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

   On 26 July in San Diego, the commissioning of MUSTIN (DDG-89) took place in splendor and glory. In a twilight ceremony, over 5,000 guests and friends of the Mustin family witnessed history being made as the second destroyer to bear the proud name MUSTIN joined the fleet. As one of the namesakes, Hank Mustin played a featured role in the ceremony. After remarks from many distinguished platform guests, Hank took center stage and began his remarks with, "All previous greetings and salutations remain in effect" which brought down the house. As one of the ship's sponsors, Hank's wife, Lucy, helped with the setting of the first watch. Spotted at the ceremony, or otherwise informed of their presence, were Classmates: John Adams, Bill Anders, Joe Armstrong, Tom Boucher, Dan Butterfield, Joe Chmelik, Roger Coffey, Kent Drummond, Pete Eller, Tom Emery, Ed Grant, John Haynes, Dick Jones, John Kelly, Tom Kiefaber, Bill McCauley, John McLaughlin, Ray Medeiros, Phil Monahan, John Nyquist, Norm Palladino, John Raster, Don Rohr, Don Shelton, Jack Tallman, Juan Torroella, Cal Weaver, John Weaver, Hugh Webster, and Smokey Wilson. Mary Gale Buchanan attended and provided the photos attached. The story behind the name of the ship is contained in: MUSTIN: A Naval Family of the Twentieth Century, by John Fass Morton, obtainable through the U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings.

   Ann and Wes Saunders threw another wingding crab fest/picnic on 19 July for Classmates at their Severn-side complex. In spite of a lot of other things going on, it was well attended. I'm told the following Classmates were there: George Atkins, Don Conner, Tom Davis, Spud Flowers, Larry Frost, Hartley Holte, Don Kellerman, Tom McIsaac, Todd Meloy, Dick Morgan, Ted Parker, Mort Rubenstein, Tom Stallman, Gary Snyder, John Thune, Fred Tolleson, Ray Ways, and Darrel Westbrook.

Fifty Years Later

   Hartley Holte (hartleyholte@hotmail.com) sends:

   Hopefully, by now, you will have received our letter requesting biographies and data. We are getting an early start on this task because, 1) There were 742 graduates in our Class, of which bios for some 150 were not included in our 30 Year Book, for one reason or another. Therefore, we know there will be considerable follow-up to ensure an adequate level of completeness. 2) Those of us working on this project are all volunteers. Processing, tracking, data entry, editing, and coordinating will be labor intensive, and we don't want to disappoint in timeliness, quality, or completeness. We are also making good progress in preparing material for other major sections, and believe you will find the information, data and stories from all our service areas of interest. Many thanks to the following volunteers who have offered to help prepare appropriate sections—Surface Navy: Hank Mustin; Submarine Service: Bill Smith; Navy Air: Don Kellerman; USAF: Joe Clarkson; EDO: Mal MacKinnon; CEC: Tom Stallman. Please don't hesitate to call, write, or email if you have questions, or inputs. Call Hartley "Oli" Holte at 410-280-9799.

   As reported by Fred Tolleson:

   Jean and Darrel Westbrook and Cyd and Fred Tolleson embarked on the CRYSTAL HARMONY Northern Odyssey in San Francisco recently. At sea on Tuesday, 3 June, we celebrated our graduation of some 48 years ago and Darrel and Jean were highlighted in the ship's program for their 48th wedding anniversary. A great tour of Vancouver and then on to Ketchikan via the Inside Passage—a great lecture on the Klondike Gold Rush (they were nuts!). Ketchikan is the salmon capital of the world—got a close look at fish hatcheries. Next stop was Juneau, where we went to the Mendenhall Glacier; a 12-mile long river of ice that descends into the Mendenhall Valley from the 1,500 mile Juneau Icefield that looms high over the city. From the glacier we embarked on some rubber rafts for a touch of white water rafting—great sport. In Skagway we got to trace the route of the gold miners in their stampede to the Klondike. Then we sailed into Glacier Bay. Wow! Some interesting things we learned—10% of our world is under ice today, which is the same as the amount of land being farmed. We unfurled the '55 pennant! (Why Darrel likes ice so much is an interesting question—How long was he in Antarctica?). Next was Sitka, which was founded in 1799, another grand experience. Last stop was Victoria where Darrel and Jean took a tour of the Butchart Gardens, which are world-renowned, while Cyd and I got a personal tour of the old Canadian Naval Academy West site in Victoria. This great cruise was arranged by Sandy and Ted Hyman.

   The U.S. Marine Corps Advisors (COVAN) Reunion, with the Vietnamese Marine Corps, was held on 5 July at Quantico. Over 100 former Covans attended. At the Saturday night banquet, several hundred former Vietnamese Marines from all over the country also attended. We were quickly reminded that the VNMC never surrendered. Earlier that day, they placed wreaths on the graves of the first U.S. Marine advisor killed in Vietnam. During the reunion, Classmate Jim Thearle was an honored guest for his actions as the skipper of BUCHANAN in destroying NVA tanks trying to cross the Dong Ha River, while John Ripley '62 was destroying the bridge. Pete Eller, Paul Slack, and Fred Tolleson were present for the reunion. Col Tom Parsons '49, USMC (Ret.), one of our Company officers, was also in attendance.

Potpourri

   In the July issue of the U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings there is an article by Jerry Holland titled, Dissent Is Not Disloyalty, where he asks the question, "Where is the dividing line between bold, imaginative thought and hewing to the party line?" Jerry is Proceeding's 2002 Author of the Year. Ace Davis is at it again. Bumpsy and Ace's four children and loads of grandchildren and other relatives honored them this summer on their "right-up-there" wedding anniversary at their home in Williamsburg, VA. Ace's other wives of 50-plus years (Jim Everett and Jerry Nay and their wives) were there, too.

Upcoming Event

    Homecoming Weekend (25 October) promises to be very special for our Class. A model of BON HOMME RICHARD, which we purchased as part of our 50th Gift Project to enhance the JPJ Crypt, will be on display. And our Class crest will be on display in Alumni Hall around the basketball court—a gift from the Class to decorate that building. In addition to Friday night's All Classes Reception in Alumni Hall, a '55 Homecoming Party will be held in Alumni House following the game on Saturday. It will be held jointly with the Class of '52, with some members of the Class of '05 attending. Last year's was a grand event!