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April 2001 Here we are, just one month away from our next pay raise. I cannot speak for the rest of you, but time seems to be flying by. Even though this is a monthly column, it feels like I write it weekly. I've got some good letters from the fleet, so let's head right to them... From Ken Douglas: Quick update from the Pacific Northwest. Just finished my first patrol onboard MICHIGAN. North Pacific in winter may not be as fun as the North Atlantic, but the weather still kept most people in control losing their lunch during trips to PD. Kevin "Odie" Bauer and J.J. "Melissa" Etheridge both finished the majority of their quals and are now certified to drive the boat...or maybe just certifiable, I'm not sure...dolphins aren't far behind for those guys. John Zurn on the opposite crew is making similar progress and would you believe it?...his stateroom bunkmate is none other than his Plebe Summer squad leader Joe Davis '97...small world. J.J. and his wife, Joanna, are expecting their first child around the end of June. Thanks Ken. Sometimes nicknames just don't die. I remember J.J. Etheridge being called "Melissa" at dive school, and that was right after graduation... Newlyweds Sarah and Dave Durkin Now one from Dave Durkin: I'm in Primary (VT-6) now for flight school. I thought I'd send you a picture of me and my wife, Sarah, at our wedding on 16 July 2000. Steve McClune, Doug Burfield, and Bryan Shipp were there to celebrate. I have been in Primary since November and hopefully will solo in a week! It's great to be down here! Ryan McCrillis just finished up here and should select this week. Other Classmates I run into are Nick Pinson (VT-2) and Josh Roots (VT-6). Josh just selected helos a few weeks ago. Good luck soloing, Dave. Griffin and Jessica Stauffer Tim Feist, Scott Grossman, Shane Eisenbraun, Jeff McQuillan (Jeff hasn't really been passed over, he just forgot his JG boards. We had to improvise.) Front row: James Provizzi, Adri Stauffer, Andrea Chaney (maid of honor), Andrea Mason, second row: Matt vonFrisch, Jessica Stauffer, Griffin Stauffer, Craig Gimbi (best man), and Josh Sefchick Here's a good one from Griffin Stauffer: [ Better late than never! Met my bride while in Primary at VT-28 in Corpus Christi. Since then I've been NPQ'd and executed the coveted line-to-staff transfer to the CEC. After a few months, the Navy moved us to NAS Fallon, NV. (And yes, the Navy does have a base in the middle of the desert...) Popped the question New Year's Eve, and seven short months later Jessica and I were married on 15 July 2000 in my hometown of Weatherly, PA. Jess's uncle, Rev. Terry Wickstrom of California, performed the ceremony. Hope this finds everyone well...fair winds! Just goes to show you, anything can happen in the Navy, even in Nevada... And finally, Tullio Celano is finished up with Prototype in New York. He'll be going off to JEFFERSON CITY once he's done with SOBC. Best of luck up there too. I wish that was all I had to write about, but the weekend before I sent this in GREENEVILLE was all over the news. What a tough situation. There are a lot of unknown details at this point, but what a tragedy regardless of how it happened. Our thoughts go out to those who lost loved ones. We have a Classmate on that boat, and it must not be easy for him either. To all the rest of you, be safe out there. Fair winds... DSF