard USS PARCHE (SSN 683) where he was selected as the squadron 2004 Junior Officer of the Year, then as Engineer Officer of the USS MARYLAND (SSBN 738) BLUE in Kings Bay, Georgia, immediately prior to reporting to the the Superintendent’s staff at the Naval Academy.

It was in Annapolis as the Flag Secretary to the Superintendent that we came to know Travis. He joined USNA Out in March of 2011, six months before the end of the policy formerly known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” According to Kevin O’Reilly USAFA ’04 who served at USNA concurrently with Travis: “As Travis started to come out on the Yard, I saw him bevcome more comfortable and confident with himself as an officer. Travis became a resourceful mentor and sponsor, generously opening his home to USNA Out midshipmen. It was in Annapolis that Travis met the love of his life, Josh, who brought out the best in Travis that we all knew and love.” Travis married Josh in July, 2013. They lived in Kaneohe with their Saint Bernard, Daffy. Travis was most recently was serving as the Submarine Liaison Officer at Naval Special Warfare Group Three in Pearl Harbor, HI.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service was held on Thursday, 15 October at the Pearl Harbor Memorial Chapel, 1600 Frederick St.

Travis’ Funeral was held in the Naval Academy Chapel at 10 am Friday, 23 October, followed by Inurnment in the Naval Academy Columbarium with Military Honors.

Travis has been entered into the USNA Out Memoriam.