The
AEROGRAPH
NAVAL WEATHER SERVICE ASSOCIATION
FEBRUARY 2002 VOL 26-1
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Editor's Notes ...... 2 Publication Information ...... 2 Officers/Committees ...... 2 President's Column ...... 3 NWSA HISTORY ...... 3 Scholarship Recipient ...... 3 Necrology ...... 4 Bury Me With Sailors ...... 5 Secretary/Treasurer ...... 6 Mail & E-Mail Addresses ...... 7 Mom Called to Active Duty ...... 8 Travel Via the Moon ...... 9 CDR Don Cruse Bio Part III...... 10 Looking for Shipmates ...... 11 NWSA Hampton Roads ...... 12 From the Past ...... 13 The Saga of the Willie Dee ...... 14 The Minds of Sixth Graders ...... 16 NWSA Reunion #28 ...... 17 Chapter News Downeast ...... 25 Southern California ...... 26 Airship ...... 27 Tarheel ...... 28 Hampton Roads ...... 28 Pensacola ...... 29 Puget Sound ...... 30 Monterey ...... 31 Potomac ...... 32 NWSA Historian ...... 35 Miscellenaous ...... 36 New Member/Renewal Form...... Back Cover
The Aerograph is published quarterly by the Naval Weather Service Association, a fraternal group of Aerographers Mates, Meteorologists, Oceanographers, Weather Personnel from the Army and Marine Corp and Civilian Personnel associated with the Naval Weather Service. NWSA was established under Article 501c(10) of the Internal Revenue Code with homeport at 1122 North Baylen Street, Pensacola, FL 32501. Membership information may be obtained from the Secretary-treasurer, AGC Jim Stone, USN RET. Address correspondence to the Secretary-Treasurer. 428 Robin Road, Waverly, Ohio 45690 ------
I apologize for the later than usual delivery of this issue. The first six weeks of this year were a little hectic for me, and The Aerograph had to take a back seat to other priorities. Things are finally back to normal. ------Wave Height Equation Leo Grenier needs your help. He is looking for the equation we used to , determine wave height using fetch length and wind speed. He said he couldn't find anything on line and knows that some of you folks must have committed that equation to memory. Leo's address, phone number and e-mail address can be found in the November issue. ------In the August issue we listed a Charles Hart who died in July 2001. I received a message from John Stroade Shay saying that an AGCM Charles R. Hart retired from Fleet Weather Central Norfolk in the late 60s or early 70s. Thanks for clearing that up for us John. ------CAPT Don Innis, USMC RET is looking for addresses of former Marine Weather Service Personnel with the idea of possibly having a Marine Weather Service Reunion. I think it would be a great idea if all the Marine Corps members of NWSA meet in Asheville to discuss this idea. What do you think Don? ------I received the following message from Pete Petit: Dottie Sallie informed Pete that Ralph Sallee underwent quadruple by pass surgery on Friday, January 25. I haven't heard any later news. I'm sure Ralph would appreciate hearing from his shipmates. A call or a card does wonders to help recuperation.
Publication Information: The Aerograph is published quarterly in February, May, August, and November. Contributions must be received, by the Editor, 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 `Y2-inch 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 re-turned 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: CDR Chuck White, USN RET 1046 Tarlo Court, El Cajon, CA 92019-3132 (619) 590-0704 Happy New Year - 2002. Time is passing quickly and I'm sure many of our members are starting to make plans to travel to North Carolina for NWSA' S "Land of Sky" Reunion #28. As this is the first reunion at Asheville, being hosted by a relatively new NWSA Chapter. I look forward to seeing many of the "regular" reunion attendees and hopefully many "new" ones. It seems that those "weather guessers" that went to Asheville for a tour of duty never left, so it has to be a great place. Beginning with our 2002 Reunion and continuing through 2004, the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command under the leadership of RMDL Tom Donaldson, will be gathering historical information from our members (Read the "NWSA HISTORY" article from the Admiral). For those of you with interesting memorabilia, especially photographs bring them so you can share a part of your military highlights and they can be made a part of Navy Meteorology & Oceanography history. Janice and I are in the process of visiting local high schools in the two School districts that serve our community to offer candidates an opportunity to receive an NWSA scholarship. Copies of the "Instruction to Students" (NWSA FORM SF-1 REV 1198) and "Application for Scholarship Award" (NWSA FORM SF-2 REV OCT 2001) can be found in the NOV 2001 issue of the AEROGRAPH. The "Instruction Form" is to the point and provides information for an individual to easily explain to a High School Guidance Counselor about our scholarship program. The "Application Form" needs to be completed in its entirety for the Scholarship Committee to be able to select an applicant. One of the scholarships to be given this year is a one-time award of $2,000 provided by "Navy Cares" in memory of Petty Officer's Earhart and Flocco. Let's get "out and about" and promote our Scholarship Fund; there is someone out there that can use the assistance. Remember that an applicant has to be sponsored by a current member of the NWSA" and all applications must be sent to the NWSA SECY/TREA for verification of sponsor's membership. CORRECTION: I apologize to the HAMPTON ROADS Chapter for inadvertently recognizing the POTOMAC Chapter in the NOV AEROGRAPH "President's Column" for their contribution to the NWSA Scholarship Fund in memory of Georgene Steinbruck and Petty Officer's Earhart and Flocco. Chuck White GOD BLESS AMERICA, LAND THAT WE LOVE NWSA HISTORY The 2002 Reunion in Asheville, North Carolina is just around the corner and I have to tell you that I am really excited about being there. It is always a great time when people come together and share a common bond, especially when the bond stretches across generations. At the 2002 Reunion I would like to offer the opportunity to document your accomplishments across those generations. The history of our organization, as illustrated by your examples, is very important to you, to me, and most importantly, to the currently serving and upcoming service men and women. I am asking everyone attending the reunion in Asheville to bring your service-related photographs. We will have a special area set up to scan the photographs and return them to you before the reunion concludes. We will also have a video crew there to record your personal accounts and those special sea stories. If you prefer not to be videotaped, we will just record your story. I believe this is so important that we will do this again at the 2003 and 2004 reunions to give everyone an opportunity to tell their own story. At our last reunion in San Diego, I was enthralled by the story of weather support from the Gobi Desert in World War II, as told to me by a NWSA member. I know that many of you have similar stories of excitement, daring and contributions to our Navy and Nation. In this time of great challenge, a new generation of heroes is being forged. This new generation could benefit from your stories, examples and illustrations, but only if we can document them. Please dust off those photographs and remember those sea stories...for Asheville! See you there!! Rear Admiral T. Q. Donaldson, V Life member Mark Joseph Ipri 880 Buffalo Court Toms River, New Jersey 08753 January 1, 2002 Naval Weather Service Association Scholarship Committee Dear Friends: I've just completed my first semester at Georgetown and the grades are in - I've got a 3.87 GPA! My roster included courses in Calculus, Economics, Computer Science, English and Theology. I also participated in several extra- curricular activities: a comedy-improv group, an a cappella singing group, Campaign Georgetown (a grassroots political group), lots of volunteer work and getting to know Washington DC. I love being at Georgetown. I just wanted you to know how I'm doing since you were so supportive of my education here. My family and I send good wishes for a very Happy New Year 2002. Thanks for all your personal attention last year after I was chosen as a scholarship recipient. Sincerely, Mark J. Ipri Let God In a small neglected garden, Where flowers used to grow, A weatherbeaten birdhouse Shelters sparrows from the snow. They greet the sun at dawning With sprightliness and song, Cheerful, uncomplaining As the day is long. In time of tribulation, Whate're our lot might be, Let God lift up the burden, From heartache set you free, And like the little sparrow Find solace and release, With song and prayer at dawning, Enfolded in God's peace. Elsie Natalie Brady Necrology AG 1 James Hurst, USN RET Died June 23, 2001 LT William Percer, USNR RET Died August 29, 2001 LT Clyde Margeson, USN RET Died September 1, 2001 AGCM Roy Harger, USN RET Died October 31, 2001 Mrs. Wanda Starr, Widow of CWO Virgil Starr, USN RET, Died November 12, 2001 AGC Dudley E. Boatman, USN RET Died November 19, 2001 LCDR Kenneth Wilzer, USN RET Died November 2001 AGC James Abrisch, USN RET and Mrs. Adrienne Abrisch Died in plane crash December 12, 2001 AGC Lou Franco, USN RET Died December 16, 2001 Mrs. Francis B. Arnold, wife of AGC James R. Arnold, USN RET, Died January 16, 2002 CDR Thomas J. Gossman, USN RET Died January 19, 2002 DUDLEY E. BOATMAN AGC Dudley E. Boatman, USN RET, 73, a 33-year resident of Albuquerque, died Monday, November 19, 2001. He is survived by his wife Eileen, and his daughters Cynthia Fusco of Santa Ana, CA and Julie Boatman of Austin, TX; son James Boatman and his wife Cheryl; and grandchildren Jordan and Tyson. A 22-year veteran of the U.S. Navy, he served over 35 years as a meteorologist during his naval career and continuing with the National Weather Service. He will be interred with full military honors at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe on Thursday, November 29, 2001, at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the Naval Weather Service Association Scholarship Fund, 428 Robin Road, Waverly, OH 45690-1523. Serving the Boatman family is the Sunrise Society of New Mexico, 891-8200. Dudley was extremely proud of his military service and his meteorological career, and his colleagues said it best upon his retirement in 1990: "From the North Pole to the Mediterranean, your federal career has served the needs of many, and your high standards of professionalism have been an example to peers. Anchors away and balloons to the sky'" AG1 James Earl Hurst, USN RET James Earl Hurst, 57, of Springfield, passed away at 5:23 A.M. Saturday, June 23, 2001, in his home after a long battle with cancer. He was born in McKeesport, PA. With his college education, he served as an air traffic controller and weather forecaster for the U.S. Navy. He retired after 20 years in the Navy and served in the Vietnam and Persian Gulf wars. He also served time in Missouri Air National Guard. In his civilian life, he served his community in public safety with his work as a volunteer fireman in Parkville. a policeman in North Kansas City and Sedalia and served time in the Missouri Highway Patrol. He was also very active in numerous organizations including Elks Lodge, Fleet Reserve, Shriners. D.A.V.. American Red Cross, Make Today Count and Hope groups. among others. He was preceded in death be his father, Fred Hurst. and a niece, Amy Styche. He is survived by his wife, Barbara of the home: daughter Susan Hurst Sweaney and husband Billy Joe of Houston, Texas; granddaughter Allison Sweaney, Houston, Texas; two stepsons, Thomas Whayman, St. Georges, Bermuda, and Bruce Whayman of Sidney, Australia; step-grandson Victor Whayman of St. Georges, Bermuda; his mother, Virginia Hurst of Greensburg, Pa.; sisters Lois Trow of New Alexandria, Pa., and Janet Styche and husband Tom, and their sons, Brian and Matt of Buena Vista, Pa., and a brother Tom Hurst and his sons Jason Hurst and the Rev. August Hurst and wife Gretchen of Elizabeth, Pa. He leaves behind many other relatives and special friends. LT Clyde Margeson, USN RET Clyde Margeson, a retired lieutenant, served in the U.S Navy for 26 years. He was born in 1917 in Dorchester, MA. He was an Eagle Scout and graduated from Milton High School in 1937. He joined the Merchant Marines and spent one year in that service. He and a friend toured the southern U. S. ending in California. Clyde joined the Navy on July 11, 1938 in Alameda, CA. He entered boot training at San Diego, finishing in November 1938 and received orders to Aviation Machinist's Mate School in Norfolk, VA. However, due to hospital time he had to dropo out of school and received orders to VF-7. Early in 1940 he applied for Aerographer's School and in mid 1940 received orders to Aerographer's School and graduated in October 1940. Clyde was promoted to AMM3/c (1939); to Aerog3/c (Oct 1940); to Aerog2/c (early 1941); to Aerogl/c (March 1943); to Chief Aerographer's Mate (Sept 1944); to Warrant Officer (W-1) (Nov 1951) and to Lieutenant (LDO) (1957. Shipboard/squadron assignments included: VF-7 USS Ranger (1940); USS St Louis (Apr 1942); Guadalcanal, Coral Sea, New Caledonia and New Zealand (He con-tacted malaria seven times in these areas.); Hurricane Squadron VP-23. He must have served in the Korean area – has two medals. Shore assignments included: Los Alametos, CA; Weather Central Pearl Harbor; Advanced Chiefs School (C-3) finishing first in the class; NAS Alameda; FWF Yokosuka; ASO Philadelphia; NAS Kaneohe and Weather Central Suitland MD. He retired Jan 1, 1966. Medals and Service Ribbons include Good Conduct; American Defense; American Campaign; Asiatic Pacific Campaign (1 Star); World War II; National Defense; Korean Service and Korea United Nations. After retirement, Clyde worked at NAS Patuxent River MD – Met Tech (GS-11). He moved to Orange Park FL in 1978 and started a sailboat dealership – offering sailing instructions. LT Clyde L. Margeson, USN RET, died September 4, 2001. His family, friends and shipmates will miss him. Bury Me With Sailors Author Unknown I've played a lot of roles in life; I've met a lot of men. I've done some things I'd like to think I wouldn't do again. And though I'm young, I'm old enough to know some day I'll die, and to think about what lies beyond, Beside whom I would lie. Perhaps it doesn't matter much; Still if I had my choice, I'd want a gray mongst sailors when At last death quells my voice. I'm sick of the hypocrisy of lectures of the wise. I'll take the man, with all the flaws, Who goes through scared, and dies. The troops I knew were commonplace They didn't want the war; They fought because their Fathers and Theirs Fathers had before. They cursed and killed and wept...God Knows They're easy to deride But bury me with men like these; They faced the guns and died, It's funny when you think of it, The way we got along. We'd come from different worlds To live in one where no one belongs. I didn't even like them all; I'm sure they'd all agree. Yet I would give my life for them, I know some did for me. So bury me with Sailors, please, Though much maligned they be. Yes bury me with Sailors, for I miss their company. We'll not soon see their likes again; We've had our fill of war. But bury me with men like them Till someone else does more." FROM THE SECRETARY/TREASURER'S DESK 20 JAN 2002 Another year has begun. I hope you all had a good Christmas and that the New Year will be healthy and prosperous for all. I also hope and pray that this year will find us closer to peace. In the listing of Scholarship donations, you will see three categories for memorial donations. One is in memory of AG1(SW) Edward Earhart, USN and AG2 Matthew Flocco, USN, the two AG's who were killed in the 09/11 crash at the Pentagon; one is in memory of AGC Dudley E. Boatman, USN RET; (His family requested donations to our Scholarship Fund in lieu of flowers (an idea for future consideration?)). and one in memory of Georgene Steinbruck. CHECK YOUR LABEL ON THE COVER OF THIS ISSUE. IF IT SHOWS THAT YOUR DUES EXPIRE 6/02, IT IS NOT TOO EARLY TO RENEW. This would be a good time to consider a Life Membership — only $175.00. Spouses of Life Members are also members for life. The membership count as of this date is 704 plus 13 spouse members making the total members 717. Of that number, there are 365 Life Members. I hope to see you in Asheville. THE CUTOFF DATE FOR THE LISTINGS IN THIS ISSUE WAS 19 JAN 2002. SCHOLARSHIP DONATIONS WERE RECEIVED FROM CDR MO GIBBS, USN RET LCDR WAYNE LEDBETTER, USN RET CDR MARGARET MOSHIER AGC GEORGE L. GLEASON, USN RET LCDR FRANK MCGAYHEY, USN RET CDR CHUCK WHITE, USN RET IN MEMORY OF PETTY OFFICERS FLOCCO AND EARHART HAMPTON ROADS CHAPTER, NWSA AGCS ROSS K. GARDNER, USN RET AGCM C. R. "MOON" MULLEN, USN RET NAVY CARES (BOB CONIGLIONE) xAG1 EUGENE HATHAWAY, USN REL AGI LEWIS PITTELL, USN RET xAG3 JOHN G. BARR, USN REL AGC WILLIAM K. HORNER, USN RET IN MEMORY OF AGC DUDLEY E. BOATMAN, USN RET (These include civilian individuals and corporations — all located in California) JOHNSON CAPITAL GARY CLOP SK MANAGEMENT SOLARI ENTERPISES NAIOP, SOCAL CHAPTER (not NWSA) AMIES COMMUNICATION TALLEY & ASSOCIATES GLEASON & DORIS SNASHALL FALKENBERG/GILLIAM & ASSOCIATES CAROL GLODNEY AFFORDABLE HOUSING MANAGEMENT BRACKENHOFF MANAGEMENT IN MEMORY OF GEORGENE STEINBRUCK HAMPTON ROADS CHAPTER, NWSA OUR NEWEST LIFE MEMBERS CW03 OLEN C. (BUD) HALEY, USN RET #373 AGC(AC) EDWARD C. YESS, lll, USNR RET #374 GIFT MEMBERSHIPS WERE RECEIVED FROM CDR DON CRUSE, USN RET CWO2 SPIKE PREDARIS, USMC RET OUR NEWEST MEMBERS (NEW OR DUES EXPIRED MORE THAN ONE YEAR AGO) (SEE ADDRESS UPDATE LIST FOR ADDRESSES) # INDICATES SPOUSE MEMBER CAPT JEFFREY BACON, USN AG1 GREENE B. HAWKS, USN RET CDR ART NESBIT, USN RET AGI RICHARD DEMPSEY, USN RET xCAERM ALBERT C. HUNT, USN REL CAPT JACK WATTS, USMC RET CW03 OLEN C. "BUD" HALEY, USN RET xAGI FRANK B. KRUPIARZ, USN REL AGC(AC) EDWARD C. YESS, 111, USNR RET CAPT DANNY L, McDANIEL, USNR COMPUTER FUND DONATIONS NONE AGCS Dorothy Lamastus, Mother of Four, Called to Duty. Story & picture courtesy of the (AP) & the TriCity Herald, Kennewick, WA Dorothy Lamastus won't be around when her 15 year old twins learn to drive or her eldest daughter turns 18 or her 8 year old draws a new picture in class. She hopes her 4 daughters will forgive her year long absence from their lives and recognize the importance of what she's doing - reporting for active duty with the U.S. Navy at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station "I would hope that they see - even at 4l years old - when you're needed, you don't back out." said LaMastus, who Rebecca, Courtney, Dorothy, Katy and Ashley Lamastus live in Benton City, in south-central Washington. "I always felt that everyone owes the country something. We have a lot of rights and freedoms here, and that's thanks to our military." The reservist has been recalled to serve a year at the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, where she will help process other reservists in her unit specializing in weather forecasting. She was scheduled to report to Whidbey Island on Wednesday (16 January) As a Senior Chief with 22 years of military service, including seven years of active duty, LaMastus could have retired after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and avoided being called up again, but LeMastus wanted to set a good example for her girls. "I understand and fully agree and support her on what she's doing," said Darrell LaMastus, her husband of 20 years and a former Navy man. Our country needs her right now. For whatever reasons they need her skills." Dorothy LaMastus, a secretary in the food services department at the Richland School District, got the official call Jan. 8. "When I start feeling sorry for myself, I think. it could be worse. I could e overseas," she said. Her friends have wondered why the Navy needs weather forecasters to fight terrorism. LaMastus explained; Every flight group that goes out has to get a weather briefing before they go. Any special ops - they're going to look at the weather. Weather plays a huge factor in what they have to do. "51 of the 210 weather forecasters in the Naval Reserves have already been recalled," she said. According to the Department of Defense's web site, as of Jan.9, the total for Reserve and National Guard members on active duty was 67,793. Darrell LaMastus says he's prepared to take over some of his wife's household chores. He'll pay the bills, make sure the girls get up on time for school, shop for groceries and wash the clothes. "The laundry won't be as caught up as she kept it. The youngest will probably go to school now and then without her hair brushed. But we'll be fine." he said. His biggest concern is dealing with three teenagers as they cope with boy friends and high school emotions. "That scares me a little more because they won't have Mom to talk to." he said. The couples oldest daughter Katy, 17, is a senior at Kiona-Benton City High School. She's unhappy her Mom will miss her 18th birthday this summer. "I know she has to go. I just wish she didn't have to go." Katy said. "We'll manage." Travel via the Moon Where do the "odds" that we so often see written, come from? Is there some math genius actually sitting down at a calculator and trying to determine the chances of being hit by lightning, or winning the lottery, or being shot by the enemy if you are in the military? It seems that the more rare the event, the more we will see "odds" for or against this occurrence. And then, the media will highlite these probabilities. When you combine this almost impossible potential of a happening with any recent big news tragedy, people are allowed to think they are in great danger. The public is offered a continuous diet of stories about the most horrible incidents and constant repeating will lead people into believing that these events WILL occur with THEM as a witness or victim. A majority of the public, hearing these "odds", are willing to change their lifestyle in hopes of not becoming that one person against the odds! On a given month there are about 18000+ commercial airline flights EACH day. Your "odds" now on being on a plane that crashes are 135000 to 1. If hostages take over one flight per month, the odds are over 1/2 million to one that you will be on it - ....so what do people do? They stop flying and drive instead where the odds are 1 in 7000 that you will be in an automobile accident, or stay home and eat more so they can be with the group of 1 in 400 who will have heart problems due to diet or lack of exercise. Another recent example of poor-math genes is the 5 people who have died because of anthrax .... out of a population of 275 million! That undoubtedly explains why numerous people have come into one MailBoxesEtc store asking to send their parcel via UPS or FedEx (even though postal may have cost less) since this scare hit the headlines. You bet, lives have changed. We seldom get into "1st person" references in this column, but we will make an exception here. At the end of Sept and the first 2 wks of Oct, Nadine & I went (read FLEW) from LA to Chicago to Milan, Italy. There were about 30% less passengers.... we thank you for not crowding us off the plane. The security line was 3-4 minutes longer. I purchased US flags for each player on the Fla, Tx and Calif teams to sew on their uniform shirts. I also had a large 3x4ft flag on a staff which I carried to each game and placed over our dugout ... and identified the US teams in numerous newspapers and two sport magazines where the SrSoftballUSA team pictures/tournaments appeared. Security in Europe had police and uniformed military at many large hotels, very visible in airports, and seemed comforting to travelers. All baggage is x-rayed in Europe (has been for years) unlike most airports in the US. This is going to change but we will pay for itin increased airline fares that will cover this additional security. We came back to LA via a short one- day stop in London (gotta take the boss to hi-tea @ Savoy or won't be able to go on future trips) and security at Heathrow for our airline was 20 minutes long for check-in which included x-rays. Again the flight was less than full. Thanksgiving was different. As pre-warned, this is one of the highest travel days. At 0600 the line was lhr 5min long outside on the sidewalk at LAX to GET into the security check door ... followed by 12-15 minutes to get thru the line. You now have to take off your shoes at some security places and your coats....at San Jose I had to open my belt. But again, the flights are less than 60% full, and security in Japan was no different than last years tournament to that country. While speaking of Japan, do not try to use your HOME country issued ATM card in their ATMs. Only cards issued in Japan will work. Between the Christmas and New Year holidays (another high travel period) the flight from San Diego to JFK was less than full although the return to LAX was nearly 100%. TimesSq had police officers at every block (watching), GroundZero was thronged but available for viewing, the line at Rockefeller Center for the Rockettes had security looking inside purses, but otherwise, just kept the 2 block-long line moving and estimates of 1/2 million NewYearsEve viewers at TimesSq puts it at last year's record numbers. Our point? Do we have to accept the "odds" as what will happen to us? Do we have to significantly change our daily routines? As Americans we can accept that certain terrorists might like to do something drastic here in the US, but can you really believe that you might be a witness to that picture? That a certain act MAY occur is a probability but to YOU .. ? Almost an impossibility Its difficult to find a news item on TV or in the newspaper that doesn't begin with "before Sept 11" or "since Sept 11`x'"...like memorable dates that have gone before such as Pearl Harbor, or the death of JFK, we will remember the day, but don't let it change YOUR life! EACH terrorist act is not directed specifically at YOU. If you believe it is and you hide, we will all be collectively hiding and those gutless cowards will be winning! We need to be a caring people and look out for others. Consider making a donation to our Secy/Treas as a memorial to our two AGs lost in the crash at the Pentagon on that date. And then, get on with your life. I don't mind the crowds in the security line or on the airplane. In fact, take advantage of the current conditions. Just prior to Chirstmas, round-trip fares to DC, Boston, Chicago, and New York we're down to $233 and for an unbelievable $100 more you could go to London or Paris. Be a winner Don't hide! Be PROUD so be an AMERICAN and return to a "normal" life! Commander Donald A. Cruse USN(Ret) (PART III) The administrative wheels turned slowly so it was two weeks on board the Naval Receiving Station Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay before shouldering my seabag and hammock to grab the shuttle bus over to the big city. Reported to Commander, Western Sea Frontier on 29 March 1944 for duty in Fleet Weather Central San Francisco, then located in the Federal Building on the fourth deck overlooking busy Market Street. Subsistence and Quarters allowance of $90/month augmented a sailor's pay but would never keep body and soul together. We tried hot bunking in a hotel to stretch the dollars. Not good. And the bathtub was always full of whites soaking while awaiting scrubbing. The skipper was CAPT J.O.F. Dorsett and lead forecaster for my Duty Section was LT Loretta Mersey. Her assistant was Aerographer Warren Price, an officer we all took pains to steer clear of. One of my Class 20 Primary Aerographer School mates reported from Suva, Fiji, where he had spent a recuperative period after swimming off USS YORKTOWN (CV-5). We buddied around and hit the nearby YMCA regularly to work out. But Bob Martin was as bored with the duty as I was. When a friend offered me a bunk in a private home with occasional home-cooked meals thrown in, it was an easy decision. Paris and Olga Kazee proved to be very close to parents over the succeeding several years when I was in and out of their back porch bunk. Bob Martin lucked out with orders to the sailing yacht ZACA out of Treasure Island and loved his time on the Bird Dog station situated halfway between San Francisco and Honolulu. For a month I was ordered TAD to ZP-33 Headquarters Squadron at NAS Moffett Field, returning to Fleet Weather Central July 1, 1944. My Aerological Officer at Moffett was a mustang named LT Arthur T. Pingree USN(T). Our blimps were engaged in offshore antisubmarine patrols and protection of shipping. It was mid-September before I could escape permanently from the Fleet Weather Central and return to Fleet Air Wing EIGHT, Headquarters Squadron, at NAS Alameda. Once again it was interesting duty and the many Aerographer's Mates transiting through LCDR Welles' personnel pool raised the interest level even higher. My FAW-8 leader, another mustang named LT James I. Shelton USN(T), administered the examination for advancement to CAerM—it was the type made up locally and consisted entirely of essay-type questions; so three full days were consumed in writing. For AerMs bucking for advancement to Chief Petty Officer the examination required approval by the Bureau of Aeronautics, Aerology Branch (only three ratings in the NAVY required such approval). Time-in-Rating requirements for advancement could, at that time, be waived by fifty percent due to wartime exigencies. Another set of TAD orders took me to an airfield in Arcata, Calif. with a load of weather instruments. It took two weeks to install, orient and calibrate the wind measuring instruments on the airfield control tower. The NAVY was preparing to test fog dispersal techniques at Arcata, one of the foggiest spots on the Pacific Coast. On December 1, 1944 my seabag was retired and my new CPO uniforms went into a foot locker. The first time I tried to go ashore in new uniform it took me all afternoon to figure out the shirt and necktie. Within two weeks my new footlocker was on a truck headed for Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, across the Bay. LISS BELLEAU WOOD (CVL-24) was in need of a CAerM as she was being readied for return to the Pacific. The fact that she had been kamikazied in the CPO Quarters did nothing to improve my morale. CAerM Alfred C. Lee USN reported aboard CVL-24 from the pool of Aerographers in San Diego. When I advised LCDR Red Welles of this fact he ordered me to USS INTREPID (CV-11) which was located in an adjoining drydock undergoing repairs. CV-11 became my home for nearly all of 1945, operating as part of the fast carrier task force carrying the war to Japan. My Aerological Officer was LTJG Lewis Black LS\R who, in typical fashion, spent most of his time on watch on the ship's bridge or engaged in a multitude of collateral duties. Two petty officers from the Alameda pool were ordered to CV-11 prior to sailing from Hunters Point: AerMlc J.T. Thomas and AerM2c P. J. Iannuzzo. Others in our Aerology gang were AerM3c McShane. Strikers Dick Inglima, Willie Tarbox and Bud Parsons. For several months LTJG Norris was assigned to Aerology because he was a supernumary in the ship. He had no formal training in Aerology so far as I know. INTREPID spent another yard period at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard after being kamikazied off Okinawa in April. We departed San Francisco Bay on June 29, stopped briefly in Pearl Harbor and then qualified our newly assigned Air Group TEN offshore Oahu. August 6 was spent launching full strikes against Wake Island while enroute to an anchorage in Eniwetok lagoon. CV-11 was at Eniwetok when we received the word that the U.S. had dropped atomic bombs on Japan. CV-11 was underway from Eniwetok on August 23 to rejoin the Fifth Fleet off Tokyo. CV-11 anticipated entering Toyko Bay as part of the carrier task force and other ships celebrating the end of WW2. Typhoons delayed those ceremonies and scattered the fleet. However, along with USS ANTIETAM (CV-36) and USS CABOT (CVL-28) we were ordered to Okinawa and were later joined by newly-commissioned USS BOXER (CV-21) in the Seventh Fleet. Our mission was to operate in the Yellow Sea and Gulf of Pohai making a maximum show of strength while supporting occupation of Korea by U.S. forces. INTREPID cruised to Saipan to exchange Air Group FOURTEEN for TEN and visited Guam before steaming to Tokyo Bay. One day after our October 25, 1945 arrival I stowed my gear in an LCVP for the trip to nearby USS LUNGA POINT (CVE-94), part of the worldwide "Magic Carpet" operation. CAerM Nick Velasquez provided plentiful servings of coffee and congenial conversation in Aerology while we were enroute but our accomodations on the hangar deck were spartan. CVE-94 moored at NAS North Island, San Diego, on November 15. Initial out-processing took place at Camp Elliott TADCEN with final discharge proceedings carried out at the Naval Training Center. This was familiar territory because my boot company was billeted on the same John Paul Jones Court in September-October, 1938. With a one-day delay for Thanksgiving festivities, I was paid off on November 23, 1945. On December 18 I began work at Pan American World Airways in their San Francisco International Airport office. Work consisted primarily of preparing flight briefing folders for aircraft flying throughout the Pacific-Alaska Division. The Division Meteorologist was Robert Clover, a close friend of LCDR Red Welles at NAS Alameda. When I discovered that the reason for their wide open hiring policy was their plan to reestablish their Pacific flight routes and bases as quickly as possible, I resigned. It was not easy to convince the NAVY Recruiter in El Paso that my desire to ship over was genuine. At that time all the U.S. Armed Forces were dumping people as rapidly as possible. Therefore, one CAerM(AA)(T) wishing to reenlist comprised the exactly opposite purpose. On February 20, 1946 the Recruiter relented and shipped me over, barely in time to hold my rate. Upon arriving at NAS North Island it was immediately clear that more personnel were on the muster list than were required to perform the mission. As soon as an opportunity was provided I volunteered for NAS Clinton, Oklahoma one of the many NAVY wartime flight training facilities that were being decommissioned. The Aerological Officer there was another mustang LT J. B."Duke" Chamberlain USN(T). He was a known legend in Aerology because he was one of the first petty officers invited to change his rating to Aerographer when Aerog was created in 1923. He changed from BM1/c to Aerogl/c. NAS Clinton received hundreds of SNJ and SNTV aircraft from various decommissioned stations for temporary outdoor storage. By the end of May, 1946 the task of dismantling the weather gear and turning everything over to the Supply Department had been completed. Along with AerM 1 c Frank Sinning, AerMlc Tony Spatola and AerM2c Harvey Geswender it was time to execute new orders to Squadron VN8D5 at NAF Annapolis. The other half of our NAS Clinton crew had orders to various other commands. LT Chamberlain elected to retire. (to be concluded) Looking for Shipmates Hi, My Dad Blaine Hareld, was an AG back in the late 40s early 50s and has been getting a little nostalgic. He was in the crew that reopened Cecil Field around 1950-52. He has taken a few trips to Jax the past couple of years to bring back some memories and is wondering if anyone knows of the following AGs: Robert Griffin; Albert Shaw; Donald Rutledge; Gary Salsman; or Charlie Kilburn. Also I've been trying to find an AG I knew while on the USS Forrestal back in the 70s. His name is Jerry Dilley (Diley) and I think he became an instructor at Chanute AG "A" school in the 80s. If anyone can help us out we would appreciate it. Thanks, Wade Hareld Wade Hareld Blaine Hareld 555 University Avenue #905 7415 Del Rio Avenue Honolulu HI 96826 Brooksville FL 34613 808-945-0987 whare2(iaol.com If you know any of these folks you can ask them to contact Blaine or Wade Hareld. Bob Griffin is a member and the others are not listed in our Bellinger List. We don't send names and addresses from the B-List to requests like this. Editor What's going on in Hampton, VA Dear Bill, We have been very busy this time. Bev and Bud Scott gave us an absolutely terrific dinner again. They did one this time last year and it outdid any 5 star restaurant. And the dinner this year was the same. Bev and her family cooked a tremendous meal, let us fill our plates till our tummies bulged and we sat in absolute contentment. Our tables were set outside in the warm summer air, the water behind the house was delightful and had many birds there. The dinner was exceptional. We are very lucky to have such people in our group. John and Eve Chubb came to a meeting a couple of months ago and Eve mentioned that the Migrant workers on the Eastern Shore were really in need of basic things. I said I would see what I could do, and our cup ran over. By the time we met for dinner at the Long Branch where we throw peanuts on the floor, the back of Floyd's truck was jammed full with clothing and all sorts of other things. John had brought his pretty little convertible and to facilitate loading after he had jammed the trunk full, he lowered the top of his car. And then the jamming really began. It was a close thing when the top came up again. And when our friends added what they had brought to the meeting that night, the convertible was crammed full and the truck was still loaded. We will have to take this second truck load of things to Eastern Shore since our dining room is not the place for it, nor is our porch where a lot is also stored. We also discovered that there are two Christmas trees that won't be used by our members this year, so, we are going to take them to the Veteran's Hospital soon and bring all the decorations with us, (no lights allowed). Along with this we will bring a small buffet so the patients that live there will have a small decorating party with us. This will really be a treat. Perhaps we can add a small gift for each one of them. When the WTC disaster hit, we had a huge box of stuffed toys and nothing yet to do with them. So, I called New York, got a children's center and they said they would love to have them for the children staying there. They were washed in hot water, ammonia and detergent and dried well. All were in perfect condition so we simply packed them up and sent them with our love. Perhaps they helped. And I have another project for us. The Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters is asking for people to make small stuffed teddy bears for the children who come into the hospital. These are cotton stuffed with non allergenic filling and so easy to make. Faces can be drawn or embroidered. Perhaps we can start a wave of teddies. We are working on a Biography Book. In this we have a picture of the man when he first joined the Navy, hopefully one when he made his highest rank and one from the present day. The papers they fill out list basic information and when he joined, where he was stationed and when, any battles he was in and any medals he was awarded. Family pictures will also be welcome with children and such. In fact any other information about the man and his family will be terrific. This way we do not lose the information and the memories of wonderful shipmates. It will be brought to the next reunion in hopes we can start a trend. We will also bring the reunion books for others to see and a collection of pictures also. It bothers us that these things will be lost or forgotten if we do not preserve them now. We are working toward that end. And now I must end this. Take care and safe sailing to you all. The Hampton Roads Chapter. Floyd and Joan Akers If Seamoor, our Seagull Sailor is willing, we will try to bring him to the reunion also, if no one objects. He attended the Nimitz reunion and had a terrific time having his picture taken and dancing with some very lovely ladies. Lucky sailor!! I guess that is all for now. Our organization will stay busy helping and staying in touch with each other. VA Hospital Party Dear Bill, We thought the NWSA might like to know what we have been up to. This whole crew in Virginia is terrific. Hope you can use this and that it will encourage others to do as we have done. Take care, God Bless and Merry Christmas. Joan and Floyd Akers H R C Hosts a Christmas Party It was a beautiful, cool fall day, Dec. 15, and our part of the group met at the Lake Wright Motor Lodge. There we consolidated the packages and boxes, got Jack and Ann in Marty's car, Ted and Ethel LeMond in their truck and with Joan and Floyd Akers leading the pack they headed for Hampton and the Veteran's Hospital there. We had: AG2 Adam Froehlig, photographer of the group, Joan Ramirez, Ed Ramirez, Katie Ramirez, Albert Ross, Rebecca Bacon, CAPT. Jeffrey Bacon, Kathy Barfield, Ann Salvato, Jack Salvato, Agatha Pascal, Barb Nemcosky, Marty Nemcosky, Ted LeMond, Ethel Lemond, Bob Jones, Marn Balolong, Christopher Thomas, Floyd Akers and Joan Akers. CAPT Bacon is the CO of NLMOC and they were waiting for us at the hospital and all twenty of us set about our task with the boxes and packages. One tree was to be set up in the entranceway and one in the recreation room. The group split and while some stayed in the entranceway to set up and decorate the first tree, the rest of us headed for the rec. center. It was such a somber sight. Men and women in wheel chairs or lounge chairs staring at the big screen TV, no expression on their faces, no talk, just blank staring. It was so dismal. Folks put down the packages, the second tree was unboxed, put together and the decorating began. Someone turned on the boom box and Christmas music filled the room. It was wonderful, folks hanging beautiful sparkling balls all over the tree. In the meantime, others began setting up the table. Don Reid, the activity director, brought a cover for the table and the fun began. I believe we had three kinds of cookies at least, (one kind sugar free), Ritz crackers and Triskets, corn chips, tiny sausage balls, sliced cheese and the cheese in the squirt can, sliced apples and grapes, 5 kinds of soda and a gallon of apple juice. The folks sat there staring until someone asked if they would like some food. They murmured yes or nodded andbrightened when the small plates and cups came around, well filled. After a while they sat taller, and some asked for seconds, one man even got thirds. Don had said it was all right for them to have the food just for one day and they made the most of it. The three women were so pleased to have another woman to talk with. The change in morale was tremendous all through the recreation room. The bright tree, the smiles on the faces of the Vets that sat there, everything was brighter for a visit from the Hampton Roads Chapter of the Navy Weather Service Association and the active duty folks that showed up. The active duty men, women and civilians, (Ramerizs, including young Katie), and the rest of us spent the morning conversing with the vets, decorating the trees donated by Chuck Steinbruck, serving snacks to them and in general being really good morale boosters. The active duty folks even ran out to buy treetops before we left. NLMOC again came through in its support for the Hampton Roads Chapter. When everything was finished and folks had quit eating we packed up the boxes, left the food for the nurses and others and piled back into the cars. Some went home, others went to the old Chamberlain Hotel where Santa Nemcosky bought us lunch. We hope this starts a trend, a "Visit a Vet" move. H R C NWSA can do anything!!! From the Past Submitted by: AGC Duane Paul, USN RET CANACAO CLIPPER "Weather Guessers" Meet Aboard Commands and representatives from:Comnander in Chief,U.S. Pacific Fleet;Commander SEVENTH Fleet; Fleet Weather Central Guam; Fleet Weather Facility,Yokosuka;Naval Communication Stations Guam and Philippines;and Fleet Weather Facility, Sangley Point met around the conference table here this past week to talk about the weather. The main agenda item was to plan for a weather broad- cast to the SEVENTH Fleet that would be superior to any now available in the Pacific Area. (S e e photo below) THEY TALKED ABOUT THE WEATHER: (Seated,from left) CDR R.D.Herman;CAPT W.J.Kotsch;CAPT J.P. F1eet;CDR F.G.Olson;CDR C.R.Dale.(Standing,same order) LCDR H.J.Casey,Jr.;LT C.A.White;LT JG R.M. Judson;LT J.F.Bullington;CWO/W3 F.M.Lewis;LTJG J.A.Copple;ENS F.H.Taylor;LTJG R.F. 'Adams. Not shown: Captain Sherman E. Wright, Chief, U.S.Pacific Fleet,Staff Meteorologist. The Saga of the Willie Dee Submitted by: If you let me know who sent this in I will acknowledge it in the next issue (Editor) The "Willie Dee" created havoc from the time she was commissioned in July, 1943 until her unusual, and perhaps, charmed demise in June 1945. From November 1943 until her bizarre loss in June 1945, the American destroyer William D. Porter was often met with the clever greeting. "Don't shoot, we're Republicans!" when she entered port or joined other naval ships. The significance of this expression was almost a cult secret of the United States Navy until the story resurfaced and received wide publicity after a ship's reunion in 1958. Half a century ago, the "Willie Dee," as the William D. Porter was nicknamed, accidentally fired a live torpedo at the battleship IOWA during a practice exercise on November 14, 1943. As if this weren't bad enough, the IOWA was carrying President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Secretary of State Cordell Hull and all of the country's World War II military brass to the "big three" conferences in Cairo and Teheran. Roosevelt was to meet with Stalin of the Soviet Union and Churchill of Great Britain, and had the W.D. Porter's successfully launched torpedo struck the IOWA at the aiming point, the last 50 years of world history might have been quite different. Fortunately, the W.D. Porter's warning allowed the IOWA to evade the speeding torpedo, and historic events carried on as we know them. The USS William D. Porter (DD-579) was one of hundreds of big war-built assembly line destroyers. Although smaller than current destroyers, they were powerful and menacing in their day. They mounted a main battery of five dual- purpose 5-inch, .38 caliber guns and an assortment of 20mm and 40mm AAA guns, but their main armament consisted of 10 fast-running and accurate torpedoes that carried 500-pound warheads. The W.D. Porter was placed in commission on July 6, 1943, under the command of LCDR Wilfred A. Walter, a man on the Navy's career fast track. In the months before she was detailed to accompany the IOWA across the Atlantic in November 1943, the W.D. Porter's crew members learned their trades; but not without experiencing certain mishaps that set the stage for the "big goof. The mishaps began in earnest with the mysterious order to escort the pride of the fleet, the big new battleship IOWA to north Africa. The night before it left Norfolk, Virginia, the W.D. Porter successfully demolished a nearby sister ship when she backed down along the other ship's side and, with her anchor, tore down railings, a life raft, the captain's gig and various other formerly valuable pieces of equipment. The Willie Dee suffered merely a slightly scratched anchor, but her career of mayhem and destruction had begun. The next event occurred just 24 hours later. The four-ship convoy, consisting of the IOWA and her secret passengers, the W.D. porter and two other destroyers, was under strict instruction to maintain complete silence as they were going through U-boat feeding ground where speed and silence were the best defenses. Suddenly, a tremendous explosion rocked the convoy and all of the ships commenced anti-submarine maneuvers. The maneuvers continued until the W.D. Porter sheepishly admitted that one of her depth charges had fallen off the stern and detonated in the rough sea. The safety had not been set as instructed. Captain Walker's fast track career was fast becoming sidetracked. Shortly thereafter, a freak wave inundated the W.D. Porter, stripping everything what wasn't lashed down and washing a man overboard who was never found. Next, the engine room lost power in one of its boilers. And, during all this. the captain had to make reports almost hourly to the IOWA on the Willie Dee's difficulties. At this point, it would have been merciful for the force commander to have detached the hard luck ship and sent her back to Norfolk. But that didn't happen. The morning of November 14, 1943 dawned with a moderate sea and pleasant weather. The IOWA and her escorts were just east of Bermuda when the President and his guests wanted to see how the big ship could defend herself against air attack, so the IOWA launched a number of weather balloons to use as antiaircraft targets. Seeing more than 1(10 guns shooting at the balloons was exciting, and the President was duly proud of his Navy. Just as proud was Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Ernest J. King, large in size and by demeanor a true monarch of the seas. Disagreeing with him meant the end of a Naval Career. Up to this time. no one knew what firing a torpedo at him would mean! Over on the Willie Dee, Captain Walter watches the fireworks display with admiration and envy. Thinking about career redemption and breaking the hard luck spell. the captain sent his impatient crew to battle stations, and they began to shoot down the balloons that, missed by the IOWA. had drifted into the W.D. Porter's vicinity. Down on the torpedo mounts, the W.D. Porter's crews watched, waited and prepared to take practice shoots at the big battleship, which, even at 6000 yards seemed to blot out the horizon. Torpedoman Lawton Dawson and Tony Fazio were among those responsible for the torpedoes and for ensuring that the primers (small explosive charges) were installed during actual combat and removed during practice. Dawson, unfortunately, forgot to remove the primer from torpedo tube number three. Up on the bridge, a new torpedo officer ordered the simulated firing and commanded. "Fire one," "Fire two," and finally, "Fire three." There was no "Fire four." The sequence was interrupted by a wh00000shhh - the unmistakable sound made by a successful armed and launched torpedo. Lt. H. Seward Lewis, who witnessed the entire event, later described the next few minutes as what hell would look if it ever broke loose. Just after he saw the torpedo hit the water on its way to the IOWA, where some of the most prominent figures in the world stood, he innocently asked the captain, "Did you give permission to fire a torpedo?" Captain Walter uttered something akin to. "Hell, No, I, I iii, aaa, iiiiii - - WHAT?!" Not exactly in keeping with some other famous naval quotes, like John Paul Jones', "I have not yet begun to fight." or even Civil War era RADM. David G. Farragut's, "Damn the torpedoes - full speed ahead!" although the latter would have been more appropriate. The next five minutes aboard the Willie Dee were pandemonium. Everyone raced around shouting conflicting instructions and attempting to warn the IOWA of imminent danger. First, a flashing light attempted a warning about the torpedo but indicated the wrong direction. Next, the W.D Porter signaled that she was going in reverse at full speed. Despite the strictly enforced radio silence, it was finally decided to notify the IOWA. The radio operator on the destroyer yelled, "Lion (Code word for the IOWA), Lion to come right!" The IOWA operator, more concerned about improper radio procedure, requested that the offending station identify itself first. Finally, the message was received and the IOWA began turning to avoid the speeding torpedo. Meantime, on the IOWA's bridge, word of the torpedo firing reached President Roosevelt. He only wanted to see the torpedo and asked that his wheelchair be moved to the railing. His loyal Secret Service bodyguard immediately drew his pistol as if to shoot the torpedo! The IOWA began evasive maneuvers, yet trained all guns on the William D. Porter. There was now some thought that the W.D. Porter was part of an assassination plot. Within moments of the warning, a thunderous explosion occurred behind the IOWA. The torpedo had been detonated by the wash kicked up by the battleship's increased speed. The crisis was over, and so were some careers. Captain Walter's final utterance to the IOWA was in response to a question about the origin of the torpedo. His answer was a weak, "We did it." Shortly thereafter, the new state-of-the-art destroyer, her ambitious captain and seemingly fumbling crew were placed under arrest and sent to Bermuda for trial. It was the first time in the history of the United States Navy that an entire ship and her company had been arrested. The William D. Porter was surrounded by Marines when it docked in Bermuda and was held there for several days as the closed-session inquiry attempted to find out what had happened. The outcome was delayed for a couple of days until Torpedoman Dawson finally confessed to having inadvertently left the primer in the torpedo tube, which caused the launch. Just after the torpedo left the tube, Dawson had thrown the primer over the side to conceal his mistake. The truth was eventually pried out of him, and the inquiry drew to a close. The whole incident was chalked up to an incredible set of circumstances and placed under a cloak of secrecy. That's not to say that the Navy took no action. Captain Walter and several former William D. Porter officers and sailors eventually found themselves in obscure shore assignments, and Dawson was sentenced to 14 years of hard labor. President Roosevelt intervened, however, and asked that no punishment be meted out as the near disaster had been an accident. The destroyer next found herself in the upper Aleutians on patrol. It was probably thought that this was as safe a place as any for the destroyer and those around here. But before being reassigned to another area in the Pacific, she accidentally, but of course successfully, lobbed a 5-inch shell into the front yard of the American base commandant. When the William D. Porter later joined the other ships off Okinawa, the destroyer did distinguish herself by shooting down a variety of Japanese aircraft and, reportedly three American planes! She was generally greeted by, "Don't shoot, we're Republicans." and the crew of the Willie Dee had become used to the ribbing. However, the crew members of a sister ship, the USS Luce, were not so polite in their greetings after the W.D. Porter accidentally riddled her side and superstructure with gunfire. On June 10, 1945, the hard luck ship met her end. A Japanese "Val" bomber constructed almost entirely of wood and canvas slipped through the defenses. As it had very little metal surface, the bomber was not unlike our present-day stealth planes. It did not register on radar. A fully loaded kamikaze, the bomber headed for a ship near the W.D. Porter but, at the last moment, veered away and crashed alongside the unlucky destroyer. There was a sigh of relief as the plane sank out of sight without exploding. Unfortunately, it then blew up underneath the destroyer and opened up the ship's hull in the worse possible location. Three hours later, the last man, the captain, jumped to safety of a rescue vessel, leaving the ship that almost changed the face of the world and national politics to slip stern first into 2,400 feet of water. Miraculously, not a single soul was lost in this sinking. It was almost as if the ship that had been so unlucky chose to let her crew live. The saga of the USS William D. Porter was over. Every so often the crew of the Willie Dee gathers to remember their ill-fated ship. They remember good times, and now, nearly 51 years later, the notorious torpedo incident elicits amusement rather than the heart-wrenching embarrassment it caused in 1943. The Minds of 6th Graders From Jack Garman Insight into the minds of 6th graders: The following were answers provided by 6th graders during a history test. Watch the spelling! Some of the best humor is in the misspelling. 1. Ancient Egypt was inhabited by mummies and they all wrote in hydraulics. They lived in the Sarah Dessert. The climate of the Sarah is such that all the inhabitants have to live elsewhere. 2. Moses led the Hebrew slaves to the Red Sea where they made unleavened bread, which is bread made without any ingredients. Moses went up on Mount Cyanide to get the ten commandments. He died before he ever reached Canada. 3. Solomon had three hundred wives and seven hundred porcupines. 4. The Greeks were a highly sculptured people, and without them we wouldn't have history. The Greeks also had myths. A myth is a female moth. 5. Socrates was a famous Greek teacher who went around giving people advice. They killed him. Socrates died from an overdose of wedlock. After his death, his career suffered a dramatic decline. 6. In the Olympic games, Greeks ran races, jumped, hurled biscuits, and threw the java. 7. Julius Caesar extinguished himself on the battlefields of Gaul. The Ides of March murdered him because they thought he was going to be made king. Dying, he gasped out: "Tee hee, Brutus." 8. Joan of Arc was burnt to a steak and was canonized by Bernard Shaw. 9. Queen Elizabeth was the "Virgin Queen." As a queen she was a success. When she exposed herself before her troops they all shouted "hurrah." 10. It was an age of great inventions and discoveries. Gutenberg invented removable type and the Bible. Another important invention was the circulation of blood. Sir Walter Raleigh is a historical figure because he invented cigarettes and started smoking. Sir Francis Drake circumcised the world with a 100-foot clipper. 11. The greatest writer of the Renaissance was William Shakespeare. He was born in the year 1564, supposedly on his birthday. He never made much money and is famous only because of his plays. He wrote tragedies, comedies, and hysterectomies, all in Islamic pentameter. Romeo and Juliet are an example of a heroic couple. Romeo's last wish was to be laid by Juliet. 12. Writing at the same time as Shakespeare was Miguel Cervantes. He wrote Donkey Hote. The next great author was John Milton. Milton wrote paradise Lost. Then his wife died and he wrote Paradise Regained. 13. Delegates from the original 13 states formed the Contented Congress. Thomas Jefferson, a Virgin, and Benjamin Franklin were two singers of the Declaration of Independence. Franklin discovered electricity by rubbing two cats backward and declared, "A horse divided against itself cannot stand." Franklin died in 1790 and is still dead. 14. Abraham Lincoln became America's greatest Precedent. Lincoln's mother died in infancy, and he was born in a log cabin which he built with his own hands. Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves by signing the Emasculation Proclamation. On the night of April 14,1865, Lincoln went to the theater and got shot in his seat by one of the actors in a moving picture show. They believe the assinator was John Wilkes Booth, a supposingly insane actor. This ruined Booth's career. 15. Johann Bach wrote a great many musical compositions and had a large number of children. In between he practiced on an old spinster which he kept up in his attic. Bach died from 1750 to the present. Bach was the most famous composer in the world and so was Handel. Handel was half German, half Italian, and half English. He was very large. 16. Beethoven wrote music even though he was deaf. He was so deaf he wrote loud music. He took long walks in the forest even when everyone was calling for him. Beethoven expired in 1827 and later died for this. 17. The nineteenth century was a time of a great many thoughts and inventions. People stopped reproducing by hand and started reproducing by machine. The invention of the steamboat caused a network of rivers to spring up. Cyrus McCormick invented the McCormick raper, which did the work of a hundred men. Louis Pasteur discovered a cure for rabbits. Charles Darwin was a naturalist who wrote the Organ of the Species. Madman Curie discovered the radio. And Karl Marx became one of the Marx Brothers NWSA'S "LAND OF SKY" REUNION #28 From the time of your arrival to your departure, the "Land of Sky" Reunion hopes to provide you with a unique experience. You will be spending your time in an area rich in American Heritage. We intend to give you the opportunity to experience a broad taste of southern Appalachia's music, food, art, culture and hospitality including; THE BILTMORE ESTATE (the Largest Privately Owned Home in America), THE FEDERAL CLIMATE COMPLEX (the home of the Navy's Atmospheric Climatology Program), THE FOLK ART CENTER, on the BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY, devoted to a variety of exquisite Southern Highland region folk art and crafts), and a MOUNTAIN BB-Q complete with traditional old time mountain music and bluegrass featuring the award winning group "Carolina Old Timers". The reunion hotel, the Great Smokies Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort is located One Holiday Inn Drive. The resort contains 280 spacious guest rooms, 15,000 square feet of meeting space, an 18 hole mountain golf course, 4 outdoor clay tennis courts, 2 outdoor pools, on-site exercise room, a video game room, gift shop, restaurants and most important, FREE PARKING. Each room includes a balcony, coffee maker and refrigerator. All this for reunion participants for only $85 per day plus tax. ARRIVING BY AIR Those arriving by air at the Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) will find a wide variety of on-site car rental agencies are available as well as limo service. To save a few dollars on air line tickets, a lot of the local populous choose to fly into the airport at Charlotte, NC (CLT) and commute by car to Asheville. Similar savings can sometimes be obtained by flying into either Knoxville, TN or Spartinberg/Greenville, SC. DRIVING DIRECTIONS From the airport and others arriving from the south take I-26 north to Exit Asheville/240 (center lane) onto I-240E. Stay in the right land for approximately 3.5 miles to Exit 3-B "Westgate Mall/Holiday Inn Drive". In Mall parking lot, follow Holiday Inn Sun signs to the left to the road parallel to I-240. Turn right (one way road), go a short distance and then right onto Holiday Inn Drive. From the East on I-40W - Exit 53B "Asheville/240" onto I-240W, thru the "cut" past the downtown area, over the Smokey Park bridge (stay right), exit 3b "Westgate Mall/Holliday Inn Drive". Go past the mall, go a short distance and turn right onto Holiday Inn Drive. From the West on 1-40E - Left at exit 46B, "Asheville/240" onto I-240E. Stay in right lane for approximately 3.5 miles to Exit 3B "Westgate Mall/Holiday Inn Drive. In Mall parking lot, follow Holiday Inn Sunspree signs to the left to the road parallel to I-240W. Turn right (one way) go a short distance and turn right onto Holiday Inn Drive. AT THE HOTEL The Hospitality Room will raise it's flag promptly at 1300 on Wednesday and will be open for refreshment and sea stories on and off throughout the reunion. It is only fitting that this meeting place should be the site of the first social event of the reunion. At 1800 Wednesday evening, you are invited to greet, meet and renew old friendships at a No Host Cocktail Party in the Hospitality Room. Light to heavy hor d'oeuvres will be provided by your local hosts, the Tarheel Chapter. DURING THE REUNION Thursday marks the Flagship tourist event of the reunion - A TRIP TO THE BILTMORE ESTATE. Asheville's own Biltmore House graces the cover of the October 2001 issue of National Geographic Traveler Magazine. It features the Biltmore Estate as one of 50 "Places of a Lifetime" in America. "Biltmore has a certain majesty to it that attracts people, and by putting it on the cover, as one of America's castles, we felt that it was an appropriate symbol of American travel." "What we're basicaly saying is if you consider yourself well-traveled, these are 50 places you have to see in your lifetime, places that signify true touchstones in American travel." The Biltmore Estate consists of the Biltmore House, 250 acres of landscaped gardens, grounds and park and a Winery. The house built by George Vanderbilt as a country home was completed in 1895. Hundreds of stonecutters and artisans spent six years building the 250 room house, today the largest private home in America, and situated on 8,000 acres. Vanderbilt filled Biltmore House with treasures collected from his travels, including works by Renoir, Whistler, and Sargent; exquisite antiques; Oriental rugs, and Minton China. Guests today, much like Vanderbilt's guests, marvel at the house's beauty and substance. With a 390 foot facade, Biltmore House contains more than 11 million bricks, 250 rooms, 65 fireplaces, 43 bathroom and 3 kitchens, in four acres of floor space. No visit to Biltmore Estate is complete without a stop at the Winery where guest may visit production areas and the cellares, enjoy complimentary wine tasting and admire the mastery of winemaking at Biltmore. Reunion participants will have the opportunity to visit the estate for only $39. Time will be available for a no-host lunch at the Estate's Carriage House Restaurant and a visit to the gift shops. Friday, which promises to be a very busy day, starts off with the NWSA's "LAND OF SKY" golf tournament thaT will be played on the SunSprees own superb course. Throughout the year the hotel hosts avid golfers who travel to Asheville to play this 18 hole, par 70 regulation golf course. Scratch golfers and hackers alike find the tight course and winding creeks a real challenge. This years top golfer will be able to distinguish himself/herself as the one who clearly stands majestically above the rest of the pack for just a $35 dollar entrance fee. Late morning and early afternoon you will find yourself in downtown Asheville where you will have the opportunity to spend time exploring the fine shops, art galleries, restaurants and other points of local interest followed by a tour of the Federal Climate Complex. This tri-agency co-operative between the U. S. Navy, U. S. Air Force and NOAA has been devoted to the science of climatology for almost 50 years. Located in the Federal Building on Patton Ave, almost 600 military, civil servants and government contractors are committed to storing, summarizing, and publishing a wide variety of meteorological and climatological studies and data. This is the place where you sent your meteorological records for all those years. LCDR George Moody, Officer in Charge, Fleet Numerical METOC Detachment Asheville will be your host at the complex. In addition to visiting the workings of the three primary agencies your tour will include a visit to the Museum of Meteorology and Climatology. This exquisite experience can be yours for $9 each (transportation cost). Finish your afternoon at a pool side Mountain BB-Q, picnic and concert. While food is normally the primary draw for a BB-Q (and we will have plenty of it), mountain music should be the main draw to this event. As featured performers we will have the award winning "CAROLINA OLD TIMERS", a group that performs a wide variety of mountain old time music and bluegrass. These "Shindig on the Green" regulars have, individually and as a group, won a wide variety of musical performance awards including Best Fiddle at the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival (the country's oldest folk music festival founded 73 years ago). Their latest stellar accomplishment was as first runner up in competition at this years Western North Carolina Mountain State Fair Folk Festival. All this food and entertainment for only $25 per person. On Saturday, while the members are locked away at the 2nd General Meeting, we will be sponsoring an outing for spouses to the "Folk Art Center" at milepost 382 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. A public/private partnership between the National Park Service, the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Southern Highland Craft Guild, the Folk Art Center houses an Eastern National bookstore, a Blue Ridge Parkway information area, the headquarters of the Craft Guild and main gallery and the Allanstand Craft Shop. Visitors have the opportunity to observe the craft process first hand. You may observe brooms made, coverlets wove, comshuck dolls assembled, precious stones set into elegant metal pendants and figures carved out of wood. The Main Gallery hosts a wide range of exhibitions including a variety of works in all craft media from the traditional to the contemporary. The center is also home to the Guild's permanent collection of craft objects dating back to the turn of the century. These objects are frequently used in exhibitions and interpretive areas. The Allanstand Craft Shop located in the center. is home to the nation's first craft shop. Allanstand, which was started in 1895, by Frances Goodrich, has long been recognized as one of the nation's top craft shops representing pottery, wood, glass, fiber, metal and jewelry made by member of the Highland Craft Guild. The shop offers an exciting array of work from traditional mountain handcrafts and folk art to the latest in contemporary American craft. Cost $9 per person. What convention would be complete without "The Banquet". Ours will be held in the Roan/Pisgah/Pilot Ballrooms of the resort on Saturday evening and feature your choice of Prime Rib of Beef or Poached Salmon and all the trimmings. We will have a variety of music for your dining and dancing pleasure. And if everything works out properly, as part of the evening's program, we will feature a live demonstration of traditional mountain clogging and dance. With the ballrooms ours for the night and the music in place we may dance till the wee hours. What an evening! Only $39 each. The hospitality room will be open Sunday morning from 0700 to 1000 for farewells and much needed coffee and other stuff. We will finish things off on Sunday with a no host brunch at the hotel to say final Goodbyes. The Land of Sky Reunion is not just a place, it promises to be a glorious state of mind. Looking forward to seeing you there! Mike. Daily Schedule NWSA's #28 "Land of Sky" Reunion 06/05/02 Wednesday: 1200-1730 Registration (Laurel lobby) 1330-1730 Hospitality Room (Thomas Wolfe Parlor) open 1400-1600 1st Executive Board Meeting (Dogwood Room) 1800-1930 No Host Cocktail Party (Hospitality Room) 1930-2330 Hospitality Room open Registration in Hospitality Room 06/06/02 Thursday: 0730-1500 Hospitality Room (Thomas Wolfe Parlor) open 0900-1500 Registration (Laurel lobby) 09004500 Biltmore Estate & Winery Tour 0930-1215 Biltmore Chateau, Courtyard shopping and lunch on your own 1230-1430 Biltmore Wine 1500-1630 1st General Meeting (Mitchell Ballroom) 1630-2330 Hospitality Room open 06/07/02 Friday 0700-1530 Hospitality Room (Thomas Wolfe Parlor) open 0730-1200 Golf Tournament 1200-1530 Downtown Asheville/Federal Climate Complex tour 1200-1400 Downtown shopping/lunch on your own 1400-1530 Federal Climate Complex 1600-1800 Poolside Picnic (Upper Pool) with live music 1600-1630 Music 1630-1800 Picnic / background music 1830-2330 Hospitality Room open 07/08/02 Saturday: 0730-0830 Hospitality Room (Thomas Wolfe Parlor) open 0900-1000 NMOC Guest Speaker (Mitchell Ballroom) 1000-1100 2nd General Meeting (Mitchell Ballroom) 0900-1200 Spouse Tour to Folk Art Center` 1130-1630 Hospitality Room open 1600-1700 2d Executive Board Meeting (Dogwood Room) 1800-1900 Pre-Banquet No Host Cocktail Party (Roan/Pisgah/Pilot Ballrooms) 1900-2330 Banquet & Program (Roan/Pisgah/Pilot Ballrooms) 07/09/02 Sunday: 0700-1000 Hospitality Room (Thomas Wolfe Parlor) open 1000-1500 No Host Brunch at Hotel CAMPING AND RV PARKS IN AND AROUND ASHEVILLE Asheville East KOA 828-686-3121 102 Highway 70 East Swannanoa, NC 28778 Two fishing lakes, trout stream, cabins, cable TV, paddle boats, bike rentals, swimming pool, miniature golf, playground, game room, and laundry. Bear Creek RV Park and Club House 828-253-0798 81 S Bear Creek Rd Asheville, NC 28806 (Probably closest RV park to SunSpree Hotel) Swimming pool, heated bathhouses, laundry, cable TV, picnic tables, game room, kitchens available, clubhouse, fireplace for groups meetings, and rental vehicles on site. Earthbound–Lodging 828-452-7627 226 Water Way Canton, NC 28716 French Broad River Campground 828-658-0772 1030 Old Marshall Highway Asheville, NC 28804 KOA Asheville West 828-665-7015 309 Wiggins Road Candler, NC 28715 Mama Gerties Hideaway Campground 828-686-4258 620 Patton Cove Road Swannanoa, NC 28778 Taps RV Park 828-299-8277 1327 Tunnel Road Asheville, NC 28805 The following is a listing of Registrations received for NWSA "Land of Sky" Reunion #28 as of 01/08/02 Roger & Louise Bissinger Don & Marge Cruse Fay & Donna Crossley Mike & Carolyn Dickenson Phil & Vinnie Duncan Red & Martha Ezell Tom & Smitty Fitzpatrick Bob & Richie Freeman Sam & Jean Houston Ruddie & Ellie Kittel Walt & Becky Kindergran Wayne & Betty Ledbetter Dan & Pat Lepore George & Mary Jo Moody Moon & Nadine Mullen Pete & Diane Peterson Joe & Dillie Streuli Roger & Anne Tanner Al & Ellen Upton Harry & Pat Wentworth Time rushes on all much quicker than we tend to realize and Reunion #28 is less than 4 months away. It is time to get your registration forms into Walt Kindergen. I am sure you don't want to miss what promises to be the one of the greatest and most fun filled Naval Weather Service Association Reunions of them all. Also, from our standpoint, we need to know that we have reached the minimum number of folks necessary to conduct each tour by April 1st. Early registers has shown significant interest in the tours offered and this is probably a non-issue, however, after April 1st we will have to pay a fee if cancellation becomes necessary. Regardless, please fill out your registration form and mail it today. As always the early bird gets the worm. NWSA 28TH REUNION 05-09 June 2002 in ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA at the Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort Member's First Name Last Name Name for Name Tag Spouse/Primary Guest's Name for Name Tag Street Address ______ City ______State Zip Code Phone ( ) ______- E-mail: Guest Names ______Total Number of People in Party (including member, spouse, guests) Reunion Committee Information: Number of Rooms Reserved at the Holiday Inn SunSpree Planned Arrival Date ______Planned Departure Date MAKE ALL ROOM RESERVATIONS DIRECTLY WITH HOLIDAY INN SVNSPREE Registration Fees: Member: $15.00 Spouse/Guest: $5.00 each = $ Reunion Ball Caps: $10.00 each White Brown = $ THURSDAY 06 June: Biltmore Estate and Winery Tour - $39.00 /person X = $ FRIDAY 07 June: Golf Tournament - $35.00/person X = $ Climate Center Tour/Asheville Shopping - $9.00/person X = $ Afternoon Picnic - $25.00/person X = $ SATURDAY 08 June: Folk Art Center Tour - $9.00/person X ______= $ Reunion Banquet* - $39.00/person X ______= $ Prime Rib of Beef X ______Poached Salmon X * A Vegetarian meal is available if desired. All tours include transportatron and admission. Total Amount Due/Enclosed $ ______ Make checks payable to "NWSA TARHEEL CHAPTER" and mail to,: Walt Kindergan 80 Grovewood Road Asheville, NC 28804 Phone: (828) 236-3487 (evenings, or leave message) E-mail: [email protected] This is a reservation for the NWSA Conference only. Submit a separate hotel reservation to the Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort at 1-800-733-3211 or on-line (go to www.navalweather.orq and click to Holiday Inn SunSpree). Naval Weather Service Association Room Reservation Form GREAT SMOKIES Holiday Inn SUNSPREE RESORT SM ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA One Holiday Inn Drive•Asheville•NC•28806 828.254.3211• Fax 828.254.1603 •email [email protected] Tuesday June 4 - Monday June 10, 2002 Please complete a separate form for EACH room and return by fax, mail, or email. Date: Name of Adult responsible for charges: Address: Phone: Fax: Arrival Date: ______Departure Date: Type of Room Requested: (circle one) King 2 Double Beds Smoking: ______Non-Smoking: # of people in Room: ______(maximum of 5 per room with one rollaway) Rollaway Bed: ______@ $12.00 per night. (Room types are not guaranteed, but we will try to accommodate each reservation) Payment: Group rate is & $85.00 + 10% taxes per night for standard rooms. Rooms will not be reserved without credit card number or check received within seven days of making reservation. Credit Card Number: ______Expiration Date: ______ Check Number: ______ Names of Persons in Room: 1) ______2) ______ 3) ______4) ______(MAINE) DOWNEAST CHAPTER (NEW HAMPSHIRE) (VERMONT) PRESIDENT: Bill Pettigrew VICE-PRESIDENT: Deb Reddinger SECY/TREAS: Dan Hewins Thanks to the persistence of Don Cruse, with his E-mail and letters to Dan Hewins and me, we finally got busy and started calling and sending postcards to prospective members during the Spring of 2001. In April we had a meeting at the Naval Air Station, Brunswick to see if there was enough interest to report back at the business meeting in San Diego in May. During that first meeting, we were very happy to have ten whom were already members of the National Association and six who wanted information, which we provided. The attendees were from Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Dan and I thought we had a good chance to form a chapter and reported this at the San Diego Reunion. After returning from San Diego, we got busy scheduling a meeting for August 11, 2001 at the Downeast Restaurant in Yarmouth, Maine, a town between Brunswick and Portland, just off Interstate 95. We figured it would be closer for members living outside Maine. We had a great group. After spending thirty years in the Navy, I thought I had heard all the sea stories. "We had fan". Our next meeting was scheduled for the same establishment at noon on Sunday December 2, 2001. We wanted to try Sunday, because we had interested people that worked on Saturday. Spouses and others were invited to participate in the "Holiday Cheer". From conversations after the meeting, it was also successful. Dan and I know we have room to grow and people to grow with. We'll start organizing April's meeting in January. All you weather-guessers know the weather experienced in our chapter area is very difficult and also unpredictable for the period of November thru April, and some of our members have to travel three hours to get to a meeting. We may have been great on active duty. I remember when we used to look out the window, walk to the thermoscreen, look at the amount and type of clouds and check the visibility ????? Our Spring meeting will be in April. We will continue to contact people. HAPPY NEW YEAR, GOD BLESS, AND GOD BLESS AMERICA Left to Right Front Row: Beverly Rogerson (Dan Hewins' friend), Liz Pettigrew, Louise Marley, Bob Marley Second Row: Caroline Ewing, Carolyn Salmonson (Earle Gaulzetti's friend), Debra Reddinger, Gerald French, Betsy French Back Row: Bill Pettigrew, Earle Gaulzetti, George Dunnavan, Ken Kellog, Walt Stanczyc, George Soulia, Dan Hewins PRESIDENT: DEACON HOLDEN 1st VICE PRESIDENT: CARL DRAKE 2nd VICE PRESIDENT: TONY PARKER SECRETARY/TREASURER: MORRY SUMMEY ------DATELINE SAN DIEGO, CA FEBRUARY 2002 AEROGRAPH The SOCAL Chapter wishes all of you a Happy and prosperous New Year. We here in the south (of California) have started the New Year off with some gorgeous shirt sleeve type weather. As the year ended, we celebrated with our traditional December Social - a most enjoyable evening meal at TOM HAM's LIGHTHOUSE, where we had front row seats for the "PARADE OF LIGHTS" in San Diego bay. The event this year was held on 9 December. Attendees included Mac & Mary McCartney, Fred & Anne Farnsworth, Robbie & Mary Roberson, Al Hassen with guest Arlene Seek, John & Fujii Rodriguez, Morry Summey, Chuck & Janice White with guests Steve & Lisa Purso, Sadie Finney, Carl & Phyliss Drake with guests Gene & John Suttor, and Deacon Holden with his guests Tim & Lisa Petty. The group enjoyed good food, good company and conversation, and a spectacular parade of boats whose display of lights was very colorful. The Chapter's next event of note will be a Sunday Valentines Day Brunch, on 17 February, at the MCRD Club. Anyone who plans to be in this area on 17 February, and who would like to be able to attend, please let me or Deacon Holden know. Paul Grisham, currently from the Monterey area is the newest member of the SOCAL Chapter. We welcome Paul, who says he will be spending a lot of time in this area from now on. He plans to attend as many Chapter functions as possible. Don't know whether any others of the Chapter did any holiday traveling, but I can certainly speak for myself. Your SOCAL reporter spent over two weeks back east over Christmas and New Years Day. I was visiting in Herndon, VA (near Dulles) with my younger daughter and her family. I had a most enjoyable stay. They were considerate of me, and avoided having any snow while I was there. I think they understood that if it snowed, I might never come back. At any rate, it did not snow. I did find the temperature dropping the last week of my visit. Not too uncomfortable during the first week, it became quite brisk before I was on my way back home. In fact, r nearly froze to death. Shifting gears a bit. Seems like as we get older, problems of health and mobility are in the forefront of all we do. This becomes very important to some of our members. Harvey Smith has been a dedicated member of this Chapter from its inception. Unfortunately, Louise's health is not as good as it was, and she is not able to get out much anymore, even in her wheel chair; and of course, she cannot stay alone. So we miss Harvey at the Chapter meetings. He did pass along a note which he received from Elsie Taylor. Any of you, who are friends of Dick & Elsie, will be interested in the following note. For those who may not know, Dick had to have one of his legs removed surgically, awhile back. Here is the quote from Elsie's note to Harvey. "Dick is adjusting (physically) and doing surprisingly well. He now seems more like the person he was 30-40 years ago. I know that were I in his helpless situation, I could never accept and cope with what he has to cope with at this stage of his life. His care- takers have a difficult task and we (family) are satisfied with the care he is receiving. I'm lucky to have the Burma Road family here and area friends to help me out in the clinches of running the ranchito. So far- so good!" On a different subject, Elsie also said .in her note that she had seen an article in the San Diego Union, in which the paper stated that the Oceanside Chapter of the Retired Officers Association had recognized and honored our own SOCAL member Bob Gray (MAJ USMC RET) as their oldest attendee at a 92. Several of our Chapter members have given me bits of information regarding NSSA members from other areas. Mac McCartney told me that he had received word that Bob Griffin (CW04 USN RET) was having some serious eyesight problems. In fact, he said that right now he has no eyesight, but the doctor is working hard on the problem. Also, Deacon Holden told me that he had an E-mail from Tina Lambert that Moe is in the hospital. He has been there since just before Thanksgiving. He was diagnosed with cancer, and has had chemo during the past year. Apparently it quit working, and coupled with a blood infection problem necessitated his confinement to the hospital. We extend our sympathy and tell them they are in our thoughts and prayers during this time of crisis. I close this with the thought that we are rapidly approaching the tine for another NWSA Reunion. Good luck to all of you in the Asheville Chapter. I am looking forward to the Reunion - because I am a Tarheel, and was born in Asheville. Last year this time, San Diego was the one under the gun. NWSA AIRSHIP CHAPTER President Norman Macomber Vice President Bill Sudam Secy/Treas Gene Merrill Reporter Pam Elliott The Holiday Gathering at The Beachwood Restaurant was well attended and enjoyed by all. The following attended: The Migaleddi's, The Whitworth's, Rocky Rokosz, The Macomber's, Gene Merrill, Lil Klim, Pat Beattie, The Garrity's, The Wiorek's, The Bradley's, The Sudam's, The Parisi's, The McGayhey's, The Losch's, The Wanzor's and The Elliott's. We missed seeing Elaine Reabold and Winnie Dunning. They had other commitments. A brief meeting was held. President Macomber welcomed each and everyone. A special welcome to some shut-ins: Gene Merrill, Rod Elliott, Rocky Rokosz. Saul Singer was to join us but is still under the weather. Carol Merrill was missed, as she was sick. Get Well Soon!! The group stood and sang (?) Happy Birthday to: Carol Merrill, Pat Whitworth, Rod Elliott, Bob Wiorek, Pat Beattie, and Brad Bradley (who kept it a secret). The following discussions were held: 2002 Reunion; 2004 Reunion on a cruise ship; fallen AG memorial fund and the 2002 NWSA Scholarship Program. Chapter Chaplain Marie Garrity presented the inspiration. The meeting adjourned for lunch. Winnie Dunning was attending the Annual Lights of Love tree lighting ceremony at Brick Hospital. This year was special as the Brick Hospital Association dedicated a tree with a plaque at the base in Chuck's honor. He was active in the Association for many years. John & Mary Migaleddi wish all most healthily and happy holidays with wishes it remains with you for the coming year. Bless all their shipmates. Bob & Lucille Wiorek are busy getting ready for the holidays. Bob's sister died on Nov. 11 so he flew to Wisconsin for her funeral. Their son plans on coming home for Christmas. He did not make it for Thanksgiving but they had a wonderful gathering of 28 relations at daughter Cyndi's house. They send Happy Holidays to everyone. The McGayhey's are looking forward to the up coming reunion in NC. They say, "both are in good health". Rocky Rokosz says, at 85 he is playing it close to the nest such as driving to Massachusetts for holidays and other family events. He drives on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays, of course, weather permitting. Harry & Pat Whitworth had a great summer in NJ but head for FL for the winter. They hope to visit a son who is retired from the Air Force and lives in Tampa FL. They hope to spend great visits with old Navy friends over the winter. Their plans are already made to see everyone in NC in June. Hank & Bobbie Losch had a nice long visit with daughter Debbie and Baby Kaitlyn before they headed back to the Denver area. They spent Thanksgiving with daughter Mona and family. Never passing up an opportunity to spent time with the grandsons. Mona and Glenn are expecting another son Christmas Day. In January, Bobbie and Hank plan to head out with the RV for points south. They both have been machine bowling with the Whitworth's in the league at the Fleet Reserve. Mike & Marie Garrity are both fine and thank God for that. They send "Happy Holiday Wishes to all". And a "Healthy New Year". Charles and Linda Bradley reported Brad is still busy making jewelry out of gems and mineral stones. He has a show coming up at a local arts and craft show. Linda is still "school bus driving". We were very happy to welcome Pat Beattie to our gathering. She says she had her "big 70" birthday. She was so happy to see everyone again and looks forward to future gatherings. She wants to say thanks to Mac and Toddy for the ride. She sends "Happy Holiday's and Good Health to everyone". The Macombers did make their planned tour of Europe last October in spite of the events of 9-11. Marilyn was apprehensive about going, but Norm's philosophy of "what will be will be" prevailed and they are very glad that they went. Visited the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland and France. The McDonalds from Wilton, Maine (Norm's sister and her husband) also made the trip, which helped make a very pleasant holiday. They regret not making the 50th wedding anniversary of Dan and Pat Lepore in January, but will be looking forward to seeing them at the reunion in June. Rod & Pam Elliott have enjoyed time spent with their VA families, especially granddaughters Amanda who turned 14 and Baby Hannah who is 6 months. Rod has spent most of Oct, Nov and now Dec in bed with a disk problem. He has had 2 shots, one more to go, but fear surgery is the last recourse. They will be heading to VA for Christmas. Easier for 2 to go to VA than 6 to come to NJ. Each and everyone in the Airship Chapter wish happiness and good health to all our shipmates and families. NWSA TARHEEL CHAPTER NEWS President: Roger Bissinger Vice President: Roger Tanner Secy/Treas Rudy Kittel Reporter: Mike Dickenson Traditions start with an initial event. Following that concept, last year's holiday event sparked an annual tradition for NWSA's Tarheel Chapter. We fortified that tradition when we met for our annual "Winter Holiday Dinner Meeting" on Tuesday, December 4th at the Poseidon Restaurant in east Asheville. As last years festivities were such a grand success, it was decided that it was only right and proper that we return to the Posseidon for more fun and adventure. After all, in this mountainous "Land of the Sky" terrain we have but very few nautical connections at our disposal. Also, if we had gone elsewhere our chapter's only long term tradition (2nd year in a row) would have been destroyed. When you are one of the newer chapters in the organization these things are quite important. Those mustering present included: Roger & Louise Bissinger, Harold Crutcher, Mike & Carolyn Dickenson, Red & Martha Ezell, Tom & Pat Fitzpatrick, Walt & Becky Kindergan, Rudie & Ellie Kittel, Frank Kuba, Dan & Pat Lepore, Janette Ray, Roger & Anne Tanner and Al & Ellen Upton. Of course our decision proved to be correct and once again a fine, warm, fun filled evening and a superb meal was enjoyed by all. The evening did have its shocking moment. That was when, as the brief business meeting commenced, we were reminded by President Roger Bissinger that the NWSA Land of Sky reunion was but a few months away. Remember, we are the hosts. All reunion committee heads quickly reviewed their areas of responsibility and reported that things were well under control and on track. Hotel arrangements were complete, menus finalized, music engaged, entertainment arranged, tours organized. Now it just remains to put all these things together into a neat and tidy package. We will be focusing on that goal during the next few months and are sure of complete success. We are now fully ready for folks to submit their registration forms and eagerly anticipate their arrival. Each of us who call Asheville our home see this wonderful place through a different set of eyes. Each lives in a slightly different locale, some in the city, some in the country, some in the bottom lands and some up the side of a mountain. Some are into sports, some busy raising children, some into music, arts and/or the theater, some the great outdoors and it's adventures, some civic and community work, and some into arts and crafts. We are extremely fortunate in that the Asheville area meets each of these needs and is populated by such exceptionally warm and wonderful people. We all agree that this "Land of the Sky" is aunique and extraordinary place. We hope to share its wonder with each of you during your visit to the area. You will be visiting Asheville during one of the prettiest times of the year. While the spring flowers will be finished, summer will be blossoming in its most beautiful form in this place we call home. I would suggest that those visiting might consider arriving a few days before the official start of the reunion and stay for a while after it's onclusion in order to explore the area. While we will be able to give you a taste of the area during the reunion's tours; the Biltmore Estate, the Folk Art Center, downtown Asheville including the Federal Climate Complex, the area affords many other significant nearby attractions that warrant a visit. You might try a ride up the Blue Ridge Parkway and enjoy its magnificent vistas. Explore the Cherokee Indian Reservation. Stroll the paths at Ashesille's Botanical Gardens or the North Carolina Arboretum. While away the afternoon in an outdoor cafe. Take in a baseball game. Investigate the shops in Biltmore Village. Enjoy nearby waterfalls. Travel to the Great Smokies National Park and see the wildlife. Carl Sanburg's Home and Vances Birthplace are well worth visiting. The list goes on and on. I am sure that you will truly enjoy your visit to our area. NWSA HAMPTON ROADS CHAPTER President ...... Marty Nemcoskv Vice President ...... Bud Scott Secretary ...... Jack Salvato Treasurer ...... Chuck Steinbruck Social Chairman... .Jack Salvato Our final meeting of 2001 was held on 16 November at one of our favorite restaurants, the Long Branch. The food is always excellent with outstanding service. As usual there were plenty of yummy steak and chicken dishes on the table. Those attending were Barb and Marty Nemcosky, Ann and Jack Salvato, LaRue and Ralph Wright, Bob Wright. Chuck Steinbruck, Jake Bengal, Ethel and Ted Lemond, Jim Langlois, Diane and George DeLano, Millie Garcia, Carol and Bob Daigle, Remy Paul, Bob Meinharn, Ive and John Chubb, Joan and Floyd Akers, Al Mauzy, Mary and Richard Dempsey, Barbara and Dan Snyder and Bud Scott. After reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, a short business meeting was held. A warm welcome was given to our newest members, Mary and Richard Dempsey and Al Mauzy. A nominating committee was appointed to seek out those individuals desiring a chance at assuming office at our January meeting. On 1.5 December we collected donated Christmas trees, ornaments, decorations, food, and drink and carpooled to the VA hospital to decorate and provide much needed cheer to the veterans. One look at the veterans and one could easily see the appreciation and joy they feel. The Hampton Roads Chapter was fortified with an outstanding crew from NMLOC spearheaded by Captain Bacon. The feeling is unbelievable to be part of such a wonderful group of individuals who freely give up their treasured time to bring a little cheer into the lives of our veterans. Thank you all so much. I wonder what next year will bring? God Bless America!!! Pensacola Chapter President: Roger Warren Vice President: Al Atwell Secy/Treas: Bernie Bauer Our winter get-together was hosted by Roger and Cheryl Warren on 16 December 2001 at their Pace, Fl. home. It was one of our most enjoyable gatherings with just about everyone attending - except for Bill and Barbara Pruitt, who are still in Spain and Howard Graham, who had the Forecaster/Flight Briefer duty at NAS Pensacola. Some of us thought about going out to NAS Pensacola to relieve Howard so he could join us in the festivities. But maybe had some apprehensions that we wouldn't be able to operate the on/off switch on those new-fangled computers they use which is maybe a step above the technology some of us remember using. Roger and Cheryl's house was beautifully decorated in Xmas decor and the food (Cheryl's ham) and the side dishes provided by chapter wives were delicious. And most thought that the several soothing wines were also great. Chapter members/spouses attending included: Al and Helen Atwell, Bernie and Le Bauer, Tom and Ginny Deagan, Bruce Glaes, Shirley Graham, Greene and Marion Hawks, Bob and Elspeth Lloyd, Pat and Libby O'Brien, John and Karen Phillips, Dick and Elizabeth Tokryman, and Roger and Cheryl Warren. We were also pleased to extend a warm welcome to our newest chapter member, AGC Rose Frazier, USN (ret.) and her husband Arthur, CPO, USN (ret.). After enjoying the great food and wine, a short business meeting was held. New chapter officers were installed with Roger Warren fleeting -up to President, Al Atwell to Vice-President and Bernie Bauer assuming the duties of Secretary/Treasurer. It was noted that the NWSA 28th Reunion will be held in Asheville 5-9 June and most Pcla Chap members were looking forward to attending. As requested in the November 2001 Aerograph, the concept of an NWSA Cruise Reunion was discussed. The general consensus was that most members would need more definitive information on the proposed cruise to enable a reasonably accurate estimate of how many members could participate. As a minimum, it appears that members would have to have more info on the proposed port of embarkation/debarkation, length of cruise, probable departure/return dates, general cruise itinerary, and some overall ballpark cost estimate. After the meeting, we all gathered around the fireplace to participate in a "White Elephant" giftexchange, which included a wide variety of treasures and trinkets. As we approach the end of this memorable year, just about everyone has so much to be thankful for and are busy getting-off to a good start in the New Year. Al and Helen Atwell had their bags packed and were ready to head up to D.C. and Annapolis to visit friends and relatives. Bernie Bauer is gearing-up to take over the challenging duties of Pcla Chap Sec/Treas. Tom and Ginny Deagan are continuing efforts to rearrange their back yard after losing their big oak tree. Bruce Glaes was pleased to show us his new 2001 Limited Edition Bullet Mustang. Howard Graham is hoping he can work out a better watch-bill arrangement next Xmas to ensure he doesn't miss our get-together. Greene and Marion Hawks were beaming and proud to announce that they have a new granddaughter. Additionally, Marion will be the "Featured Artist" at the Wright Place Gallery art show in Pensacola Feb. 20 - March 26, 2002. Bob Lloyd was feeling good after completing some extensive dental surgery and was noticed really chowing down on the great food. Pat and Libby O'Brien were getting ready to celebrate Pat's imminent big "Five Zero" birthday as well as depart on a trip up to Asheville, NC area and then up to visit Libby's family in Evansville, Indiana. With IRS tax deadlines fast approaching, John Phillips is gearing-up to handle the hordes at his H&R Block office in Milton and Karen is still working hard to keep pace with her challenging nursing career at West Florida Hospital in Pensacola. We really don't know what Bill and Barbara Pruitt are doing in Spain but suspect that maybe they're just continuing to enjoy the "good life" and maybe a few grapes. Dick Tokryman was very pleased that his wife Elizabeth felt well enough to attend as she continues to recover from some follow-up surgery. Roger Warren reported that Cheryl had now fully retired from her paralegal job at the end of September. She and Roger then spent two weeks visiting family and friends in Ohio, Maryland, and North Carolina. Since returning from their trip, they have adopted two retired racing greyhounds to help fill in the spare time of their retired years. Rose and Arthur Frazier advised that they were just looking forward to an enjoyable Xmas with their family as a retired mom and dad. Our next get-together will be hosted by Pat and Libby O'Brien at their Cantonment home in mid-March with a St.Patrick's Day theme. The Pensacola Chapter hopes that you all had a Merry Christmas and have a very Happy New Year. GOD BLESS AMERICA Puget Sound Notes Typhoon Platoon Ramblings * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * President "Frenchy" Corbeille Vice President Jim Black Treasurer Carl Fox Secretary Frank Baillie * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "One of the fondest expressions around is that we can't be the world's policeman. But guess who gets called when suddenly someone needs a cop". These are the words of our Secretary of State, General Colin Powell * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The 42nd Puget Sound meeting of the Puget Sound Chapter of NWSA was held at Weller's Country Inn, near Arlington WA on Saturday the 10th of November 2001, President "Frenchy" Corbeille presiding. Members attending were; Frank Baillie, Jim Black, Dan & Marilyn Collins, Bob & Charlyne Coppo, "Frenchy" Corbeille, Earl & Lynn Kerr, & Mrs. Jimmie Price. Frenchy welcomed member Mrs. Jimmie Price after her too long absence. Jimmie shared the fact that she was a WW2 lady Marine & that we were meeting on the Marine Corps birthday. A belated SEMPER FI, to our MARINE readers! Did you know that we had a recent influx of new Marine NWSA recruits? Our future meetings are planned as follows; Sun. March 10"' at the NAS Whidbey Island CPO Club, & on Sunday May 5th, there'll be a picnic at the Lewis & Clark State Park, Lewis County WA. Party planning will be on the agenda of our March meeting & further details will be disseminated by E-mail & a snail mail flyer. We are hoping for another Washington - Oregon NWSA mini-reunion at the picnic. Y'all come. Our 43`d meeting of Saturday Jan 12`~ 2002 was held at the King's Wok Chinese buffet in Silverdale, WA. Those in attendance were; Frank Baillie. Jim Black & his lady friend Louise (how could I forget the last name of this pretty lady, my old folks spasm struck again I guess), Dan & Marilyn Collins, Bob & Charlyne Coppo, "Frenchy" & Barbara Corbeille, Carl & Eleanor Fox, Lee & Dee Hayes & Wayne Olsen. Carl Fox donated a beautiful pot from his "Fox Fire Kiln" as a door prize which was won by Barbara Corbeille. High winds funneling through the strait of Juan de Fuca cancelled a ferry run & deprived us of Earl & Lynn Kerr's presence. The Kerr's missed out on some "ding hao" Chinese chow. Mark another one up for the old Bellinger List. While scanning the Nov. issue of Aerograph, Jim Northup found an old mid 50s shipmate (& a pinochle - poker partner too) from Kodiak & NAS Sand Point. Jim enjoyed a "telephone reunion" with AGCM USNR retired Billy Wilson of Pasadena, TX who plans to re-up in NWSA "shortly". Jim is another of our avid hunting & fishing guys. He expects to put some steelhead trout into his freezer soon (with an Idaho buck deer & some salmon). * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "The past actually happened but history is only what someone wrote down" were the words of A. Whitney Brown: How about the history in Oliver Stone movies? * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Frenchy" Corbeille belatedly celebrated his 68th birthday at our King's Wok meeting. His most prized birthday gift was a fancy compass from Barbara. Prized especially because it showed that she was OK with the "great white hunter's" hunting & fishing trips. Also, & importantly to him, it demonstrated that she still loved him (knowing that the compass would ensure he'd make it back out of the woods & back to her in Castle Rock). The couple recently made their annual sojourn to Tokeland, WA on Willapa Bay, & brought home 20 Dungenness crabs for the freezer (40 last year). Who said that a Meteorology education doesn't help us retired folks. The Corbeilles chose a gorgeous day for the trip. It was sandwiched between some "gully washer days". The northwest has recently endured one of the rainiest periods of our always rainiest period with overflowing rivers & mud slides. California members are asked to please tell any of your neighbors who might be considering a move north about this. (CA NWSAers are welcome). A traveler warning from Bob & Charlyne Coppo. They were traveling south from Salt Lake City to Mesa, AZ for a family visit & were running low on gas. Road side signs advertised plenty of gas stations ahead in the northern part of Grand Canyon so they decided to "burn down" some before refueling. Oops? Various businesses had closed down for the winter season including the gas stations. Bob's Buick "Park Avenue" took them 500 miles on that one tank & they estimate that 7/10ths of a gallon remained in the tank when they finally rolled into a gas station. Trip highlights were a visit with their daughter's family in AZ, including several rounds of golf with his son in law, & checking out some old gold mines near Superstition Mountain. 2001 Navy retiree & Oregon dweller, Dennis Ruth, his wife Tara & daughter Karen arrived in Hagerston, MD in late August for a family visit with his parents. During their stay he did some work on his family history. The family threw a surprise birthday party on the 1st of Sept. for Dennis (1st) & for Tara (10`"). They departed for home on the following day. 9- 11 day minus 9. Timing is everything. Only two weeks after their return Dennis' Mom took a fall, breaking her hip. A hospital infection made it a life threatening experience. Prayers & good Doctors pulled her through. Tara's family joined them over the Christmas holidays. Dennis remains on the honor roll of Linn-Benton College with a cumulative 3.74 average. Mike & Alice Evanick attended a fall family reunion of some 50 persons in Lakeland MN. Mike's button box (accordion) band had an October gig at Mt. Angel, OR just after the 9-11 tragedy. The number of usual out of state bands & visitors dropped drastically but attendees (& performers) had a fine time. Anda one, anda two. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Someone once asked me what I want on my epitaph when I pass away. Just the words; "I tried". That's what this game of life is all about. Trying. There's the tryers, the criers, & the liars." Said Mickey Rooney. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jack Hansen continues with his 2"d career as a flight instructor. Business has slowed down some of late. (He reports that he hasn't had any wild eyed turban wearing students) Jack & Lois are planning on a March trip to the Peoria Arizona spring training site of our Seattle (116 wins in 2001) Mariners. Go..Go..ICHIRO! ! ! Pete Pedersen tells me that his very serious bout with an impacted bowel brought his weight down from 214 pounds to a veritable HS fighting weight of 161. Doctors suggested that he gain a bit & he's now up to 175 & holding. Which reminds me that brother, Fred Baillie, had a large weight loss recently also, dropping from 200 & plenty (almost as much as his older brother) down to a svelte 182. There are Florida panhandle rumors that a whole passel of widow ladies have been chasing him around lately. Hmmmm. Maybe I should visit & see if it rubs off??? See you in Asheville? - Frank Baillie * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Monterey Chapter Annual Christmas Party On December 6, fifty-five people gathered at the Rancho Canada Country Club in Carmel Valley for the annual NWSA Monterey Chapter Christmas Party. Once again it was hosted by the Well Weathered Wives with Mimi Schramm and Helen Pingel doing the honors. Bill Schramm was the emcee for the program that included some things new and some things traditional. The new was an interesting presentation by Jim Vanderzwaan, a popular and longtime local TV broadcast meteorologist, which gave an indepth insight into his craft. The traditional included the opening invocation by Sam Houston and group singing led by Pete Petit with accompaniment by Forrest Williams. Another innovation was Pete's inclusion of patriotic songs along with the traditional carols. In that it was Natalie (Bradford) Munson's birthday, a musical tribute was also rendered. Jack Pingel refereed the door prize drawings for bottles of wine donated by the local chapter. The specialness of the evening was enhanced by visitors from afar. Dave Darling made the longest trip, from San Diego, to introduce his wife, Betty, to the Monterey group. Ken and Gil Ruggles were a close second having traveled from Palm Desert. John and Gail Maloney from Roseville, Michael and Ann Cuming from Placerville and Glenn and Delores Hamilton from San Jose were other out-of-town guests. It was also a pleasure to welcome Jerry and Lois Jarrell back to the local area following the completion of Jerry's duties as Director, National Hurricane Forecast Center. We also welcomed representation from the active duty ranks by John and Gay O'Hara. John is the new Executive Officer at FNMOC and a recent promotee to 0-6; more than one of us marveled at how young a new captain can appear. Admitting the redundancies, attendees were Leo Clarke, Michael and Ann Cuming, Dave and Betty Darling, Don and Margie Edgren, Ron and Peg Englebretson, Bob and Jinx Fett, Glenn and Dolores Hamilton, Sam and Jean Houston, Frank Ivie, Zane and Gloria Jacobs, Jerry and Lois Jarrell, Mary Kalinyak, Tony Klapp, Howard and Barbara Lewit, Dorothy Mackenzie, John and Gail Maloney, Don and Carolyn Mautner, Jack and Lori Macpherson, Ed and Natalie Munson, Harry and Pat Nicholson, John and Gay O'Hara, Pete and Marjorie Petit, Jack and Helen Pingel, Bob and Dorothy Renard, Ken and Gil Ruggles, Ralph and Dottie Sallee, Bill and Mimi Schramm, Ed and Mary Snopkowski, Forrest and Madge Williams and our guests for the evening, Jim and Geri Vanderzwaan. Jinx Fett and Peg Englebretson graciously volunteered to arrange and host the 2002 event. To close the evening, Pete Petit lead the group in the singing of God Bless America. Submitted by Jack Pingel POTOMAC CHAPTER (NWSA) ______(Jan 2002) President ...... Bob Plante First Vice Pres ...... Rich Kelley Second Vice Pres...... Peter Weigand Secretary-Treasurer....Ken Smith Tel 410 544 6230 Email [email protected] Corresp Sec'y ...... Don Cruse Tel 703 524 9067 Email [email protected] POTCHAP CALENDAR 28 Feb Lone Star Lunch Bunch meets in Centerville VA (every 4th Thursday of month) (Chuck Kincannon) 09 March PotChap mid-winter Dinner Meeting at Rosecroft Raceway in Temple Hills MD (Jim & Rosalie Romano) 15 April Inputs to this newsletter are due to Editor Bill Bowers 9-10 May Symposium '02, Pensacola FL (NAMF & The Tailhook Assn) at the museum 800 327 5002 18 May Armed Forces Day—Blue Angels at Andrews AFB 24 May USNA Graduation, Annapolis—Blue Angels over the Severn 5-9 June NWSA/28/Asheville NC (Tarheel Chapter) 29 June PotChap Pool Party & Picnic (Pat & Mac McLeod) 15 July Inputs to this newsletter are due to the editor ------This quarter encompasses October, November and December. Fortunately, we can glean considerable "people news" from holiday greetings received in December. Chapter activities were minimal following our Crab Feast & Potluck in September – and in deference to the many holiday family travels, celebrations and religious observances. As a way to remember our two Aerographer's Mates killed in the Pentagon terrorist bombing on Sept 1 Ith, we established the "Pentagon Aerographers Fund" and plan to contribute the donations to our NWSA Scholarship Fund. No doubt Tarheel Chapter will also honor AG1 Earhart and AG2 Flocco in an appropriate way during NWSA/28/Asheville. ------2001 NAVY BIRTHDAY On 13 October we celebrated our 226th year of defending this great republic. SECNAV Gordon R. England recognized this memorable event. Tom & Lillian O'Reilly spent a month on the road between home base in Santa Barbara CA and high school reunion on Shelter Island NY. With Glen & Ann Drummond, Marge & Don Cruse shared enjoyable lunch at a favorite place on 10 October -- the Anchor Inn in Wheaton MD. One of Tom's classmates on Shelter Island was Frank McGavhev. In the book "Events That Shaped The Nation" by Rick Phalen, Tom was interviewed for the early chapters on the Pearl Harbor sneak attack. We were sorry to lose Clyde Margeson who, at one time, worked as a Met Tech at NAS PAXRIV following retirement from USN. Olivia brought his cremains to the beautiful Columbarium in Arlington Nat'l Cemetery. Jim and Rosalie Romano visited NAVSTA NORVA and NAS OCEANA in mid-October and ran into a lot of enhanced base security. Jim attends the TROA luncheons in Maryland when not traveling about the U.S.A. partaking of the joys of Time Sharing. Other Time Share enthusiasts are Ken & Joyce Smith and Will & Ella Gould. Williamsburg and Massanutten VA are two of their favorite locations for golfing. In late October Marge & Don Cruse drove along the Gulf Coast during one of its bug-free seasons. Visited the new METOC Professional Development Center which is located on the SeaBee Center in Gulfport and waved the NWSA flag at the weather schools on Keesler AFB. At the Stennis Space Center the base security was too overwhelming to permit visitation so the Maury Oceanographic Library was wiped off the itinerary. The Aerology Exhibit in the National Museum of Naval Aviation on NAS PNCLA has not been changed or improved. However, the Cubi Bar is still a great spot for lunch while touring the museum and enjoying the MAX theater presentations. Picked up some scuttlebutt that indicates AGCS Jerry McNulty is forecasting retirement soon from NTMOF PNCLA. Harry Englehart remarried three years ago to a lovely lady named Mary Lou. Ski Brykczynski continues to share his life with a former schoolmate from his high school years. hi Pncla we found The Coffee Cup in town is still the most popular place for breakfast. We shared our oatmeal there with Helen & Al Atwell. Tom & Ginnie Deagan really did have a huge water oak fall on their house that wasn't just scuttlebutt. George & Estelle Starr remain involved in African Violet cultivation and marketing so we found them at a large shopping mall putting on a show. By making a slight detour off Interstate 81 in southwest VA we were able to visit a spell with former shipmate "P.L." Bruce and his granddaughter with whom he shares a common home nowadays. When called upon, P.L. continues to fulfill the role of "circuit rider" for the Methodist Church in that rural part of Virginia. He has done this for many years. From Neil O'Connor we learn that the Gulf Coast Community College has added METOC courses of instruction. That goes along with the present concentration of weather people in that part of the world. It's no longer necessary to rely exclusively on the many casinos for education. Nominated for Administrator of NOAA is retired VADM Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr. He was USNA '64 and Skip Wright recalls skippering the academy yawls in competition with him in '63 and '64. VADM Paul Gaffney was instrumental in the nomination. In early November we learned that Flip Coyne McDonald lost her husband, Jack. For twelve years he had suffered more and more with dementia. This news was relayed by the Drummonds just before they departed on a driving trip to Cincinnati and Kentucky. ------A NEW DAUGHTER Our congratulations to AGCM and Mrs. Ray Chappell. Daughter Caroline was born to Doreen and Ray on December 5`h. At present Ray is Command Master Chief for the Oceanographer of the NAVY, Op-096, ------In the previous issue of The Aerograph we posed several questions about people. The answer to the question about Don & Betty Brown's whereabouts is Henderson NV (as published in the new B LIST). They just didn't bother telling us about it. Suddenly dropped out of sight. Then we had the puzzle of Charles R. Hart, who died in July 2001 in Virginia Beach VA. Someone noted his obituary in local press. That should not have been a puzzle because he retired as AGCM in Sept 1974 from FWC NORVA. Are our memories getting shorter? Charles "Sarge" Hart was in Pensacola in 1948-49 with Bob Freeman, Joe Frosio, Wayne Ledbetter, Willie Potts and others. Bob found a photo in his scrapbook which includes Hart. Joe recalls that Hart served in the U.S. ARMY in WW2 somewhere in the C.B.I. He was probably an AG striker in Pncla. Joe met him in Pt. Lyautey Jake Negele was there. Hart was LCPO at Bermuda 1970, says Ed Smith. Frank Schatzle remembers him from FWC NORVA. So, there you have it. In reply to several inquiries: Max Mayfield is Director of the National Hurricane Center Miami – Ed Rappaport is Deputy Director. Jack Kelly is Director, National Weather Service (NOAA), and BG USAF(Ret). Avis Keyser has relocated from Florida to Arlington VA and resides in The Jefferson, a high-rise senior citizen facility located in Ballston. Her mailing address remains the former family home on North Edison Street which is now occupied by son and daughter-in-law. Amelia Zizzi has found a way to kill two birds with one bullet. When she needs medical prescriptions refilled she drives to Barksdale AFB with a friend. They have discovered a casino along the way that provides entertainment along with nice overnight billeting. And then her life became complicated by the enactment of Tricare For Life. A new dilemma. Nancy Fifield has had a second heart bypass surgery but has not been able to return to work. We hope the medics clear her soon. She and Chuck are planning to attend NWSA/28. Not far from the Fifields we found AGCM Al Mauzy, now retired in NorVA after departing the CMC billet at NPMOC PEARL. Chesapeake VA must be a great place to retire because AGCM Phyllis Schirle and husband retired there—he as MSGT USAF(Ret) in wx. AGCM Sherm Riffle is another retiree relocated to that region. It's doubtful that you'll find many of these names listed in Section One of The Bellinger List. But . . that's life. In December we learned that Wanda Starr died on 12 November near her residence of many years in Alameda CA. Her daughter Claudia is clearing family records and memorabilia from that home. In Vista CA Will & Verna Pinder have relocated within the same community. Watch for their new address and telephone number. They missed NWSA/27/SDiego when house guests suddenly arrived. ------SUPPAEROUNIT ONE LONDON During NWSA/28/Asheville we will convene a reunion brunch on Sunday, 09 June, for members of SAU-ONE and members of successor commands in London. If interested you may obtain from this writer personnel rosters with which you can invite survivors who will not otherwise know about the gathering. ------On 16 December PotChap lost one of its inactive but nevertheless beloved members, Lou Franco. Little did we know that Lou was in a battle with cancer for more than a year. Most of his career was spent behind the fence with NavSecGru. He met and married Elisabeth "Rusty" in London in 1954 while assigned to SUSLO(L). Others in that shop at the time were Don White, Jim Bowlin and Bill O'Neil. A memorial service for Lou was held in Altoona PA on 27 December. Christmas travelers who in some cases endured the enhanced airport security procedures included Bill O'Neil (to daughter and family in Orlando FL), Jim & Rosalie Romano (to family in NJ), June & Duke Ducharme (three weeks with daughter and family in Slidell LA), Al & Bobbi Zahnle (to Long Island NY where daughter gave birth to triplets) and Marge & Don Cruse (to daughter and family in Colorado Spgs CO). Milly Martin did not travel but hosted all 19 members of her family at Vinson Hall in McLean VA where she now resides. Delores Eaton remains in the Arleigh Burke Pavilion which is a continuing care section of Vinson Hall. She considers the menu there to be too similar to NAVY chow so is shopping for a better facility with assistance from her son Jon who lives in Boston. Bob Freeman retired from USN in October but it took a while for the Civil Service paperwork to clear. Now his new job on civvie street is Op-096P, Public Affairs Officer for the Oceanographer of the NAVY at the NavObsy in NW WashDC. Pending reassignment of CAPT Kathy Ann Shields from that same staff looks like CO NEMOC ROTA. Can't beat that, Kathy. You can get Bill Pruitt to introduce you to all the really fantastic features of Rota. He claims to know them all from extensive experience. Former Oceanographer RADM John Seescholtz continues his consulting business and enjoys the travel. In Hawaii he encountered Martin Finerty, now many years removed from his CO NPOC SUITLAND billet. To wrap up this quarterly ration of bum dope, here are bits of people news from holiday greetings received. Lorraine d'Entremont in East Hartford CT writes that she feels fortunate to have her younger son, Brian, continuing to live with her. Jim & Joan Futtner live nearby on the same street as Lorraine's. Just down the river a piece in Middletown CT Carl & Pat Bailey are both part-time workers--never completely retired. Dan Hewins vacated Maine for a while and headed for warmer climes. His volunteer job as Secretary-Treasurer of Downeast Regional Chapter (NWSA) provides great opportunities to meet and greet interesting people. Vince & Robbie Roper find that life with grandchildren is far more demanding than life without. They are part- time workers and part-time sitters nowadays. From a mountainside home in Hendersonville NC Ron & Mary Bloomfield report only beautiful views and gorgeous wx. Jack & Evelyn Bullington celebrated their 59`h anniversary with nearly all family members joining in. Many live near them in the Jax—Orange Park—Green Cove Springs area. Carolyn & "L.R." Rogers got away from Jax and spent Christmas in Morristown TN at home of daughter #3. From Largo FL Gail White tells us that she spent Thanksgiving in MO and Christmas in MD with her daughters & families. Arlene & Vince Brewer flew over the North Pole to tour China with a family group. Siberia did not look like good duty. Roger Atchison has fond memories of his September outing to Virginia where he rendezvoused with former workmates "Jess" Owen, Jim Romano, Ken Smith, Paul Johnson & Bill Howerton. LaVerne & Dave Reuscher divided summer & fall 2001 between Hendersonville NC and Myrtle Beach SC, enjoying the comforts of their big RV. Maybe 2002 brings return to AZ mountains. Jim & Irma King managed a fellowship tour to see autumn colors of western NC. Jim has a portable dialysis unit for travel. and from the left coast Wanda Ackerman is getting her life back together after losing Dick—plans a return trip to Honolulu this year. Marilyn & Luther Corn stay close to home in Walla Walla, both caring for physical ailments that restrict travel. We missed you in San Diego last May at our NWSA reunion. Gold River is near Sacramento and that's where Barbara & Ken Fairbrother care for three cats in their hacienda. To keep life really complicated, she is studying for a Master's degree in Psychology at Chapman University while working part-time. Hazel Chesmore is slowly recovering from the loss of Ken just before Christmas – still lives at same address in San Leandro. Dick Herman and his helpers in USS HORNET (CV-12) have started cleaning up the balloon room. There has been a drop in museum attendance since 9 11. Frank Ivie is working on his travel route between Monterey and Asheville but is rightly concerned about the type of greetings he may receive along the way from various relatives. Tom & Lillian O'Reilly are so happy to live in Santa Barbara that it's difficult to tear themselves away. But we still hope to see your smiling faces in Asheville in June. Be ready! From Fujii & John Rodriguez we appreciate the deck of lovely snapshots taken at NWSA/27 – and their great hospitality. Vic Milford enjoys the wx around Fort Huachuca in southern AZ. From Albuquerque Fred Martin is wrestling with a new PC but he thinks he'll eventually master it. He sends some neat pies. Ninette & Ray Tennison are selling out in the olde hometown of Silsbee and buying in San Antonio TX near daughter Annette. Wintering in Honolulu again are Dick & Frances Husted—plan to fly back to San Antonio and USAA Towers on 02 March. Mike, Jeannine & Michael Fastow sent greetings from Wimberley TX, just a stone's throw from San Antonio. Mike is really into serious woodworking a great hobby. From various Email sources: Mo Gibbs recommends the book "The South Pole," which is a re-release of Amundsen's story – particularly of interest to OAEs – or to those who have read the sad tale of Scott's Diary. Richard Q. "Jesse" Owen and Sue live in suburbs of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, have a son in the Royal Engineers and Jess works part-time in the Cheltenham Museum. At present he is cataloging ancient weapons and placing the information on computer. At the Naval Ice Center in Suitland LT Kyle Dedrick has stowed his uniform (except for Reserve obligations) and started work as a contract employee. His Email address has not changed. Dave & Harriett Sokol have acclimated to the good life in suburban Virginia after relocating from the Tampa FL area. Art Langlois is doing a good job battling his Parkinson's, is receiving good care and is thoroughly enjoying his new residence in MD. AG1 Frank Krupiarz forwarded interesting recollections of his brief duty at NAS ALAMEDA, his boss LCDR Robert L. "Pappy" Welles and the formation of VPM-1 in 1947 at NAS MIRAMAR. Next stop was Guam. WELFARE CONCERNS Karen Cline (Potomac Chap) continues chemo therapy. Moe Lambert (SE Chap) is undergoing chemo therapy. Ninette Tennison continues her cancer therapies. Elisabeth Franco (Potomac Chap) bereavement. Olivia Margeson (SE Chap) bereavement. PROFESSIONAL CALENDAR 5-8 March Oceanology Int'l, London, www.spearhead.com.uk. 16-19 April Underwater Technology 2002 Int'l Symposium, Tokyo, http://underwater.iis-u-tokyo.ac.jp/ut0l/ 6-9 May OTC 2002, Houston, http://www.otcnet.org/ 9-14 June American Society of Limnology & Oceanography, San Diego http://aslo.org/forms/victoria2002.html 21-26 July PACON 2002, Chiba, Japan, www.hawaii.edu'pacon NWSA HISTORIAN COMMENTS Don Cruse Looking at the year 2001 and the series of inquiries that were received, it is clear that only a few were satisfactorily answered. Many inquiries originate with readers of our NWSA Homepage on the Internet. A few examples of loose ends still flapping in the breeze are: What book was used by the Aerographer Schools at NAS Lakehurst to teach Surf & Swell forecasting? Paul H. Hagerty was an AG in USS ANTIETAM (CV-36) after washing out of flight school 1943. Does any NWSA member remember him? David Cianfarano attended AOE Class C School at NAS Lakehurst from Oct 1964 to March 1965. He understands that his class was the first to include ASWEPS and would like to contact classmates to compare notes. From the school he went to USS WASP (CVS-18). We hear but are unable to confirm that Chief Justice Rehnquist was assigned weather duties during WW2. True? Which service? CDR Emil Petruncio is interested in the evolution of Naval Aerologists to present day Oceanographers in the METOC community. Frank Baillie's mini-history of the Naval Weather Service answers most of those questions and tracks the transition. A former aircrew member of EC-121 aircraft operating out of Pt.Mugu during the 1969 hurricane season wishes to document the duration of NAVY operations of that nature in the eastern Pacific—particularly the PMR involvement. Our history of duty in PCEs has continued to develop and should make interesting reading. AGCS Gordon Welch USN(Ret) has answered bells and provided a narrative of his duty out of Guam to BIRD DOG FOUR, a weather ship stationed halfway to Kwajalein, on several rotations. A Sea Story Submitted by: Mel Harder Operation Hardtack I hydrogen bomb tests Bikini and Enewetak 1958. Assigned to USS Perkins DD877 AG3 Dick Smith and I were taking Rawins using 800 gm balloons that we would coat inside with sticky glycol and a 1000 slivers of aluminum chaff. The fire control radar was used to track these targets to 100K for wind info to derive fallout patterns. On the day of a shot, we would release every two hours, and with only 20 bottles of helium stored on the fantail using 800 gram balloons, we had to resupply helium frequently which was a pain to UNREP. One morning when a blast was scheduled, the ITCZ was hovering over the site and the winds were just not favorable. We had a balloon filled and ready to go when they delayed the shot for 12 hours. I started to call down to Smitty on the fantail to just let the balloon go, when the operations officer from the ship a LT, who will remain nameless, ordered me not to release the balloon, When I asked why not, he said that since helium was hard to get, we should put it back in the bottle! I then mentioned that the cylinders were under considerable pressure and it would not be possible. His next statement was, "Well don't you have any empties?" Still not possible was my answer. He looked rather skeptically at me and said, "Well have Smith just tie it to the rail on the fantail and use it for the next launch in 8 hours! We did as we were told, and before two minutes had passed, we had the very recently painted aft 5 inch mount covered with silver chaff and the 1st Lt and Ops in each others face big time! In case you think this is just a sea story, AGI George Gleason was on one of the other "Cans" and we talked about it a few days later when were over at Bikini picking up supplies so he will confirm the veracity of this tale. By the by, that ops officer later became an 1800! INSURANCE Private Jones was assigned to the Army induction center, where he was to advise new recruits about their government benefits, especially their Serviceman's Group Life Insurance (SGLI). It wasn't long before the center's Lieutenant noticed that Private Jones had almost a 100% record for insurance sales, which had never happened before. Rather than ask about this, the Lieutenant stood in the back of the room and listened to Jones's sales pitch. Jones explained the basics of the SGLI to the new recruits, and then said, "If you have SGLI and go into battle and are killed, the government has to pay $200,000 to your beneficiaries. If you don't have SGLI, and you go into battle and get killed, the government has to pay only a maximum of $10,000." "Now," he concluded, "which bunch do you think they are going to send into battle first?" Brass Monkey Back in the days when every sailing ship had to have a cannon for protection, cannons of the times required round iron cannonballs. The Captain or Master wanted to store the cannonballs such that they could be of instant use when needed, yet not roll around on the gun deck. The solution was to stack them up in a square-based pyramid next to the cannon. The top level of the stack had one ball, the next level down had four, the next had nine, the next had sixteen, and so on. Four levels would provide a stack of 30 cannonballs. The only real problem was how to keep the bottom level from sliding out from under the weight of the higher levels. To do this, they devised a small brass plate ("brass monkey") with one rounded indentation for each cannonball in the bottom layer. Brass was used because the cannonballs wouldn't rust to the "brass monkey", but would rust and stick to an iron one. When the temperature falls, brass contracts in size faster than iron. As it got cold on the gun decks, the indentations in the brass monkey would get smaller than the iron cannonballs they were holding. If the temperature got cold enough, the bottom layer would pop out of the now smaller indentations spilling the entire pyramid over the deck. Thus, it was, quite literally, "cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey". A little naval trivia that you always thought meant something else. How's Your Get Up and Go By: James E. May "The Gentle Man From Tennessee" How do I know that my youth is all spent? My get-up and go has got-up and went But in spite of it all I am able to grin When I think of where my get-up has been! Old age is golden, so I have heard said Yet I sometimes wonder when I get out of bed With my ears in a drawer, my teeth in a cup My eyes on the table, until I wake up. As sleep dims my eyes, I say to myself Is there anything else I should have laid on the shelf? But I am happy to say as I close my door My friends are the same, perhaps even more When I was young my slippers were red I would kick my heels, right over my head. As I grew older my slippers were blue Still I could dance the whole evening through. Now I am older, my slippers are black, I walk to the store, and puff my way back! The reason I know my youth is all spent, My get-up and go has got-up and went But I really don't mind when I think with a grin Of all the grand places my get-up has been. Since I have retired from life's competition I busy myself with life's repetition. I get up each morning and dust off my wits Pick up the paper and read the Obits If my name is missing, I know I'm not dead So I eat a good breakfast and go back to bed! Gulf War Undiagnosed Illness The VA has issued new regulations in the Federal Register that would extend the presumptive period for disabilities due to Persian Gulf Undiagnosed Illness for an additional five years. The current regulations were set to expire at the end of this year. The regulation reads: "The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is amending its adjudication regulations regarding compensation for disabilities resulting from undiagnosed illnesses suffered by Persian Gulf War veterans. This amendment is necessary to extend the period within which such disabilities must become manifest to a compensable degree in order for entitlement for compensation to be established. The intended effect of this amendment is to ensure that veterans with compensable disabilities due to undiagnosed illnesses that may be related to active service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War may qualify for benefits. In light of the continuing scientific and medical inquiry into the nature and cause of undiagnosed illnesses suffered by Gulf War veterans, the continuing military operations in the Gulf region, and the new claims still being received from Gulf War veterans, this document extends the presumptive period for disabilities due to undiagnosed illnesses that become manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more through December 31, 2006, a period of 5 years." [Source: VFW Washington Weekly 20 NOV 01] Retiree Job Preference The Aviation and Transportation Security Act of 2001 requires that the Federal Aviation Administration develop standards for hiring airport security personnel that require military veteran retirees to receive a preference. These standards will apply to both federal and non-federal employees. Existing veterans preference rules and regulations are not affected by the provisions of the new law. Retirees who would like to be considered for one of these critical positions should send their name and email address to: [email protected] or call the DOT Connection at 202-366-9392 or 1-800-525-2878 to leave your name and address. You will be sent application information as soon as it is available. Those interested in the Federal Air Marshal positions may contact the Aviation Careers Division by telephone at (405) 954-4657, e-mail at [email protected], or by fax at (405) 954-6397. More detailed information on both the Federal Air Marshal and Security Screener positions are available on the Internet at http://jobs.faa.gov/. [Source: Armed Forces News Nov. 30, 2001] TFL: OHI Cancellation: Tricare, by law, is always a second payer to other health insurance [OHI]. If you have dropped your other health insurance and didn't notify Tricare with the Beneficiary Information Update survey you should notify them now or at any future time you plan to drop it. Send a letter stating your intention to drop your OHI to the TRICARE claims processor that supports your state. The letter should include: sponsor's name, sponsor's Social Security Number (SSN), beneficiary's name, beneficiary's SSN, OHI name and address, policy number, insurance type (Supplement, Medigap, long-term care, pharmacy, etc.), date coverage terminated and covered individuals. You can locate the TRICARE claims processor for your state and the address where you should send your letter at TRICARE For Life Claims < http://www.tricare.osd.mil/main/chart.html >, or call 1-888-DoD- LIFE (1-888-363-5433) for assistance. [Source: NAUS Update 30 NOV 01] Forced Choice: The White House press release on the VA-HUD Appropriations Act for FY 2002 (H.R. 2620), which President Bush signed into law on Nov. 26, acknowledged that funds were not included in the Act to implement "forced choice". But it also said the President still believes the idea a good one: "The VAIDoD Medical Care [Tricare] Choice initiative would ensure that all military retirees annually choose either the Department of Defense or the Department of Veterans Affairs as their health care provider." This would allegedly enhance quality and continuity of care and prevent duplication of services and costs. [Source: TROA Leg Up 30 NOV 01] Lt. James "EMO" Tichacek, USN (Ret) Director, Retiree Activities Office & U.S. Embassy Warden Baguio City RP Email: [email protected] (PRI) or [email protected] (Alternate) Web: http://post_119_gulfport_ms.tripod.corn/raol.html Tel: (63-74) 445-6786 or 446-2087 to record msg. or FAX 1-801- 760-2430 AL/AM V ETS/CORM V/DAV/FRA/NCOA/PRA/TROA/USDRNFWN VA Concurrent Receipt Update There are 530,000 military retirees who either are or could eventually be impacted by this issue. Despite overwhelming support in Congress generated by grassroots activists at all levels, [86% of House and 76% of the Senate members] the 2002 National Defense Authorization Act provides no substantive concurrent receipt provision. Rather than eliminate the disability offset to retired pay in 2002 as recommended by the Senate, the final bill reflects the House language that would do so only if the President recommends the necessary legislation and provides the necessary funding. Realistically, the odds of this are slim and none, since the Bush administration formally advised Congress it opposes any such change. Simply put, disabled retiree's got little more than lip service. Veterans need to convince legislators that co-sponsorship alone is not enough in this issue. If they mean what they say, such a large number of cosponsors can and should convince their leaders to put Congress' money where its mouth is. A summary of the major provisions included in the conference agreement is available on the HASC's homepage at http://www.house.gov/hasc. [TROA Leg Up 13 DEC 01 ] Concerned vets are encouraged to contact their legislators and let them know of the veteran's community disappointment in Congress' ability to correct this long standing inequity in compensation. Veterans can also support those fraternal military organizations that are lobbying to get this legislation passed. You can check out the Uniformed Services Disabled Retirees organization to obtain information on this subject and/or membership at www.usdr.org or [email protected]. This organization's sole purpose for existing and only agenda over the last ten years is to get THIS legislation passed. A larger membership will enhance their clout when dealing with legislators. Lastly, do not forget to vote in your state elections for or against legislators who do or do not support you. When all the smoke clears you will know who they are. We will probably not have another chance to get legislation on this until next year. Pass the word to any retirees or disabled vets you know or meet and get active on this issue if you desire concurrent receipt to be approved and funded for 2003. [Updated 18 DEC 01 ] Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis A new VA and Department of Defense (DoD) study has found preliminary evidence that veterans who served in Operation Desert Shield-Desert Storm are nearly twice as likely as their non-deployed counterparts todevelop amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or commonly called Lou Gehrig's Disease). As a result of the study the VA has decided to immediately grant presumptive service connection. This means that Gulf War veterans suffering from ALS can get immediate medical treatment and care from the VA and that their families will be cared for. This action covers members of the armed services who deployed to Southwest Asia from Aug. 2, 1990 through July 31, 1991. Southwest Asia includes the countries of Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and other nations in addition to Iraq and Saudi Arabia. [Source: DAV News Release 10 DEC 01] Lt. James "EMO" Tichacek, USN (Ret) Director, Retiree Activities Office & U.S. Embassy Warden Baguio City RP Email: [email protected] (PRI) or [email protected] (Alternate) Web: http://post_119_gulfport_ms.tripod.com/raoI.html Tel: (63-74) 445-6786 or 446-2087 to record msg. or FAX 1-801- 760-2430 AIJAMVETS/CORMV/DAV/FRA/NCOA/PRA/TROA/USDR/VFW \ VA Following is a P-cola John Shay gleaning of "Tom Swiftys" 1) "I can't believe I ate that whole pineapple! "Bob said, Dolefully. 2) "That's the last time I'll ever pet a lion," Torn said, offhandedly. 3) "I'll never sleep on the railroad tracks again!" Tom said, beside himself. 4) "That's the third electric shock I've gotten this week!" Tom said, revolted. 5) "I'm never anywhere on time," Tom related. 6) "I won't let a flat tire get me down," Tom said, without despare. 7) "That car you sold me has defective steering!" Tom said, straightforwardly. 8) "I've been on a diet," Tom expounded. 9) "I'll have to send that telegram again," Tom said, reMorsefully. 10) "I keep banging my head on things," Tom said, bashfully. 11) "Look at that jailbird climb down that wall," Tom observed with condascension. 12) "I remember the mid west being flatter than this," Tom explained. 13) "That's the third time my teacher changed my grade," Tom remarked. 14) "I'll have to dig another ditch around that castle," Tom sighed, remoately. 15) "I've lived through a lot of windstorms," Tom regaled. 16) "I haven't caught a fish all day!" Tom said, without debaite. 18) "That mink coat is on wrong side out," Tom inferred. There is nothing so small that it can't be blown out of proportion. Vets E&B Expansion Act The Veterans Education & Benefits Expansion Act (H.R. 1291) of 2001, has been signed into law 27 DEC 01. The Act provides the following: Increases the amount of educational benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) for an approved program of education on a full-time basis from the current monthly rate of $672 for an obligated period of active duty of three or more years to $800 effective January 1, 2002; $900 effective October 1, 2002; and $985 effective October 1, 2003. Also effective January 1, those with fewer than three years of active duty rate $650 a month. Additional increases to $732 will come on October 1 and to $800 on October 1, 2003. In addition, beginning October 1 this year, beneficiaries can combine their monthly benefits into a lump sum to pay for 60 percent of the costs of educational courses leading to technical jobs. Increases the rates of Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance from $608 to $670 for full-time, $456 to $503 for three-quarter-time, and $304 to $345 for half-time studies. Allows a Vietnam-era veteran to convert from Vietnam-era GI Bill benefits to MGIB benefits if the veteran had eligibility for the Vietnam-era GI Bill benefits as of December 31, 1989, was not on active duty on October 19, 1984, and served three continuous years in the Armed Forces after July 2, 1985. Repeals the 30-year presumptive period for respiratory cancers associated with exposure to herbicide agents. Adds Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2) to the list of diseases presumed to be service-connected in Vietnam veterans exposed to herbicide agents. Expands, effective March 1, 2002, the definition of illnesses presumed service-connected for Gulf War veterans to include a medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome defined by a cluster of signs or symptoms. Signs or symptoms that may be a manifestation of undiagnosed illness or a chronic multi-symptom illness would include fatigue, unexplained rashes or other dermatological signs or symptoms, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, neurological signs or symptoms, neuropsychological signs or symptoms, signs or symptoms involving the respiratory system (upper or lower), sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal signs or symptoms, cardiovascular signs or symptoms, abnormal weight loss, and/or menstrual disorders. Expands the definition of permanent and total disability for veterans applying for nonservice-connected pension to include (1) a patient in a nursing home for long-term care because of disability, (2) a person disabled, as determined by the Commissioner of Social Security for purposes of benefits administered by the Commissioner, (3) a person unemployable, as a result of disability reasonably certain to continue throughout the life of the person, and (4) a person suffering from any disability which is sufficient to render it impossible for the average person to follow a substantially gainful occupation, but only if it is reasonably certain that such disability will continue throughout the life of the person or otherwise justifying a determination of permanent and total disability. Provides a non-service-connected pension to low-income wartime veterans aged 65 and older without requiring a determination of disability. Increases the home loan guaranty from $50,750 to $60,000. Increases the grant for specially adapted housing for severely disabled veterans from $43,000 to $48,000, and increase the amount for less severely disabled veterans from $8,250 to $9,250. Increases the burial and funeral expense benefit for a service-connected veteran from $1,500 to $2,000, and increase the burial plot allowance from $150 to $300. Increases the automobile and adaptive equipment grant for severely disabled veterans from $8,000 to $9,000. The fiscal 2000 authorization act okayed a partial transfer of GI Bill benefits to spouses or children of military beneficiaries, but left the implementation up to the services. Under the plan, service members with at least six years of service in critical specialties could transfer up to half of their benefits to spouses or children upon agreeing to serve six more years on active duty. Spouses could start to school immediately, but children would have to wait until the service sponsor completed 10 years of service. There are no plans to offer the option this year, although the Defense Department is to forward a status report to Congress by June 30. [Source Veterans Resources Network Notice dtd 8 JAN 02 & AF News 11 JAN 02] VA Benefits in Jail VA benefits are restricted if a veteran, surviving spouse child or dependent parent is convicted of a felony and imprisoned for more than 60 days. The disability compensation paid to an incarcerated veteran is limited to 10% disability rate. For a surviving spouse, child, dependent parent or veteran whose disability rating is 10%, the payment is at the 5 % rate. Any amounts not paid may be apportioned to eligible dependents. Payments are not reduced for recipients participating in work release programs, residing in halfway houses or under community control. Over payments for failure to notify VA of a veteran's incarceration result in the loss of all financial benefits until the overpayment is recovered. [Source: Federal Benefits for Vets & Dependents VA Pamphlet 80-01-1] Lt. James "EMO" Tichacek, USN (Ret) Director, Retiree Activities Office & U.S. Embassy Warden Baguio City RP Email: [email protected] (PRI) or [email protected] (Alternate) Web: httpi/post_119gulfporLms.tripod.com/raol.html Tel: (63-74) 445-6786 or 446-2087 to record msg. FAX 1-801-760-2430 ADAM VETS/CORMV/DAV/FRA/NCOA/PRAITROA/USDRNFWNV A