USNA Class of 1998 |
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Shipmate Class Notes |
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March 2003Hello again great '98! From the letters this month it sounds like it's a good year...other than the additional impending conflict in the Middle East. I hope things start winding down by October. Mark your calendars, Homecoming is on 25 October, and we are getting everything in place. Please send a quick note to Dave if you are interested in a room for the weekend--we'll make sure a block is reserved. There isn't too much going on in Groton. Arny Stanku and Justin Anderson are out to sea. I just received an email from Dale Matheny‹now an instructor at NAPS. He is doing well and enjoying married life. Which reminds me that Brian Eisenhuth appears to be well on the way to making a serious commitment with his "special someone." Now on to the letters for this month, the first one from Anthony Giardino: What's up '98? I've been in Bahrain now for a couple of months and should remain deployed here (or elsewhere in the AOR) until mid-May. So far I've run into Roy Barber, Melissa Hiler '99, Erin Corcoran, and Becca (Chany) Baas. That really seems to be it as far as people who are here on long-term TAD/PCS orders that I've run into are. Since it is the only libo port in the area, this place is like a revolving door for people and ships. Steve Minihane came through here after finishing up his three-month SAR det deployment on NASSAU before flying back to Norfolk. He'll be going to San Diego again to transition from the 46 to the 60 this winter. I ran into Kaitan Gupta, Josh Potocko, Mike Newton, John Batchelor, Aaron Shuler, and a bunch of other Alums watching the game at the O'Club here when we beat Army. I know that Neil Potts is up north laminating maps and fetching coffee for the staff officers at Camp Commando. Ed Yealdhall was here for a bit and we had the chance to grab lunch. He said he is doing well and has moved onto an assignment dealing with special boats after doing a couple deployments with a platoon out of Little Creek. That's about it from here that I can remember. If you come through town and get some libo, look me up on email at fastplta@cusnc.navy.mil or call me on my cell at 973-947-0492. Back in Norfolk, you'll be able to get me at giardinoae@marforlant.usmc.mil. Semper Fidelis and Happy New Year to all.Thanks Anthony! Doug Thumm is also deployed to the Med and sends his regards: Happy New Year to everyone from the Middle East! I am currently forward deployed with the 24th MEU (SOC) as a member of HMM-263 (REIN). It has been a long four months so far. We have done exercises in Kosovo and Djibouti, but have yet to see a liberty port. Hopefully our luck will change. In the squadron we have two other '98ers, Greg Pawson and Ryan Shadle. The SAR Det from HC-6 has three '98ers, Jeremy Vellon, Dave McKinney, and Rick Taylor. Mike Ogden is on one of the other ships in the MEU ARG as a member of the BLT 2-2. Hope y'all had a great holiday season!Happy New Year Doug. When you do get some liberty, keep an eye on Greg. Now, in an effort to make this article a bit more family oriented, Darrel Capo's mother, Cathy, provided this article from CHOSIN's newsletter: CHOSIN welcomes aboard the Air Department this underway in preparation for WestPac deployment. The "Easyriders" of HSL-37 Detachment Six embark two SH-60B Seahawk helicopters, bringing CHOSIN's warfighting capability to full strength. The primary missions of the SH-60B are surface and anti-submarine warfare, providing the ship an over-the-horizon surface picture and weapons capability via the unique Hawklink communication system. Additionally, the Air Department provides the ship an organic MedEvac, vertical replenishment, and search and rescue capability. The Air Department is led by the Officer in Charge (OIC), LCDR Randall Biggs, referred to as the Air Boss. The other officers include Air Operations LT Darrel Capo, Aviation Maintenance Officer LT Jennifer Seguin, Assistant OIC LT Suzanne Harker, and Air Training Officer LTJG Edwin Spradley.Thank you Mrs. Capo. May the time on deployment pass quickly. Now for the last submission this month from Cory Shakelton: Greetings from Eastern North Carolina! It's been quite some time since I've dropped you guys a line, so bear with me on the length. I'm currently assigned to HMM-264 (REIN) destined to float with the 26th MEU. We just finished our work-ups, so we are now the 26th MEU (SOC). Our actual deployment date has changed numerous times, so your guess is as good as mine as to when we depart...As for boat-schoolers here in the squadron, we do have one or two. First, on the Phrog pilot side you have me "Pepe," Michael "Ponch" Acosta, Sam "Shaggy" Clark, Brett "Salty" Allison, Tom "Bones" Wolter '96, John "Moocha" Sarno '96, and some I'm not sure of their Class‹Ivan "Froggy" Thomas '92, and the dearly departed (from the squadron) Jeff "Shooter" Mosher '86 (c'mon sir, say it with me "SHOO-TER"), and Gerald "Sniper" (although it should be "Bic") Graham '90. As for the rest of the squadron we've got Foster Carlile '97 (CH-53E pilot) and Bart O'Brien (AH-1W pilot). Jeanne Daffron floated with 264 the last time they went out, although I haven't seen her around the air station lately, so she may be on to bigger and better things. Bill Burrack lives down the street from me and was there when I truly needed him (he knows what I'm talking about). Thanks Bill, and I still owe you and your wife a dinner! When I first arrived in the area, and had no place to stay and Michael Ogden was kind enough to open his house to me; so I at least had a place to sleep. Since being in the squadron I've run into Robby Burton, Romeo Cubas '99, and Amy Bertas '96 (my Plebe Summer squad leader) during CAX, and Sunny Risler '01 is in the heliborne company that's going with us on deployment (C Co, 1/8). That's all for now, I'll try a little more verbose message later. I have to go because, although they aren't telling us where we're going, they're issuing us desert cammies, desert flight suits, and making desert camouflage helmet covers...o I had better go and study the various threats that are out there!Keep us posted, Cory. Good luck. Well, it's been another month toward the end of our initial commitment and so ends this month's article. Fair winds and following seas! -SCG | |||||
| Last Updated: July 7, 2003 |
