Did you miss last month's issue?  July/August Issue

'55 SHIPMATE COLUMN for Sept '98

A new Zipf scholar from the Class of '98 has been selected for a two year stint at the University of Heidelberg, Germany. She's 2nd Lt. Shannon Massie, USMCR, from Gainsville VA. (PHOTO #1, "Otto with Zipf scholar"). This selection breaks ground in two new areas: the first woman scholar and the first Marine JO to attend Heidelberg as a Zipf scholar! Shannon's father is a graduate of USNA '71, and was a surface warfare officer. Otto Zipf (15) reports:

Following '98's graduation and commissioning, Peggy and I spent three weeks in lovely Spain. We covered several cities from Madrid south to the Costa Del Sol, including several days at the Navy Lodge on the Naval Station in Rota. It was just astonishing to see the changes in many of the cities, particularly in the Costa Del Sol area, between 1969 - 1971, when I was stationed in Rota with SUBRON 16, and today. The photos show us celebrating Peggy's birthday at a lovely restaurant in the mountainside village of Mijas overlooking the Med. (PHOTO #2, "Happy Birthday"). Then, as a non-volunteer, I took my first lesson in Flamenco 101 during a flamenco show in Marbella. (PHOTO #3, "Flamenco Otto"). The entire trip was just great. If any classmates need help planning a trip to Spain, please give me a call. We are already forming our plans for a return trip in '99.

The photo of Vern Carlson (08) with Gore Vidal, one of America's foremost men of letters, comes as a result of his being assigned as a "side boy" to escort him on his recent book tour. (PHOTO #4, "Vern Carlson & Gore Vidal"). Vern relates:

As an official of the La Jolla Cultural Society, I was assigned by its President to squire Gore during the San Diego presentation of his most recent book, The Smithsonian Institution. While he has slowed down some, his noted vitriol continues to flow freely. Gore informed me he was born at West Point at the cadet hospital in 1925. His father was on the WooPoo faculty at the time. The scion of Washington aristocrats, he claims kinship to Jackie Onassis, with whom he shared a stepfather. It was pure pleasure to be in his company. He spoke brillantly on all subjects under the sun. The author of 25 novels, including Burr, Lincoln, and Creation (his best, he opined) he claimed that the United States was really his specialty. "I don't really think about anything else", he said. Vidal lives a good part of every year in Italy, so it took over three years of letter-writing and cajoling to get him here. After all, La Jolla is a very miniscule market compared to Los Angeles or New York! His book, The Smithsonian Institution, takes place in 1939 ... sort of. His hero "T" lives and interacts with prominent wax figures from American history currently enshrined at the Smithsonian. The wax figures come to life at night, dabbling with the space-time continuum and altering the future ... a mind-boggling notion for someone like me who simply farms coffee for a living in Costa Rica. Tom Shine (21) was invited (he is a former book store owner here) but begged off due to his heavy committments on furnishing his new home in Coronado. A few West Pointers showed up and also an AF academy grad we had attended St. Albans, Gore's old school.

Bill Forbes (22), the roving photographer caught Dale Crosier (22) in an unconventional pose while visiting him in Mount Dora FL in February. (PHOTO #5, "Bill Forbes & Dale Crosier"). It seems Dale's vintage Lincoln Town Car (Iowa tag USNA 55) needs special attention to fire up on damp mornings. (PHOTO #6, Starting Ritual"). Notice how Dale expertly operates his Mk I, Mod III electric hair dryer (which is always on board) while his wife Alice stands guard over the wooden stick hood prop.

John Roberts (01) wrote about a poignant get-together at Loretta Gammell's house not so long ago:

It seemed like all of us arrived at 1820 East Ocean View Avenue at the same time. But before we could get out of our cars, the few drops of rain hitting our windshields had turned into a gully-washing torrent. Loretta Gammell had invited us over to the house on Chesapeake Bay that Clark had built to have a drink or two and tell a story or two in celebration of Clark's life. The rain cleared and the sky filled with a rainbow brighter and closer than any I've ever seen. If Clark had hand in that one, I can tell you he's not color blind anymore! The day turned beautiful in the late afternooon sun. Loretta described th flags that were flying from Clark's flagpole - shortened by lightning about a year ago. In addition to the stars and stripes there was the flag of Clark's home state, Nevada, and a party flag. We partied... And the winds picked up, and the sky turned black, and the rains came back. We experienced a squall with winds of up to 60 miles per hour. The water of the bay turned black. Then the storm passed almost as quickly as it had come. We enjoyed a buffet supper. As sundown approached, Loretta moved the party over the wet sand dune to the base of Clark's flagpole where we shared some personal memories of Clark, said one prayer, drank a toast and escorted Loretta to the bank of Chesapeake Bay where she cast a wreath into the water as a red sunset played out over Newport News. Music from a bagpipe ended the celebration of Clark's life. Music by a Jamacian band started the evening's activities - designed to mark the end of Loretta's period of mourning and depression. By the time it grew dark, most of us 55'ers had moved on. Joanne and I signed the guest book and slipped away leaving Loretta and a small group of young friends, relatives and neighbors on the porch, swaying to a calypso song illuminated primarily by the ultraviolet light of a bug zapper. Clark built this place for this kind of a party. Had Clark himself overseen the service and not just the rainbow, he would have had the steel drum group play before they polished off all the Jamacian Rum! Clark’s classmates in attendance were: Marleen and Carl Braun (01), Diana and George Delano (23), Pat and Jack Foran (01), Sibyl and Charley Plumly (16), Joanne and John Roberts, Dolly and Brent Streit (10), Lynne and Jim Thearle (09), Karen and Pat Taylor (16), and Carol and Carl Vogel (08).

55 SHIPMATE COLUMN for Oct '98

The Great American Cook-Out, Crab, Chicken & Shrimp Feast, and Outdoor High Jinks Grabasse was a smashing success at Ann & Wes Saunders' Severnside farm this year. Dozens of Classmates came from far and near, most notably far were, Ray Medeiros (03) from Camarillo Ca, Karen & Pat Taylor (16) from Virginia Beach VA, Loretta Gammell from Norfolk VA, Tom Davis (19) from Wilson NC, and Margot & Gary Snyder (01) from Pottstown PA. As usual, all hands departed with doggie bags of left-over chesapeake bay crabs.

For Homecoming, on October 17th this year, we will tailgate in the usual place - Area #3 in the paved Gold portion of the parking lot. After the game with Colgate, we will have a Homecoming Party at Busch's Chesapeake House on Route 50, just outside Annapolis. Don Conner (08) is making the arrangements and out-of-town Classmates who plan to attend should contact him at (410)-974-6310.

The Washington DC/Annapolis contingent has begun serious work on our 45th Reunion which will take place in Annapolis from 19 to 22 October 2000 (non-homecoming). We have two hotels - the waterfront Marriot which is downtown and within walking distance of the Academy, and the Days Inn on Route 50. We plan to follow generally the successful formula at past reunions except our banquet will be on the Friday night before the football game with Rutgers. After the game, there will be a number of small, informal parties on a company or battalion basis. All this is tentative and we need ideas from all Classmates. For input, contact any Class officer or any Washington area Classmate who will pass it along to the Reunion Committee. The Class is sponsoring two cruises in 1999 - one in the Spring or early Summer to Bermuda and the other to the Mediterranean in September. Classmate Ted Hyman (13) and his wife Sandy own S&T Travel in Silver Spring MD and they are arranging both cruises for which plans are in the formative stage at this writing. When schedules are firm, we will publish more information here and on our Listserv, and send a letter to all other Classmates. Paul Sutherland (07) will be leading the pack on the Med Cruise and already has a dozen Classmates signed up.

"Motorhoming It" by Gene Crosby (16):

My wife Jerry and I, along with our 14 year old grandson Bryce, left our home in Live Oak on June 23rd and jumped on a plane in Jacksonville for our trip to Alaska. After changing in St. Louis, we arrived in Anchorage about 9pm (Alaska time) that evening. We rented a motorhome for our first week so that we didn't have to worry with hotel reservations and it gave us much more flexibility in our schedule.

We did a lot of things while we were there. We visited Denali National Park and went on a 6 hour bus tour looking for bear and moose and other wildlife of the four-legged variety. Next, we headed south to Talkeetna for a flight around Mt. McKinley and a landing on Ruth Glacier. For Bryce, this was the highlight of the trip. For Jerry and I, it was exciting even though this was our third time. Our next stop was in Moose Pass and Seward where we visited with some friends Jerry and I made when we hosted a campground near Moose Pass in 1995. We also took a dinner cruise in the Kenai Fjords National Park and saw some Orca and Humpback whales.

Our first week was drawing to a close so we headed back to Anchorage to return the motorhome and rent a car for the second week. Fortunately my sister and her husband have a home just south of Anchorage in Ninilchik and we stayed with them for the second week. While there, we went halibut fishing and had a great time. We all caught our limit but Bryce took the prize with a 62 pounder. That was as big a thrill for me as it was for him.

As I sit here and reflect on the trip and think of all the things we did and the places we went I realize that as exciting as this was, the real pleasure came from being able to be with and communicate with my 14 year old grandson. After dinner, while we were in the motorhome, we had time to just talk with no TV or radio to compete with. What a thrilling experience! I recommend it to anyone.

CHAPTER NEWS. Bill Rentz (09) has been working hard to get the Tri-Cities Chapter (Central Washington) up to speed. They meet the third Friday of every month at 6:30 PM. Guy Grafius (10) informs that the Puget Sound Chapter moves the location of the meetings around the Puget Sound area to give more people a chance to attend. Varied greater Seattle-Everett locations, Kitsap Peninsula and Whidbey Island are examples.

George Martin (16) had a grand week recently:

Daughter Juliet (#6 of 7), born at Sangley Pt., Cavity City, PI, arrived with family for two days. Celebrated both my nephews grand opening of his Napa auto parts store in Bellingham, WA & my coming of Medicare age at my sister's house on the Lumni Indian Reservation, crabbing at low tide for Dungeness crabs. Then we were at the Puget Sound Naval Academy Alumni picnic at the Tacoma Country Club on American Lake near McCord AFB and Ft. Lewis with daughter Julia (#4) and grandson. Unfortunately, no 55'ers there. Temp. 100 Can it get any better than this?

Hal Guffey reports:

In late July, my wife Betsy and I were in Palm Desert, CA. While attending Palm Desert Presbyterian Church on Sunday, I spotted someone three rows ahead who looked a lot like the golfer of our class (one of them, at least). Couldn't remember his name immediately since I hadn't seen nor heard of him since leaving the Academy.

After the service, I caught up with him. It was Jim DeGroff (23) and his wife, Dene. We had a delightful time amidst the boxes they were packing in their home and over lunch at a local restaurant. Jim left the Navy (submarines) in 79? and worked with an engineering company up in the Seattle area. (now retired.) They have had a town house in Palm Desert (the golfing is great) and are now moving to PGA West (the golfing is greater). My best to you all from Colorado Springs.

POTPOURRI. A memory of four years at Mother Bancroft from Heap Nelson (16) - Ziggy Yepez, during plebe year, used to button himself up in his great coat, hang himself on a hook in the closet, and go to sleep. Since he only weighted about 100 pounds, or less, he could do it physically. The other three of us in the room were normal and would have broken something trying it. He was never caught, and we couldn't find anything in the regs regarding this. We always sort of hoped that the OD would catch him at it, just so we could see what reg they would have used to write him up, or if they would. Carl Strang (16) informs that the current (August 98) issue of Upside magazine, in a lengthy feature on Iomega Corp., the maker of the famous Zip drive, refers to our classmate. Get this: "...Led by Chairman David Dunn, Iomega's board set out to find a CEO with a strategy and the right marketing stuff. Dunn, a successful old-school venture capitalist, provided all the seed money for Prime Computer Inc., Storage Technology Corp. and Iomega. The 67-year-old Dunn also happens to be Iomega's biggest shareholder (together with his firm, Idanta Partners Ltd., Dunn owned more than 17% at the time of Iomega's annual meeting this April). The sharp, strong-willed Annapolis graduate is the one who 'really pulls the strings' at Iomega, say some former employees..." Al MacDiarmid (13) has not been in Hawaii in quite some time other than to visit or cruise through. His mailing address is Livingston, TX because "life is too short not to spend it as a Texan". He is what is called a "full timer" - traveling about the continent in his RV or sailing about in his boat. He is presently (July) in Isleton, CA and headed for Port Townsend, WA. He generally spends the winter in Benson, AZ or Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, Mexico. Two pictures from June Week '54 should bring back memories for some. Besides the Pat Taylors, can you recognize them? (PHOTO #1, "The Pat Taylors"; PHOTO #2, "June Week '53").

Conceptual planning for the 45th Reunion has begun. Dates are October 18-22, 2000 and the Saturday football game is with Rutgers. We have over 100 rooms reserved at the Annapolis Marriott which is on the waterfront within walking distance of the Yard. We also have additional rooms reserved at the Days Inn on Route 50 (same as for the 40th). We still have a long way to go - if you have any ideas, put them on our Listserv or call me at (703) 759-7743 or another Washington area Classmate.

All editorial matter, inquiries concerning memberships or subscriptions and change of address of members and subscribers should be addressed to:
U. S. Naval Academy Alumni Assoc.
247 King George Street
Annapolis, MD 21402-5068
Phone: (410) 263-4448
Internet: alumni@artic.nadn.navy.mil