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December 1998 Happy Holidays Great '98! Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all! I hope this holiday season brings you good times and memories with friends, family, and shipmates. I regret to inform all of you that one of our '98 Alumni is no longer with us. Joseph "Drew" Labaw died this past September. His friends have written the obituary for our Shipmate, and his memory will always be with us. Our prayers are with his family and friends. On a happier note, I have some news about our shipmates elsewhere in the fleet. Another Submarine-Scuba class finished up Panama City. Congratulations to Dale Matheny, Brian Hogan, Mike Breen, Jason Paulsen, Tim Clark, and Ed Hanley. Good job guys! Arny Stankus reports that Tim Davis was a little "under the weather" in the aviation pipeline. Luckily he passed the test on his last try, and he is still on his way to becoming a pilot. Good luck. Jesse Balboa reports that a few of his friends at SWOS are having a great time. Todd Tavolazzi, Blaine Bitterman, Dan Duhan, and Mike Llenza have parties more often than not, and they even put up flyers to invite the townspeople of Newport. Way to give back to the community guys, BZ! Our SEALS apparently did a great job at Coronado. Rick Ullman, Brooks Hollan, Ed Yealdhall and Mike Wisecup are the only names I can recall right now, but I've heard that no USNA SEAL candidate has dropped out. They are bruised and battered, but they won't quit. I cannot say that I'm surprised. Keep up the hard work, and good luck guys. It's the beginning of October right now, and I'm about to finish up Pre-Nuclear Power School. It's been fun because I've had good company: Sinclair Ahn, Justin Anderson, Jesse "The Body" Balboa, Steve Blazejewski, Mike Congleton, Brian Cushman, Jim Day, Carlos Jativa, Dave Leather, Sam McGowan, Brian Nowitzski, Leighton Pitre, Jake Porter, Jeff Sowa, Arny Stankus, and Tyler Webb. The hours are long, but the laughs are good. We actually have members from the Classes of '95, '96, and '97 with us. Anyone want to guess who the '95 grad is? None other than our first BC himself, Rueben Brigety '95. Funny how things work out that way in the Navy. That's all for now GREAT '98. Have a safe and happy holiday season, and we'll catch you in 1999. Fair Winds...DSF.