Source: Aerograph May 2012
President Vince Roper
Vice Pres Jim Romano
Sec/Treas Peter Weigand
Email weigandp@verizon.net
Tel-301 773 8180
Corresp Secretary Don Cruse
Email don.cruse@verizon.net
Tel-703 723 1275
CHAPTER CALENDAR
May 19 Armed Forces Day
May 28 Memorial Day
June 14 Flag Day
June 20 Summer begins
June 16 PotChap Picnic
July 4th Independence Day
July 15 Inputs The Aerograph
Sept 03 Labor Day
Oct 12-20 Fleet Reserve Association National Reunion celebrating their 85th anniversary in Reno NV
R O S T E R C H A N G E S
Leo HORTCH add telephone 717 793 2694
Email - leohortch@comcast.net
Jim ROMANO ZIP Code 20695-3151
Peter WEIGAND address 1706 Countrywood Court
Hyattsville MD 20785-4009
Jim ETRO jim.etro@itricorp.com
Charlie MILLER ZIP Code in Bel Alton MD 20611-3062
This quarter began with our responses to requests from the NWSA#38 hosts for assistance with the Reunion Program Booklet and other stuff. Tom & Maryann MIOVAS agreed to complete the RPB task. Prospective attendees at #38 from PotChap besides the MIOVAS family include ROPERS, CRUSES, WEIGANDS and Jim & Gerri LANGEMO. It is possible that Jim & Rosalie ROMANO will be able to join us but Rosalie's mother just passed away in NJ. That impacts their family calendar. All hands are primed and ready to lend a hand with reunion hospitality chores. Jim ROMANO has already fulfilled his annual "reunion caps, shirts & cups" responsibilities for #38.
Jim is also heading up a reunion committee for the RAF CHICKSANDS group and that now looks like it will be held near BWI Airport 18-22 October. There will be interesting trips to see NSA Museum on Fort George Meade and the Baltimore Inner Harbor. We hope to see a few N A V Y people in attendance.
News from the Naval Observatory (Bob FREEMAN) says that CNMOC at Stennis Space Ctr, RDML Jonathan WHITE, USN, has been selected for RADM and will be relieving RADM David TITLEY, USN this summer. This move normally presages a season of musical chairs in the command. For those people who read NAVY TIMES you are already aware of the new name Oceanography is part of – the Information Dominance Corps. This means that METOC has become mashed together with Public Affairs, Intelligence, and wotever.
We should congratulate the following officers who have recently laterally transferred to Oceanography: Chuck BROWDER, Stephen FLEET, Richard ILCZUK and Trisha KUTKIEWICZ. No, I will not comment on those Polish names or Editor Charlie will scalp me.
Yes, by the time we gather in Colorado Springs to compare forecasts and favorite brands of beer, it will be time for the N A V Y to reveal annual selections for personnel promotions to AGCM – closely followed by AGCS and then AGC.
Once again PotChap had to cancel planned mid-winter dinner meeting—this one in Glen Burnie MD. It must be a sign of old age but our sign-up sheet consisted of only six names—very reminiscent of similar efforts last year. Can we blame lack of participation on teevee or Google or Facebook or......
Moving to "people news" it is reported that Richie FREEMAN had to slip her Philippines visit to the end of the year due to living accommodations. She spends lots of time in RI, NC and VA where she has family. Of course Maggie HALMINSKI does the same—starting in Amelia Island, progressing northward via Raleigh to Rehoboth Beach DE.
Others who seem to be always on the road or on a cruise are Ken & Joyce SMITH; and serious RV people are Tom & Maryann MIOVAS. Serious FL timeshare people are Jim & Rosalie ROMANO. We have Elroy & Richele McLeod who wintered in San Diego with family members, then toured FL. In early March Mac called to obtain the O'BRIEN telephone number as they were approaching Pensacola—yes, they did make contact. Tom BERKERIDGE is a frequent traveler too—not always when required for his tour guide business. At present he is about to end a European river cruise on the Rhine.
When Leo HORTCH moved from southern MD to York PA he remained with his son and family. It was necessary to modify the house to provide Leo with his own apartment but he loves being with grandchildren & children. Down in TX we find Jim "Gordo" & Della WELCH succumbing at long last to the call of the IT world, with all of its time-consuming attractions. They actually bought a PC. Oh yes, we still have a few holdouts—Al & Bobbi ZAHNLE come to mind.
Ray CHAPPELL remains on the Oceanographer's staff at NavObsy but is at present detailed to a personnel study group somewhere. He informs us that the NAVICE skipper, Denice KRUSE, has retired and moved to Dept of Homeland Security – her relief is CDR John SIMMS, USN. Several other retirements that have occurred: RDML Jeff BEST, CAPT Fred TETTLEBACH, CAPT Corey SPRINGER & CDR Raymond CHARTIER.
From Glen Burnie MD Tom & Gladys BEASLEY and friends periodically drive over to Leisure World near Silver Spring to lunch with Duke DUCHARME who does not drive. His macular degeneration has ruined his eyesight. Once in a while Will & Ella GOULD gather a few of us for a lunch feast at Jerry's Seafood in Prince Frederick MD. It's hard to beat.
Another group that meets regularly in various interesting spots for lunch to recall their duty with the NATO MCMG (call them Mini M&Ms) consists of John & Janet LINCOLN, Dave & Harriett SOKOL, George & Diana DELANO – plus some USAF persons. The group also included a couple from Canada recently. Fond reminiscences are from a recent reunion of the group in Malta.
CHAPTER OFFICERS MEET
The Andrews AFB golf shack was the meeting spot on 3/23 for a short session to check signals on NWSA#38 plus a few business items. Will & Ella GOULD and Mac & Richele MCLEOD also sat in on the meeting. Major financial items consisted of our $80 to NWSA38 for RPB and $500 to NWSA Scholarship Fund. Vince & Robby ROPER will host chapter picnic at their hacienda.
Will & Ella announced that April 2nd would be their 59th anniversary. They were preparing for house guests from out west: Jack &Lucille WINTERS.
Good news from Hazel HUDOCK—her youngest son, Father Paul, has been promoted to Monsignor in the West Virginia Diocese. His duty station is in Wheeling where he remains primary assistant to the bishop and handles recruiting throughout the Diocese. Hazel now resides in Wheeling.
ECSAA REUNION
This is for Aerological personnel who served in escort carriers: Next annual reunion of Escort Sailors and Airmen Assn will be held in Hotel Arizona, located in Tucson, 17-31 October, 2012. Details on web page: http://escortcarriers.com.
Submitted by CDR Don Cruse USN RET
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Source: Aerograph February 2012
President.............Vince Roper
Vice-President....Jim Romano
Sec-Treas........Peter Weigand
Email weigandp@verizon.net
Tel 301 773 8180
Corresp Sec'y........Don Cruse
Tel 703 723 1275, Email don.cruse@verizon.net
CHAPTER CALENDAR
Feb 12 Pres Lincoln birthday (1809)
14 Valentine's Day
18 PotChap dinner meeting, time & place TBA
20 Presidents' day
22 Washington's birthday (1732)
Mar 10 Alternate date, PotChap dinner meeting, time & place TBA
11 Daylight Saving Time happens
17 St.Patrick's day
20 Spring begins (Equinox)
Apr 08 Easter
15 Inputs to The Aerograph due
May 01 Labor Day
13 Mothers' day
16-21 NWSA annual reunion #38 in Colorado Springs
R O S T E R C H A N G E S
Carver, CDR Don 63 Old Mill Rd, New Harbor ME 04554-4822 Tel 207 677 2217
Donaldson, RDML Tom & Debbie to Southport NC
PEOPLE NEWS
Once again we have the advantage of Christmas greetings from which to glean bits of news. Beginning in the NE and following ZIP codes clock wise around the U.S. of A. – Lorraine d'Entremont relates storm damage that forced her from home for a week. Connecticut was hit hard, as was New England in general, by stormy wx. Remnants of TS IRENE and then TS LEE kept power companies busy. River valleys flooded. It was a mess during hurricane season. Carl and Pat Bailey moved from Middletown to Berlin, but he continues to help out in Middletown Hospital. The Oct 29th storm produced 21" heavy, wet snow in some places, wiped out electrical power again—they joined other storm refugees in Navy Lodge Groton. And very happy to be there and be warm.
From Yorktown VA we hear from Ethel and Dan Story and their tale of bathroom upgrading, a project that is ongoing. Near Annapolis MD Fran Fisher is glad to have a large house that she can share with family members who are sometimes between jobs.
It is possible to recall the many stories Deacon Holden told us about his being raised in MS. Now his sister, Mary Dinges, has a new home down yonder into which she is moving from Riverdale MD. It has been my pleasure over the years to visit Mary and her family whenever Deac was visiting MD from his home near San Diego.
Will and Ella Gould went to Las Vegas NV and experienced three days of rain, flooded streets, and a few other tribulations. That even topped their big snow experience when they went to WI for family wedding and had to dig their rental car out three times. They were happy to get back to MD.
The Kelley clan finished 2011 feeling better about their physical challenges—both Helen and Rich had cancer and are on the mend enough to permit resumption of travel—some business, some pleasure.
Many old shipmates are now concentrating on attending weddings and graduations—not of children but of grandchildren. Marge and I plan to join the crowd at the end of 2012 when a grandson plans to graduate from Colorado State. That entails flying from here to there during Christmas holidays so we fully expect to have another miserable travel experience, thanks to the many asinine airport security procedures.
From Hilton Head SC Ken and Joyce Smith report a slowdown in travel as the result of unloading their many timeshares—perhaps another cruise once in a while will still be in order. The five-day Bermuda cruise from Baltimore by Mac and Richele McLeod seems very appealing.
Post-retirement biz for Fay and Donna Crossley consists of maintaining three antique booths at The Mall in Williamsburg. They also enjoy travel to antique shows and engaging in full support of HamRds Chapter. If you attended NWSA37/VaBch in 2011, you know what I mean.
Down in FL Jerry and Ann Struck feel it may be time to phase out of the RV travel schedule they have maintained. Not sure if Dave and Laverne Reuscher will be doing the same. We know that when we get to NWSA reunion in ColoSpgs Tom and Mary Ann Miovas will be there with their rig.
Also in FL there was a lot of concern around Pncla Chap when Pat O'Brien underwent surgery for blocked carotid artery. He's OK again.
Nobody could be happier than Jim and Della Welch in their new digs in San Antonio. It took them a while to find their spot. No news from their neighbors, Al and Bobbi Zahnle, or from Bob and Ofelia Plante. The latter left PotChap to indulge in full-time golf. News from Mike and Jeannine Fastow—also nearby—indicates a status quo in 2011.
An update from John and Kayo Beach places them mostly between CA & MO, but the trend is definitely back to Rancho Bernardo now that daughter Kimi remarried. Kimi plus boys moved with new husband to N'rn CO where two sons are studying online while attending school in Fort Collins one day each week. John & Kayo spent a week in Paris on business & sightseeing (tell your friends there are no toilets in Versailles!).
Allan Youngquist of Oneida IL participated in a "Freedom Flight." to WashDC and was later interviewed during hometown Veteran's Parade. He has great sea stories about being detailed from FWC Manus to Manila to help set up a new, joint NAVY-Army weather central on Nichols Field.
Hazel Chesmore has a new address at 15715 Via Nueva, San Lorenzo CA 94580-1347, Tel 510 357 4015. This was relayed by Harriett Sokol.
PotChap Officers' Meeting 11/02/11 was held at the Gould residence after a 4.0 lunch at Jerry's Seafood on Rt 2 in Prince Frederick. We enjoyed having Richie Freeman with us by special invitation—she spends so much time visiting her out-of-town family members. A primary concern for officers was resignation of Sec-Treas Tom Berkeridge.
In late Nov Dave and Harriett Sokol cruised with friends from West Coast to Hawaii. Mac and Richele McLeod checked out for the winter in San Diego to avoid shoveling snow—and to be near family. In the vicinity of Cheltenham in Gloucestershire (U.K.) Jesse and Sue Owen celebrated the arrival of first grandchild, Oscar, born in Adelaide, down under.
NATO MCMG Luncheon 12/07/11 George and Diana Delano gathered a few friends at their home in Dumfries VA on a rainy day. Strictly social. Very enjoyable. Not all NAVY. Once travelers were assembled, we adjourned to the north side of Rt 234 to Georgio's for dining. John and Janet Lincoln, Dave and Harriett Sokol and Don and Marge Cruse were in the group. George had just returned from a visit to Netherlands.
Readers will note that Peter Weigand is our new PotChap Sec-Treas, bringing him back into the "head shed" after a sabatical. Thanks for volunteering, Peter. We regret that Tom Berkeridge could not continue in the office because he did a great job collecting chapter dues.
LOOSE ENDS
DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME DST was first used during WW1 and again in WW2 when it was called "war time." After that, individual communities decided—the result was confusion. When the federal Dept of Transportation was established in 1967, DST was finally standardized throughout most of the U.S. of A.
A MESSAGE FROM MEDICARE An old (1983) notice states the new premium goes up to $13.50 per month. How does that compare with my 2012 premium of $199.80 per month? Very, very poorly!
CLASS 20 NEWS This year we lost CWO Walter Winfrey USN (Ret) of Rome NY at age 96. He was captured on Kiska as Aerog3/c. This makes Vic Milford our senior surviving class member. During 2011 Randall Richardson was able to move from HI to TN where he is waiting for a new house to be completed so that he and his sister can occupy it. He has made some progress since severe stroke of Dec 2010.
NOTED IN FRA TODAY
Two additions to NWSA Necrology File from "Taps" Nov and Dec 2011:
AG1 Patrick W. GRANEN.
AG1 Robert D. WISHNEK
Neither petty officer appears in any NWSA records.
USNA MUSEUM IMPROVED
Housed in Preble Hall, the museum has been seriously upgraded and is well worth a visit.
Submitted by CDR Don Cruse USN RET
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Source: Aerograph November 2011
President................Vince Roper
Vice President........Jim Romano
Secretary-Treasurer......Tom Berkeridge
Email tbscode@aol.com
Tel 410.987.5384
Corresponding Secretary...Don Cruse
Email don.cruse@verizon.net
Tel 703.723.1275 (cell 304.2152)
POTCHAP CALENDAR
Oct 13 US Navy Birthday
Oct 31 Halloween
Nov 06 Daylight Saving Time ends
Nov 08 Election Day
Nov 11 Veterans' Day
Nov 24 Thanksgiving Day
Dec 07 Pearl Harbor Day
Dec 21 Winter solstice
Dec 25 Christmas Day
ROSTER CHANGES
CHAPPELL, AGCM Ray & Doreen cellfone 703.966.9152
HORTCH, AGCS Leo new address 1149 Heindel Rd York PA 17408-7392
MCLEOD, AGC Elroy & Richele new phone 443.968.2780
WEIGAND, CDR Peter & Marcia new Email weigandp@verizon.net
PEOPLE NEWS
We are surrounderd by autumn festivals and Oktoberfest. Now that this writer lives "in the country," all these events are much more visible.
Back in April Helen Kelley took action to reserve a NavSta Annapolis picnic site for our use—despite her ongoing chemo therapy. We greatly appreciate her effort. The chemo is now history but later Rich Kelley had surgery for a tumor in his leg. More recently, Chuck Kincannon had open heart surgery (aortic valve replaced) and is now walking again. We hear that Vince Roper is sporting a new pacemaker.
And by the way our June 11th picnic was really great, right on the bank of Severn River across from USNA. At our picnic the annual election of chapter officers resulted in the names displayed above. Thanks to Mac McLeod for heading the Nominating Committee.
On May 28 in Prince Frederick MD Mac McLeod and Richele Sprague tied the knot in a beautiful service held in St.John Vianney Catholic Church. A large contingent of PotChap people witnessed the ceremony and later enjoyed a fabulous feast. For their honeymoon, Mac & Richele drove to Baltimore and boarded the MS ENCHANTMENT for a five-day excursion to Bermuda. BTW her first husband, Robert Sprague, now deceased, was a submarine sailor. In his memory the church accepted all the monetary wedding gifts and added them to its Nicaragua housing construction fund.
Hazel Hudock tells us that her youngest son, Father Paul, continues to serve as primary aide to the Bishop of WV, but his title is "Vocations Director" – meaning that he is a recruiter. At the end of August Marge & I lunched with Hazel & Paul in her apartment in Wheeling WV.
From Nantucket Mo Gibbs reports on his successful hip surgery "over in America." A long ferry ride—and expensive. Tom Berkeridge completed his 15-day trip to Spain, Portugal & Morocco despite the pain of gout. Hope those new pills work, Tom.
Think back to May in Malta. There was another gathering of meteorologists & oceanographers who had served in NATO billets. USN reps were John Lincoln, Neil O'Connor, George Delano, Doc Carver, and their spouses. These reunions occur periodically. John presented my paper describing two voyages into the Med in March/April 1942 when USS WASP (CV-7) ferried nearly 100 Spitfires badly needed by defenders of Malta. The Spitfires quickly countered the daily Luftwaffe bombing raids.
From Hawaii came an inquiry from Gary G. Myers USMC (Ret) asking about Randall Richardson. The Pacific Aviation Museum in Pearl needs to record the story of Richardson, who spent a lifetime flying in China. He was one of my classmates in Primary Aerog School. We graduated at Lakehurst January 1941 and Richardson became one of the Aerogs clandestinely
recruited for duty with the Flying Tigers (others went into "The Rice Paddy Navy.") This story is still playing out.
Lorraine d'Entremont tries to keep up with various grandchildren, one of whom is attending UND in Grand Forks ND studying aeronautics. Son Brian continues to live with Mom and care for the house. Spoke to Carl "Beetle" Bailey, who lives down the Connecticut River Valley a little distance, about the passing of Mike Kalles on 6/15 – they were not close friends. Also checked with John "Buzz" Buzzanco and received the same answer—although when John was Command Senior Chief at the Naval Ice Center Mike was AG Detailer in BuPers across the Potomac.
Tropical storm IRENE moved N'wd along the Atlantic Coast at the end of August, requiring everybody to batten down the hatches. On occasions such as that, it's very nice to NOT have a boat to worry about. None of our PotChap members was seriously affected by IRENE or LEE, but huge floods occurred to the north of us.
With my CofS on board to do the navigating and help with driving, we departed on a long drive to NW Minnesota 8/28, spent two weeks with son & daughter-in-law, had lunch in Detroit Lakes MN with Jim & Gerry Langemo, visited a WI cousin, and attended annual reunion of USS WASP (CV-7) near O'Hare Int'l Airport. The Langemos shoved off on a tour of Russia with a large group of local friends at end of August.
Other recent travelers: Mo & Millie Gibbs (Oregon), Will & Ella Gould (Las Vegas w/ friends), Tom & Mary Ann Miovas (California wedding), Tom & Gladys Beasley (RV-ing to Bedford PA and Lancaster PA), Richie Freeman (TX, CA & NY), Buddy Bateman (Mazatlan).
By the way, visitors to Bedford PA can tour the 9/11 monument in the new Shanksville Memorial Park.
Yes, our PotChap social schedule is non-existent this quarter, but there are gatherings nevertheless. For instance, Dave Sokol initiated a group dinner in Purcellville VA with NATO/MilOc friends. Then he followed up with a Leesburg lunch attended by himself and Harriett, Randy & Joan Ashby, John & Janet Lincoln, Don & Marge Cruse.
The Lincolns are preparing to return to Europe for several months, while the Sokols and the Ashbys are headed to San Diego for a cruise to Hawaii and back. Richie Freeman will spend Thanksgiving in Brooklyn NY with one of her sons & family. Before that holiday arrives we hope to convene another group of friends at Jerry's Seafood in Prince Frederick MD and include Richie.
What was originally the Glen Burnie MD group has begun gathering at Ducharme's place in Leisure World of MD. Tom Beasley seems to be the group coordinator and maintains contact with Romanos, Andersons, Jim Dacy, and the Cruses. Yes, a common element with this group is previous duty behind the fence at Fort Meade MD.
Which reminds me—I heard that Mac & Richele McLeod are laying plans for a winter stay in San Diego, where she has loads of family.
All PotChap people should stand by for another mid-winter dinner meeting at a time and place yet to be determined. With horses nearly ready to resume harness racing at Rosecroft Raceway in MD, there is the distinct possibility that we can return to our favorite haunt.
H A P P E N I N G S
From HamRds Chap we learn of this NWSA Face book site: www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=34563272172&ref=mf. Yes, "Friend" status is required for participation.
Newly selected Captains in METOC community: Raymond R. Delgado III, Henry A. Miller, John A. Okon,and Seven P. Sopko.
From NAVY TIMES
American Veterans Disabled For Life memorial is under construction in WashDC on a 2.4-acre site across from the U. S. Botanic Garden.
By now everyone with access to a telephone should know these are forbidden Area Codes: 809, 876 and 284. Be aware of flimflam artists who may snooker you into using one of these.
What happened to LCOL Bill RESAVY USMC (Ret) who was employed by SAIC until he dropped out of sight?
The Doolittle Raiders of WW2 will celebrate the 70th Anniversary of their historic mission on 17-20 April 2012 at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force which is located in Dayton OH. Stand by for further details.
American Veterans Disabled For Life memorial is under construction in WashDC on a 2.4-acre site across from the U. S. Botanic Garden.
By now everyone with access to a telephone should know these are forbidden Area Codes: 809, 876 and 284. Be aware of flimflam artists who may snooker you into using one of these.
What happened to LCOL Bill RESAVY USMC (Ret) who was employed by SAIC until he dropped out of sight?
The Doolittle Raiders of WW2 will celebrate the 70th Anniversary of their historic mission on 17-20 April 2012 at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force which is located in Dayton OH. Stand by for further details.
American Veterans Disabled For Life memorial is under construction in WashDC on a 2.4-acre site across from the U. S. Botanic Garden.
By now everyone with access to a telephone should know these are forbidden Area Codes: 809, 876 and 284. Be aware of flimflam artists who may snooker you into using one of these.
What happened to LCOL Bill RESAVY USMC (Ret) who was employed by SAIC until he dropped out of sight?
The Doolittle Raiders of WW2 will celebrate the 70th Anniversary of their historic mission on 17-20 April 2012 at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force which is located in Dayton OH. Stand by for further details.
Submitted by CDR Don Cruse USN RET
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Source: Don Cruse Email August 7, 2011
President..............................Vince Roper
Vice President.....................Jim Romano
Secretary-Treasurer............Tom Berkeridge
E-mail: tbscode@aol.com
Telephone: 410 987-5384
Corresponding Secretary...Don Cruse
E-mail: don.cruse@verizon.net
Telephone: 703 723-1275
Cell phone: 703 304-2152
POTCHAP CALENDAR
05 Sept. Labor Day
11 Sept. Patriot Day
23 Sept. Autumnal Equinox
10 Oct. Columbus Day
31 Oct. Halloween
06 Nov. Daylight Saving Time ends
08 Nov. Election Day
EDITORIAL
In an effort to be realistic, PotChap is down sizing our chapter roster. This action stems from our last business meeting. We will follow the lead of NWSA Sec/Treas Libby O'Brien by splitting the "paid up" and the "non paid up" members.
This change will be Phase One of eliminating deadwood. After all, the PotChap roster is a carry-over from our old NavWeaServHq social roster. That means that many entries date to the period prior to Hq relocation to Stennis Space Center, MS from Bldg 200, Washington Navy Yard.
We are initiating this action by soliciting the degree of interest from each roster entry. Obviously, there is a cause & effect relationship involved in our decision to act. The primary cause is simply the general lack of participation in planned and scheduled chapter activities.
It has been sad to see our NWSA regional chapters disappearing. Gulf Coast Chap failed to recover from effects of KATRINA, while Downeast lost two sparkplugs when Don Hewins and Bill Pettigrew went on the Binnacle List. No one has stepped forward to carry the flag...as with our Tarheel Chap. We do not plan to permit this to happen to PotChap.
ROSTER CHANGES
CHAPPELL, Ray & Doreen, cellfone 703 966-9152
HORTCH, Leo, New address 1149 Heindel Rd, York PA 17408-73922
McLEOD, Elroy & Richele, New phone 443 968-2780
PETRUNCIO, Emil CDR USN, USNA Oceanography Dept.
Back in April Helen Kelley reserved a NavSta Annapolis picnic site for PotChap spring picnic--despite her ongoing chemo therapy. We greatly appreciate that big effort. The chemo is now history but later Rich Kelley had surgery for a tumor in his leg, and it was treated similarly.
At the end of April many of us headed to Virginia Beach to enjoy NWSA annual reunion #37. PotChap was well represented by:
Bob & Bev Costa, Don & Marge Cruse, Will & Ella Gould, Elroy & Richele McLeod, Mary Ann & Tom Miova, Jim & Rosalie Romano, Vince & Robby Roper, Ken & Joyce Smith, Dave & Harriett Sokol, and Peter & Marcia Weigand. Lew & Ruth Pittell were registered but failed to appear, and since that time have not answered any bells. Why?
Our HamRds Chap put on an excellent reunion--NWSA37VaBch hearkened back to "the olde days" of full chapter participation. It was great. And we enjoyed the COMNAVMETOC representation--an excellent seminar and two sharp petty officers representing their command.
On their way home from VaBch Earl & Lynn Kerr visited old friends in Annapolis MD--Betty Jepson and son Rick.
Some "people news" from Jim "Gordo" & Della Welch in Texas, where they are now living in newly-purchased home near San Antonio. In later June Jim attended his 65th high school reunion in New York. Our Glen Burnie MD reporter, Tom Beasley, along with wife-san Gladys, joined a group for lunch near "Duke" Ducharme's Leisure World Maryland digs. This time they tried Chinese food on Connecticut Ave. We often hear about Tom's involvement with friends who "Meet & Greet The Troops" who are arriving at BWI Airport from Iraq & Afghanistan. They also participate in the "Honor Flight" operations to our region. Way to Go!
From Marylee Seesholtz we learned that John is suffering from Hodgkins Lymphoma and is receiving chemo therapy. Will Gould was notified that "Tiny" Hortch fell and broke his hip on Easter Sunday, had surgery in the evening and then was placed in Genesis Healthcare for rehab. Charlie Miller heard the bad news, went to visit the hospital, but found Tiny had already moved on. BTW Charlie is doing ok while eating his own cooking. He really misses Doris.
On June 9th Connie O'Neill passed over the bar--daughter Mary Ann passed this word to Bob & Jeanne Junghans. After the usual long delay, she will be interred in the same grave with Tom in Arlington National Cemetary. We will try to pass the word on that.
In early June Neil & Jean O'Connor returned to Jackson MS following the NATO MILOC reunion in Malta. Other USN attendees included the Lincolns and the Delanos. Neil then got busy designing our NWSA38 logo, in coordination with Earl Kerr and others.
Regarding the ongoing planning for NWSA38/ColoSpgs, Tom & Maryann Miovas thoroughly reconnoitered the reunion hotel, RV camp sites and several of the many tourist attractions, returning to PIT area in late May. They found COS to be everything that was promised. Hence, we can begin planning for May 2012 right now.
On May 28th in Prince Frederick MD Elroy McLeod & Richele Sprague tied the knot in a beautiful service held in St. John Vianney Catholic Church. A large contingent of PotChap people witnessed the ceremony and later enjoyed a fabulous feast. For their honeymoon, Mac & Richele drove to Balto to board the "Enchantment" for a five-day excursion to Bermuda. BTW her previous husband, Robert Sprague, was a decreased submarine sailor, so in his memory the church has accepted all McLeod monetary wedding gifts. The money has been added to the church's Nicaragua housing construction fund.
Hazel Hudock tells us that her youngest son, Father Paul, continues to function as primary aide to the Bishop in WV but his title is "Vocations Director." That really means he is a recruiter in that diocese.
From Nantucket Mo Gibbs reports successful hip surgery took place "in America." The islanders refer to the mainland thusly. Tom Berkeridge is still troubled by gout and barely managed to complete his 15-day trip to Spain, Portugal & Morocco in mid-April. We are searching for Bill Resavy who seems to have moved out of our region. Help!
Then there was our PotChap spring picnic--in Annapolis at the Naval Station picnic area on 11 June--a nice pavilion (rental fee $55.00) on the north bank of the Severn. Enjoying the summer day were: Tom Berkeridge, Mike Krieger and two sons, Ron & Pat Fauquet, Don & Marge Cruse, Will & Ella Gould, Tom & Gladys Beasley, Fran Fisher with son John, and Vince & Robby Roper.
Annual election of chapter officers resulted in the above (see masthead) and NWSA37/VaBch was discussed as well as future trips to NWSA38/ColoSpgs and NWSA39/Las Vegas. Thanks to Mac McLeod for heading up our Nominating Committee and to all officers for their willingness to serve. Future chapter activities remain tentative.
Submitted by CDR Don Cruse, USN RET
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