editor’s desknavalweather.org/images/2013-05_aerograph.pdffrom the president i was saddened to...
TRANSCRIPT
FROM THE PRESIDENT I was saddened to hear that Don Cruse and Vince Roper have gone to be with their Father in Heaven. Marge and Robbie and their families are in Carol and My prayers. All concerned with making input to The Aerograph received word from our editor that he needed that input by April 8th so he could publish the May issue early. He wanted to give NWSA members one last reminder to register for Reunion #39 in Las Vegas. This issue will reach all who receive The Aerograph, by email or read it on line, time to make reservations for the Reunion. So make your hotel reservations and contact Alan Davis to let him know you will be attending. Alan can help you get registered for the Reunion. This may sound like a broken record, but we still need one of you to volunteer for the position Scholarship Chair. Please contact 1st VP Mike Gilroy for information on this position. Our Secretary/Treasurer, Libby O’Brien, has confirmed that she will run for another two-year term to ensure a smooth transition with her relief in the event the two-year President’s term is passed at Reunion #40. It has been my pleasure to serve as your President during this past year, and I look forward to the leadership our officers’ elect President Mike Gilroy, 1st VP James Maxwell, 2nd VP Alan Davis, and Secretary/Treasurer Libby O’Brien will bring us in the coming year.
CWO4 Bill Bowers, USN RET NWSA President
Volume 37, Issue 2 May, 2013
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
be able to work around that. I will be talking to two of our members that said they could handle that duty for serve the NWSA in that capacity. He is not sure about bulk mailing of the printed issues, but we will Aerograph information to him instead of Charlie.
We also need to replace Mike Gilroy as chair of the scholarship committee. I have been in touch with a couple members to fill that position, but will gladly accept any volunteers that might want to apply. The primary concern of the scholarship chair will be to ensure the AMS issues scholarships according to our agreement with them, and to find ways to raise money for the scholarship fund.
I hope this will be an exciting year for the Association in reaching out to our members and to those we have not heard from for a few years. We will be looking at a three-fold plan to reach our objectives:
1) Improve Association Outreach and Communications
2) Increase first time attendees at NWSA Functions
3) Improve fundraising and donations for the scholarship program
I have appointed 1st VP Mike Gilroy to lead this effort.
Mike will be contacting our Chapters’ leadership to seek feedback and assistance to make this effort successful. I ask you to give us a hand and help revitalize our Association by renewing old friendships and making new ones. Look for information from Mike Gilroy on the subject.
As you will see in the Association Officers section I still have a few positions to fill but I’m positive they will be filled before the November issue.
Once again, I look forward to working with you and ask for cooperation with all we strive to accomplish.
CWO-4 Bill Bowers, USN RET
NWSA President
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
President’s Report 1
Attention on Deck 2
Sec/Treas. Report 2-3
Editor’s Desk 3
Association Officers 3-4
My Best Experiences… 4-5
Binnacle List 5-6
NWSA Reunion Survey 6-7
Letters 7-8
Travel Via the Moon 8-9
Chapter’s News 9-16
In Remembrance 16-21
Articles 21-27
Reunion #39 Las Vegas 27-29
Conclusion of “Arctic Adventure
2012” 30-31
NWSA App. & Back Cover 32
Naval Weather Service
Association
http://www.navalweather.org
2
Attention on Deck!
Now is a good time to begin receiving your
Aerograph by email or downloading it from
www.navalweather.org
A review of our printed edition mailing list suggests
a lot of members may be getting duplicate copies,
one by email and another in snail mail. The lists
shows a number of our members use email and are
use to getting documents electronically but still
receiving a print copy. Help us refine our
distribution.
We are committed to serve our membership in the
best manner and want to reassure anyone who
prefers a printed copy that they will continue to
receive one in the mail. It is important that we hear
from you if we are to be able to provide the most
effective service.
There are three ways to receive your Aerograph:
1. Via: email (quicker and in color)
2. Via : regular USPS mail (slower and in black
and white dues to costs)
3. 3.Via: the website (always available, avoids
large email files, color)
Currently we mail over 339 print copies per edition!
This takes considerable effort produce and cost to
the association. Please help us by updating your
preference by emailing
([email protected]) or by
sending the Secretary-Treasurer a card or letter
confirming you wish to continue receive a printed
copy in the mail(now or when you renew your
membership). See form on last page.
Thanks from your Aerograph TEAM!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Submitted by LCDR Mike Gilroy, USN RET and NWSA
1st Vice President 2012-2013
Well, here it is time for another Aerograph to be published, which means I have work to do!! I guess I had best get to the task at hand so that Gary will have his input before the deadline. Since I’m speaking of Gary, I would like to say a special “Thanks” for the work he is doing with the Aerograph and website. I think he is doing an excellent job. Since this will be the last Aerograph before the reunion I’d like to say I’m hoping to see some new faces in Las Vegas in May. Oh, it will be nice to see the “old” faces too!! I know Alan is putting a lot of time and effort into making this a great reunion. Remember, he is a “One-Man” show and doing a great job, I might add. Pat and I are really looking forward to Vegas and all the neon lights. It promises to be a good time for all. Currently, we have 532 members. Since my last report we have 4 new Life Members, CDR Tom Scheidel, USN RET; xAG2 Terry Fouch, USN REL; xAG2 Berl Meyer, USN REL; and xAG3 David Parker Clark, USN REL. Welcome Aboard as Life Members Gentleman! I do have one request if you have something you want published in the Aerograph or on the webpage, please send directly to our editor Gary Cox. If you send it to me, I just have to turn around and mail to Gary. Sending it to him directly will expedite the process and he can get it on the webpage faster. Thanks, see you in Vegas!!
FINANCE STATEMENT 31 MARCH 2013 Checkbook Balance $10,535.75 Operating Funds 326.35 Scholarship Funds 625.00 Life Membership Funds 9,584.40 USAA CD’s $106,993.76 Scholarship Funds 75,766.53 Life Membership 31,227.23
NEW LIFE MEMBERS
CDR Tom Scheidel, USN RET #457 8805 Ridge Run Drive
North Richland Hills, TX 76182-8327 (817) 456-6238
3
XAG2 Terry Fouch, USN REL #458 P.O. Box 3976
Arizona City, AZ 85123-9118 (520) 840-6402
xAG2 Berl Meyer, USN REL #459 10707 Coogle Lane
Fairdale, KY 40118-9715 (502) 368-4378
xAG3 David Parker Clark, USN REL #460 424 Wayne Road
Rochelle, IL 61068-9063 (815) 561-6511
SCHOLARSHIP DONATIONS LT John Carobine, USN RET AGCM Bob Frazier, USN RET
xAG3 David Parker Clark, USN REL xAG2 Berl Meyer, USN REL
COMPUTER FUND DONATIONS
xAG3 David Parker Clark, USN REL
OUR NEWEST MEMBERS (New or Dues Expired More Than A Year)
xAG1 Arthur Belanger, USN REL 112 Hubinger St
New Haven, CT 06511-2929 (203) 389-5311
NEW ADDRESSES, PHONE NUMBERS, E-MAIL ADDRESSES
LCDR Stuart Brown, USN RET
MSTCM Paul Flowers, USCG RET 9805 Holtzel Rd.
Coulterville, CA 95311-9529
AGCM Marty Bonk, USN RET 1812 Shadowlawn Drive
St Mary’s GA 31558-4333
Mrs. Tita Silsby 904 Citrus Isle
Ft Lauderdale, FL 33315-1316
CAPT Jeffrey S. Best, USN 1302 Echo Ridge Terrace
Chula Vista, CA 91915-1619
AGCS Tom Lilley, USN RET 1230 Alberta Drive
Reno, NV 89503-2244
Submitted by Secretary/Treasurer Libby O’Brien
EDITOR’S DESK I am finding out that the real downside of the editor’s job is the posting of obituaries of distinguished Naval officers and chiefs.
As I write this (Apr. 9th), it is snowing moderately; 10
degrees F and I estimate blowing 30 KTS (My anemometer is frozen). Spring time in the Rockies. In a lighter vein:
.
Open House
Used with Permission © 2010 Jeff Bacon – All Rights Reserved
www.broadside.net
.
The cut-off date will be 17 July 2013 for the August issue of The Aerograph E-Mail Gary at [email protected]. USPS Address: XAG2 Gary Cox USN REL 1405 West 31
st St.
Cheyenne, WY 82001-2435 307 632-0656 (Please leave a message on the machine if we don’t answer. I’ll get back to you ASAP.)
ASSOCIATION OFFICERS
President: CWO4 Bill Bowers, USN RET 5416 Grove Manor, Lady Lake FL 32159-3533 (352) 750-2970 [email protected] 1st Vice President: LCDR Mike Gilroy, USN RET 743 Dry Creek Dr, Chula Vista, CA 991914
4
(425) 418-8164 [email protected] 2nd Vice President: AGC Alan Davis, USN RET 8431 Garnet Peak Ct. Las Vegas, NV 89117-9162 (702) 838-7932 [email protected] Secy/Treas: Elizabeth O’Brien 515 Ashley Road, Cantonment FL 32533-5610 (850) 968-0552 [email protected] Aerograph Editor: xAG2 Gary Cox, USN REL 1405 W 31
st ST, Cheyenne WY 82001-2435
(307) 632-0656 [email protected] Webmaster: AGC Charles Casperson, USN RET, xAG2 Gary Cox, USN REL, [email protected]
Association Committees: 2013 Reunion Committee Chair: AGC Alan Davis, USN RET 8431 Garnet Peak Ct, Las Vegas NV 89117-9163 (702) 838-7932 [email protected] Chaplain: CAPT Chuck Steinbruck, USN RET (757) 423-1496 [email protected] Finance: CAPT Chuck Steinbruck, USN RET 6028 River Road, Norfolk VA 23505-4709 (757) 423-1496 [email protected] CAPT Harry Nicholson, USN RET 1293 Sylvan Road, Monterey CA 93940-4942 (831) 375-2884 [email protected] CAPT Bob Titus, USNR RET 985 Sienna Park Drive, Reno NV 89512-1369 (775) 345-1949 [email protected] Historian: AGCM Harry Hale, USN RET PO Box 294, Odonnell TX 79351-0294 (806) 428-3435 [email protected] Scholarship: T0-Be-Announced Nominating: AGCM Tom Miovis USN RET (412) 487-3070 [email protected] Parliamentary: AGCM Moon Mullen, USN RET (805) 496-1348 [email protected] Master-At-Arms: AGCM Tom Miovis USN RET (412) 487-3070 [email protected]
Executive Council CDR Jerry Struck USN RET LCDR Joe McKinzie USN RET AGCM Tom Miovis USN RET LCDR Mike Gilroy USN RET LCDR Earl Kerr USN RET AGCM Pat O’Brien USN RET
MY BEST EXPERIENCES WHILE ON ACTIVE DUTY
This is a new feature in the AEROGRAPH that is
intended to provide a forum for member to tell their
stories and remind others of their experiences.
Because our diverse membership has service which
spans over 70 years the forum will be organized in
decades. Please indicate the decade that the
experience occurred so we place it correctly in the
article. Please try to be brief (250 words or less), or
send in a photo with a caption. If your submission
does not make it in the next edition of the
AEROGRAPH it means we were limited by space and
printing costs. It will be included in a future edition.
We will also post them immediately on the website.
We prefer to receive submission by email but you
can mail them in to the Editor if you are still using an
old typewriter for correspondence.
For information please contact Mike Gilroy or Gary
Cox at [email protected]
My Best Forecast
In the summer of 1967, I found myself off the coast of S.
Vietnam at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) of North
Vietnam. Our mission was to provide naval gunfire
support for the 3rd
Marine Division in I Corps. The main
bases of the marines we supported were Dong Ha,
Quaviet and Giolin. We also took on targets of
opportunity and supported the U.S. Marines on various
missions at the DMZ.
I was a LCDR and the Chief Staff Officer of Destroyer
Squadron 22 (DESRON 22), home ported in Norfolk, VA.
The staff was onboard the DESRON flag ship USS
DuPont (DD914).
Early on we were hit by the shore batteries of N.
Vietnam and lost the use of Mount 52, but we still had
MT 51 forward and MT 53 aft. The DuPont had 3 gun
mounts of 5 inch/54 cal. guns. Our station was just off
the coast at the DMZ just south of Cap Lay and Tiger
Island, North Vietnam. There were 3 destroyers
(DuPont, Robertson, and a FRAM destroyer) assigned to
this station.
In the fall of ’67 a typhoon was forecast to come right
up the center of the South China Sea. The flag onboard
the carrier ordered all ships to head south out of the
South China Sea to avoid the typhoon. I plotted the
forecast path of the typhoon and realized that Cap Lay,
N. Vietnam jutted out to the northeast and we would be
protected from the high seas. The fetch area from a
northeast wind would be very short, being protected by
Cap Lay. Therefore, the 3 destroyers should be able to
“ride out” the typhoon and to continue supporting the 3rd
Mar. Div. We were the only 3 Navy ships in the South
China Sea for 5 days. All went well and the marines
appreciated our gunfire support.
After the typhoon passed, the admiral of the carrier
group sent the commodore of DESRON 22 a “Bravo
Zulu”. The commodore responded, “His Chief Staff
5
Officer’s forecasts are never wrong but he doesn’t
guarantee them”.
In the 5 months we (USS Dupon) were on the “gun
line”, we shot over 20,000 rounds of 5”/54 ammo at the
enemy.
Submitted by CAPT Ace Trask, USN RET
The Best of the 40’s and 50’s
Howdy, This Sat. I received my Hard copy of “The Nov. 2012 Aerograph. The article on page 4 “My Best Experiences while on Active Duty” is cause to put me in a pondering mood. Had the title been my most memorable experience while on ACDU the flashback would lock in on the time I walked up and down the Mountains of Negros in the Central Philippines as an Infantryman the spring of 1945. For I was definitely on ACDU when I celebrated my 19
th birthday on Leyte in a replacement
depot the day President FDR died in Warm Springs GA 12 April 1945. For almost two months I experienced many adrenaline rushes and getting shot at a few times with none of the rounds connecting to any part of my body is the most clearly remembered experience of the 2 ½ years spent in the Army.. However, you are probably referring to Navy ACDU and there are a lot of stories that are not necessarily the best but sure memorable in my ACDU in the Navy. As a starter and before I get too engrossed in this new section of the Aerograph the thing that has influenced my life more than any other thing was my tour of duty at Sangley Point, across the Bay from Manila. Those people who know me and there are a few left who are members of the NWSA, know that when I left the Philippines after that tour of duty which was a tad less than a year, know I brought back a souvenir in the form of a wife. Most wanderers bring back souvenirs but mine was more lasting. Over 60 years later Gloria is still around to remind me that was a memorable tour of duty. One of the best or different experiences was a set of orders that sent me from FWC Miami, FL to Guam the spring of 1952. I regret not keeping a copy of those orders which gave me sort of Carte Blanche travel orders to proceed ASAP from Miami FL to Guam via any method of transportation for Duty on Guam. It only took me about 10 days to make the trip to Guam and I hitchhiked via POV & Military Aircraft, including USAF and Navy planes. The Yeoman at Guam when I checked in asked me why I had made such a fast trip. Another set of orders that I wish I had kept a copy of
was awaiting me when the USS Arneb came north out of
the Antarctica on our way back to CONUS. That set of
orders directed me to depart the USS Arneb at the first
port of call in the Northern Hemisphere and proceed to
Lakehurst NJ for AG “B” school and gave a convening
date. Naples Italy was our first port of call in the Northern
Hemisphere.
There are a lot of other remembrances of my ACDU
period of life but will send this to see if it meets your
criteria of sea stories you are looking for.
Zane E. Jacobs AGC USN, Ret
4th USMC WEATHER SERVICE REUNION
The 4th USMC Weather
Service Reunion will be held from 2-6 June 2013 at the Harrah’s Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV. Should any of our Navy friends and classmates wish to attend please contact: Don Innis:[email protected] or Lee Halverson at: [email protected]
Offer from USMC Weather Service Reunion If there is any information you would like me to pass on to the Marines attending the 4
TH USMC Weather Service
Reunion about the NWS Association please let me know or if there is someone in the area that would like to make a presentation to our attendees I can make that happen too. Submitted by CAPT Don Innis USMC RET
BINNACLE LIST
Mary Jane Erdei Wife of CDR Elmer Erdei, USN
RET Got a letter from Elmer the other day. Mary Jane had a second stroke. This one is pretty severe. In rehab (4-6 Months!). I plan to speak to Elmer later today. Thought you would like to know.
318 Rue De LaVanda
Sparks, NV 89434-9524 Submitted by Mike Gilroy, 1
st Vice President
AGCS DAN LEE USN RET: Dan’s 2/26 operation date had been postponed and it will now take place on 4/12/13. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Dan for a speedy recovery.
Submitted by Fay Crossley, HRC Secretary
CAPT Dick Ward, USN RET wound up in hospital without food for 10 days as he experienced a blockage with internal bleeding. He came home for a couple of days and had to go back to hospital. Mary Lou thanks all for their prayers.
Submitted by AGC Zane Jacobs, USN RET
6
Ann Bucher has been in the hospital for pneumonia, AGC Bob Wiorek, USN RET has been receiving chemo treatment, but has complications.
Submitted by Reporter Pam Elliot
Remy VanHoven had shoulder surgery and is in physical therapy. Curtis Arnold had heart bypass surgery in January and is recovering, going to cardiac rehab three days a week.
Submitted by xAG2 Curtis Arnold, USN REL
xAGAN Bob Coppo, USN REL just had a knee replacement, or was it a knee operation, and wasn't able to get around too well. He was attached to a cart, to keep his knee immobilized. Dan Collin’s wife Marilyn had a hip break since our (NW Chapter) picnic.
Submitted by Mark Baillie, NW Chapter Secretary
DO YOU DO FACEBOOK?
(You must be logged into Facebook to access either site.)
Find Facebook’s Navy AG group here:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/34
563272172/
Here is a recent post:
Here is a NOTAM you don't see every day. Urgent NOTAM issued for all VFR aircraft flying around Kadena effective until 13 April. All Aero Club VFR flights are restricted to VFR traffic pattern until further notice. M0503/13 - ALL VFR AIRCRAFT ARE REQUESTED TO AVOID FLYING IN THE BELOW-EXPLAINED AIRSPACE TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF DANGER FROM INTERCEPTOR MISSILES LAUNCHED TO DESTROY INCOMING NORTH KOREAN MISSILIES OR MISSILE FRAGMENTS. AIRSPACE: WITHIN A 16-NM (30-KM) RADIUS CENTERED ON KADENA TACAN (KAD) 262223N 1274732E. REMARKS/EXCEPTIONS: 1) ALL VFR AIRCRAFT, INCLUDING GOVERNMENT AND MEDICAL EVACUATION AIRCRAFT ARE REQUESTED TO COORDINATE IN ADVANCE WITH NAHA RADAR APPROACH CONTROL. 2) FOR PRIOR CORRDINATION WITH NAHA RADAR APPROACH CONTROL, CALL 098-961-4647. SFC - UNL, 10 APR 01:35 2013 UNTIL 13 APR 01:35 2013. CREATED: 10 APR 01:44 2013
Find Facebook’ Navy METOC Officers here:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/98
578891936/
Here is a recent post:
The Laser Weapon System (LaWS) temporarily
installed aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey in San Diego, Calif
NWSA REUNION SURVEY Please complete this survey!!! We need your opinion! Your association wants input to see if new approaches regarding NWSA reunion scheduling and other considerations may allow for more members to attend this important function. Please complete the following survey and mail to: Mike Gilroy 1370 Byron Dr Apt 5 Salinas CA 93901. The survey may also be complete online at
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/5MDBNG2 Please complete the survey only once (either by mail in or online).
1. Reunions have typically been held in the late
spring (April-May). If the reunion were held
during different times of the year would it help
you to attend? Please select the time frame
that is best for you. (choose one)
a. FEB- MAR
b. April-MAY-
c. May- June
d. June –July
e. July- August
f. September- October
g. November-December- January
h. Doesn’t matter. I won’t come to a
reunion
2. If reunions were held less often would you be
more likely to attend? How often should the
Association hold reunions
a. Every year
7
b. Every 18 months
c. Every 2 years
d. Every 3 years
e. Doesn’t matter I won’t attend
3. When was the last time you attended a NWSA
reunion?
a. 2012
b. 2011
c. 2010
d. 2009
e. 2008
f. Before 2008
g. I have never attended a reunion
4. What is the major reason you have not been
attending reunions
a. No interest
b. Cost
c. Time of year
d. Location
e. Too hard to travel from home
f. Illness/medical reasons
5. Please select one of the following:
a. I plan to attend the 2013 Reunion in
Las Vegas
b. I plan to attend in 2014
c. I won’t be attending any reunions in the
future
6. Should the Association continue to offer
reunions as the primary means for coming
together?
a. YES
b. No
c. No Opinion
7. At reunions I have attended the activity I have
found most rewarding or fun has been:
a. Meeting in the hospitality room
b. Participating in Tours and other
sponsored activities
c. Banquets and BBQ’s, etc.
d. Free time
e. Business meetings
f. Just have a chance to interact with
other members
8. What activities have not worked for you and
should be eliminated or changed
a. Multiple general membership meetings
b. Banquet
c. Organized Tours
d. Too much free time
e. Organized lunches or dinners (not
including the Banquet).
9. I feel that I can maintain my connection with
the NWSA and it members best by:
a. Receiving the Aerograph
b. NWSA Chapter activities
c. NWSA reunions
d. Personal friendships with NWSA
members
10. Please use this space to provide any other
comments you wish to share regarding this
topic
Mike Gilroy 1st VP
[email protected] 425 418 8164
LETTERS
Aug. Aerograph AGCM List
I was looking at the AGCM list on page 6 of the August Aerograph
and noticed for 1961 they had an UKN. That would be AGCM Robert “Bob” Lenord. He died in the office by choking to death on his sandwich. I was on a 72. That was in FWF San Diego, North Island. That should make the list correct. Submitted by Harry Hale, NWSA Historian
Service Dress Khaki
Khakis were removed as a uniform in the early 1980s. Then this uniform returned as a uniform in 2020 (about), now eliminated. Some of these CPOs and Officers can’t be too happy about changing around like this because of the expense. Charlie
WASHINGTON --
NAVADMIN 314/12, released
Oct. 19, announced the Chief
of Naval Operations' (CNO)
decision to terminate the
8
Service Dress Khaki (SDK) initiative. The NAVADMIN also reemphasized the optional
wear of the Service Dress Blue (SDB) uniform as an
acceptable alternative during summer uniform wear
periods when participating in events, ceremonies and
meetings where wearing a coat and tie is appropriate
and when other uniforms are not prescribed. "The Navy continuously monitors Sailors' uniform
concerns and develops uniforms and design changes
based on feedback received and research conducted,"
said Rear Adm. Tony Kurta, director, Military Personnel
Plans and Policy. "After May 2012 when the
contemporary design for SDK was approved for optional
wear, the Navy continued to conduct research with
product vendors and with the information gained and
reviewed, the decision was made to cancel Service
Dress Khaki." The Navy made the decision to terminate pursuing
the SDK uniform as an optional uniform due to factors
identified during a comprehensive uniform assessment.
These factors included the evaluation of quantities of
SDK sets ordered/sold, wear test of several models
evaluating quality, durability, appearance and fit, and
estimated cost per uniform set to the individual. The NAVADMIN 314/12 also reaffirmed E-7 to O-10
personnel may wear the SDB as a suitable alternative
for wear in lieu of summer white and service dress white
uniforms when a coat and tie is appropriate. Submitted by AGCM Charlie Jordan, USN RET
The Carrier List
Below is a list of all the carriers our Navy has had/do have on active duty. http://www.navy.mil/navydata/ships/carriers/cv-list.asp
Submitted by AGCM Marty Bonk, USN RET
Travis Sanders Update 2010 Scholarship Recipient
It's been a while since I updated you on the progress of my career. As you'll recall, I received the Naval Weather Service Association Scholarship in 2010. This award lightened the financial burden of completing my degree, which I was able to accomplish in May 2011. I decided to pursue graduate school and applied to Stanford, Cal Tech, and UT. I was accepted into Stanford and UT, and decided to continue studying here at my alma mater. I will be completely my Master's degree this spring in Aerospace engineering and will begin a PhD program in Computational Engineering the following fall. I am very excited about what the future has in store for me! Regards, Travis
Travel via the Moon Hard to believe, but the airlines have found something else to charge more fees for….how about a charge to board the plane with first class (no…you can’t go before them) passengers. And then you get to sit and wait until the pilot decides it’s time to go! Or how about paying $30 extra so you don’t have to wait at the baggage-waiting area for your bags….you just spent hours on the plane and now you can’t wait another 10-15 minutes for your luggage???....and yes, now you can spend a little more and you can be in a shorter line to go thru “security”. Makes you want to rush off to your hometown airport just to take advantage of these neat new rules/fees. Yea, right! A recent survey of 2000 passengers found that uncomfortable seats, insufficient leg-room, flight delays and obnoxious passengers were at the head of the list of complaints along with the worst fees including checked baggage, carry-on bag fees (how about, insufficient room for carry-on bags) and upgrades for better seats. You can call it a “fee”, but, how about the charges for food (not a big variety offered) you get on the plane….and remember, no more “cash” to pay for that tiny sandwich, or cheese & crackers – only credit cards. Makes you wander….are we “progressing” over the last decade?!? But this column is about travel and if we want to travel and get there quick, we have to fly (it’s hard to drive to Europe/Asia) so we have to put up with some of these “inconveniences”. You can make it a little more comfortable though if you turn left when you get on the plane and sit up front….no baggage charge for one or even two or more bags, seats are quite comfortable and on many airlines those seats become beds for overnight flights with your own TV and/or DVD going, not to mention the free drinks and some really outstanding meals, including an unbelievable breakfast…and best of all, you don’t have to pay “extra fees” for these neat things. That non-stop from LAX to LHR (London Heathrow) in first-class is just a little over $6000 one way (vs: $1200 for the folks sitting in the back of the plane), so you can see, it’s worth it! Of course, you may run out of money and can’t leave the terminal area to see any of Europe, or may not have enough to buy a ticket back home, but don’t worry about the nickel-dime stuff. We’ve mentioned this before….call your credit card company BEFORE leaving (the 800 number on the back of your card) and tell them the dates and countries you will be going to if you’re planning to use the ATM’s (the best exchange-rates) for foreign cash and also for charging. If you don’t call them, you may find they stopped your card and it won’t work until you make a long-distance call to talk to them. Additionally, some cell-phones may also get shut off if they see phone calls coming from foreign countries…..like credit cards, call them too and tell them about your up-coming trip.
9
And on this St.Paddy’s Day this is being written, what better place to talk about than Dublin. Some of us have to suffer and go to Ireland to play softball with the US team. After 4-5 trips you find that it is always an interesting country to visit. Of course on this day, everyone is Irish, so looking up where relatives came from or just playing tourist, it makes for a really memorable trip that you will be telling relatives, neighbors and friends about for years to come. If you like walking, driving, museums, interesting buildings and cities/towns….they’re all here. Don’t plan on a lot of freeways or 4-6 lane highways…except for Dublin, there are none! Want to see crystal made? Don’t miss the Waterford factory in down-town Waterford. And you will never see an advertisement in your local papers, but don’t miss going to a pub at night to hear the “locals” sitting, singing and listening to Irish music. It’s probably hard to believe, but the Irish are like sailors….they do NOT drink. They’re in the local pubs just to hear music. Airline prices are at their highest of the year now, so hold off on buying those tickets until Sept-Oct; but in the meantime, start planning that vacation trip for fall….planning is ½ the fun! You deserve it…….enjoy!
Submitted by AGCM Moon Mullen USN RET
CHAPTER NEWS
SOUTHEAST CHAPTER LT TODD McDONALD, President AGCS STEVE TURCO, 1st Vice President AGC BOB JOHNSON, 2nd Vice President
AGCS FRANK ANDREWS, Sect/Treas
We don’t have any news from the NWSA Southeast Chapter at this time. We will be holding our Spring meeting on 4/18/2013, but news of that will be in the next Aerograph.
Submitted by AGC Bob Johnson, USN RET, 2nd
VP
POTOMAC CHAPTER
President Jim Romano Vice Pres Mac McLeod
Sec/Treas.. ..Peter Weigand [email protected]
Tel - 301 883 8180 Corresp Sec........Vacant
Not available due to the recent passing of CDR Don Cruse USN RET, former corresponding secretary. In lieu of chapter news, please refer to the obituaries of CDR Cruse and CAPT Vincent Roper.
HAMPTON ROADS President Chuck Fifield Vice President Bob Steiner Treasurer Bob Daigle Secretary Fay Crossley Social Coordinator Frank Muscari
VA Hospital Coord. Joan Akers CMAA Frank Muscari
HRC Board Meeting Held at Crossley home 02/10/2013
The board meeting was attended by: The Fifields, Joan Akers and Frank Strout, the Muscaris, the Crossleys and the Daigles, (Tom and Marge Baldwin accompanied the Daigles). The Board meeting was prior to the Wakefield Weather Office Tour. Full board meeting notes are contained in Enclosure (1). Full Tour report of the Wakefield Weather Office is contained in Enclosure (2). A letter of thanks to the Meteorologist in Charge of the Wakefield Weather Office is contained in Enclosure (3). An email thank you to the person giving the tour on
2/10/13 is contained in Enclosure (4).
Minutes of the Meeting Held at Yanni’s Restaurant
(Spring Meeting –Sunday April 7, 2013)
In attendance: (33) Ed Nelson, John and Ive Chubb, (Special Guests Rich and Ladonna Delgado –FWC Norfolk Commanding Officer and his wife), Dan and Carmen Lee, Jack and Ann Salvato, Chuck and Louise Steinbruck, Howard
10
Lee, Doris Stepaniak, Frank and Eve Muscari, Chuck and Eileen Fifield, (Special Guests, Chuck’s younger sister Pat and her husband Donald Grenier), Bob Steiner and fiancée Tammie Pierce, (Special Guests Tammie cousins Leo and Sherry Borror –Sherry is an accomplished artist and she brought a drawing that she had done concerning Veterans –it was beautiful), Ted Lemond, Marilyn McDonald, Steve and Sylvia Shafer, Bob and Carol Daigle, Joan Akers, Frank Strout and Fay and Donna Crossley. REGRETS received from: Mike Joern ---busy. that moved to TN. Bob Wright ---visiting daughter Dave Milot ---previous engagement During the Meet and Greet hour: The Pledge of Allegiance was led by CMAA Frank Muscari at about 315pm this was followed by a blessing given by Chuck Steinbruck. The treasurer sold 50/50 tickets and collected some late dues payments. The 50/50 was won by Carol Daigle -$59.00 –(don’t think there was any cheating!#*(%^#) Meeting was called to order by President Fifield at 410pm. He introduced CO Delgado and his wife to the gathering. President Fifield reviewed the skippers Biography. Captain Delgado talked to the group concerning the current state of the active duty Navy Weather. He talked about the budget and how it looked rather bleak, people are most expensive part of the Navy. He has about 300 people under his command. The Captain talked about history of the service and how it has changed. The Mobile Teams for ships are under his command. A question was asked about large scale disqualifications of career sailors. He said about 80 sailors were not allowed to reenlist but that was over and most sailors are now approved for retention. It was asked if there was any “scuttlebutt” about Navy and AF combining totally, he said that was not being discussed. The captain pointed out the Navy is changing; he has sailors that have Master Degrees.
OLD BUSINESS: 1…Roster: More sheets were turned in to Secretary
Crossley, he will make changes and indicated by this
sheets to the master roster. Anyone still having sheets
are asked to please get in touch with Fay to finalize the
corrections.
The roster should be ready to send to NWSA by the
October Meeting.
2…#39 reunion: Chuck and Louise Steinbruck are
planning on attending the reunion in Los Vegas. In
conjunction with this old business, President Fifield
asked if there were any HRC members that would like to
have their names placed in nomination for the NWSA
officer elections at #39, there were no takers.
3…The one time charity drive for this meeting had been determined at the Board Meeting to be the Food Bank. HRC members rallied with exceptional giving, and filled Bob Daigle’s car to over flowing.
Much of the food stuffs are shared with several soup kitchens and churches, the Daigle church alone feeds 250 people. HRC should be proud of this effort. 4…The VA Hospital routine charity drive which is part of each of the HRC meetings netted Joan Akers a trunk full of goodies and she will take them to the hospital at her earliest opportunity. 5…Flag Retirement: We have collected an exceptional
number of flags to be retired. So many that it would take
a total afternoon to do the ceremony at the July picnic.
The American Legion Post the Chubbs are members of,
do the ceremony each Flag Day. The Chubbs will see
that a portion of the flags we have accumulated will be
retired during that event. A smaller number of the flags
will be retired at the Picnic. Pictures will be taken at both
ceremonies to help everyone to realize their flags were
retired with dignity.
6…NWSA/Chapter relationship: A letter was sent to the
NWSA president asking for some clarification about this
relationship. A response has yet to be received.
7…Building of Weather Offices at the Aviation Museum
at Pungo and aboard the USS Wisconsin, equipment is
needed. If you have any ideas on how to proceed,
contact Fay Crossley or Dennis Pauly. This could be a
fun project for our group.
Other Enclosures: (copies of any enclosures can be
requested from the Secretary)
8…Letter from SPCA thanking HRC for donation. 9…Letter from Commonwealth of Virginia Veterans
Services Foundation thanking HRC for donation.
10…CDR Cruse photo and obituary, along with a poem
Joan Akers wrote, this poem was sent to Don’s family.
NEW BUSINESS
1…Aerograph: The Aerograph editor has requested chapters to cut back on the length of their inputs. Secretary Crossley will attempt to help with this effort. 2…Summer HRC meeting: HRC will gather at the Chubbs home on the Eastern Shore for our picnic for the 4th. The meeting will be held on 7/6/13 (Saturday). More specific information will be forthcoming. The Secretary will inform the board when and where the next board meeting will be held. 3…Howard Lee: Fay will draft a letter and with Mr. Lee’s approval the letter will be sent to the Aerograph editor with the hopes it would be published. Mr. Lee is a Medal of Honor recipient.
11
4…HRC January 2014 Officer Elections: Due to be elected are President, Treasurer and Chief Master At Arms. HRC members are asked to consider placing themselves up for this election…contact Secretary Crossley if you are interested. Vice President Steiner has agreed to move up to the President’s position. The President will look into the feasibility of possibly selecting a person to complete the VP term. 5…Secretary Report: Was approved as sent to the membership. 6…Treasurers Report: Checking = $1104.35, Savings = $1902.22. Approved as reported. 7…7/6/13 Charity. Our charity for the next meeting will be the Pregnancy Center on the Eastern Shore. Ive Chubb will be the coordinator. Please come with your wallets crammed. We will also have to have some contributions to help cover the Flag retirement ceremonies. 8…Facebook: Ed Nelson advised the group of some
great places to find Weather folks and information. On
Facebook there is Navy Weather and Met Officer.
FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER
AGCS DAN LEE USN ret: Dan’s 2/26 operation date had been postponed and it will now take place on 4/12/13. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Dan for a speedy recovery. DON CRUSE, VINCE ROPER, and JACK PINGLE: A moment of silence was observed to honor these amazing members of our Navy Weather community. The meeting was adjourned about 515pm.
Submitted by Fay Crossley, HRC Secretary
SOCAL CHAPTER Pres Bernie Cohenour V. Pres Steve Smith Sec/Treas Morry Summey . The Las Vegas Reunion is only
a month away. The very best of luck. Looking forward to May. The SOCAL Chapter must once again report on the passing of another of our old time weather guessers. Dale F. (Ted) Bear, LCDR USN RET died on 21 February 2013, and a memorial service was held at Ft. Rosecrans on 28 March 2013.
CHAPTER ACTIVITIES
The annual Valentine’s Day Champagne Brunch was
held on Sunday, February 10th, at the Admiral Baker
Navy Golf Course Restaurant. Attendees were Bernie
and Dolores Cohenour, John and Fujii Rodriguez,
Chuck and Janice White, Bob and Shelia Clark plus
one guest, Carl and Phyllis Drake with three guests,
David and Lois Rue, Steve and Hamuri Smith, as well
as Bill Bridge, Morry Summey, and Al Marchment.
This gave us 21 attendees. It is the best attendance we
have had for quite a while. Good food, with equally good
sea stories, gave us a most pleasant outing.
The April 2013 Chapter luncheon/business meeting was held on Thursday, 4 April 2013 at the Admiral Baker Navy Golf Course Restaurant. Attendees were John Rodriguez, Morry Summey, David and Lois Rue, Al Marchment, Ed Betancourt, Bernie and Dolores Cohenour, and Carl and Phyllis Drake. New Chapter Officers were elected for a one year term, beginning on 1 July 2013. Elected Officers were President John Rodriguez, Vice President David Rue, and continuing as Secretary/Treasurer Morry Summey. It was also reported that Steve and Hamuri Smith are relocating to the China Lake area, due to a change in Steve’s employment.
MEMBER ACTIVITIES John and Fujii will be greeting JMSDF ships due at
the end of May for a couple of weeks. John will make
the Las Vegas Reunion and then return to Las Vegas
the beginning of June for his Tax Symposium. We are
hoping our daughter Yuri will come down from
Sacramento at that time. If so, she will drive me to the
airport and pick me up when I return and hopefully she
can stay and attend the shipboard reception/party on
June 14th.
Morry Summey will be attending the Las Vegas
Reunion with daughters Martie Locke and Marilyn
Roberts.
Submitted by Morry Summey Secretary/Treasurer
CENTRAL COAST
President Harry Nicholson Sec/Treas Glenn Handlers Howdy,,
A week after submitting the Feb.
2013 Aerograph report, George
Haltiner, a legend in Naval Meteorology joined the
master forecaster in the sky. The Editor of the Aerograph
managed to slip in a very short notice about Professor
Haltiner’s passing with no details shown below.
Even better than an obituary, a feature article about
Professor Haltiner’s life was published in the Sunday 27
Jan. 2013 Monterey County Herald, pages 2 & 3 by the
Herald Staff writer Dennis Taylor. (Editor’s note: See this
article in this Aerograph’s In Remembrance section.)
In addition to many achievements Professor Haltiner was an outstanding lecturer as many Officers of the U.S.
12
and friendly country officers can remember. His classes were well organized and lesson guides if followed in conjunction with his blackboard notes assisted many in acquiring their Master’s Degree at the PG School. George advanced in the Naval Reserve program
which saw him retiring as Captain USNR.
After his retirement I had occasion to discuss world
politics with George and though we often disagreed our
talks were always cordial.
The month of Jan. in Marina at Carl Thormeyer’s
reporting station was 1.8 degrees below normal which is
49.9 degrees. Jan. was also below normal in
precipitation with normal being 3.52 inches and this year
Marina only had .67 inches.
Leon John Pingel was born 9 Dec. 1934 in Norfolk, Nebraska to Meta Broekemeir & John Edwin Pingel. AKA Jack. Met his wife Helen in San Francisco, CA in 1967 and they married in Doylestown, PA in 1968. They had two daughters who survive Jack. After 29 years in the USN, Jack retired as Captain. 24 Feb. 2013 Harry Nicholson informed the NWSA
groups of the death of Jack Pingel at a medical facility in
Palm Desert, CA on Wed. 20 Feb. 2013. Some of the
members of NWSA will probably attend a Memorial
service planned for Jack 9 Mar. 2013 at the Hope
Lutheran Church in Palm Desert, CA. The NMOC News
of 2 April 2013 had another article about Captain Jack
Pingel. (Editor’s note: See CAPT Pingel’s obituary in this
Aerograph’s In Remembrance section.)
Feb. 2013 was colder and drier than normal. Since Carl started his records in June 1987 this Feb. was 3.2 Degrees below normal and precipitation’s normal has been 3.33 Inches with this year being only .41 inches which is less than any year since 1987. Captain Dean Russell Morford, USN Ret. died 6 Mar. 2013. Dean was born 22 May 1930 in rural Case Co., MN to Margaret and Hazen Morford. He attended public school in Pequot Lakes, MN then Junior College at Brainerd, MN and on to North Dakota State. He obtained a Commission in the USN and was a plank owner at the commissioning of Fleet Numerical Weather Facility where later he became C.O. for a brief time in 1976. Then he was sent to Guam as Commanding Officer of the weather office on Guam prior to retiring in 1979 after 26 years in the Navy. Dean married Beverly Jean Brown of Fargo ND in 1952 and they had 3 sons before splitting the blanket. Dean’s 2nd wife was Judith Derksen Leber who died in 2011. He is survived by 3 sons and 7 grandchildren. He requested cremation with his remains being placed in Pequot Lakes, MN. (Editor’s note: See CAPT Morford’s obituary in this Aerograph’s In Remembrance section.)
Frenchy Corbeille was at FNMOC a while during the
time Dean Morford was there. They became good
hunting friends and hunted at Camp Hunter Ligget south
of King City, CA as well as the San Luis wildlife Preserve
in the San Joaquin Valley east and north of the Pacheco
Pass on the highway from Gilroy to Los Banos. Frenchy
and Dean exchanged Christmas greetings for most of
the years after their paths parted. Dean visited Friends in
WA State around 2002 when he was traveling in a pick-
up with a small camper on it and parked in Frenchy’s
yard overnight. They fed Dean Moose steaks, which
delighted him immensely, and gave him sourdough
waffles to start him off the next morning.
The night Dean visited Frenchy was remembered by an incident that came about when Dean complained about having something in the bottom of his foot, where he could not possibly see and could not remove whatever it was. Frenchy had Dean sit in his big recliner chair, remove his shoe and sock and lean back. Frenchy writes I immediately spotted the offending foreign object lodged in the ball of his foot and said “Hang in there, Dean. I can get it out.” Whereupon I pulled out my pocket knife, a fairly large tool as pocket knives go, opened out the blade and started toward him. Dean’s eyes suddenly doubled in size and he started clambering out the back end of the recliner, I eventually convinced him that I was not intent on amputation, but merely intended to pry loose the offending culprit. Once I got him calmed down, the rest was easy. That was right after supper and he accompanied me on my 4 mile-walk next morning, all the while assuring me that the problem with his foot was completely solved and that there would be absolutely no need for me to even look at it again. Strange thing, he never did thank me for extricating the tiny shard of steel from his foot, although he did go to great lengths to assure me that no further action on my part would be required. I suspect he made a silent resolve that if he ever had any kind of a problem, of any kind, he would never again call on me for assistance. Carl Thormeyer’s Marina reporting station gives us bleak assurance our Desert type weather continues. As Precipitation is a fairly good gauge of climate the March rainfall of .76 Inches is 1.70 inches below normal but the glaring facts of Jan., Feb., Mar., 2013 quarter period is bleaker as Normal for the annual period since 1 July 2012 is 14.29 Inches and this annual period shows only 8.89 inches or 5.40 inches below normal so we in Monterey Co., CA occupants can expect summer water rationing in 2013. Stated another way, this 3 month quarter only had 1.84 In. of precipitation which Carl researched as being the driest quarter of any year since the middle 1800’s. One might expect warmer temperatures in such a situation but the normal mean temperature for March is 53 degrees and this year it was 52.8 degrees so two tenths of one degree cooler. In a roundabout way from Ralph Wrenn to Richard
Gilmore to Frenchy Corbeille who forwarded the word to
me 2 April 2013 our longtime friend Dick Ward is on the
Binnacle list. It appears in March Dick wound up in
13
hospital without food for 10 days as he experienced a
blockage with internal bleeding. Then he came home for
a couple of days and had to go back to hospital. Mary
Lou thanks all for their prayers.
Sat 6 April 2013 messages received from Ralph Wrenn and Ralph O. Carrigan within 5 minutes of each other reveals two other shipmates will be added to the necrology list. Don Cruse who survived the sinking of two ships during WW II passed away 1 April 2013 as a result of Asbestos in his lungs, called Mesothelioma (MSE). Marge Cruse, the guiding star of Dons long life wrote Don was sick since mid-Jan. when fluid appeared on his left lung. That was drained and tested OK. 4 weeks later it reappeared and a biopsy revealed MSE. Hospice assisted Marge the last 6 days of Don’s life at his home. Don was cremated. Visitation was scheduled for Sunday 7 April 2013 at Murphy’s on Wilson Blvd. in Arlington VA. A two paragraph obituary of Don Cruse’s life doesn’t do justice to the service to his
country Don performed but will have to do for this report. (Editor’s note: See CDR Cruse’s obituary in this Aerograph’s In Remembrance section.)
Ralph Wrenn’s message informing about the death of
Capt. Vince Roper was forwarded to Ralph by MO
Gibbs. Having lost all my internet contacts 21 March I
did not have Mo Gibbs Email address (and forgot to
check the B List for last Nov.) to verify any details about
Vince Roper. Bruce Dewald forwarded Mo Gibbs
address to me and I sent Mo an Email asking for
verification of when Vince Roper walked the wind. Mo
wrote he sent the info to Ralph Wrenn as Ralph was at
FWF London the time frame of 1968-1971 when Mo was
there and Vince was Ops Officer. Jim Romano notified
Mo about Vince Ropers death. Mo is TDY to CG training
in Newport RI at this time.
(Editor’s note: See CAPT Roper’s obituary in this Aerograph’s In Remembrance section.)
Zane E. Jacobs AGC USN Ret
. PENSACOLA CHAPTER Pres Bernie Bauer Sec./Treas Pat O’Brien . The Chapter had its March meeting/get together at the Grand Buffet in Pace, FL at 1300 on March 10. The following members were in
attendance: Al and Helen Atwell, Dick and Elizabeth Tokryman, Larry and Nancy Warrenfeltz, Denny and Helen Maljevac, Dave and Jane Driggers, Dave and Jerrie Dunlap, Greene and Marion Hawks, Pat and Libby O'Brien, and Gene Witsman.
Pat and Libby O’Brien became Pensacola Ice Flyers (hockey) season ticket holders and have enjoyed the games immensely. They, along with Bernie Bauer, are also season ticket holders for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Pensacola's AA baseball team). They are anxiously awaiting the start of season number two. Pat and Libby have stayed close to home this winter other than a five-day jaunt down into the Caribbean in January. They continue to play golf when the weather permits and have been active in their church. Pat volunteers as a member of the green team once a week where he mows, trims, and weeds as necessary, and Libby just finished up a three-year term on the church vestry. They represented their church at the 42
nd Annual
Diocesen Convention held in Panama City, FL in February. While there, they ran into Walt Kindergan. Walt is now a deacon in the Episcopal Church and is attending a seminary in New York to become a pastor. He and Becky are currently residing in New York City. Howard and Shirley Graham have moved back to South Carolina. They were active members in our Chapter and will be sorely missed. We wish them all the best in their new home and surroundings. Pat keeps in touch with Paul Lyon via e-mail. Paul would like to make our Chapter meetings, but his health is such that it’s not always possible. Pat also maintains contact with Gerry Dufford and Bruce Glaes via the internet. To his knowledge, both are doing well. Pat also sees John Shea about twice a month at their bi-weekly golf outings. Arthur and Rose Frazier accompanied the Milton High School Band on their annual trip. This year it was 5 days at Walt Disney World. The kids did a session with the studio musicians learning how to put music to animation. They did all 6 parks (2 water parks) in 5 days, some in really cool weather. Besides that, they started off the year with a lot of illness and Rose's Mom with a broken kneecap. With their son in high school band, including Indoor Percussion, they are busy all the time. This summer, besides helping with the band camps and uniforms, they have additional plans. They plan to take a cruise out of Port Canaveral to the western Caribbean, a trip to Nashville, TN, and also try to fit in a trip to Texas and Oklahoma to see Art’s side of the family and their grandchildren. Nancy and Larry Warrenfeltz sandwiched a four-day reunion visit to Monterey into their trip to Bellevue WA, where they visited their six-month old grandson (and daughter and son-in-law). After Easter, they drove south to Monterey for the reunion of Navy METOC and NOAA Corps officers who attended the Naval Postgraduate School in the late 1970s and early 80s. Ty Aldinger’s wife, Charlie, was the driving force behind the reunion. The group met for a welcome aboard happy hour at the Del Monte Hyatt Regency and then hit all of the favorite spots in the area i.e. Fisherman’s Wharf, Cannery Row, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Steinbeck House in Salinas, Pebble Beach,
14
Carmel, Point Lobos, and, of course, the NPS Trident Room Bar (where many afternoons were spent “studying.) After the reunion, the attendees headed back to their respective homes – and hopefully won’t wait 30+ years for our next get-together. Here is a list of those individuals Larry and Nancy hoped to see: Ty and Charlie Aldinger, Rich & Marianne Anderson, Tom & Mary Callaham, Ken Davidson (NPS Professor), Don & Leslie Dreves (NOAA Corps), Glenn and Keiko Handlers, Ben & Peggy Holt, Scott & Karen Katz, Don & Carolyn Mautner, Jerry & BJ Mills (NOAA Corps), Linda Paul, Ron & Patricia Phoebus, Sue & Mario Runco (and children Maria (25) and Carl (23)), Kurt & Arlene Schnebele (NOAA Corps), Brad & Maureen Smith, Kathy & Ray Toll , Chuck & Leslie Wash (NPS Professor).
Submitted by AGCM Pat O’Brienr USN RET
Join us in Pensacola, Florida in 2014
The Pensacola Chapter of the Naval Weather Service Association will host the 2014 reunion, and its members look forward to having you join us here in the City of Five Flags. We are currently working to obtain rooms at the Crown Plaza Hotel on Gregory Street. This is the same hotel that was used at the1986 reunion. Of course, it has been refurbished since then. The rooms are very nice, and each room overlooks Escambia Bay. The Hotel provides free shuttles to and from Pensacola International Airport. The tentative dates are Sunday, April 27th to Thursday, May 1st. Mark your calendars. These dates are in line with dates of recent reunions which got away from the Wednesday thru Sunday period of the past. These dates also provide us with the best rates. The hotel is centrally located located and within easy walking distance to the shops and restaurants downtown. More info will be provided in future Aerographs. Hope to see ya'll here!!
Submitted by AGCM Pat O'Brien, USN RET
LONE STAR CHAPTER
President Charlie Jordan
Sec/Treas Curtis Arnold
The Lone Star Chapter is sending a contingent to
the NWSA #39 reunion in May. Already registered: Joe McKinzie, Mel Bourn, Harry Hale and Jim Maxwell. Charlie Jordan reports:
“Ann and I had a low-keyed holiday this Christmas. My son Kevin who was born during my first but not last tour at FWC/JTWC Guam, (now a 50 year old school teacher in Los Angeles) couldn’t come to Texas this year. So Ann and I went to San Antonio and celebrated with my daughter’s family. For some of my peers, Kim has given us two beautiful granddaughters; one is a junior and the other is a sophomore in college! It makes me feel a bit elderly! The Christmas was quiet, but quite enjoyable. We are going to miss this NWSA Reunion #39 because of a previously planned trip to Key West this spring. Ann has made me go through my clothing and separate the “old” clothing from the wearable clothing! She has been shopping to replace/fill-in the stuff that “I need” before we leave! You know what - it’s true, I had socks that were older than those two granddaughters of ours! You know, getting old is an adventure for me!” Charlie The Chapter gained a new member in January, Tom Scheidel. Tom was a Coast Guard QM handling weather duties. He spent 10 years on active duty and retired from the USCG Reserves as a CDR. He has a Healthcare Consulting practice in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. The Binnacle List: Remy VanHoven had shoulder surgery and is in physical therapy. Curtis Arnold had heart bypass surgery in January and is recovering, going to cardiac rehab three days a week. Harry Hale's younger brother Tom, a retired AWCM living in Kingman, AZ, has throat cancer. Harry and Jeanie are going by to see him on their way to the reunion.
Submitted by xAG2 Curtis Arnold USN REL
President Rod Elliott Vice President Al Parisi Secretary/Treasurer Gene Merrill Reporter Pam Elliott Chaplain Marie Garrity Sunshine Marie Garrity
The Airship Chapter will hold their Spring Luncheon at the Captain's Inn in Forked River April 9, 2013. Our prayers go out to the following: Al & Jane Parisi, Mike & Marie Garrity, Toddy McGayhey, Ann Bucher has been in the hospital for pneumonia, Bob Wiorek who has been receiving chemo treatment but has complications and Gene and Carol Merrill's son who continued chemo treatment but passed away. Everyone in our Chapter send thoughts and prayers to Don Cruse. Charlie & Carol Moffett report their house renovations on Long Beach Island are proceeding. They expect to be in about the middle of April. This is repairing damage from Super Storm Sandy.
15
Bob &Lucille Wiorek: Bob was in the hospital again. We went for his Chemo on Tues. but he couldn't get it because his blood count Red cells were so low. I was to take him for 2 units of blood on Thurs. When we got to the hospital he was so weak they took him to the ER to be checked and they gave him the blood there. After getting the blood his white count dropped real low so they kept him over night. It was a long day, we went there at 7:30 a.m. and I came home at 11p.m. He was able to come home Friday afternoon but is very weak. He is on more medication because he also was running a temp. Ray & Joann Bierly: We are both well. The winter has been unseasonably warm. Rain is needed for the new growth of spring. Sorry that we have not been able to visit with the Airship Chapter but we are grateful to you all for being there. We think our last NWSA Reunion was in Branson in 2005. Just like Spring, we hope the Jersey Shore is looking more and more renewed; new growth, new beginnings. Have Blessed Spring and
Summer. Shalom. Mike & Marie Garrity: It has been a long & cold winter here in New Jersey & Mike & I look so forward to warmer weather that the coming Springtime will bring. We can see the buds of some flowers popping up & the new buds on the trees. By the time this is printed & read, Easter Sunday will have come & gone. The weather patterns have so changed this year & they tell us it will get worse. So we must place our hope & faith in the word of God by reading & believing his Holy word the Bible that if we believe nothing can separate us from his love & protection. Mike & I are grateful for all the blessings on us & our entire family. Life is not easy & sometimes is a struggle, but we each take one day at a time & give thanks knowing with the empty cross, we can face the future & whatever it may bring. We just celebrated (59) years of marriage & enjoy each new day God gives us sharing love with one another & our precious family. So from our home to yours we send best wishes & great memories of all of you. Gene and Carol Merrill: Their son, Richard lost his battle with brain cancer. All in this chapter send prayers to them and their family. God bless America and keep our service people out of harm's way. Toddy McGayhey: Toddy turned 97 on 2/21/2013. The Elliott's came to visit & bring her the traditional M & M's. There was a cake cutting for family and friends on 2/23/2013. Gene & Carol Merrill and Hank Losch were among the many attending. She looked good. Please keep her in your thoughts and drop a note; she would be very pleased to hear from you. Rod and Pam Elliott: Life is good for the Elliott's. Pam continues to be busy with the Credit Union and Rod is reading WEB Griffin series books for the second go around. None of his authors write fast enough for his book a day habit. He is about to get a week or so of peace as Pam will join daughter Kristie, son-in-law Dick
and granddaughter Hannah for a spring break trip to Branson!
Happy Spring and good health to all from each Airship Chapter Member
Submitted by Reporter Pam Elliott
NORTHWEST CHAPTER Pres. J. Earl Kerr Secretary Mark Baillie Hello All!
I know it's been awhile since you have heard from us here in the great Northwest Chapter.. I am here to say we are still here, many of us have had some injuries and haven't been able to make all the meetings and for those in our Chapter, and all the others in the other chapters, we hope you all get better, and return to the meeting soon. We had our last meeting up in Arlington, Washington on March 16 and those in attendance were Earl Kerr and his wife, Dan Collins and his wife Marilyn, Dick and Barbra Gilmore, and Mark Baillie and my father Frank Baillie. Although we arrived a little late due to the Washington State Ferries OPTIONAL FERRY SCHEDULE? (They leave when they want to. That may be ten to twenty minutes after the posted times.) When we arrived, the group was talking about a recent airplane crash of an Intruder that was based out of Whidbey Island N.A.S. and soon the conversation was of previous duty assignments with storm chasers. Dick Gilmore talked of Tropical Storm JUDY while flying a constellation aircraft and the storm damage to the aircraft's wing tips. day's when aircraft flown were battered and beaten ,... but still brought everyone home safe and sound, and who knows those grey hairs may be a little like combat ribbons and they were earned from those storm chasing flights. Many In our group were not able to attend due to vacations and recent health Issues, Bob Coppo just had a knee replacement ,.. or was it a knee operation and wasn't able to get around too well he was attached to a cart, to keep his knee immobilized and just transportation to the meeting would have been a nightmare. Bob we are all wishing you get well soon. Our member who travels the farthest was traveling away from Washington state and enjoying the good life and WARM weather of HAWIAI. Ken Boden traveled there for a week before our meeting, and was in route to get home as we were having our meeting. We will find out how much fun he had at our next meeting. Dan Collin’s wife Marilyn had a hip break since our picnic at Dee Berrians home last August. She was getting around rather well It appeared
16
to me, but I am sure it WASN'T an injury ANY of us would want to have to deal with. Our treasurer, Jim Black, couldn't attend due to some health concerns and was missed. We all wish him to get well soon; we miss seeing him too! I tried talking with our ELDEST member Fred Olsen to see if we could get him up to Arlington, but wasn't able to get a hold of him. Although we have many others who make our meeting, there are many who attending weddings and missing our meeting because of other commitments and already scheduled appointments. We wish you are ALL in good health and hope to see you again in our meetings
Submitted by Mark Baillie, NW Chapter Secretary
CDR Don Cruse, USN RET December 18, 1920 to April 1, 2013
Donald A. Cruse: Born El Paso, Tx on December 18, 1920. Don passed
away at home at age of 92. Retired CDR USN meteorologist after serving 30 years. He is survived by his loving wife Marge, daughter Donna (Chuck) of Colorado Springs, Co and son David (LeAnn) of Middle River, Mn. Also grandsons Jeff, Scott and Brian. Marge and Don
were married for 65 years. During WWII Don survived the sinking of two aircraft carriers: USS Wasp-CV7 and the USS Liscomb Bay-CVE56. Wounded in both and awarded a purple heart for each. Don was the historian and very active in the Naval Weather Service Association (NWSA) for many years. He loved to travel all over the world frequently returning to places he and Marge had been stationed or had been to on active duty. Don enjoyed the outdoors and was active as an assistant Scout Master in the 60's and 70's. He also loved gardening and passed his love
of sailing on to his three grandsons.
Submitted by Fay Crossley, HRC Secretary
CDR Don Cruse was born December 18, 1920 in El Paso, TX. Don joined the Navy on July 13, 1938, on a minority cruise, received boot training at NTC San Diego, CA. He attended Group II Communications School then a long string of shipboard assignments
began. He successfully completed and was selected to attend a Naval Academy Preparatory Class at the Naval Operating Base, Norfolk, VA. Because of poor vision, he was dropped from the class and returned to the fleet. During the fall of 1940, he was selected to attend the Primary Aerographer School, Class 4020 from November 01, 1940 to January 24, 1941. After graduation he was advanced to Petty Officer 3rd Class. It was back to sea with assignments on the USS Ranger (CV-4) and the USS Wasp (CV-7). He was serving onboard the USS Wasp when it was sunk in September 1942. Don went through rehab and was issued a new sea bag and was assigned to Fleet Air Wing 8 at NAS Alameda, CA. During September 1943, he received orders to the USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56) and it was sunk in November 1943. Another sea bag was issued at the Receiving Station on Yerba Buena (Goat) Island, San Francisco, CA and orders kept him in the Bay area for his next three assignments. Don advanced to Chief Petty Officer in December 1944 and was ordered back to sea. He was serving onboard the USS Intrepid (CV-11) when it was hit by Kamikaze aircraft. Don transferred from the USS Intrepid in Tokyo Bay during October 1945 and was discharged in November 1945 at the Receiving Station San Diego, CA. He worked as a Junior Meteorologist for Pan American Airways until February 1946, when he reenlisted in the Navy. Orders were to the Receiving Station, San Pedro, CA then to Fleet Air Wing 14 at NAS North Island. During June 1946, he was transferred to Clinton, OK to decommission the station and from there onto NAF Annapolis, MD where married Marge in September 1947. From there in January 1948, he was ordered to Lakehurst, NJ to attend AERM School - Class C-4. After graduating, he was assigned to Fleet Air Wing -1 onboard NAS Agana, Guam. Don was serving at NAS Anacostia, Washington DC when he was commissioned as a Limited Duty Officer, Ensign (ENS) - Aviation Operations. In July 1952, his next assignment was to London, England along with advancement to Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG) – Aerology. From June 1954 to June 1961, his assignments were in Navy Security along with advancements to Lieutenant (LT) and Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) in the Washington DC area and London, England. From June 1961 through June 1964 assignments were at FWF Yokosuka and NAS Atsugi, Japan. His last tour on active duty was at the Head Quarters Naval Weather Service, Washington Navy Yard DC, from June 1964 until his retirement, as a Commander (CDR), after 30 years active duty in November 1968.
From Lloyd Corbett’s NWSA Project
CAPT George J. Haltiner USNR RET November 26, 1918 to January 21, 2013
17
George J. Haltiner, an internationally acclaimed scientist and educator who played an important role in keeping the Naval Postgraduate School at the forefront of meteorological research, died Monday in Monterey at age 94. Mr. Haltiner, a resident of Monterey
with his wife, Mary, since 1948, was a distinguished professor emeritus at NPS, serving as chairman of the Department of Meteorology from 1964 until he retired in 1982. He was the author or co-author of three books on meteorology, as well as 25 scientific papers published in academic journals on the subject. In December 1981, he was awarded the Navy's highest honor for a civilian employee, the Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Award. Throughout his 40-year career, Mr. Haltiner was a recognized leader in the revolution of the science of weather forecasting. He helped pioneer methods to harness the emerging power of computers and incorporate remotely sensed data from satellites, planes, ships and other platforms, transforming weather prediction from an empirical craft to a modern science. "The computer radically changed the fundamental basis of weather prediction," Mr. Haltiner told The Herald in 1981, while satellites "provided pictures of weather over vast ocean areas, where data previously had been sparse or absent." "We're finally seeing more of the forest, rather than just the trees," he said. Mr. Haltiner was born Nov. 26, 1918, in St. Paul, Minn., one of 10 children of Conrad and Elizabeth Haltiner, impoverished immigrants from Switzerland and Austria. His mother died of cancer when he was 6, and his older siblings dropped out of school to support the family. Throughout his high school years, Mr. Haltiner worked on a milk delivery truck and as a cook on the Great Northern Railroad. He won a scholarship to St. Thomas College, graduating summa cum laude in 1940, then entered the Ph.D. program in mathematics at the University of Wisconsin. He joined the Navy in World War II as an officer and member of the National Weather Service. Weather prediction was largely an empirical process during that era, relying on experience and simple instrumentation that had evolved over centuries. Mr. Haltiner's education in physics and mathematics proved ideal for the rapid advance of modern weather forecasting. He was stationed at Pearl Harbor and the Pacific Islands, and later served on the European front, advising on new developments in weather and ocean wave forecasting that were a key factor in the timing and success of the Normandy invasion. Mr. Haltiner withdrew from active duty at the end of the war, but remained in the reserves, accepting a
faculty position at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School at Annapolis, Md., in 1946. He met Mary Wahl on a train to Annapolis, and the couple were wed in June 1947 in Washington, D.C. In 1948, after earning his Ph.D., Mr. Haltiner relocated to the new site of the NPS Meteorology/Oceanography Department at the former Del Monte Hotel in Monterey. During his tenure at NPS, Mr. Haltiner was recognized as one of the world's foremost researchers in the emerging field of numerical weather prediction, as forecasting advanced from approximate short-range forecasts to increasingly detailed and accurate prediction up to several weeks in the future. Building on his work, the development of global climatic circulation models has allowed the understanding of longer-term climate change in response to human activities. NPS established a research chair position in his name, bringing renowned scholars to the school each year to contribute to the development of weather forecasting. In 2009, the school dedicated the George Haltiner Laboratory for Weather Analysis and Prediction. Mr. Haltiner was an avid and accomplished golfer for 66 years, becoming a founding member of the Spyglass Hill Golf Course in Pebble Beach in 1966. He was also a ski jumper in his youth and college years, competing throughout the Midwest and achieving the highest national ranking ("A" level) in 1942. He was a devout Catholic and member of the San Carlos Cathedral and NPS Chapel. In addition to Mary, his wife of more than 65 years, Mr. Haltiner is survived by five children — Mary Himple, Jeffrey Haltiner, Kathleen Deck, Jean Isaacs and Michele Jones — and 14 grandchildren. A memorial Mass and reception to celebrate his life will be held at 10 a.m. March11 at San Carlos Cathedral. A tribute website is available at http://memorial.yourtribute.com/George-Joseph-Haltiner/. Memorial donations may be made to the California State Parks Foundation, the St. Vincent de Paul Society or a charity of choice. By Dennis Taylor, Monterey County Herald Staff Writer Published 1/26/2013 and Updated 1/29/2013
Submitted by AGC Zane Jacobs, USN RET
CAPT Leon John “Jack” Pingel USN RET December 9, 1934 to February 20, 2013
Leon John "Jack" Pingel, 78, of Palm Desert, Calif., died February 20. He was born December 9, 1934, to John Edwin Pingel and Meta Broekemeier Pingel in Norfolk, Neb. Jack met his wife, Helen, in 1967 in San Francisco; they married in Doylestown, Pa., in 1968, and raised two daughters. He served 29 years
18
as a U.S. Naval officer and was awarded the Legion of Merit Medal. Retiring at the rank of captain, he then worked in public school finance for 12 years. Before moving to Palm Desert, he greatly enjoyed volunteering as a docent at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve and the John Steinbeck Center in the Monterey Bay Area. He is survived by his wife, Helen Ruth Pingel, of Palm Desert, Calif., and by his daughters Lee Ann Pingel of Athens, Ga., and Maile Ruth Pingel of Los Angeles, Calif.. He is also survived by his sisters Gwendolyn Cowell of Fremont, Calif., and Mary Ann Miller of La Quinta, Calif., and by his brother Richard Pingel of Norfolk, Neb. A memorial service will be held March 9, 2013, at Hope Lutheran Church, 45-900 Portola Ave, Palm Desert, at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to any of the following: Hope Lutheran Church, 45-900 Portola Ave, Palm Desert, CA 92260 World Hunger Relief worldhungerrelief.org Lutheran Military Veterans and Families Ministries, Inc. www.lmvfm.org Published in The Desert Sun from February 28 to March 2, 2013.
Submitted by CAPT Harry Nicholson USN RET
Tribute to Captain Jack Pingel
I was saddened to learn of the passing of Captain Jack Pingel and feel it appropriate to share a few remembrances of how he influenced me as an AG1, Chief Petty Officer and as a Naval Officer. I served under Captain Pingel while he was Commanding Officer of the Naval Oceanography Center in Rota, Spain (1978-1982). He was the 3rd Commanding Officer I had during my extended Shore/Sea tour in Rota. I was immediately impressed at how diverse his experiences were and how committed he was on helping us all apply greater focus on tactical support to all warfare communities. He had experience in both the Atlantic and Pacific, OA Div Officer “chops”, Fleet Weather Center Ops experience not to mention tours in Port Lyautey Morocco and Argentia Nova Scotia! He made it clear that while meteorology was our core skill set that the Navy needed us to expand our suite of skills to support ASW missions, DESRON’s on deployment and the Submarine community. He expected us to bring the complete environmental picture to the War Fighters! He realized we needed better tools in meteorological, oceanographic and acoustic prediction models. I always believed he was devoting equal time to matters at hand in Rota and at our detachments while at the same time pressing the highest levels of the community to do provide the equipment, support and scientific tools to meet the changing needs of the Navy! He was instrumental in the creation of a team that provided detailed DMSP image analysis for both all warfare communities, the formation of the Mobile Environmental Team and direct support to the
submarine community in the Mediterranean theater. Capt Pingel was a game changer! He invested in me. He provided the opportunity for me to meet new challenges and demonstrate my capacity to learn. During a difficult family time he made sure I got the support from the Chiefs and Officers at the Command in order to span that period while growing both personally and professionally. In 1983, in route to an XO tour with Oceanounit Four, I stopped in Bay St Louis for a visit to NAVOCEANO. He found me and along with Helen opened their home for a wonderful meal and evening of conversation and good things to think about. I owe much of my success to the advice and encouragement he provided both as an enlisted man and as a Naval Officer. I still use it today nearly 18 years into a demanding second career. During my 25 years of service I was very fortunate to have been influenced by some exceptional Chiefs and Officers. Reflecting on those memories it is easy to see him as one of the most consequential leaders of our community. I remain very grateful!
Mike Gilroy Lcdr, USN Ret
CAPT Dean R. Morford, USN RET May 22, 1930 to March 3, 2013
Captain Dean R. Morford, a pioneer in the introduction of computers in the Naval Weather Service, died on March 6, 2013. Dean was born in Cass County Minnesota on May 22, 1930. He graduated from North Dakota State University in 1953 and immediately
began his Naval career. After completing the one-year Applied Meteorology course at NPS, Dean was assigned as a forecaster at FWC Kodiac. In 1957 he was assigned to USS Rochester in the Gunnery Department and augmented to the Regular Navy. Two years later he returned to Monterey and was assigned as the sixth Officer at Project NANWEP, which was commissioned as FLENUMWEAFAC in 1961 with Dean serving as the first Operations Officer. In 1962 Dean was assigned to Washington, DC as Project Officer for the introduction of Navy weather data into Major Command data systems. After a two year tour there, Dean was assigned to FWC Rota where he was responsible for installation of the first overseas computer systems for communicating and processing weather data. Returning to Monterey in 1967, Dean received his MS in Meteorology from NPS in 1969. Upon graduation he was assigned to Offutt AFB in Omaha as liaison to the Air Force Global Weather Central. While there his position was upgraded to OinC NWSD Offutt. Back to Monterey in 1973 he served as Plans and Programs Officer and XO at FLENUMWEACEN before being
19
installed as Commanding Officer in 1976. Later in 1976 he was transferred to FWC Guam as Commanding Officer. After retirement in 1979 he returned to California and settled near Monterey in the Salinas area. Since then he has been a faithful supporter of the Central Coast Chapter of NWSA. During the past year his health gradually deteriorated with respiratory problems until a week before his death when he checked into a hospital. He is survived by his sons Jay, Wayne, and Gregory, and his ex-wife Beverly. He will buried in Pequot Lakes, MN. He will be remembered fondly and missed by all.
Submitted by CAPT Harry Nicholson, USN RET
CAPT Vincent Roper, USN RET June 27, 1933 to April 4
th, 2013
Vincent Roper, 79, a long-time
advocate for Victims’ Rights in
Maryland, passed away early Thursday
morning after experiencing trouble
breathing, the Maryland Crime Victims
Resource Center announced this
morning.
His death came just hours after Roper received a Governor’s
proclamation on April 3, crediting the work of Roper and his wife Roberta for victim’s rights, which included the founding, in 1982, of the Stephanie Roper Committee and Foundation, Inc. after the kidnapping, rape and murder of their daughter Stephanie, a senior at Frostburg State University, on April 3, 1982. The organization is now known as the Maryland Crime Victims’ Resource Center, Inc. In paying tribute to Vincent Roper, Governor Martin
O’Malley said, “Along with his wife Roberta, Vince Roper
worked tirelessly to see that victims of crime were
treated with dignity and respect, and given all the rights
due under law. When the laws were proven to be
inadequate, they worked to get old laws changed, or
new laws passed. Countless Marylanders have
benefitted from their dedicated service and thousands of
lives are better because of their work.“
Vincent William Roper was born June 27, 1933 in Hazleton, PA. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17 and was selected to attend the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating with the class of 1956. After serving numerous tours around the world as a naval officer, he retired as a captain with more than 30 years of service. He was an active member of the Knights of Columbus, Most Holy Rosary Council No. 11511 and the Naval Weather Service Association.
His family includes his wife, Roberta Roper; children
Stephanie Roper (deceased), Sharon Thompson, Brian
Roper, Daniel Roper and Peter Roper; and
grandchildren Samia Roper (deceased), Jacob Roper,
Jessica Thompson, Matthew Thompson, Henry Roper,
Sarah Thompson, Vincent Thompson (deceased),
Megan Kaiser and Douglas Kaiser.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday
at Saint Joseph’s Center, 11704 Duley Station Road,
Upper Marlboro. Visitation is from 9:30-11 a.m. In lieu of
flowers, Roberta Roper requests donations to the
MCVRC or to the Stephanie Roper Scholarship at
Frostburg in his memory. Donations for either can be
sent to MCVRC, 1001 Prince George’s Blvd., Suite 750,
Upper Marlboro, MD 20774.
By Peggy McEwan, Maryland Community News staff
writer. Published April 6, 2013
Submitted by AGC Zane Jacobs, USN RET
CDR Adrian “Art” Tingle, USN RET Passed March 15, 2013 at Age 88
Virginia Beach - CDR Adrian "Art" Tingle, Ret. USN, 88 of Virginia Beach, VA passed away on March 15, 2013. CDR Tingle proudly served his country in the United States Navy for more than 34 years. Lovingly known as "Pop-Pop" by his family, he is predeceased by his first wife Edith D. Tingle and is survived by his wife Brenda Phillips-Tingle, his daughter Nina T. White and husband Ray, daughter Vicki Bruso Forehand and husband Tom, grandchildren Adrian White Slagle and husband Sam, Allison White, Carl Bruso and Lauren Bruso. Pop-Pop was the patriarch of his family and through his actions and deeds imparted the gracious qualities of love, kindness, hope and courage to us all. His smile and blued-eyed wink will forever remain in our hearts. Our family expresses its sincere gratitude to his caregivers from Seniorcorp for their loving care and kindness over the last two years. Those wishing to honor his life may make a donation in his memory to Operation Smile by visiting http://support.operationsmile.org/goto/poppop. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.hollomon-brown.com.
Submitted by Dan Lee and Fay Crossley, HRC Secretary
LCDR Dale F. “Ted” Bear, USN RET Passed February 21, 2013 at Age 87
RANCHO BERNARDO - Beloved father, grandfather and partner Dale F. Bear passed away peacefully on February 21 in Rancho Bernardo at the age of 87. Born on a small farm in South Dakota, as a young man, he
20
worked as a logger in Iowa, a private detective in Los Angeles, and enlisted in the Navy during WW II, going on to serve twenty-three years as a meteorologist, a veteran of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. His final shipboard assignment was on the USS Oriskany off Vietnam. He retired with the rank of Lt. Commander. His postings took him and his family to Japan, the Philippines, and Alaska, exposing all to cultures and sights not common for American kids in the 1950s and 60s. Predeceased by his wife Wilma and stepdaughter Barbara, he is survived by partner Dolores Fazekas, step-granddaughter Cathey Kelley, her son Erik, son Greg, and grandchildren Erik and Alexandra. He was an amazing and gentle man, a wandering soul now off on his next duty assignment. We will all miss him. A service and memorial will be held at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery on Thursday, March 28, at 2:30 p.m. Published in U-T San Diego on March 28, 2013
Submitted by Morry Summey, SOCAL Secretary
AGCM O. A. “Al” Hassen USN RET Passed January 3
rd, 2013 at Age 82
He was born January 12, 1930 and passed away January 3, 2013 at age 82. He lived in the San Diego, CA area and was a LIFE MEMBER of NWSA and listed on the Bellinger List.
Additional information submitted by AGC Bobby Johnson, SE Chapter
xAG Rudolph “Rudy” Cantarina December 9, 1929 to March 1, 2013
Rudolph Cantarina "Rudy" of Jacksonville, died peacefully at home Friday (March 1st) surrounded by loved ones and is now in his eternal home with the Lord. He was born December 9th, 1929 in Brooklyn, NY to the late Sophia and Vincent Cantarini. He is pre-deceased by his only sister Edith Spera. A mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday March 8th, at San Jose Catholic Church, 3619 Toledo Road. He served 4 years in the United States Navy where he attended Navy Aerographer's (AG) School in Lakehurst, NJ. He then earned a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Miami 1959. He subsequently attained Professional Engineer status. His career highlights include Kennedy Space Center Apollo mission and Officer in Charge of Construction for the Trident Nuclear Submarine in St. Mary's, GA. After retiring, he traveled throughout Europe and the United States. He had a passion for playing his trumpet, jazz music, tennis and enjoying good Italian food. He was a life-long Catholic. Corey-Kerlin funeral homes and crematory.
(The Florida Times-Union - March 6th, 2013) Submitted by AGC Bob Johnson, NWSA SE Chapter
AGCS Frank M. Patrick, USN RET April 14, 1934 to January 18, 2013
Frank Michael PATRICK, 78, passed away January 18, 2013 in Jacksonville, Fl. He was born April 14, 1934 in Cleveland, Ohio. He loved and served his country in the U. S. Navy for 20 years and retired as AG Senior Chief. He then served for 10 years in the Civil Service for the Navy. His service included serving a year in the frozen depths of Antarctica as a weather forecaster. He was an avid history and war buff. He enjoyed reading and telling stories of his adventures around the world. Frank was a member of Arlington Baptist Church, Arlington Baptist Trailblazers and the Fishers of Men Bible study class. He loved the sea and was a frequent cruise passenger. He is predeceased by his parents and first wife, Angela. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Jeri of 19 years; sister Joyce Mullan (Ron) of Dearborn, MI; brother Robert of Las Vegas, NV, many nieces, nephews and dear friends. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, February 2, 2013 at Hardage-Giddens Chapel Hills Funeral Home, 850 St. Johns Bluff Road, North Jacksonville, FL 32225 officiated by Brother Bill Coffman and Brother Fred Norman. Full military honors will follow. www.hardage-giddenschapelhills.com. Please make memorials to Arlington Baptist Church (Trailblazers) 6009 Arlington Road, Jacksonville, FL 32211.
Submitted by Fay Crossley, HRC Secretary
AGC Calvin D. Smith, USN RET Passed March 11, 2013 at Age 83
Asheville - Calvin Dewey Smith, 83, of Asheville, passed away unexpectedly Monday, March 11, 2013, at home. He was born in Foxville, MD, a son of the late Roy B. and Rosa L. Lewis Smith and served 2 years in the US Air Force, 20 years in the US Navy; and 14 years civil
service for a total of 36 years for the United States Department of Commerce. He worked as a Meteorologist for the National Climatic Data Center. He was a resident of NC since 1966 and was a member of Bethesda United Methodist Church. Mr. Smith is survived by his wife of 62 years, Hazel Florence Smith; 2 sons, Calvin D. Smith, Jr. and his wife, Shelia of Asheville and Roy W. Smith and his wife, Teresa of Taylors, SC, 3 sisters, Betty Warner of Hagerstown, MD, Lorraine Bakner of Quincy, PA and Margie Mullinax of Chambersburg, PA; 6 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.
21
A funeral service will be held at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, at Groce Funeral Home on Tunnel Road with Rev. George Davis officiating. Burial will follow in the WNC State Veterans Cemetery with full military honors. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the funeral at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Bethesda UMC, 315 Old Haw Creek Road, Asheville, NC, 28805. Groce Funeral Home on Tunnel Road is assisting the Smith family. The online register is available at www.grocefuneralhome.com.
Submitted by CDR Thomas Fitzpatrick USN RET
AGC Richard (Dick) J. Corby, Jr. July 13, 1933 to September 20, 2012
Wife Lois Carol Corby of 60 years. Retired US Navy 1951-1971. Father of five children, Theresa G. McClure, deceased, Michelle L. Corby Fadem and husband Scott Fadem, Stephanine L. Corby Raines and husband Michael Raines, Richard J. Corby III and wife Sandra Corby, Scott P. Corby and wife Pam Spurr. He was blessed with 11 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren; brother of Frances Corby Harvey, Patty Corby Yeith. Graveside Service and interment at Mt. Tahoma National Cemetery Kent, WA on Monday Sept. 24, 2012 at 2:15 p.m. Family requests all donations to the USO operation in the name of Richard Corby Jr. AGC Richard Corby death was reported in the Fleet Reserve Association February 2013 issue of the Memoriam.
Submitted by AGC Bobby Johnson, USN RET
AGC James H. Henley, USN RET September 11, 1929 to October 14, 2012
James H. Henley, 83, passed away on October 14, 2012. Funeral service was held at the Park Lawn Funeral Home on Wednesday, October 17
th and the
burial was held at the Mt. Washington Cemetery, Independence, MO. James was born September 11
th,
1929 in Mammoth Springs, AR to John W. and Minnie P. (Griffith) Henley. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy after 19 years of federal service retiring as a Chief Petty Officer, on March 3. 1988. He was a faithful member of the East Independence Church of Christ. He was married for 54 years to his wife Dorothy (Dottie). He also leaves his sons, Phillip W. Henley and his wife, Lynda and Richard W. Henley and his wife, Sherry, six grandsons, Jimmy, Michael, Patrick, Benjamin, Joshua and Peter and ten great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his fifteen siblings and parents. James was a Life Member of the Naval Weather Service Association and a member of the Fleet Reserve Association Branch 161 located in Kansas City, KS. Submitted by AGC Bob Johnson, USN RET
Articles
Weatherman’s Career Defies History By Jimmy Brown, Jax Air News, March 12, 1981
Ask him his age
and a sly smile
covers the face of
former Master
Chief aerographers
mate William
Heagley of
NavOceanComFac. Before he manages to tell you that
he’s a former Navy man with 30 years active duty under
his belt, you’ll feel so at ease with him, you’ll be inclined
to pull up a chair for a bit of light socializing.
The fact that he was there mess cooking when the
Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor makes him a genuine
legend in his own time. But that’s not the most
fascinating thing about Heagley. As he unravels details
about a career that spanned each of the seven seas, it’s
not hard to tell that here is a man who enjoyed his naval
career.
In 1939, a Navy man’s pay was $21 a month. There
were no I.D. cards, or social security numbers. In those
days, thousands of enlisted Navy persons rolled out of
hammocks at reveille and simultaneously tied seven
marlin hitches to secure their hammocks before the
leading seaman conducted the first of a series of early
morning inspections.
The ‘good ole days’ as Heagley refers to them,
started at Great Lakes Naval Training Station in 1940. It
was a long ride from the Omaha, Nebraska AFEES
station but the worst was yet to come. Winter had come
to Illinois and the 17 weeks of basic training were no
laughing matter. But Heagley survived to experience his
first tour of sea duty.
Afterwards, he was sent ashore but found it “boring
and extremely dull”, he says with emphasis. But he
hung in there until he couldn’t take it anymore and finally
requested to terminate his shore duty for assignment to
the USS Albany.
If adventure lures young people to today’s Navy, then left the store of Pearl Harbor be told by one who experienced it that morning of Dec. 7, 1941. Heagley was up at 5 a.m. performing his usual duties
as mess cook on the USS Utah.
22
“I was lucky. I remember grabbing a handful of
coffee cups with no handles. The Utah was a target ship
for pilots to practice bombing. They would drop bags
and little steel bombs onto the 12 X 12’s target areas
used on deck. The Utah ship looked more like an
aircraft carrier than a target ship, and evidently the
Japanese pilots thought so too, because after they hit
the destroyers in the area, they started on us.”
“I remember it was 7 a.m. when they hit and no one
knew what was going on. We all thought the entire
country was being attacked and for that day and the
three days that followed havoc reigned.”
“It wasn’t just one series of attacks, they lasted for
hours. I saw several planes shot down, but the
unfortunate thing was, that since our ship was a target
ship, we had no guns. We were totally helpless, and
had no other choice but to abandon ship. Lucky thing
we were tied up close to the pier, or else many of us
probably never would have made it.”
Although he’s traveled the seven seas, Heagley says
some of his happiest moments were spent in the states.
San Francisco’s Market Street on VJ Day, for example.
His eyes and voice both register the long-ago
excitement. “There were girls out there kissing
everybody, and you never saw such happiness.”
So happy was Heagley that he climbed a lamp post
and screamed for joy. One of the best ‘good olde days’
an old Navy hand could ask for.
Had he known that others who’d reached the rate of
Master Chief were allowed to stay in the Navy pass the
30 year mark, Heagley says he never would have left.
Ask him the big question and that boyish grin
completely covers his face before the dedication sets
into his eyes. The mood changes.
If you had to do it all over again, what would you
change?
Heagley smiles before silence captures the room. A few
muscles in his cheek give way to a moment of hidden
sentimentality. He manages to fight it off. Once more, a
smile relaxes the atmosphere and things are back to
normal.
“Not a single solitary moment. I wouldn’t change a
minute of my life in any way, form or fashion.”
“I really would have liked to stay in.”
Submitted by Ann Ayers
Charles House Letter CDR Neil F. O’Connor, USN Naval War College College of Naval Warfare Newport, Rhode Island, 02840 Dear Neil: In response to your questions on how I entered the Naval Weather Service, my experiences leading up to my assignment to Alaska, evading the Japanese, and the ultimate necessity of surrendering. The other portion covering the experience as a POW cover a three year period and would take too much time to answer at present, but will supply more details later if you find the following of interest in your History of The Naval Weather Service. You have my permission to use any or all of the following material. In the fall of 1934, I was transferred from the USS Portland to the US Naval Air Station, Lakehurst, New Jersey to attend the Lighter Than Air School, in the hopes of becoming a crew member of the USS Macon, a large dirigible. Before the Lighter Than Air School finished the following spring the USS Macon crashed off Point Sur, California putting a crimp in the Lighter Than Air Program in the United States Navy. This was a serious blow to me, as my strongest desire and ambition was to become a crewman on a dirigible. When our school was finished I found myself as one of a few non-rated men on the station and was assigned to a more or less permanent mess cook duty. Sgt. “Dutch” Hoffman USMC was living in the barracks and counseled me on the advantages of becoming a Navy weather man. Sgt. Hottman arranged a meeting with Lcdr. Reichelderfer, the Executive Officer and the Acting Aerological Officer, who transferred me to the Aerologoical Office for duty. A short time later Lt. Orville became Aerological Officer and I worked under him the next year and a half. My opportunity for the Primary Aerographer’s School came in January 1937 and I graduated in May 1937. After than I served with weather units on the USS Saratoga, USS California, and on the US Naval Air Station, San Diego, California where I was serving at the start of World War II. Things happened fast after the Start of World War II. Radio Silence by all ships at sea created very large blank spots on weather maps as weather reports from ocean going ships in the Pacific were discontinued. As weather systems moved from West to East there was no way predicting the weather for the west coast of the United States and Alaska. This necessitated the opening of a chain of weather reporting stations at Attu, Kiska, Adak, and Atka in the Aleutian Islands. The weathermen to run these weather stations turned out to be Aerographers Mates, First Class House, Hudson, Lynch, and Omang. We were ordered into Patrol Wing Four at NAS Seattle to await our equipment and transportation to Alaska.
23
We left Seattle on 14 April, 1942 on the USS Grant for transportation to Dutch Harbor, Alaska. There we worked on the Aerological Station under Chief Darr. Assignments to the islands were made by drawing slips from a hat. Omang drew Attu, and House Kiska. Hudson drew Adak and Lynch, Atka. It was decided to Omang and his crew onto Attu and House onto Kiska right away. The signs of war were evident at Dutch Harbor. Every morning just before dawn we would leave our warm bunks and file out to trenches with rifles at the ready. This was a daily routine, except on Wednesday, when we were allowed to stay in bed and carry on a holiday routine. This was to fool the Japanese, supposedly, they would not find us sleeping on a Sunday morning as they did at Pearl Harbor. Early in May I left Dutch Harbor on the USS Williamson, and Omang and his crew were on the USS Casco bound for Attu. As the ship was shorthanded we were pressed into service on the gun crews. On the second night out, as we steamed West through the Bering Sea, the OD made his rounds and said, “Shoot at anything you see, there are no friendly forces in this area”. That incident brought me into the war, from now on it could be me. After that when on gun duty I kept my finger on the trigger and constantly combed the horizon for enemy ships. We steamed into Kiska Harbor on 18 May, 1942 for a glimpse of three solitary buildings, which was to be my home for the next several years, I thought. We anchored in the harbor and the Skipper sent a signalman and a quartermaster ashore to stand on top of a high hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Instructions to these two men were to signal back immediately to the ship, if they saw any ships or planes, and they would be left on the island and the ship would put to sea to be ready for battle in unrestricted waters. The thought passed through my mind that he was being skittish about the military situation at Kiska, and we were expected to remain there permanently. The ship sent a refrigerator repairman ashore to repair the walk-in icebox so we could store our meat supply. The ship unloaded a six-month supply of provisions on the beach with a motor launch. A strong South Wind was blowing and we had to stand in the water, chest deep, and hold the launch so it wouldn’t broach. After about 45 minutes in the cold water the launch left and we headed for the bunkhouse and for a hot shower to thaw out and we seemed no worse for the experience. We were then alone, ten men against the world and the Japanese. We had to work late that night getting our supplies in the refrigerator and the storeroom. That food was our only chance to survive the next six months. The next few days were spent in getting settled and starting a three hourly weather reporting routine. General Bolivar Buckner, the Alaskan Defense Commander, flew in with a flight of PBYs for a visit. We spent most of the day walking over the Island
to study terrain. He impressed on me that the most important thing outside of the regular weather reporting was that we report any enemy sightings immediately by radio. After General Buckner left a couple of PBYs stayed under Lcdr. Russel and they scouted for Japanese Forces. There was a large stack of aviation gasoline barrels on the beach. With a punt we would tow a barrel of gasoline out to the anchored planes, and let the barrel float upright, while we pumped the gasoline into the planes. This was a long tedious task, before going on another patrol. The patrols returned to Dutch Harbor and we continued to settle in. On the 24th of May, 1942 a Japanese plane flew over. We checked the recognition books and identified it as a type 97 and prepared a sighting message for Dutch Harbor. We were unable to raise Dutch as they were working us on a three hour schedule and didn’t answer. We opened up on the emergency band and raised Sitka, who got us in touch with Dutch Harbor. They came right back and asked for an altitude course and speed of the plane. This was sent right back. Dutch Harbor then came through and inquired if we had really seen an airplane. This I thought was ridiculous and I just ignored that message. That night we were listening to a report on a short wave radio station in San Francisco, and they predicted a Japanese attack on Alaska on the West Coast of the United States within ten days. We assumed that the basis for the prediction was our sighting report. We then started preparations in case of an attack upon Kiska. We dug zig-zag trenches so we could have some protection against bombing or strafing. Tents were set up, in two places away from the main camp, and stocked with food and ammunition in case our buildings got knocked out. In just a few days the prediction of attack came true. Our Radioman woke us up early one morning by yelling ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK. We could neither see nor hear anything, and then the radioman explained that the radio operator at Dutch Harbor was describing an attack on Dutch Harbor. It was repulsed and tried again the following day but repulsed. I often wonder if it was a coincidence or did the Japanese have intelligence and plan the initial attack on Dutch on a Wednesday morning? We certainly didn’t want to get caught, so we carefully estimated and plotted the Japanese position using a 10 knot speed. At night we slept in our clothes with our guns at the ready. By June 6, 1942 we figured the Japanese were well past Kiska on their return to Japan and we relaxed and undressed for bed. Just after 0200 hours on 7 June, 1942, Winfrey AG3 sleeping in the bunk above me shouted ATTACK ATTACK. I told him to go back to bed, it is not time to get up, and that he was having a bad dream. Wimpy then turned on the lights and showed me a bullet hole in his leg. About that time I observed window glass in our bunk room being broken by bullets.
24
Our outside lookout had chosen this time to come in and make a cup of coffee. We dressed hurriedly and Turner turned the heating stove up full, and I stuffed all the communications ciphers into the hot stove. During this time I observed the glass cases covering the selsym wind recording instruments breaking from Japanese bullets. As I ran from the building the first light permitted the observation of many Japanese landing craft moving up the inner harbor with machine guns blasting away from their bows. AG2c Turner, who had been outside for a couple of minutes and adjusted to the light suggested that we spread out and move up the hill toward the low clouds for cover. As we spread and moved the Japanese would shoot at us, we would drop down and they would train on another moving target. In this early morning light the tracer bullets looked like baseballs curving toward us. Luckily for us we could dodge the tracer and because of the distance the tracers had traveled they were lighter and consequently higher than the regular bullets, which I could see hitting the dirt short of their mark. In about 300 yards we reached the cover of fog and were not visible to the gunners. I scrambled madly up the hill until overcome by exhaustion and lay on the ground for a rest. The sound of footsteps seemed to be closing in. I pressed my ear to the ground and listened to the rhythmic beat and realized it was my heartbeat. Reason took over and I analyzed my situation. I was alone, not warmly dressed, but had grabbed a couple of gray blankets as I ran outside. The Japanese were landing in Force and I would assume that they would knock out our facilities and leave, so I must evade them until they left Kiska. For that day I moved next to some gray rocks and covered with gray blankets and did not make a move until darkness. During the day there was some shooting in different places and a few planes flying around by afternoon. A summer day in Alaska is very long especially when one is alone, in danger and your whole world just pulled out from under you. The goal for the first night was to locate some of the food, a gun and some ammunition that was stashed in a ravine a couple of miles southeast of my present position. As soon as darkness arrived I set off in haste trying to get to the food cache. I became overheated and would gulp water from the small streams and grab mouthfuls of snow from drifts. This made me nauseated and I threw up what food I had left in my stomach. After crisscrossing the area several times, I was unable to locate the cache and the sky was lighting in the East. I then decided to go to the Southeast coast of the island. Just as daylight arrived I was crossing a stream and fell in. I was soaked to my neck. As the sun warmed, I decided to dry my clothes by spreading them on the grass to dry. Just at that time a Japanese patrol boat anchored just off shore and remained there all day. That pinned me down. I rolled up in my blankets and stayed in the creek ravine. That was no place for me, so decided to move inland up the hill. During the night I
passed a creek bank that looked like it would make a good cave. My only tools for digging was a handful of 30-30 shells and it turned out to be slow digging so I gave up that idea. As dawn was breaking, I settled on a small meadow by a stream, that gave me a full view of the harbor, but it also put me in plain view. I tried to sleep most of the day curled up in my gray blanket by some gray rocks. It proved to be an interesting place as I watched the ships come and go, and the patrol boat was methodically taking soundings of the outer harbor with a lead line. A couple of days had passed since I had last eaten, my thoughts turned to food. The only thing available for food was limited vegetation; tundra grass, wild celery, and lupine bulbs. An old fur trapper that I had met at Dutch Harbor had told me “There is nothing poisonous growing in the Aleutian Islands”, so I decided to start eating the vegetation. The wild celery was bitter, so I eliminated that, and concentrated on lupine bulbs and tundra. On the eighth day I realized that I had not had a bowel movement, so decided to concentrate on filling up with tundra. The tundra didn’t seem to agree with me, as I became very sick and nauseated, then an urge for a bowel movement. The stool was mostly undigested tundra mixed with clotted blood. All this happened during midday and I was in plain view of several ships in the outer harbor. I began thinking that this was a poor place to stay, but in a day or so a PBY made a bombing approach over my area toward the main harbor. Flak from AA guns was falling all around me. That made up my mind and I would move out with the coming light to a cove on the North Central coastline. It turned out to be a bad night for traveling as a steady rain set in. Upon approaching the north coast I saw a cave in a steep bank just above a small creek. That looked like a good home, so I crawled in to sleep. The rain was dripping from the cave roof and got my blankets wet. The wind shifted to the Northwest and there was colder temperatures and a few snow flurries to add to my discomfort. By experimenting with my environment I was able to subsist at that location for another forty days. There was a plentiful supply of new tundra for food. By this time I discovered that I could eat the inside, tender part of the stem. It was tasty, something like fresh corn. I was able to eat enough tundra for a daily bowel movement. Angle worms from the nearby stream provided some protein even though they were a little bitter. The dry tundra from last year made a very good shelter, by placing a two foot layer on the ground and folding my blankets over that. The blankets were covered with another 18 inches of tundra. I simply crawled in between the blankets for a nice dry, warm and soft bed. It was easy to change my sleeping routine back to nights by gathering my tundra, and filling a canvas hood, doubling as a water bucket, in the early morning hours. The day was spent eating the tundra. I was careless in sorting out the course parts of the tundra and throwing the new fresh grass over my
25
haystack. The rain followed the green grass right through and I got wet in a rainstorm. After that I was careful to keep the grass separated and the dry grass would absorb the rain a few inches on top, leaving it dry and warm below. I had a pencil but nothing to write on, so I keep track of time by making a mark on the pencil every day, and every seventh day was a larger mark. What does one do with all that time? Think – think of how I might get out of this situation. There didn’t seem to be any desirable alternatives. The only hope was that there might be an invasion, but that seemed impossible at the time … think of my wife and young daughter that I had left behind, wondering if I might ever see them again … thinking with some satisfaction that I had taken out the maximum amount of government life insurance on them …thinking and sometimes dreaming of American style food. If I were looking for seclusion, I had found it. There were no human beings in sight, however, one day a dog came running up, stopped and stared at me, then ran off. Another time a fighter plane came down the ravine with his machine guns blazing away. For a minute I thought he was after me, but he continued seaward, spraying bullets into the water. On another occasion I was awakened by a very sharp explosion from the other side of the island and could feel the ground tremor. B-17 raids were becoming quite frequent. One day a B-17 put on a good show. The plane was producing a very good condensation trail and with this he drew a large circle over the island, then double crossed the circle indicating a target. On the 48
th day I was on my way to the creek for
some water when I fainted. This called for some soul searching; if I remained there I would surely die. I then carefully wrote my name on an old canvas hunting jacket that I was wearing so that my remains would be identifiable, if found. If I surrendered to the Japanese they might kill me, but it was my only lease left for life. Surrender with its chance of execution, surrender with its shame and humiliation, and surrender with its uncertainties was the only option. Early the next morning, I started the slow climb over the hill to surrender. By going in a straight line, I thought some time might be saved, however, one incline proved too steep and I slid back down. Then I had to take the long way back.
As I neared the summit by midmorning, a Japanese AA gun emplacement came into view. There was patchy fog moving past and I would simply drop into the tall tundra when it cleared and walk toward the gun emplacement during the fog. I got right close to the gun and was then faced with the surrender act, as it was humiliating and scary. Traditionally a white flag is used, so I ripped off a piece from my undershorts and waved it as I marched in. Some of the Japanese marines ran toward me and assisted me as I was pretty lean and gaunt at that time. They would indicate which persons I should salute. They poured some tea and gave me
some biscuits. A flight of B-17s were approaching the island, so two marines took me a short distance from the sand bagged gun revetment and stayed with me while their AA gun shot at the planes. The B-17s made their bombing run and left. The officer in charge of the gun seemed to be in a nasty mood. He barked orders to a couple of soldiers and they jammed their bayonets into place with the cold click of steel. Then he motioned for me to follow him. I was apprehensive and the thought passed through my mind that he might just take me down the path and have the bayonets stuck into me.
After a short while the camp headquarters came into view and I had the feeling of being spared again. The change that the Japanese had made was phenomenal; they had completed over twenty-four buildings in the short space of forty-nine days that I was hiding out. Arriving back of the headquarters, they had me set on a grass sack. A large ring of Japanese formed a large ring around me and just stared. I had the feeling of a monkey in a zoo. They served me some tea, and dinner, then later some tea and biscuits. The ring remained constant for several hours with some dropping out and others taking their place. Late in the afternoon, I was put into our old power station, give some grass sacks and blankets for a bed. The Japanese curiosity did not stop as a long line formed at the window and they would have a minute or so to look at me then move off. Darkness put an end to the staring and for the first night for a long time I had the protection of a building. A rather steady rain beat on the shingle roof. It sure felt cozy to have shelter again. That night a guard checked me about every 30 minutes by shining a bright flashlight into my eyes, and woke me to see if I as alright. The next morning a doctor arrived and checked me over. He told me McCandless SC 2c and Gaffy Sic were captured on the first morning. They were running through the fog and ran right into a battalion of Jap soldiers that had landed up the coast and were marching into our camp from the rear. Our hospital corpsmen and Winfrey AG3 came in after a couple of days and the Japanese doctor took the bullet out of Winfrey’s leg. The doctor also informed me that by the end of 11 days nine of the men had checked in, with only one survivor out, and presumed dead.
The Japanese laid down some rules of my confinement. I was to stay in the powerhouse, and was allowed to go to the toilet go to the pond between the headquarters and the bay for my morning wash-up and for washing my dishes and my clothes. They continued to give me all I could east and health came back fast. The line dwindled at the windows, only when a ship arrived would there be a new line at the window. Japanese reporters and photographers came by frequently for pictures and stories. Several of the Japanese would come in for a friendly visit. One I remember well, I called him BF, for Best Friend, for his homely wit reminded me of Benjamin Franklin. He was
26
a reporter for a Tokyo newspaper before the war and was drafted, being used as a servant in the officer’s quarters next door. He was dissatisfied about the war disrupting his life and landing him in a place like Kiska. He also had a liking for alcohol, which he pinched from the officer’s mess and stored in the attic of the power house. He would enter through a window with a bag full of liquor bottles and deposit them in the attic. He would always put his finger on his lip and say, “No speak”. He usually brought me some goodies. On one occasion he was bringing me some raw eggs, and when he crawled through the window, the eggs broke in his pocket. He stuck his hand in the pocket and withdrew it – dripping with egg and shell, extending the hand toward me and said, “For you!” It took a bit of doing to show appreciation without laughing. On another occasion he decided that we should get drunk. I participated very sparingly but he managed to hang on quite a load, and spent several hours telling me about his life. Shortly after that he disappeared from the scene. Another frequent caller was an enlisted pilot that flew one of the Zeros on floats. He was also a very good artist and made portraits of me on several occasions. He was intent on teaching me Japanese and would write the alphabets for me to practice. One evening he came in and sketched some destroyers, and said, “Your country’s warships right out there.” He was correct for the next day we had a firing run and their range was just right as the path of shell explosions ran right through the middle of the camp. I was watching out the window and a Jap soldier was jumping into shell holes for protection, but he kept diving from one hole to the next and it looked humorous to me and I laughed. He saw me, and the next day he made a point of pushing me off the walkway on my way back from the washing pond. The Executive Officer of the Station saw him push me, and he really chewed him out! The Jap officer with a strong German accent decided he must interrogate me. He asked many questions, and finally finished up with “Who do you think will win the war?” My reply was, “I hope someone does soon”. For some reason he did not send the report forward, but it was left in his quarters when the Japs departed hurriedly from Kiska the following years. The interrogation was sent to Washington. It was shown to my brother who was on duty with the Navy Photographic Lab there during the war. One day when he had the command post duty there were overcast skies but lots of air activity. A bomb made a direct hit on the headquarters building on the kitchen stove. It came right through the side of the building. My meals usually came from that stove. I noticed that lunch had been sent to the Japs but nothing had arrived for me. I asked the OD where my lunch was and he replied, “Keep waiting!”. After a short wait I tried again, and got another “Keep waiting”. Shortly I tried again and he sent me up the hill to a mess hall to get my own rice. On the way back another bomb run was made. I dove for the
ground and covered my rice dish with my body. A bomb landed very close and splashed mud all over me. The soil under the tundra was a heavy clay type and bombs would penetrate three or four feet and the clay would hold most of the shrapnel with the force of the explosion mostly upward. Shortly the Japanese decided my health was good and that I must now start working. Each morning I would go to the beach at the head of the bay and fill sandbags all day. Most of the Japs working on these details were civilian workers and we had a good time together as we worked and talked. During air raids the executive officer told me always to return to my bunk at the powerhouse, but on one occasion there was a large flight of P-38s and P-39s that came over very quickly and I went into a tunnel near the bay with the Jap workers. It was a good raid, as it knocked out 10 buildings and there was a lot of Japs killed by strafing. The ground really rocked during the bombing! Just as soon as things settled down I went back to the powerhouse and the executive officer was standing on the walkway in front of the leveled powerhouse. His battle station was a command post dugout just across the walkway from the powerhouse. He looked at me and said, “You are a very lucky man.” That night things looked critical for me. It was 7:00 PM and I had no place to spend the night, but the executive officer came by and asked me where I was staying, I told him that I didn’t know, but in just a few minutes a Japanese sailor took me to the Japanese bath house and gave me a stack of blankets. He told me to sleep in the bath house. A quick inspection showed that the bath house was riddled with bullet holes. I curled up in a big wooden tub, but couldn’t get completely comfortable. The next day they had mass funerals. The Japanese seem to have more respect for the dead than the living. We stood at attention most of the day as the coffins were carried by. There were some killed by the strafing on the ships and they were brought ashore by launch and the processions filed past. Just where the burial grounds were, I am not sure, but they went out of sight to the North East. I continued working on the sand detail until the 19
th of
September 1942, when the executive officer informed me that I was going to Japan tomorrow. The next morning he told me to shave and I informed him that I did not have a razor. He came back shortly with one.
As I left to board the ship my workmates at the beach gave me a rousing send off. After the war Captain J. S. Russell USN was writing up the Japanese offensive in the Aleutians and he asked the Japanese Executive Officer from Kiska if he knew House. His reply was, “Yes, he was a fine fellow and we all liked him.” I think I can explain my conduct as a prisoner as I adopted the old saying, “Never bite the hand that feeds you”, and “God helps those who help themselves.”
Sincerely, LCDR Charles House, USN RET
27
P.S. When you talk of exploits of navy weathermen I would like to relate the action of one who never came back. This tale was relayed to me by CDR Meir USN the senior survivor from the USS Houston. He last saw Walter Glenn Lee AG1 on the deck by #2 turret with his theodolite giving relative bearings and elevation angles to the bridge. After all fire control gear had been knocked out by bombs, Walter Glenn Lee perished with the ship.
Editor’s note: Charles House was a graduate of class 3713 (May 1937) at the Aerographers Mate School, Lakehurst.
NAVAL WEATHER SERVICE ASSOCIATION 2013 Reunion- 5-9 May 2013 Las Vegas, NV
Welcome to Las Vegas Las Vegas is an ever changing fantasy-land wrapped up in a city that has seen an unbelievable expansion since it emerged from the desert just over 100 years ago. It has often been described as the "Entertainment Capital of the World." The NWSA Reunion will afford plenty of opportunity to enjoy Las Vegas. You will explore the lights and sounds of Vegas on a City Sights and Lights Tour, where you will experience the fabulous Bellagio's waltzing waters, the Mirage with its erupting volcano and the full scale sea battle at Treasure Island! You'll take a trip to the spectacular Hoover Dam, sample sweets from Ethel M's Chocolates and be an amateur FBI agent in pursuit of organized crime figures at the MOB Museum. Learn about the most secret place in America, Area 51, at the National Atomic Testing Museum. You'll also have plenty of time to catch up with old friends, make new and explore Las Vegas on your own, whether shopping, dining or taking your chances at the tables.
Hotel Information The reunion is officially scheduled from Sunday, May 5th
to Thursday, May 9th, 2013. You will be staying at the Palace Station Hotel & Casino located at 2411 W. Sahara Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 98102. The room rate is
$99.00, plus tax per night. For those of you who choose to arrive early or stay after the reunion ends, the same room rate will be available for three days prior and three days after, based on availability. Reservations may be made beginning October 15, 2012 by either calling the Palace Station Hotel & Casino direct at 1-800-634-3101 and identifying yourself as an attendee of the NWSA Reunion group and referring to the group code PCINWSR, or on the reunion website www.MilitarvReunionPlanners.com/NSWA. Hotel check-in is 3:00 p.m. Please do not expect to get into your room before then. You may cancel your hotel room up to 48 hours prior to arrival without penalty. Each guest is required to provide a credit card and one night's room and tax deposit. Please note; the hotel reservation cut-off date is April 6, 2013, thereafter; reservations will be taken on a space available basis only.
Airport Transportation & Parking If you are flying to the reunion, the Palace Station Hotel & Casino offers scheduled shuttle service to and from McCarran International Airport and the Las Vegas Strip. Please visit the hotel website https:/Ipalacestation.sclv.com/Hotel.aspx for exact times, locations and driving directions to the hotel. For those of you driving, the hotel offers both covered and exterior parking at no cost. Valet parking is available for an additional charge.
Travel safely and we will… See you in Las Vegas!
Excellence in Military Reunion Planning
CHAIRMAN'S WELCOME ABOARD PARTY Sunday, May 5 (5:30pm in the Hospitality
Room) After settling in from a long days travel, head to the hospitality room; grab a glass of wine, soda or a beer, something to eat and meet new friends and reconnect with old. Getting reacquainted, sharing stories of the years gone by and making plans to meet and share new adventures is a perfect way to start this year's NWSA Reunion.
ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING
Sunday, May 5 (2:00pm Salon G) The Naval Weather Service Association Executive Board of Directors meeting will take place in Salon G of the hotel. Only the members of the Executive Board are requested to attend.
28
THE,MOB MUSEUM Monday, May 6 (9:00am-12:00pm)
Located in the heart of downtown Las Vegas, the Mob Museum showcases both sides of the notorious battle between organized crime and law enforcement.
This fascinating history in America is brought to life through one-of-a-kind artifacts, such as the wall from the St. Valentine's Massacre in Chicago, interactive touch screens and unique displays to interact with law enforcement and organized crime tools.
Shoot assimilated Tommy gun, listen to real FBI surveillance tapes on wiretapping equipment or take part in FBI weapons training! From famous heroes to infamous villains, these men and women have their fingerprints not only on Las Vegas, but the nation as a whole. You can finally discover the "whole truth and nothing but the truth."
PICNIC AT THE PALACE BUFFET LUNCHEON
Monday, May 6 (12:00pm-2:00pm Salon C&D)
Come join your friends for a Picnic at the Palace buffet luncheon. You will be delighted with the sights and smells that emanate from your "imaginary" picnic basket with choices of great salads, hamburgers, BBQ chicken breast and spare ribs! Yum! To add to this flavorful picnic you'll have great sides of mashed potatoes, and an old favorite, mac and cheese, plus baked beans and sweet, fresh corn-on-the cob followed with the best saved for last.. ..dessert!
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING Monday, May 6 (3:00pm Salon D)
The Naval Weather Service Association General Business Membership Meeting will take place in Salon D of the hotel. Registration is not required to attend.
LAS VEGAS SIGHTS & LIGHTS TOUR Monday, May 6 (7:00pm-10:00pm)
Las Vegas at its best!! Board your luxury coach for an evening of glittering attractions along the famous "Vegas Strip". Must see attractions include the fabulous Bellagio's waltzing waters, the Mirage with its erupting volcano, and
Treasure Island with a full scale Sea Battle. Tour stops also include the stunning Luxor, its brilliant beacon
visible from space, the "Eiffel Tower", and the New York skyline. There will be several opportunities to get off the motor coach to enjoy many of the more interesting attractions and venues up close, including the "Fremont Experience" with the largest big screen on planet earth! This will be a whole new way of seeing the world's most exciting city. Please Note: Dinner is Not included in this tour. Please be sure to have dinner prior to departure.
HOOVER DAM TOUR & ETHEL M'S CHOCOLATES
Tuesday, May 7 (8:00am-4:00pm)
After an early breakfast, climb aboard the air conditioned coach for a trip to the Hoover Dam. Start your tour at the Visitors Center to see a movie on the Dam's construction, the museum and exhibit gallery. From this point you will take an elevator ride
down 530 feet through the rock wall of Black Canyon exiting into a tunnel drilled in the 1930's. Take in the panoramic view of the 650 foot long Nevada wing of the power plant and eight of the dam's 17 huge generators, navigate through tunnels to explore rarely seen areas of the dam itself, peek out of air vents opening to the downstream face of the dam. Be sure to take a walk on top of the dam for an unforgettable view. This is an awe-inspiring tour and an absolute wonder of the world! At noon board your coach and head to Boulder City for lunch on your own. End your tour with a delicious stop at the famous Ethel M's Chocolates for a sweet treat. Here you will have time to take a self-guided tour of the factory and stroll through the botanical and cactus
gardens. * Photo 10 Required
THE NATIONAL ATOMIC TESTING MUSEUM
Wednesday, May 8 (9:00am-12:00pm) The National Atomic Testing Museum is a repository for one of the most comprehensive collections of nuclear
history. As part of its mission, the Museum collects and preserves a wide variety of materials and artifacts relating to atomic testing, the Nevada Test Site, the Cold War, and
nuclear and radiological science and technology. The Museum's current collection includes thousands of rare photographs, videos, artifacts, scientific and nuclear reports and data, and one-of-a kind scientific collections. Learn about the most secret place in America, Area 51. The first ever exhibit on Area 51 has been developed with the help of the very people that worked there. This exhibit will explore the truth and
29
the real programs along with addressing the secrecy that surrounds the base at Groom Lake. Aliens, secret tunnels, Motherships ... Myth or Reality?
NWSA 2nd GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Wednesday, May 8 (1:30pm Salon D) The Naval Weather Service Association's 2nd General Business Membership Meeting will take place in Salon D of the hotel. Registration is not required to attend.
ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING
Wednesday, May 8 (3:30pm Salon D) The Naval Weather Service Association Executive Board of Directors meeting will take place in Salon G of the hotel. Only the members of the Executive Board are requested to attend.
NWSA RECEPTION & BANQUET Wednesday, May 8 (6:00pm-10:00pm Salon G)
Come join your friends for a wonderful evening beginning with a no-host cocktail reception at 6:00pm followed by dinner at 7:00pm. Please make your entree selection on your reservation form.
TOUR CANCELLATION INSURANCE Protect yourself from unforeseen expenses caused by illness, injury or other causes that may impact your travel plans. Tour Cancellation Insurance allows you to receive a refund of tour and banquet expenses. Please note there is a $10 processing fee. Cancellation Insurance expires at 11:59pm the day before the reunion begins. No refunds are given the day of the reunion (beginning at midnight), even if you purchased cancellation insurance. Should you need to cancel your reservations please contact our office immediately by calling 817-251-3551 Monday through Friday 9:00am-4:00pm CST and email us at [email protected] . If you did not purchase cancellation insurance please note all tour and banquet monies are refundable up until 6 weeks prior to the reunion, at that point all monies paid are non-refundable. Important Reunion Notes:
Tours may be cancelled if a minimum of 30
people per bus is not met. In this case, full
refunds will be given.
Please understand that a certain amount of
walking is necessary to/from the bus in order to
view attractions and in some instances, to tour
or explore the attraction itself.
Be sure to bring photo identification (like a
driver's license) to all events.
Tour times are subject to change. Please check
registration for the final itinerary.
ALL RESERVATIONS ARE DUE BY March 31, 2013. Late reservations will be accepted on a space available basis with a non-refundable $10 per person late fee. Please make a copy of this information for your records. Should you need additional information call our offices Monday through Friday at 817-251- 3551 or email [email protected]. Requests for cancellations and refunds must be made by email or in writing to MRP, P.O. Box 1588, Colleyville, TX 76034, and postmarked before March 31,2013. No refunds will be made after this date unless you have purchase Tour Cancellation Insurance. Sorry, no refunds will be given for any reason beginning at midnight the day of your reunion. Please note there is a refund processing fee of $10 per person. For written confirmation of your cancellation please send a self-addressed, -stamped envelope with your request to our office. Your cancelled check is your receipt as well as your proof of purchase. A $25 return fee will be charged for NSF checks. MRP will not be held liable for failure of vendors to provide contracted services or any injuries/accidents that may occur during the reunion.
30
Arctic Adventure 2012, Conclusion A chronology of an adventurous trip to the North American Arctic and Return
By CAPT R. Claude (Frenchy) Corbeille, USN RET
Prince Rupert is quite unique in its own right, and exists first as the western terminal of the Canadian Northern Railway. In the early 1900s, a need existed to move grain from the prairie provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta to a shipping point on the west end of Canada. Some entrepreneurial soul whose name escapes me got the railroad built and had grain elevators installed near the ocean – actually, a well-protected extension of the ocean that resembles a fiord. A few buildings sprang into being and it was deemed necessary to name the place. There is no real person named “Prince Rupert” who was a part of the British Empire, but the town’s name came about from some kind of a naming contest in which Prince Rupert emerged the winner. During WWII, a garrison of Canadian and American troops was stationed there, complete with shore batteries, to protect against possible attack by the Japanese. Equal in importance to the garrison was the gathering of sphagnum moss from the coniferous trees of the surrounding rain forest. The moss was widely used in the field treatment of wounds because it is clean and highly absorbent. I do not know if people were paid money to collect the moss or if it was done out of patriotism, but the Canadian Northern Railway served as a good transportation mode to get the moss in the hands of those who needed it. Concurrent with the transportation of grain westward, a fish cannery went into operation in a bay adjacent to Prince Rupert, in a location called Port Edward. The same locomotives that pulled cars laden with grain to the shipping point, pulled cars loaded with canned salmon to the markets in the east. Mother ships and flash freezing have relegated the cannery to museum status nowadays, but the grain terminal still functions as originally planned. A side note here: The cannery workers at one point started clamoring for fresh milk and none was to be had. Some enterprising soul bought a herd of dairy cows in Seattle and had them delivered to Prince Rupert by ship. There is no nice beach landing in Prince Rupert, so when the ship anchored in the harbor, the cows were pushed overboard, leaving them to swim ashore. It seems most of them made it, but not all, and the bay is now called Cow Bay. One could easily assume that the cows were black and white Holsteins because there are numerous signs and store fronts near the waterfront that use the black and white motif of a Holstein cow. The drive back to Terrace disclosed numerous huge truckloads of both logs and of finished dimensional lumber, all destined for shipment from Prince Rupert. We also met several trains on the rail line adjacent to the highway that consisted of scores of railcars carrying coal. Canadian friends with whom we met later advised us that the wood and wood products are destined for oriental ports and the coal, mined in British Columbia, would be going to China. I had now been to Prince Rupert twice in my life and had not seen one of the legendary white bears. The white bears are actually Ursus Americanus, or black bears, but they are colored white, just like some black bears are cinnamon colored. I had hoped to see one, but admittedly, such sightings are rare. It is just that the area around Prince Rupert is kind of home to this white strain, and hope springs eternal in the heart of this sailor. We dined on our Dungeness crab that evening. There is a sizeable RV dealer and service center in Terrace and I once again attempted to arrange repairs of our fifth wheel brakes. Only if we could wait around a few days could we get repairs, so I opted for a stop in Houston, BC, our next stop en route home. Day 17 was a short driving day since the Terrace to Houston route is only about 175 miles. We booked into a nice RV Park and I dialed up my friend Raymond, a fellow hunter, fisherman and sometimes guide. Our paths last crossed in 2003 so we had a lot of ground to cover. One of Raymond’s two daughters who now lives in Surry, near Vancouver, BC, was in town for a visit. She was a twelve-year-old school girl the last time I had seen her and now she is transformed into a lovely young woman, confidently making her way in the world. Sufficed to say, it was a positive experience. Our attempt at achieving brake repairs once again met with negative results and I resigned myself to make the remainder of our return relying solely on my truck brakes, which are uncommonly good. It was not what I wanted to do, but it was the only practical avenue open to us. We needed to exercise more than the usual amount of care in staying well behind other vehicles and I made more than the normal amount of use of the truck’s engine and drive train to keep downhill speeds
under control. We continued our eastward trek along the Yellowhead on Day 18, through Prince George and up the Frazer River drainage. There was little with which we were unfamiliar between Houston and Prince George, but everything east of there was new, exciting and beautiful. The Frazer River originates in the Canadian Rockies and once again we found ourselves surrounded by majestic snow-capped peaks. The scenery and the day were both gorgeous with an abundance of altocumulus lenticularis present over the peaks. Those are the lens shaped clouds that form over the peaks when a moisture laden wind blows perpendicular to a sizeable mountain range. They are not a rare phenomenon but it is uncommon to see so many of them at a given time. The Yellowhead is an easy climb up and through the Canadian Rockies and sometime in late afternoon we crossed into Alberta. We immediately found ourselves in Jasper National Park, resplendent in its mountainous beauty and replete
31
with wildlife. We would love to have parked for the night, but such was not permitted, so we continued on to Hinton, AB where we once again lodged in an RV Park. We left Hinton, AB on Day 19, but only after a stop at the Tim Horton’s. Barbara said it would probably be our last one, but I did not believe that. Then we proceeded across the plains, through the fields of golden canola, now more golden than they had been a couple weeks before, and a liberal mix of spring wheat, taller and very green. For a Green Bay
Packer fan, it was a nice blend of green and gold. A whitetail doe, resplendent in her tawny summer coat, made a
pretty sight while feeding in a field of golden canola. As the day progressed, the wind increased, providing two appreciated features. One was the 30-knot tailwind which ushered us on our way. The other was the art work woven by this stiff prairie wind in the fields of spring wheat. The wind created lovely patterns of light and dark green as it bent the headed grain stalks and the patterns appeared as giant ribbons flowing through the fields. At times, they seemed serpentine and alive, as well they were. We reached Saskatchewan by the end of our driving day and hove to in an RV Park just outside Fort Battleford. We left the RV Park early on Day 20, prepared to make our way across Saskatchewan. Barbara spotted a Tim Horton’s so progress was temporarily halted, and then just after we left the town, we saw a timber wolf near the Canadian Pacific Railway, just off the highway. He may have been waiting for a train. From Battleford onward, the Yellowhead takes a southeasterly course and it proved interesting to note the changes in, not only terrain, but in the type crops being grown. The canola gradually became less abundant and the green of the spring wheat was replaced by amber stalks of winter wheat, just before reaching the Manitoba frontier. Sylvinite, an ore from which Potash is refined, is mined in Eastern Saskatchewan. The mines are relatively deep at 3,500 feet below the surface and the extracted ore constitutes an important source of potash, used mainly as a fertilizer. A stop at an information center near Yorkton, SK afforded a chance to see what canola seeds look like. They are small, round, and very dark brown, perhaps 3/32 of an inch in diameter. I did not learn where the oil is squeezed out of them, but I did learn that the harvest is accomplished by combine, similarly to the harvest of wheat and soybeans. We were once again accustomed to having nighttime include darkness and we spent that night in Newaukum, Manitoba, about 175 miles north and west of where we planned to re-enter the U.S. We continued south and east again on Day 21, again noting the changes in crops with the southward progression. Canola became rare and soybeans became common, along with potatoes, sugar beets, sunflowers, flax, and combines working in the fields of winter wheat. The numerous ponds and potholes which constitute North America’s duck factory grew fewer in number and the flotillas of ducklings had fewer members than they had three weeks ago. Baby ducks have a lot of enemies and precious few friends. We were back in our native land in late morning, crossing the frontier at Pembina, ND. Pembina is only a couple miles from the northwest corner of Minnesota and we were soon headed south in that state, toward U.S. Highway 2. The number of sugar beet fields decreased as the soybean fields increased in number. We crossed the headwaters of the Mississippi River near Bemiji, MN and soon found ourselves in a more wooded setting. A large pine tree, perhaps 30 inches in diameter, snapped off and lying near the road captured my interest, and I soon noted that there were countless hundreds of trees along the roadway that had been either broken off or uprooted, obviously by a very strong wind. The path of destruction was too long to have been caused by a tornado and I idly wondered if the strong wind that impeded our progress on 4 July, north and west of where we now were, may have been a more intense phenomenon when it reached these parts. One north-south forest service road was barricaded and marked “Closed”. A glance up the road as we passed showed scores of trees strewn crosswise over the road and I thought the barricade was surely not necessary, since God had already done a pretty good job of blocking passage. Our travels took us to a Corps of Engineers Park on the bank of the Mississippi River, just outside Grand Rapids, MN. I believed that with no more Tim Horton’s to impede progress, we would arrive home in the late afternoon of Day 22. Sunday, 22 July, at 0800 I was refueling in Superior, WI. From there, it was a generally uneventful trek south and east to Brillion. I substituted a Norwegian restaurant in Rice Lake, WI for the Tim Horton’s and we had a substantial late-morning meal to carry us home. The fifth wheel is in the service center as I write having its brakes brought back to life and the broken water line will have a permanent repair made. For the first few days at home, we dined on food left over from Barbara’s well-stocked pantry in the fifth wheel and life now goes back to what passes for normal in this household.
Editor’s Note: This concludes Arctic Adventure 2012
32