EEXXPPLLOORREERR’’SS GAZETTE GAZETTE Published Quarterly in Pensacola, Florida USA for the Old Antarctic Explorers Association Uniting All OAEs in Perpetuating the History of U.S. Navy Involvement in Antarctica Volume 6, Issue 4 Old Antarctic Explorers Association, Inc Oct-Dec 2006 Warwick, Rhode Island GrandePlaza Hotel Resort rd 3 National OAEA Reunion Held in Rhode Island the Third Time was a Real Charm byMarty Diller with photos by Fred Santino ARWICK RHODE ISLAND—NEARLY 300 ATTENDEES attendees at that event to determine what kind of tours and rd Wgathered for the event-packed 3 OAEA National activities would have the most interest for attendees at the Symposium/Reunion, held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Warwick Reunion. Armed with those results, the Reunion over three days in August. An ambitious schedule of tours, Committee built a schedule of events for the 3-day period meetings, speakers, and activities made for some long days and spent the next 18 months in preparation. for those who participated in them all, but the 2006 OAEA Warwick is a busy, congested area, and the town Reunion Committee kept things running fairly smoothly and population is almost 90,000; but the 3rd National OAEA did on schedule throughout. not go by unnoticed. Three separate Rhode Island Planning for this Reunion—which Don “Squatty Root” newspapers carried feature articles about OAEs during the Richards, at the November 2002 OAEA Symposium in months leading up to the Reunion and all mentioned the Pensacola, volunteered to host in Rhode Island—began in OAEAs big event, culminating with Providence Journal February 2004, and the hotel/convention contract was Columnist Bob Kerr’s 14 August piece about the Reunion: signed in July 2004. Members of the Reunion Committee “Remembering their service on the Ice”. In addition, both who attended the 2005 Oxnard Symposium surveyed See Reunion on page 4. E X P L O R E R ‘ S G A Z E T T E V O L U M E 6, I S S U E 4 O C T − D E C 2 0 0 6 Your Board of Directors have just completed work on P R E S I D E N T ’ S C O R N E R and passed the OAEA Budget for 2007. Work continues to John Lamont West—OAEA President progress on the revision of the OAEA By-Laws. I solicit your recommendations and suggestions TO ALL OAEs—The Third Old concerning those areas you perceive as satisfactory and Antarctic Explorers Association, those areas where you feel we can do better. Feel free to e- Inc. Symposium, conducted in mail me at [email protected] or write to me at 15838 Warwick, Rhode Island, August 17– Beaufort Blvd., Selma, TX 78154-3839. 19, 2006 hosted approximately 300 It is with the utmost sorrow that I report that Chaplain members and guests. A special Cecil Harper, OAEA Chaplain, passed away on 31 August Thank You is extended to Marty 2006. To all those who have lost a loved one, please accept Diller and his wife, Beverly; to my heartfelt sympathy and my condolences as you pass Dave Hazard and his wife, Anne; and, to the many others through these tough times. My prayers are with you. To working behind the scenes who went the extra mile to those under the weather, I wish you a speedy recovery. make the Third OAEA Symposium a resounding success. Until next time, take care. An election of officers brought about several changes. The following are the current Old Antarctic Explorers Association officers: President - John Lamont West \ Executive Vice President - Henry Storm Secretary/Treasurer - Jim O’Connell Past President/Director - Jim Eblen Life Director - Billy-Ace Baker Director - Marty Diller Director - Buz Dryfoose Director - Steve Edelman Director - Ed Hamblin Director - Dave Hazard Director - Bill Spindler Director - Walt Walter During the last election of officers, a number of areas were identified that must be improved. During the General Membership Meeting at the Third Symposium numerous inputs were received from the floor regarding the election process. Future elections will continue to be conducted by U.S. Mail. However, your Board of Directors are taking GROWLERS & BERGY BYTES action to appoint an “Election Committee Chairman” to Feature Stories, Odds & Ends, Collected, Compiled & take corrective action to resolve obstacles identified during Written by Billy-Ace Penguin Baker previous elections and who will be responsible for Page overseeing future elections. Cover Story⎯2006 OAEA Reunion Warwick RI….1 & 4 Concern was also raised that no meeting minutes have § NZAVA—Antartic Medal Update ……………………. .6 been published for the general membership since the § inception of the OAEA. This issue was addressed Letters To The Editor. Praise, criticisms, and assorted immediately following the conclusion of the Third OAEA comments……………………………………….…………7 Symposium. The Minutes of the meetings are now posted § Pensacola, FL—OAEA 2008 Reunion Meeting………… 8 on the OAEA web site. For those members who are not § Internet capable, copies of the minutes will be mailed with Farewell to: Ed Ward and Cecil Harper may they RIP…9 this issue of the Gazette § SPAM is a continuing issue for folks on-line. In the Indianapolis, IN—2007 ADFA Reunion to be held in Corpus Christi, TX, .………………………………….…12 immediate past, SPAM has resulted in inappropriate § entries appearing on the OAEA web site Guest Book. Our Oklahoma City, OK—USS Edisto (AGB-2) 2006 Reunion Webmaster, Billy-Ace Baker, has taken swift and positive Held in Chattanooga TN.……….……………….………13 § action to curtail the SPAM activity on the OAEA Guest Book by screening each individual posting prior to DISCLAIMER STATEMENT approving the entry for posting in the Guest Book. The Explorer’s Gazette is published quarterly by the Old The 2008 OAEA Symposium will be held in Antarctic Explorers Association. Opinions expressed by the Pensacola, Florida. More information will be forthcoming, editorial staff or contained in articles submitted by members, so get out your pencils, mark your calendars, and plan on and non-members are not official expressions of the OAEA joining us there. For long-term planning, the 2010 nor does the mention of books, products, or events constitute Symposium will be in San Antonio, Texas. endorsement by the OAEA. 2 E X P L O R E R ‘ S G A Z E T T E V O L U M E 6, I S S U E 4 O C T − D E C 2 0 0 6 The Explorer’s Gazette is the official publication of the Old Antarctic Explorers Association, Inc. National Headquarters 10819 Berryhill Road Pensacola, FL 32506 USA Phone 850 456 3556 October Events And is published four times annually 16 Oct 1816 William Smith takes possession of the South Shetlands for Great Britain. Editor 31 Oct 1902 Nordenskjöld’s party returns to camp after Billy-Ace Baker traveling 380 miles on foot. 05 Oct 1908 David, Mawson, and Mackay leave for the Editorial Assistants South Magnetic Pole. Gus Shinn 31 Oct 1956 United States becomes the first nation to Kerry Konrad land an aircraft at the Geographic South Pole. Editor Emeritus 28 Oct 1969 PM-3A reactor manually scrammed. Jim O’Connell November Events 06 Nov 1948 British military base at Hope Bay, Base D, Administrative Offices destroyed by fire. Two scientists, Oliver 4615 Balmoral Drive Burd and Michael Green die in the fire. Pensacola, FL 32504 USA 22 Nov 1957 First aircraft of the USAF Electronics Test Phone: 850 478 6222 Unit arrive at Ellsworth Station. 27 Nov 1968 Two VX-6 LH-34 helicopters fly 395 miles Association Officers from McMurdo Station to Hallett Station to collect emperor penguins. Setting a record President – John Lamont West for the longest nonstop Antarctic helo flight. Executive VP – Henry Storm 18 Nov 1985 RV John Biscoe abandoned after being trapped in the ice near the Antarctic Secretary/Treasurer – Jim O’Connell Peninsula. Life Director – Billy-Ace Baker 28 Nov 1988 Mountain Travel Expedition leaves Hercules Inlet en route to Patriot Hills. Past President/Director – Jim Eblen December Events Director – Marty Diller Director – Buz Dryfoose 30 Dec 1820 British sealer Ann wrecked in S. Shetlands Director – Steve Edelman 27 Dec 1902 Scott discovers Mount Markham. Director – Ed Hamblin 15 Dec 1912 Mawson kills the weakest of his dogs. Director – Dave Hazard 23 Dec 1966 AE2 Jim Thomann makes first ever delayed Director – Bill Spindler free-fall parachute jump over the South Pole from 16,000 ft. Chaplain – Denis Casey 28 Dec 1967 The first fossilized land animals found in Historian – Billy-Ace Baker \ Antarctica. 3 E X P L O R E R ‘ S G A Z E T T E V O L U M E 6, I S S U E 4 O C T − D E C 2 0 0 6 Brewing Company generously provided remembrance of our fallen comrades. Reunion From page 1 15 cases of beer, plus t-shirts, can After the General Membership Governor Donald L. Carcieri and holders, and other promotional items in meeting and lunch, Reunion Day Two Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian made recognition of past loyal patronage by continued with a full slate of Guest separate Proclamations that announced OAEs. The Narragansett beer 12-packs Speaker presentations by OAEA the week of 14–20 August as “OAEA and memorabilia were given away as members: Days”. The signed, framed proc- door prizes at the Thursday night • Kelly Tyler-Lewis, author of The lamations were displayed in the hotel welcome reception in what turned out to Lost Men, talked about the 10-man for all attendees to read. be “Narragansett Night” at the Reunion. Ross Sea support party for Shackleton’s 1914–16 expedition, which was stranded for almost two years.