Here it is almost all the way to month #12. So far, it was a very good year, from my perspective. Your mail volume’s made scribing relatively easy. It’s nice work if you can get it. Take this month, for instance. Given that I promised to write words mail or no mail, come rain or come shine, I went to the emailbox saying to the emailman, "Please be kind," and, don’tcha know, he was. Case in point, live from NORVA (my kind of town) a note from Kevin "Tex" Taylor (27th Co.).
"Peggy and I along with our daughter, Amy (8), are currently in VA Beach where I’m finishing up a tour at COMNAVAIRLANT. I’m an EDO and am headed to HARRY S. TRUMAN as Chief Engineer. HOOAH - hard to beat a brand new CVN. Prior to this, was stationed at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton. We came to call the small town of Poulsbo, WA home and hope to return there someday when the Navy thing is done. We also had tours in Monterey, Yokosuka (where we adopted Amy), Newport, and San Diego, where we were married in 1986.
Over the years we have run into many classmates and stay in touch with some. Chuck Greene (35) is a pilot for NW Airlines living in Kirkland, WA with his wife, Shawn, and three children. When not on a trip, he runs a payphone services company--a true entrepreneur. We did some great camping and fishing trips while I was in the great NW. Steve "Stretch" Moran (27) lives in Clifton, VA with Carolyn and three beautiful daughters. He sells software and database stuff to the government for Tivoli. Dave Wagner is at AIRLANT. Ran into Mike Sherlock and Bob "RIP" Schrader in Newport a couple of weeks ago. Sherls is headed to XO/CO of a VT squadron in Meridian. Had the opportunity to see his wife Sue again and meet their beautiful new daughter. RIP is headed to XO/CO of a VC squadron at NAS Norfolk. Also ran into Gerry Heuber who is headed to command of a DDG in San Diego. Jeanne and Ray Van Gunten (27) live in Findlay, OH where they took over his dad’s construction business. Bill Tate, where are you (a question all inquiring minds wanna know)? Last I saw of Taters was in a bar in Subic in 1990. An ugly state of affairs it was. Ran into Henry Holt and Ted Morse here in Norfolk. Both fly for airlines and have places down at the beach. Heard Ted was recently married (you heard right). I’d love to hear from any old friends. Email: xmqj32a@prodigy.com or cheng@truman.navy.mil."
Wow, carrier CHENG, Tex’ll be up night and day. Still, he’s probably been CHENG before and it’s always easier the second time around.
Now here’s a note from someone who put off writing for a while then finally looked himself in the mirror and said, "Let’s face the music and dance" and he did. Blowning in on the summer wind, it’s Ed Gehrke:
"Seeing my name in print in the July/August issue, I figured I’d come in from the outdoors, fire up the computer and send in an update. I’m currently stationed in Brunswick, ME for the 4th time. We (Kellie, Adam, 4, and Isaiah, 1) love it. I’m currently running the East Coast SERE School, a great job for someone who loves the outdoors--12,000 acres of prime ME mountain country, AK-47s, M-60s, big trucks, and all sorts of guy stuff. My SEALS and Marines have whipped me into shape, 20 mile runs and open ocean swimming are hobbies.
Unfortunately, I’m going to let my snow cave melt and leave the mountains shortly. I’m starting my training track in October to become XO of Naval Recruiting District NY in December (HQ on Long Island, 10 miles from where I grew up). Although my short lived lacrosse career at USNA was less than stellar, I still love the game and plan to help recruiting for USNA LAX and other sports.
By the way, Don Logar and I were roommates during our tour at COMCARGRU TWO. I’m sure "Lumpy" hasn’t forgotten those lovely days on the Staff from Hell. Cheers, Ed. (gehrke@netquarters.net)."
Ed also mentioned that he’d just gotten back from a 4-day family camping trip, sleeping under the stardust and that old devil moon, but get this, they only took three sleeping bags. Ed slept "out." Talk about young at heart. Talk about someone who loves his job.
Flying south for the winter is Dave Jackson, CO of VXE-6. Dave’s spending New Year’s (and a chunk of time on either side of it) chillin’ at the pole. He can be reached at VXE-6, PSC 469, APO AP 96599. Home address: 1208 Rigel Drive, Pt. Mugu, CA 93041. Email: vxe6co@icehouse.mugu.navy.mil. The icehouseman goeth . . .
From the "Come Fly With Me" department, got an official notice entitled "VAQ-132 Scorpions Hold Change of Command" that reads as follows:
"CDR Randall J. Laws, USN, relinquished command of the currently deployed VAQ-132 Scorpions to CDR David B. Woods, USN, onboard USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69) August 29th, 1998. The ceremony was held during a port visit to Dubrovnik, Croatia. Captain Denby Starling, new Commanding Officer was the guest speaker." More cream risen to the top. BZ, Dave!
Am I done? No, wait, there’s one more. It’s from Craig Klein out in San Diego with daughter, Dorothy (13), and son, Andrew (9). Craig writes:
"As a member of the San Diego chapter of the Alumni Association, I had the opportunity to volunteer to help with registration at the recent Service Academy Career Conference (SACC) here in San Diego. While there, I ran into Alex Bragado who gave me the following information, wife, Nancy, married four years, daughters, Julia, 2 and a half, and Christina, 5 months. Alex works for the City of San Diego as the Deputy Director of Finances in the Developmental Services Department, 619-236-6388, nbragad1@san.rr.com.
The SACC seemed to be a huge success. It is all coordinated by the USNAAA. Marcie Wilson and her staff did a fantastic job. BZ! The SACCs are held twice a year, across the country. Any classmates looking for career transition information or assistance should make plans to attend one." Craig works at WMA Securities. Craig’s contact info: 5575 Ruffin Rd. #110, San Diego, CA 92123. (W) 619-874-2353, (V) 619-680-3818, (E) wmasd@yahoo.com.
Speaking of yahoos, got a note the other day from one Gregg Hobbie, Esquire with accompanying photo of Jared, 3 months, Drew, 4.5 years, and Brigid on her birthday. Seems Gregg’s been to law school and back, successfully I might add. Dang! I need to order more B’s and Z’s. I just hit the low limit. Gregg’s at (W) 732-544-1100, email: ghjd@aol.com.
Contact info update. Seems Katherine (Engleman) DuGene did reconsider her career and ditched it for a hitch in Newport with hubby, John. Forget those other numbers for now and just remember kdugene@hotmail.com.
Now it’s the wee small hours of the morning and I’m fresh outta mail, but that’s life. Still, the best is yet to come ‘cause I have a school spirit related pitch for you. It all started when I was flipping through the other Class Secy’s columns reassuring myself that my stuff’s head ‘n shoulders above theirs when it struck me that Boat Schoolers sure do travel a lot, even after they get out. We’re probably going to be just like the rest of them so why not sorta keep track of all the places we’ve been. "But how?" you ask. Simple, I reply, just show the flag when you get there. "We have a flag?" you ask. Sho’ ‘nuff.
So here’s the plan for your perusal/action. If you’re headed some place interesting or out of the way, let me know. I’ll arrange to have the ‘81 flag sent to you. Then you take the flag to the interesting or out of the way place and have someone take your picture (with the flag) when you get there. Send me the picture and it’ll go into Shipmate. Sound easy? It is. It’s not like I’m asking you to fly me to the moon. You can fly (or sail or drive) anywhere you want, just take the flag and "show it" when you get there. Then we’ll all get a kick out of you a few months later.
Wait, there’s more. After you’re back with the flag, we’ll make a "battle streamer" that says where the flag went, when it went, and who took it. We’ll tack the streamer onto the flag and, by the time we’re all gray and stooped over, it should be streamer central. You can come to tailgaters and admire your handiwork and say, "Hey, I’m the one who got us that Everest streamer and they can’t take that away from me . . . here’s the finger I lost to frostbite to prove it." Maybe we can donate it (the flag, not the finger) to the museum after we’re gone so future classes can appreciate how we got around . . . just a thought.
Now, then, it’s time to execute. We can’t do this half way, it’s all or nothing at all. Dave Jackson’s already at the South Pole, flag in hand and I have ‘81 bubble heads everywhere checking out who’ll next surface up north in Santa land. Brent Jett’s gonna be shuttle Mission Commander next August with the flag as part of the payload. Now, it’s your turn. "But where could I show the flag?" you ask. How ‘bout on a foggy day, in London town? How ‘bout in New York, New York? How ‘bout at Napoleon’s tomb or at the Parthenon or the Great Wall or the Corn Palace or the Alamo or the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on Oscar night as the stars stroll by or in the Bay of Fundy at low tide. Famous people will work, too. How ‘bout you ‘n the flag with the Joint Chiefs or the Supreme Court or the Spice Girls or the Queen Mother or Nancy (with the laughing face) or Jerry Seinfeld or Mark McGwire or the Dali Llama or Fidel Castro, or the girl next door (if she’s famous), you know, use your imagination. All ideas are welcome. There’s no such thing as somethin’ stupid, but think big and think different. So don’t pass that perfect idea by--like strangers in the night--and remember, the suggestions above are just that, suggestions. You don’t have to do it my way.
I’ll stop now, but, as I leave you let me thank you for you patience and attention and thank you, too, Francis Albert, it was a nice ride.
Later, .