Attention on deck!
Be seated. Ladies and gentlemen, I've called this briefing to update you on our situation as of 02 Jul 99. First, I'll give an overview of the operation's general progress and then we'll get into specifics from some of our forward deployed operatives world-wide. In essence, things are unchanged since my last SITREP. We remain on course to reach Channel Marker 20 on schedule in approximately 12 to 13 months. Meteorology. Give us an update.
Fortunately, Sir, to date we've been mostly blessed with nothing approaching gale force winds and Sea State One or Two with the current mostly at our stern--ideal sailing conditions and, I might add, we've had a much easier time of it than one or two previous Task Forces . . . TF79 comes to minds--viri ominous weather from the start for those boys. Still, they've radioed back and have Marker 20 on radar. That is all.
Well, I just hope they don't ram the dang thing, bend a bow plate and ruin it for the rest of us. Medical. What's the latest?
Well, Sir, I regret to report that I've seen improvement from the disturbing trend that I first ID'd about five years. I'm continuing to diagnose severe graying around the temples or salt 'n pepper effect in many of the crew although, in some I've seen almost total elimination of original hair color with folicular and even dermatological hues shifting to a somewhat lighter shade of pale, even among submariners although, in that community, symptoms are limited to those who actually still have hair. Worse, still, I've begun to notice an acceleration of the musculo-gravitational effect that was first evidenced at about the same time. If you recall, Sir, inflicted individuals show an alarming shift of abdominal circumference from the chest area to the waist area and the condition seems to be irreversible despite increases and decreases in physical exertion and caloric intake, respectively. In some of these patients, I have even begun to notice increased stress levels although I've found that either psychological acceptance reconditioning or large dosages of alcohol can negate that effect.
Well, Doctor, that's certainly not good news, but, as long as these conditions don't affect the mission, we'll just have to live with them.
Now, ladies and gentlemen, we have a brief from Willy Hilarides out in Pearl. Willy.
Thank you, Sir. I'm still in command of KEY WEST, but unfortunately in drydock. I operated for about nine months and then began a 13-month overhaul so I won't be running aground for the next few months. I'm supposed to complete next April, but I'm not holding my breath. Command is great, even in the drydock. The people, as you know, are what make it worth doing and I'm getting a full measure of that. The family is doing well. Ben, 10, just got braces and starts his second season of football (American, not soccer). He is a handful. Candice is seven - is that possible? - and Brownies and soccer keep her busy. They love Hawaii - especially the beach and the idea that you can play outside every day of the year. Bev is doing ok. She has not quite adjusted to leaving her dream house in Virginia, but I'm sure we will be back there soon. I am one of those idiots who actually doesn't mind the Pentagon.
Outstanding. Outstanding. Now, that's what I call a good briefing--not too long, not too short, hits the highlights, doesn't leave anyone out. Well done, Hilarides.
Our next briefer was in transit when the slides were prepared so I'll cover his data myself. Let's see. John McCandlish. VFA-97 Change of Command. June 25th. NAS Lemoore. Next duty station is National War College, Fort McNair, Washington, DC.
Any questions? Good because the next one's about the same. It says Greg Nosal, outgoing CO, VFA-82. Tom Gurney, incoming CO. Change of Command. August 5th. NAS Cecil Field. What's this? Last change of command ever at Cecil because they're closing the dang thing. Well, I'll be a sonofasonofasailor! Another one probably turned into a National Park or condos or something. Why can't we ever have a few good bad guys come over the walls once in a while to shore things up. Whaddaya mean, it's an oxymoron? But I digress. If you'll all turn toward the teleconference screen, we'll have Stu Bailey via satellite here shortly. Yes, there he is.
I am CO of VF-154, the Black Knights. We are the only F-14 squadron assigned to Carrier Air Wing Five and are embarked on KITTY HAWK currently in the Arabian Gulf. Our homeport is Yokosuka, Japan with the airwing living in and flying out of Atsugi. I have two great daughters and my wife, Sue. We should be moving back to the Norfolk area in September after my change of command.
Wait, Stu, you're fading in and out. Well, a little electro-magnetic reentry problem there. I hope he didn't have more. Well, who's next? Kennington? Roger. You're on, Bob.
Thank you, Sir. I'd like to update everyone on the Class of '81 Yahoo Club. Mark Hyman became the 70th club member on June 18th. Our goal is to have at least 100 members by homecoming and, who knows, the rest of the Class by the time we hit Marker 20. No, Sir, I didn't mean that literally. The Yahoo Club is great interface. It saves time, is free, and requires very little effort to use. An occasional browse a couple of times a year will probably be enough. It's easy to use, user driven, is accessible from any PC with an Internet connection, and requires no webmaster skills to maintain. You can even use the club invite feature if you know of other classmates who like to join. Just add http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/usnaclassof1981 to your bookmarks/favorites and remember your Yahoo! ID and password. After that, it's just pointing and clicking. I'm at rkennington@yahoo.com if you have questions.
And you thought good CommOs were hard to come by. Not so. Well, we'll close out this month's brief with a few quick PowerPoint slides and a couple of JPGs from Bob Perry.
On May 3rd, I surfaced HAWKBILL at the North Pole for the second time in less than a year. We have now completed our second scientific mission to the Arctic and are in Fort Lauderdale, FL. HAWKBILL will circumnavigate North America and return to Pearl Harbor on 01 July. It was a distinct honor to carry our Class Flag to the North Pole.
Sorry there's not more, folks. Bob was a man of few words this month, but I'd say the graphics speak volumes. BZ, Bob, BZ.
Before we adjourn, please note the change in home port info at the top of the briefing. Leesburg to Purcellville--kinda like Norfolk to Little Creek only hillier. Work phone's no big deal either. Same company, different building.
That is all.
Attention on deck!
Dismissed.
Man, I thought he'd never shut up. It was getting a little stuffy in there and all my khakis have salt stains in the pits from the humidity . . . or is it the heat?
No kidding, man. And those three Big N's I slammed for lunch hit me hard. I almost nodded off during all that change of command stuff. Why can't they just list them in the POD? Hey, what's that gray stuff around your temple?
Nothing, it's just dust from down in the spaces.
Later, Chic