USNA Class of 1998 |
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Shipmate Class Notes |
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January-February 2001Hey great '98! The good ship Rivers is back, and I'm back to writing Shipmate. I'd like to say thanks to Ian Schillinger for taking care of the last issue for me. Going to the North Pole was pretty fun. It's total darkness up there this time of year, but we did get to break through the ice in some better places, and "ice liberty" was a welcome break in the routine.  Officers and crew of L. MENDEL RIVERS surfaced near the North Pole to show our support for Navy prior to teh Army-Navy game The picture you see here is most of our wardroom and part of the crew. USNA was well represented. We even made a spirit spot for the Army-Navy game, but I didn't see it on TV, but what great game! OK, now to the letters from the fleet. To start out, here's a letter from Nate Bailey: After getting NPQ'd from flight school last summer, I redesignated to Naval Intelligence and attended intel school with some other '98ers including J.J. Maguire, Scott Barsczewski, Jason Hurley, and Chris Savage; along with Sam Zager '97 and Anthony Toreillo '99. After graduating last February, J.J. became the intel officer for a Hornet squadron in Lemoore and attached to CONNIE; Scott went to a Hornet squadron in Oceana and attached to TRUMAN; Jason to a Hornet squadron based in Atsugi, Japan, and attached to KITTY HAWK; and Chris to JFK homeported in Mayport, FL. I reported to the Blacklions of VF-213, a Tomcat squadron based at Oceana and attached to CARL VINSON.Thanks Nate, I hope you are enjoying the intel community. Here's one from the USMC, a letter from Robby Burton: I'm currently serving in 2d Tank Battalion as XO of Charlie Company with a few other alumni. Travis Campbell is the platoon commander of the tank platoon that just got deployed on the MEU. Nate Langmack is our Bn supply officer. Bruce Barker '97 is the Bn Comm Officer. The S-3, Maj. C. D. Casados '86 Alunnus, and Romeo Cubas '00 (one of my Plebes; also another one of my Plebes Robin Sorrells is in 1st Tanks) is a platoon commander in Bravo Company. Everything is kind of slow down here, and we're hoping Travis can stir up some trouble overseas. Yes the rumors are true, I'm engaged and am getting married 17 March 2001 here at CLNC.Another wedding! Best of luck! On to a great letter from Adam Wieder: My wife, Erin, and I would like to announce the birth of our son, Ethan Daniel Wieder. He came into the world on Thanksgiving Day at Naval Hospital Jacksonville, FL, weighing in at 7 pounds 13 ounces and measuring 20.74 in long.Congratulations on your son, Adam! That's wonderful. Next, here's an update from Phil Dana (Pmdjaw@aol.com): The past Shipmate stated that I was slated to be WEPS on SHILOH (CG-67). My slate has been changed to HOWARD (DDG-83)...Cheng....which will be commissioned 1 July and homeported in San Diego. It's a Flight II with the helo hangers in the back, very high speed. Email me and let me know whose out in San Doggy. Ran into Dean Balls today, going to be a NAV on ANCHORAGE (nice orders), his wife is up for an EOOW board on JOHN YOUNG. Go Navy!To hop over to the Army side for some of our Classmates, here's a letter from Tony Ramos (Antonioram75@cs.com): I hope everyone is doing well. I was recently married to Courtney White of Carlisle, PA. We were married in Murrells Inlet, SC, on 7 October 2000. We spent our honeymoon in Montego Bay, Jamaica. It was great to say the least. My old roommate, Jason Buckley, was able to attend the wedding. It was great to see him. He is doing well in Norfolk, VA, with an E-2 RAG. Things are going pretty well here in the Army. I am still stationed at Fort Bragg, NC, with the 82nd Airborne Division. I recently changed jobs, and I am now a headquarters company XO. This logistics stuff is a lot different from being a rifle platoon leader. My captain's board met on 7 November 2000, and I should know by the end of the month if I was picked up or not. I attended Jake Schmitter's wedding a few weeks ago along with a few other '98ers. I'm sure Jake will write Shipmate soon. Fair winds to everyone, and I look forward to all of your sea stories. If anyone has Brian Paters or Will Millets address, email, phone number, or some way to get a hold of them, please email me. Thanks. All the way!Best of luck on getting O-3! And now back to the Navy, here's an informative letter from A.J. McNiven: I thought I'd give you all an update on what's going on with the people I stay in contact with. Joe Femenia is currently with SEAL Team 2 in Little Creek, VA. He will return from a six-month Med deployment in mid-December. Seems to be enjoying things thus far. Mike Burks is in the Tomcat RAG, VF-101, and should finish sometime next spring. His wife, Sara Burks (formerly Minogue) is also living in Virginia Beach flying the H-3. Bart O'Brien is getting his Wings of Gold on 17 November in Whiting Field. He received orders to fly AH-1 Cobras out of New River, NC. Tara Golden is an E-2C NFO in Norfolk with the Seahawks. She will be going on her first major deployment after Thanksgiving with the TRUMAN battle group. Kevin Canty is currently a division officer on MT. WHITNEY based out of Norfolk (one of the few SWOs I know who loves his job). I just ran into John Bear in Jacksonville. He was getting his initial carrier qualifications in the T-45A. He should get orders sometime in December. Chad Schumacher and D.J. Lopes are in Kingsville, TX, flying the T-45 and should finish in early January. Good luck at the boat, guys! Blake Door is currently on a minesweeper in Corpus Christi, TX, and will be rotating to a Cru/Des billet soon. Dan Moll is just about finished with the Hornet RAG in Oceana, VA. He should get orders to his first fleet squadron in January. Dan, may you have a full moon for those night landings! They're not fun, man. I've managed to stay busy these past few years. Got winged in January 2000, finished the Hornet RAG in September 2000 and am currently with the Marauders of VFA-82 in Beaufort, SC. I will be starting work-ups in January and going on cruise next September with the ROOSEVELT battle group. I live in Hilton Head, SC, so if any of you are in the area, give me a call. I apologize for those who I forgot to mention, but wish the best of luck to the entire Class wherever they may be.Thanks, A.J. Great letter. Lots of people have come a log way. Keep it up and good luck! Here's a quick one from Jim Day: "I was actually in Norfolk for a one-month TAD school in info systems where I happened to bump into Kevin Cantee, Ashley McCray, Terry Vanacek, and, wouldn't you know it, none other than Senior Chief (now Master Chief) Albonetti all in the same bar.  L to R: Ashley McCray, Jim Day, Master Chief Albonetti, Kevin Cantee, Terry Vanecek meeting in Hot Tuna, Norfolk, VA Once again, small world when you come from USNA. Jim also kept in touch with Darren Salapka, and said that at one point in the Arabian Gulf, Darren, Amy Carson, and Jim were all in the same watch section. I believe it too! So that's all for the letters now. More to come next month. James Jones, Justin Anderson and I are now in Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and working on pulling the reactor out of our boat. James will be heading back to RICKOVER in Norfolk, Justin to PHILADELPHIA in Groton, and I'll be heading out to CHICAGO in Pearl. Just this morning I ran into Todd Tavolazzi while riding back to my car. He's stationed on RAINIER and is liking it up here. Jeff Sowa is also up here and always, good for a bunch of laughs. Happy New Year to everyone, keep it safe and have fun out there. Fair winds.... DSF. From the '99 Column: ..... Giselle Princeton Alota was born on 20 October to Gervy Alota '98 and Bernice (Javier) Alota '99. In the photo she is with her mother, who says that her favorite things to do are ear and poopoo.....  Bernice (Javier) Alota and Giselle Princeton Alota | |||||
| Last Updated: February 13, 2001 |
