CENTRAL
COAST CHAPTER
Monterey, CA
Source: Aerograph, May 2007
President Harry
Nicholson
Sec/Treas Glenn Handlers
This is a quiet time for
the Monterey Chapter so news is Slim Pickens. The Editor was kind in Nov.
2006 issue of the Aerograph and added our chapter’s officers, which I
forgot to include in the Feb. 2007 Aerograph. So for something to do I
made sure we got our officers again in this issue.
I look out the back
window and see the small yellow flowers of Oxalis which has been cheering
me up for the past couple of months but which Gloria calls weeds and
insist they be pulled. The scraggly beds of asparagus have already grown
to 3 or 4 feet in some areas and turning into ferns without me even
picking a mess for a meal.
While pulling weeds in
the front yard the past few weeks I come up with a sizeable crop of trash
the construction workers left when they put in a retaining wall running a
hundred feet east to west along the south side of the yard. It is amazing
what workers in the building trades cover up when they work. I have found
a dozen red bricks of the two foot serrated top variety the workers buried
and huge amounts of left over concrete. All this plus various lengths of
Rebar which somehow managed to get buried instead of crated off when they
finished the wall.
The starting of this
small bit of news caused a flashback to one night I had the local weather
report to give on the AFRS-TV station when stationed at Keflavik Iceland
in 1965 or 1966. We were the only TV station on Iceland at the time and
every night one of the duty forecasters would go to the station and post a
weather chart for the camera man to zoom in on while we went into our 3 to
5 minute time slot of the local weather.
This one night as I was
waiting to make my 3 minute pitch at the end of the news, the regular
newscaster crashed face down on his desk, drunk as a skunk. The TV
producer calmly said into the camera and now we will switch to Chief
Jacobs for a comprehensive look at our weather around the globe. That
gave me about 25 minutes of adlibbing to fill in as there was no world
news or sports that night due to the clown who had come to work drunk. I
started with weather over Alaska and took it all the way east across
Canada, our area into Europe and as Far East as Moscow. Then I took it
from the east coast of North America south into the Caribbean and back up
the Atlantic to our local area. Talk about hot air. When I got home
Gloria made a comment we sure had a long weather picture that day. I had
to laugh and explain how it was an impromptu thing and not of my doing. I
managed to get that 30 minute slot of news over a hump.
In the last issue of the
Aerograph I mentioned a Letter to the Editor in our local paper the day
before last Christmas written by Art Hull. Though it is unlikely many who
read this would have recognized Art Hull’s name as I don’t believe he was
ever a member of NWSA, though I wanted to sign him up he wouldn’t hear of
a gift subscription in years past. At least one long time friend, Mo
Gibbs of Nantucket Island knew Art, so Mo and I have talked about Art’s
Obituary showing up in the 15 Feb. paper telling us Art walked the wind 7
Feb. 2007. As I had talked to Art on the phone just a couple of weeks
before his death and he seemed chipper and in relatively good health for
his age which is a few months younger than my own, It was quite a surprise
to see him in the paper one last time.
Mo surprised me by
sending me a picture of me when I was a lot younger when we were tied up
to the ice in Kainan Bay about 78 degrees 30 minutes South Lat. It seems
the CG Cutter Atka had been at this spot in 1954 and left some trail flags
as markers to help the Deep Freeze group who came down in late 1955 and
was tied up in Kainan Bay by Jan. 1956 offloading to build Little America
IV, I believe was the number of the base. Mo & I took a hike up to the
camp that had sprung up and Mo had a camera which he used to snap a photo
of me when I found one of those little red trail markers.
Well I got off to a start
in mid March with the above topics. Here it is 5 April and the yellow
flowers in the back yard are fading due to lack of water and my weed
pulling has moved westward along the south side of the house, but has not
reached the back yard so procrastination is upon my hands.
Of local interest to
some, the Monterey President is on a cruise south till later in April and
Glenn Handlers when last heard from was again visiting WestPac and
in Japan. The doings of our chapter members are not available as most
seem private in their travels.
I find our local paper a
bit peculiar this Thursday 5 April with top headlines being PG may boost
the price of Golf which is sharing the front page with the trip to Syria
by Nancy Pelosi. Now the latter is of International importance but
Pacific Grove boosting the price of Golf seems a tad odd for a front page
article. I am sure all you others in various parts of the world notice
local precedent for front page news.
Talking about news, our
friend Frenchy Corbeille posted an internet message a couple of
days ago about him stepping out into a gale when he got ready to take
Boomer, his year old Black Lab for a walk that morning and snow was
blowing in sheets. Why a man in the winter of his life would return
deliberately to live in Wisconsin vice Florida where the winters are mild
is a puzzle to this old head. Frenchy mentioned his father advising him
years ago Wisconsin had 9 months of winter and 3 months of spring so he
knew what he was getting into.
My imagination has become
exhausted for this quarterly report. It is with regrets I had to tell my
old 1950 San Diego NAS North Island friend, Frank Baillie, we would
not be attending the NW Chapters National meeting in May. We both are
sticking close to the Monterey area as we age gracefully or that is what
we hope to age as.
Forgive me if this note
seems so on a personal level but so few bits of news is shared by other
members of the local chapter I have to use creative thought to even
submit a report. All you who travel to WA this spring have a blast.
Cordially, Zane E. Jacobs
Source: Aerograph, February 2007
The early part of 2007 is typical for the Central Coast area
of California, mild mostly sunny days with the winter plants blooming
profusely out the back window where my computer room looks west toward
Monterey Bay.
Procrastinating won’t enlarge the small amount of Unit One’s
input this first quarter so will take a few minutes and write what has
been on the burner since the last report.
Glenn Handlers
called me in early Nov. for an address of Gloria & my last Home Stay
Student from Japan, as Glenn had a planned trip to Japan and would be in
the Osaka area and knew Maiko Miyano from her visit here in 2004 &
a tourist visit last summer So gave her a call when he stopped in Osaka.
Glenn works for SAIC and supports the NRL on Hurricane Haven, Typhoon
Haven Typhoon Haven and Severe Weather Port Studies. In line with his
work in 2006, Glenn gathered information on visits to Tortola, BVI, St.
John, American Virgin Island, Sasebo, Japan and Guam
Before talking about
the WWW Christmas Party and a well done to Lori McPherson and her
helpers, I spotted a letter to the editor in our local paper, The Monterey
County Herald the day before Christmas. The letter addressed the Global
Warming Issue and to my surprise was written by Art Hull. This
fine gentleman aside from being identified as a Gentleman due to his USN
connection & subsequent retirement from the Navy and Weather Bureau was my
Division Officer on Operation Deep Freeze One. I even forget what the
Task Force ID was at this time in life which may be a sign of aging, but
Art was a Lt. on the Flag aboard the USS Arneb on that ship carrying the
Flag on Deep Freeze 1. I had not seen
or heard about him in years and see he is listed in the non
member portion of the B List of the Aerograph.
For those who exchange Christmas greetings over the years and
may have known Chuck Dunning, who walked the wind a few years ago,
I wonder if anyone heard from Winnie Dunning this past year?
The Well Weathered Wives club put on another smashing
Christmas Party the 14th of Dec. and though the WWW club is not strictly a
weather event a lot of those who participate are mostly weather types in
the Navy or retired community. So as has been the past few years, I will
include a list of most if not all who attended this event 14 Dec. 2006 on
the Naval Post Graduate School Quarterdeck.
First though, Lori McPherson had an emergency in her
personal life when her mother had a stroke in early Nov. Lori
wishes to thank Mimi & Bill Schramm, Pat Nicholson and other
helpers which made this shindig such a success.
Tom and Mary Callaham,
M.J. & Mary Cuming, Don and Marjorie Edgren. Ron & Peggy Englebretson,
Herb and Barbara Hansen, Sam & Jean Houston.
Earl & Floy Gustafson
were planning on attending from their home in Big Ditch (Arroyo Grande,
CA) but some conflict in planning interfered. Apparently the same thing
happened with Glenn & Delores Hamilton.
Frank Ivie, Zane & Gloria
Jacobs, Jack & Valerie Jensen, Mary Kalinyak.
Captain Scott Katz
who is XO of FNMOC and his lady Karen were welcome guests.
Tony Klapp & Lucy Olsen
whom I thought were in China were present. I was under the impression
A.J. Klapp and Lucy had eloped over a year ago and tied the knot but
may be mistaken.
Don & Carolyn Mautner
with Don still doing his bit to educate students at Cal State Monterey Bay
College.
John & Lori Macpherson;
with Lori being volunteered in Dec. 2005 by John she done a great job of
organizing the party.
Dean Morford, Harry & Pat
Nicholson, Pete & Marjorie Petit, Mary Reins, Bob & Dorothy Renard.
Commander A. J. Reiss Operations Officer of FNMOC & his lady Dana were special
guests in that Dana was a solo singer of Oh Holy Night and it were as
though an angel had mingled with us mortals the way she presented the
song. All who heard Dana thanks her for such a beautiful presentation.
Charles & Carol Roberts,
Ralph & Dorothea Sallee, Donald Schertz, Bill & Mimi Schramm, Warren
Thompson, Carl Thormeyer, Ace Trask and guest Beverley Morford, Conley &
Mary Ward from Roseville CA, Forrest & Madge Williams.
Ralph Wrenn and
guest Marilyn Cole
planned on coming but didn’t make it. Each social gathering where Ralph
shows up is a bonus for this old friend as we first met in Oct. or Nov.
1949 at Norfolk VA where AG2 Ralph Wrenn became my section leader
when I reported aboard the Weather Central at Norfolk. Ralph was a very
good leader when he taught me how to make good coffee for the watch
section and had me tearing teletype paper till I became proficient in that
chore
As I don’t know many of the attendees and rely on Lori
Macpherson’s list as a guide if I made errors in spelling of your name
consider the source and forgive me till next year.
Cordially, Zane E. Jacobs
Question:
When is a retiree's bedtime?
Answer: Three hours after he falls asleep on the couch.
Question: How
many retiree's does it take to change a light bulb?
Answer: Only one, but it might take all day
Source: Aerograph, November 2006
Central
Coast Chapter
Monterey California
President Harry Nicholson
Sec/Treas Glenn Handlers
Monday 11 Sep. 2006 was a 5 year anniversary of 11 Sep. 2001
when the world changed forever as 19 young men dedicated to killing as
many kefir's as possible, hijacked 4 commercial aircraft with passengers
aboard and slammed two of the fully fueled passenger planes into the two
towers of the world trade center, one into the pentagon and one was forced
down to crash in Pennsylvania on its heading back toward Wash. D.C. World
War IV just heated up that day.
Five years later we on the Monterey Bay in CA had a clear
cool day.
On Sep 4, Harry Nicholson sent an invite for some
members of the Monterey Chapter to meet at the USN Post Graduate golf club
house for a meeting to take care of some local chapter business.
I went over and had lunch with Harry Nicholson, Bill
Schramm, Ralph Sallee & Pete Petit. Harry volunteered to act as
President of our local chapter. As the National Sec. Treas. had been
carrying Pete Petit for years as our unit president I will make
sure Jim Stone gets a heads up that Harry Nicholson is now Chapter One's
official head honcho.
Glenn Handlers
was unable to attend but has volunteered to take over as Treasurer from
Ralph Sallee. Ralph mentioned the various names of our unit and it
seems my last change used on my Quarterly reports to the Aerograph is the
3rd name for our unit but all have Unit 1 as part of it's handle so will
continue using what I have been using on the reports as shown on the
heading of this quarterly. We voted to give the Well Weathered Wives Club
$200 seed money the first of Sep. each year so Ralph wrote a check for
that amount to Bill Schramm's wife Ann who is co-sponsor with
Lori Macpherson on the shindig this year. All our local units'
accounts are in two names, Ralph Sallee & Frank Ivie. On the way
out from the clubhouse to Airport Road a big sign said it was 1259 hours
and Temperature was 62F.
I drove by Frank Ivie's home on my way home to chat but no
one answered his door. Glenn Handlers is going to take charge of the funds
and if he needs a 2nd name I volunteered as I am a long time user of the
Monterey Credit Union where Unit 1 stashes its loot. Bill Schramm
volunteered to check on some local hospitality hotels for a possible 2009
site for NWSA reunion and wanted a tally of how many attended the 1999
reunion here in Monterey. I sent him an Email after arriving home,
showing 129 had registered for the reunion according to Howard Lewitt's
tally in the Aug. 1999 Aerograph and we had about 200 who attended the 5
June Sat. night banquet.
Harry mentioned Ace Trask had fallen off a step ladder
and screwed up his knee. Believe some doctor in the Seattle area performed
an Arthroscopy to clean up the knee. Sure hope the sawbones squared away
the damage so Ace can get along as good as before.
It is likely there is news of others who made the binnacle
list since the last report but unless it is terminal that type news
doesn't seem to filter into the public domain so this is a short fall
report.
Zane E. Jacobs
Source: Aerograph, August 2006
Sunday 25 June this year was the local chapter of NWSA annual meeting
in form of a picnic at Archer Park, the same location as last year.
Before writing about the picnic another topic has been bouncing around my
noggin. I subscribe to the Navy Times and have watched the changing
uniform problems of the past few years.
When I drive onto the Navy Base in Monterey to take Gloria to church, the
guard, who is a sailor, dressed in Cammies uniform this old phart
associates with Army or USMC dress, confuses my sensibilities. Letters to
the editors in the Navy times the past few months are just glanced at, but
one written by an ACDU sailor caught my eye as it chastised us old swabs
for even suggesting we had an interest in uniform changes being made in
the USN and no right to sound off about what we think of the changes.
Having retired for all practical purposes in Sep. 1969, it surprised me a
few years later when all enlisted sailors were authorized to wear a
uniform type similar to Chiefs
and Officers. It struck me the USN was trying to standardize
its uniform requirements like the USAF and Army had done. Now it seems
the USN is trying to standardize its uniforms to make it hard to determine
which branch of the service a person is in. This used to be fairly easy
with white hats and bell bottoms.
True, more and more Navy personnel are taking active combat
roles in our battles against terrorists in at least two countries,
Afghanistan and Iraq, and must conform to sensible dress in such
situations. I wonder if those sailors who are carrying small arms and
engaging the enemy in actual firefights, generally of an ambush nature,
will be allowed to earn and wear the Combat Infantryman Badge. Probably
not.
While setting in my car Sunday, 25 June 2006, in front of the
Navy Exchange a group of six SEA scouts came marching by and other than no
shoulder patches or rate identifiers on their summer working white
uniforms, reminded me of what enlisted sailors wore when I joined the Navy
in 1949. Shoot, back then a full seabag had to have a flat hat in it.
Now over to the picnic where the group that gathered to enjoy
the cookout by the famous chefs Keiko Handlers and Ritsuko
Hebert had a great lunch. Glenn Handlers and Don Mautner
families sponsored this summer shindig. There seems to have been less
attendees this year than last year. That seems to be a yearly event, less
and less attend the picnic. Some who were here last year didn't make it
and some who were not here last year showed up this year.
Alphabetically listed
are Don and Marge Edgren, Bob & Jinx Fett signed up but were a no
show according to Glenn Handlers. Then Earl and Floy Gustafson
came up from Arroyo Seco or in English, the big ditch down Santa Maria
way. I was stationed with Earl in 1954-1955 here in Monterey and Earl
taught us a class on how to use the slide rule back then as well as what
was called an E-6B calculator the best I can recall. George and Mary
Haltiner, though Mary had recently fallen and George wasn't sure when
he talked to Glenn they would make it, they did. Next were Harry and
Jackie Hamilton, followed by Glenn and Keiko Handlers. Herb
and Barb Hansen, who were new last year to the unit, having lived in
Iowa for a number of years. The Nov. 2005 B list still has their old Iowa
address, but this coming Nov. 2006 issue will have that corrected. Herb
and I discovered we have mutual friends, George and June Russoy who
was stationed on Kodiak with Herb before George was sent to NAAS Fallon
Nevada. Sam and Jean Houston, Zane and Gloria Jacobs, Jack and
Valorie Jensen, Tony and Lucy Klapp who were a no show last year but
finally made it to a summer picnic since their recent marriage. Howard
and Barb Lewitt, Don and Carolyn Mautner who co-hosted the party,
Dean Morford, Harry and Pat Nicholson, Pete and Marjorie Petit, Ralph and
Dottie Sallee, Dick Slusser's widow Joyce is shown as
being at the picnic and I did not even say hello. Sorry Joyce. Ralph
Wrenn and Marilyn Cole attended. Ralph and I talked about Norfolk VA
Weather Central when I joined
Ralph's section in Oct. or Nov. 1949 and he taught me how to
make good coffee and tear Teletype paper for the map plotters.
As I was too busy stuffing my face with food I did not make a
list of those at the picnic and relied on a list Glenn sent me. If I
missed some it is not Glenn's fault. I did not see Frank Ivie nor know if
he planned on attending.
During the course of Sea stories it was revealed at least
three old hands had served aboard the Big "O", which now rests with its
topmost structure about 68 feet below sea level in the Gulf of Mexico and
serving as a fish hatchery. What a fitting end for the USS Oriskany.
(See Oriskany story, page 19
..ed..).
Resting in the arms of Davey Jones. Ralph Sallee, Ralph Wrenn and
Earl Gustafson all served aboard her at one time or the other. That
is quite a coincidence considering the small slice of AG retirees at one
specific location.
Source: Aerograph, May 2006
Howdy,
This spring version of local news is lean pickings. No social events have
taken place since the WWW Christmas Party which was reported on in the
previous Aerograph.
Ralph Sallee spent a night in our local hospital getting his pipes
checked and has an artery block that may have to have some plumbing work
done in the near future. The pipeline of news seems to be dry. Ralph
writes on 10 April no Roto Rooter surgery is currently planned on the one
artery that is partially clogged.
The month of Jan. and part of Feb. was very mild and had summer like
weather for the Central coast.
Then the Pineapple Express started feeding wet air masses into the Central
CA coastal areas and March came in wet and windy and wound up being the
2nd wettest month on record with the records going back to 1850 in the San
Francisco area. It seems 1983 was the wettest on record which had 22 days
with rain while this past month only had 20 days here in Monterey County.
Richard Wood who is a recent member of NWSA from Tucson AZ was
unable to type his 25 WPM on the AG3 test he took so he bailed out after 4
years in the Navy and went to work for the National Weather Service.
Richard asked in a 1 April e-gram if anyone had run into Leo Harrison
in the 50's as Leo worked with Richard in the National Weather Service in
Wash. D.C.
I pulled Leo's class out of my AG data base and see he was in A5137. See
Below.
Richard might be persuaded to send Leo a gift subscription to NWSA as Leo
qualifies for membership. It behooves all who are members to keep a
sharp eye out for eligible potential members. Still, it appears NWSA is
dwindling in size and may soon fade away in a few years like an old
soldier.
The night of 8 April Leo Harrison sent an Email asking for an application
form to join NWSA and Richard Wood wrote he would take care of Leo's
becoming a member so by the time this hits the street NWSA should have a
new member.
Zane E. Jacobs.
Class 5137
Convened 22 Jan. 1951 Graduated 30 Apr. 1951
Bottom Row: Ledbetter, W.H. AG1 Class LPO; Stephens, Ronald J.;
Burns, John E.; Wagner, Darlene E.(W); Harrison, Leo R.; Kohlbeck,
Bernard A.; Blair, William E.; Taylor, R.I. AGC Class Chief
Middle Row: Brooks, James U.; Barnier, Robert F.; Geister, Charles
E.(M); Randolph, James A.; Jones, Robert K.; McQuown, Edward E.
Back Row: Evert, Richard W.; Quarton, Evan F.R.; Turner, Ira
W.; Hirtzel, James J.; Campbell, George C. Jr; Mason, Earl F., Jr.
Source: Aerograph, February 2006
Central Coast Chapter
Monterey California
This is the first edition of the Aerograph in the New Year though at the
time these notes were begun it was still Christmastime 2005. According to
my mate, Gloria, Christmas runs through Jan. 6th of each year. Big news
for December each year of course for our chapter is the party sponsored by
the Well Weathered Wives. This Silver anniversary party by the Well
Weathered Wives was splendidly planned. Just aft of the desk on the Post
Graduate School Quarterdeck is a large hall where Dec. 2005 party took
place. The joint efforts of Mary Lou Ward, Gil Ruggles, Madge
Williams and Beverly Morford went into making this a memorable occasion.
Dick Ward and Bill Schramm took credit as Master of Ceremonies. Dick
compiled a brief history of the WWW parties in the past going back to the
first one in 1981 which coincidentally took place at the Post Graduate
School also. There are 6 years of history totally blank where no
information seems to be available to show where the party took place and
who attended. If any of our members reading this note knows about 1983,
1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989 please contact Dick Ward. Marilyn
Wilcox a fine vocalist and young sister of Ken Ruggles and long time
friend of Mary Lou Ward kicked off the festivities after the initial
prayer with some terrific songs while May Lou played the piano in
accompaniment. More songs as a final tribute to the party were sung by
this lady with the dulcet toned voice. If the tally was correct, 68
attended this shindig and alphabetically they were Don and Dorie Chin,
Michael and Ann Cuming, Don Edgren, Ron and Peggy Englebretson, Bob and
Jinx Fett, Bill and Dottie Groscup, Glen and Delores Hamilton, Herb and
Barbara Hansen, Sam and Jean Houston, Frank Ivie, Zane and Gloria Jacobs,
Jack and Valerie Jensen, Mary Kalinyak, Tony Klapp and Mrs. signed up but
Tony called to cancel as something came up to prevent their attendance,
Howard and Barbara Lewit, Al and Cathy Lund, Jack and Lori MacPherson,
John and Gail Maloney, Don and Carolyn Mautner, Beverly Morford, Dean
Morford, Harry and Patti Nicholson, Pete and Marjorie Petit. Pete was
looking great after his summertime binnacle list bout. A.J. and Dana Reiss
with their two month old daughter a young couple who are friends of Forest
Williams family sort of stole the show as the mother instinct flared anew
in the mostly elderly aged wives group around the tiny child. It sort of
reminded one of bees around a flower. Then our local Meteorologist who
still sends weather reports in for Monterey Professor Robert Renard and
wife Dottie graced the party with their presence, Ken and Gil Ruggles.
Ralph and Dottie Sallee were scheduled. And when I asked Ralph where
Dottie was I am reminded of his sense of humor when he casually glanced
around as though he were looking for her then said "Shoot, I was half way
here when I noticed I had forgotten her so came on alone." It seems Dottie
had come down with a case of the flu or a cold and didn't want to share
her misery with her friends so stayed home. Bill and Mimi Schramm, Bob and
Freida Sparks, Professor Thompson, Carl Thormeyer who I chatted with and
found out Carl retired from Fleet Numbers 30 Sep. this year and is on a
part time call to give weather forecasts occasionally for our local KSBW
Channel 8 TV station. Ace Trask, Dick and Mary Lou Ward, Capt. and Mrs.
White, whom I think may be CO or XO of Fleet Numbers, Forest and Madge
Williams and again Forest tinkled the ivory keys of the piano to get us
through the 12 days of Christmas play we have each annual party. Thanks
Forest. Don and Mimi Wise from up near Sacramento and whose home on Bohol
in the Visayan group of the Southern Philippines is ready for them to take
up residence part of the year. And last but not least Ralph Wrenn and Lady
Marilyn Cole.
Each year a volunteer or group of volunteers are sought to arrange for the
next annual party. When Dick Ward asked if anyone was interested for 2006,
Jack MacPherson volunteered Lori. I wonder if she was as surprised as the
rest of us to get such a rapid reply to Dicks query.
Frank Baillie and I go back to NAS North Island 1950 so we keep in touch.
8 Dec. Frank forwarded an Email message from Norm Macomber. I don't know
if Norm or Frank will submit the idea Norm proposed in that Egram but I am
copying Norms message minus the header for 8 Dec. as it is self
explanatory and I agree with Norm we should seriously consider tapping out
more of the principal of the NWSA Scholarship fund as it was intended for
Scholarship use and not to benefit the Navy Relief Society. As far as I
know the only Navy Relief Society fund NWSA as an organization support is
when NWSA is terminated all NWSA assets remaining will be given to the
society. That includes the principal remaining in the scholarship fund.
...Norm Macomber’s letter is in the LETTERS Section…(ed)..
1 Jan. while watching the local weather news Carl Thormeyer appeared on
screen so it seems he caught the duty watch on New Years day at the local
TV channel. The first day of the New Year being on Sunday I also caught
Andy Rooney, my favorite talking head on
TV and a vet of World War II. Andy must be a workaholic as few in his age
group still go to work by choice.
California finally lucked out the last week of 2005 and first part of 2006
by getting much needed rain. There are some in the state who would rather
not see so much rain and snow but we need it as does the states of
Oklahoma and Texas which are burning with wild fires. What a way to usher
in a new year!
From 5 to 8 Jan. this area of CA has been real summer. Clear skies and
temps in the lot to high 70s during the daylight hours which thankfully
are becoming longer and high 40's to mid 50's nighttime. This of course to
those who believe in global warming is a sign of same.
Source:
Aerograph, August 2005
Just before summer kicked in here on the central coast in early June Don
Wise of Carmichael CA up by the states Capitol and I exchanged Egrams. Don
and Mimi spent a few weeks visiting Bohol in the central Philippines and
are building a winter home on that Island east of Cebu and Negros.
I asked Don if he would attend our beginning of summer picnic celebration
in Archer Park off Lighthouse Ave. in New Monterey. Don wrote 12 June was
a conflict of interest time and he and Mimi would not be able to make the
picnic.
12 June dawned bright and shiny. Ralph Wrenn and Marilyn Cole sponsored
the local chapter summer picnic for that day and Ralph being an old
weather guesser from way back who has a firm handle on the situation had
called for clear skies and light winds. The day couldn't have been nicer
and those who are familiar with New Monterey area of the Monterey Bay in
central CA and its transition weather from spring to summer when the very
high temperatures in the Big Valley to the east of us and desert areas
east of the Sierra Nevada, know upwelling along central CA coastal areas
kick in a naturally air conditioned regime where low overcast skies and
chilly onshore winds prevail.
The turn out this summer was a bit low compared to other picnics. Those
who wrote Ralph they would attend and did or did not attend were Leo
Clarke who again said he would but must have forgotten as he was a no
show. Jim Long showed up for a while and then left. I didn't see His
wife Jackie. That is not a good indicator though as there were those at
the picnic whom I did not talk to and I did not recognize all who did
show. Next was Don & Madge Edgren. Bob & Jinx Fett, George &
Mary Haltiner and Mary brought an excellent desert. Again I don't know who
brought what for the most part but do know Mary's was very good. Then
Glenn & Keiko Handlers (who were the grill attendees) whipped up the
cooked portion of the day. Ralph gladly accepted Glenn's offer to do the
barbequing. Moving on we have Herb & Barb Hansen, Sam & Jean
Houston, Frank Ivie, Zane & Gloria Jacobs, Jack & Val Jensen. Tony
Klapp paid for the picnic but was a no show. I ran into Tony at the
Commissary in early May and he told me he and Ivey Olsen were tying the
knot in Las Vegas NV around 20 or 21 May so it is quite likely they were
still honeymooning. Tony & Ivey spent a few weeks in China during the
past year and were negotiating purchasing a condo in Shanghai as a
vacation home.
Another chance encounter with Tony 5 July in the Commissary confirmed my
suspicions as he said they had just recently returned from Japan and
Taiwan. Next were Don & Carolyn Mautner, Dean Morford, Harry & Pat
Nicholson, Pete & Marge Petit & Charley Roberts. I was not sure
Charley Roberts was a show but Ralph Sallee who with Dottie was there and
Ralph being the unofficial Secretary/Treasurer said Charley Roberts was at
the picnic. Joyce Slusser came as did Bob & Frieda Sparks, Forest
& Madge Williams and last but not least were Ralph Wrenn & Marylyn
Cole.Ralph gave me a copy of the list of the picnic folks and a couple of
days later sent me copy of a list of past and present members of the local
chapter.
The current list indicates 61 family units make up our local chapter with
some of the members called a family being a single individual. 20 of the
61 showed up for the picnic individually or with spouse or better
half. Dick Ward contacted me after he & Mary Lou returned from
the Branson NWSA reunion. Dick picked up a picture at Branson which was
snapped at Atlantic City in June 2004 of Gloria and I & sent it along.
They took their time coming home and visited some of our heritage areas
along the way such as the Black Hills of South Dakota, Mt. Rushmore,
Yellowstone and Jackson Hole Wyoming. From Mt. Rushmore I figure they went
through Cody Wyoming on the way to Yellowstone. Cody is another wide spot
in the road to big city dwellers but when we drove through there westbound
in 1993 it sure had grown since I went through Cody the summer of 1947
headed east to NYC.
Ralph Wren's lists of local members which encompasses families who have
moved away from the Monterey Bay area and dispersed to points north, south
& east is being worked on and reformatted so planners of the other
annual social event, the Christmas party hosted by the Well Weathered
Wives Club in Dec. may have a more current list to work from. A comparison
of the B list indicates about half our local unit members are NOT members
of the NWSA and there are some who are in the NWSA who live within a two
hour drive of Monterey who we may be able to encourage joining our local
chapter. Dick Ward and the JJ Maloney family both live above Sacramento so
it is over a 3 hour drive to attend local functions. Others live in Palm
Desert who have attended the Dec. party and that is several more hours
drive than Roseville.
There are some local NWSA members who are not members of the Monterey
Local chapter. Then there are NWSA members who live as close as Sonoma
& Napa CA who if interested we would welcome you as members. Any
who wish to join can contact Ralph Sallee and get on our mailing lists.
Then there are several that are not members in the B list. I know some of
these who are not interested in joining the NWSA and equally not
interested in joining our local chapter. Some may not even be aware there
is an NWSA as their addresses may be out of date.
One week into the Tropical Storm season and we have had 4 named storms so
the forecast of having more than usual the number of storms this fall
seems to be right on track. Sorry Florida and the Gulf Coast states, I
will take the potential of the earth shaking over a certainty of Baguio's.
Cordially, Zane E. Jacobs
Aerograph
May 05
Chapter
News
NWSA Unit One
Central Coast Chapter
Monterey California
The springtime schedule in Monterey's Unit is a blank. No unit
activities are planned for this time of year. When the central coast, with
its mild climate gets plenty of rain the good earth blossoms with early
year plants and flowers. That has happened in 2005. By mid Feb. my
asparagus beds are blanketed with weeds and the new growth spears are
poking their heads through the soaked soil.
Bits and pieces of news of the local chapter members are acquired through
other than social and business meetings. An example of this was the
Valentine supper sponsored 18 Feb. by the combined Catholic and Protestant
congregations at the La Novia Room in the Volume 29-2 May 2005 5 US PG
School. This annual celebration draws members of our local chapter. Some
in the NWSA community will remember Professor George Haltiner. George's
wife Mary was chosen by her group (each table at the supper discussed who
had the most unusual meeting and marriage beginning) to represent them as
having the most exciting or unique beginning in marriage. It seems right
after she and George were hitched her brother and George's brother
kidnapped her and took her away from George, all in good fun of course.
When I grew up in Oklahoma in the 1930's this type of post marriage
activity was called a chivaree.
Because Gloria and I met and married in the Philippines in Feb. 1952 I was
chosen to represent our table and darned if that didn't win a door prize
for most unique beginning. We got a bottle of red wine which I swapped
with a young Marine Officer at my table. He had won a bottle of apple
cider so we swapped. Jean and Sam Houston attended this supper and
talking to Jean reveals she and Sam have moved into a Town house, the
Hyatt Park Lane behind MPC in Monterey so they no longer get mail at the
Nov. 2004 Pacific Grove address . They live on the 2nd floor but have a
private elevator to the floor. I believe Jean and Sam have been married 61
or 62 years. For sure over 60.
By mid March my asparagus beds are producing more than we can eat so some
of the spears are becoming asparagus ferns. Meanwhile the wild oats that
have been fighting the Kakoolie grass roots in the back yard are starting
to head out faster than I can pull the critters up by the roots.
Don Cruse sent each chapter one of the sample commemorative wall plaques
the Potomac Chapter sponsored after the June 2004 Atlantic City reunion
through the efforts of Bob Frazier. I was impressed at the passion Bob
generated in the meeting where he got a vote from the members to support
this project & eagerly awaited the Aug. 2004 issue of the Aerograph
for details on how to donate for the project. That Aerograph and the Nov.
2004 Issue of the Aerograph came and there was not much in the nitty
gritty of how to send contributions. So I just let things drag on without
ever sending a check. True, both issues suggested making a check out to
the PotChap (NWSA) and it would go into a special account. One key
ingredient for a recipe like this was missing, a mailing address. True,
all one had to do was go into the Bellinger list and pull up the PotChap
Sec./ Trea. address which I did not take time to do until Don Cruse sent
me Pat McLeod's address via the Internet. Thanks Don.
Some folks read the Aerograph from cover to cover upon receiving it. I
spot read it and then put it in the pile of read magazines. In searching
for more details about the NWSA Commemorative wall plaque today I spot
Bruce De Wald's letter in the Nov. 2004 issue
concerning Bruce's wife's aunt, AerM3 Hazel Jeffrey. Bruce writes
Hazel enlisted in Nov. 1942. The A4338 picture shows the graduating class
taken 28 May 1943. Hazel had advanced to AerM3 from Nov. 1942 to May
1943 and had become an instructor at the old Newman School in Lakewood NJ.
Somewhere in there Hazel seems to have gone through the AG "A"
school as well. I ran a search of my AG "A" school index
file for that time frame and classes were very large on some of the
graduating classes and a few of the sailors who went through AG school are
missing in the index. As I compiled that index I recall why some were
missing. It would appear Hazel Jeffrey was one who did not make the index
after she was enrolled in AG "A" School. One of my AG
"A" School classmates in the Fall of 1949 was Elmer Erdei who
submitted a letter in the Feb. 2005 Aerograph. Elmer's Sea story about the
discarded Pibal lights in 1966 causing quite a stir on the USS Tripoli
reminded me of the time I was stationed at NAAS Fallon Nevada with Chief
George Russoy. George and I did a considerable amount of hunting in
Nevada. For those who know little about that desert state at one time it
was chock full of gold miners who were famous for digging deep mine shafts
and once ascertained it was a dry hole just walked away from the hole.
George knew where a few of those abandoned mine shafts were and one day
when we were out plinking took along some Pibal lights. As we didn't have
any water with us I was curious how we would use these things when we came
to one of the deep mineshafts as we intended dropping one that was lit
into the shaft to see if we could hit bottom. Elmer's observation about
salt water activating a Pibal light is right on as a human can urinate on
them and activate them and that is what we did. We were unable to follow
& see the light all the way to the bottom of the vertical mineshaft. A
good reason to be very careful if one starts wandering around Nevada
deserts.
A few of you know I was tasked with indexing the AG school material in
1991. I kept all the School Class indexes on my PC and as each Naval
Affairs arrives check the TAPS section of the FRA group. Most of the less
than 100 percent participation of AG's in the FRA outfit who shows up on
the FRA TAPS list are shown in the A or B school indexes. Once in a while
a name pops up on the TAPS which is not covered in any of the index data
on my PC. Such has happened with the April 2005 issue of Naval Affairs. a
Curtiss R. Holbein AGC is listed in Chapter 40 of the FRA. He is not in
the indexes. I wonder if any who read the Aerograph ever heard of this
Chief?
Though I have mentioned medical problems with Gloria in the past two
Aerographs which prevent us from doing much traveling so we will not be at
the gathering in Branson MO. I have never been there and would very much
like to take in some of the doings in Branson it seems not to be in the
schedule of things to do now. For all who do make the reunion have
fun.
That is about all the news I am able to come up with for this edition.
Cordially, Zane E. Jacobs
Aerograph
Feb 05
The annual NWSA meeting in Atlantic City was interesting. As I only
attended the last two days on our visit to the east coast just how unusual
was not apparent until the 2nd general membership meeting
revealed ONE man conducting the entire meeting and that man was Moon
Mullen. I am sure others could have conducted it but Moon had already told
Jim Stone he would fill in for Jim who was recuperating from surgery or an
illness which precluded Jim from attending.
I
will leave the rest of the story to those from that area. Not being much
of a reporter I have not gone out of my way to gather local news and none
has been volunteered by our Central Coast Chapter. Only one other Monterey
member was at the National meeting and that was Harry Nicholson.
Many
in the CA area where our members live travel a lot. Some who at one time
lived in the Monterey area even come back for a visit and many who live
here travel to other parts of the world while the whole world beats a path
to Monterey to take in our natural beauty and cool summertime weather.
Being
loquacious and having little to say is an oxymoron so to add a little more
news I decided to copy off the one "A" school class which to my
understanding was the only class conducted in Lakehurst New Jersey who
failed to have a class picture made upon graduation. Perhaps some of the
old timers have known one or more of the following AG's all of whom have
walked the wind. Perhaps someone in our outfit would know if George Mills
was a Seaman 1/C in 1929. I was unable to translate what was on the
picture when I worked the pictures the 1991 – 1993 time frame.
This
is it from Monterey this time. All of you "Live Long and
Prosper"
Zane
E. Jacobs
LAKEHURST,
NEW JERSEY
Class
2901
9
Students. 8 Graduates. Dated CS 25 Mar.1929
NO
PHOTO. Listed IAW CS
Chase,
R.L. did not graduate
Bowman,
A.B. (M); Caruso, M. (M); Reams, J.W. Sea1C; Garrow, N.D.
Sea2C; Robertson, W.A. Sea2C; Bliss, "T". J. Sea1C;
Brouilett, M.F. (M); Mills, George R. Sea?
NOTE:
Fri.
13 Sep. 1991, ZEJ. T.J. Bliss was an excellent Tropical Forecaster.
He was standing Forecast Duty Watches at Sangley Point, the Philippines,
in 1951 when I was sent there as an AGAN.