Ned Floyd reported that the San Diego area '55 contingent celebrated VJ Day
at a luau in Coronado on 14 August.  Those attending included: Tom & Teri
Boucher, Vern Carlson with Diane Healey, Ned & Lynne Floyd, Bob Hammond, Dick
& Lavon Jones, Pat Kenny (Chuck's widow), Jerry & Lilia Kowalsky, Al
Kozischek with Mary Ann Anderson, Scot McCauley, John & Penny Nyquist, Bob
and Mary Price, Carol Schrader (Harry's widow), Hugh & Peggy Webster, and Bob
& Karen Weir.  All compared electric bills and chewed over the "Atkinson
Essay".  Many solutions to both problems were formulated but all found
themselves powerless to prosecute any of them.  Bob Hammond won the right (by
having the lowest laundry number present) to draw the ticket for the
remainder of the bar.  Bob picked his own and passed.  Next he picked Bob
Price, who passed also.  They just had to finish the mai tais and pina
coladas (PHOTO #1, "Scot McCauley, Tom Boucher & Dick Jones" PHOTO #2, "Vern
Carlson, Karen & Bob Weir" PHOTO #3, "Vern Carlson, Lilia & Jerry Kowalsky").

On the '55 listserv, Carl Strang gave us the lowdown about their latest
venture:
 

For thirty years I had wanted to visit the Gaspe Peninsula in Eastern Quebec,
and last month our wish was fulfilled.  Along with another couple, Sheryll
and I piled into our trusty Cessna Centurion (which I had picked up new from
Wichita in 1978), and headed north from home base at Bartow, FL.  After a
fuel stop at Fayetteville, NC, we passed the DC- New York area during rush
hour along with a thick line of thunderstorms, RONed at Barnstable, MA, and
visited our friends' daughter who is a marine biologist at nearby Woods Hole.
Next day we flew to Quebec City, and after two nights there we flew to
Riviere du Loup, PQ, where we rented a minivan and toured the Gaspe for four
days.  Returning to Riviere du Loup, we flew to Bangor to clear Customs and
thence to Rockland, ME, spending the night at Camden.  Next day, after a pit
stop at Hazelton, PA, we RONed at Charlottesville, and spent the next night
at Asheville before returning home to BOW the following day.  In all it was
25 hours flight time of which 16 was actual instruments. I was the only pilot
on board, but fortunately my friend in the right seat actually enjoyed trying
to find airway intersections on Sectional charts.

If you haven't been to the Gaspe, we recommend it.  It's unspoiled and
beautiful, the food is delicious, and with the favorable exchange rate the
prices are a pleasant surprise.  Very few people there speak English.
Fortunately, I recalled some of the fluency in French for which we members of
the 16th Company at USNA have always been justly famous, and communications
presented no problem.

TAPS. On Aug. 26, Charles J. Zadd died in his sleep after a one-year battle
with cancer.  He is survived by his devoted wife of 44 years, Nora Sheila of
139 Carter Ct., Vienna VA 22180, telephone (703) 319-0831; and his three
children, Sheila Hartig, Patrick Zadd and Laurie Zadd.  A Mass of Christian
burial to celebrate his life was held on Sept. 12, at the Old Post Chapel,
Fort Myer, Arlington, VA.  Immediately following the Mass, he was honored
with a full military burial at Arlington National Cemetery.

Tom McBride passed away in March 1987.  Tom was a roommate of Jim Thearle,
Roy Heath, and John Haynes during Plebe year.  Tom had a seagoing career - he
graduated from the Maritime Academy 1957, then went on to a 27 year career
with Lykes Steamship Lines, retiring as a Captain.  Tom and Barbara have a
son named Thomas Christopher McBride. Barbara can be reached at 1352C Mardi
Lane, Houston, TX 77055-6426, telephone (713) 465-8149.

Thank goodness for the Zipfs and their interesting escapades:
 

Peggy and I spent three wonderful weeks in Germany in July.  Besides just
general daily sightseeing in the southern areas, we built the trip around a
couple of specific events.

We spent nine days in the Heidelberg area, where we enjoyed a social time
with the three Otto A. Zipf scholars at the University of Heidelberg.  The
enclosed photo shows yours truly; Shannon J. Massie, 1st LT, USMCR ('98);
Matt Gull, ENS, USNR ('00); and Jeff Beelaert, 2nd LT, USMCR ('99) (PHOTO #4,
"Heidelberg Reunion"). Shannon was just completing her two years in
Heidelberg, and was heading back to Marine Corps Basic School at Quantico.
Matt had just arrived to start his two years.  Jeff was at the midpoint of
his two-year tour, and had thoroughly immersed himself in studies and culture.

One of our day trips out of Heidelberg was south to the Stuttgart area.  Here
we spent the AM touring the Mercedes Benz factory in Sindelfingen, followed
by a PM visit to the MB Museum in Stuttgart.

We also spent a day seeking out a winery/vineyard in a small town north of
Stuttgart.  The Weingut Zipf, of no known family relationship, was a
wonderful visit for wine tasting, purchasing, and camaraderie (PHOTO #5, "All
in the family?").  It will be included on our future trips to Germany.

Amongst our many highlights on this trip was our attending the Passion Play
2000 in Oberammergau.  This production takes place every ten years, from May
to October, in this small village, and is an event for everyone's personal
consideration.  The entire play is in German, and covers the life of Jesus
Christ from Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday.  It takes the entire day for
each performance.  For me, this was my fifth consecutive performance.

While spending several days in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, we took a trip up to
the top of the Zugspitze, which at 9,724 feet above sea level, is the highest
peak in Germany.  As one can see in the photo, our sweat shirts were a
comfortable necessity in July at the top of the Zugspitze (PHOTO #6, "Z on
Z!").

A good part of our overnight accommodations in Germany were arranged at AFRC
facilities via an 800 number before we left CONUS.  If one plans ahead, this
works out very well.

POTPOURRI.  More photos demonstrating the fabulous time had by all at the
Saunders' crab feast (PHOTO #7, "MG cracking Mal MacKinnon instead of crabs"
PHOTO #8, "'55 assembled" PHOTO #9, "Ted Parker, Wes Saunders, the
Kiefabers, the Holtes, & the P. Taylors" PHOTO #10, "Rain or shine, crabs
reign!").  Look at the Outer Banks smiles on the faces of Ann & Wes Saunders
(PHOTO #11, "Wes & Ann Saunders").  They were on a short visit there which
included lunch with Lyn & Dan Shield and Pat & Paul Sutherland.  Talk about
smiles!  Check out newlyweds Barbara & Glenn Arthur (PHOTO #12, "Glenn &
Barbara Arthur").

CORRECTION.  The Washington DC area Dark Ages Party is scheduled for March 3,
2001 at Hidden Creek Country Club in Reston VA (Not February 24 as previously
reported).

Class Membership in Alumni Association: Annual - 39%, Life - 30%.
 
 

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