Gazette Quarterly
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BaceB EEXXPPLLOORREERR’’SS GGAAZZEETTTTEE Published Quarterly in Pensacola, Florida USA for the Old Antarctic Explorers Association Uniting All OAEs in Perpetuating the Memory of United States Involvement in Antarctica Volume 21, Issue 1 Old Antarctic Explorers Association, Inc Jan-Mar 2021 Photo Courtesy of: Jack Crowell Collection, Antarctican Society Hero sails out for its shake down cruise in the summer of 1968 S A D E N D I N G F O R A H E R O By Charles H. Lagerbom The vessel was to operate in conjunction with the 21 January 2021 appropriately named shore-based United States Antarctic n 1968, the Harvey Gamage shipyard in South Bristol Program station Palmer. It was named after seal hunter built and launched the National Science Foundation Nathaniel Palmer, the mariner from Stonington, Conn., who IResearch Vessel Hero. The idea was to utilize a sturdy was one of the first in 1820 to sight the Antarctic Peninsula. wooden-built trawler as a scientific platform along the He glimpsed the land from aboard his sturdy little ship shallow bays and passages of far-south South America and named Hero. the ice-choked Antarctic Peninsula. Continued 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 21, I S S U E 1 J A N M A R 2 0 2 Hamblin, who said: “Something sticks in my mind that P R E S I D E N T ’ S C O R N E R was once said about a shipboard Executive Officer … Allison Barden—OAEA President “We didn’t really know how good he was until he wasn’t HELLO OAEs!—I hope this message there anymore.’” I think that sentiment is perfect. finds you with springtime firmly on the (continued on page 3) way along with sunshine and longer daylight hours. If you are in Antarctica or elsewhere in the Southern Hemisphere, this is an exciting time of transition. Either way, I hope we all can see some positive changes on the horizon as These Strange Times pass. First, I would like to welcome new and returning members: Nicholas Reardon, Jerry Wood, David Ferris (my colleague!), Janice Knight, Judith Peterson, Denise GROWLERS & BERGY BYTES Porcello, and Mark Jordan. Thank you and welcome! I Feature Stories, Odds & Ends, Collected, Compiled, hope you reconnect with folks you’ve known in the past, Edited, & Written by Billy-Ace Penguin Baker swap stories about Antarctica, and get to know the Page OAEA. Cover StorySad Ending for a Hero………………….1, 4 As we bounce back from the challenging year that Oakland, CA—President’s Corner……………………..2, 3 was 2020 and emerge from the pandemic, we have much San Diego, CA—2022 OAEA Reunion…………………. .3 to look forward to. Many thanks to George Lusk for his Here & There—Feedback & Letters to the Editor………8 work planning the next OAEA Reunion in San Diego, on Pensacola, FL—Exhibit Combines Art With Science… 13 8 May 2022—see the post following my article. Navarre, FL—Antarctic Adventures …………………. …17 Spring is a time to think about Scholarships— Here and There—In Memory: Obituaries………………22 donating to the fund and/or sponsoring applicants. If you Virginia Beach, VA—Chaplain’s Corner…………………26 know someone who is accepted for undergraduate Whanganui, NZ—Kids Create Penguin Shelters………...26 enrollment at an accredited college/university or Chesapeake, VA—The Phantom Swede………..……….. 27 vocational/technical school, please direct them to the Cork, Ireland—100 Year Old Postcard………………….28 Scholarships section of the OAEA website. Applicants Pensacola, FL—Empire Beneath The Ice………………..31 are required to be sponsored by current OAEA Pensacola, FL—Days Gone By. R4D Pilots of DF-II……35 members—sponsors will need to supply a short statement Pensacola, FL—New Members & Reunions…………….40 of applicant’s need, including work history, if applicable, toward payment of educational costs. Applications will be London, UK—The Battle For Antarctic Dominance…..40 due by 1 July. Here and There—Locator Column……………………… 41 Speaking of donations, I would like to thank Judith Whanganui, NZ—Dogs Threaten Penguins……………..42 Peterson, for her incredibly generous donation of $2000 Chesapeake, VA—The Penguin Club……………………43 this quarter. Thanks to other donors this quarter—Bruce London, UK—Penguin Ice Sculpture…………………... 44 DeWald, Geoff Gamble, Grant Nelson, David Northrup, Gary Price, Nicholas Reardon, and David Schmidt. As a DISCLAIMER STATEMENT non-profit organization, we rely on member dues and tax- The Old Antarctic Explorers Association publishes the deductible donations to cover our Scholarship Fund and Explorer’s Gazette quarterly. Opinions expressed by the operating costs. No donation is too small (or too big!) — editorial staff or contained in articles submitted by members, please see the Donor Form and Information section of the and non-members are not official expressions of the OAEA nor OAEA website. does the mention of books, products, or events constitute It is with great sadness to report that our Webmaster, endorsement by the OAEA. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Election Coordinator, OAEA member, conversation Section 107, any copyrighted work in this newsletter is starter, and most of all … friend, Bob Gaboury “Gabby” distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non- passed away in December. I was just getting to know him profit research and educational purposes only. when I came into this role, and his presence was everywhere. He was lively and kept everyone connected, talking, and moving along. I instantly admired his spirit, and he will be missed. I reached out to our VP Ed 2 E X P L O R E R ‘ S G A Z E T T E V O L U M E 21, I S S U E 1 J A N M A R 2 0 2 P R E S I D E N T ’ S C O R N E R (continued from page 2) Regarding the website, we are in a bit of transition. Ed Hamblin had been working/training with Gabby for quite a while as a backup webmaster, and he swiftly took the reins to ensure everything continues to work fine. He and Bill Rouzer are The Explorer’s Gazette is working on getting a system going to get online applications, fee the official publication of the payments, and donations into the website. This should make several processes much smoother. Huge thanks to the both of Old Antarctic Explorers them for doing some extreme legwork and learning! Association, Inc. As always, thanks to the one and only Billy-Ace Baker, for all National Headquarters the work he does each month in gathering stories and putting 10819 Berryhill Road together the Gazette. Thanks B-A! Pensacola, FL 32506–6201 USA I want to take this opportunity to remind you to reach out to Phone 850 456 3556 OAE friends—write a letter, make a phone call, share some stories. It is the Antarctic that brings us together, the common And is published four times annually thread we all share. Be well, friends. Editor Billy-Ace Baker Allison Barden AKA Sandwich Editorial Assistants ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ Gus Shinn Kerry Konrad Kenneth Henry Pam Landy Gravity Physicist Emeritus John Stewart (RIP) Editor Emeritus Jim O’Connell 2001–2003 Association Officers President – Allison Barden Vice President – Ed Hamblin Secretary – Marty Diller Treasurer – Bill Rouzer Life Director – Billy-Ace Baker FLASH//PENQUIN PRESS//FLASH Past President – Laura Snow CALLING ALL OAES Director – David Bresnahan The Old Antarctic Explorer’s Association will be holding a Director – Rob Buettner reunion in San Diego, California on Sunday 8 May 2022 thru Director – Allen Cox Wednesday, 11 May 2022 at the Handlery Hotel in Mission Director – Yolonda Washington Valley. Director – Journey Washingtonhigh More information and photos of the resort are located on the Director – Charles Lagerbom Old Antarctic Explorers Reunion 2022 Facebook page at: Director – Charles Thompson https://www.facebook.com/groups/672854686946715. Chaplain – Johnnie Draughon OAE’s are invited to join the Facebook page to stay informed Historian – Billy-Ace Baker with the progress of the reunion. There is also a page of the Parliamentarian - John Lamont West Facebook where members may post photos and stories of their Web Master – Bob “Gabby” Gaboury Antarctic adventures. See the Reunion Column on page 40 of this issue for contact info. 3 E X P L O R E R ‘ S G A Z E T T E V O L U M E 21, I S S U E 1 J A N M A R 2 0 2 Sad Ending For A Hero From page 1 Arctic mariner and Maine resident, Jack Crowell, was the National Science Foundation point-man for the job; he basically led the charge for the vessel to be constructed of wood and built by well-known shipbuilder Harvey Gamage himself. Crowell carried enough clout with NSF to make it happen. He and his wife Alice rented a small house in South Bristol near the shipyard and Crowell and Gamage oversaw construction of the vessel. Hero was 125-feet-long and 300 tons, but drew only a dozen feet of water, crucial for it to explore the inner bays and harbors of the Antarctic Peninsula. Contemporary icebreakers and research ships drew over twice that depth, making Hero rather unique at the time. Hero was diesel-driven by a 380-horsepower engine, but also carried sails. Her frame was native-oak timbers and sheathed in tough green-heart wood from South America. The mast was Oregon fir. Hero was ketch-rigged so it could carry a decent amount of sail yet still be able to maneuver around ice-choked inlets; she carried 1,700-square-feet of high-visibility orange sails.