The
AEROGRAPH
NAVAL WEATHER SERVICE ASSOCIATION
February 2003 VOL 27-1
WEB Site: http://www.navalweather.org/
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Editor's Notes ...... 2 ..Publication Information ...... 2 Officers/Committees ...... 2 President's Column ...... 3 Antarctic Explorers ...... 3 Necrology ...... 4 Secretary/Treasurer ...... 6 Address/EMait/Phone Update ...... 7 NWSA Reunion #29 ...... 8 Travel Via the Moon ...... 13 Aphorisms ...... 14 LETTERS ...... 15 SN Anthony McCarty ...... 16 Santa Visits VA Hospital ...... 18 Demographics ...... 19 Conversions ...... 19 Chapter News Southern California ...... 20 Pensacola ...... 21 Hampton Roads ...... 21 Monterey ...... 22 Downeast ...... 22 Potomac ...... 23 Puget Sound ...... 26 Historians Comments ...... 28 XAerM Carl Peterson ...... 29 AGC Geneva Pitzrick Woods ...... 30 1948 Kodiak Crew ...... 31 Unlucky Randolph ...... 32 Whiteout ...... 33 Young Man's Dream ...... 34 Merely This — Conclusion ...... 35 Navy Life ...... 37 Storm Cycles ...... 38 Miscellaneous ...... 39 New Member/Renewal Form ...... Back Cover
Items of Interest 1. Quie a few members send me personal update informat on such as new addresses, new telephone numbers new or changed email addresses, notice of members' deaths, and various other bits of information they want printed in The Aerograph. This is all information that Jim Stone, our Secretary/Treasurer needs to update the NWSA database. Please send all such information to Jim Stone. If you sent it via email please make me a copy to addressee. 2. Don Cruse is looking for information about the USS MISSOURI (BB-63) and a WWII wave aerologist HENRII TTA TERRY. Read the NWSA Historian's Comments to see if you can give him some help. 3. Photographs: Some members have been sending me pictures is email. Some of them, for whatever reason, are not compete pictures when I receive them. And some of them do not print clearly enough to make a good copy to print in The Aerograph. Color pictures especially do not print we 1 in black and white. If you want a picture printed, please send me a copy of the picture via snail mail. I can have it formatted for the newsletter and will return the picture if you need it back. 4. If you send in an article and don't see it in the next issue, don't despair – I will get it printed. ------VW1 Reunion A VWI Reunion will be held September 15 – 18, 2003 in Reno NV. The contact for information is: VW1 ASSOCIATION c/o ED AND SALLY METZGER 710 EDGEWATER DRIVE INVERNESS FL 34453
`Shortie Puns' gleaned by John Shay of P-cola --If ever v car in the country were white you would live in a white carnation. -When the wheel was invented it caused a revolution. --The first scientists that studied fog were mystified. --When they bought a waterbed, the couple started to drift apart. --Two peanuts were walking in a tough neighborhood and one was a-salted. -What you seize is what you get. A successful diet is the triumph of mind over platter. A perfectly spherical pumpkin makes good pi. Politics only serve to make the future moron-certain.
Publication Information: The Aerograph is published quarterly in February, May, August, and November. The Editor must receive contributions not later than the 15th of January, April, July, and October. Articles and letters can be submitted in any format, typed or handwritten. If you have a PC, you can send your article on a 3 '/cinch diskette and save me some typing. I now have MS Office 97 and can use most any software. However, your MAC and Apple Software still comes up UNKNOWN FORMAT. Diskettes will be returned if requested. If you are on-line you can E-mail your info to [email protected]. My 24-Hour Fax Number is 352-787-9386. Be sure to include my name on the cover page. My address is listed below. Bill Bowers Association Officers: President: AGCS Herb Goodland, USN RET 786 N Christi Lane, Las Vegas NV 89110-3714 (702) 452-1102
Association Committees: Reunion Chair: AGCM Bob Coniglione, USN RET 18085 Commission road, Long Beach MS 39560-3611 (601) 863-3526
FROM THE PRESIDENT NWSA
I am going to reflect back in time. When I entered the Navy in 1950 people who were sent to ships. who did not go to schools, usually were put in the deck division. I was no exception I was put in the third division gunnery. My boot camp company had over 80 sailors and only three of them went to schools, two went to Treasure Island for ET school and one to Port Hueneme for Drivers school (now Equipment Operator) The rest of us were designated AR's and sent to Japan aboard a troop ship the USNS GENERAL C.G. MORTON. The MORTON docked in Yokohama and we were bussed to Yokosuka. When we arrived we ate chow in the mess hall -- we were served by female mess attendants. Then we were mustered and bussed to our ships, mine happened to be a Jeep Carrier, USS BAIROKO (CVE-115). Our first night was spent in the after elevator pit on cots. The next day we had to go and find an empty bunk -- mine happened to be in the engineers compartment, bottom rack next to the head --not the most desirable place to try and sleep. I was put over the side cleaning the fantail of oil spilled by the engineers while dumping. I complained so much they made me captain of the after officers heads. I was also third loader on a quad 40MM located on the fantail. After a few months SR's came aboard and we were then transferred to the Air Department. I was put in the hangar deck crew. When I reported to V3 division they put me in mess cooking. We lived on the forward mess deck with our seabags (the old white ones) lashed to the bulkhead. We slept on hammocks hung from the over head. If you can advance being a mess cook, I did. I was put in charge of the bread room. This meant that I would cut the butter in squares; cut the bread, after three days, (In those days they thought the fresh bread would ball up in your stomach), get the pies and cakes and rolls from the bakery. I would have to make sure that the mess line was kept supplied. I made friends while in the bread room by supplying the first division with fresh bread and butter. For the rest of the time I was aboard anything I wanted from the first division I had. It was called cumshaw. About the most exciting thing that happened while I was aboard the ship was an explosion in the shaft alley, people smoking in an unauthorized space. Four people were killed. I ran to my fire station on the hangar deck, grabbed the 2 1/2 inch hose and braised myself. I told anther kid to turn on the water -- no water. If the water was in the hose I would have probably been thrown across the hangar deck. Also one time we were sitting in port when the collision alarm was sounded.
A command ship came in and rammed us in the after part of the flight deck. While were in Korea we had a Marine fighter squadron aboard VMA 312 (The Checker Board Squadron). They were flying F4U's. Our hangar deck PO had been in a squadron one time and was a plane captain. We had to get one of the planes up to the elevator and the plane captain was not around, so our PO said he could ride the brakes. He no sooner got in and released a 1,000 LB bomb. We all ran for the side of the ship to jump overboard. We thought better of that -- if it did not go off when it hit the deck then we knew it probably would not. I don't know how many people in the Naval Weather Service started in the deck division, but I venture it would be quite a few. I didn't start in the Naval Weather Service until I started striking in my second hitch at Point Mugu. We had a few well known names working there. LCDR J. A. Kerr, AGC F.F. Nunn, AGC H.G. Werner, AG1 J.A. Zuver, AG1 D.N. Brown. Later on a LT Filson came aboard as LCDR Kerr's relief. Enough about my early days. I am looking forward to Biloxi. Lorraine and I will drive We will stop at all the military bases we can. The Air Force lodges charge you $21-$29 per night. The Navy charges $49. See you all at Biloxi.
HERB GOODLAND
Old Antarctic Explorers Association From Mo Gibbs
Did you many "Old Antarctic Explorers" know that there is an association? Their first reunion was held at Pensacola Nov 6 to 9. Over 400 attended, including Charlie Mauck and Mo Gibbs. Even members of the Operation HIGH JUMP [46- 48] crews were in attendance. RADM Dufek's pilot, Gus Shinn, was there and we had a nostalgic visit to the National Naval Aviation Museum, where "Que Sera Sera" is on exhibit. Gus made the first Pole landing [1957] in that Gooney Bird with skis and JATO to assure they came back. They were the first to stand at the Pole since Captain Robert Falcon Scott's fatal expedition in1912. In addition to much time just linking and meeting old shipmates, there was a very moving memorial service to all the shipmates lost over the years on the ice. OAEA isn't as organized as NWSA as yet, but they are working on it. Plans are for the next reunion to be at Pt. Mugu in 2004. It isn't that far until 2005, when there will certainly be 50th anniversary ceremonies somewhere to commemorate the launching of Operation DEEP FREEZE. Membership is very reasonable and any of you that have served will find information and an application on their web page at: www.oaea.net. You can print off the application and come aboard.
God's Alphabet Although things are not perfect Because of trial or pain Continue in thanksgiving Do not begin to blame Even when the times are hard Fierce winds are bound to blow God is forever able Hold on to what you know Imagine life without His love Joy would cease to be Keep thanking Him for all the things Love imparts to thee Move out of "Camp Complaining" No weapon that is known On earth can yield the power Praise can do alone Quit looking at the future Redeem the time at hand Start every day with worship To "thank" is a command Until we see Him coming Victorious in the sky We'll run the race with gratitude Xalting God most high Yes there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but Zion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!
NECROLOGY xAG2 Stephen C. Bailey, USN REL Died November 11, 2002
CAPT Edward L. Snopkowski, USN RET Died November 11, 2002
AG1 Kenneth R. Adams, USN RET Died November 15, 2002
LT Richard J. Taylor, USN RET Died November 24, 2002
CDR Margaret Moshier, USNR RET Died December 3, 2002
AG I Billy Dean Willis, USN RET Died December 10, 2002
AGC Dennis Meek, USN RET Died December 12, 2002
Mrs. Edith Tingle, wife of CDR Adrian "Art" Tingle, USN RET, Died January 14, 2003
AGC Izaac W. Lord, USN RET, Died Date Unknown
CDR MARGARET NEWMAN MOSHIER USNR RET
Margaret Newman Moshier, 94, a former resident of Sun City, Arizona, died Dec. 3, 2002, at "The Gardens", in Hawkins, Texas. Mrs. Moshier was born May 27, 1908, in Chicago, the only child of Edgar and Maude Newman. She graduated from the University of Chicago with a mathematics major in 1930, received her Master's degree in education from Northwestern University in 1940, and studied weather forecasting at MIT in 1941. (Note from F. Coyne-McDonald: this has to be 1942-43 because of the date of Pearl Harbor and no WAVES until 1942.) During World War II, Mrs. Moshier was a Commander in the U.S. Navy, serving as a meteorologist in Olathe, Kansas. She serving a mathematics teacher at Wells High School and a math teacher and counselor at Taft High School (1949- 61). She was assistant principal at Von Steuben High School (1961-68). Her father, Edgar Melchior Newman (!863-1940), was a well-known architect in Chicago who trained with Frank Lloyd Wright at Adler and Sullivan. The home Newman built in Chicago for Margaret and her mother (1917) is an example of the Prairie School of Architecture. Margaret retired first to California and then to Sun City, Arizona with her mother in 1972. After her mother's death at age 95, she married Austinn E. Moshier in 1975. They enjoyed a happy marriage until his death in 1985. A life-long traveler, Margaret visited Japan, China, Russia, Europe, Africa, South America, and Australia. Her most recent trips include a Russian trawler to the North Pole, a freighter around the world, and a riverboat down the Mississippi River. Margaret is survived by her stepdaughter, Susan Mathews, and her son-in-law, Geoffrey Mathews, of Lindale, Texas; by grandson, Quinn P. Kearney and granddaughter, Tiffin Kearney Bolger, and by a great-granddaughter, Desa Bolger, all of Chicago.
CAPTAIN ED WARD SNOPKO WSKI, USN RET Capt. Edward L. "Ski" Snopkowski, 79, a retired naval officer, died Monday, November 11, 2002 at his home. He was born April 10, 1923, in Duryea, Pa., and had lived in Pebble Beach for 26 years. He enlisted in the Navy in February 1941. He was commissioned an ensign in April 1945 and designated a naval aviator in 1951. Capt. Snopkowski was awarded a degree in meteorology at the Naval Postgraduate School in June 1957. He served in Battle of Midway in World II and in the Korean War. He later commanded Fleet Weather Central Alameda and Fleet Weather Central Pearl Harbor. As Fleet Meteorologist and Oceanographer to Commander- in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet, he forecasted the Apollo moon drop landings in the early '70s. He retired from the Navy in 1972. Some of his decorations include the Air Medal, Victory Medal World War II, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the United Nations Service Medal and National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and served as a Eucharistic minister at St. Angela's Church. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mary Cukrov Snopkowski of Pebble Beach; two sons, Mark Snopkowski and John Snopkowski; four daughters, Victoria, Patrice, Barbara and Joan; 11 grandchildren: one great-grandchild: a brother, Daniel Snopkowski of Philadelphia; and numerous cousins and relatives.
AG1 Billy Dean Willis, USN RET
Billy Dean Willis, 74, of Oakdale, California died Tuesday, Dec. 10 at Oak Valley Hospital. Mr. Willis was a native of Kansas. He lived in Oakdale 33 years. He retired from the U.S. Navy as a petty officer first class after serving 28 years. He served in W.W.II and the Korean War. He was a member of FRA and the China Marines Association. He is survived by his children, Kelly Spratling of Oakdale, Terry Willis of Monrovia, Tracy Willis of Knights Ferry and Jennifer Willis of Columbia; brother, Tom Willis of San Diego; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
FROM THE SECRETARY/TREASURER'S DESK 16 JAN 2003
hope everyone had a good holiday. It is hard to realize that we are into 2003 already and that I have had the privilege of being your SecretaryiTreasurer since 1992. I continue to enjoy doing this and I hope I will be asked to continue.
It would be helpful if changes and additions to information on your record would be sent to the correct person. This involves the "KISS" principal.
First, it is obvious that if you are changing or adding an email address, you must have email. Those changes should be sent via our home page if you have a browser. They will be automatically forwarded to me and posted to the email list on the web site. I will update your record send the changes in a report to Bill Bowers for inclusion in the next issue of The Aerograph. If you send them directly to Bill he has to for Nard them to me so I can keep the records up to date
If you are updating a "snail mail" address, PLEASE send them to me by either email or "snail mail'" . I will make the needed changes and send them to Bill in a report that will be published in the next issue of The Aerograph Again, if you send them directly to Bill, he has to forward them to me.
Speaking of the home page, have you checked it our recently? John Berger has continued to make improvements to it and is planning to have a searchable data base for access by NWSA members only. Why don't you check it out and if you have any questions on how to use it, contact me or John. The forms needed for reunion and hotel reservations are now up and can be downloaded and printed for your use.
In the last issue, we included two email listings for Bob Freeman. The listing is for AGCS Robert S. Freeman, USN RET. LDCR Bob Freeman does not have email.
As many of you know, Irma Mills, widow of CDR G. Stormy Mills, passed away on Nov 25, 2001. At that time, NWSA was advised that we were designated to be the recipient of one-fifth of the residue of her estate. This is the amount available for disbursement after all other designated bequests have been distributed. The estate was settled on October 30, 2002 and distributions were made. Our share amounted to $61,720.25 and is designated for Scholarship principal. The finance committee is studying various investment opportunities. They will present them to the Executive Board in May who will then present them to the general membership at the first General Membership meeting in May.
If you have any items you want to have included on the agenda for the First Executive Board meeting, please send them to me not later than 19 Apr.
In the Nov issue, I had listed the names of four Life Members who we did not have a current address for. Thanks to CDR Jack Buffington, we now have an address for one of them, AGCM JOHN NAGEL, USN RET. it is published in the new address section in this issue.
The membership count as of this date is 686 plus 9 spouse members making the total members 695. Of that number, there are 370 Life Members plus 2 spouse Life Members.
THE CUTOFF DATE FOR THE LISTINGS IN THIS ISSUE WAS 15 JAN 2003.
SCHOLARSHIP DONATIONS WERE RECEIVED FROM CDR DON CRUSE, USN RET AGC GEORGE L GLEASON, USN RET LCDR FRANK McGAYHEY, USN RET
OUR NEWEST LIFE MEMBERS MR WILLIAM F. McMiLLAN, GS RET L/M 383
GIFT MEMBERSHIPS WERE RECEIVED FROM AGC ROGER W. BISSINGER, USN RET CAPT R. "FRENCHY" CORBEILLE, USN RET CDR DON CRUSE, USN RET AG1 TRACY WOODMANSEE, USN RET AGCS FRED QUIRK, USN RET
OUR NEWEST MEMBERS (NEW OR DUES EXPIRED MORE THAN ONE YEAR AGO) (SEE ADDRESS UPDATE LIST FOR ADDRESSES) # INDICATES SPOUSE MEMBER
AGCS JOSEPH CAMPBELL, USN RET AG1 CARLTON L. KESLER, USN RET CDR RICHARD THAYER, JR, USN AGCS(SW) RUSSELL EICHBLATT, USN RET MR WILLIAM F. McMILLAN, GS RET CDR HANS J. WOLFER, USCG RET AGCM (AW/SW') MICHAEL JOERN, USN AGCS NICK MILLER, USN RET AGCS ALAN ZAHNLE, USN RET MAJ WILLIAM J. RESAVY, USMC RET COMPUTER FUND DONATIONS None
Gull Coast Chapter Naval Weather Service Association
Dear NWSA Member, On behalf of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chapter of the Naval Weather Service Association, please allow me to tell you about the 2003 reunion we are planning in Biloxi, Mississippi. We've selected the same hotel we used at the 1997 reunion, the Holiday Inn Beachfront. For those of you that were able to attend in 97, you'll remember we had a fantastic hospitality suite with direct access to the hotel's pool and plenty of room for discussing old times. Although some of the bartenders from our 97 reunion are gone, we've managed to secure loose pouring McGlothlin and "was that a single or double" Durham to help keep the spirits flowing again. We'll add some rookies, but with Mike and Doc training them, the house is simply hoping to break even at the bar. The dates will be May 7-11. Those of you familiar with the Gulf Coast know that our forecasts for early May are second to none and delaying into the month of June could easily add 10 degrees to our temperatures and 20% to humidity. Locked-up are the Friday golf tournament with all profits going to the scholarship fund, a Friday night Shrimp Boil, and of course the Banquet on Saturday night. Here comes the part where we'd like your help. With the numerous things available to us on the coast, we'd like to know what other events you'd like to have us arrange. We are currently considering: 1. A tour of the AG schoolhouse. 2. A show at one of the casinos for Wednesday and/or Thursday night. 3. A Swamp tour 4. A tour of the Stennis Space Center 5. A tour of some historical sites along the Gulf Coast 6. A day trip over to Pensacola to visit the Aviation Museum which now includes a WWII Aerology office 7. A 1/2 day trip over to Mobile to visit the USS Alabama 8. A day in New Orleans which could include: a. The Riverwalk b. The Aquarium c. Brunch on Bourbon Street d. Dinner on Bourbon Street
Tour Information
New Orleans Historical Tour & Coastal Mississippi — (9:00 AM to 5:00 PM) Enjoy a full day of adventure and excitement as we leave Biloxi for the "City That Care Forgot...New Orleans!" Traveling along the "World's Longest Man Made Beach", you will find this to be one of the most scenic, in all the United States. Arriving in New Orleans, we start with a two-hour city tour where you will see unusual aboveground "Cities of the Dead" (cemeteries). Follow along the rails of the historic St. Charles Avenue streetcar as it passes stately mansions from an era long ago. At the end of our City Tour, you will have an opportunity to visit, on your own, the famous French Quarter for your dining and shopping pleasure. Options in New Orleans include: Natchez Steamboat Cruise on the Mississippi River, Aquarium of the Americas, National D-Day Museum, Guided French Quarter Walking Tours, Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World, Lunch or Dinner at one of New Orleans' World Famous Restaurants.
Bellingrath Gardens & Home - including lunch — (9:00 AM to 2:00 PM)
Visitors from around the globe consistently rate the Bellingrath Home a favorite among historic attractions. Readers of "Southern Living" recently chose Bellingrath Gardens as one of the top three gardens in its annual Reader's Choice Survey. In bloom every day of the year, Bellingrath offers visitors 65 acres of landscaped beauty among towering live oaks draped in Spanish moss. Walter and Bessie Bellingrath, the first bottlers of Coca-Cola in Mobile built and completed the home in 1935. The home is furnished with fine antiques, Baccarat and Waterford crystal chandeliers, and a collection of porcelain to rival the best on display in Europe (Available without lunch, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM).
Swamp & Bayou Tour — (8:30 AM to 1:00 PM or 1:00 to 5:30 PM)
Embark on a relaxing Southern Louisiana ride towards the swamps and bayous where you will take a 2 hour boat excursion allowing you to see swamp life up close. Bring your camera to capture the nesting grounds to alligator, egret, racoon, nutria, and duck. See these and other creatures found only in the swamps of the Southern United States.
NWSA Reunion #29 07-10 May 2003 (gets really hot in June) BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI l
Member's First Name Last Name
Spouse/Guest Additional Guest/s
Address
City State Zip Phone E-mail :
Planned Arrival Date Number Cost Registration Fees: Member: $15.00 Spouse/Guest: $5.00 each Reunion Ball Caps: $ 10. 00 each
THURSDAY 08 May: Swamp Tour - $40.00 /person New Orleans day tour (including D-Day Museum) - $45.00 FRIDAY 09 May: Golf Tournament - $40.00/person Bellingrath Gardens Tour - $45.00 (lunch included) Picnic by the pool - $25.00/person (price permitting, we will include a shrimp boil) SATURDAY 10 May: Reunion Banquet* - $35.00/person Fried Catfish _____ / ___ Roast Beef ______/ ___
All tours include transportation and admission. Casino transportation is available and show schedules will be available during check-in. If you'd like any of the above tours scheduled for Saturday, please let us know. Total Amount Enclosed
Please forward registraion forms and checks payable to "Gulf Coast NWSA " to: Ed Smith 108 Beachview Circle Long Beach, MS 39560
Reunion 29 POC's: Ed Smith Bob Coniglione 228-864-7147 228-863-3526 (evenings) [email protected] [email protected]
See Ya'll in Biloxi
Biloxi Beachfront Holiday Inn Hotel EXPRESS __ at the Coliseum 2400 Beach Blvd 2416 Beach Blvd Biloxi, MS 39531 Naval Weather Service Association Room Reservation Form May 7-11, 2003
Please complete a separate form for EACH room and return by fax or mail to Biloxi Beachfront Hotel at the Coliseum or Holiday Inn Express ATTEN: SALES DEPARTMENT
Name: ______
Address: ______
Phone:( ____ ) ______Fax: ___ )
Arrival Date: ______Departure Date: ______
Choice of one Hotel: (PLEASE CHECK) ______Biloxi Beachfront Hotel (at the Coliseum): Rate: $85.00 (single/double/triple/quad), plus 10% tax per room per night. ______Holiday Inn Express: Rate: $99.00 (single/double/triple/quad), plus 10% tax per room per night.
Type of Room Requested: (choose one): Smoking ______Non-Smoking______
Credit Card # ______Expiration Date:
Card Holder Signature:
Check Number Check Amount$
Please note that all reservations must be guarantee with credit card or first nights advance deposit. Hotels cannot guarantee smoking or non-smoking room types. Any reservations not cancelled 72 hours in advance, will be charged one nights advance deposit. To insure that you receive your special rate, please make certain your reservations are made before the cut-off date of April 3, 2003.
Sales Phone (228) 388-3551 Fax (228) 385-2032 Email: [email protected] Travel via the Moon
The world of travel keeps changing. Security lines are longer than a year ago, but in most airports the TSA (read government) has taken over & lines seem to move faster in the past 6 months. You'll note twice the people performing the searches now but there seem to be less passengers turned around for search #2 or #3. Most airports have returned to sidewalk check in (sometimes long lines there too, but much faster than check in at counters)... You did know they expect tips at the sidewalk as they did before 9/11, right!?! All suitcases are subject to x-ray at check in, although some airports don't have the capability yet; so don't put extra film for your camera in the suitcase – the x-ray is much stronger than the security x-ray you will walk thru after getting your seat assignment, so be sure you carry your film & camera thru with your hand-carry items. You can always hand your film/camera to a security person so it doesn't have to go thru x-ray – certainly if your film is >400 asa. At one time you could escort your departing guests to the gate and say goodbye there... only passengers can go thru security now! It's hard to tell why but some folks have to take off shoes, coats, dig deep for coins, etc, but others just seem to walk thru without problems. Certain passengers are selected for a wand search before going down the jetway to board the plane...again, selection is unknown till the very last minute. A cane, umbrella, your favorite pool cue and certain other carry on items are still prohibited, although some flight attendants will let you get to the seat with them, and then take them from you till after landing...best idea is check them. Very few airports allow other than passengers past security, so no more bidding farewell to your departing guests at departure gates. Walk arounds when the seatbelt sign is on is a definite no-no now & you can expect the flight attendants to let you know about it! They don't know your intentions and there has been FA training on how to control passengers with greater authority. Until we get biometric guarantees we are not security risks, expect to put up with more inconveniences in your airport travel. The odds that some terrorists will try to take over your plane are astronomical...so GO! A little potpourri for Travel 2003 – Euros have decreased in the past year and are just under 1 Euro = $1, but if you look at prices in Euros it's not hard to understand $ value. Least cost for money conversion is still a American Express check/money order in Euros, that you get FREE from your bank or AAA that you can cash at any American Express office at NO Charge...note: any AMEX Office...not a bank or money change company who will charge you about $2-4 percheck to change. The Euro is still not accepted in the UK (OK in Ireland), some Scandinavian countries, Switzerland and all of Eastern Europe. EURAIL and passes issued by individual countries are your best means of transport. Trains are frequent, fast and go everywhere but without a pass, are quite expensive. However, if your not planning to travel at least every other day, the pass may cost more for the 7-15-30 days than a walkup fare for just occasional trips. You activate your pass on the first day at the train station then just show the conductor if they ask for it on later days...go to www.eurail.com or call their 800 number here in the US for more details. They also sell/deliver passes for most other countries, which may cost less that a Eurail...but will have restrictions for country-use, time of day, discounted for travel by more than 1 person during certain months. Commuter Air Travel between most countries is available, but costly unless ordered in conjunction with Trans-Atlantic tickets. Scheduled tour companies or individual travel?? – Scheduled tours can be great...you pay your money in advance, they send tickets and schedule, you meet, and they take you on the plane/bus/train with tour guides to tell you all about the area. You can also buy insurance to cover you if you are unable to go. Some companies are better than others. Individual trips on you own require you to know where you want to go and you should have an itinerary of what you want to see. A book form your local bookstore by Fodor, Frommers or anyone who specializes in your country will give you a lot of ideas on what there is to see, hotels, shopping, restaurants, and help you write down what the country(s) offer. You pock the museums or if your going for the first time, a travel agent can help you plan an outstanding trip and quite often know personally about the trip/area/hotels they suggest, all within your budget. Another source of info is via fax numbers to hotels (ask for their BEST price and tell them you are asking other hotels in their area). This is how you go from a $200 room to a $85 room including breakfast at a hotel just 4 miles away. And another source is sending email to either the country or city asking for visitor info...they all do it and send along pamphlets, cost, fax, phone and more info than you will need. Actually, by doing your own itinerary and working with you travel companion, the preparation is almost as much as the trip itself. Finally, packing. – Remember, airlines now charge more for heavy (greater than 44 lbs) suitcases, excess baggage is more than 2 (with most airlines) and can cost $80 each, and finally, do you want to carry/push/pull all that weight? One suitcase per person plus a light carryon hang up bag (which can be shared) is our rule...an over the shoulder light bag with itinerary, passports, reading material, toothbrush is also a good idea. If in doubt as to whether or not to pack some items, leave them. Extra room in the suitcase should not be filled with extra clothing, but left empty to hold the gifts you'll be buying over there. Match clothes by color so you can not only wear them on different days but they can be mixed without having to run to the hotel laundry (most expensive)! Now you've got the ingredients so get busy and plan. The off-season ends in April so get your tickets now at lower prices, or be ready for the Oct-Dec drop in costs. OH – BAD NEWS! – The whole reason for going on vacation has always been to stock up on those little soaps & shampoos. Would you believe some hotels now put out large plunger-type bottles – no more take home little ones – and it's hard to get those big plungers in the suitcase! We'll survive!! Enjoy!!
I got it from an old neighbor/fellow weather instructor from Lakehurst days now ret in VA who was a "black-shoe" "surface skimmer" CDR USN, Joe Streuli. Frank Bailley ------Aphorisms Concerning Politicians of either party..
1. A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul. --George Bernard Shaw 2. The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings. The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery. --Winston Churchill 3. There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences. --P.J. O'Rourke (1993) 4. Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it. --Ronald Reagan (1986) 5. Foreign aid might be defined as a transfer from poor people in rich countries to rich people in poor countries. --Douglas Casey (1992) 6. If you want government to intervene domestically, you're a liberal. If you want government to intervene overseas, you're a conservative. If you want government to intervene everywhere, you're a moderate. If you don't want government to intervene anywhere, you're an extremist. --Joseph Sobran (1995) 7. In general, the art of government consists in taking as much money as possible from one party of citizens to give to the other. -Voltaire (1764) 8. I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts. --Will Rogers 9. Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys. --P.J. O'Rourke 10. When buying and selling are controlled by legislation, the first things to be bought and sold are legislators. --P.J. O'Rourke 11. Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you. --Pericles (430 B.C.) 12. The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools. --Herbert Spencer (1891) 14. No man's life, liberty, or property is safe while the congress is in session--Mark Twain (1866) 15. Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else. -- Frederic Bastiat 16. We contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle. --Winston Churchill 17. Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner. --James Bovard (1994) 18. A liberal is someone who feels a great debt to his fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money. --G. Gordon Liddy 19. The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin. --Mark Twain 20. If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it's free. --P.J. O'Rourke 21. What this country needs are more unemployed politicians. --Edward Langley 22. The government is like a baby's alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no responsibility at the other. --Ronald Reagan 23. Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself. --Mark Twain 24. There is no distinctly native American criminal class save Congress. --Mark Twain 25. Talk is cheap--except when Congress does it. – Cullen Hightower
LETTERS Dear Bill, I read the May issue of the Aerograph from cover to cover and found the articles and stories extremely interesting and informative. I look forward to the conclusion of the Real Story of The Bridges At Toko- ri in the August issue. I recognize many names of people that I served with during my five tours of duty with the Naval Weather Service. Those tours were: [a]. V.S.S. Franklin D. Roosevelt CV A -42 Weather Officer and Ship's Aircraft Pilot [b] VW-4 Flight Meteorologist and Aircraft Plane Commander-Hurricane "Gracie" in 1959 was a very rough ride with "Bud" Parham in the crew! ! [c]Fleet Weather Facility Keflavik, Iceland Assistant Officer in Charge and Aircraft Plane Commander for the Naval Station Airplanes. [d] U.S. Naval Post Graduate School Instructor and Flight Officer [e) NAS Patuxent River Md. Weather Officer and Plane Commander in Station Airplanes. I will not bore you with my other tours of duty except my final one in which I was flying out of Moffitt Field CA in C-130 Aircraft and most of the flights were to Vietnam. The men that I flew with on those missions were also high quality service members similar to the Weather Service personnel that I served with. I had a wife (Virginia] and 3 sons during my Navy career and some of my experiences obviously rubbed off on them. That is the reason that my oldest son [Mark] wrote the enclosed story--of the first 40 years of my life. He did take a little literary license during the last paragraph of the story but everything else is true. Hope you like the story. Yours truly; Claude Giles
The story is in this issue Claude. Bill
Dear Bill, I've enclosed an article on the death of Margaret Newman Moshier, a NWSA long-time member and one of the "pioneer" WAVES officers in the first class at MIT. My finding about this happened because I was trying to help Don Cruse, who was trying to answer a request from a relative of another early WAVE meteorologist. I know that you will want to publish this in the AEROGRAPH. (NOTE: Betty Wintersteen and I are the only two of the second class who remained in the Navy, and I am beginning to feel OLD.) Flip Coyne-McDonald ------It's been taken care of Flip. Thanks for the information on Margaret Moshier. Bill Dear Bill, I first met Ed "Ski" Snopkowski in 1955 when I transferred from the USS Monterey (CVL-26) to NAS Pensacola. He was a LT flight forecaster and I was an AG2. He was one of those officers that anyone would enjoy working for--a really nice, competent fellow. I didn't serve with him again until the 1965-1968 time frame when I was transferred from NS Adak to FWC Alameda. He was a CDR (later promoted to Captain) XO and I was a LTJG/LT FDO. Again, he was a super fellow to work for. The only problem I recall in those three years occurred when Jack Mills and I were essentially kicked out of his office. Both Jack and I worked as forecasters in OTSR during the Vietnam buildup (over 200 ships under routing at the same time, and that continued for months on end). One of the enlisted men in the office got caught at a personnel inspection for some sort of minor infraction, and the CO. (Captain Tilden) decided that the civilian head of OTSR rather than the military officers in the office should impose the disciplinary action for the infraction. To make a long story rather short, Jack and I took exception to the decision and made our feelings known to the XO. After a rather short and rather heated discussion, we were both summarily kicked out of his office. The decision stood, but we still let him know we thought it was wrong. The last time I served with Ski was in 1969 when he was stationed at China Lake. I was in VW-1 on Guam, and the squadron sent me back to China Lake for a two-week course in weather modification. Toward the end of the course, CAPT Ski asked me how I was going to get back to Travis AFB to catch my return flight to Guam. I told him I had no idea, but would work something out. He said "nonsense" and promptly arranged for the station Cessna aircraft to fly me to Oakland when the class was completed where an AG from FWF Alameda picked me up and drove me to Travis. He really went "above and beyond" to make the effort to do that. The last time I saw Ski was in the early 1990's at the Silverdale NWSA reunion. Ed Snopkowski and his wife Mary are two of the most gracious people that Barbara and I have known in our 50-year association with the Naval Weather Service. He remained a good friend for all of those years. Barbara and I are deeply saddened by his death. Dick Gilmore
Thanks for remembering Ed for us Dick. I was fresh out of boot camp in the NAS Pensacola weather office at the time you mentioned. I did not have the pleasure of knowing Ed after that except for casual meetings at reunions. Bill
Bill, This morning I was asking myself if I had ever written to thank you for your response to my query about the origin of the article submitted in the last Aerograph. I did receive the attachment, but I'm still a novice at this computer so rather than forward it as I should have, I mailed it to Billy-Ace Baker, the historian for the Antarctic Explorers who wanted to know how the article reached you. The matter should be cleared up for him now. Contacting him was a help because he was able to tell me why my husband, Jack A. Odbert had never been notified that a mountain had been named for him. I had found out in a strange roundabout way long after my husband's death. It seems many of the" High Jump" and "Deep Freeze" participants were not advised. These expeditions took place in 1947-48 and 1962-63.To quote Bill Baker, "Certificates were made up by Dr. Dater of the Naval Support Force Antarctica (NSFA) Historical Division, but they were never delivered to anyone because the people in question had been transferred to other places by the time the landmark was named and Dr. Dater did not have the resources for locating anyone. Unfortunately Dr. Dater died and the undelivered certificates were lost or misplaced when NFSA moved from Washington DC to Davisville, Rhode Island." I guess I can feel that my contacting the Antarctic Explorer's group about the article in the Aerograph proved beneficial. It cleared up the mystery. Thank you again for your help. All of this e-mail contact has been fun to. Trudi Odbert Thanks for the letter Trudi. It is good to know that The Aerograph is helpful to our membership. Bill
Greetings Bill, Frenchy Corbeille suggested I drop you a line and let you know about the passing of a shipmate. AGC Dennis Meek passed away last Thursday, December 12th. I received a call from his wife, Melba, on Sunday with a few details. Dennis was diagnosed with lung cancer last year and had been in very poor health for several months. I'm not exactly sure when Dennis retired, but I served with him in the ""Cornfield Navy" at Chanute AFB, Ill, in the late 70's. We were both AGCs at the time and instructors on the "Forecaster"" side. I know he had twin daughters and one son, all of whom are fully grown. He had been working for a weather forecasting organization in Houston, Texas as their "Chief Meteorologist" for the past several years. Melba and Dennis lived at: 2715 Honeysuckle Road Rosharon, Texas 77583 I don't believe Dennis was a member of the NWSA but am passing this information along for the Necrology section. Dennis was a good man, a good Chief, and a good shipmate. I shall miss him. Warm Regards, AGC Dewey E. Price, USN, Ret.
Thanks for the information on Dennis' passing, Dewey. I'm sure his shipmates will want to send condolences to his wife. Bill
The following was received from John Shay.
From: Len Kaine To: Cheney, Dick VP; Bush, George President Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2003 14:45 Subject: Where do we get such men??
Dear Mr. President and Mr. Vice President... The speech below was given by Navy Seaman Anthony McCarty at the graduation of the US Navy's Information Specialist (IS) "A" School class 90 on 31 May 2002. It is incredibly eloquent for a new Sailor. It is heartwarming to know that our country still produces such men. God bless them all. Captain Len Kaine, United States Navy (retired) President Golden Rule Society, Inc Coronado, CA http://www.goldenrulesociety.org
For all my family and friends...be thankful and pray for all who defend our freedoms. Freedom is not free. God bless you.
Seaman Anthony McCarty says... "Today I was asked to speak to you all, as a representative of class 90. I was asked to speak on our reasons for joining, our inspiration, our spirit, and any wisdom we've picked up along the way. These are all heart-felt subjects, full of emotion for all of us. Bear with me if I get a little corny. I believe we all joined for our own reasons. After all, we came into the Navy as individuals. Whether it be because of money for college, patriotism, family tradition, need to prove oneself, or that Wendy's wasn't hiring, we all came into the service with our own hopes and dreams and desires. For whatever reasons we had, we all made the same decision, heard the same promises from our recruiter, signed on the same dotted line, and took the same oath. From that moment on, we were united by that choice, the choice to leave our friends, family and lives, and literally sail off to distant shores. Joining when I did, I'd always asked if September 11th was the reason I joined the Navy. For more than a few of the sailors in the audience, I'm sure it was the reason. It was hard not to look at the scenes on TV and not want to do something, anything, to stop the things we all saw from ever happening again. I had already joined by then, I was in DEP (Delayed Entry Program) at the time. I was staring at the TV, and it slowly dawned on me that what I was seeing was what I would be up against for the next four years of my life. I realized that I would, more than likely, be going up against the people who did this. Staring at the scene of the airliners ramming into the World Trade Center again and again, I felt like a kid who had been called out on a dare. I realized I would be responsible to stop things like this from happening again. More than anything else here today, I hope that you grasp the fact that you matter. One day, or even everyday, you will be asked to make decisions that will change the world in some way. You will be asked to make a difference in someone's life, or the world in general. If you do a good job, then good things will happen. Do a bad job, and someone, somewhere, will pay for it. Here at IS "A" School, we've heard time and again that we are at war. But it's a war unlike anything the Navy has fought before. It's not a war at sea, they have no Navy, and we have the greatest fleet that's ever been afloat. It's not a war in the air, they have no air force, and we would fly circles around them even if they did. It's not a war on the land, they have no standing army as such, and when we do meet them on the ground, it's a matter of how few causalities we might take, not a matter of if we will win. This is a war fought in the caves of third world countries, in the streets of our major cities, in the communications in the airwaves, in the depths of the internet, in quiet nighttime covert operations, and on the screens of CNN. The only way they can beat us is by being smarter than us, trickier than us, by coming up with something we hadn't thought of, or hadn't prepared for. The only way they can beat us is by having better intelligence than us. In short, as the newest members of the Intelligence Community, the war is ours to win or lose. Instead of running from this responsibility, I hope you embrace it. In the civilian world people do astounding things to prove to themselves that they matter, that the choices they make affect the world. They do almost anything to feel excitement and be challenged. They go to movies, they ride roller coasters, they abuse alcohol, they marry someone they shouldn't, they climb mountains, they join motorcycle clubs, and do anything at ali to feel like their life has consequences and excitement in it. I think it would amaze most IS " A" students to find out how many people truly do envy you. You're young, you're intelligent, you're in a war with a horrible enemy that needs to be stopped, and you're in a position to truly affect that conflict. You have the love and thanks of a grateful country. You have a job that can lead you to anywhere on Earth, doing anything. You have all the elements of a great story in your life. Without taking away from the seriousness of what you do, or ! sounding like a recruiting commercial, you truly have the chance to live an adventure, if you choose to look for it. By far the greatest challenge in writing this speech was trying to define the spirit I've seen in both my class, IS "A" School, and the Navy as a whole. I've met so many people who give of themselves selflessly and seemingly on instinct. One person in particular I would like to thank is Chief Jordan, on behalf of all the BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition / School) candidates. This is a man who wakes up every morning at 0330, Monday through Friday, and leads us in two hours of intense PT (Physical Training). He does this for no other reason than he doesn't want a group of young men to give their all and fail. But he is by no means the only person I've seen give themselves in small acts of heroism everyday. I've seen the staff and instructors teach their trade with patience, humor, and devotion. I've seen in it in my classmates and shipmates. It's humbling to look around you and see so many people who give of themselves. It makes you want to try harder to be a better person, just to fit in. I realize I don't have the words to grasp the, spirit I've met in many of the people here at IS "A" School. There are some Eastern philosophies that teach that some ideas are too big for words, that we should never try to explain some truths, because one is doomed to never to be able to do them justice. All you do is demean it, turn it into some little sound bite. I feel that applies here. I'm not that poetic, I don't have the words. So, like any good IS with nothing to say, I plagiarized. There's one quote I have kept with me since I joined the Navy. Months before I left for Boot camp, I had the chance to go to Coronado, CA and tour the BUD//S facility. My recruiter was a SEAL and a BUD/S instructor, and he pulled some strings for me. There is a T-shirt shop in Coronado, one that sells shirts to all the graduating members of various BUD/S classes. Each class has their own T-shirt design, and there is a book filled with all the patterns of the T-shirts, some of them going back decades. Most of them were Hoo-yah macho stuff, or funny little witticisms, but there was one that stood out in my mind. I memorized it, and put up in my locker at BUD/S. It came the closest to capturing for me what it is to be in the Navy, and to do the job all of us in IS "A" School will start to do. On the back of the T-shirt was a silhouette of a lone man, holding a rifle, standing watch on a hill. Above him was a small quote, and these are the words I'll leave you with. It was quote from the Bible, Isaiah 6:8: "And I heard the voice of the Lord say, "Whom shall I send, and whom will go for us?" Then I said, "Here I am. Send Me".
Yes, Veteran's Hospital, There is a Santa Claus
Santa showed up, and his parts were myriad. December 7, 2002, the Naval Weather Service Association, ampton Roads Chapter and NLMOC's finest gathered to bring the spirit of love and appreciation to those who went before and live now in white hospital walls and wheelchairs. It is an empty life, wheeling the corridors and staring out the windows to a world you will never join again. But Saturday, December 7, the world came in the door and shook the walls. It began at the Lake Wright Motor Lodge where we gathered to make our selves a convoy and when the last car arrived, (and it came from Eastern Shore many, many miles away); we headed out for Hampton and a party. The day was bright and clear, the roads fine and the folks in high spirits. NLMOC folks came rolling in the parking lot, too. And we came into that hospital radiating cheer. The large recreation room was crammed with wheelchairs when we got there. There wasn't much room to walk between them, and solemn, almost vacant faced men and women occupied the chairs that lined the walls. We began with about 35 wheelchairs and 15 more folks in chairs along the wall. (And many others drifted in during our three hours there.) And slowly the interest began to show. We dropped our boxes and packages, grabbed the red and green plastic cloths and covered 16 feet of tables. And then the food came out. There were fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, cookies, cakes, pies, several kinds of sandwiches, fried chicken, meatballs, cooked shrimp, many kinds of sodas and candy. The table was so crammed we had to remove the little candy canes and squash plates together. It was wonderful. And immediately the folks who came to serve did just that. Men, women, and children, they picked up plates and began loading them. As each plate reached maximum it was carried to someone in a wheel chair or a chair along the wall. And the vacant faces began a tiny smile. And these tiny smiles grew larger and larger as they watched all of their friends join in the fun. Food disappeared rapidly, drinks slipped down throats that hadn't tasted root beer, 7-Up or Coca Cola in a very long time. I watched people nibble on sandwiches savoring the homemade flavor. Meatballs were a treat on a toothpick. One gentleman watched me peel a shrimp and was wide-eyed when I asked if he would like one. He whispered yes, and when he began chewing he closed his eyes the better to savor something he had not tasted in years. When I offered another he whispered, "I can have asecond one?" And I assured him he could. He ate at least four. One gentleman asked for more and waited patiently while I gathered food to fill his plate a second time. I saw one man clutching a pear as if he had a golden treasure. Another asked for another cookie and watched as I added more cookies to his plate. Vegetables went swiftly, fruit disappeared as if it had melted. Meatballs were almost inhaled. Fried chicken pieces evaporated like mist under a hot sun. Cheese was a special treat. You see, one lady had no teeth and had to gum what ever she was given. Cheese gums very well as do the tiny sausages and she came back for seconds and perhaps thirds. One of Bev and Bud Scott's daughters had called merchants who were delighted to send platters of food. She even braved the terrible traffic on Jefferson Avenue, sitting there for ages waiting for a move of a block or so. But she made it. And the platters she brought in were greeted with tremendous grins. With all this eating there was Christmas music, no one sang because they were chewing so contentedly. Soda must be very scarce there, for seconds and thirds were common. And all of us, men, women and children hurried to serve these veterans of so many wars. And back in the corner, folks were decorating the Christmas tree. And another one shone in the entry making a bright welcome. Finally folks began turning the chairs to leave and we reached for the presents. There were many of them and we began distributing the packages, some gaily wrapped, some in clear plastic so the item showed. And they loved it. When the presents were gone, the people began handing out the small soap, shampoo, lotion and such things that the hotels give their guests. And eager hands took what ever was offered. Hand lotion and sweet smelling soap were really treasured. At last we began to leave and we would wish each one a Merry Christmas. One gentleman cried softly, it meant so much to have someone care enough to give him a party. Another, a gentleman I had helped kept trying to say something I could not understand and finally I said I would try to find someone who could understand what he was saying. And as I turned to go he took in a tremendous breath and said, "Merry Christmas" softly. I had to work hard not to cry. And I wished him a Merry Christmas and gave him a hug and a kiss. And others were doing the same. The women there were few but very memorable. One lady was Air Force and very proud of it. She spoke well and we talked just before we left. I said we would do this again next year, and perhaps we could have a picnic this summer. She grinned and said, "You could do it at Easter." I know she just didn't want to wait another 12 months so I am hoping we can do this in the spring. A picnic outside with good homemade food. fried chicken, barbecued ribs, salad, chips and dips, sliced tomatoes and cucumbers, pickles and olives, cakes and pies and perhaps good rich ice cream and watermelon. We shall see. And who was there? Mike and Maggie Joern, Francis X. Valdez IV, Leighton Thompson, Angela Thompson and their son Ty Thompson. Andy Kraft, Richard Englert, Alfred Durham. There was Daniel Lee, Cannon Lee, Jaclyn Muir, Chuck Steinbruck, William Sheppard, Tygvelle Thompson, Joan, Ed, and Katie Ramiter, Ted and Ethel Lemond, Becky Bacon, Jill Burns, Ive Chubb, Bud and Bev Scott, and their family; Kim Barbarji (who brought many trays of food), Mohamad and children - Hamed, Tre and Zachary. Malin and Marilyn Balolong, Floyd and Joan Akers. George and Diana DeLano brought food to be delivered,and Eve Muscari who could not make it but brought many, many small bottles of shampoo, lotion, conditioner, soaps and other things. And we had many who were unable to attend. Marty Nemcosky, whose wife is in the critical care unit in the hospital. John Chubb who could not leave the family arriving that day, Frank Muscari and Eve, George and Diana DeLano who had small children they could not desert. And many others who were simply unable to attend our party but sent their best wishes. All in all, everyone had a wonderful time and we took home happy memories to last a life- time and a sorrow that our best, our people who devoted their lives to keeping us free must live in a boring, white-walled hospital. But the men, women and children of the Naval Weather Service will bring good will to all our men and women there. The Hampton Roads Chapter and all the AGs in the area hope everyone had a joyous Holiday Season. The Christmas Spirit.
Demographics Received from Fred Martin Thanks to a Hurricane Hunter for this brain twister. For those who thought the hardest part of Physics 101 Some interesting world demographic data, presented was the constant conversion from feet and inches to the recently by Dr. Ray Bakke, a professor in International metric system, including all its Newtons, Joules, and Relations: Watts, here are some other useful conversions: ---Migration has never been greater than it is now. ---840,000 Polish people live in Chicago, a city of 8 --Ratio of an igloo's circumference to its diameter: million. Eskimo Pi --50,000 Serbians live in Pittsburgh. -2000 pounds of Chinese soup: Won ton ---Detroit has 40,000 Iraqis and 240,000 Arab people. --1 millionth of a mouthwash: 1 microscope --The U.S. is the largest Jewish nation in the world. -Time between slipping on a peel and smacking the Arabs outnumber Jewish people in the U.S. pavement: 1 bananosecond --There are more Scandinavians in the U.S. than in -Weight an evangelist carries with God: 1 billigram Scandinavia. -Time it takes to sail 220 yards at 1 nautical mile per --The 3rd largest Spanish speaking country in the hour: Knot-furlong world behind Mexico and Spain is the U.S. --365.25 days of drinking low-calorie beer because it's --The U.S. is the 4th largest African country in the less filling: 1 lite year world. -16.5 feet in the Twilight Zone: 1 Rod Serling --133 nations live in one Queens zip code --Half of a large intestine: 1 semicolon --There are more Jewish people in New York than in -1000 pains: 1 kiloahurtz Israel -Basic unit of laryngitis: 1 hoarsepower --52 nations are represented in London -Shortest distance between two jokes: A straight line --London East is predominantly Asian -454 graham crackers: 1 pound cake --London South is predominantly African --1 million microphones: 1 megaphone --London West is predominantly Arab -1 million bicycles: 2 megacycles --Paris is the largest city in Europe, with 14% Algerian. --2000 mockingbirds: two kilomockingbirds --Marseilles is 31% African-speaking French --10 cards: 1 decacards ---Amsterdam once ruled Indonesia. Now 20% of --1 kilogram of falling figs: 1 Fig Newton Amsterdam is Indonesian --1000 milliliters of wet socks: 1 literhosen --Sao Paolo, Brazil, has over 1 million Japanese. --1 millionth of a fish: 1 microfiche --40,000 Somalis live in Seattle. --1 trillion pins: 1 terrapin ---Fastest migration is in China. 40% of the world lives in -10 rations: 1 decoration India and China. In China, they have to create 20 cities --100 rations: 1 C-ration of a million people each year to accommodate the --2 monograms: 1 diagram growth. --8 nickels: 2 paradigms --There are now 400 cities of over 1,000,000 people in --2.4 statute miles of intravenous surgical tubing at Yale the world. Only 40 of these cities are in the U.S. University Hospital: 1 I.V. League --Gated communities are growing faster than ghettos. --100 Senators: Not 1 decision GOD BLESS AMERICA Conversions Received from Bud Parham
PRESIDENT: CARL DRAKE 1st VICE PRESIDENT: BILL BRIDGE 2nd VICE PRESIDENT: Vacant SECRETARY/TREASURER: MORRY SUMMEY ------
The recent holiday season was clouded by sadness, as we mourned the passing of one of our members. DICK TAYLOR passed away on November 24th, just a few days before Thanksgiving. Although his health had curtailed more recent participation in Chapter activliles, in the past he had been one of our staunch supporters in both the Chapter and in NWSA itself. Elsie was with him when he passed away. She said that his passing was very peaceful. Their son and wife had just arrived for a visit the previous day, so he got to see his Dad one last time. Arrangements have been made for interment of his cremated remains at Arlington National Cemetery at 11:30 AM on January 10th, 2003. Elsie said that both East and West Coast relatives will observe a ceremony with full military honors. Don Cruse, of the Potomac Chapter, has graciously agreed to notify East Coast NWSA Members of the time and place of the ceremonies, so any that knew Dick could be in attendance. Dick will certainly be missed by all of us here in the SOCAL Chapter, as well as his many friends elsewhere. Information has reached the Chapter here that Barbara NEMCOSKY is hospitalized, and has been quite ill. Our prayers go out to Marty and Barbara during her illness, along with our heartfelt hopes for a speedy recovery. On the SOCAL Social scene. We held the annual PARADE OF LIGHTS dinner at TOM HAM's LIGHTHOUSE on Shelter Island. This year's display was held on 8 December 2002. As usual, John and Fujii Rodriguez handled arrangements. In addition, other attendees included Mac & Mary McCartney, Dave &. Betty Darling, AI Hassen with guest Arlene Seek, Jim Vollmer, Sadie Finney, and Morry Summey. We were very, very pleased that Dave & Betty Darling attended. They have been in the area for some time, but this was their first time to attend a function. They were attendees at the Asheville Reunion. Both John and I talked to themthere, and encouraged them to get involved in Chapter activities. Next on the social calendar is the Valentines Day Brunch. This too has become one of our yearly events. As usual, it will be hold at the BAYVIEW Restaurant on the Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD). For those of you who may remember, this is the old MCRD Officers Club, which is now open to all grades. The brunch is scheduled for Sunday, 16 February 2003. We welcome as many people as we can get, so if some of you are going to be in the San Diego area in that time frame, give either Deacon Holden or myself a call. To the best of my knowledge, most Chapter members stayed home over the holidays, with a few exceptions. For myself, I had visitors for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. My Granddaughter and Great Granddaughter came down from Vallejo, CA for Thanksgiving week. They came back again for Christmas, along with my daughter, her husband, and my Grandson. Had a great Christmas, except for the clogged Kitchen Sink, which we had to work around. One of the travelers, Deacon Holden, headed to the southeast for a Thanksgiving family reunion. He returned to San Diego, just ahead of that ice storm they had back east. In addition, he came back with some sort of a nasty bug. In fact, he missed that PARADE OF LIGHTS because of it. Next he headed up to Seattle to visit his sister. During his visit he contacted a couple of old friends of his and mine - Frank Baillile and Jack Hansen. He also contacted Frenchy Corbielle, and the four of them met for lunch. I guess they picked some middle ground since Frank hails from Port Orchard, Jack from Whidbey Island, Frenchy is down south in Castle Rock. I wager that it turned out to be a heck of a long lunch, and the SEA STORIES) must have flowed like wine. Our first business meeting of the year was held on Saturday, 4 January 2003. Turnout was very small, with only Deacon Holden, John Rodriguez, Robbie Roberson, Chuck: &. Janice White, and Morry Summey coming to the meeting. One of the missing was Chapter President Carl Drake. I found out why afterwards. He had been at the hospital emergency room. Turned out that it was some type of respiratory distress due to some type of virus that was constricting his throat. They were worried about the throat swelling and closing off. They put him on some heavy does of antibiotics, and continue to have him in for periodic checks. They haven't as yet identified the bug. May be something new. At any rate, Carl says that between this and his recurring double vision problem, he will be unable to attend the Gulfport Reunion. Deacon says that Carl's symptoms sounds very similar to what he was experiencing after his return from back East after Thanksgiving. We close this first report for the New Year, with the hope that 2003 will be a good year for the Southern California Chapter and the Naval Weather Service Association Morry Summey Secretary/Treasurer
Pensacola Chapter
President: Al Atwell Vice Pres/Sec/Treas: Howard Graham
Our Christmas season get-together was hosted by Greene and Marion Hawks at their West Pensacola Country Home. Their house was beautifully decorated in Christmas decor and the food (Marion's Pork Roast) and the side dishes provided by chapter wives were delicious. Some of us also enjoyed some very palatable and soothing Xmas Cheer. Chapter members/spouses attending included: Al and Helen Atwell, Bruce Glaes, Howard and Shirley Graham. Greene and Marion Hawks, Bob Lloyd, Pat and Libby O'Brien, Dick Tokryman, and Roger and Cheryl Warren. After enjoying the great dinner, wine and camaraderie, a brief business meeting was held. New officers were installed with Al Atwell fleeting up to President and Howard Graham assuming duties as Vice President/Secretary/Treasurer. Additionally, The Gulf Coast Chapter information provided on the upcoming NWSA 29th Reunion in the recent "Aerograph" was discussed. Most attendees indicated that they hoped to attend and expressed an interest in participating in the possible day trip to New Orleans. After the business meeting, we all gathered in the spacious family room around the Xmas tree to receive some goodies in a "white Elephant" gift exchange. Eager participants were lucky to obtain some of the more interesting articles that emerged, which included: An attractive Weather Watchers Hurricane Logo, a Regulation Hurricane Hunter Kit (hat/barometer), a fancy candle holder, a sturdy bird feeder, and an exotically sculptured art form (of some sort/). As we approach the end of another busy year, we again feel privileged and blessed to live and work in this great country. Bernie Bauer is very busy with his new job at The Transportation Security Agency. Some of us were thinking what a good deal the government got in hiring Bernie. He's fully qualified to keep terrorists off our airplanes, check on the pilots to make sure they're fit to fly and have current weather info as well as pass on a bit of "Old Navy style" leadership to those that may need it. Rose Frazier and family have been busy getting settled into their new home in Milton. Pat O'Brien just celebrated his fifth year teaching at the Montessori School of Pensacola. John Phillips has been very busy at his H&R Block tax office in Milton getting a new computer program set-up and all personnel trained intime for tax season. Bill Pruitt is temporarily back in Milton but is planning to depart again for Spain in March 2003. He tells us that he's looking after his oats and wheat crops, but some of us still think that he's also keeping a close eye on the grapes. Roger Warren is now back-up and moving around smartly after main artery replacement surgery from below the heart down through each leg. Initial planning is underway to hold our next get-together around the end of March 2003 at The Bellingrath Gardens and Home southwest of Mobile, Alabama. The Pensacola Chapter wishes all of our shipmates and their families a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year. GOD BLESS AMERICA and our troops that are currently serving and protecting our great way of life.
NWSA HAMPTON ROADS CHAPTER ;
President Marty Nemcosky Vice Pres Bob Wright Treasurer Chuck Steinbruck Secretary Joan Akers Social Coord Jack Salvato
On 15 November we held our quarterly meeting at one of our most popular eating establishment. As always, we enjoyed off-the-menu dinners that are always fabulous. The price is right and the service is nothing short of Outstanding. We lucked out again and, as requested, got one of the more entertaining servers. Dinner and entertainment at one low price. What a deal!! Those attending were Bob Wright, Marty and Barb Nemcosky, Jack and Salvato, Ted and Ethel Lemond, Frank and Eve Muscari, Millie Garcia, Dan and Carmen Lee and Granddaughter Jacyln, Jim Langlois, Ed and Ruth Nelson, John and Ive Chubb, Dan Snyder, Jake Bengel, Floyd and Joan Akers, Remy Paul, George and Diane Delano, Bob and Carol Daigle, Bud Scott, and Bob and Jessie Steiner. As always, our meetings begin with the Pledge of Allegiance and a verse from the Eternal Father. A short business meeting followed. A speedy recovery to Faye Crossley who had surgery and special prayers for Barb Nemcosky. On 7 December, members of the chapter and active duty personnel from NLMOC met at the VA Hospital to decorate for Christmas and bring some cheer to the veterans. Details of the visit and the activities can be read in an article by Joan Acres. Our next meeting will be held in January at a place to be announced. God Bless America in this time of need and may He protect all our service men and women who have gallantly taken our place. Jack Salvato, Acting Secretary
NWSA Unit One Central Coast Chapter Monterey California
2003 Picnic Chairman Harry Nicholson Central Coast Chatter Jean and Sam Houston
Unit one's evening event of the year is the Christmas party that is organized by the "Well Weathered Wives". This year Jinx Fett & Peggy Englebretson were in charge of the event that was held in the Merienda Room at the Rancho Canada golf clubhouse on Thursday, December 5`h. More than fifty people were in attendance. Jinx & Peggy rounded up the usual couples: The Clausens, Cumings, Greenfeldts, Glenn Hamiltons, Handlers, Houstons, Jacobs, Maloneys, Mautners, Nicholsons, Petits, Pingels, Renards, Ruggles, Sallees, Schramms, and Wards. Those attending unaccompanied by spouses were Leo Clarke, Tony Clapp & guest, Frank Ivie, Jack Jensen, Mary Kalinyak, Beverly Morford & Ace Trask, Fran Morris, John O'hara & CAPT Chris Gunderson, CO of FNMOC., our speaker for the evening. The good company, good food, reminiscing and fine wine made it a stellar evening. Next year's event will be organized by Pat Nicholson & Marge Petit. Unit One members met in far away places this year. Pat & Harry Nichoson ran into Marge and Pete Petit in Turkey when the sailing tour of Greece and Turkey intersected with the tour of Turkey. On the next to last day of the New England and Canada cruise Glenn & Dolores Hamilton met Sam & Jean Houston at breakfast. Neither knew the other couple was aboard. Other news tidbits: Howard Lewit, who had some medical problems earlier, is doing fine and he and Barbara are planning a trip to Laughlin NV in February. Frank Ivie & Mary Kalinyak are active in bridge tournaments. Most of us are getting back to routine after the Holidays. On Saturday, 16 November, many of Unit One members attended the funeral of Edward "Ski" Snopkowski, who passed away Tuesday, 12 November, 2002. We will all miss our good friend and our sympathy goes out to Mary and the children. The next planned event for Unit One, will be Harry Nicholson's picnic in the summer of 2003.
(MAINE) DOWNEAST CHAPTER (NEW HAMPSHIRE) (VERMONT
EARLY WINTER 2002
The Downeast Chapter of the Naval Weather Service Association held their winter meeting at the Downcast Restaurant in Yarmouth, Maine on November 24,2002. Thirteen members and six guests attended. Those present were, Ash Badger and wife Marie, Don Bail, Gordon "Red" Driskell, Caroline Ewing and friend Stan Kwalke, Earle Gaulzetti and friend Carolyn Salmonson, Dan Hewins and friend Bev Rogerson, husband and wife Ken Kellogg and Debra Reddinger, Bill Pettigrew and wife Liz, John Pollock, George Soulia, Walt Stanczyc, Tom Varrel and friend Chris. Along with a fine meal ordered off the menu (lobster rolls, crab rolls, fried clams and assorted other Maine Staples), we enjoyed seeing friends and recalling old times. The significant business was to select a site for the next meeting in late April 2003. We unanimously voted to have our members from New Hampshire/Vermont host the meeting since nearly 50% of our members are from those two states plus one from Massachusetts. It was decided to explore the Manchester area and asked George Soulia to get a group together, make a decision for a date, time, and place. Get this information back to Dan Hewins or Bill Pettigrew for publication to the total membership by February 1,2003. Another bit of business we discussed, was that the total membership come up with a design for a "logo" for our chapter and we would vote on it at that April meeting. The meeting concluded about 3 hours after the noon start. If this gets into the Aerograph, I'll be very lucky. We are having a very typical "old fashioned" New England winter, and still have the three feet of snow on the ground we started getting the end of November 2002. In the old days, we never had - "El Nino" to blame it on !!!!!!!
Bill Pettigrew (207) 729-8254 - Dan Hewins (207) 622-9429
POTOMAC CHAPTER (NWSA) 02/03)
President Rich Kelley [email protected] 1st Vice Pres Peter Weigand [email protected] 2nd Vice Pres Tom Miovas [email protected] Secretary-Treas Skip Cline [email protected] Tel (410) 590-5412 Corresponding Sec’y Don Cruse [email protected] Tel (703) 524-9067 ------POTCHAP CALENDAR
22 Feb Washington's Birthday 27 Feb Lone Star Lunch Bunch meets in Centerville VA (and every fourth Thursday each month) (CHUCK KINCANNON) 15 Mar PotChap Dinner Meeting at Rosecroft Raceway in MD w/Nominating Committee 2003-2004 (the ROMANOs) 15 Apr Inputs to this newsletter are due to Editor. BOWERS. 7-11 May NWSA/29/Biloxi MS .. hosted by Gulf Coast Chapter (our NWSA Homepage contains registration forms) 17 May Armed Forces Day 26 May Memorial Day (observed) 07 June PotChap picnic w/ election of 2003-2004 officers 04 July Independence Day. NOTE: The above is presented primarily for our PotChap Members since there is no separate newsletter mailed. ------Strange as it may seem, the previous PotChap inputs to this N/L were facing interference from the exciting baseball playoff games on the boob toob—at this writing the problem is professional football playoff games. In no way should this comment be construed as a complaint, however. Primary source material for this chatter column are holiday greetings which we received from many friends and shipmates scattered around the world. Every one was enjoyed and appreciated by me and my Chief of Staff (Marge). If we work from west to east, it goes like this HAZEL CHESMORE is keeping the home fires burning in the same S.F. bay area house as beforealthough she is doing it solo (with assistance) these days. She learned of a War Memorial created in KEN's birth county which honors him & others. DICK HERMAN steered his van back to his olde patch in Idaho in late summer—visits with daughters & families. Still doing his volunteer thing aboard USS HORNET (CV-12) Museum at Alameda. Not too sure about the financial viability of the museum. We shall see. JOHN & FUJH RODRIGUEZ missed out on their usual visit(s) to Japan in 2002, but are hopeful for the future. JOHN & KAYO BEACH are always busy but she managed a May visit to Kyoto- two grandsons in Missouri are their pride and joy—which somehow sounds familiar. MARILYN reports that old classmate LUTHER CORN is living in a nursing home since his care needs exceed her abilities. JIM BLACK and his Good Sam Club navigate all over the territories & have fun. He keeps in shape with square and round dancing. Really great stuff. Mele Kalikimaha from DICK & FRANCES HUSTED indicated that they were back in the HNL condo while it's winter in San Antonio. Their 2002 was full of interesting trips & visits to Whidbey Island & much more. Shifting our focus now to the New England region and our incipient NarraBay Regional NWSA Chapter, BEATLE & PAT BAILEY ventured to Lakehurst (reminiscences of Aerog Schools attended) and NYC with family members (all those usual tourist activities ). ------NAVY SEAPOWER COMMEMORATION According to the Navy Memorial Foundation, the NMF will support the NAVY's Korean War Seapower Commemoration in Pusan, Korea. The ceremonies to be held on May 30-31 will mark the 50th Anniversary of the end of hostilities in that war. Several U.S. NAVY ships will visit Pusan permitting the ceremonies to be staged aboard ship. ------We always expect plenty of NASCAR news when we hear from ROD & PAM ELLIOTT in NJ. PAM was re-elected to the Vice Presidency of the Monmouth-Ocean Credit Union Chapter and also chairs the Lakehurst Credit Union's board. And ROD chairs the supervisory committee. From southern Indiana and the Ohio River Valley we learn that BILL & BETTY KAAG moved into town to avoid those gardening chores. And after more than a year in San Antonio RAY & NINETTE TENNISON like it better all the time—and they're gradually accumulating other family members either in SAT or nearby. One daughter and family remain in the Persian Gulf region, however. On the Mississippi coast the big news is that TOM & DEBBIE DONALDSON's daughter is planning a June wedding. Krista graduated from Christopher Newport College in Virginia in only three years. Yes, we are all looking forward to our May reunion of NWSA people on the Gulf Coast—and anticipate another invitation to their annual golf tournament which consistently reinforces our NWSA Scholarship Fund. Pensacola may have the honor of being home to our only known N SA member who is currently employed by the Federal Transportation Security Agency—that would be BERNIE BAUER. And who sends us the most email from that locality? Why, JOHN SHAY, of course. Another pair of world travelers seems to be VINCE & ARLENE BREWER who made a trip to Hawaii as well as trekking around the continental U.S. of A.. Always dedicated golfers, they now live in Clermont FL. On golfing Florida friends include LYMAN & CAROLYN ROGERS in Jax—they find reasons to visit daughters here and there. Which reminds me of JIM & GERRI LANGEMO, because they do that too. ------COMMISSIONING OF THE REAGAN Just a casual reminder—the USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76) is being commissioned in Newport News VA on Saturday, 10 May. ------In central Florida JIM & IRMA KING are still admiring their gorgeous spot on Lake Scott. JIM can travel ok by using his portable dialysis rig. DAVE & LAVERNE REUSCHER never tire of travel in their deluxe RV—spent three months in Hendersonville NC after attending NWSA/28/Asheville last June. That means they were within a rifle shot of RON & MARY BLOOMFIELD's place since those folks no longer rotate with the seasons to Michigan. No, we did not see them at the reunion. Quien sabe? Almost forgot to report that Captain W. L. SOMERVELL Jr was elected president of the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA formerly TROA) chapter in Boulder CO. ------Veterans' Stories Seems like everyone is soliciting veterans' stories lately. We heard of the World War Two Museum in New Orleans doing this—and recently expanding their effort to include not only the European Theater of Operations but also the Pacific. Now we learn of a similar repository, The Library of Congress in WashDC. The Veterans History Project is co- sponsored by AARP. For information go to wwv.ioc.gov/vets or telephone (800) 315-8300. ------Nearby in The Fairfax BILL O'NEIL reports on another successful visit to daughter and family near Orlando---a holiday visit that extended to 10`h January. Son Paul is a psychiatrist employed on the eastern shore (of Maryland, that is). From Yorktown VA we learned that DAN STORY lost a brother who lived in New Zealand. The family held a memorial service in hometown of Fulton NY. ETHEL visited Utah on a mission trip and joined DAN on several walks and retreats through the year. 2002 marked the 20`h anniversary of the Stephanie Roper Committee & Foundation, Inc. Late in the year there was a transition to Maryland Crime Victims' Resource Center, Inc. with new leadership. This permits ROBBIE & VINCE ROPER to step back a bit from their demanding schedules. On the Potomac River shore we still find BOB & JEANNE JUNGHANS deeply involved with church activities. Their busy travel schedule included a visit to Venice FL where BOB & JEAN LIVINGSTON reside. IKE FISHER is back home in Annapolis after a brief surgery in WashDC so he and FRAN should be primed for another busy year traveling and checking up on their large and scattered family. BOB & ANN SIMS say that the highlight of their visits to NJ is the ride across the Delaware River estuary on the Cape May/Lewes ferry. Ninety minutes back at sea provides a look back at destroyer duty for BOB. BETTY WINTERSTEEN has found her niche in a Lancaster PA retirement community and is no longer required to drive everywhere. Her most recent bout of eye surgery should make her life more pleasant. And BARBARA (STORY) GRIMES made it safely back to home base near NAS PAXRIV after her trip to China. She more than filled her quota of walking up and down mountains---and managed a sedan chair ride. HATTEN YODER turned 81 but continues working (pro bono) with the team on "The Origin Of Life" project at Carnegie. He thoughtfully called to wish me a happy 82nd birthday since our birthdays coincide. And in late October I participated in a documentary project by driving to Wash Navy Yard and the Navy Museum. Greystone Communications filmed a few people for the documentary film about Japanese torpedoes. Since I've had two close contacts with those weapons the film-makers thought it might add a personal touch. ------DON DURHAM retired as deputy technical director of the Naval Meteorology and .Oceanography Command that is headquartered on Stennis Space Center, Mississippi. He had a 31-year career in government and will now be CEO of Innovative Strategic Advanced Systems, Inc. which is a technology company in New Orleans. ------PotChap experienced the loss of some key supporters in late 2002 when KEN & JOYCE SMITH sold out in Severna Park MD and shifted moorings to a new home at Hilton Head SC. They were key people for many years but are best remembered for chairing NWSA/22/Baltimore in 1996. KEN also passed the NSA WX BIRDS records to IKE FISHER after maintaining them for many years. We wish them the best as we shovel snow. Noted in Naval Affairs magazine of the Fleet Reserve Assn is death of AGC ISAAC W. LORD (member-at-large). His name is not reflected in our Bellinger List so the logical question is, "Who knew him?" Published in The Washington Post on January 5`h is an obituary on Dr. WILLIAM H. KLEIN, a meteorologist who retired in 1980 as director of the National Weather Service Systems Development Office. A graduate of CCNY and high school biology teacher, he served with the Army Air Corps during WW2 and earned a master's degree in meteorology from MIT. The next 35 post-war years he worked for USWB and NWS, becoming chief of the Extended Forecast Division's development and testing section. He received a doctorate in meteorology from NYU. ------Where We Live Northern Virginia accounted for $6.12 billion' in tourism spending in 2000, the latest year thus far computed. That figure further computes to 46.6% of tourism outlay in the Old Dominion.
There are continuing efforts to generate greater participation by USMC personnel in NWSA. Captain DON INNIS, USMC-RET has compiled a listing of USMC weather personnel, which is a useful tool in this effort. We have in PotChap Major BILL RESAVY USMC- RET who is acting as liaison between the parties. BILL retired recently from a USMC billet on RDML DONALDSON's staff at CNMOC headquarters. More on this later. ------NWSA Scholarships All NWSA Regional Chapters are reminded by the committee that scholarship applicants will be contacting their nearest chapter. This is the guidance promulgated via WWW.NAVALWEATHER_ORG. Our intent is to encourage more applications from students interested in fields of meteorology and oceanography. Revised procedures are in effect.
MAGGIE HALMINSKI reports on her meeting with neighbors GORDON & IRENIE MACDOWELL. These happy people reside in a retirement community near Leesburg VA. By mid-November ANNE DRUMMOND had transitioned thru Fairfax Nursing Center following her replacement knee surgery and was back home again. She is doing fine during the required physical therapy. WILL GOULD is driving a florist delivery truck part-time and enjoying it. He was told by DON & MARCIE BRYNER that they expected to spend the holidays in Alaska. JIM & ROSALIE ROMANO visitedthe SMITH's new home in SC and pulled an inspection during November.
PotChap "Steering Group" Meeting The S/G meeting convened by Pres RICH KELLEY on 04 December wrapped up chapter affairs for 2002. This was also an opportunity to scan ahead into 2003 and get geared into NWSA calendar of events. One major concern is the condition of The Bellinger List with increasing numbers of unlocated persons. This is a case of our members waiting for someone else to quality control the document. S/T JIM STONE and Webmaster JOHN BERGER will initiate improved method for updating the roster but it is up to individual NWSA members to do the consistent and critical work that is necessary. Another product of this S/G session was a broadened dialog about ongoing efforts to make items published in The Aerograph easier to reference. TOM & MARYANN MIOVAS are contributing to this effort in a major way. Better definition of our effort awaits. CHUCK KINCANNON commented on an entry under "Taps" in The Military Officer of MOAA, remembering JEROME NICKERSON as an employee of USWB and NEPRF MONTEREY. He was a former F4U pilot as well. We learned that AVIS KEYSER is almost 91 but still chugging along nicely. By Christmas, IKE FISHER was able to enjoy some turkey and happy to be away from George Washington Hospital. DOTTIE STERANKA reports on a planned WAVES reunion in 2004 in Philly. From Rome NY the winter wx report from NAOMI BELLINGER is "snow!" And lots of it. Only the skiers are happy up there. As we begin 2003 several PotChap members are planning visits to warmer climes such as Florida – WILL & ELLA GOULD will shove off on 17`h of January, and JIM & ROSALIE ROMANO plan to spend February down south. In between travels JIM has had arthoscopic surgery on his knee. POLLY CARLSTEAD has been evaluated by personnel of a rehab center and is now back home. MARGE CRUSE flew to ColoSpgs for ten days to lend a hand during daughter's recovery from surgery. JUNE CRAWFORD in Largo FL is monitoring son's progress as he begins chemotherapy in nearby St.Petersburg. And on 10 January we attended the inurnment of the cremains of DICK TAYLOR who died in November in a nursing facility near his home in Fallbrook CA. The columbarium at Arlington National Cemetery is being enlarged (again). ------WELFARE CONCERNS ART LANGLOIS (Parkinson's); CLYDE TUCKER (kidney failure); KAREN CLINE (chemotherapy at WRAMC); JERRY DELANEY (eyesight); JOE MEEKS (eyesight); POLLY CARLSTEAD (P.T.). We shall keep these people in our thoughts and prayers, and contact them often. ------PROFESSIONAL CALENDAR 9-13 Feb AMS annual meeting, Long Bch CA – www.ametsoc.org 24-27 March U.S. Hydro 2003 Conf, Biloxi MS – www.thsoa.org 14-17 April Joint Navigation Conf, Las Vegas ([email protected]) 5-8 May OTC 2003 in Houston www.otcnet.org 26-31 Aug FRA 76th Annual Conv, San Diego www.fra.org 14-17 Sept ECSAA Annual Reunion, Norfolk VA -escort carriers.com 22-26 Sept OCEANS 2003, MTS/IEEE, San Diego—www. oceans2000.c 08 Nov MOAA Annual meeting, Portland OR – www.moaa.org
Typhoon Platoon Ramblings
The Puget Sound Chapter of the NWSA meeting of 10 Nov. 2002 at the Wellers Country Restaurant was a mid- winter success. Chapter Veep Jim Black presided in the absence of "the Prez", "Frenchy" Corbeille, who was bird hunting in South Dakota (bins) with an old Navy friend. Others in attendance were Jim's lady friend Louise Ogle, Dan & Marilyn Collins, Dick & Barbara Gilmore, Lee & Dee Hayes, Earl &Lynne Kerr, Ken & Marion (with an 0) Boden & newcomers from Whidbey Island, Matt & Joan Bums. Some might make the error of calling Matt a "tower flower" since he was a Marine, then a Navy Air Control man. He decided we weather types might have some good sea stories BUT you better lay off that "tower flower" nickname. The food was good & the company was excellent. Past "Prez" Dan Collins collected dues for Treasurer Carl Fox who was helping at a church bazaar (& selling pottery from his own kiln). Earl Kerr filled in for the AWOL Secretary Frank Baillie. Jim Black & Louise enjoyed several fun trips including one to the Pacific Recreational Area where they built & deployed a kite. Louise had childhood experience with kites & Jim was her student. Jim estimated that his Dentist might be adding a few rooms to his house when he saw a recent dental bill. At present he is "boning up" on his Income Tax preparation & will provide his services for free. Nice guy ... but of course we already knew that. Dan & Marilyn Collins are busy with "homework but found time for a trip to Montana, South Dakota & places in between. They missed the Corn Palace but visited, among other sights, Walls Drug (for shopping) & the cliff sculptures of Presidents in South Dakota. Chapter President "Frenchy" Corbeille presided over our first meeting of 2003 on Sunday 12 January which was held at "Johnnie's of Fife" restaurant just north of Tacoma, WA. Members in attendance were Barbara & "Frenchy Corbeille, Jim Black & Louise Ogle, Carl & Eleanor Fox, Dan & Marilyn Collins, Lee & Dee Hayes, Earl & Lynne Kerr. Jim & Ruth Northup & Frank Baillie. A beautiful pot, the product of Carl Fox's kiln, was raffled off & the winner was Lynne Kerr. The food, service & Typhoon Platooning (sea stories) were all 4.0. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * P.J. O'Rourke said, "Politicians are interested in people. Not that this is always a virtue. Fleas are interested in dogs." (Yes, we DO have a few buggy politicians!) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Travelers Lee & Dee Hayes made several trips recently to see friends & relatives, including one to California. At a recent meeting he passed around a 1948 picture of the crew at FWC Kodiak which included then LCDR Julius Steuckert, LT Paul Wolff, AG3 Ken Richard & AGAN Lee Hayes among others. Ken Richards was Iater able to identify many others in the picture & produced a fine 8x10 glossy, which may be included in this issue. Lee has joined the "cyber community" but asks that we hold off on the e-mails until he masters his equipment. Earl & Lynne Kerr made several trips around the state during the last several months visiting friends & family & they are happy Seattle Seahawks season ticket holders in the gorgeous new Stadium (alongside the Ms Park). Don't call our team the "Sea Chickens" in their presence or you're in "deep doo doo. Go HAWKS (but wait until next year). Earl has some busy days upcoming what with logging a swath of timber around the streams on his Olympic Peninsula property (at the request of the Fish & Wildlife organization). WW2 lady Marine, Mrs. Jimmie Price, attended our Nov. meeting despite the fact that she was recovering from a painful fall on a "moving walkway". No she wasn't a weatherperson but is the widow of the late CDR John Price, a Navy Meteorologist. Here's one for Jimmie & Matt; "To err is human. To forgive is divine. Neither is Marine Corps policy!" * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Ken & Marion Boden made the long trip from Eastern Washington to attend our Nov. meeting. Winter snows in the mountain passes frequently stops cross Cascades mountain travel & kept the Bodens east of the mountains for our January session. Fred & Trudi Olson had an adventure during a Nov. driving trip south to California to visit friends & family. Their engine "blew up" in heavy traffic & their car rolled to a dead stop in the center lane of a multi lane highway near NAS Miramar in the San Diego area. Heavy traffic streamed around them as they sweated out the arrival of Police & then a tow truck (& those California drivers rushing by). Apparently a good Samaritan with a cell phone reported their plight. On completing their visit the couple returned to Tacoma in a rental car. Shortly after returning they (1) bought a new car & (2) bought a cell phone. Repairs in the southland were steep & their car insurance had to be sued to abide by their repairs policy. Fortunately, the Olson's won their suit for $2000 plus worth of repairs. Fred will fly to San Diego shortly to pick up his older car. On returning they plan another trip south in the NEW car & carrying that CELL PHONE. I don't know if Fred was a Boy Scout but he'll "be prepared". A bit of good news for the Olsens – Their daughter-in-law will be having twins in June. Their best Christmas present was seeing the sonogram picture. Dick & Barbara Gilmore have been busy at home preparing for a February move to a condo in Anacortes. Good plan. Keeping up a yard gets harder every year for all of us & then there's all that other time for "whatever" you would prefer to do. One of those things will be gazing at a great view of Mt. Baker, an active volcano, the snow capped Cascades & Fidalgo Bay. They plan to remove the seats from their SUV & turn it into a moving van for the "small stuff' & leave the heavy lifting to pros. They'll miss the golf course next door to their present home. I lost a good friend in December with the passing of old China sailor, Bill Willis AG1 ret. He took me on my first liberty in 1948 Tsingtao (Quintao) & kept me out of trouble. Both Bill & I served for several months with the Weather Unit at Marine Corps Air Facility Tsan Kou & made a lot of good friends there. In fact I am, & Bill was, a member of the China Marine Association. We also enjoyed a couple weeks of good liberty in Shanghai when Captain Irwin Byerly put his entire crew on TAD to the FWC until the US evacuation. We resumed our friend-ship via Prodigy computer chat rooms just prior to the Silverdale WA NWSA reunion. He talked me into getting a computer.Bill, Bob Frazier & I attended a WA state Highland Games right after the reunion. Did you know that he owned kilts & a tam o'shanter cap? He shamed me into buying a Glengarry fore & aft cap & a Clan Badge. Bill was a fine pistol & rifle marksman & participated with several Navy shooting teams. We have lost a good & faithful NWSA member, a fine shipmate, a good father & a friend to all who knew him. In the pre Christmas days of 2001 (& early 2002) "Frenchy" & Barbara Corbeille had the distraction of loggers clearing away numerous large trees in their front yard. Pre Christmas problems escalated in 2003. On 23 Dec. the plumbing on their Jacuzzi & tub went bad. Those plumbers DO make good wages. On Christmas Eve their refrigerator "expired" (at least there were some good appliance sales at the time). On Christmas day the computer speakers were "on the fritz" (Where are those MOETLOs when you REALLY need one). Early in the year their Internet connection failed. On the bright 3 side their new white Ford /4 ton F250, 6 liter power stroke diesel, was delivered just after Xmas & "Frenchy" met his ' goal of walking 1000 miles during 2002. With regular 4 to 4 /2 mile walks he chalked up a total of 1104 miles. Wow! Maybe that's why he's slim & trim & they call me the "round mound of Puget Sound". Bob & Charlyne Coppo made a Nov. trip to Lake Tahoe, which turned out to be as much an adventure as it was a pleasure trip. Going south it was "mostly blue" & sunny on "back roads" through the mountains & around Mount Shasta. Extensive smoke from "slash burning" in OR & CA made breathing difficult at times. They stayed at a motel on the CA side of the lake where they enjoyed boat rides & crossed over into NV for a little gambling. Waking on day 4 they learned that a strong snow bearing storm was approaching. They left on the following morning, one step ahead of the storm, & reached William CA that evening. They rose to hear that there was two feet of snow covering their previous location & that the Donner Pass was closed. Paying attention to the forecast really paid off nicely. The last leg of the trip was coastal from CA (101?) but the storm was still in evidence. There was 20 foot surf in a few places which even rolled inland over the highway in a few spots. Avoiding the snow wasn't the only "bennie" of a coastal drive since Bob & "Char" were able to visit two of their favorite seafood restaurants near Crescent City, CA & Astoria, OR. * ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Paul Devico (TV Guide) wrote; "Life is like pizza. Even when it's bad it's good." (especially with onions, peppers & Italian sausage. Hold the anchovies PLEASE!) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** George Berrian is recovering nicely after the removal of a walnut sized malignancy, which entailed the removal of a rib section for access. He's happy to be home with Dee to look after him after a long hospital stay. We're looking forward to the day when he will attend one of our NWSA meetings again with Dee & daughter Susan. Mike Evanick is also on the "binnacle list" with several medical problems like many of us older men. He's handling it well with the support & nursing of his wife Alice. If you'd like to write to either George or Mike you'll find their addresses in the Nov. Bellinger list. One Christmas present that Carl bought for Eleanor Fox was a small, untrained Maltese puppy. Missy is her name & they add Lady Foxy to it for AKA purposes. She's a pure bred & she occasionally does "odd jobs around the house" (How's your "pooper scooper" Technique, Carl?). Eleanor is presently undergoing a four-step laser treatment for cataracts. Wayne & Betsy Olsen went east on a bitter-sweet trip to New England where they buried the ashes of Betsy's Dad in his home country of Vermont. Of course they were able to do some sight seeing & did some genealogical legwork at the New England Historical & Genealogical Society in Boston (probably hard to find a place to "paahk" their "caah" "theah". Just thinking about it makes me want some good old New England fried clams. I recently bought a new PC for my computer set up. It sports a humungous 40 Gig hard drive & 1.7 Celeron Intel RAM. Talking to Earl Kerr I learned that my personal computer has more "horsepower" than "Fleet Numbers" (FNWF) had in their early days. Amazing. I wonder if they had to worry about those $%@# viruses in those days? Thank the LORD for Norton Anti-virus. Frank Baillie
NWSA HISTORIAN'S COMMENTS Don Cruse
Here are several examples of helps provided by NWSA within the past several months. These comments are being placed in the newsletter in anticipation of further information forthcoming from members. USS MISSOURI (BB-63) now at rest in her moorings on Ford Island has become increasingly popular with tourists visiting Hawaii. A team from the NPMOC/JTWC PEARL HARBOR has initiated clean-up of the Aerological Office in MISSOURI, hoping that the additional space may be made available to visitors. The question is, "Who were the Aerographer's Mates and/or Aerologists who served in MISSOURI?" A relative of one of our WW2 WAVE Aerologists, HENRIETTA TERRY, plans to write a book on her life. TERRY was a member of the first WAVE class attending MIT to study meteorology in 1942-1943. a one-year course of instruction. BETTY WINTERSTEEN and FLORENCE COYNEMCDONALD were in the 1943-1944 class. We know of no survivors from TERRY's class or of any person who served with her in Aerology. Do you know of any such person? PAUL CARRIGAN's hook manuscript, The Flying, Fighting Weathermen of FAW-4, is still available from RALPH CARRIGAN in New Jersey. Ninety copies have been photocopied and nearly all are sold. Members are encouraged to read this bit of history about Aerology and naval aviation in the Aleutians. It is terrific. USS MIDWAY (CV-41) Museum in San Diego remains in the planning stage but progress is evident, The ship remains in NSY Bremerton WA pending one more U.S. government turnover formality by the Congress. The claim to the pier by the Indians has gone away. San Diego Port Commission granted the museum a 70-year lease on the pier in return for six percent of any profits from sales in the museum. It appears that the next move will be to tow the MIDWAY to a shipyard on the Columbia River across from Portland OR for anti-corrosion treatment, and then to San Diego. Arrival date remains uncertain. There is a related historical project underway in San Diego by the Aircraft Carrier Memorial Association. The USS MIDWAY Museum will receive a series of seventeen paintings of U.S. aircraft carriers for hangar deck display. The objective is to display a painting of each carrier class (e.g., USS WASP (CV-7) and USS RANGER (CV-4)). Where there were sister ships such as LEX and SARA, one painting will suffice. And paintings are being done by local artists. NWSA members who attended NWSA/27 in San Diego will recall walking along the Embarcadero where the Aircraft Carrier Memorial has been built from contributed funds.
Carl Peterson - - ex CaerM (an amazing man)
By AGC Fay Crossley, USN RET and xAG2 Byron Peterson, USN REL
While stationed in Salt Lake City with the National Weather Service, I attended a managers meeting in Nevada in 1992. I met my counterpart from Flagstaff, exAG2 Byron Peterson. Byron told me about his father, exCaerM Carl Peterson. I was impressed with Byron and with his account of his father. Byron has two step brothers, Lindley and Ronald Brott, (Ronald is deceased) and a sister Joan LaPier, her husband is a retired MMCS. Carl has 10 Grandchildren, (one being Byron's son Erik who saw duty as a Gunners Mate on a guided missile cruiser. There are 22 Great Grandchildren as well. So you see, this is a real Navy Family. Byron gave me his father's address and I have been a Pen Pal of this extraordinary man ever since, having never met him face to face. Carl was born in Pierre, South Dakota on August 9, 1914. Carl's mother from Germany, passed away when Carl was 7. His father from Denmark, passed away when Carl was 10. Carl spent his early years living with aunts and uncles from Wisconsin to South Dakota. Carldid have one sister who passed away when he was 2. Carl graduated from Pierre High School in May of 1932. Carl entered the Navy in 1933 and was stationed at the USNTS San Diego from October 1933 to January 1934. His first ship was the USS Trever DD-339 where he advanced from Fireman, to Fireman 3rd and 2nd. Carl was transferred to the USS Pruitt DD-347 in September of 34 where he advanced to MM2. He was then transferred to the USS Wasmuth DD-338 in April of 37 until his discharge in October of that year. Carl then attended the University of Wisconsin until the money ran out, at which time he joined the Weather Bureau in 1940. He was stationed at Huron, South Dakota where he was instrumental in helping to discover the then unknown Jet Stream. In 1941 he was transferred to Chicago (Midway) until reentering the Navy in June of 1942. He was assigned to the USNAS Lakehurst where he became an AG2. From July 1942 to July 43 when he was transferred to USNRAS Memphis and made AG1. During August of 1943 Carl was transferred to the USS Crystal. In May of 1944 he was assigned to USNAS Pasco, Washington. This is where he made CHIEF. In July of 1945 AGC Peterson was transferred to the USS Acontius where he was a member of COMMTBRONS PACFLT Staff. In October of 1945, Carl was transferred to NSNTC Great Lakes for Discharge. Upon his discharge from the Navy, Carl returned to the Weather Bureau. He was stationed at Minneapolis from 45 to 50 as Chief Observer. Kansas City from 50 to 58 where he worked in the Records Processing Center, now called NCDC. In 1958 Carl moved to Rockford, Illinois. He then became the OIC at Kahului Maui Hawaii in 1961, moving to Honolulu in 65 as Chief of the Observation Section Pacific Region until he retired in 1971. Carl's first wife, Gertrude Sabey, passed away June 4, 1976. Carl is currently married to Virginia "Ballard", her previous husband, Red Ballard of Benny Goodman Fame, passed away in the mid 1990s. Carl and Virginia were married November 17, 1999. They live in Peoria, Az. Carl has allowed his gift membership to lapse. "I don't know anyone in that book anymore". So if there is anyone that might remember Carl, drop him a note at 11311 N. 99th Ave. #8-209, Peoria, AZ. 85345. This man has impressed me with his dedication to Weather, and to the Navy. He reflects the image of a "real" sailor, as you can see in the picture. THANKS FOR A JOB WELL DONE CARL.
AGC Geneva Pitzrick Woods, USN RET From The Gossport
photo courtesy of Geneva Woods
Geneva Pitzrick (later Geneva Woods) was teaching school when World War II began-and the military was recruiting. "I was immediately interested, but was obligated to complete my teaching contract. I took the oath July 2, 1943, in Minneapolis, Minn., and a few weeks later had orders to report to Hunter's College, N.Y., (for training that would eventually become boot camp for women). Woods said, "I was there for the WAVES' first anniversary, the highlight being a visit from Eleanor Roosevelt, whom I was so near I could have touched her." Woods explained that her mother and brothers were against her joining the WAVES so she spent the summer with one of her sisters and the rest of her family didn't know she had actually enlisted until two or three weeks after her enlistment. After boot camp, Pitzrick was sent to Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC), Memphis, Tenn., for "A" school, but shortly after her arriving in Memphis the Aviation Mechanist Mate (AMM) School for WAVES was moved to Norman, Okla. Pitzrick said that before the move to Oklahoma, another WAVE traveled to Arkansas (across the river from Memphis) and married her fiance, a disabled Navy pilot, without getting permission. The young lady was "found out" and the Navy isolated her in sick bay because there were no brigs for women at that time. A few days later WAVE was court-martialed, herbuttons ripped off and given a discharge for marrying without permission. "How things have changed." From Oklahoma, Pitzrick headed for NAS Terminal Island, San Pedro, Calif., as an AMM3, but because of appendicitis she spent two weeks in the hospital and then given light duty in the storeroom. The yeoman from the storeroom was selected for Officer Candidate School (OCS), so Pitzrick filled in for him. About the time the Navy replaced the yeoman, a Sailor from the Assembly and Repair Laboratory was selected for OCS and Pitzrick was moved to the lab, where she spent her time testing various oils, metals and plane scraps from wreckage. Barracks life: She said the women were required to live in the WAVE barracks and all were required to march to chow in formation. The only way to not go to chow was to have a "chow pass," so the women would get them as often as possible and save them to be used on the weekend so they could eat in the snack bar in the exchange. The only way the WAVES could use the exercise yard was to wear their exercise uniform and have sports equipment to use. The problem was that the only sports equipment available to the women were boxing gloves. So the women would check out boxing gloves and box each other-anything to get out of the barracks. San Diego: While at Terminal Island Pitzrick was promoted to the rank of chief petty officer. The facility at Terminal Island was closed in 1948 and she was transferred to the 11th Naval District, San Diego, and assigned to the Assembly and Repair department to work with the cadmium plating tanks. Pitzrick had not been at San Diego long when the Navy decided to do away with the AAM rate for women, so all of the WAVES in the rate were transferred to NAS Pensacola. All of the 40 or so AAMs were offered rate changes and Pitzrick became an Aerographer's mate (AG). She attended "A" school (as a chief) at NAS Lakehurst, NJ, and graduated second in her class. "It had been years since I had studied, and competing with these young boys, it was good. I was pleased with myself," Woods said. After "A" school she transferred to Fleet Weather Central, San Diego, as her permanent station. While still attached to San Diego, she attended "B" school and radiosonde (high altitude testing device) school. Upon returning to San Diego, Pitzrick was assigned as a radiosonde crew chief. According to Pitzrick, they would attach a radio to a weather balloon and send it up to 35,000 feet. The radio would gather weather data and transmit it to the station where it was analyzed. Pitzrick said, "It was very intensive work. There was a lot to keep up with and meet the deadline. "My crew did me real justice. My crew always had the least errors and it made me real proud of them." Pitzrick said she spent four years at San Diego, and "Oh, I got married while I was there." She married a Navy warrant officer in 1953 and her name changed to Woods. During her tour at San Diego, her husband retired and went to work as a civil servant. After her San Diego tour she spent the next four years working as a chief Aerographer in Alameda, Calif., and her husband was able to follow her and remain with civil service. Final Navy years: Chief Woods received orders to Whiting Field in 1957 and her husband transferred (civil service) to NAS Pensacola. Woods said that while she was stationed at Whiting Field, one of her crewmembers was two weeks from pinning on third class. The Navy found out the young WAVE was pregnant so she was discharged. Woodsasked, "See how far they've come?" After completing her tour at Whiting Field, Woods said, "I had a little more than one year left before transferring to the Fleet Reserve and they (the Navy) decided to send me to Fleet Weather Central, Washington, D.C., (as education chief) until I retired." Her husband stayed in Pensacola and Chief Woods retired in 1963 with 20 years service and returned to Pensacola. She said, "I left (the Navy) with many fond memories." Referring to the roles of women in the Navy, she laughed and said, "How different it is today." After returning to Pensacola, Woods and her husband built a home. Her husband had a son from a previous marriage and the couple adopted a daughter. Woods now has four grandchildren. During the years after their children grew up and moved away, the Woods spent a lot of time traveling the world. Woods' husband passed away two years ago, but she still travels a lot. Woods said, "If things aren't too bad because of Iraq, I'm going to Antarctica in January
FWC Kodiak, Alaska 1948: Back row: Wally Crain, Agw Frank Cates (partly hidden), ET3 Wagener, AG3 G. G. Ward, RMSN B. F. Cheek, AG3 Ken Richards, AG1 Bob Foresberg, AGAN Pau Romander. Third Row: Unknown, Unknown, Kipp(s), AG3 Matusewicz, AG2 Bob Steverns, Benny L. "Squeaky" Scott, Heatherington, AGAN Lee Hayes, AGC E. J. Rudesill. Second Row: Officers — LT Paul M Wolff, LCDR Julius Steuchert, OinC CDR Blake B. Booth, XO LCDR R. L. Dahllof (sic?), CWO T. J. Bliss. Front row: YNC J. S. Graham, AG2 H. Goettel, Unknown, AG3 Richardson (later a career GS at FWC Suitland), AG3 Billy Harper, SN Herman Ethridge (wears outdated white watchmark after time which Aerms became AGs 7 S 1/c AerMs became AGANs in 1948. Missing or unknown E. LK. P. Baum, Carter, AG1 Bob J. Dean, N. W. Olsen. Mittenmeier
You can't call the `Randy' an `unlucky ship' Re: "Kamikaze memories" (B-1, Nov. 11) and "He recalls footnote to kamikaze attack" (B-1, Nov. 13): I can't believe I'm defending the Randolph again after 56- plus years. I went aboard the aircraft carrier in October 1944, a week before she was commissioned and stayed until my dis- charge date in March 1946. To say that she was an unlucky ship is not quite so. I probably wouldn't be here today if that were true. I suppose it's a matter of perspective: She was one of only a few of the major ships that went on a shakedown cruise and didn't have to go back in for repairs; we just went on through the canal to the West Coast for our armament, and straight to the South Pacific. On March 11, 1945, the Randolph and its crew were very lucky when one the five "Bettys," according to Tokyo Rose, came in below radar at dusk and hit us. Actually, it was a Frances, similar to a Betty. Fortunately, I was sitting down forward waiting for the second movie to start. Where we lucked out is that the position we were originally scheduled for had to be filled by the Franklin, which was virtually destroyed by kamikazes. Were we lucky or unlucky? The other incident mentioned was when one of our planes hit us. It was much less serious, but certainly un- called for. On June 7, we were anchored alongside an ammunition ship. Part of the crew was loading bombs, and some were ashore. There were dozens of bombs upon the midsection of the flight deck waiting to go down the elevator to the magazine for storage. About halfway through this exercise, three P-38s flew over. The first one made a pass and buzzed us, but not dangerously low. The second came in considerable lower, and did the same. The third came in dangerously low and didn't pull up, but scutted across the forward flight deck under eight planes and out over the side. At first, it was suspected that the Japanese were flying them. About three days later, the divers came out and brought the pilot's body up. He was an Army Air Force major from Clark Field in the Philippines. It was assumed that they were getting their flying time in and decided to show off for the Navy. What if the P-38 had hit those bombs on the flight deck or the ammo ship? Were we lucky or unlucky? All in all, the Randolph had an out-standing combat record. Jack Flaherty and some of his photographic memories of the aircraft carrier Randy. Howard Lipin / Union-Tribune
Now to Crndr. Jesse C. Madden's obituary in July 1998 that started this interchange. My high school friend was a plane captain and worked on the flight deck with the pushers and crews. Ups an aerovranher's mate (weather) one deck above the flight deck in the aft of the Island. l remember I used to look out over part of the flight deck and just marvel at how (then Lt.) Madden could orchestrate all of the activities. He probably had the hardest job aboard. His flight deck control office was referred to as "Madden's Casino," and his plane handlers affectionally calledhim "Slinging Sam" because he would be pointing in all directions with his hands and arms when bogeys were on the screen. He was a father figure to all of the young seamen under him. The Randolph did have a surprise bonus, of such, at the end of this cruise. After the last big bomb, we went into Tokyo Bay and dropped anchor right by the side of the "Mighty Mo," the battleship Missouri. We weather guessers were able to use our theodolite (a surveying instrument) and watch all the "biggies" sign the peace treaty. JACK FLAHER"IY Escondido
Hi Bill, Have been conversing with an OAE. Was the guy that flew the SAR standby R4-D to Liv Glacier and stood by in 1956 when RADM Dufek made the first landing at Pole. That story was just published in The Polar Times. Assume you saw it. Anyway, after we connected, he sent me the following in a personal email. Are you interested in running it as a WX related item? If so, I'll get back to him and ask permission. If not, fine. Your call. We never met on the ice, but have mutual friends. He was at L.A. V for D.F. II, flying out of Keil Field -- named for the second Antarctic fatality, Max Keil. A week after our ship [Arneb] left L.A. V, Max backed his tractor into a crevass while filling another. Warm regards, Mo Gibbs Herewith Quote from CDR Jim Waldron, USN [Ret.] formerly of VX-6: Here is another Antarctic story for you. I have not tried to have it published. Printed with CDR Jim Waldron's permission.
Whiteout
During the many hours that we flew over the Ross Sea Ice Shelf (approximately 400 miles by 400 miles in size) I occasionally considered how life threatening it would be to be lost on that vast smooth surface. On the surface was always very cold and when the wind blew you could quickly feel the loss of body heat. We were always dressed warmly when we flew but our clothing could give only short time protection if we were left in the open for very long. In the area of Little America V there were no mountains to give you directions and the only landmark that could orient you would be the edge of the ice shelf where the ocean waters began. The ice shelf edge ran east to west and was over 100 feet high. Approaching the edge on foot, however, was hazardous because there was always the possibility that the very piece of ice that you were standing on could break off and you would find yourself projected over the edge and into the icy waters. So to be lost on that vast icy waste would ultimately lead to death by freezing. That is, if you didn't step into a hidden crevasse before freezing happened. Sometime during November 1957 Lieutenant Commander Harvey Speed and I accompanied our aircraft maintenance crew for the early morning drive from Little America V to Kiel Field, about a mile and a half away. For weeks we had been flying around the clock but necessary maintenance work forced us to shut down aircraft operations for a day. It was just as well because heavy fog covered the ground on this morning and that would have made flight impossible in any case. All morning the maintenance crew worked diligently on the grounded aircraft and when the noon hour approached our maintenance crew chief suggested that the men make lunch for themselves at the airfield instead of making a round trip backto Little America V. They would save about two hours and thus gain time toward getting the aircraft flyable. This left Harvey Speed and myself without transportation so we decided to walk back to Little America V. The sun had come out from behind the clouds but the surface was still covered with fog. We couldn't see the sun but we could feel the radiant heat from its rays hitting our backs as we walked. >This gave us some comfort and made the walk back to the base somewhat less hazardous. Although the forward visibility was quite low we presumed we could follow the rutted road back to the base with no difficulty. Every fifty yards along the road there was a bamboo pole stuck along the edge with a red flag near the top, and that would give us assurance that we were maintaining our track back to the base.
At first it was no problem keeping over the road but the further we went from the airfield buildings the lest distinct the texture of the road became. We had entered into a perfect `Auwhiteout'Au condition, something that had been described as navigating through milk. Everything, except our clothing, appeared totally white. Shadows ceased to exist. The snow- covered roadways' roughness disappeared into white nothingness and as we stepped forward we seemed to put our boots into space that held no definition. It was almost dizziness that came over us because there was little sensation of up or down. Everything, in all directions, had the same white look and the texture of the snow surface no longer existed. Looking back on the situation, I believe we might have been wiser to retrace our steps and head back to the airfield. There was so much equipment spread on the ground there and the large building as well we shouldn't have had any difficulty finding our way back indoors. Of course, there was a slight possibility that we could have missed the aircraft repair facility and the parked aircraft and ahead of us there would be hundreds of miles of plain snow. Walking through this vast icy land, dressed as we were, would inevitably lead to hypothermia and ultimately death. What we were got to thinking about this time was that we would follow the bamboo poles with their red flags and so we continued toward Little America V. After a while, however, the snow below our feet started feeling softer than before which was an indication that we had left the compacted roadway and were now walking in the wrong direction. For a while we tried to get back on the road but it soon became evident that we were making the situation worse and we had no idea which way we were headed. It could be days before the fog lifted and in that time we would only become another history lesson for others. We discussed our situation and decided we would first have to locate a flag to put us back on the roadway, at which time we would work toward finding the next flag and the one after that, all of which would get us back to the base. One of us would stand in one place while the other attempted to walk in ever increasing circles around the stationary one until he discovered the closest flag. Then by voice the stationary man would follow the shouts of the first man and would walk toward him so they could start out again following the flags to the base. This system worked fine but it was agonizingly slow. Since we were still feeling directionless due to the whiteout we had to continue searching for succeeding flags using the same method. Ultimately, we had to cycle through this flag searching routine about five times before we reached an area where heavy equipment was parked alongside the roadway. All of which pointed toward the shelter of the base. Also, as we got closer to the base there was snow that had been darkened by spilled diesel fuel and tractor grease, another indication that we were headed the way we had intended to go. At the time I don't think that either Harvey Speed or I gave much consideration to the danger we both had faced. Both of us were always studying problems and coming up with solutions, most of which worked, and for us this was just another problem solved. Unquote.
A Young Man's Dream By Mark Giles
Claude F. Giles Commander U.S. Navy [Retired] Designated Naval Aviator V-1075 May 20, 1950 at Corpus Christi, Texas
A young man grew up in Arizona during the Depression: his eyes were down in the copper pit where he toiled. Hard dusty work that had made his father old before his time. He thinks back to his early childhood when his family traveled in a wagon pulled by two mules. Then he remembers when his father was learning to drive their first automobile, a black 1928 Chevrolet 4 door sedan. Later on the family would all travel in that car, pulling a four-wheel trailer, to the Texas Panhandle where they would live during the Dust Bowl years. Even working in an open pit copper mine was better than those years had been. When he would look up out of the pit to wipe the sweat from his face, his eye would catch a silver gleam; a big airliner, matching contrails pointed west to fabled San Francisco-bridges, the cool ocean, fine restaurants, beautiful women. Or east to New York, where men in tuxedoes rolled up to plays in taxicabs, tipping the man at the door a day's wages. Such were the dreams before he turned back to the hard soil and its copper treasures. He learned to hate copper; but silver. . . that was the stuff of dreams. The young man remembered the airplanes, much as a lost sailor looks up at a passing airplane that could, oh so easily, carry him away. He made models, ones without engines, pushing them off the high mountains that defined his world. He read many books, formed an Air Scout club. Most importantly, he dreamed. It was a young man's dream, not deep, but bright and clear - Captain of his own ship, the perfect landing in a great city, the captain's privilege to escort the prettiest stewardess into some fine restaurant and to have her ask him how he would like his coffee, while cruising at 30,000feet. Perhaps even China Town in San Francisco, delicately sipping well, whatever you sipped, looking out at the sunset, over a golden coast. Time passed. The young man became part of WWII joining the Army Reserves with the promise of flight training. He was blessed with 20-20 vision, good balance, and passed the tough screening tests. And waited. The Army Air Force ended with the war; in its place the fledgling U S Air Force could only promise. So, he mustered out with $100 cash, $91 travel allowance, and the GI Bill. This got him to Parks Air College of St. Louis University for a degree, and a private pilot's license. Three sons were born to him and his young wife, but still no airliner. He finally got the big silver plane, a giant B-17, in an exhibit, and a picture still exists of father and infant son, posed beneath that duralumin nose, pride all over that young man's face. At last he had that plane. And many others, flown over the dark plane-killing Aleutians and Alaskan mountains to face off the Communist forces during the Korean war; Super Constellations [4 engines], with a Navy crew of 26 Airman, to fly into the hearts of Hurricanes at 500 feet altitude with the aircraft vibrating so much that the instrument panel was a blur; C47 airplanes to fly in the terrible weather of Iceland and land on a gravel runway scraped on the beach and C-54 aircraft to fly from Iceland across the cold North Atlantic Ocean to such places as Greenland, Scotland, England, Denmark, and Germany; S2 aircraft from an Aircraft Carrier where a catapult takeoff, on a pitch dark night, could raise his pulse rate almost to the level of a carrier landing during stormy weather while returning home from Turkey, Greece, France, Spain, or Italy; C-130 [Hercules] aircraft to fly to such distant places as the Azores Islands, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Germany, Wake Island, Guam, Okinawa, Philippines, Thailand, Midway Island, South Vietnam, Japan, and India. So, the first day of November 1966, flying out of Moffitt Field (not too far from San Francisco) in a mighty silver aircraft, contrails pointed west, he sat back and realized that here was the real dream. And it was a good one; commander of his own sky giant and on his way to Saigon, Vietnam to deliver his cargo for the war effort. The cockpit door behind him opened and a grizzled crew chief, zipped into a stained flight suit, stuck his head in the cockpit, scanned the gauges in a glance and asked if the Plane Commander wanted a cup of coffee. The not-so young man sighed and said "please add a little cream and sugar and clean yourself up, you're destroying my dream". He turned and left, looking puzzled and muttering in a low voice, "what's his problem, maybe I better find another pilot to fly with on my next trip".
Merely This and Nothing More By Anthony Isnardi CHAPTER 9: MY BAPTISM OF FIRE AT OKINAWA Conclusion
We were told by our intelligence officer that the fearless Kamikaze pilots were thoroughly brainwashed and given a short period of flight instruction. In order to fulfill their mission, they were only taught to take off and fly. They did not have to know how to land and in fact some of them even jettisoned their landing gear immediately after they were airborne. The frictional air-drag on two wheels and an axle would only slow them down. Provided with sashes of the rising sun to wrap around their foreheads and then fortified with saki, they were ordered to fly and die for the emperor. Shouting "banzai", they then climbed into their cockpits to take off from the southernmost island of Japan in a desperate attempt to destroy the allied armada waiting to invade the Ryukyus and capture Okinawa. On Good Friday, toward dusk, our radar detected an echelon of "bogies" (enemy aircraft) approaching the Task Force from the northwest. The gong sounded as we were summoned to general quarters. I took my place near Captain Harriss at the engine order telegraph and waited on the bridge for the action to begin. There was a large flight of "Bettys" (Japanese bombers built by Mitsubishi) headed our way, and the forties on the aircraft carriers in our division had already opened up on the attacking enemy squadron. As the sun fell, we were treated to an amazing light and sound display as the anti-aircraft guns on the carriers clattered and the tracer bullets arced into the reddening sky to locate the hostile aircraft. From my general quarters station on the bridge I clearly saw all the action that was nearly a mile away. That evening we were not being threatened by the bombers, for the carriers were again the target of the enemy. After securing from general quarters, those that did not have the duty went to their bunks and turned in. Reveille was at four the next morning and breakfast was to be steak and eggs -the standard pre-invasion fare. The 500 troops of General Simon Bolivar Buckner's 10th Army that were aboard the Eastland slept only fitfully that evening, for they were aroused early and fed the chow given to all soldiers and Marines before they hit the beaches and started to fight. While they ate, the crew of our ship lowered the boats and rope ladders and prepared for the amphibious assault of the beaches off Naha, the capital of Okinawa. I was glad to be a sailor as I watched the troops clamber over the side and go down the nets into the bobbing LCI boats tied to the Eastland. It was dark and they were in full battle gear with their carbines slung over their shoulders and their heavy knapsacks on their backs. A false step would send them plunging into the ocean and the weight of their gear would carry them to the bottom. In the dim light I saw my friend from Brooklyn, Private First Class Paul Dottino, place one leg over the side and wink at me nervously as he descended into the gloom. I said a silent prayer for him and watched while he dropped into the launch and pulled away toward the beaches. On Monday, April 2, 1945, the day after Easter of that year I had my baptism of fire. This happened at 0610 (in the morning) local time while we were still anchored off Okinawa with our ship's troops advancing on the island. Let me quote from my diary: Our invasion troops encountered very little resistance on the island as they advanced toward the airj7eld at Naha. Aboard ship, we were making ready to secure from general quarters when an enemy aircraft was sighted off our starboard bow bearing about 30degrees. Peculiarly enough the other ships surrounding us did not open j7re on the "bogie. " However, having satisfied ourselves that it was a Jap, we immediately opened up with every gun aboard this vessel except the 5 inch. At this unexpected assault, the Jap immediately turned on us probably infuriated by our audacity As I hurried to my battle station at the engine telegraph, the horror of a suicide attack struck me... As I watched the fierce antiaircraft barrage being put up by our ship and the other vessels in our squadron, I listened to the staccato notes of the forty-millimeter guns which had opened up aboard. Turning to our gun turret below, I could see Brazleton passing the ammunition to the gunner in control. Each barrel of the quad belched fire and smoke as it hurled its missiles toward the diving enemy Zero intent on annihilating the Eastland. However, our guns found their mark and the Jap plane exploded brilliantly, losing a wing and cart wheeling slowly into the sea. The captain said: "We splashed him!" His voice was barely heard amid the din of battle. As the slap of the forties continued, I noticed that each barrel in the quad erupted then came back against the black recoil springs as another round entered the chamber. After the all clear sounded, I observed how frightened I was and tried to assume an attitude of nonchalance. The executive officer, a ninety-day wonder, who should have demonstrated leadership and inspired more confidence could only shake his head sadly and say: "My God, isn't it awful!" Even before the Kamikazes disappeared over the horizon bound for their airfields in Honshu, the ship's painter appeared with his bucket and brush. I watched as he positioned the stencil on the outside of the charthouse and painted an icon of the flag of the Rising Sun as Captain Harriss nodded in approval. It was our first kill. That evening, as luck would have it, we were destined to engage the enemy again; and this time we would not be so lucky. After evening chow, the wail of the bosun's pipe crackled on the loud speaker and was followed by: "Now hear this, hear this. All hands man your battle stations. General quarters. General quarters. This is no drill!" Putting the finishing touches on my weather map in my office below decks, I grabbed my life preserver and helmet and ran for the bridge as the gong sounded to summon us to our battle stations. The ship pitched violently in heavy seas as I climbed the ladder leading to the bridge. When I reached for the railing, it came up unexpectedly to strike me just below my lower lip. Blood gushed forth from the impact as the skin split. Then, with my heart pounding and a handkerchief pressed to my lip, I arrived breathlessly at my battle station. I managed a weak smile when the captain grinned and said something about his windguesser getting the Purple Heart for being wounded in battle. This was to be the last bit of levity for the evening; since the Kamikazes had arrived on station and were now positioning themselves to dive upon their targets. Presently, our guns began their earsplitting din and all hell broke loose. In the ensuing dogfights, our carrier planes and the Japs were engaged in a life and death struggle as the American fliers sought to head off the Kamikazes before they could wreak their destruction upon us. The air alert code was now "flash red, control green" to signify that we were to shoot down the enemy, if possible, but exercise caution because our boys were up there too, maneuvering wildly in their Hellcats to shoot the Jap Zeroes down. To describe this, I wrote in my diary: As I watched wide-eyed, I couldn't believe that this was possible. Each enemy airplane had the firm intention of crash diving upon us. They were not content to unload their bombs and turn to meet their more matchable adversaries in the air. They were essentially on a suicide mission and feeling they could inflict more damage upon us by crashing on our decks, they were determined to do this. Three of them, I distinctly saw go down in flames ... We credit the Japs with being a fanatical race of people. I gave them credit along this line. However, these bold pilots were far more plucky and were more desirous of joining their ancestors than their overly fanatical counterparts in the movies. The wild melee continued at an altitude of 500 feet as we watched the death defying aerobatics in horror. Just as it appeared as though the F4F's were getting the best of the Kamikazes, I heard a dull boom nearby and felt a violent concussion under me as the ship shook. The Eastland lurched upward as one of the human enemy flying bombs fell into the sea off our port side astern. As luck would have it, the explosion set off near our fantail sent shrapnel flying onto the deck of our vessel and in a freak accident three men were hit near the 5 inch thirty-eight. One, a twenty year-old signalman, was killed instantly. The other two men were injured, but not seriously. The injured men were taken to sick bay immediately after we secured from general quarters-, and our dead shipmate had his dog tags removed and was taken below decks to be prepared for burial at sea the following day. At dawn, we left the fighting zone off the Ryukyus and were ordered to proceed toward Ulithi in the western Carolines for some much needed R&R (rest and recreation) together with several other battle scarred ships in our squadron. When we reached the open sea, we were summoned on deck in dress blues to participate in the ceremony of burial at sea. As the chaplain intoned the final benediction and said the Prayer Of The Dead, we heard the ship's bugler play taps. The shrouded figure had been placed on a stretcher and covered with an American flag. The end of the stretcher was tilted upward at a signal from the chaplain and the weighted body slid into the sea just as the pallbearer snatched away the flag. I did not know the deceased signalman, but had seen him many times in the chow line or moving about the ship while performing his duties. The chaplain said something about a mother's loss and "twenty years of hope." With this in mind and a heavy heart, I went below and wrote the following poem in my diary: BURIAL AT SEA Nine months of pain and twenty years of hope, Sewn lifeless in a weighted canvas sheet; A mother's loss, slid in the sea to grope For its eternal seat. Only the first stanza of this dirge is quoted here. This was not my first attempt at versifying, for whenever I was moved by some deep emotion that provided the theme, I looked for inspiration from the bard and began to write. Most of my efforts, alas, belonged more in the realm of doggerel than poetry. Still I enjoyed doing this. On this occasion, I talked to the sailmaker who prepared the shroud for the deceased while I wrote my verses. He was an old-timer, who often would regale us with "sea stories." Most of us were tyros, forced into the Navy by the war. To emphasize a point as he spoke, he would use the expression: "I have wrung more salt water out of my dirty socks than you jerks will ever see!" This time, he described in detail how he prepared the slain sailor for burial. He reminded us that in the days of sailing vessels whenever a man was buried at sea, the last stitch of the large hooked needle in the sailmaker's thonged fist was passed through the septum of the dead man's nose. This was to make sure he was dead before tossing him to the sharks, the thirty year veteran said. And we believed him. At Ulithi, I was overjoyed to meet Paul Dottino again. The kid from Brooklyn was also on R&R with other members of his infantry unit. For rest and recreation we went to the organized beer parties for the troops and sailors to the nearby atolls of Feitabul and Mog Mog. These two tiny dots in the Pacific within shouting distance of Ulithi in the Carolines were used exclusively for the enjoyment of soldiers, marines, and sailors recuperating from combat duty. Over baloney sandwiches and warm beer in olive drab cans, smelling faintly of diesel oil, we chatted amiably and brought each other up-to-date on recent happenings. "Have another can of green death, Paul," I offered, presenting him my last beer and the church key to open it with. We were each given two cans of warm beer and two horsecock sandwiches on these excursions. I devoured my baloney on white, but couldn't stand the taste of the beer. To cool the warm beer, we dunked the cans in the ocean, buried them in the sand, and even sprayed some with CO2 from the fire extinguishers on the ship; but none of these procedures lowered its temperature enough to make it potable for me. The can exploded and we were both sprayed with foam as Paul opened it and greedily covered the hole with his mouth. Then as he swallowed, his face darkened and he began to talk about the beach at Okinawa. Apparently, his platoon ran into much less resistance than was expected as they left the beaches and headed for the airport at Naha. They were told to take the field from the Japs at any cost, since this was their primary objective. Their orders were to shoot anything that moved; and since Paul took everything literally, this is where he got into trouble. He wept as he told me what happened. In some way, he became separated from the other members of his platoon as he moved cautiously ahead with his carbine unslung. Suddenly beneath a tree, he saw a large blanket and observed the outline of human forms beneath it. When they moved, he unclicked the safety and emptied his clip into the blanket. There were shrieks of agony as the rifle fired and the bullets found their target. "Tony," he cried, "I could have died when I lifted the blanket and saw three young natives streaming blood and dying from the wounds that I inflicted. It was a mother with two infant children!" When I heard this, I was too shocked to even offer consolation to the poor man, whose lips now had turned blue as he told me his tale of woe. Finally I said: "They would have died anyway." "What I mean, Paul," I continued earnestly, "was that we heard that the women and children of Okinawa were told by the Japanese that the Americans were such barbarians that it was better to kill themselves before we arrived to abuse and torture them." This was true. As our troops swarmed ashore making the island secure, we discovered isolated groups of dead women and children, together with some old men who had killed themselves by jumping over cliffs onto the rocks near the shore below. These Okinawans, part of the empire of Japan, chose suicide rather than death at the hands of the "evil" Americans. Shortly after my emotional encounter with Paul Dottino. I left Mog Mog aboard the Eastland on May 28, 1945. Approximately two weeks later we passed under the Golden Gate and docked in San Francisco. The following day, I was put ashore and transferred to the Receiving Station at Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay. Having finished my combat duty, I could now look forward to twenty days leave. To accomplish this I was given rail tickets and an extra five days traveling time as well. Thus, I spent my twentieth birthday aboard a troop train traveling through the midwest and bound for Pennsylvania Station in New York. My leave would expire on July 15, 1945, at which time I had been told to report to Navy Pier 92, NYC, for further transfer to a more permanent station. Barely two weeks later after a wonderful month-long leave of family gatherings, gorging on my favorite foods and beverages and telling war stories to my admiring friends, I found myself leaving for the west coast again by rail, together with a draft of 300 men. My orders this time read that I was to report for duty to Comfair NAS Alameda, Calif. I queried my soul to find if this meant more combat duty, for I was still eager to fight. The End
Navy Life Received from Frenchy Corbeille Via Frank Baillie
I like standing on the bridge wing at sunrise with salt spray in my face & clean ocean winds whipping in from the four quarters of the globe- the ship beneath me feeling like a living thing as her engines drive her through the sea. I like the sounds of the Navy - the piercing trill of the boatswains pipe, the syncopated clangor of the ship's bell on the quarterdeck, the harsh squawk of the 1MC & the strong language & laughter of sailors at work. I like the vessels of the Navy – nervous darting destroyers, plodding Fleet auxiliaries, sleek submarines & steady solid carriers. I like the proud sonorous names of Navy capital ships: Midway, Lexington, Saratoga, and Coral Sea - memorials of great battles won. I like the lean angular names of Navy 'tin-cans': Barney, Dahlgren, Mullinix, McCloy - momentos of heroes who went before us. I like the tempo of a Navy band blaring through the topside speakers as we pull away from the oiler after refueling at sea. I like liberty call & the spicy scent of a foreign port. I even like all hands working parties as my ship fills herself with the multitude of supplies both mundane & exotic which she needs to cut her ties to the land & carry out her mission anywhere on the globe where there is water to float her. I like sailors, men from all parts of the land, farms of the Midwest, small towns of New England, from the cities, the mountains & the prairies, from all walks of life. I trust & depend on them as they trust & depend on me - for professional competence, for comradeship, for courage. In a word, they are "shipmates." I like the surge of adventure in my heart when the word is passed "Now station the special sea & anchor detail - all hands to quarters for leaving port", & I like the infectious thrill of sighting home again, with the waving hands of welcome from family & friends waiting pier side. The work is hard & dangerous, the going rough at times, the parting from loved ones painful, but the companionship of robust Navy laughter, the 'all for one & one for all' philosophy of the sea is ever present. I like the serenity of the sea after a day of hard ship's work, as flying fish flit across the wave tops & sunset gives way to night. I like the feel of the Navy in darkness - the masthead lights, the red & green navigation lights & stern light, the pulsating phosphorescence of radar repeaters - they cut through the dusk & join with the mirror of stars overhead. And I like drifting off to sleep lulled by the myriad noises large& small that tell me that my ship is alive & well, & that my shipmates on watch will keep me safe. I like quiet mid-watches with the aroma of strong coffee - the lifeblood of the Navy - permeating everywhere. And I like hectic watches when the exacting minuet of haze-gray shapes racing at flank speed keeps all hands on a razor edge of alertness. I like the sudden electricity of "General quarters, general quarters, all hands man your battle stations", followed by the hurried clamor of running feet on ladders & the resounding thump of watertight doors as the ship transforms herself in a few brief seconds from a peaceful work place to a weapon of war - ready for anything. And I like the sight of space age equipment manned by youngsters clad in dungarees & sound-powered phones that their grandfathers would still recognize. I like the traditions of the Navy & the men & women who made them. I like the proud names of Navy heroes: Halsey, Nimitz, Perry, Farragut, and John Paul Jones. A sailor can find much in the Navy: comrades-in-arms, pride in self and country, mastery of the seaman's trade. An adolescent can find adulthood. In years to come, when sailors are home from the sea, they will still remember with fondness & respect the ocean in all its moods - the impossible shimmering mirror calm & the storm-tossed green water surging over the bow. And then there will come again a faint whiff of stack gas, a faint echo of engine & rudder orders, a vision of the bright bunting of signal flags snapping at the yardarm, a refrain of hearty laughter in the wardroom & chiefs quarters & mess decks. Gone ashore for good they will grow wistful about their Navy days, when the seas belonged to them & a new port of call was ever over the horizon. Remembering this, they will stand taller & say, "I was a Sailor. I was part of the Navy & the Navy will always be a part of me."
Military Locator Services From Don Harribine
Shipmates,
Military.com "http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/call/locating_individuals.htm">ht tp://www.military.com, searches over 10 million records to help you find your old buddies. Here, the government is willing to help too. Drop by the Military Locator Services site, to get details on finding current and retired military personnel. HREF="http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/call/locating_individuals. htm">http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/callllocating_individuals.ht m
Study Finds Storm Cycles Etched in Lake Beds By ANDREW C. REVKIN
Paul R. Bierman/University of Vermont Researchers extracting a tube of sediment from Echo Lake in Plymouth, Vt. Studying layers in the sediment that formed when flooding washed slopes into the lakes, the scientists found cycles of long stormy periods. Vermont Historical Society, via Associated Press Scientists studying lake beds found evidence of storms more severe than this 1927 flood in Springfield, Vt. They say a new storm cycle has started. Four times since the last ice age, at intervals roughly 3,000 years apart, the Northeast has been struck by cycles of storms far more powerful than any in recent times, according to a new study. The region appears to have entered a fifth era in which such superstorms are more likely, the researchers say. No one should necessarily start building dikes right away, say the researchers, who reported their work yesterday in the journal Nature. The stormy periods they identified each lasted a millennium or more, and giant floods occurred only sporadically in those stretches. Still, the work illustrates that natural extremes of weather - what one researcher, Paul R. Bierman, a geologist at the University of Vermont, called a "drumbeat of storminess" - are many times greater than those experienced in the modern era. The researchers spent several years extracting 12- to 20-foot-long cores of sediment that accumulated over 13,000 years in the beds of 2 lakes in eastern New York and 11 in Vermont. Buried in the muck were layer-cake patterns of sandy soil, each layer evidently formed when slopes crumbled under torrents of water and were washed into the lakes. Some of these layers are 10 times as thick as one apparently left by the greatest flood recorded in Vermont, which killed 84 people, drowned thousands of cows and demolished 1,200 bridges in November 1927. Layers that thick could be explained only by deluges far more potent than the storm of 1927, the scientists said. By helping to reveal elusive long-term patterns, the findings could eventually improve long-term climate forecasts and models, said Richard B. Alley, a Pennsylvania State University geologist who is an expert on post-ice-age conditions and was not involved with the new study. "This work shows that extremes are not just acts of God that happen to happen," Dr. Alley said. "They are linked to larger patterns in the climate system that may prove to be predictable." Experts in the emerging science of paleotempestology, which uses such buried clues to discern past patterns of destructive weather, called the work a significant advance. In particular, it is the first study to compile data from many separate lake beds, reducing the chance that the patterns resulted from fluky local conditions, said Kam-biu Liu, a geographer at Louisiana State University who has used the technique to study ancient hurricanes. Dr. Liu called the new work "a triumph." The clues from the lakes appear to mesh with evidence of other periods of stormy weather around the North Atlantic, including variations in traces of salt from sea spray locked in layers of Greenland glaciers, the authors said. They also appear synchronized with the occasional cold snaps in Europe that sent glaciers grinding forward down alpine valleys, the study says. The similar storm rhythms seen around the North Atlantic may mean that the overall pattern is driven by slow cycles in a pole-girdling wind and pressure pattern called the Arctic oscillation, which in turn could be caused by cycles of solar activity, they said. The lake records from the Northeast show that the region had much stormier eras that peaked 11,900, 9,100, 5,800 and 2,600 years ago. Then, about 600 years ago, another period of storminess appeared to begin and has been "ramping back up again," Dr. Bierman said. The current trend is so prolonged and diffuse that the century-plus history of recorded weather data is not long enough to pick up a pattern. But it is etched quite clearly in the lake beds, said another author, Eric J. Steig, a climatologist at the University of Washington. The scientists checked to see whether influences other than big storms might have made the surrounding earth more apt to crumble. They considered forest fires, but found no evidence of raised concentrations of charcoal in the lake bottom. The likeliest source of each layer is an intense burst of precipitation, perhaps on already soggy soil, over just a day or two, the researchers said. Given the much greater thickness of many of the ancient layers compared with those left by floods like the 1927 disaster in Vermont, they said, society should at least ponder the potential for much greater catastrophes. In an interview, the researchers emphasized that there was no way to quantify how severe the flooding might be, but they said rainfall could reach several inches an hour - easily enough to cause massive landslides, particularly if the soil was already soggy. "This shows that in human experience, at least historical human experience, we don't know what this climate system is capable of," Dr. Steig said. While revealing the rising potential for epic storms, the new findings are likely to confound efforts to discern whether human alterations of the atmosphere, particularly a buildup of heat-trapping greenhouse gases, are increasing the frequency of severe downpours, as many climate experts have predicted. But the research could indicate that engineers and planners, when considering the design of public works like bridges and reservoirs, should take into account the possibility of extremely rare, but extremely destructive, floods. said the study's lead author, Anders J. Noren, formerly of the University of Vermont and now at the Limnologicai Research Center of the University of Minnesota. "If this cycle continues," Mr. Noren said, "the frequency and severity of intense rainstorms that can cause massive flooding should continue to increase for the next several hundred years.
Presidential Memorial Certificate A Presidential Memorial Certificate (PMC) is an engraved paper certificate, signed by the current President, to honor the memory of honorably discharged deceased veterans who have not been convicted of a capital crime. This program was initiated in March 1962 by President John F. Kennedy and has been continued by all subsequent Presidents. Statutory authority for the program is Section 112, Title 38, of the United States Code. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) administers the PMC program by preparing the certificates which bear the President's signature expressing the country's grateful recognition of the veteran's service in the United States Armed Forces. Eligible recipients include the deceased veteran=92s next of kin and loved ones. More than one certificate may be provided. Eligible recipients, or someone acting on their behalf, may apply for a PMC in person at any VA regional office or by U.S. mail only. Requests cannot be sent via email. All requests must be in writing. There is no form to use when requesting a PMC however, a copy of the veteran's discharge and death certificate must be included with the request. These documents will not be returned. You can Fax your request and supporting documents to (202) 565-8054 or mail it to: Presidential Memorial Certificates (402E12), National Cemetery Administration, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420-0001. If you have any questions about a certificate you have received, a request you have already sent in, or about the program in general, you may call (202) 565-4964 or email [email protected]. [Source: www.cem.va.gov/pmc.htm 11 DEC 02]
VA Compensation Rate Tables 2003 Basic Disability Rates - 10%-100% Combined Degree Only (Veteran Only Rates) Monthly Rating & Percentage Benefit 10% ~$104, 20%-- $201, 30%~ $310, 40% ~$445, 50% ~$633, 60% ~$801, 70% ~$1,008, 80% ~$1,171, 90% ~$1,317, 100% ~$2,128. ---Additional amounts payable for spouses, children and parents to veterans with ratings of more than 30%. ---Dependency And Indemnity Compensation [DIC] For Surviving Spouses. Veteran's Death Was On or After I January 1993: Basic Monthly Rate $948.
---Additional Allowances: ~ Add $204 if at the time of the veteran's death, the veteran was in receipt of or entitled to receive compensation for a service-connected disability rated totally disabling (including a rating based on individual unemployability) for a continuous period of at least 8 years immediately preceding death AND the surviving spouse was married to the veteran for those same 8 years (Combined amount $1,152). ~ Add $237 per child allowance for each dependent child under age 18. ~ Add S113 if the surviving spouse is entitled to Housebound. Veteran's Death Was Before 1 January 1993 E-1 through E-6 ~ $948, E-7 ~.980, E-8 ~ 1,035, E-9 ~ $1,080, W-I ~$1,001, W-2 ~ $1,042, W-3 ~ $1,072, W-4 ~ $1,134,0-1 ~ $1,001, 0-2 ~ $1,035, 0-3 ~ $1,107, 0-4 ~ $1,171, 0-5 ~ 1,2489, 0-6 ~ $1,453, 0-7 ~ $1,570, 0-8 ~ $1,722, 0-9 ~ $1,843 0-10 ~ $2,021 Additional Allowances: ~ Add S204 if at the time of the veteran=92s death, the veteran was in receipt of or entitled to receive compensation for a service-connected disability rated totally disabling (including a rating based on individual unemployability) for a continuous period of at least 8 years immediately preceding death AND the surviving spouse was married to the veteran for those same 8 years. ~ Add $237 per child allowance for each dependent child under age 18. ~ Add $113 if the surviving spouse is entitled to Housebound. To inquire concerning the status of compensation, DIC, pension, burial, accrued, clothing allowance, automobile, specially adapted housing, or Spina Bifida claim or to ask any general Compensation & Pension (C&P) benefit question, call the VA toll-free number 1-800-827-1000. [Source: NAUS Update for 27 November 2002]
CHAMPVA: Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs [CHAMPVA] is the VA version of Tricare Standard. The VA shares with eligible beneficiaries the cost of covered health care services and supplies. Due to the similarity between CHAMPVA [administered by the VA] and CHAMPUS [administered by DoD] the two programs are easily and often mistaken for each other. Only the CHAMPVA Center, PO BOX 65023, Denver CO 80206-5023 is authorized to process applications, determine eligibility, authorize benefits, and process claims. Veterans can speak to a benefits counselor from 09-1330 and from 1430-1700 EST at [800] 733-8387. The VA Outpatient Clinic, Manila is now authorized to provide medical care to CHAMPVA eligible beneficiaries on an outpatient basis. However, this care must be administered at the clinic and will not be provided through the Fee-Basis Care Program. The benefit of obtaining care from the clinic is that the cost to the patient will be limited to travel only. The VA will absorb the cost of pharmaceuticals and medical care. If you have any questions contact the VA Clinic Coordinator at (02) 833-4566 to 69 EXT 201. Eligibility - Those eligible for CHAMPVA benefits, providing they are not eligible for CHAMPUS or Medicare Part A as a result of reaching the age of 65 are: The spouse or child of a veteran who has been rated by a VA regional office as having permanent and total service- connected disability. The surviving spouse or child of a veteran who died as a result of a VA rated service-connected condition(s); or who at the time of death, was rated permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected condition(s). The surviving spouse or child of a person who died in the line of duty and not due to misconduct within 30 days of entry into active military service. -- Surviving spouses who remarry after age 55. There is a I-year open season from date of enactment of the Veterans Benefits Act of 2002 for otherwise eligible spouses to apply for benefits. Effective date is 60 days after enactment of Act. Note: Survivors of USAFFEE, Guerillas and New Scouts are not eligible for CHAMPVA. Survivors of Filipinos with US service are eligible for CHAMPVA under the exact same criterion that applies to survivors of any other veteran! Individuals 65 or older, who lose CHAMPVA eligibility by becoming potentially eligible for Medicare Part A or who qualify for Medicare Part A benefits on the basis of disability, may re-establish CHAMPVA eligibility by submitting documentation from SSA certifying their non-entitlement to or exhaustion of Medicare Part A benefits. Application - Applicants for CHAMPVA must submit a completed "Application for Medical Benefits for Dependents or survivors - CHAMPVA [VA Form 10-10d.]. Upon receipt by the Center it will take approximately 60 days to gather the supporting records necessary to verify eligibility and make notification to the applicant. The Center will also verify the applicant's eligibility status with the local VA Regional Office that has the sponsor's VA claims folder. To ensure there is no CHAMPUS entitlement, these records will also be verified through DEERS. [Source: CHAMPVA Handbook Jun 95 & Veterans Benefit Act of 2002]
VA Insurance Dividend 2003 The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced its distribution of more than $568 million in dividends to 1.5 million active policyholders of veterans life insurance. Over the next year, veterans will receive the payments on the anniversary date of their policies, with the specific dividend amount varying according to age, type of insurance and length of time the policy has been in force Recipients will automatically receive their annual dividend through one of the nine payment options they have selected in advance. For current active-duty service members and reservists covered by Service members' Group Life Insurance, no dividend is paid. Dividends cover only veterans with government life insurance policies who served between 1917 and 1956. Veterans of subsequent eras are covered by government insurance programs that do not pay dividends. Only those with policies that have been kept in force when premiums were required are eligible for the payout. Inaccurate stories periodically surface suggesting that those who have not maintained insurance are eligible for a special distribution if they contact VA, but this is false. Dividends are automatically sent to eligible policyholders. The largest group receiving 2003 payments will be 1.3 million veterans of World War II with National Service Life Insurance policies. Total payments are expected to reach $461.5 million. Dividends totaling $2.2 million will be paid to the 12,499 veterans holding U.S. Government Life Insurance policies. Some 206,367 veterans who have maintained Veterans Special Life Insurance and policies can expect to receive dividends totaling $88 million. Veterans who hold Veterans Reopened Insurance policies, currently numbering 57,048, will share a $17.2 million=20 dividend. Although VA also administers a special life insurance program for disabled veterans and a program offering mortgage life insurance coverage, neither pays dividends. Veterans who have questions about their policy may call the VA Insurance number: 1-800-669- 8477, or can send their e-mail to: [email protected]:VAinsurance(a vba.va,gov [Source: VA News Release dtd 10 DEC 02]
Disability Retirement [DoD] Two types of disability retirement are offered by the Defense Department. Neither should be confused with the VA disability program. Permanent Disability: Service personnel rated at least 30% permanently disabled, according to guideline, are entitled to disability retirement pay from the Defense Department along with the benefits normally associated with regular retirement at 20 years are more [i.e. exchange/commissary privileges, Tricare, MWR use, etc.]. To qualify they must have spent at least eight years in the military or the disability must have been incurred in the line of duty. If either of these qualifications is met the retiree can receive retired pay based on the larger of two formulas: a. Multiply the amount of the retired pay base by 2.5% for each year of service. b. Multiply the base pay by the percentage of disability. Temporary Disability: Applicable to service personnel who have medical problems that prevent them from carrying out their military duties but which may not be permanent. They are placed on the temporary disability retirement list maintained by each service and DoD paymasters and are eligible for the same benefits as permanently disabled retired personnel. However, the amount of their monthly pay is determined by rules different than for permanent disability. The minimum payment is 50% of the last amount of basic pay and the maximum is 75%. Personnel receiving temporary disability retirement pay must undergo medical exams every 18 months to determine the status of their disability. Within five yearsdoctors must determine whether the disability is permanent. Depending on the circumstances they may be returned to active duty or permanently separated with disability severance pay, unless the disability is 30% or greater. Those with limited disabilities may be retained by their service, depending upon individual circumstances.
[Source: Military Times Handbook for Military Life]
VA Home Loans Service members, veterans, and surviving spouses that have not remarried who decide to buy a house are eligible for a home loan guarantee offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. A surviving spouse who remarries will regain eligibility for the program if the subsequent marriage ends. This program does not apply to property located outside the United States. The VA does not make the loans. Rather, it guarantees the loans, which minimizes lender's risks and reduces their losses in the event of foreclosure. The money comes from private lenders who volunteer to participate in the VA program. Because of the guaranty, lenders are willing to offer mortgage loans larger than for what service members might otherwise qualify. A VA loan can be used to buy a house, townhouse or condominium, or one under construction; a mobile home, with some restrictions, or a mobile home lot and a farm but not farm-related items such as long as the loan has been paid in full. Eligibility can be restored if the person buying the home is an eligible veterans who assumes the loan and substitutes his entitlement for that of the original veteran. Funding fees - Recipients of VA home loans pay a funding fee similar to user fees or origination fees paid by civilian borrowers Funding fees offset losses that occur when borrowers default on loans. VA borrowers are not required to pay an up-front funding fee in order to secure a loan, but can include the fee as part of the loan amount. The funding fee for loans with a down payment of less than 5% is 2% or 2.75% for those qualifying based on service in the reserve or National Guard. It is lower for veterans making down payments of 5% percent or more. The VA also charges a funding fee to second-time users of the loan program. The so-called multiple-use fee is 3% percent of the loan amount unless the veteran makes at least a 5% percent down payment. In that case, the fee drops. Veterans who have a service-connected disability for which they receive compensation are exempt from any funding fee. Under the laws of some states, disabled veterans also may qualify for a waiver of property taxes. There is an additional option for those who already hold VA-approved home loans the Interest Rate Reduction Refinancing Loan. The funding fee is 0.5 percent. Maximum loan - VA does not establish a maximum loan amount. However, lenders generally will lend to qualified veterans up to four times the basic maximum entitlement. This means a typical ceiling for a loan with no down payment is S144,000 (4 x $36,000). In certain cases for loans above $144,000, the maximum entitlement can be increased to $60,000. That would enable a person to borrow four times that amount, or S240,000, without a down payment. Refinancing A VA loan can be used to refinance an existing mortgage or to improve, repair or alter a dwelling owned and occupied by a veteran. On loans to refinance an existing VA loan to lower the interest rate, closing costs including up to two discount points can be included in the loan. [Source Military times Handbook for Military Life May 2002] Veterans Education and Benefits Expansion Act of 2001 - VA's direct loan program for Native Americans assists those vets buying on trust land. VA issues the loan, not a private lender, so the program's different from regular guaranteed home loans. It's strictly for veterans living on reservations because it's difficult to get lenders to make loans in those areas. The 2001 At extended the nine-year-old program for four years to Dec. 31, 2005. The program's loan ceiling is $80,000, except in certain high-cost areas where VA has approved up to $120,000. Loan interest rates are competitive with the mortgage market. So far, VA has only made about 30 loans on trust lands in the continental United States. The act also increases specialty-housing grants from $43,000 to $48,000 for severely disabled veterans who need homes built to accommodate wheelchairs. The grant pays for such things as wider hallways, lowered kitchen appliances and counter tops, and bigger bathrooms. Veterans can use both a grant and a regular VA guaranteed loan to cover the total cost of their home purchase. Another grant program for housing adaptations for less seriously disabled vets had its ceiling raised to $9,250 -- up from $8,250. The money is for some blinded veterans and amputees who need extra help. The law also extended housing loans for National Guard and Reserve personnel with at least six years of service from September 2007 to Sept. 30, 2009. Reserve component personnel are authorized the same home loan guarantees as active duty personnel. [Source American Forces Press Service 10 JAN 02]
Citizenship for U.S. Military Aliens Active-duty registered immigrant aliens can now apply for U.S. citizenship immediately, thanks to an executive order announced July 4 by president Bush. The order grants immediate citizenship consideration to non-citizen members of the U.S. military serving on active duty since Sept. 11. Previously, non-citizen service members in peacetime could apply to become citizens after three years of service, instead of the usual five years for civilians. [Source: Armed Forces News Issue: Fri, July 19, 2002]
NDAA 2002 Provisions It is expected that the President will sign into law the FY 2003 Defense Authorization Act which includes a first-ever compromise provision that substantially eliminates the disability offset of retired pay for certain retirees who have at least 20 years of active service and have been awarded qualifying VA disability ratings for combat-or certain other operations-related disabilities. he defense bill also authorizes many other important initiatives, including: * A January pay raise of at least 4.1% for active, Guard and Reserve forces, with some receiving up to 6.5%, depending on grade and years of service. A new assignment incentive pay up to $1,500 for members serving in designated assignments. A new military leave authority that allows servicemembers to transfer leave to another member, and authority for service secretaries to grant one-time emergency leave to prevent excess leave status. Extension of authorities for certain bonuses and special pays for Reserve and active forces. Extension of time (to 14 years, vs. current 10 years) for use of Montgomery GI Bill education benefits for the Selected Reserve. Reinstatement of discretionary authority for DoD to allow officers to retire with 2 years time in grade (vs. 3 years) for retirements between Oct. 1, 2002 and Dec. 31, 2003. Establishment of a Korea Defense Service Medal for military personnel who served in the Korean theater after July 27, 1954 and a date to be set in the future. Authorization for the Secretary of Defense to pay a flat-rate daily stipend (in lieu of payments for transportation and miscellaneous expenses) for military retirees and certain others participating in funeral honors details. Authorization of use of commissaries by National Guard members who are called to duty in state status in support of federally declared national emergencies. * A requirement for a review of quality-of-life issues for members of the Armed Forces every four years. * Reduction in the number of continuous years of Reserve component service required immediately before qualifying for a Reserve retirement from eight to six. A program of education and other incentives to encourage national service, entailing at least 15 months on active duty after initial training, an additional period on active duty or in the Selected Reserve, with remaining obligated service in the Reserves, Peace Corps, Americorps, or some other national service program. *Elimination of prior authorization for TFL beneficiaries needing inpatient mental health services. *Allowing family members to retain the TRICARE Prime remote benefit when not authorized to accompany the member to the next permanent duty station - only if the family remains at the former duty site. *Authorization of TRICARE Prime remote benefits to reservists activated for more than 30 days who reside in TRICARE Prime remote locations.*Automatic designation of Medicare providers as TRICARE providers, effective under the new TRICARE contracts in 2004. * Prohibition of DoD from denying health care benefits to Prime enrollees who receive service connected care through the VA, if the VA cannot meet DoD's access standards. *Requirement for DoD to adopt Medicare claims processing procedures except for those unique to TRICARE requirements. *Further direction to facilitate VA/DoD sharing agreements and authorization for three pilot sites to test collaboration initiatives. [Source: TROA Leg Update 15 NOV 02]
SSA Full Retirement Age Increase 2003 Starting in January, individuals born in 1938 and afterward will have to work additional months before reaching the full Social Security retirement age. Those people born in 1937 and prior years reached full retirement age upon attaining their 65th birthday. Social Security eligibles born in 1938 reach 65 in 2003, but must go an additional two months for full retirement. Those born in 1939 will have to wait until they are 65 four months, and the age will keep going up until it reaches 67 for full retirement for those born in 1960 and later. A full chart at http://www.ssa.gov/retirechartred.htm is available for viewing. The only exception to the rule is that those born on Jan. 1 go by the requirements of the previous year. Even with the full retirement age increasing, eligible people can still retire as early as age 62, but with reduced payments. There is both a major disadvantage and a big advantage to taking the benefit before reaching full retirement age. The advantage is that you collect benefits for a longer period of time. The disadvantage is that the benefit is permanently reduced. Since it's different for each person, those thinking retirement should be sure to contact Social Security before a decision is made. Also, officials point out that many people equate full Social Security retirement age with Medicare and remind them that they are not the same. Although the Social Security full retirement age is going up, it does not hold true for the Medicare age. The Medicare age will remain 65, so those workers who elect to wait for the full 100 percent Social Security payment will still have to enroll in Medicare Part B during the open enrollment period around their 65th birthday. That period includes the three months prior to the birth month, the birth month and three months following the birth month. A method of payment must be arranged to pay the premiums before Social Security retirement benefits start and the premium can be automatically deducted. Failing to enroll during the seven-month period will require the retiree to wait until the following open enrollment period of Jan. 1 - March 31 of each year, with coverage starting July 1. Each year's delay adds 10 percent penalty to the premium cost. [Source: Charles Gray 4 MSS/DPF Seymour Johnson AFB Msg dtd 25 NOV 02] Lt. James "EMO" Tichacek, USN (Ret) Director, Retiree Activities Office & U.S. Embassy Warden Baguio City RP Email: [email protected] (PRI) or [email protected] Web: http://downloads.members. tripod. com/post_ l 19_gul fport_ms/ra o l .html Tel: (63-74) 442-7135 or FAX 1-801-760-2430
New TRICARE Mail Order Pharmacy to Open March 1, 2003 By Rudi Williams, American Forces Press Service Received from John Shay
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- More than 400.000 military pharmacy mail order customers will be switched March 1, 2003, to a new TRICARE Mail Order Pharmacy program, according to Army Col. William D. Davies of the TRICARE Management Activity, Falls Church, Va. Services will continue under the National Mail Order Pharmacy contract until Feb. 28, 2003, he noted. The next day, March 1, Express Scripts Inc. will provide services under the new TRICARE Mail Order Pharmacy program, Davies said. Express Scripts Inc. of Maryland Heights, Mo., won the $275 million, five-year contract in September to provide mail order pharmacy services for TRICARE beneficiaries. The director of DoD pharmacy programs, Davies said beneficiaries who have refills remaining on prescriptions on March 1 will be transferred to Express Scripts so they can continue ordering medications on time, with a few exceptions. "We can't transfer narcotics or other controlled substance prescriptions, nor can we transfer compounded prescriptions - those that are physically prepared by the pharmacy," said Davies, a registered pharmacist with more than 23 years of active- duty service. Medication that requires refrigeration is shipped through priority mail or a courier service, the pharmacist said. "That's one reason we don't send medications that require refrigeration to APO and FPO addresses overseas," he noted. TRICARE beneficiaries living and working overseas can use the mail order pharmacy if they have an APO, FPO or a U.S. embassy address, but a provider licensed to practice in the United States must write the prescription. In early January, current users should receive a post card announcing the new services. A mailing that will include a registration form, a description of benefits and a brochure covering the TRICARE program will follow. Those eligible to use the current mail order program or the retail benefit are eligible to use the new TRICARE mail order program. New customers have to register for the program. Information will be provided through the TRICARE service centers, military treatment facilities pharmacy, as well as their marketing points of contact. The usual delivery time for medication is five to seven days. The easiest way for patients to ensure they don't run out of their medication is to have the providerwrite for up to a 90-day supply with up to three refills. The beneficiary can request a refill once 75 percent of the medication has been used. "So about da, 70 into their medication. they can request a refill.," Davies said. That provides them a cushion." He said all medication is screened for potential drug interactions or therapeutic overlaps that could produce an adverse drug reaction. He said patients' complete beneficiary profiles are entered into the Pharmacy Data Transition Service, which enhances patient safety by keeping their medication records current, on file and readily available. The new contract saves taxpayers' dollars because it calls for purchasing drug products at federal prices. Best federal prices are at least 24 percent below average commercial wholesale prices Davies estimated. The TRICARE Management Activity will manage the new contract. The current. national contract has been managed by the Defense Logistics Agency's Defense Supply Center in Philadelphia. Patients can fill prescriptions three ways: by direct care at military treatment facilities, the retail pharmacy network or the mail order program, Davies noted. The direct care system serves the bulk of the beneficiary population, he said. About 2.5 million beneficiaries use the retail pharmacy network because they don't have access to a military, facility. Most of the 400,000 beneficiaries who use the mail order program do so for chronic medication or maintenance medication needs, Davies said. "We want beneficiaries who have long-term medication needs to consider using the mail order program. It provides up to a 90-day supply of most medications for a single co-pay, whereas they only receive a 30-day supply for a single co-pay in the retail network pharmacy system," he said. Under the TRICARE Mail Order Pharmacy system, the co-pay for up to a 90-day supply for most medications is $9 for branded products or $3 for generics. Exceptions include controlled substances, and active-duty members pay no co-pays. For more information, including a complete section on the co-pay structure, visit the TRICARE Web site at www.tricare.osd.mil. Reservists can check the site for details of their benefits under the program. For related news, visit the Navy Medicine Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/mednews.
• Military Health System Notice Of Privacy Practices • Received from Skip Cline
The Military Health System (MHS) Notice of Privacy Practices is provided as a requirement under the Privacy Rule of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996. Although the MHS has always had privacy and patient confidentiality standards in place to limit unauthorized access or disclosure of personal health information, the new privacy rule provides TRICARE beneficiaries with additional safeguards for ensuring their health information is adequately protected and is used by the MHS and TRICARE to provide quality patient care. (NOTE: MHS Notice of Privacy Notice is effective in its entirety as of April 14, 2003) The Notice explains how MHS may use and share your personal health information to carry out treatment, payment of services and health care operations. Other reasons permitted or required by law are also referred to in the Notice. The Notice explains your rights to read and control your protected health information and explains the responsibility MHS has to protect you, the beneficiary. Personal hcai:h information may be about your past, present or future physical or mental health or condition and relates to health care services. It could include your age, ethnicity, or other personal statistics. You have the right to do the following: ---Read and copy your personal health information. --Ask for limits to be put on the use or sharing of your health information. ---Ask that communications about your personal health information be done through ways that further protect your privacy. --Ask to have corrections made to your personal health information and ---Get a listing of where and when your personal health information was shared. The Notice will be mailed to all TRICARE sponsors beginning in December 2002. During a future military treatment facility visit, you will be asked to sign a medical record jacket label acknowledging
receipt of that Notice. This is so the MHS can make certain that all TRICARE beneficiaries have been informed of their right to the privacy of their personal health information. Your acknowledgment of receipt of the Notice in no way affects your eligibility to receive care. Privacy Officers arc available at each MTF to address any questions or concerns. If you do not receive a copy of the MHS Notice of Privacy Practices in the mail, you may view the MHS Notice of Privacy on line at http://www.tricare.osd.mil/hipaa/lang-booklets.htm The MHS Notice of Privacy is available in the following languages/formats at http://www.tricare.osd.mil/hipaa/lang-booklets.htm
NOTE: English language in MS Word format. All other languages in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. English, Tagalog French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese, Large Print (Coming soon...). Audio Summary, Braille (Local military treatment facility HIPAA Privacy Officers may obtain Braille MHS Notices of Privacy Practices by contacting the TRICARE Management Activity HIPAA Privacy Officer). You may contact your local MTF Privacy Officer or the TRICARE Management Activity (TMA) Privacy Officer for more information about the MHS Notice of Privacy. The TMA Privacy Officer may be contacted at: ---TRICARE Management Activity Information Management, Technology and Reengineering Directorate HIPAA Office, Five Skyline Place, Suite 810, 5111 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3206. By phone at 1-888-DOD-HIPA (1-888-363-4472 - Toll Free from the continental United States)/TTY 877-535-6778. You may also email questions to [email protected]. For additional information regarding your privacy rights visit the TRICARE Web site at http://www.tricare.osd.mil/hipaa/. • • SOURCE: Information posted on the TRICARE Web Site at http://www.tricare.osd.mil and TRICARE HIPAA web site at • http://www.tricare.osd.mil/HIPAA/default.cfm New Congress Will Have Fewer Veterans Received from Don Cruse
With each new Congress, we've noted with dismay the steady decline in the number of senators and representatives who have experienced some form of uniformed service The following figures include any form of active, Reserve, or National Guard service.
1975 1991 1995 1999 2003 Senate 73% 88% 58% 43% 35% House 70% 48% 37% 31% 27%
This year's difference is highlighted by comparing those who left: Congress by retirement or defeat vs. the freshmen legislators who replaced them: DeparteesNew Freshman Senate 46% 18% (2 of 11) House 36% 14% (7 of 50)
Here's a breakdown of the Service affiliations among the veterans of the 108th Congress (in some cases. a member served in more than one uniformed sevice): Army Navy USAF USMC USCG Senate 16 8 5 6 0 House 72 12 23 7 3 Finally, here's a look at the numbers of combat veterans and uniformed service retirees (with at least 20 years of regular and,/or Guard/Reserve service):
Combat Retirees Senate 9 3 House 24 8
The declining number of veterans in Congress is a reflection of the same trend among all Americans. With smaller forces, the members who have served will continue to decline as time passes. But we shouldn't jump to the conclusion that veteran status is a good litmus test of the legislator's likely support for issues affecting the service community. Many non-veterans are among our strongest supporters on the Hill, and some who have advocated severe benefit cutbacks have served in the armed forces with great distinction. More than anything else, the figures above illustrate the education challenge we face in getting our legislators to understand our Issues Most want to do the right thing. but their unfamiliarity with our issues means constituents who are veterans need to make special efforts to outline both problems and solutions for them. We hope you'll help us take on that challenge again next year.