Northwest Chapter
Puget Sound, WA

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POTOMAC REGIONAL CHAPTER
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Source: Aerograph, May 2007

President………………Bob Freeman
1st Vice President………Jim Romano
2nd Vice President….Tom Berkeridge
Secretary/Treasurer...…Mac McLeod
Corresponding Sec’y……..Don Cruse

POTCHAP CALENDAR

16-20 May: 33rd Annual NWSA Reunion in Everett WA, hosted by NW Regional Chapter in Holiday Inn.
19 May: Armed Forces Day
30 May: Memorial Day—holiday observed on 28th.
16 June: PotChap pool party & picnic (Ropers).
17 June: Fathers’ Day
04 July: Independence Day
03 Sept: Labor Day
08 Sept: PotChap crab feast & potluck (Cruses).

 There is no question about where our focus is centered at this writing.  Item Numero Uno on the calendar above says it all.  It is impossible to predict chapter attendance at a distant reunion; but we hope to have good PotChap representation.  So long as NWSA follows its long-standing policy of rotating annual reunions geographically, to take advantage of the shorter travel times over a period of several years, we know that our 2008 travel to Milwaukee will bring less strain.  Many of us are anticipating NWSA33 because it will be held in a fascinating part of the U.S.A.

Congratulations to two newly-selected METOC (6465) Limited Duty Officers:  George DABNEY and Jimmy SHIVELY.  We know that many of our METOC community are at present holding their breath while awaiting other selection board results.  And who will be our next CNMOC?

Back in January there was a call from Ann SANBORN in Boulder CO.  She was helping her brother with the task of relocating her father, CAPT Richard W. SANBORN USN RET, to an assisted living facility.  We’re standing by for a new address.  Ann teaches at the Merchant Marine Academy on Long Island NY, and is a licensed skipper.

While updating our chapter roster, which necessitated chasing a few people around the area, we chatted with Barbara HANSEN, who lives with a daughter in southern MD.  Frank H did his twilight tour at Suitland after they returned from England; and he worked with Chuck FIFIELD on Adak.

The new Director of Naval Historical Center in WashNavyYard is former Oceanographer of the NAVY, RADM Paul E. TOBIN, Jr.  After retiring in 1998, he became the executive director of the Educational Foundation at AFCEA (Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Assn).

Any type of roster is nearly impossible to maintain current.  Who knows where LCDR Walt & Nanci MITCHELL are?  How about Betty BROWN?  AGCS Barry BROCKMANN?  CDR Angel RIVERA?  Lois MULLINS?  AGCS Joe DeUnger?  Section 2 of our Bellinger List is loaded with erroneous information.

From The WashPost we learned that a 46-year USWB employee named Gordon David CARTWRIGHT died on January 1st in Renton WA.  In 1957 he spent a year in Antarctica with 180 Russians at Mirnyy.  He was 97.

Chuck KINCANNON noted that x-LT Blake PURDY died in April 2006.  He had served on O’ahu with Bob JUNGHANS in 1960-62 at BARPAC.  Betty WINTERSTEEN flew to PHX to help celebrate her brother’s 90th.  This is Betty’s 8th year in Calvary Fellowship Home in Lancaster PA.

From Dorothy MEEKS we learn that Joe has Alzheimer’s, which has necessitated moving him to an assisted living facility near PAXRIV.

ROADHOUSE LUNCH BUNCH

We had a full house at the 22 Feb lunch, which means Bob BLACK, Chuck KINCANNON, Al PYLE, John MERCER, Bulldog DRUMMOND and this writer (Don CRUSE).  Our primary subject for discussion was the fiasco at WRAMC in WashDC—the bureaucratic impasse encountered by Iraq & Afghanistan wounded personnel.  Also VP Cheney’s visit “down under.”

With my CofS I drove to Pensacola in early March with some memorabilia for the National Museum of Naval Aviation—my first visit to the museum in four years.  There are many new exhibits such as the one depicting WW1 Naval offshore patrol operations from the coast of France.  There was an enjoyable Sunday gathering of the Pncla Chap people, with lots of discussion on NWSA33/Everett.

On 05 March one of our old-timers in Naval Aerology died in Kennett Square PA….CAPT Richard J. “Mike” RYAN USMC RET  See his obit elsewhere in this n/l.

On 07 March Barre SHEPP underwent bypass surgery at a hospital in York PA.  Marjorie was fending off inquiries for a while, but Barre is back at work now after a spell of light duty.  He handles veterans’ affairs for the County of York.

On 07 March LT Isaac “Ike” FISHER USN RET died in Annapolis.  Ike’s obit appears elsewhere in this n/l.  He was interred at Arlington National Cemetery on the morning of 05 April.

POTCHAP DINNER MEETING AT ROSECROFT

Our 24 March mid-winter social event was held at a familiar venue so that members could donate to the pony races.  Once again, Jim ROMANO set everything up (with Rosalie’s advice); and we were favored by Mother Nature.  Nowadays it’s difficult to find an appropriate venue for such a gathering.  In the ‘old days’ we could use military clubs; but those are becoming extinct.   We enjoyed the good turn-out for the event.

Between the 4th and 5th races, one of which was dedicated to PotChap, Pres Bob FREEMAN conducted a short business meeting.  P/P Tom BEASLEY reported a full slate of nominees for 2007-8 officers.  But no one hoisted his hand when the opportunity to run for NWSA officer-elect was announced.  Moon MULLEN will not be happy.

NWSA P/P Tom MIOVAS presented PotChap with a CD containing an almost complete historical record of The Aerograph—when the gaps are filled, he will provide a CD to each regional chapter.  Tom did a huge amount of work on this project.  For example, the oldest newsletters had to be re-typed in their entirety.  Our next goal will be to index them by subject.  Then we will have a real research tool.

We learned that the Oceanographer & Navigator of the NAVY, RADM Fred BYUS USN will soon retire.  His relief will be RADM David A. GOVE USN, currently ComNavPersCom.

Our chapter Sec-Treas, Mac MCLEOD, underwent bypass surgery on 19 March, was released from the hospital on 23rd, and is still recuperating.  Will GOULD has volunteered to fill in as chapter Sec-Treas.

Father Paul HUDOCK has been assigned to a new job within the West Virginia Diocese.  Instead of being Executive Assistant to the Bishop, he assumes responsibility for recruiting additional priests. 

In Feb 2006 “Doc” CARVER retired from his long-time Federal “coordinating” job.  Now Doc & Bonnie Jean have an address in New Harbor ME while trying to sell their Dunkirk MD home.  The ROMANOs have a similar situation, trying to sell their home in Pomfrey MD after moving to a ’55-and-older’ community nearby.

The KINGs, Bill & Laverne, report their usual FamCamp winter deployment to McDill AFB, followed by a 12-day Caribbean cruise.  While camping they keep busy with tennis, bridge & Chapel activities.

 WHAT NEW RATING IS MC?

Part of the current effort to mash similar ratings together and minimize the overall number results is the creation of MC.  The new rating combines JO (Journalist), LI (Lithographer), PH (Photographers Mate) and DM (Draftsman-Illustrator).  Thus, we end up with Mass Communications Specialist.  That’s known as progress.

 BINNACLE LIST

Patricia McLeod on chemo therapy.
Mac McLeod
recovering from bypass surgery
Barre Shepp recovering from bypass surgery.
Polly Carlstead at home with helpers.
Clyde Tucker on dialysis for kidney failure.
Charlie Miller on chemo therapy.

Keep these friends and shipmates in your thoughts and prayers.

WHO IS RUNNING NAVICE THESE DAYS?

The skipper is CAPT Cory A. SPRINGER USN.  His CMDSC is AGCS Mike BUTCHER USN.

175 YEARS OF OCEAN SURVEY

The book by Charles C. Bates, “HYDRO to NAVOCEANO: 175 Years of Ocean Survey,” is still available at a bargain price. 

DEGREE PROGRAM FOR THE AG

Ambitious AG personnel now stationed on Stennis Space Center will soon be able to take advantage of a new educational opportunity.  The University of Southern Mississippi has established a new BS (Marine Sciences) on the station. 

NET-CENTRIC WARFARE

Read the latest on this subject in the February 2007 issue of Naval Institute Proceedings.  Peter J. Washburn, a physical scientist at NAVOCEANO, wrote:  NAVOCEANO Is Part of Net-Centric Warfare. 

NAMF SYMPOSIUM ‘07

The Naval Aviation Museum Foundation presents SYMPOSIUM ’07 on 9-11 May, 2007 on NAS Pensacola.  Hear about “Birth of the Blues,” “Tales from the Back of the Ready Room,” and “Naval Aviation: Issues and Answers.”  Details at www.naval-air.org. 

TSUNAMI WARNING

NOAA and Thailand have launched the first Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunami (DART) buoy station in the Indian Ocean to assist in detecting tsunamis.  The buoy will be maintained by the Thai Meteorological Department and National Disaster Warning Center.  All nations will receive the data via WMO telecommunications.

NOAA has upgraded 33 tide stations in an effort to detect tsunamis more quickly, as part of the national Water Level Observations Network.  Every six minutes tidal data become available now. 

MILITARY REUNIONS

From a recent newsletter distributed by USS PHILIPPINE SEA (CV-47), and forwarded by Pncla Chap member Al ATWELL, we glean some valuable guidance.  The PHILSEA planner is notifying members that there will be changes due to methods in use by contracted professional reunion planners in NorVa--the same as NWSA is doing with AFRI already contracted for NWSA/34 in Waukesha WI in September, 2008, on a test basis.  Some adaptations from self-operated reunions will be:

1.  Hospitality Room limitations and discipline (respect the rules and limitations under which the organizer must operate).

2.  Meeting rooms (## still commensurate with the level of reunion participation and support—otherwise reduced or charged).

3.  Payment of fees ($$$ for tours go to organizer, $$$ for banquet to organizer, $$$ reunion registration fees to organizer, $$$ hotel room rent to hotel).

4.  Cut-off dates (necessarily more strict, with few exceptions for changed plans, cancellations, etc.)

5.  Name tags (provided by organizer, based on registrations).

6.  NWSA reunion coordinator will still be required to act as primary point-of-contact with organizer (probably NWSA President).


From: Donald A. Cruse [mailto:Don.Cruse@Verizon.Net]
Subject: NWSA POTMAC Chapter Dinner Roscroft Raceway 0307

NAVAL WEATHER SERVICE ASSOCIATION
POTOMAC CHAPTER

OUR ANNUAL POTOMAC CHAPTER NIGHT OUT AT THE RACES WILL

AGAIN BE HOSTED BY JIM AND ROSALIE ROMANO IN THE JOHN HANSON ROOM, AT THE ROSECROFT RACEWAY.

WHEN:                    SATURDAY, MARCH 24,  2007
                           1800 – 1830            Arrival, cocktails
                           1830 – 1915            Dinner                                    
                           1915 – 10th Race     Beverages, Betting Bull shooting, etc.

WHERE:            ROSECROFT RACEWAY IN FORT WASHINGTON, MARYLAND (Take Exit
                           4A From the DC Beltway and follow the signs to Rosecroft) 

COST:               $34.00 PER PERSON.
Price includes entry into the clubhouse, all you can eat from the  menu below (two Entrée buffet), free race program, wine, all taxes and gratuities.

MENU:  CHICKEN MARSALA, SHRIMP CREOLE, SALAD, VEGETABLES, ROLLS AND BUTTER, WINE AT EACH TABLE, ASSORTED DESSERTS, COFFEE, ICE TEA, AND ICE WATER.

INFO:  Beginning at 1800, Jim Romano will greet you at the Raceway entrance gate and give you your tickets for entry. Proceed to the elevator and go up to the third floor. Enter the John Hanson Room on your left. A race will be dedicated to the Naval Weather Service Association, Potomac Chapter, and chapter officers will be photographed with he winning horse and driver after the race.

RESERVATIONS:  Please reply no later than March 20, 2007.
Email
Webmaster@NavalWeather.org for contact information

CHAPTER DUES: The address label on this invitation contains a month/year (i.e. 6/07) prior to your name. If the year number is less than 07, you are in arrears. The dues year runs from June 1 to the following May 31, and the dues are still a very reasonable $5.00 per year. We want you in the NWSA Potomac Chapter, and need your support for future Chapter activities.

Email Webmaster@NavalWeather.org for contact information


Source: Aerograph, November 2006

President                Bob Freeman
1st Vice President   Jim Roman
2nd Vice Pres         Tom Berkeridge
Sec-Treasurer             Elroy McLeod
Corresp Sec            Don Cruse

 POTCHAP CALENDAR

22 Feb - Washington’s Birthday—holiday observed 19th.
22 Feb - Roadhouse Lunch Bunch, Manassas VA (and 4th Thursday each month)  (Kincannon)
17 March - Saint Patrick’s Day
24 March - Chapter Dinner Meeting at Rosecroft Raceway (Romano)
13 May - Mothers’ Day
16-20 May - 33rd Annual NWSA Reunion in Everett WA
19 May - Armed Forces Day
30 May - Memorial Day—holiday observed 28th.
16 June - Chapter Pool Party & Potluck (Roper).
17 June - Fathers’ Day
4th of July Independence Day!!

We can look back at the quarter commencing October 2006, and the recent Christmas-New Year holiday season with great pleasure.  A major subject for conversation is, of course, the exceptionally mild wx that persists (as soon as I write this we’ll surely experience a severe outbreak of Arctic air!  I hope not!).  Do we give credit to El Nino?  There are many different opinions.

Recent funeral ceremonies for President Gerald Ford were impressive, especially those held in the Washington National Cathedral on a fine, brisk, and windy day.  Unfortunately, those of us who live in close proximity to the Arlington National Cemetery are all too frequently observing burials of our youngsters killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Because so many are so young, the families of those casualties often prefer to have them returned to their homes.

 CONGRATS TO THESE OCEANOGRAPHERS

Newly-selected for LCDR (1800) are:  Amy BLEIDORN, Daniel BUTLER, Glen CESARI, John HENDRICKSON, Benjamin JONES, Ruth LANE, Shane STOUGHTON, Kenneth WALLACE, and Micah WELTMER.

And we welcome to the 1800 community these augmentees:  Charles De PALMA, Eric DALEY and Megan THOMAS.

 There was an organizational meeting of our Lone Star Regional Chapter in the Memorial Garden behind The Nimitz Museum in Fredericksburg TX in mid-October.  My First Mate and I thoroughly enjoyed the camaraderie, the chance to renew friendships, and the new friends. Plankowners of the new chapter include the PLANTE and the ZAHNLE families, who recently re-located to Texas from PotChap.  Charlie JORDAN and Joe MCKINZIE deserve a lot of credit for taking the bull by the horns (not a Texas pun) with this endeavor.  Good Luck To All.

In PotChap, our Lone Star Lunch Bunch was faced with a big decision when the Lone Star Saloon & Grille in Centerville VA ceased operating.  After some scouting around for an alternate, acceptable and convenient site, the group has settled in Logan’s Roadhouse in Manassas VA.  The sea stories fly fast & furious each month.  The group is composed of some salty, and some not-so-salty, characters who worked together in Naval Air Systems Command, and worried about our wx electronics and stuff.

We note the recent passing of these Aerology personalities:

CAPT Floyd D. BOWDEY USN(Ret) on 27 Oct 2006 from melanoma.  He was USNA’47 and received a degree in Meteorology at NPGS Monterey.

Mary M. “Marie” (LARAGY) Fogle on 08 Aug 2006 from cancer.  Born in NYC, reared in Newark NJ, attended Rutgers University before shipping into the NAVY in 1944.  As an Aerographer’s Mate she served on NAS Jax.

Dr. Donald Woods THOMAS during Nov 2006 in West Lafayette IN of emphysema. Reported by Ollie YOUNGQUIST, who sang the NAVY Hymn during the Memorial Service.  The saga of these two young

Aerographer’s Mates during late 1945, and the subsequent marriage of THOMAS to surviving daughter of Japanese prisoners from Santo Thomas prison in Manila, was previously published in this newsletter.  Barbara & Don died within a fortnight of one another.  She had cancer.  (Note:  Other deaths are on our NWSA Web page)

News filtering N’wd from Florida tells us that a longtime National Weather Service forecaster named Bill PROENZA will replace Max MAYFIELD as honcho of the National Hurricane Center in MIA.  Also, the Jax NAVY Flying Club enjoyed a presentation on hurricanes at a monthly meeting.  Former WTLV-12 Chief Meteorologist, Ray BOYLAN, spent 23 years in the Naval Weather Service.  Ray is currently president of the NAVY Hurricane Hunter’s Assn.

Dave & Jane DRIGGERS have migrated back to Pensacola from NC and are using email pncla20@cox.net.  Bob BENTLEY is becoming accustomed to using his prosthesis after amputation of his leg.  Bud PARHAM has presented NWSA with a copy of his outstanding autobiography, “The Time Of My Life.”  It has been added to our archives.  Thanks to updating information obtained from Bob MUGLER, we have a complete chronology of AG Detailers.  Copies are available on request to NWSA Historian.

Speaking of migrations, Doc & Bonnie Jean CARVER shoved off for better scenery and are settling into digs in New Harbor ME.  Use carverbj1@earthlink.net for email.  Vern GRAY has found a new home in Florida after many years around PAXRIV.  While we erroneously believed that Nancy MCHALEY had retired and moved to Sandy Eggo, Al ATWELL found her at the same address as pre-retirement in Pensacola.

Sylvia ERWIN enjoyed a visit from son Troy, who is skipper of  MSTS PATHFINDER, a research vessel plying the world’s oceans.  Troy retired from the submarine service and calls SAN home.

Fay CROSSLEY retired from the National Weather Service at the end of 2006, and his final duty station was in the peanut patch called Wakefield VA.  Our NAVMETOC leader, RDML Tim MCGEE USN, participated in the Oceans MTS/IEEE Conference held in the Hynes Convention Center in BOS, as did former Oceanographer of the NAVY RADM Brad MOONEY, USN(Ret).

 ADVANCED IN RATING: Our congrats to these petty officers who advanced to AG1:  James DOLLAR, Jonathan HARRIS, Kirk HYING, Chi Wang MAXEY, Rocky MCMAHAN, Gregory ORTIZ, William PALMER, James STONE, Shawn WEGRECKI, and Aaron WIMBERLY.  Advancing to AG2: Sean CUMMINGS, Dustin EDBERG, Crystal PATRICK, Kristy TAFOYA, Jamie TAYLOR and Terrence THRASH.  To AG1 USNR, David HUNTER.  BZ to you all.

 CDR John VAN GURLEY USN has become the first skipper of a new shop on Stennis Space Center called the Naval Oceanography Anti-Submarine Warfare Center.  He reports to CAPT David TITLEY USN, who has the title of  Commander, Naval Oceanography Operations—as the Captain briefed us during his seminar at NWSA32/Pittsburgh last May.

Peter & Marcia WEIGAND celebrated his 50th birthday at a dinner theater in Maryland and invited lots of friends.  Mike KRIEGER declined our offer of a one-year NWSA gift membership.  He has family reasons.

Tom BERKERIDGE reports that USNAVY has abandoned 7 North Audley Street in London, which is hard to believe.  During WW2 General Eisenhower was headquartered there.

AGCS Mike BUTCHER USN was welcomed to PotChap.  He relieved AGCS Barry BROCKMANN as COMDSC NAVICE Suitland.  Mo GIBBS remains very active with USCG AUXILIARY on Nantucket—among his other responsibilities.  Carrying out their long-time threat, Jim & Rosalie ROMANO moved to a 55-and-older community, and here is new contact info:  4760 Saint Brides Street, White Plains MD 20695-3151, Tel 301.932.9902.  No change in email address.

Bill & LaVerne KING are once again wintering at FAMCAMP on McDill AFB, as they have done consistently since 1983.  As their rum supply dwindles, they may find it necessary to book a Caribbean cruise to replenish.  We need a fresh address for Betty BROWN, who has relocated from Midlothian (Richmond) VA. 

On that subject, I encourage every NWSA member to take a close look at Section II (non-members) of our Bellinger List, and lend a hand with culling out the bum dope that is so prevalent in there.  Every year the information becomes more out of date, indicating that our membership is following the “Let the other guy do it” method.  Secretary-Treasurer Jim STONE can record only information sent to him.  Please cooperate.

Just a reminder for attendees at NWSA33/Everett—don’t forget to bring reunion scrapbooks from previous annual reunions for display in our Hosp Ctr.

To wrap up this ration of chatter, here are bits of news included in Christmas cards.  Walt & Alice COTTRELL completed the merging of two households into one in White Stone VA.  Among their many travels there was one that stood out the most, the autumn cruise in QUEEN MARY II to Canadian & US ports.

Dan & Ethel STORY invited his brother Ike to join their household in Yorktown VA.  The threesome enjoys trips to places like Hawaii.

Bob & Bev COSTA in New Bern NC have lengthened their boat dock to accommodate the runabout.  Their visit to Scotland (and son near Edinburgh) in August was great.

Good friends and correspondents are Peg DEHN and June CRAWFORD, and we always like to hear from them.  Peg lives in Maryland, June in Largo FL.

Naomi BELLINGER in Rome NY is not exactly complaining about the lack of snow on the ground—just that rent keeps increasing.  Walt & Rose WINFREY continue to reside nearby.  Walt is now 92.

Lorraine d’ENTREMONT feels fortunate to have #2 son, Brian, still living with her and providing young legs for a lot of the chores and maintenance.  Other children also remain nearby in the East Hartford area.

Just down the river a piece, Beatle & Pat BAILEY also have a son nearby after his service with USMC.  Beatle still does his part-time thing with Middletown Hospital each morning, and thoroughly enjoys it.

Irma KING in central Florida is happy to have a daughter residing with her, and they were joined by their entire family for Christmas.

Dave & LaVerne REUSCHER avoided the Florida heat and humidity by cruising their RV to the NC mountains to spend May thru Sept; and then they returned to Veira  home base via Myrtle Beach in November.

Tolerating the central Florida wx, Vince & Arlene BREWER make do by getting their outside chores taken care of before the sun rises too high.  Vince is trying to mentor some local three-year-olds in reading.

Already settled in and enjoying NC beauty & the seasons are Ron & Mary BLOOMFIELD in Hendersonville.  Son Rick retired from Delta Airlines.

Vince & Robby ROPER enjoy life in Maryland pretty well surrounded by kids and grandkids.  Robby continues to earn national awards for crime victims’ rights.

Mike & Jeannine FASTOW are members of our newest NWSA Regional Chapter named Lone Star.  Mike had a second career with Nat’l Wea Svc.

Ray & Ninette TENNISON in San Antonio are also part of Lone Star; and we certainly enjoyed visiting with them in October—and with daughters & families!

Neil & Jean O’CONNOR are beginning to like Madison MS as they become accustomed to life away from the Gulf coast.  Nice to have family nearby.

Gail WHITE had to bite the bullet and leave Largo FL.  New address is 2900 S. Jefferson Avenue (#323), Springfield MO 65807-3665.  Family is nearby.

John & Fujii RODRIGUEZ may have scheduling problems for NWSA33, since she plans another visit to Japan in the spring. 

Irving & Fran LESSIN tried moving to assisted living in Rancho Mirage but gave it up to return to their home in Palm Springs CA.  Need a new plan.

Tom & Debbie DONALDSON have dropped the hook in Vail, AZ, where the humidity is a lot lower than it was in Bay Saint Louis MS.

ICEBREAKER POLAR SEA TO DEEPFREEZE

The U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker POLAR SEA departed from Seattle for Operation DEEPFREEZE, a five-month mission in support of the U.S. Antarctic Program.  The mission requires the escort of a fuel tanker and a container ship through the ice to re-supply the McMurdo Station, which is the primary U.S. science and logistics hub for Antarctic research efforts.

OCEAN STATION SHIPS REUNION

13-16 May in Reno NV at Harrah’s, this reunion is open to all crewmembers of 311, 327 and 378 vessels, plus PF and WDE ships that made Ocean Station Weather Patrols between 1946 and 1974.  Coordinator is RMC Doak Walker, Tel 906.789.2579, email doak17@gci.net, or www.255wpg.org.

PACIFIC AVIATION MUSEUM

The first phase of the museum on Ford Island at Pearl Harbor HI was scheduled to open on 07 December, the

65th anniversary of the Japanese attack.  It will be designed to tell the story of military aviation in the Pacific.  Restoration of hangars 27, 54 and 79 of the former Naval Air Station, as well as the control tower, is planned.  More Info:  www.pacificaviationmuseum.org.

MCPON HALL AT GREAT LAKES NTC

Check out the new memorabilia and photos of nine of our MCPONs.  On 13 January, 1967, GMCM Delbert D. Black USN became our first Senior Enlisted Advisor of the NAVY.. .. .. a title that was soon changed to Master Chief Petty Officer of the NAVY.

NAVY/MARINE CORPS RADIO NEWS

The Naval Media Center began “podcasting” NAVY/MARINE CORPS Radio News and NAVY Vidbits.  Podcasting is a video or voice file that can be downloaded from the Internet to play on portable devices and PCs.  A two-minute recap of current events for and about the NAVY and MARINE CORPS is one feature.  NAVY Vidbits consists of 30-second messages from the CNO and items of interest to our NAVY community.  Go to www.navy.mil.

LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO SERVICE MEMBERS

The George Mason University School of Law provides free civil legal assistance through their Clinic For Legal Assistance to Servicemembers.  The school plans to export their model to Missouri, establishing a pro bono legal services program there for service members.  It may expand even further.

USAF MEMORIAL DEDICATED IN D.C.

On 14 October, 2006, the long-awaited USAF Memorial was dedicated near a spot familiar to all of us—the former location of the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Arlington Annex and, during WWII, the old Barracks K.  The memorial’s centerpiece is a constellation of three stainless-steel spires, which represent a precision flying maneuver known as the “bomb burst.”

DIGITAL TEEVEE IS COMING

Are you getting ready?  Congress passed a law called the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act, which requires broadcasters to switch from analog to digital signals by 17 Feb 2009.  The FCC has set up a Web site for info: (www.dtv.gov/consumercorner.html).

HURRICANE FORMATION RESEARCH

U.S. and French researchers have launched large balloons from Niger into the stratosphere for dropsonde observations, which augmented existing data on 2006 Atlantic hurricane formation.  Each balloon was rigged with an NCAR-designed gondola storing 35 dropsondes for release twice a day, while drifting in light easterlies at about 70,000 feet toward the Caribbean.  Scientists controlled the process from an operations center in Paris.

OCEAN DATA BUOYS REACH 500

An historic milestone has been reached.  The Integrated Ocean Observing System has now processed 500 observations at their Data Assembly Center located on Stennis Space Center.  The DAC ensures that consistent, high-quality marine wx and ocean observations collected by IOOS observing subsystem elements are disseminated.

NATIONAL ARCHIVES PROGRAM

RDML Tim McGee USN and Dr. Kenneth Thibodeau signed an agreement between the Naval METOC Command and the National Archives and Records Administration.  This will permit establishment of one the agency’s first electronic data repositories within NAVOCEANO.  “I am delighted to be a part of this exciting new project to preserve our nation’s history and make it more accessible to future generations,” McGee said.


Source: Aerograph, November 2006

President…….….…Bob Freeman
1st Vice Pres…..……Jim Romano
2nd Vice Pres……Tom Berkeridge
Secretary-Treasurer..Mac Mcleod
Corresponding Sec’y..Don Cruse

POTCHAP CALENDAR

Remember 29 Aug 2005 and Hurricane Katrina
13 Oct U.S. NAVY’s 231st Birthday celebrated
20 Oct Lone Star Lunch Bunch—now meets every 4th Thursday at Logan’s Roadhouse in Manassas (Chuck Kincannon)
29 Oct Daylight Saving Time ends
07 Nov Everybody Votes!
10 Nov—USMC Birthday
11 Nov Veterans Day—Fly The Flag!
23 Nov Thanksgiving Day
07 Dec Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
22 Dec Winter begins
25 Dec Christmas Day
15 Jan 07 Newsletter items to Editor Jordan. 

We must recalibrate our brains in order to recall the start of this reporting quarter—thinking ‘way back to July and the heat of summer.  As soon as the quarterly chatter was on its way to Editor Charlie Jordan, Marge and I headed for our annual family reunion in the cooler Adirondacks.  Many people were on the road and enjoying summer.  Al & Helen Atwell paid a visit from Florida while en route to Annapolis and high school reunion in late July.

Thanks to Jim & Rosalie Romano, plans suddenly jelled and PotChap people were able to make up our previously skipped picnic & pool party at their home in Pomfret MD.  The 6th of August was a typical summer day, so a good crowd thoroughly enjoyed the pool as well as the great potluck.

Attendees:  Tom BERKERIDGE & Guest, Walt & Alice COTTRELL, Don & Marge CRUSE, Glen & Anne DRUMMOND, Ike & Fran FISHER, Bob FREEMAN, Leo HORTCH, Bill & Laverne KING, Elroy & Patricia MCLEOD, Lew & Ruth PITTELL, Vince & Robby ROPER, (Hosts) Jim & Rosalie ROMANO, and Peter & Marsha WEIGAND.

As usual, we had no active-duty attendees.  An effort was made to brief everyone on Pittsburgh happenings with emphasis on the big changes taking place in our METOC community.  Some factual info was available on NWSA33/Everett, which is being planned for May 2007.  Again, our sincerest thanks go to Tom & Mary Ann Miovas for doing all the #32 reunion planning & execution in Pittsburgh.  We are still amazed!

In reaction to the Romano plans to sell out in Pomfret and relocate, two members stepped forward and offered their homes for this event in 2007.  PotChap lost Dick & Marsha Pritchard to Southeast Chapter, which adds to other recent losses (Smiths, Zahnles and Plantes).

 

NEW 1800 COMMANDERS SELECTED

BARBASH, Matthew
ECKARDT, Marc
KUYPERS, Michael
MARTIN, Brett
MCDOUGALL, Catherine
ROTH, Michael
SCHENK, Frank
SOMMER, William
TWOREK, Troy
WITZLEB, Robert 

  Pursuing a goal that was recommended by John & Fujii Rodriguez, and one result of encountering them at NWSA31/Branson, this writer and Chief of Staff shoved off for Europe in late August.  Our river cruise was just as great as had been recommended.  The Main-Danube Canal surely is an engineering feat that must be seen to be appreciated.  We flew back to IAD from Budapest on Labor Day. 

The next agenda item was PotChap Crab Feast  on 9 Sept.  Once again the gods smiled on us.  It was a gorgeous day in Stafford County VA.  Crabs were great.  Potluck was just about sensational.  Due to our Hydrilla invasion there was no boating or swimming, however.  Some members were out of town or attending the NAVY football game in Annapolis.  Attendees:  Glen & Anne DRUMMOND, Ike & Fran FISHER, Hazel HUDOCK with Steve & Wendy, Chuck & Murice KINCANNON, Elroy & Pat MCLEOD, Don & Marge CRUSE with David, LeAnn & Brian lending a hand.

Additional information was available on NWSA33 reunion planning with dates firmed 16-20 May, 2007 in Everett WA.  We will muster in the Holiday Inn and hope to tour the home-ported CVN.  The effects of TS ERNESTO were discussed; and storm damage along Aquia Creek was quite evident to our guests….Next social event will be D/M Rosecroft.

News from Elsie Taylor in hot & dusty Fallbrook CA indicates that farming remains her passion—she grows potted trees such as mimosa & jacaranda from seed—is surrounded by her cats, wild birds, quail & peacocks.  She corresponds with Betty Wintersteen, among others.

We note with pleasure that Bob Lawson has joined the San Diego Chapter of the Marine Technology Society.  And we hear scuttlebutt about the potential year-end retirement of Fay Crossley from Nat’l Wea Svc.  In Gulfport MS there was a change of command at the Professional Development Center (NMOPDC).  CDR James Berdeguez USN was relieved by CDR Richard Jefferies USN.

On the evening of 12 Sept PotChap lost a strong supporter when Tom “Skip” Cline died from a sudden heart attack.  He was interred 9/21 in Glen Haven Memorial Park, Glen Burnie MD, where he rejoined “KC.”  FRA Branch 212 and VFW Post 160 provided hospitality.  Marc Cline spoke at length on his brother’s younger years, and read the poem which is reprinted below, “The Dash.”

A potential new member at the ceremony was LCDR Mike Krieger, a recently retired METOC LDO who is now employed by BAE Systems.  Ron Fauquet works for that outfit too.  Mike was invited to the ceremony by Audie Hudnell, an old friend and shipmate.  Audie’s wife, Angie, has recently distributed the following:  “The Washington DC “Walk With Us To Cure Lupus” will take place on Saturday, 28 Oct on the National Mall.  Our goal is to raise at least $300k.  Please join our team, “Angie’s Angels.”  All proceeds go to Alliance for Lupus Research, so please make checks payable to the alliance and mail to Angie Hudnell.”

For the information of readers, Angie was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) 33 years ago and has undergone eleven surgeries to help her cope with this autoimmune disease.

Tom Berkeridge has gone cruising in the eastern Med, to be followed by a visit to England.  Jim & Rosalie Romano are traveling in CO with plans to attend the annual RAF Chicksands reunion in San Antonio TX in mid-October.  Don & Marge Cruse will also attend.

Jim & Gerri Langemo have been doing their usual world travels, with trips to Alaska’s North Slope & Prudhoe Bay, Norway, and then to check on part of their family in Georgia.  On their agenda:  Brazil and then more family in NY.  Home for Xmas in MN.  Hawaii has seen Bill & Laverne King cruising around the islands from their temporary base in the Hickam AFB BOQ.  A look-back at 1960-63 tour of duty on O’ahu provided a drastic contrast to 2006, especially with rampant construction, traffic and confusion.

PotChap has survived a recent nor’easter which clobbered the coast with torrential rains, high tides, and associated tribulations.  We wish all hands a Happy Halloween, a festive Thanksgiving, and a Merry Xmas.

WELFARE CONCERNS
Please remember these PotChap people:

Jeanne Bowlin, on oxygen for emphysema
Polly Carlstead, at home with special care…
Pat McLeod, on chemo
Ike Fisher, back on chemo
Art Langlois, MS
Angie Hudnell, Lupus
Clyde Tucker, kidney failure

THE DASH
By Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth,
And spoke of the following date with tears;
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth;
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own—
The cars, the house, the cash.
What matters is how we live and love,
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard;
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left,
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough,
To consider what’s true and real;
And always try to understand,
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,
And show appreciation more,
And love the people in our lives,
Like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile,
Remembering that this special dash,
Might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is being read,
With your life’s actions to rehash,
Would you be proud of the things they say,
About how you spent your dash? 

DEMAND FOR NATURAL GAS

Your home is one of 63,000,000 in the USA that uses natural gas.  Add to that five million businesses, 205,000 factories, and 2,500 electric power plants.  This means that natural gas meets about 25% of our energy needs - and is even used in the production of renewable fuels such as ethanol.  It’s no wonder that the market price of natural gas fluctuates.

USS INTREPID (CV-11) REHAB SKED

Visitors to NYC be prepared for these changes:
10/01/06 Museum closes
11/11/06 INTREPID is towed to Bayonne Dry-dock & Repair Facility.
Rehabilitation of Pier 86 begins.
5/11/07 Approximate date of INTREPID’s return to
Pier 86 in time for Fleet Week ’07.
PETITION ADVICE

Have you ever gotten an email that is a petition?  It states a position and asks you to add your name and address and to forward it to ten or fifteen people or even your entire address book.  The email can be forwarded on and on, and can collect thousands of names and email addresses.

A FACT!  The completed petition is actually worth a couple of bucks to a professional spammer because of the wealth of valid names and email addresses.  If you want to support the petition, just send it as your own personal letter to the intended recipient.  Your position carries a lot more weight as a personal letter than it would as a laundry list of email.

MCPON JOE R. CAMPA, JR.

When Command Master Chief (SW/FMF) Joe Campa became the 11th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, he shattered a few barriers.  He’s the first Hispanic-American to serve as the Navy’s senior enlisted advisor; and he’s also the first hospital corpsman to hold the post.  Campa is one of the first three master chiefs to graduate from the Naval War College, earning a masters’ degree in national security and strategic studies, in addition to the BS degree he holds from Excelsior College.  He joined the Navy in 1980.

(from Naval Affairs)

NATIONAL ARCHIVES PROGRAM

CNMOC, RDML Tim McGee USN and Dr. Kenneth Thibodeau signed an agreement that will establish an Electronic Records Archive (ERA) in NAVOCEANO on Stennis Space Center.  It will be part of the National Archives and Records Administration ERA Program.  Our nation needs secure, large-scale storage facilities such as this.

Ocean Explored Robert Ballard Immersion Presents is an after-school science education program founded by Dr. Bob Ballard.  NOAA and Immersion Presents have launched oceanslive.org, a marine science portal that offers live video and special content to educate people of all ages about the ocean, including national marine sanctuaries.

TWO-YEAR INTERNSHIPS

The Navy is offering both two-year internships and work experience for college students.  The internships are available through the Navy Career Intern Program.  The Student Career Experience Program is a planned career development program that integrates classroom theory with related, paid work experience with a Navy organization.

The Student Temporary Education Program provides temporary, paid employment opportunities to students while they complete their education.  Upon successful completion of either program, participants may be eligible for permanent placement.  For more info, email jobs.navo@navy.mil

Source: Aerograph, August 2006

POTOMAC REGIONAL CHAPTER
President: Bob Freeman
First Vice Pres: Jim Romano
Second Vice Pres: Tom Berkeridge
Secretary-Treasurer: Elroy McLeod
Corresponding Secretary: Don Cruse,

POTCHAP CALENDAR

24 Aug   Lone Star Lunch Bunch (every 4th Thurs) (Kincannon)
04 Sept  Labor Day holiday
09 Sept  PotChap crab feast & potluck chowdown (Cruse)
17 Sept  Citizenship Day . . .
09 Oct  Columbus Day holiday
13 Oct    N A V Y - 231st  Birthday   (started in 1775)
24 Oct    United Nations Day
07 Nov Election Day
11 Nov   Veterans’ Day fly the flag!

This being our post-reunion issue with large quantities of Pittsburgh info to pass on to our members, we’ll shorten this quarterly column.  First of all, we offer our heartiest congratulations to Tom & Mary Ann Miovas, who organized and carried out another great NWSA annual reunion—this one in Pittsburgh, where they both grew up.  Along with our congrats, we send sincere thanks for everything.

Tom Miovas also relinquished the NWSA President’s gavel during the reunion proceedings, permitting Peter Weigand to assume the conn.  He knows that he has our fullest support for the coming year.

PotChap was well represented in Pittsburgh, as one would expect.  In addition to Tom & Mary Ann, we had these faithful members enjoying the festivities:  Don & Marge Cruse, Bob & Richie Freeman, Will & Ella Gould, Mac & Pat McLeod, Lew & Ruth Pittell, Jim & Rosalie Romano, Ken & Joyce Smith, Dave & Harriet Sokol, and Peter & Marcia Weigand.

Reflected above are new PotChap officers for 2006-2007 who assumed office 01 July.  Taking over the best job in the house, Immediate Past Prez Tom Beasley can look back on a year that was full of personal mishaps and family challenges.  Tom can look forward to heading our Nominating Committee next year, so he isn’t home free.  We welcome a new officer to our bridge, Tom Berkeridge, who will work with two fleet-ups.  We regret to report that Mac McLeod has had to assume the duties of Secretary-Treasurer because of Pat’s health.  Thank you for your long tenure and valuable contributions during Branson and everything, Pat.

Our spring PotChap picnic was deferred to the Pittsburgh reunion. Hence, that item remains in limbo pending a decision by our new bridge.

Early in this reporting quarter many of us enjoyed the wedding of Peter & Marcia Weigand in Forestville MD and the reception in Largo.  As events sometimes will do, a few days later several PotChap members were joining mourners in the USNA St. Andrew Chapel to remember Don Jones.  He was inurned in the USNA Columbarium which faces College Creek near the Severn River.  His son and daughter planned the lovely program, including a follow-on reception in the O&F Club.

THE NMOC NEWS  This is a biweekly internal electronic newsletter published by the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command’s PAO.  The PAO may be contacted at 228.688.4384, DSN 828.4384, email Cathy.Willis@Navy.Mil.  Cathy is located on Stennis Space Center, MS.

Taking follow-up action on the Ray Echols item in The Aerograph resulted in some daisy chain effects.  My letter to Ray & Linda went via Rob Josephs, who placed his letter in this newsletter after encountering Linda.  Now we have learned why members of Class 20, Primary Aerog School Lakehurst, completely lost track of classmate Ray.  From Lakehurst he reported aboard USS SARATOGA (CV-3) for duty in early 1941; but at the end of WW2 he went Air Force.  Later he retired from the National Weather Service, now lives in Arizona, and is in poor health. One more fillip must be added to this tale.  Another Class 20 member who now lives in Sierra Vista AZ, Vic Milford, was visited by Ray & Linda.  They agreed that the last time they had met was in San Pedro CA in 1941.  My thanks to Rob for helping us engineer that Sierra Vista meeting (which Vic and I enjoyed reminiscing about while in Pittsburgh).

On that reminiscing subject, my First Mate accompanied me to Lancaster PA for a visit with Betty Wintersteen, during which there was considerable reminiscing about her “twilight tour” at NAS Lakehurst.  After retiring she tried school teaching in NJ, but the thrill just wasn’t there.  Incidentally, Betty will celebrate her 92nd birthday in August.  She was in the second group of WAVES to study weather at MIT.

Rusty Franco frequently travels from home base in Altoona PA.  After a July family reunion she will visit family in Surrey, UK.  Lorraine d’Entremont keeps the home fires burning in East Hartford CT, and still has three of her four children nearby.  Daughter Anne is married in MN.  Luci Palmer says that her kids are living in Tustin CA (Patty) and Florida (Scott).

Robby Roper is sporting her new hip, after replacement surgery 06 Apr in the Anne Arundel General Hospital.  On 05 June Dottie Steranka was in Fair Oaks Hospital for knee replacement.  Both of these members are up and about, and ready for another chapter picnic.

www.nowcoast.noaa.gov  NOAA has launched an updated version of their nowCOAST Web portal in a continuing effort to improve maritime safety and commerce through the monitoring of physical changes in weather, oceanographic and river conditions.  NowCOAST is a Web mapping portal providing coastal communities with real-time observations and forecasts.  The new version allows users to view real-time surface observations “on-the-map,” along with the latest GOES satellite cloud imagery and National Weather Service radar images.  (Marine Technology Society news)

Former Oceanographer of the NAVY, RADM Richard West USN(Ret) is serving as president of the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education (CORE).  Former Deputy Oceanographer of the NAVY, CAPT Jeff Bacon, USN(Ret) has relocated to Idaho, but we continue to see his cartoons in Navy Times as well as in The Lone Sailor periodical from our Navy Memorial in WashDC.  It is satisfying to note in the latter that NWSA members are supporting the Navy Memorial financially (Ed Chase & Tom Piwowar, are two examples).

Email soaks up a lot of our time but it pays dividends also.  It has been interesting to read AGC Jill Hanley USN email while she was steaming in deployed USS REAGAN (CVN-76).  Her pride in the ship stands out.  One other instance where email came into use was in relocating George Bellino in Calif.  Many of us served with his father.

Our local press wasted a lot of ink on the never-ending trial of confessed al-Qaeda conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui.  One of our young Aerology LDOs was called to testify.  LT Nancy McKeown USN escaped death in the Pentagon fire of 11 Sept.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NAVAL AVIATION According to the Pensacola news media, the museum has a new president to run the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation.  Retired VADM Gerald L. Hoewing will fill the shoes of VADM John Fetterman USN(Ret), who died shortly after resigning from the post.  We best remember Hoewing as the boss of NavPersCom in Millington TN, but he had another hat as DCNO (Manpower).

Fleet Reserve Assn Branch 178 in Monterey conferred a 55-year continuous membership pin on Frank Ivie—whom we should also congratulate for reaching his 89th birthday on 28 May.

Congratulations also go to newly-selected Chief Aerographer’s Mates in the Naval Reserve:  Tiffany Frere, Anthony Infante and Michael Smith.  We also recognize that CAPT Jessie Carman USN, who heads the Oceanography Department at USNA, was selected as a permanent military professor (Physics).

AGC Patrick Smaldore USNR (Ret) has been presented an award by the local press in recognition of his twenty years of community involvement.  He was just relieved as President of our Arlington County Civic Assn.

When Betty Jepson learned that Earl Kerr was involved in NWSA33 planning, she was reminded of some good London UK duty with Earl & Lynne.  There was some terrible news from Will & Ella Gould just before everyone shoved off for Pittsburgh.  Their young son had an accident at work,  which resulted in a broken leg.

NWSA officer biographies are still being added to our association archives.  Priority goes to those who have served as president.  Anyone who has not contributed is asked to do so.

In that same vein, all NWSA members are being asked to assist with the organization of our new LONE STAR REGIONAL CHAPTER.  Please encourage your friends & shipmates who reside in Texas to pass the word.  There will be an organizational meeting in the Nimitz Museum library in Fredericksburg TX at noon on 21 October.  We hope to muster more than the minimum number of plank owners.

PROFESSIONAL CALENDAR

7-10 Sept: Tailhook Assn Reunion, Reno NV.  (tailhook.org)
9-14 Sept - Escort Carrier Sailors & Airmen Assn Reunion, Denver  (escortcarriers.com)
18-22 Sept - Oceans 2006 in Boston  (oceans2006.org)
19-23 Sept - 2006 annual science conf of the Int’l Council for the Exploration of the Sea, Maastricht, The Netherlands  (ices.dk/asc2006)
20-23 Sept - Fleet Reserve Assn Nat’l convention, Oconomowoc WI  (fra.org)\
23-27 Oct - Euronaval 2006, Paris  (euronaval-show.com)
06-09 Nov - Hydro06, Antwerp  (hydro06.com)


 


From: Donald A. Cruse
Sent: Monday, June 19, 2006 12:24 PM

Greetings, PotChap people. Here in a nutshell is what we accomplished in
Pittsburgh during the past several days. NWSA32 was a success but we still
do not fully understand how Tom & Mary Ann Miovas could put the entire show
on by themselves. It obviously took concentrated effort, for which we thank
them sincerely.

-- As always, the CNMOC Saturday morning seminar was enlightening. CAPT
David Titley USN and AGCM Mike Joern USN did a good job baffling us with
details, confirmed some scuttlebutt, described drastic changes underway
within METOC community. Emphasis is on our new NAVY and new ways of doing
things.

-- NWSA33 will take place in Everett WA with Northwest Regional Chapter
hosting their second reunion. Chapter Prez Earl Kerr presented an
attractive program to take place during mid-May 2007 in a beautiful part of
this U.S.A. NWSA34 will probably be in Milwaukee WI and be totally run by a
commercial reunion planning organization for the first time. Until that
happens we have no way of making direct cost comparisons.

-- Assuming office in Pittsburgh were President Peter Weigand (PotChap),
1VP Bob Coniglione (GC), 2VP Bill Bowers (SE) with Sec-Treas Jim Stone (no
R/C affiliation) finishing up his two-year term (Jim has had the S/T job for
thirteen years).

-- New officers-elect for 2007-8 are Pat O'Brien (Pncla), Don Cruse
(PotChap) and Earl Kerr (NW).

-- Scholarship awards went to four students. One applicant was
disqualified due to inappropriate field of study. Last year we had eleven
applicants compared to five this year. $8,800.00 was divided between two
high school grads and two college students attending PSU (Meteorology).

-- Most enjoyable part of Saturday banquet program was recognition of
Sailors of the Year (Sea & Shore), Jonathan Oswalt and Chance Snell. They
received plaques, certificates, cash, medals and NWSA gift memberships.

PotChap was well represented in Pittsburgh.
Don Cruse
 


Source: Aerograph, May 2006

President Tom Beasley
1st Vice President Bob Freeman
2nd Vice President Jim Romano
Secretary-Treasurer Pat McLeod
Corresp Secretary Don Cruse

POTCHAP CALENDAR

14 May Mothers’ Day 20 May Armed Forces Day
21-25 May 2nd USMC Weather Personnel reunion in Tunica, MS.
25 May Lone Star Lunch Bunch, Centerville VA – every 4th Thursday of the month (Chuck Kincannon)
30 May Memorial Day
14-18 June 32nd Annual NWSA Reunion in Pittsburgh PA at Holiday Inn Pittsburgh Airport (Hosts Tom & Mary Ann Miovas)
14 June Flag Day—an official holiday in Pennsylvania
18 June Fathers’ Day 4 July Independence Day
15 July Inputs to The Aerograph
04 September Labor Day
09 September Chapter crab feast & potluck in Stafford VA (D&M Cruse)

Spring has sprung. Our March drought is ending. Bob Ryan on TV4 is still our best prognosticator. Sights are set on NWSA32/Pittsburgh, now that we have enjoyed  another mid-winter dinner meeting. Jim & Rosalie Romano hosted the group (again!) at Rosecroft Raceway, on the Maryland side of the Potomac. It proved advantageous to schedule the event on the warmer side of winter, making our group photo (with the winning horse reasonably comfortable. One race is always dedicated to Naval Weather Service Association, but we have yet to gain any recruits from this form of publicity. The buffet
was excellent.

Happy attendees (but not all winners): Tom Berkeridge and date, Bob & Bev Costa, Don and Marge Cruse, Glen and Anne Drummond, Bob and Richie Freeman, Audie and Angie Hudnell, Elroy and Pat McLeod, Tom and Mary Ann Miovas, Jim and Rosalie Romano (hosts), Vince and Robby Roper, Peter and Marcia Weigand, and Barbara Hansen.

Last-minute cancellations came from Carl Hoffman, Dennis Stebbins, Dorothy Steranka, Tom and Gladys Beasley, and Skip Cline.

Between races these business items were considered: To resolve the conflict in dates between PotChap spring picnic and NWSA32, it was decided to hold a short business meeting with annual elections of chapter officers while in Pittsburgh.  Chapter Nominating Committee Chairman (Tom Miovas) reported a full slate with several fleet-ups. He would
welcome additional candidates for office, and the floor will again be open at Pittsburgh. 

Annual NWSA Scholarship Program was discussed and there was a short Q&A session which emphasized 01 May deadline for submissions to Sec-Treas Jim Stone in Ohio.  Then NWSA Prez Tom Miovas updated us on NWSA32 planning, and requested advance reunion registrations ASAP.

ANOTHER LONE SAILOR STATUE

The Navy Memorial in WashDC announced the pending dedication of the newest Lone Sailor statue in Fort Lauderdale FL. Located on The Riverwalk, the statue will be located close to Fort Lauderdale’s historic district, a magnet for tourists. The Navy League carried the ball on this project, with a lot of help from U.S. Congressman George Wortley. This will make nine such statues erected.

Moving to “people news,” we first need to complete the record on Gordie MacDowell, who deceased on 19 December, 2005. The word did not percolate around until after our previous newsletter went to press. He leaves Irenie deeply grieving at their Lansdowne VA (Leisure World) retirement community address. Most will recall Gordon P. MacDowell as an ice forecaster, dating back to the days of the Hydro Office in Suitland MD - later renamed NavOceano. That was before the ice program was consolidated. He was a career civil servant highly dedicated to his profession. He had been diagnosed with Leukemia in August.

There was a full house at the Lone Star Lunch Bunch’s gathering on 1/26 in Centerville VA, on a cold and windy day - windy both inside and outside, to be sure. Bob Black, John Mercer, Chuck Kincannon, Bulldog Drummond, Al Pyle, and Don Cruse took approximately two hours to solve most of our national and international problems. The U.S. economy and personal welfare were favorite subjects, although we’re also still concerned about the USS IOWA (BB-61) and her ultimate fate.

Betty Wintersteen will miss NWSA32/Pittsburgh unless some east coast member passing westbound through Lancaster PA will offer a ride. No more driving. Similarly, Mike Kalles, one of our former AG Detailers in BuPers, had to give up his motorcycle as he reached the ripe old age of 68 years. He and daughter Kelley are getting along fine. Don and Betty Brown were re-discovered in Midlothian VA, near Richmond. They have been doing a lot of bouncing around the U.S. of A. as Don’s health deteriorates. His primary trouble is Parkinson’s, but he has also lost one eye to retinal damage.

We recently had a good example of scuttlebutt flying around between Japan and here when there was a relayed inquiry about NWSA Scholarships. As in most cases, a quick look at the NWSA web page could have clarified things.

NOTED IN THE PRESS

AGC(AW) Anthony Davis USN retired after 24 years of naval service. He was CPOIC NavLantMETOCDet on NAS Whiting Field FL until the 03 February retirement ceremony.

Congratulations to AGC Pamela Myers USNR on her recent selection for advancement to AGCS.

Welcome aboard to our newest Chief of Naval Research, RADM William E. Landay USN, and fair winds to RADM Jay Cohen USN in his retirement billet on civvies street.

(Footnote: The building housing NRL head office in Arlington VA is being razed. Will need a new home.)

Barbara Grimes trusted UAL to get her to Tucson AZ and home again; and she was accompanied by daughter and son-in-law (Pam & Rod). Purpose of the trip was to visit her sister out west. People in NC will acquire a couple of new citizens, we’re told by NWSA Past-Prez Dan Hewins, when daughter Cece and husband move east from Lake
Elsinore CA. As we go to press, Robby Roper is undergoing hip replacement surgery in Anne Arundel Hospital, Annapolis MD.

Some Marine Technology Society news mentions former “weather guessers” or oceanographers (to be technically correct) - Barry Stamey chairs the WashDC Section - Tom Bosse was elected secretary of Hampton Roads Section. PotChap member Jim Etro is founder and president of Itri Corporation, as well as founder and manager of Agrarius LLC.

Taking advantage of the lovely Hale Koa Hotel on Waikiki Beach in mid-February, and avoiding the first real snows of winter, Don and Marge Cruse spent a week working on their sun tans. Several NWSA donated books were presented to NPMOC/JTWC CMDMC Mark Burton for display in the refurbished Aerology Office in USS MISSOURI (BB-63). A team of dedicated AG personnel continue to work that project. On the same visit, NWSA greetings went to the skipper, CAPT Jose Atangan USN and his XO.

The obituary on former WWII WAVES Aerologist (among other varied professions), Emma Ruth Hedeman, was circulated without appreciable success at recognition.  From our Lancaster PA correspondent, Betty Wintersteen, comes the suggestion that perhaps Hedeman received her aerological training at CalTech. If that were the case, our MIT-trained WAVES would not have served with her, and would not recognize her name.

On February 18th, Rich Kelley was hauled into Johns Hopkins in Baltimore for prostate surgery. At last report he is doing well. In mid-May he will undergo follow-up testing. NWSA President-elect Peter Weigand made a business trip to Dallas and Sandy Eggo in early March, but returned in time for our PotChap D/M. Peter and Marcia are all set for their wedding on 22 April in a church in Forestville MD. They will have our fondest well wishes for a wonderful and happy future.

Ken and Joyce Smith are watching the centipede grass grow at their southern digs in Hilton Head SC. There is some doubt that the bulldozers will ever finish their work as the place expands. We all wonder exactly when the real estate developers took over our society. They obviously have taken over.

AGCS Matt White USN is the current AG Detailer assigned to Naval Personnel Command in Memphis - or Millington TN. Several people are interested in resuming an earlier NWSA membership recruiting technique which relies on a “heads up” from the AG Detailer when a senior Petty Officer has received an approved retirement date.  Using that information, along with current duty station address, NWSA can send a recruiting package. This plan will be fleshed out during NWSA32/Pittsburgh and responsibilities assigned. Since its formation, NWSA has never established membership recruiting as a priority.

From an obituary in The Washington Post, we learned that Loretta M. Gassner died in Florida on 04 March at age 85. She had been widowed for many years. Our members who were at one time or another assigned to the Naval Security Group and served behind the fence at Fort Meade, or at overseas stations, would best remember LCDR John Gassner USN and Loretta. She was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on 05 April in the same
grave with John.

From their new home in Dover DE we hear good news from Jerry Delaney, who has benefited from recent cardiac surgery. A side benefit seems to be significantly improved vision. Jim Romano chatted with his old shipmate and friend from their exciting duty tour in London.

Skip Cline, the long-serving Branch 212 (FRA), near Fort Meade, president has decided to step down this year to Branch Secretary (if elected). Once again this year, Skip has made a large donation to our NWSA Scholarship Fund, in memory of Karen. He is also making travel plans, heading for Sacramento in May/June.

Over in the Shenandoah Valley, Hazel Hudock keeps the road warm with lots of travel to visit children in Ohio, NC and NJ. Her youngest, Father Paul Hudock, remains in the West Virginia Diocese, and his present billet is personal secretary to the Bishop of that Diocese. Similar news applies to Maggie Halminski and Milly Martin, since they have children scattered around in some of the best places. Jim and Gerry Langemo coined that
phrase, I believe. 

Have You Donated a NWSA Gift Membership Lately?

From frequent email originating in Largo FL, we learn that June Crawford is happy to see the Tampa Bay baseball team back in action. She doesn’t show those Devil Rays a lot of charity. June also keeps us posted on scuttlebutt she hears from frequent conversations with Peggy Dehn in Odenton MD (aka Boomtown). She happens to be a sometimes unhappy condominium dweller.

Among our chapter travelers we have Will and Ella Gould, who shoved off for a tour of Italy on 3/25, thus winging over the Atlantic while PotChap gathered for our dinner meeting at Rosecroft.. Also in that tour group are good friends Jack and Lucille Winters from Florida, where the Goulds spent some of the cold months.

Add this to your stock of trivia—Bill Burris reports that a small monument to the USS SAN FRANCISCO (CA-38) has been erected near The Cliff House, located outboard of the city and overlooking The Golden Gate. The monument features part of the cruiser’s battle-damaged bridge structure. Check it out.

Former PotChap people who now reside in suburban San
Antonio TX include Al and Bobbi Zahnle (a one-time
Editor of this N/L) and full-time golfers Bob and Ofelia
Plante
. Along with
Ray and Ninette Tennison, these
folk comprise the nucleus of what we hope will be our
Lone Star Regional Chapter (NWSA).

WELFARE CONCERNS

Gladys Beasley is off the Binnacle List as arm heals.
Jeanne Bowlin requires full-time oxygen.
Polly Carlstead is home-bound with assistance.
Ike Fisher is resuming prostate treatments.
Art Langlois is disabled by MS.
Pat McLeod continues “chemo series”.
Dorthy Steranka is off the Binnacle List and into P/T.
Clyde Tucker has kidney failure.
(Please keep these friends in mind)


POTOMAC CHAPTER

President: Tom Beasley
1st Vice President:Bob Freeman
2nd Vice President: Jim Romano
Secretary-Treasurer: Pat McLeod
Corresponding Secy . . Don Cruse

POTCHAP CALENDAR

25 March PotChap Dinner Meeting at Rosecroft Raceway, attitudinal adjustment period 1830-1900 (Jim & Rosalie Romano)
15 April Another newsletter deadline—material for The Aerograph.
14-18 June 32nd Annual NWSA Reunion in Pittsburgh PA at Holiday Inn Pittsburgh Airport (Tom & Maryann Miovas).

14 June Flag Day official holiday in Pennsylvania.  Christmas decorations are finally unshipped and stowed aloft. Winter wx is strangely mild. NFL playoffs are well underway.  Life is good.

This is the only newsletter cycle when there is lots of “people news” to relay to NWSA members. That’s because of Christmas greetings—lots of them with detailed updates. We always enjoy & appreciate.  Taking a clockwise tour around the U.S.A., we’ll begin with New England. From Rome NY, ROSE WINFREY tells us that WALT is living with the restrictions that macular degeneration impose. Their son was promoted to Lieutenant in the Fire Department. From Middletown CT, PAT & CARL BAILEY reminded us to share our prayers with victims of Hurricanes KATRINA and RITA.  Just up the river, in East Hartford CT, LORRAINE d’ENTREMONT still has her youngest (Brian) living at home, and helping to keep things squared away. JIM & JOAN FUTTNER live up the street. KEN & JOYCE SMITH are glad that they moved to the Carolina coast where there are more activities in their community than they can count. They are now a two golf cart family, and have added to their garage for proper stowage. GAIL WHITE lives in Largo FL but spent Christmas in MD with daughter and family. Nearby, JUNE CRAWFORD has a host of family responsibilities whenever her daughter-in-law hits the road. From central Florida, IRMA KING writes that daughter Paula has now occupied the new addition to the house, after re-locating from Texas with Samantha and two cats. However, son Robin KING still battles brain cancer while Darien teaches and writes.  After spending most of another year on the road in their RV, DAVE & LAVERNE REUSCHER were back in Viera FL in time for Thanksgiving. The good news that they report from “Little Dave” & Marie REUSCHER in Long Beach MS is that their house survived KATRINA because it sits on a knoll. From “the same old address” in Jax, LYMAN & CAROLYN ROGERS state that Christmas was celebrated at home with three daughters and three grand-children keeping the place jumping.  PRISCILLA MYERS always sends a card with her name signed—no news. In response to an inquiry by JUNE CRAWFORD, we connected by telephone with GEORGE & FRANCES BUIE and obtained an update on events at their place in Dowling Park. That is a church-sponsored retirement community in Live Oak FL where they have enjoyed life for more than 30 years.  After retirement, GEORGE obtained a degree in accounting. We best remember him as our AG Detailer 1949-51. From “middle America,” namely Nevada OH, RUTH CASE remains on her family farm-- does not farm herself but rents her land to a farmer. Daughter Lynn and husband are frequent visitors from Columbus.  Another widow, IDA MAE JONES, lives in suburban Denver CO and reports on some bad news affecting her family. Her 52-year-old son who lives nearby is undergoing chemotherapy. And from Memphis TN there was an exchange of correspondence which enabled us to write an obit on JESSE VOWELL. HELEN passed the chore over to son DAN. One other bit of news from mid-America comes from JOHN & KAYO BEACH, who re-located to Missouri where they can lend a hand with daughter KIMI’s bereavement and recovery. JOHN commutes to his business located near LAX; and, if I know JOHN, he flies his own plane. We learn that RAY & NINETTE TENNISON have decided they like San Antonio TX. The fact that two daughters with families live nearby is an important feature of their life since Silsbee. No more hot dope from the ZAHNLE family, who departed PotChap for suburban San Antonio. They built a new home in the western suburbs. Shifting to Florida, we were happy to learn that DAVE DRIGGERS has re-married. DAVE & JANE have become seasonal “rotators,” spending a part of each year in Carolina and part in Pensacola. (pncla20@cox.net) Large news from Pace FL comes from AL & HELEN ATWELL, who will marry off daughter KIM this month. Time passes swiftly and my normal memory of KIM is of a lovely high schooler. Moving westward to California and our heavy concentration of friends there, MAC & MARY MCCARTNEY report that life is good there too; but 2005 brought them a shock. Son KEVIN died at age 54 from a rare form of cancer. IRV & FRAN LESSIN re-located to Rancho Mirage from Palm Springs, after finding a satisfactory retirement community there. DARRELL & LYNN LIGHTNER are maintaining the status quo, and looking ahead to our next NWSA western reunion.  JOHN & FUJII RODRIGUEZ always have a busy calendar in San Diego—although FUJII plans to slack off on the JMSDF hosting for the city. JOHN is our “friendly income tax man.” DICK HERMAN of Walnut Creek CA remains active on the docents roster in USS HORNET (CV-12) Museum, moored at what used to be the aircraft carrier piers on what used to be NAS Alameda. PAT HERMAN no longer recognizes DICK when he visits the nursing facility. From Sacramento, just a bit up the Sacramento River, BARBARA ANN FAIRBROTHER is working hard at a new career in counseling. She has also volunteered as the newest Editor of USS WASP (CV-7 STINGER newsletter, which is published three times a year. MARILYN CORN of Walla Walla WA tells of a malignant melanoma that grew inward and seriously disabled her daughter-in-law, who lives on Bainbridge Is. JIM BLACK and friend LOUISE OGLE, whom we met in Branson, are members of the Good Sam Club and enjoy their RV.  JIM has joined our NWSA network of emailers. We remain appreciative of the time and effort consistently expended by FRANK BAILLIE, the longtime sparkplug of Northwest Regional Chapter (NWSA). Finally, from Gloucestershire in England we learn that RICHARD & SUE OWEN successfully navigated through son PATRICK’s wedding to lovely NICOLA-- and it was a significant bash. PAT remains active -duty in the Army Engineer Corps. SUE and daughter LIBBY stay busy with their horse business and shows. “JESSE” has a part-time job with the Cheltenham Museum, and sometimes lectures on ancient weapons.

R E U N I O N S

Escort Carrier Sailors and Airmen Assoc (ECSAA) annual reunion in Denver 09-14 September
(http://escortcarriers.com)

Chicksands USAF 2006 Reunion in San Antonio 16-20October.

Fleet Reserve Assoc and Ladies Auxiliary FRA National Convention in Oconomowoc WI 20-23 September.

Tailhook Association 2006 reunion in Reno 07-10 September. (http://www.tailhook.org)

A REMINDER:  PotChap retains on hand, ready for mailing on request, a few miniature NWSA wall plaques which were made into paperweights. The design is the same as that by NEIL O’CONNOR for the official wall plaque which is now mounted on the commemorative wall at the Navy Memorial in WashDC. Cost (including shipping) remains $15.00. This miniature is most appropriate as an award for presentation to individuals
by NWSA Regional Chapters.
.
.
(See Aerograph Newsletter Feb 2005)
.
…The Honorable Donald C. Winter has become our 74th SecNav. The Oceanographer of the NAVY staff has completed the welcome move from offices in Crystal City (Arlington VA) to Building One at the Naval Observatory. Along with that change came another NavObsy will henceforth report to CNMOC, RDML Tim McGee USN. In turn, CNMOC remains a 2nd echelon command under Fleet Forces Command. At the NavObsy, CAPT Fred Tettelbach USN is currently the Superintendent.

To close our ration of “people news” for this quarter, here is a happy note worthy of a hand
salute. Our NWSA President-elect, PETER WEIGAND and MARCIA BECKER have set their wedding date for 22 April. We shall all be wishing them smooth seas and following winds throughout life.
BINNACLE LIST
(See Aerograph Newsletter Feb 2005)


POTOMAC CHAPTER
President: Tom Beasley
beasley4666@ verizon.net
1st Vice President:Bob Freeman
rfreeman1950@comcast.net
2nd Vice President: Jim Romano
aerojro@aol.com Secretary-Treasurer: Pat McLeod
mcleoder@comcast.net Tel 410 414 9922
Corresponding Secy . . Don Cruse
don.cruse@verizon.net, Tel 703 524 9067
POTCHAP CALENDAR
22 Feb Washington’s Birthday holiday.
23 Feb Lone Star Lunch Bunch meets in Centerville
VA (and every 4th Thursday) (Chuck Kincannon)
25 March PotChap Dinner Meeting at Rosecroft
Raceway, attitudinal adjustment period 1830-1900 (Jim
& Rosalie Romano)
15 April Another newsletter deadline—material
for The Aerograph.
15 April All Hands, answer bells from the
Infernal Revnoo Service.
14 May Mothers’ Day.
20 May Armed Forces’ Day
30 May Memorial Day holiday.
14-18 June 32nd Annual NWSA Reunion in
Pittsburgh PA at Holiday Inn Pittsburgh Airport (Tom &
Maryann Miovas).
14 June Flag Day official holiday in Pennsylvania.
Christmas decorations are finally unshipped and stowed
aloft. Winter wx is strangely mild. NFL playoffs are well
underway. Life is good.
This is the only newsletter cycle when there is lots of
“people news” to relay to NWSA members. That’s
because of Christmas greetings—lots of them with
detailed updates. We always enjoy & appreciate.
Taking a clockwise tour around the U.S.A., we’ll begin
with New England. From Rome NY, ROSE WINFREY
tells us that WALT is living with the restrictions that
macular degeneration impose. Their son was promoted
to Lieutenant in the Fire Department. From Middletown
CT, PAT & CARL BAILEY reminded us to share our
prayers with victims of Hurricanes KATRINA and RITA.
Just up the river, in East Hartford CT, LORRAINE
d’ENTREMONT still has her youngest (Brian) living at
home, and helping to keep things squared away. JIM &
JOAN FUTTNER live up the street. KEN & JOYCE
SMITH are glad that they moved to the Carolina coast
where there are more activities in their community than
they can count. They are now a two golf cart family, and
have added to their garage for proper stowage. GAIL
WHITE lives in Largo FL but spent Christmas in MD with
daughter and family. Nearby, JUNE CRAWFORD has a
host of family responsibilities whenever her daughter-inlaw
hits the road. From central Florida, IRMA KING
writes that daughter Paula has now occupied the new
addition to the house, after re-locating from Texas with
Samantha and two cats. However, son Robin KING still
battles brain cancer while Darien teaches and writes.
After spending most of another year on the road in their
RV, DAVE & LAVERNE REUSCHER were back in
Viera FL in time for Thanksgiving. The good news that
they report from “Little Dave” & Marie REUSCHER in
Long Beach MS is that their house survived KATRINA
because it sits on a knoll. From “the same old address”
in Jax, LYMAN & CAROLYN ROGERS state that
Christmas was celebrated at home with three daughters
and three grand-children keeping the place jumping.
PRISCILLA MYERS always sends a card with her name
signed—no news. In response to an inquiry by JUNE
CRAWFORD, we connected by telephone with
GEORGE & FRANCES BUIE and obtained an update
on events at their place in Dowling Park. That is a
church-sponsored retirement community in Live Oak FL
where they have enjoyed life for more than 30 years.
After retirement, GEORGE obtained a degree in
accounting. We best remember him as our AG Detailer
1949-51. From “middle America,” namely Nevada OH,
RUTH CASE remains on her family farm-- does not farm
herself but rents her land to a farmer. Daughter Lynn
and husband are frequent visitors from Columbus.
Another widow, IDA MAE JONES, lives in suburban
Denver CO and reports on some bad news affecting her
family. Her 52-year-old son who lives nearby is
undergoing chemotherapy. And from Memphis TN there
was an exchange of correspondence which enabled us
to write an obit on JESSE VOWELL. HELEN passed
the chore over to son DAN. One other bit of news from
mid-America comes from JOHN & KAYO BEACH, who
re-located to Missouri where they can lend a hand with
daughter KIMI’s bereavement and recovery. JOHN
commutes to his business located near LAX; and, if I
know JOHN, he flies his own plane. We learn that RAY
& NINETTE TENNISON have decided they like San
Antonio TX. The fact that two daughters with families
live nearby is an important feature of their life since
Silsbee. No more hot dope from the ZAHNLE family,

14
who departed PotChap for suburban San Antonio. They
built a new home in the western suburbs. Shifting to
Florida, we were happy to learn that DAVE DRIGGERS
has re-married. DAVE & JANE have become seasonal
“rotators,” spending a part of each year in Carolina and
part in Pensacola. (pncla20@cox.net) Large news from
Pace FL comes from AL & HELEN ATWELL, who will
marry off daughter KIM this month. Time passes swiftly
and my normal memory of KIM is of a lovely high
schooler. Moving westward to California and our heavy
concentration of friends there, MAC & MARY
MCCARTNEY report that life is good there too; but 2005
brought them a shock. Son KEVIN died at age 54 from
a rare form of cancer. IRV & FRAN LESSIN re-located
to Rancho Mirage from Palm Springs, after finding a
satisfactory retirement community there. DARRELL &
LYNN LIGHTNER are maintaining the status quo, and
looking ahead to our next NWSA western reunion.
JOHN & FUJII RODRIGUEZ always have a busy
calendar in San Diego—although FUJII plans to slack
off on the JMSDF hosting for the city. JOHN is our
“friendly income tax man.” DICK HERMAN of Walnut
Creek CA remains active on the docents roster in USS
HORNET (CV-12) Museum, moored at what used to be
the aircraft carrier piers on what used to be NAS
Alameda. PAT HERMAN no longer recognizes DICK
when he visits the nursing facility. From Sacramento,
just a bit up the Sacramento River, BARBARA ANN
FAIRBROTHER is working hard at a new career in
counseling. She has also volunteered as the newest
Editor of USS WASP (CV-7 STINGER newsletter, which
is published three times a year. MARILYN CORN of
Walla Walla WA tells of a malignant melanoma that
grew inward and seriously disabled her daughter-in-law,
who lives on Bainbridge Is. JIM BLACK and friend
LOUISE OGLE, whom we met in Branson, are
members of the Good Sam Club and enjoy their RV.
JIM has joined our NWSA network of emailers. We
remain appreciative of the time and effort consistently
expended by FRANK BAILLIE, the longtime sparkplug
of Northwest Regional Chapter (NWSA). Finally, from
Gloucestershire in England we learn that RICHARD &
SUE OWEN successfully navigated through son
PATRICK’s wedding to lovely NICOLA-- and it was a
significant bash. PAT remains active -duty in the Army
Engineer Corps. SUE and daughter LIBBY stay busy
with their horse business and shows. “JESSE” has a
part-time job with the Cheltenham Museum, and
sometimes lectures on ancient weapons.
R E U N I O N S
Escort Carrier Sailors and Airmen Assoc (ECSAA)
annual reunion in Denver 09-14 September
(http://escortcarriers.com)
Chicksands USAF 2006 Reunion in San Antonio 16-20
October. (Horace@peele.info)
Fleet Reserve Assoc and Ladies Auxiliary FRA National
Convention in Oconomowoc WI 20-23 September.
Tailhook Association 2006 reunion in Reno 07-10
September. (http://www.tailhook.org)
A REMINDER PotChap retains on hand, ready for
mailing on request, a few miniature NWSA wall plaques
which were made into paperweights. The design is the
same as that by NEIL O’CONNOR for the official wall
plaque which is now mounted on the commemorative
wall at the Navy Memorial in WashDC. Cost (including
shipping) remains $15.00. This miniature is most
appropriate as an award for presentation to individuals
by NWSA Regional Chapters.
Some PotChap happenings – Starting with the marriage
of WALT COTTRELL to ALICE KELLEY last spring,
which was followed by their 22-day honeymoon cruise
to Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea in M/V Marco Polo.
The COTTRELLs now reside on the Northern Neck of
Virginia. And from nearby Yorktown VA we learned that
DAN STORY, as Commander of his Knights Templar
Commandery, hosted the Christmas Observance and
official visit of the Grand Commander. Still striving to
establish a permanent home office for the Maryland
Crime Victims’ Resource Center, Inc., VINCE &
ROBBIE ROPER are always very active in this nonprofit
organization. It was originally founded in tribute to
daughter Stephanie. Hurricane WILMA shortened the
ROPER family reunion in Boca Raton FL.
Planning a trip to Italy are WILL & ELLA GOULD,
traveling with good friends from Florida. They keep up
with DON & MARCIE BRYNER, with the idea of
convening a group of ice observers for a reunion.
Talked to AGCM GERALD CAPPELLER, who retired
from his briefing billet in the bilges of the Pentagon five
years ago—works for Virginia State Police in Culpeper,
VA, handling Comm Center chores. JOE & CINDY
DEUNGER have joined the group of fo