|
|
Class Notes from the December 2001
|
Did you miss last month's class notes? Visit the Shipmate Archive (on the class Web site) or click the To Alumni Only link if you are a current member. If not a current member, refer to bottom of this page. |
|
55
|
Annual Membership: 34% Life Membership: 35% |
Pres: LCDR Dennis Sullivan, USN (Ret.)
Sec’y: CAPT Thomas G. Kiefaber, USN (Ret.)
11814 Triple Crown Road, Reston, VA 20191
h: 703-758-1077; e: KIEF55@aol.com
http://www.usna.com/classes/1955
At a luncheon on 20 September, Robin Pirie addressed the Washington, DC, Chapter of the Alumni Association. His subject was the encroachment on Navy facilities and operations by environmental, cultural and commercial interests. Some of these groups, he said, work to curtail or eliminate naval activity in their communities and surroundings. He mentioned specifically problems at NAS Oceana, NAS Miramar, and Viegues and stated that encroachment in the future at other bases might severely hamper Navy operations and readiness. Attending Classmates were: Buddy Parker, Tom McIsaac, Ray Hine, Tom Stallman, Dick Peterson, Bob Hinton, Jerry Holland, and Denny Sullivan. Robin, whose last position was acting Secretary of the Navy, is happily retired from government service and gainfully employed at the Center for Naval Analysis (CNA). He joins Bill Smith at CNA.
On 7-8 September, the Naval Academy Class of 1926 celebrated the 75th anniversary of their graduation. Sadly, no member of the Class was present (nine are still living), but they were well represented by sons, daughters, and grandchildren. Many ’55 sons of ’26 attended, including: Cal Weaver, Robin Pirie, Hugh Webster, Denny Sullivan, Larry Frost, and Ned Floyd. Mary Gale Buchanan, daughter of deceased RADM Charles A. Buchanan ’26, USN (Ret.), was one of the chief organizers and main contact at the Academy. This was the first-ever 75th Reunion and events included a memorial service in the Chapel, several social gatherings and special mention at the Friday parade and Saturday football game. The weekend was an impressive tribute to the Class of 1926 that endured the Great Depression and fought in World War II and Korea. 456 graduated; two were awarded the Medal of Honor; 13 lost their lives in World War II; and 162 became flag officers in the Navy or Marine Corps.
It looks like Al Kozischek is in competition with world traveler Otto Zipf. Having recently returned from an extended visit to the South of France, Al has filed another trip report:
| Mary Ann Andersen and I toured Germany from 4-24 September and had a marvelous time! Picking up an Audi A-4 at Frankfurt, we proceeded driving to the wine regions of Southwest Germany. Along the way, we visited Frankfurt, Aschaffenburg, Odenwald, Mannheim, Heidelberg, Worms, Speyer, Rheinland Pfalz, and cities along the Mosel and Rhine Rivers. On a Friday at Heidelberg Castle, we observed three minutes of silence with an entirely German group in remembrance of the 11 September terrorist attack against the United States. While sojourning in the Odenwald Forest, one of Germany’s scenic natural park areas, we stayed a few days at a pension on the "Tromm" at an altitude of 577 meters. From there we undertook day trips to Lindenfels and Michelsstadt on the historic Siegfried Road. In addition, another day trip took us to Worms on the Rhine with its historic cathedral where Martin Luther delivered his protests to the Emperor’s Court and the archbishops. Another cathedral trip found us in Speyer and the largest Romanesque cathedral in Germany. One trip highlight occurred on the Rheinland-Pfalz "Weinstrasse"…a tripleheader so to speak. In two small wine villages, Deidesheim and Mussbach, we celebrated the festival of "Neuer Wein." In this region, Germans drink two-day old wine and eat zwiebelkucken, a form of quiche-like onion pizza—all for good health and fun! Then on that same day, on to Bad Durkheim and the Bad Durkheimer Wurst Markt, a noted wine festival complete with food, carnival rides, games, and festival tents…smallest glass of wine served is a liter! Next on to the picturesque Mosel River and a visit to Trier founded by Caesar in 15 AD with its historic "Portu Negra" (Black Gate). We stayed on the Mosel at Cochem, a beautiful scenic area surrounded by vineyards on both banks of the river. Of course, we made a one-day boat excursion and viewed the verdant vineyards and castle ruins climbing to the top of the hills bordering the beautiful Mosel. On the Rhine River, we attended the wine festival at Boppard. We ended our tour in the Sachenhausen section of Frankfurt noted for its apple wine restaurants and gemutlichkeit (comfortable surroundings). |
It is sad to report that George H. Volk (10) passed away recently in North Huntingdon Township, PA. Date and circumstances are unknown.
Hartley Holte reports:
| Since retiring last year and returning to Annapolis, Sally and I really have been enjoying family and Class activities here. Our ten-year old great-granddaughter has been participating in regional ice skating competition in the DC, Virginia, and Pennsylvania areas, including one held last March in Dahlgren Hall. In August, I survived six days in the Boundary Waters Canoe area of Northern Minnesota with our youngest son and three others. We paddled canoes, back-packed, potaged, and camped in one of the most beautiful areas of our country—up the Old Gunflint Trail, about 40 miles from Grand Marais. This is an area where my Norwegian immigrant grandparents settled in the late 1800s, homesteading and re-establishing their then-thriving fishing business on Lake Superior. |
I have good pictures left over from previous events, such as: summer picnic, golf match and 2005 Reaffirmation Ceremony.
Coming Events in the DC Area
2001 USNA Christmas Ball, Classes 1939-1957, 5 December, 6:30-9:30 p.m. at Fort Myer O Club (call Al Olsen ’45 at 703-536-9484); ’55 luncheon on the porch at Portofino, 6 December; Dinner at Academy O Club followed by Midshipmen performance of "Pirates of Penzance," 22 February; and Dark Ages Party at A-N Country Club, 2 March.
Are you a member of the Naval Academy Alumni Association (15 non-graduates are!)? You can sign up by calling (410) 263-4448 x112 or 117. Annual dues are $40.00 or $330.00 for lifetime membership (paid in quarterly installments). Or indicate your interest to me and I'll have USNAAA send you an application. You'll find SHIPMATE has vastly improved. Tom K. Note: Please contact USNA Alumni Services office at 410-263-4448 x112 or click here to update your address if you are a member of the USNAAA and not getting Shipmate. If you are not a Naval Academy alumnus, but would like to subscribe to Shipmate, you can contact the phone number above or click on Subscription Form. Your Webmaster |