Hal was my boss at the time, as he was the Maintenance department head, and I was the asst. maintence control officer. We were onboard the newly commissioned USS Eisenhower, working her through operational qualifications in the Caribbean. Hal experienced engine problems immediately after his cat shot and ejected. While in the water, he got tangled in the shroud lines. The helo tried lifting him and his chute from the water, but the weight of the water in the chute was more than the helo could lift, and he drowned. It was a very emotional time for us all. Bob Nash