Don't get up. It's just me. I was in the area so I thought I'd stop by for a chat. A cold one? Don't mind if I do, but just one. It puts me to sleep anymore. The weather? Oh, fine, fine. Looks like spring's finally here, cherries blossoming, tourist touring, convertibles converting. What's the good word? Well, I've heard from a few folks, but let's start a new paragraph before I get going.
There, that's better. Got a note from Steve Hampton. I think I still have it on me, yeah, here it is crumpled up in the hip pocket.
"Detached CINCLANTFLT staff 1st week of March. The N8 directorate, Warfare Requirements, was a great group and I will miss them. I'm now in the command pipeline in school at Tactical Training Group Dam Neck Virginia (through March). Two 81ers you might know are in the class, Dave Kern (PCO SAN FRANCISCO) and Bill Drake (PCO COLUMBIA). It gets even better. In the classroom next to us is CCDG-8 staff doing pre-deployment training. Out of that group steps Don (DJ) Marrin. I recognized him from the picture in SHIPMATE with Chip Miller. Sadly for Don, he looks the same as he did when he was a midshipman. He and Val are living in Virginia Beach.
I heard from AB Dickinson. He and Toni are grandparents. Amazing. Toni is in the chocolate business and AB is working for Teledyne in New Hampshire. No ski stories or hockey feats, but he promised more news later.
I go to Newport, RI the PCO leadership course, 19 April, and will stay for the PCO SWOS course through the end of June. Unbelievably, Tilghman Payne is in the same class. Fred Berry doesn't know it yet, but when Tig and I drive up to Newport we will try to stop and see the Berrys. Re-run PXO school from April 94. Re-run of NPGS Monterey 1986-1987. Watch out--old guys who think they're still in their 20s attempt three sports a day. As you may know, all academy 5th company roommates are now going to command. Pat Roane selected last month and is slated for CURTIS WILBUR (Japan), summer 2000. Tilghman goes to NICHOLAS (Norfolk), summer 1999. The civilian aviator, Brian Barton, is a Captain with Northwest (Minneapolis) and flying the left seat. I go to DEYO (vice PETERSON) (Norfolk) and expect the Change of Command to be late October (29th?) 1999. Party planning in progress - all are obviously invited.
Both Cassie and Carlie will swim the spring and summer long-course programs at Fort Eustis swimming team and swim in the summer neighborhood league as well. Carlie just finished playing basketball and has tried out for the "minors" (9 & 10 year olds) softball league. Terrie is kept busy supporting that schedule and doing volunteer work. I still get cycling in on the weekends - Dave Robertson, also slated for command and presently working at COMNAVSURFLANT, rides with me on Sundays. Actually, I just do my best to keep up with him. Hopefully, Dave, Tilghman, Pat and I will be able to do "Cycle Virginia" 25-30 June--about 400 miles over five days. Interested? Call me! If we do it, we will need to get that 81 class flag or an imitation flag like the one Tom "Gurns" Gurney has. (E) swhampton@juno.com. (H)757-833-6437."
What's that? Yeah, sailors. They get around don't they. Sun, salt air--heard it's good for you. Who else? Oh, I have lotsa letters. How 'bout Ben Montoya?
"I’ve been enjoying life in San Diego since leaving active duty in 1986. My wife, Susan, is expecting our 1st (my 2nd) and we’re about to move into a brand new home, which is being built as we speak. Susan and I will celebrate our 5th anniversary this December. We both work for Sempra Energy, parent company of San Diego Gas & Electric. She’s a business technologist (computers) and I am a Senior Engineer in Gas Planning. My main function is testifying before the California Public Utilities Commission to justify our natural gas facilities for cost allocation and rate design. My son, David (14), lives with his mother in Washington state and will be participating in a national judo tournament in San Diego this summer. Life’s been great and we’ve got a couple of spare rooms in the new house if any 81ers are swinging through sunny San Diego. Golf course is right down the street. (H) 2452 Eagle Valley Drive, Chula Vista, CA 91914. (E) sambam@msn.com. (H) 619-421-3058. (W) 619-547-2051."
Wait, there's more from Cecil Davis.
"I’ve changed jobs and email addresses. I am now the VP of Legal and Regulatory Affairs of Nextlink Georgia, Inc. It’s the GA affiliate of Nextlink Communications, a national telecommunications company that provides services for small to medium sized businesses. (E) cdavis@nextlink.net. (W) 4000 Highlands Parkway, Smyrna, GA 30082. (W) 678-444-4401. I am getting married April 9, 1999 to Melissa Herndon of Nashville, TN. She has lived here in Atlanta for the past several years and we plan to stay here for the foreseeable future."
Congrats, Cecil, and may those winds stay inside the foul poles and the seas chase after you. BTW, did you catch that shot of Fuzz and his motor last month? Yeah, kinda yellowed and grainy, but that's how a lot of us feel these days. Folks ask me about photos, too, so I'll tell 'em. Electronic pix must be scanned at 300 dpi, 28 picas (about 4.75 inches) wide and in black and white. Otherwise send hard copies.
Hey, here's one you haven't heard from in an eternity and a half, PJ Ryan. What a guy. Lent me his 280-ZX once when he was restricting and my Spitfire was flattened so I could go over the wall to see my girl. I never told him, but I left her place up near Baltimore kinda late that night and ended up drag racing some high schoolers in a Chevelle SS down Rte 2. I lost 'em when I topped out at 105 in Arnold (sorry, PJ). Scared me to death. Drove like a grandmother (no offense, AB) the rest of the way back. Anyway, here's PJ.
"I’ve been living outside of Baltimore since January 1994 and have been very busy lately. My time is divided between being a single Dad to Sean, 11, and Kevin, 10, my daytime job as a sales rep at a local systems integrator and my temporary night job managing workstation and server installations in MD and VA NationsBanks. Luckily, I do the night project management from home. The hours remind me of the years as a JO at sea. Best email is pat@gwtech.com since I check it all the time. I can also be reached at pjr911011@aol.com, but I haven’t had time to check that one much lately."
Got one from John Barnhill's wife, Vicki, too.
"Just a short note to give you our new email address, jvbarnhill@earthlink.net. John takes command of SAN JUAN on 26 March. Life is very busy with Paul, 18 months, Wesley, 4.5 years, and getting ready for the big day. As you know, boat life is different from DC.
Hey, whaddaya think about our the caption for our 1st Class Flag streamer. Remember, Dave Jackson took it to Antarctica? He says the guys down there like, 'Ski the Pole, one inch powder, two mile base.' Yeah, I like it, too. Wait, I have another note in the shirt pocket here. It's from Nick Madigan's wife, Maureen.
"We have three children, Michael, 5, Jimmy, 3, and Kate, 1. Nick takes the boys out sailing in a little Lehman 12 dingy that we race in the summer/winter and they seem to enjoy the sport like their Dad. Nick and Michael have won the parent and child "Flight of the Lasers" two years in a row."
Got another line dropped from a non-alum named Barry Smith. Seems he's researching the history of VF-84, the Jolly Rogers, from the late WWII era (post-April 1944) through the present. He's looking for folks who flew with VF-84 between May 1959 and 29 Sep 1995. These guys would've flown either the FJ-3 Fury, F-8 Crusader, F-4 Phantom II, or F-14 Tomcat. If that shoe fits you, reach Barry at (E)jasons@ktc.com. (H)830-997-5862. (W)830-997-2418.
Yes, I know it's not you. I was talking to the assembled eyes. Hey, have you heard from Al Scott or Stu Forsyth? I have photos for them and I've lost track. They were both around DC a while back, but now they're gone. If you run across them, let me know. Oh, and remember Dave Kroupa--with the red hair? There was a picture of him in April, but the text got lost. He's still with the PHICO Group, son, David's a four handicap and daughter, Jenna's growing up fast. I think he said he was heading back to south FL.
Well, I won't wear out my welcome, but here's one more tale. I was cleaning out 30 years of photos a while back and came across a few from my Cleveland Browns days. I'd stand on the sidelines at track meets cheering and taking pictures. Life's tough when you're thick-thighed and slow-footed. Anyway, I sent two to Frank Moreman and he wrote back.
"There is a story behind the pictures that I thought you might enjoy hearing. To refresh your memory, the pictures were taken on Thompson Field at the Outdoor Track dual meet with Army during Plebe Year. There was a complicated calculation to award varsity letters. One had to participate in 3/4s of the dual meets as a varsity runner and place (1st, 2nd, 3rd) in 3/4s of the meets in which you ran. Basically, you had to score in ½ of the meets. There was one exception. If you scored in the Army-Navy meet and Navy won, you automatically earned a varsity letter.
Anyway, I was on the varsity team, but had not scored in enough meets to qualify for a letter. Against Army that day, I had run the intermediate hurdles, but did not score. The meet came down to the wire with Army ahead and only the mile relay to go. If we won the relay, we would Beat Army (Sir!) and if not . . . I was not scheduled to run, but Coach Gherdes always had five runners warm up for relays in case a scheduled runner came up lame. I was the alternate.
Jeff Colvin ’80 was our best 400M runner and was anchoring. The other runners were Pat Bailey ’81, Bruce Prutzman ’79, and Terry Mack ’80. I was standing next to Jeff as he was set to take the baton. Our team was easily 100 yards in the lead. At the last possible second, Coach Gherdes said, "Frank, you take the baton." Both Jeff and I looked up surprised, but there wasn’t time to ask questions. Jeff stepped off the track and I stepped on, just in time to receive the baton from Pat. The pictures show me taking the baton and crossing the finish line—relieved and a varsity letterman. That was the last race on Thompson Field before it was demolished to make way for Lejeune Hall. I like to tell people that I was the last Navy runner to run on Thompson Field, but not the last runner—Army had that honor."
And with that, I gotta go. Gotta hit the store before the lotto goes off. It's up to $190 mil, you know. Make for a heck of a Class project, wouldn't it? Anyway, thanks for the beer and the ear. See 'ya 'round August. Later, Chic .