The DAShPOT Issue 41 Newsletter of the Association of Minemen Spring 2003 A few months back, I had the once in a lifetime experience … having libations with Superman. Much to my amazement, I discovered that Superman is not a mild mannered newspaper reporter, but, LO FROM THE PRESIDENT and BEHOLD, a famous Mineman. Paul Santa Maria Congratulations to MN1 Stephanie Cowart, our newest Ensign Select. We are all proud of you, Stephanie, and, without a doubt, you will continue to make us proud of you as you continue up the ranks! I would also like to congratulate and welcome my two new appointments as ex-officio members to the Board of Directors as approved by the Board of Directors: the Dashpot Editor, Bill Fortner and the AOM webmaster, Phil Dechene. Thank you both for your hard work and dedication. Speaking of hard work and dedication, I would also like to thank Director Bill Roberts for his outstand- ing analysis and recommendations on various areas of our by-laws, and also to those who contributed constructive thoughts and comments which led to the decision for leaving the by-laws unchanged. Let me assure all our members that we may meet only once a year, but important business is in continuum year round. Our thanks go out to “Swede” and Irma Carlson and Frank Butler for their generous contributions to our Scholarship Fund. Education costs continue to rise as we all know and that makes continued contribu- tions and successful auctions at the reunions. Thank SUSPICIONS CONFIRMED! you!! See you all in San Diego! GOD BLESS YOU AND Time is fleeting by and, before we realize it, re- GOD BLESS AMERICA. union time will be upon us. Bootsie and I are looking forward with much enthusiasm and anxiety to be together with this great family of ours. Please ON THE INSIDE take advantage of the form at the end of the news- letter and get your reservations in early. Scholarship Scoop 2 Leaning On the Taffrail 4 For those of you who are artistically inclined, or Taps/Binnacle List 6/7 know someone who is, please contact me as I have The Mail Bag 9 a simple project in mind. Presently, I have been Minemen In The Spotlight 10 working on a belt buckle design and have submitted it to a couple of manufacturers. Please let me know Fleet News 11 if that is of interest to you. If so, they will be MOMAG News 11 available at the reunion. MCM News 20 1 SCHOLARSHIP scholarship. The general scholarship fund should submit an application for an has over $2,000 for more annual AOM scholarship. You can request SCOOP scholarships.The AOM’S support of the applications from the Chair of the scholarship program has been supple- Scholarship Committee: By Swede Carlsen mented by Memorial scholarships in the names of Doreen Stryker and Kay Branan, William (Swede) Carlsen NOW HEAR THIS! thanks to the Stryker and Branan familes. 1925 Pilgrim Ave NOW HEAR THIS! Bronx, NY 10461-4001 The scholarship committee is looking Our on-going battle with the high costs of forward to receiving applications so we or the Secretary/Treasurer: college tuition is still on the front burner. will be able to select the scholarship recipients for 2003. Curtis Christian The AOM has $10,600 in the challenge P.O. 71835 fund drawing 6.2% on a $5,000 CD and The committee is sure the membership has Charleston, SC 29415-1835 2.5% on a $5,600 CD. The interest from many college bound and in-school both will be used towards a $500 relatives, friends, and acquaintances who As you know your donations given to PRESIDENT HISTORIAN Paul Santa Maria (01-04) Ron Swart 820 N. Tamarind Circle 2020 Tupelo Court Barefoot Bay, FL 32976 DEDICATED TO SERVING Panama City, Fl 32405 772-664-7540 850-215- 9649 THE Mobile 850-276-1750 [email protected] U.S. NAVY MINE FORCE [email protected] VICE PRESIDENT The Dashpot, published quarterly, is the Jack Smoot (01-04) newsletter of the Association of Mine- YORKTOWN MUSEUM Toby Horn 306 Artillery Rd. men, a non-profit organization incorpo- Yorktown VA 23692-4226 rated in the state of South Carolina with [email protected] [email protected] the mission of perpetuating knowledge of LEXINGTON MUSEUM undersea mine warfare and championing Ron Swart SECRETARY/TREASURER its necessity as one of America’s first lines Curtis T. Christian (01-02) [email protected] 303 Cypress Shores Rd. of defense. Eutawville, SC 29048 2003 REUNION COMMITTEE Bill Johnson (01-04) Warren Savage 803-492-4245 341 Shadynoot St. [email protected] Keyport, WA SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE 07735-5140 William (Swede) Carlsen PAST PRESIDENT [email protected] 1925 Pilgrim Ave. Joe Balderamma (01-04) Bronx, NY 10461 1617 Sadler Road PMB 36 Robert N. Hart (02-05) 718-792-2298 Fernandina Beach, FL 32034-4466 1237 Patrick Hwy [email protected] 912-673-1220 Hartsville, SC 29559-7759 [email protected] 843-383-0882 AOM STOREKEEPER [email protected] MN1 Stephanie Cowart 19 Kelp Ln. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Walter W. Peters (02-05) Santa Rita, GU 96915 Dick Schommer (00-03) 3040 Annette St. [email protected] 827 Aylesbury Dr. Ardara, PA 15615-9724 [email protected] Goose Creek, SC 29445-5707 [email protected] DASHPOT EDITOR William Roberts (00-03) PARLIMENTARIAN Bill Fortner 687 Aleida Dr. Warren Savage 1020 County Road 856 St. Augustine, FL 32086-7702 10330 Settle Rd. Cedar Bluff, AL 35959 904-797-4696 Santee, CA 92071 256-523-7111 [email protected] 619-258-1478 Mobile 256-390-5138 [email protected] John F. Loonam (01-04) CHAPLAIN 10033 Indian Rd. Henry Wiliams AOM HOMEPAGE Gloucester, VA 23061-2830 1428 Edenfield Ct. home.triad.rr.com/aom/index.htm 804-693-2094 Lithonia, GA 30058 Webmaster Phil DeChene [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 2 the scholarship funds are tax-exempt and will give you a little 29TH ANNUAL ASSOCIATION OF relief from Uncle Sam’s long arm called taxes. MINEMEN (AOM) REUNION If you designate your contribution to the ”President’s Challenge SAN DIEGO, CA, AUGUST 8-10, Fund,” the AOM will have more monies earning interest towards our scholarships. Whichever of the two funds, the 2003. challenge or the general scholarship, you contribute to, it will benefit the scholarship recipients and the AOM. By Warren Savage THINK SCHOLARSHIP! We only have a few more months until our Reunion in San Diego, CA. Thanks to everyone, most importantly our Asso- Be an Easter Bunny and give an Easter egg in the form of a ciation of Minemen (AOM) President, our Directors, as well as scholarship donation. involved members and friends, for their assistance in our pulling together our Reunion. We are looking forward to our 29th We hope to see you at the reunion in San Diego and don’t annual Association of Minemen (AOM) reunion to be held from forget to make your bids high on the items that will be auc- Friday, 8 August to Sunday, 10 August 2003 in San Diego, tioned off at the AOM’S picnic! California at the Handlery Hotel and Resort. This hotel location was selected by the AOM Reunion Committee Team to house Check out Scholarship Search @fastweb.com on the internet our reunion as well as most of our annual functions and for info on other scholarships. activities. Our 1996 AOM reunion was also held at this same location and received “WELL DONE” from those in atten- STAND TALL AMERICA dance. The fewer the facts... The Handlery Hotel and Resort is located at 950 Hotel Circle North in San Diego only minutes from the San Diego Interna- tional Airport (Lindbergh Field) in the heart of Mission Valley. the stronger the opinion. The 29th Association of Minemen Reunion is being planned and operated by a nucleus TEAM consisting of BILL BASH, GARY CLELAND, W.C. HOLLOWAY, JERRY CHIPMAN, JIM MILLER and WARREN SAVAGE as well as other southern California AOM members. We eagerly look forward to this event as one to be truly remembered and surpassing our 23rd AOM reunion held at the same San Diego site. The TEAM is in the process of putting together activities, which include our annual EARLY BIRD banquet, a picnic and FROM THE SECRETARY’S DESK auction as well as a planned golf endeavor and annual meetings. By Curtis Christian We are looking forward to making this truly a FAMILY oriented function that enhances networking and camaraderie. Hello to all of you out there in MINEMAN land. The Early Bird reception will be held on Friday 1600 at We have had a good year so far. Lost a few members and poolside in the POOL ROOM with refreshments available. This gained a few. will be a great opportunity to meet and mix. There will be maps and handouts available as well as photos from the past. Sure wish that we could get some of the YOUNG active duty folks to Join. I know — at my age most everyone is young The Board of Directors meeting will be held Friday evening and compared to me. and Saturday morning, 8 and 9 August. Maybe we could get some brand new COMOMAG and some The General Membership meeting will be held on Saturday, 9 new ENS select to put in a good word for us. (smile) August starting at 1400 hours. Unfortunately we have a number of members who have not The Picnic and Auction will be held Sunday, 10 August 2003. renewed their dues this year.