We are up to our eyeballs in boxes. It is not that we are victims of some random act of cardboard, this crisis is self-inflicted. Not satisfied with our current quarter acre of Eden, 45 minutes from a paycheck, the likes of which seem to sate the ambitions of so many other greater Washington suburbanites, my lovely (and talented) spouse and I have opted to venture still further afield to a former farmer's field there to set down (semi?) permanent roots on just under three and a half acres of ex-cattle pasture. Now the cash will be just over an hour away, but the trade-off seems to be worth it, despite the packing.
First, had my 8-year old attended next year's school this year, she would have had 15 classmates vice 26 with her siblings experiencing similar reductions in student/teacher ratios. Second, the neighbors will now be a 3-minute stroll away instead of window-to-window hand shake distance. Third, I can tell the kids to go play in the street and not worry. Fourth, mountain views, 360. Fifth, on starry, starry nights, we'll be able to . . . well, see the stars.
However, on the coins other side lies the purchase of a third vehicle, not road-ready, but essential none-the-less. By the time you read these words, I will be astride a piece of Americana, a 20 hp, liquid cooled, John Deere 345 with hydraulic, 54" cutting deck, automatic transmission, cruise control, tilt wheel and an umbrella to keep the sun from broiling my 39-acre body. Tim the Tool Man will be proud and I will submit a picture. Address and home phone will change next month, but what's above should forward.
But enough about me, huh? How 'bout those other folks? Folks from whom you haven't heard in a while (and from some you have). How about Louis Cooper now back in the fold?
"It wasn’t until I read the last paragraph (of a recent column) that it occurred to me that I might be one of the "lost" people on your list. To recap, duty aboard SEAWOLF (SSN 575) was a typical mixture of boredom and terror. I think I managed to experience just about every submarine engineering emergency that a boat can throw at you. Usually these occurred at awkward moments and locations which would have been white-knuckled enough even without the added excitement. Anyway, lots of sea stories even though I left the Navy in 1986 after only my first tour. I then went to Harvard Business School, graduating in 1988 and have spent the last 10 years as an investment banker in mergers and acquisitions at Morgan Stanley and, briefly, at Deutsche Morgan Grenfell. Currently I have struck out on my own and am starting up a hedge fund that will specialize in making public and private investments in steel and steel-related companies.
I married Susan Berger-Jones, an architect and writer, whom I met while we were at the Boat School, so some of you may remember her. We have been enjoying life in The Big Apple, sailing and kayaking from our house on Shelter Island and periodically embracing nature and native populations in faraway places. The attached picture is of Susan and me on latrine duty on the bank of the Niger river somewhere between Mopti and Timbuktu.
It's been so easy to let the years slip by and to lose touch with people that meant a lot to me. I would look forward to making up for the lost time. Drop me a line at louis@jacksadullboy.com. 170 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, NY 11201, (H) 718-625-3191, (F) 718-875-7098."
Louis has a sailboat, too, and I'm going to take him up on his offer to load it with my children and capsize it off of the Hamptons . . . near some rich industrialist's place. But, alas, that will have to wait until after a word from Dave Sperling's folks via Jim Ahlgrimm.
"We have an item you might be interested in not only for the Class, but also for friends. Sue Ehlers, wife of Mark A. Ehlers '78 (who was killed about 18 months ago) has started a fund raising 5K run here in Pensacola to build a Peacekeepers Memorial to the Servicemen and Women that have died in the service to their country, but not in action. This is the 5K's 2nd year and, hopefully, it will continue annually. I'm just a volunteer helper to check people in, hand out water, food and general "go-fer." When the money is raised, the memorial will be erected down at the Vietnam Wall, South Memorial Park, downtown Pensacola. The Park is a beautiful setting right at the edge of Escambia Bay overlooking the 3-mile bridge to Pensacola Beach. This was just a thought I had that maybe some of your classmates might have a couple of dollars left after Uncle Sam's Infernal Revenue Department gets through with them that they might like to chip in with names of their classmates on the Memorial. Please send donations to the LCDR Mark A. Ehlers Peacekeepers Memorial Foundation, c/o Mrs. Sue Ehlers, 850-432-7423 or peapie944@aol.com. She is in the process of moving to a smaller place, raising their three children and finishing up her degree so she is a busy young woman. If you could just pass this on, maybe it will help Sue. She is the first one to admit that she needs all the help she can get in starting something like this, but she says that a memorial of this kind is needed for the folks who did give their lives for their country in peacetime. Let us know when your next reunion is. We will be back in Annapolis in 2002 for Dave's 50th. Egads, where did the time go? Judy and Dave Sperling '52. dsperl9977@aol.com."
In my case, the time has gone west with the sun, marking the end of yet another Memorial Day weekend of grilled meat, chilled swimming pools and emailed greetings like this one from Rod Adams.
"You got the attention of at least one more pair of eyes with your April column. Even with the receding hair lines, I recognized all of the submarine COs as former classmates, squadron mates, or shipmates. It is great to see that they are all serving in the best job the Navy has to offer.
It has been quite some time since I sent an update. Jan, Danica (15), Brianne (14) and I have been living in the Tampa Bay area since I left active duty in 1993. The girls love the area, enjoy their schools and appreciate the fact that I have not asked them to leave their friends for a long time.
I spent the first three years of my civilian career trying to sell an idea that my friends tell me is slightly ahead of its time. I don't want to bore people here, but details of that endeavor are available at www.aidoann.com/aae/. The company I started is still alive and we are patiently biding our time until demand catches up to the product that we supply.
For the last three years, I have been working as the General Manager of a plastic injection molding company that makes toys, medical supplies, novelty items and boat parts. It was a great learning experience. In November 1998, I began drilling with the Naval Reserve Unit of COMUSNAVCENT, the Navy component of CENTCOM, with responsibility for our forces in the Middle East. The work that the unit does is so interesting that I accepted a recall to active duty to be the Exercise/Wargame Coordinator (N75) to fill a gapped billet. Since being assigned to NAVCENT 108, I have had contact with several classmates and Academy friends.
Bob Greene '82 and I traveled together to Bahrain for our annual training. He is still able to run me into the ground even though he claims to be working 70 hour weeks as a production manager for FP&L and is the father of four active kids. Where does he find the time? While in Bahrain, I ran into Chuck Chandonnet, who is supervising the construction of several major additions to ASU Bahrain. Craig Arnt and I drilled together a couple of times at NAVCENT before he accepted a 2-year recall to be the Naval liaison officer in Kuwait. Mike Wilson and I are neighbors for the first time since we both lived in 7th Wing. Our daughters ride the same bus to middle school. His son plays baseball in the Little League where I serve as President and we carpool to our drill weekends. Mike flies for Federal Express and his lovely (and talented) wife Debbie works at the local elementary school. Jan and I always love to hear from our Academy friends. Contact: 345 Waterford Circle E, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689, (H) 727-942-3308, (F) 727-944-2849, (E) atomicrod@aol.com.
And now, a short word from the weatherman.
Fred Tettelbach sends "A quick note since I touched base a year ago. I figured that I needed to "reconnect" since my transfer across the Potomac River. As you can tell from my long title, "Director, Surface and Non-Acoustic ASW Programs," I now work in the Navy Secretariat for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Mine/Undersea Warfare. I'll be in the Pentagon until summer 2000 when I hope to get a METOC command. Since the last time I emailed, we have added to our family with the birth of Hunter Ford on 16 Aug 98. Karen and I have our hands full with Jackson (2 1/2) and Hunter. How do outnumbered parents do it?" (W) 703-614-4582 (E) tettelbach.fred@hq.navy.mil.
As you can see, I'm putting little effort into this column. My arms are tired from lifting boxes containing strange and interesting memorabilia from days gone by. For instance, I found complete collections of not only every Shipmate I ever received, but every Log Magazine, too, some a little water damaged from a septic incident some years back, but legible nonetheless. Still, for one who was never blessed with a chest, it was a chore staging them for the trip to western Loudoun.
But I digress from Mark Rodgers who writes "We'll be moving up into your neck of the proverbial woods this summer. I'm working at AT&T in Oakton (VA) and will be building a house in Purcellville shortly (we'll be neighbors, Mark). Looking forward to NOT moving for about 15 years (moi, aussi). Then we boot the kids out, sell the mansion, buy a motor home, and go cruising in luxury. Well . . . that's the plan. Anyway, I was at work a few weeks ago and I heard my name from one of the third floor lounge areas. Not recognizing the voice or knowing why anyone above the basement would know of my existence, I peered through the nicely potted ficus trees and, lo and behold, there was my old company mate, Freddy Rietzel, starting his very first day with AT&T. He's in some sort of sales/business development position and I'm designing deployable communications systems. Small world!"
Haven't forgotten about the boat howitzers, Mark. Class projects are slow moving things. BTW, isnt' "some sort of sales/business development position" a metaphor for Fred's life? (Moi, aussi, Fred). BTW2, do you know that there is an RV Chapter of USNAAA? Check out the pages just before Last Call. Now, to finish things with two from 1st Co. First, Doug DeBode.
"After my P-3 community was "down-sized" some years back, and with it about 50% of the NFOs by not going back for Department Head tours), I got into the controller world and went to Antarctica. I was the Controller for Deep Freeze and then the Force OpsO for my last year when a '78 CDR rolled. Dave Jackson was just coming in as the PXO when I was rolling out to what turned out to be my final year on active duty. I got orders back to Norfolk/Virginia Beach where I retired from the AIRLANT staff last October 1st. I've seen a few folks. Mark Newcomb is the Force JAG at AIRLANT. We got out in the USNAAA-HRC golf outing last fall. Jim McMurtry was on PCU TRUMAN in February 1998. A few others, too, but my old memory is slipping a bit." (E) debode5@atel.net. Doug has three boys with college just around the corner for the oldest.
And now, Joe Bridge, written around Easter in Guam or Korea (deleted the email), the point being that it was somewhere far from San Bernardino.
"Traveling in support of the Navy (active and reserve) as I have for the past 22 years, sometimes (like now) I am thousands of miles away from home and loved ones performing to the nautical axiom, "The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war." Sitting in the 1000 Easter service at the NAVSTA gave me pause to stop, remember, and reflect. Little things like today's bell choir take me to "Friendly Fridley," MN where my cousin Joyce will be tolling the same bells in her neck of the woods by the time most of you read this. The Chaplain's request is for all of us to remember and pray for the safe release of my Army comrades captured and being detained in Central Europe. Whatever your religious affiliation, current events not withstanding, I would like to wish you the opportunity to reflect on the goodness we call "America." With all her flaws, she is a beacon in the night to so many people. May God grant us the wisdom to steer the right course. Regards, Joe."
And with that, dear assembled eyes, I leave you for a scant two fortnights after which we'll reunite for another go at it. Until then, please contemplate these three words of 3rd Grade wisdom offered for your betterment: (1) Better to be safe than punch a 5th Grader; (2) If you lie down with dogs, you'll stink in the morning, and; (3) Love all, trust me.
Later, Chic.