Pres: LCDR Dennis Sullivan, USN (Ret.)
Sec’y: CAPT Thomas G. Kiefaber, USN (Ret.)
11814 Triple Crown Road, Reston, VA 20191

    Our 50-year bond support for the Class of 2005’s performance in Sea Trails on 14 May was extremely rewarding for those of us who participated. It put the Plebes through a grueling 12 hours of physical and mental challenges, demanding intense teamwork under very stressful conditions. We can’t say enough about the character and fortitude displayed by these young warriors. Yes, the females did every bit as good as the males! Besides offering encouragement, we were privileged to participate in the Recognition Ceremony afterwards. We each chose a company to present Third Class anchors to. Fifty-five was well represented by: Debbie and John Adams, John Camp, Tom Cann, Bob Freeman, Herb Gamache, Ray Hine, Don Kellerman, Ursula and Tom Kiefaber, Bill Kennington, Tom Lapham, Ed Lull, Tom McIsaac, Lucy and Hank Mustin, Charlie Senn, Tom Stallman, Denny Sullivan, Fred Tolleson, and Mary Gale Buchanan. Fantastic event! Tom Kiefaber and Tom McIsaac with MIDN 2/C Colin Browning Bob Freeman and Tom Lapham at Lejeune Monument

    This year’s Homecoming will be here before we know it: 23-29 September 2002. There will be at least two events that should be of interest to ’55ers. First is the All Classes Homecoming Party (ACHP) that will be on the Friday evening of Homecoming: Friday, 23 September from 5-8 p.m. in Alumni Hall. Last year’s "inaugural" event was a doozer! (as reported in this column—Jan/Feb ’02). Second, following the Duke game on Saturday, we will hold a ’55 Party (with some ’52ers attending) at Alumni House—also called Ogle Hall. Mark your calendar! Including an Alumni picnic on Friday and a big win over Duke, it should be an exciting weekend. For events other than the ’55 Party, you will be able to sign up online via the USNA AA web site at www.usna.com/Events, or by mailing in forms found in Shipmate. More later about the ’55 Party.

    Ed Browder writes in with a fish story and challenge:

    On 12 June, Bill Kennington arranged lunch with wives and it was held at Paul’s on the South River (Annapolis). Enjoying the excellent cuisine and camaraderie were: Anne and Wes Saunders, Lucy and Hank Mustin, John Ganey, Nancy and Don Kellerman, Jackie and Mort Rubenstein, Betty and Tom Cann, Marge and Tom Stallman, Spud Flowers, Denny Sullivan, Jeanie and Norm Harper, Peggy and Otto Zipf, Cal Weaver, and Sabra and Bill Kennington.

    I regret to inform that Don Conner has resigned as Class treasurer because of poor health. Cal Weaver has volunteered to serve as his relief until the next formal Class election in 2005. Cal is very well qualified, having served as the financial manager for the 45th reunion. This action has been approved by Class Officers and will be reviewed at the next meeting of the executive committee. Our best wishes for Don’s complete recovery.

    Class officers met with members of the Norfolk contingent recently at Aunt Sarah’s Pancake House, midway between Norfolk and DC, to discuss our ongoing fundraising effort with the Naval Academy Foundation. Recent correspondence (hopefully, by now) from Denny Sullivan to the Class has addressed this effort from the standpoint of recent developments. As can be seen in the photo, everyone had too many pancakes! Fred Tolleson, Charlie Plumly, Pat Taylor, Tom Kiefaber, and Ray Hine

    Classmates in the San Diego area celebrated the Battle of Midway by a roast beef dinner at Lynne and Ned Floyd’s home on 4 June. Others present included: Nancy and Paul Abernethy, Teri and Tom Boucher, Jo and Roger Coffey, Lilia and Jerry Kowalsky, Al Kozischek with Mary Ann Anderson, Penny and John Nyquist, Bob Price, Carol Schrader, Peggy and Hugh Webster, and Karen and Bob Weir. The next San Diego social will be a luau to celebrate VJ Day on 14 August.

    Ed Grant, residing in Green Valley, AZ, writes:

    The annual Class golf challenge between the USNA Classes of 1955 and 1957 was held on the 21 May at Augustine Golf Course just outside of Fredricksburg, VA. On a clear and beautiful day for the Class of 1955, the day ended with ’55 victorious over ’57 by the scant margin of three strokes. Monroe Hatch was a major contributor to our success as was a host of other contributors with Jack Renard and Joe Dunn coming all the way from their lofty perch at Wintergreen and Dick Morgan and Joe Chmelik coming from the far reaches of the state of Maryland. We get to keep the Class challenge trophy for one year after failing to muster a winning score the prior two years. Participant teams included Lucy and Hank Mustin, Ray Hine and Jack Renard, Monroe Hatch and Tony Bracken, Dick Morgan and Joe Chmelik, Joe Dunn and Glenn Bates, Roger Christensen and Paul Anderson (non-Classmates, who have represented the Class in prior years of golf challenges), and John Adams and Don Kellerman. Individually, a number of awards were made to Classmates for their heroics, and to the delight of all, John Adams, regal with cane, received an award for beating his handicap—a testament to the fortitude of a true golfer and former Marine. More golf follows as the year unfolds. All Classmates passing through the area are invited to participate on the third Tuesday of each month. Ray Hine says, "Don’t worry about your golfing prowess. Our handicaps vary from low teens to the mid 30s. Hit them long and straight and keep your eye on the ball."

   Potpourri

    The May USNA AA Board of Trustees (BOT) meeting brought together Denny Sullivan, Bill Rentz, Tony Hastoglis, and John Haynes. Bill is president of the Atlanta Chapter, and on the Board; Tony is president of the Charlottesville Chapter, and John is the resident guru on the Governance Committee of the BOT. For the upcoming football season the first home game is with North Carolina State on 7 September. We will tailgate in the usual place—Area 3 in Gold parking. The Notre Dame game is on 9 November in Baltimore. The Class will run a bus to and from the game from the Army-Navy CC, Arlington. More on this later. Dick Peterson has been elected treasurer of the Washington Chapter of the Alumni Association. Fall social schedule:

    Luncheons at Portofino on 11 September, 9 October, 13 November, and 11 December (ladies’ luncheon). Hugh Webster and Al Kozischek attended the annual football luncheon in San Diego recently. They are pictured with Jim Stockdale ’47. Proud mom, Carol Turner (widow of Eddie Turner), is snapped with Edmund L. Turner Jr. ’81 on the occasion of his taking over as commanding officer of ComSeaConRon 41. MUSTIN (DDG-89) will commission at North Island, San Diego in July 2003. A commissioning committee has been formed under the tutelage of Hugh Webster as chairman. John Nyquist is the Invitation Chairman. More to come on this. And more tailgate pictures!