Northwest Chapter
Puget Sound, WA

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POTOMAC REGIONAL CHAPTER
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McLeod's photo of PotChap gang enjoying 6/14/08 picnic at Godin's on Solomons Island MD.

Source:  Aerograph February, 2010

President....  Elroy "Mac" McLeod
1^st Vice President…..Jim Romano
2^nd Vice President......Vince Roper
Secretary-Treasurer......Will Gould
Corresponding Secretary...... Don Cruse

POTCHAP CALENDAR

06th Feb Chapter mid-winter Dinner Meeting, Fleet Reserve Club on the waterfront in Annapolis (1800EST) (Host Past Prez Tom Berkeridge)

12th President Lincoln's birthday
4^th Valentine's Day
15th Presidents' Day
22^nd George Washington's birthday
25th Lone Star Lunch Bunch meets in Alexandria VA (Chuck Kincannon)
14 Mar Begin Daylight Saving Time
17^th St Patrick's Day
04 April Easter Sunday
15^th Deadline for inputs to this newsletter
28 April-02 May – NWSA36/Dallas annual reunion hosted by Lone Star Chap
09 May Mothers' Day
15^th Armed Forces Day

Most of our "people news" this quarter comes from holiday greetings received.  Not a lot of chapter activity until we phase into the new year beginning with our mid-winter Dinner Meeting in Crabtown.  Given another month, it is possible that our current sub-Arctic weather will finally modify.

 Marge and I spent Christmas in Colorado Springs with that branch of our family and returned home well acclimated to Arctic conditions.  Now we start off the new year with a brand new Dell PC that has MS7 installed, and another "learning" experience for certain.  The PC seems to know more about this than I do.

Comments received from "Beetle" BAILEY: Reminisced via Wikipedia my Operation Deepfreeze II (1957-58) duty at Wilkes Station.  Found reference to "Bailey Rocks" named for me.  From nearby East Hartford CT Lorraine d'ENTREMONT provided a summary of her family, most of whom live nearby and lend support.  Elder son, Wayne, was born in England while we were assigned to an Air Force station called RAF Chicksands.  Incidentally the RAF Chix people are planning a Branson MO reunion for this autumn.  Jim ROMANO has details and has participated in many Chix reunions.

Mike FASTOW, who was one of my FWF Yoko forecasters, has now retired from both USN and National Weather Svc.  He and Jeannine have three children, Deborah, Cheryl & Michael.  They live in the San Antonio TX area.  And it's always interesting to hear from Ken & Joyce SMITH, who live in coastal SC and have become world travelers.  They celebrated their 50^th with a European river cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam .  It was a great experience.

Irma KING in Lakeland FL continues to share her home with daughter Paula, and enjoys visits from her granddaughters.  Son Robin remains under doctor's care in the St. Augustine area.  Those Florida people did not appreciate the recent snow showers, and our friends in Pensacola Chapter are also disenchanted.

From Santa Barbara CA where the sun always shines and no snow showers dare intrude, Tom & Lillian O'REILLY are following the pro bicycle career of a grandson, Cody—he is following in the footsteps of his father who also set a few biking records.  Tom is still active in the Pearl Harbor Survivors organization.

On November 10^th we attended Bill MYERS' funeral at St.Lawrence Catholic Church in Jessup MD.  He failed to recover after his serious stroke, which occurred right after he and Juanita hosted our chapter picnic.  Bill was interred in Meadowridge Memorial Cemetery nearby.  The Knights of Columbus honored Bill with their usual ceremonies.  Peggy DEHN mentioned that her grand- daughter Erica married "an Army guy" who has now been ordered to Fort Rucker for helo training.  Peg has other family nearby.

Hoping to soon relocate to a retirement community near her San Carlos CA home is Flip COYNE-MCDONALD.  After a bad fall and head injury on Sept 26 Flip was rescued by a neighbor, went to hospital ICU with suspected blood on her brain.  She finally was able to return home on December 30^th.  Bummer..!

Our 4^th Thursday Lone Star Lunch Bunch is dwindling even further with the passing of Al PYLE on December 23^rd.  We used to meet with Bob BLACK, Al PYLE, Chuck KINCANNON, Bulldog DRUMMOND, John MERCER and me; and the sea stories were unbelievable.  Especially the one about the Gobi Desert .

Mac MCLEOD returned recently from his holiday sojourn in Costa Rica with members of his family.  He had a great time and plans to return for at least three months in what he calls " Paradise ."  Most noticeable from his previous visits are the improved roads and transportation systems.  Maggie HALMINSKI spent her holidays with a large family group of thirty persons which gathered at Lake Anne near Fredericksburg VA.  They enjoyed seeing snow on the ground.

Vince & Robbie ROPER have added another member to their family as result of Peter's marriage to Alison in Baltimore .  Dan & Ethel STORY went to Italy with a church choir that sang in several cathedrals.  They were thrilled by their gondola ride in Venice .  Bob "Duke" DUCHARME has wandered off on a trip to Las Vegas , also known as "Lost Wages."  His worsening eyesight is reducing his driving.  AGCS Jordan COVINGTON departed from NAVICE Suitland MD for Afghanistan as an IA (Individual Augmentee) for one year.  Fran FISHER has had replacement knee surgery.

In the "Have you heard this?" department, Lew PITTELL mentions the 10% discounts he has been enjoying at Home Depot when he wears his NWSA cap.  The cashier always asks if he is a military retiree.

In late October Marge and I drove to Montgomery AL for the annual RAF Chicksands reunion.  Stopped for a visit in Rural Retreat VA with shipmate Perry L. BRUCE, who still resides with his granddaughter & family.  Along with Jim & Rosalie ROMANO we enjoyed Montgomery and learned that the Alabama River is big enough for a small dinner cruise.  Next reunion will be in Branson MO.

Bill O'NEIL's daughter Helen brought him back home after Christmas holidays with her family in NH.  Bill lives in The Fairfax, a retirement community located on one corner of the large Fort Belvoir reservation.  Over in Martinsburg WV Hazel HUDOCK is trying to keep up with frequent family additions that result from marriages and resulting great-grand-babies.  Over the holidays Hazel hosted a large family gathering and treated them to her favorite country BBQ spot that had set up especially for them.

At this season each year Bill & Lane KING rotate to their camping trailer in FamCamp on Fort McDill and soak up that Tampa Bay sunshine.  During 2009 they repeated their Space-A visits to Rota , Spain in order to reminisce over an exceptionally good duty station.  From John BERGER comes news that he works for the government instead of Booze-Allen. Remember when John was NWSA webmaster, preceding Mahlon TRENZ?

John WEAVER still lives with Bob & Richie FREEMAN, his in-laws, and has a good job in Indian Head MD.  John & Beverly plan to find a home of their own in MD when Beverly retires from her job in Newport RI .  Many of us remember her as the skipper's secretary at FWC Suitland.

BINNACLE LIST

Speaking of Bob FREEMAN, he is now a Category IV cancer patient, still living at home while undergoing radiation treatments.

Lora DELANEY was happy to return home after surgery in Baltimore in Nov.

Joe MEEKS resides in a southern Maryland nursing facility where has reached the final stages of Alzheimer’s.

Stilll in a nursing facility in Annapolis are Frank & Anne SCHATZLE

Tom BEASLEY reports that Gladys is on the mend after her long siege and recently received an 'all clear' from her Baltimore medics.

M I S C E L L A N Y

The 83^rd National Convention of the Fleet Reserve Assn. & 78^th National Convention of the Ladies Auxiliary, Fleet Reserve Assn., will take place in Spartanburg SC during 15-18 September, 2010, in the Spartanburg Marriott at Renaissance Park .  The telephone there is 864 596 1211, or go to fra.org.

The Naval Education & Training Professional Development & Technology Center in Pensacola has scheduled AG advancement examination development conferences for the wek of May 16^th.

Also from Pensacola we note that the national Silver Eagles group met for the 45^th and last time during 12-15 November, 2009.  There were around fifty-two former enlisted naval aviation pilots in attendance, along with many family members. The Silver Eagles were enlisted pilots of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.

Naval Reserve Forces Command has a new home on Naval Station Norfolk.  The headquarters relocated from New Orleans as the result of 2005 Base Realignment & Closure Commission decisions.

 Referring to page 18 of the February 2009 Aerograph—The Aerographers pictured are (left to right) Jack TANNER, Frank IVIE, Leonard MELKUS, Irving LESSIN and Ivor THOMAS.

 Also referring to the photo published inside the back cover of our November, 2009 issue of The Aerograph—Pictured in this 1970 Christmas card from the personnel assigned to Naval Security Group on Fort George G. Meade, MD are: From left to right standing, Al d'ENTREMONT, Don PULLIAM, Tom TAYLOR, Ken SMITH, unknown, Fritz THISTLE, John GASSNER, unknown, Bill BOYD , Lewis PITTELL, Dave KATH, Ron LEE , Larry YARGER, and four unknowns.  From left to right front row, Dick NORDBY, Bill MYERS, Jim BOWLIN, Ernie RUCKER, Steve MOORE, unknown, and Hank JACKSON.

Source:  Aerograph November 2009  

President……Elroy “Mac” McLeod
1st VP              ……Jim Romano
2nd VP…          ……..Vince Roper
Secretary-Treasurer…..Will Gould
Corresp Secretary……Don Cruse

POTCHAP CALENDAR

Oct 22  Lone Star Lunch Bunch meets in Alexandria (Kincannon)  No meetings during November & December

Nov 01  Daylight Saving Time ends
        03 Election Day
         11  Veterans’ Day
         26  Thanksgiving Day
  Dec 07  Pearl Harbor Day
         21^st Winter begins
         25  Christmas Day
   Jan 15   Inputs to The Aerograph are due to Editor    Jordan |
   Feb 06  Chapter dinner meeting at Fleet Reserve Club on the Annapolis waterfront (Tom Berkeridge) 

 Gale winds are blowing, acorns are falling like hailstones, dogwood trees are turning red, all of which indicates Autumn in Virginia .  One good thing happened last Saturday when Navy beat Air Force in football.

That was probably one reason for poor turnout at our chapter crab feast which was held down the Potomac River at Cap’n Billy’s Crabhouse on Pope’s Creek.  Admittedly, it was a poor choice of dates.  Barbara Hansen, Charlie & Doris Miller & Don & Marge Cruse showed up.

NWSA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

In response to the committee’s request for designation of our local sponsor who will also provide necessary guidance to scholarship applicants, we have decided that any PotChap officer may do so.

 On a hazy, hot and humid day our Lone Star Lunch Bunch convened on Duke Street in Alexandria .  Besides our activity coordinator, Chuck Kincannon, he greeted Al Pyle, John Mercer & Don Cruse.  We were briefed on Al’s new fibrillator installation (not a pacemaker).  Don had a few nice things to say about the family reunion that Marge organized in July at Camp of the Woods in the Adirondacks .  It was followed by a trek farther north to Stewartstown NH .  Navy friends have migrated away from Galveston and hurricanes.  They are very close to Canada .

To witness a granddaughter’s wedding in Graceland, Will & Ella Gould drove all the way to Memphis —but it was worth the trip.  Early in October they were part of another wedding.  Lots of granddaughters.

The Navy announced in August that RDML David Titley USN was nominated for promotion to Rear Admiral.  He

relieved RADM David Gove USN as Oceanographer/Navigator of the Navy.  Now that RDML Titley is in town we have added him to our PotChap Roster.  Scuttlebutt sounds like RADM Gove plans to retire.  We also learned that CAPT Jonathan White USN was nominated for promotion to Rear Admiral (Lower Half) and will become CNMOC at Stennis Space Center .

For those unfortunates who missed our excellent NWSA annual reunion in JAX last May, you should know that CAPT White represented CNMOC at our Saturday morning seminar.   He was accompanied by AGCM Mark Shaffer USN who substituted for AGCM Mark Burton, the CMC .  To obtain a record of that briefing contact the NWSA35 committee.

Good news comes from our Downeast Chapter where Dan Hewins has picked up the baton and plans to run with it.  He needs a sparkplug chapter secretary to lend a hand with chapter rejuvenation.  Volunteers?

Also in August Tom Berkeridge traveled to California to see his grandson Cieran for the first time.  Later there was a tour of China during September—and he marched in the big “Tea Party” in WashDC on the 12th and had a great time.  He also spends some time greeting Iraq and

Afghanistan troops passing through BWI Airport .  Busy guy.

The big annual gathering of the clan took Bob & Richie Freeman to Myrtle Beach for seven days.  Even though Bob spent three of those days in bed and maintained his chemotherapy, it was great.  We heard scuttlebutt that a retired NAVY gent named Jonathan Malay is running for president of the American Meteorological Society.  On several occasions Al & Helen Atwell of our Pensacola Chapter have been in Annapolis while closing out the estate of his brother and wife.  Mac McLeod visited AGCM Robert Lee USN-Ret and wife Patty while cruising through Colorado Springs .

THE BIG MO

It had to happen.  After mooring in salt water for an extended period, USS MISSOURI (BB-63) had a few leaky rivets.  This calls for a  close inspection while she’s placed in the largest drydock in the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard—and then a few fresh coats of paint.

Our correspondence (U.S.Mail) file is extremely thin these days.  But “Flip” Coyne-McDonald is one of the faithful users of 44-cent stamps.  She just contributed a set of the old Aerology pamphlets to the USS HORNET (CV-12) Museum by mailing them to Dick Herman.  He is one of the docents in HORNET and was largely responsible for squaring away the Aerological Office for public access.  Dick did not serve in HORNET but was Aerological Officer in USS INTREPID (CV-11).

This quarter we got into small flail over the name AGCM Leo L. Douglas, a member of FRA Branch 18 in Puget Sound .  (See Obits).  His name appeared in the Taps section of FRA Today.  A few telephone calls revealed that Leo was U. S. Coast Guard.  Did not know COGARD had AG rating.  Also noted was the passing of Nels E. Johnson, age 91, a retired director of international affairs for NOAA.  A former Navy oceanographer who is still making waves is Zdenka Willis, now director of NOAA’s Integrated Ocean Observing System.  Something to do with an undersea robot glider.

Intercepted some email from NW Chapter that mentioned retired CDR Bill Benedict.  Called Kathy B and discovered that they reside in Sequim WA after twenty-two Navy years for Bill that included NPGS Meteorology, RIO in F-14 squadron; then retired with plans to be a teacher, tried law enforcement, employed as deputy sheriff, returned to aviation with various airlines, currently elected Sheriff of Clallam County.  Sent NWSA info.

2010 ECSAA ANNUAL REUNION

The annual reunion of Escort Carrier Sailors and Airmen Assn is  scheduled for the Radisson Hotel, Branson MO , 04-09 Sept.  Call 800-444-3344 for info.  This year 2009 ECSAA met in Reno 11-16 September.

The middle of October will see us in Montgomery , AL where we’ll join Jim & Rosalie Romano at the RAF Chicksands annual reunion.  We may be able to keep order among all those USAF attendees and their brides.  We did not know that the Alabammer River is ok for a dinner cruise.

BINNACLE LIST:

Bob Freeman continues to battle cancer, Lora Delaney is standing by for cancer treatment in Balto, Gladys Beasley may need brain surgery for a meningioma, Angie Hudnell suffers from lupus, Bill Myers is recovering from a stroke and Art Langlois continues to deal with MS after many years.  Please remember these PotChap people.

DECEASED MEMBERS

Will add a few remarks about members whom we have lost this quarter.  Polley Carlstead passed away peacefully 9/14 but her last two years were tough.  Living in a wheelchair is no fun.  We learned that Clyde Tucker passed over the bar last July at a nursing facility in Hagerstown MD.   He had undergone dialysis treatments for many years.  A graduate of Class 25, Primary Aerog School , he served in garden spots like Noumea , New Caledonia .  CDR J.O.F. Dorsett formed FWC Noumea in 1942 with a contingent of Aerographers he collected from commands in Hawaii .  Except for the outlying islands the duty was good on Ile Nou located in the harbor.  Clyde was my neighbor in Arlington for many years and we swapped sea stories regularly.  He has been interred in Vermont Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery , joining his wife there.  Fred Berg retired many years ago from FWF Suitland, migrated with his Chief of Staff to Norwich VT , a beautiful university city .  Ginnie died several years ago.  He never forfeited his PotChap membership and routinely contributed cash to our social functions that he was unable to attend.   His daughter, Jini, notified us of Fred’s death.

Will wrap this up with a comment gleaned from Navy Times concerning “The New Navy.”  Another new rating will result from consolidation of Storekeeper and Postal Clerk.  The new LS rating will be known as Logistics Specialists.  Compare that with the old Radioman becoming IT. 

Have a very happy Thanksgiving Day while remembering the lads who are strumming around in barren Afghanistan .

Submitted by CDR Don Cruse USN RET

Source:  Aerograph February 2009  

President.Elroy “Mac” McLeod
1st VP              Jim Romano
2^nd VP                 Vince Roper
Sec/Treasurer……Will Gould
Corresp Secretary….Don Cruse  Tel 703 524 9067 

POTCHAP CALENDAR

07 Sep  Labor Day holiday
22 Sep  Autumn begins
Oct 03  Chapter crab feast at Pope’s Creek on the           Potomac
Oct 12  Columbus Day holiday
Oct 15  Deadline for inputs to this newsletter
Oct 24  United Nations Day
31 Oct  Hallowe’en
Nov 01  Daylight Saving Time ends

Welcome to the summer doldrums.  School is out and the kids are busy swimming on neighborhood swim teams.  Our new skateboard park is overloaded with talent….of varying degrees.  The lawn needs mowing every week.  And it’s the time of year when Marge and I head north into the Adirondacks for family reunion….and cooler, less humid weather.

USS INTREPID (CV-11) is holding annual reunion in NYC, celebrating return of the ship to her assigned pier on the Hudson River after very extensive shipyard work.  Headquarters is at Marriott Downtown Hotel (tel 800 228 9290) for this 14-17 August event.

People news:  Looking back to the beginning of this quarter, we find the death of Anne Drummond on 11 May was the biggest shock to all hands.  Her death followed that of Glen Drummond by only a few months.  Many PotChap people missed her funeral due to our travel to Jax for reunion #35.  Anne was ninety years old.  Her career in Aerology began with her assignment to the spook outfit in Pearl Harbor where the goal was to crack the Japanese naval code.

As always, PotChap was well represented at NWSA35/Jax.  Chapter members who made the trek south included:  FREEMAN, Bob, Richie & daughter - GOULD, Will & Ella - McLEOD, Elroy - MIOVAS, Tom & Mary Ann - ROPER, Vince & Robbie - SMITH, Ken & Joyce - SOKOL, Dave & Harriett - WEIGAND, Peter & Marcia, and several family members

Our congratulations to SOUTHEAST CHAPTER and their exceptional Reunion Committee for another enjoyable NWSA reunion, providing us with the opportunity to meet & greet many friends & shipmates.

Also our appreciation goes to CAPT Jon White USN of  the CNMOC Staff at Stennis Space Center for presenting the annual METOC informational seminar.  He was accompanied by AGCM Mark Shaffer USN.

Following the reunion the GOULDS chugged up to Hilton Head for a bit of golf with the SMITHS.  Since that time the latter have embarked on an extensive July European river cruise, probably without golf.  Dave SOKOL has suffered no severe effects from the bump on his head which caused their sudden departure from Jax to home base.

Of special note was the Sunday morning Two-Bell Memorial Service organized by Frank ANDREWS and his able assistants.  That was inspirational due to the riverside venue at The Lone Sailor statue….and unbelievably lovely weather.  It was nice to see a large crowd at 0730.

IN PRAISE OF WEATHER WATCHERS  In case you missed it, Thursday February 5th was National Weatherman’s Day.  More than 11,000 volunteer cooperative observers take regular measurements of temperature, precip and other data, which are used by National Weather Serviceforecasters & climatologists.  Nearly 300,000 volunteer storm spotters are trained by the NWS to provide visual reports of severe weather conditions.

It has been two months since we read in NAVY TIMES that RDML David TITLEY USN is being ordered to oceanographer/navigator of the NAVY, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, WashDC.  He will relieve RADM David GOVE USN, who plans to retire.  We await the decision on TITLEY’s second star, which is believed to be pending.

Our Lone Star Lunch Bunch convened in Alexandria on 28 May but missed Al PYLE.  He had a defibrillator installed (not a pacemaker).  On the agenda were NWSA35/Jax and upcoming June chapter picnic.  Then Tom & Gladys BEASLEY organized a June 3rd Glen Burnie luncheon at a Chinese Buffet IHO visitors from Hilton Head, Ken & Joyce SMITH.  The crowd was a mixture of former NSA hands plus PotChap people.

RESERVE OPENS NORVA HQ

Navy Reserve Forces Command has a new home.  It is a new three-story building on NavSta NorVa.  For many years it was in NOLA.  Then came BRAC (2005 Base Closure and Realignment Commission) Report.  About 450 sailors and civilians will be working in NorVa, overseeing the financing, equipping and deploying of Navy reservists worldwide.

  This move puts the reserve headquarters on the same base with Fleet Forces Command, making for better communications between active and reserve forces.
(from NAVY TIMES)

June 13 was a typical summer day weatherwise.  Our picnic hosts, Bill & Juanita MYERS, reside in Severn MD just south of BWI Airport .  This was a new venue for everyone and we really enjoyed it.  After chow there was a short business meeting consisting of election of our 2009-2010 bridge of chapter officers.  P/P Jim ROMANO served as our Nominating Committee honcho.   Thanks to all.

Picnic attendees in addition to our hosts were: BEASLEY, Tom & Gladys, BERKERIDGE, Tom, CRUSE, Don & Marge,             DUCHARME, Bob “Duke”, GOULD, Will & Ella, HORTCH, Leo “Tiny”, ROMANO, Jim & Rosalie,         WEIGAND, Peter & Marcia

In the new issue of FRA TODAY we note two deceased AG’s on the Member At Large roster:  AG1 James A. KOONTZ and AG3 Ray SHEPARDSON.  Neither of these petty officers is listed in our B LIST.

BINNACLE LIST

Please keep these members in your thoughts as they battle their various ailments:  Gladys BEASLEY, Jeanne BOWLIN, Polly CARLSTEAD, Ed CHASE, Walt COTTRELL, Jerry & Lora DELANEY, Bob FREEMAN, Angie HUDNELL, Murice KINCANNON, Milly MARTIN, Charlie MILLER, Al PYLE, Jim & Rosalie ROMANO and Clyde TUCKER.

3RD USMC WEATHER SERVICE REUNION

Advance info on this event comes from CAPT DON INNIS USMC(Ret) who is the reunion coordinator and keeper of the roster for this group.  For contact info, see The Bellinger List.

Reunion is planned for 06-10 June, 2010 in Fredericksburg VA.   Billets will be at Fredericksburg Hospitality House & Conference Center , tel 800 682 1049.  Registration deadline is November, 2009.

AMERICAN MILITARY MUSEUM LOS ANGELES

A seven-acre display for all types of heavy military equipment lies a half-hour drive from the center of L.A.   It consists of an enormous array of militaria, making it the third largest military museum in CA.  Located at 1918 North Rosemead Blvd in South El Monte CA 91733 , tel 626 442 1776 email tankland@aol.com or visit www.tankland.com.

NATIONAL FLIGHT ACADEMY PENSACOLA

The expected ground breaking for the National Flight Academy took place on NAS Pensacola 16 June, 2009.  The goal is to open for business two years from now.  New construction will take place adjoining the National Museum of Naval Aviation.  For info on progress of the NFA Project, potential sponsor opportunities and ways that NWSA members can support this important educational initiative, please read Fly By (newsletter of Naval Aviation Museum Foundation) or alternatively go to www.nationalflightacademy.com.  Also you may go to www.navalaviationmuseum.org to learn the mechanics of becoming a supporter and thus receiving Fly By regularly.        Submitted by CDR Don Cruse USN RET

Source:  Aerograph February 2009

President………….Tom Berkeridge
1st V P             ……Elroy McLeod
2nd V P           …….Jim Romano
Secretary-Treasurer…….Will Gould
Corresponding Sec’y…..Don Cruse

POTCHAP CALENDAR

Feb 16 - Presidents’ Day

Feb 22 - Washington ’s Birthday

Feb 26 – Lone Star Lunch Bunch meets in Alexandria (every 4th   Thursday) (Chuck Kincannon)

Mar 08 - Daylight Saving Time begins

Mar 17 - St. Patrick’s Day

Apr 12 - Easter

Apr 05 - Joint Sunday luncheon w/ HamRds Chapter in Richmond VA

Apr 15 - Quarterly inputs to The Aerograph are due.

May 10 - Mothers’ Day

May 16 - Armed Forces Day

May 19-23 - 35th Annual NWSA Reunion in Jax (SE Chap hosting)

May 25 - Memorial Day

June 13 - Chapter spring picnic at Myers residence

June 14 - Flag Day

July 04  - Independence Day

In another week everything within a radius of fifty miles of WashDC will be completely two-blocked.  Something we call Presidential Inauguration is about to take place.  Local citizens are heading for the hills. 

People news for this issue of our newsletter usually comes from Christmas greetings that we receive.  Here are a few that may not be reported by other regional chapters.

Despite a terrible winter ice storm that put all hands out of commission in New England about 12 December, 2008, Lorraine d’Entremont sent her usual greetings and stated that younger son, Brian, continues to live at home and take care of maintenance.  From the shores of Lake Scott a few miles south of Lakeland FL we learned that Irma King took a tumble while weeding her garden last September, suffering a cracked C2 vertebra.  Her recovery is progressing, much the same as Anne Drummond’s did after wearing a neck brace night and day for months.  Daughter Paula lives with and cares for her mother.

Ken & Joyce Smith spent an enjoyable 2008 by cruising, first across the pond to Europe and the Med and later the Caribbean Sea —they also do Time Shares here and there.  From Springfield MO comes greetings from Gail White stating that her two years in that new location is working out well.  She lives in a retirement community to be near a daughter.  And nearby are John & Kayo Beach .  . .  staying near widowed daughter, Kimi.  John commutes back to his business in L.A.

Darrell & Lynne Lightner belong to that endangered species known as real estate investors . . . that’s their business.  Since the “crash” last autumn they’ve rigged in the boom, concentrating only on rentals.  All they have to worry about now is the onset of the next Santa Ana which, in the old days raised hell with the battlewagons at anchor in Long Beach Harbor .  That was also before the long jetty was built there.

After he lost his wife of many years, Ray Tennison attempted living alone but has now found another friend who was in similar straights.  During 2008 he married Jean and they will continue living in San Antonio .  Bill O’Neil completed a series of twenty-eight radiation treatments to kill a small cancer on his voice box.  Last October his extended family (20) met to help him celebrate his 95th birthday.  He resides at The Fairfax.

Late information was received from Ann Sanborn regarding her parents,  Dick & Ruth Sanborn of Boulder CO .  They are in a retirement home due to her father’s dementia.  He is ninety years old.  Son Tom lives nearby.

NWSA MEMBERSHIP

Extensive dialogue is being directed toward rejuvenating our NWSA membership.  Our Chapter President suggests placing notices in both the American Legion and VFW magazines, which would help spread the word.  We also need to continually stress our need for support by senior petty officers, LDO and Warrant Officers in the Aerology/METOC world.

Our attempt to obtain pre-retirement tip-offs from the current AG Detailer at NavPersCom, AGCM Kirk Besgrove, and designed to aid in NWSA recruiting,  ended up in shoal water.  Nada!

Speaking of Warrant Officers, I note that within the group of seven finalists on duty when the WO program terminated, none (!) are supporting NWSA.  That group includes COTANT, ROSS, SHOEMAKE, BUTLER , EVANS, TRAMACK and COURTNEY.  There is work to be done.

CHAPTER BIZ

Past President Jim Romano is chairman of our Nominating Committee that is tasked to create a slate of nominees for 2009-2010.  Elections will be held during our spring picnic June 13th.  Volunteers are encouraged to contact Jim.

PotChap donated $500 to the NWSA Scholarship Fund—current year.

Something new is on the horizon.  HamRds Chapter has organized a joint Sunday luncheon and invited PotChap participation.  Meeting halfway between Tidewater Virginia and the WashDC area places us in Richmond on April 5th.  We plan to carpool to the restaurant.  All hands are welcome.

The second Saturday in June has been selected by our hosts in Severn , MD , for a spring PotChap picnic.  This will be a first for Bill & Juanita Myers, and we are looking forward to sharing their hospitality.  A major event, and part of the short business meeting, will be elections.

On October 31st our “Waukesha Workers” met at Jerry’s Seafood Emporium in Prince Frederick MD for lunch—as a Thank You for putting forth the big effort.  Included were the Romanos, Ropers, Goulds, Freemans and Cruses.  It was a jolly good group.

Secretary-Treasurer Will Gould, after totaling up the books for this year, announced that he will skip PotChap dues collections for a year.

MORE PEOPLE NEWS

Shipmates & friends of Frank Schatzle can assist in the effort to replace his campaign medals & awards that were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina at his Gulf Coast residence.  If you served with Frank at any time, please advise PotChap of ship or station and date(s).  We now include Frank & Ann on our chapter roster since they relocated to Annapolis MD.

PotChap Past President Bob Freeman has completed another series of chemotherapy.  “PL” Bruce in Rural Retreat VA was medically evacuated to a hospital in Johnson City TN —his first helo ride.  He was away from home only one night.  Walt Cottrell underwent surgery for spinal stenosis.  Glen “Bulldog” Drummond matriculated through Fairfax Nursing Center and is home again.  Former NWSA Sec-Treas Jim Stone relocated from his bungalow to Traditions At Bristol Village, still in Waverly OH.  He gets lots of P/T which should enable him to move into the assisted living community.  Our prayers are with you all.

Jim & Rosalie Romano acted as hosts of the 2008 RAF Chicksands Reunion which was held in Myrtle Beach SC in mid-November.  Several years ago they acted as hosts at the same venue, Broadway At The Beach.  This group is composed primarily of USAF retirees.

Barbara Hansen has located a promising student in the PAXRIV area and requested NWSA Scholarship Application forms.

Another Ice Reconners Reunion will occur during NWSA35/Jax.  Bob Freeman & Will Gould are hard at work tracking down invitees who missed the first reunion that was held in Waukesha .

Hazel Hudock was part of a large Thanksgiving gathering of the entire clan (19) in Martinsburg WV .  People came from Ohio , PA and NC.  Eldest grandson is in Special Forces (USAF).

Wedding plans are engaging the Romanos & Goulds as Lisa Romano prepares to wed and a Gould granddaughter does also.  Will & Ella are on their way to NYC to participate in a traditional Chinese wedding ceremony, which will be followed by a normal one next month in Maryland .

PEOPLE CHANGES

William J. Brennan, Ph.D., has become Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Acting Administrator of NOAA, effective November 1st.  Brennan succeeds retired Navy VADM Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., who resigned to return to private life after guiding NOAA for the past seven years. (ON&T)

Barry Stamey, USN (Ret) was reelected to the presidency of the WashDC Section, Marine Technology Society. (MTS)

At the National Ice Center (NOAA), CAPT Raymond Chartier USN was relieved as C.O. by CDR Denice M. Kruse USN, whose previous duty station was on the staff COMFIFTHFLT in Bahrain .  Chartier moves to staff of the Oceanographer of the Navy on the Naval Observatory grounds.

Also moving to the NavObsy is CAPT Cory Springer, USN, who replaces Jeff Best as Deputy Oceanographer of the Navy.  Bob Freeman, Public Affairs, indicates that his boss, RADM David Gove USN, plans to retire in May.

Finally, we have a change down in Washington Navy Yard where the Naval Historical Center was renamed Naval History and Heritage Command, says the Navy Times