Home Member      Log-In      Log-Out      Registration Membership Directory (Members Only) Picture Gallery Mailing List Message Boards Shipmate Articles Class Reunion Links What's New Site History/Credits Help

November-December 2003      Hello, great '98!    We have now made it past our first reunion! I'm sure that everyone in attendance had a great time, and for those of you who couldn't make it, our ten year will be here before we know it. Pictures of the reunion will follow in future articles. Sorry for the missed column last month. I have to admit that the deadline sneaks up on me now that I'm a father... And now to our letters for this month:    From Jed Espiritu:    Hello, everyone! Our little girls are growing up! Jordan turns two-years-old this September (2003), and Ella turns three months the end of August. Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) is great so far, but it's keeping me pretty busy. (Nothing like getting an M.B.A. in 18 months! Feels almost like Nuke School again.) Liza's been such a great mother and wife. She's really busy raising the two girls. Hey, all, stay safe wherever you are. May God bless you and your families and bring you home safe.    I actually ran into Jed in the library at NPS and he does look like he's having a good time here.    Next from Allan Sabo:    A quick update from the "Green" side. I just got back from a short but eventful deployment to the lovely country of Iraq. I was with the active duty component of a Reserve infantry battalion, Second Bn, 23d Marines. I saw John Chow and Jake Harriman (both were with A/D Infantry Battalions within First Marines) in Kuwait before we started the sight-seeing trip North to Baghdad. My battalion secured the U.N. Compound, and a few Republican Guard and Army Headquarters buildings. I never expected, as a supply officer, to get mortared and shot at on a regular basis, but you never can tell what excitement you'll find in the Corps. My wife, Jodi, and I are moving back to the DC, area in a few weeks.    Thanks for the letter, Allan, and thank you for being on the front lines of the war, and of history.    Here's another letter from a Marine, Robert Burton:    Here's an update from Army country. I'm taking command of the Marine Training Company here at Fort Knox, KY, on 28 July. The company trains all Marine tank crewman and tank mechanics. My wife, Julie, is doing great even though her hands are full with the youngest member of the fire team, Lily, who is now six and a half months old. Congratulations are also in order for Re and Rocky Burns who just had a daughter, Alexis, on the Fourth of July, in Italy. I've recently talked to Travis Campbell who just took over as platoon commander of his FAST platoon, which is deployed in Japan right now. He is due back stateside in August. I've also run into a Classmate here at Fort Knox, surprisingly‹Chris Domencic. He was down here training with his SEAL platoon. It was nice running into a friendly face down here. I was able to hook Chris and his SEALs up with some tank driving, and in return, I was able to observe his platoon conduct a direct action raid in the middle of the woods. Robert Burton and Chris Domencic with their big friend    Small world isn't it? Always nice to run into a Classmate unexpectedly.    Now shifting over to SWOs, here's a letter from Loren Reinke:    Living the dream here in Newport...A bunch of us got together at the O'Club and it was great to see people that I haven't seen since graduation. Contrary to popular belief, BOOST/STA-21, and NAPS are not the only reason for being stationed in Newport, RI. In true SWO fashion Dale Matheny neglected to mention the "brightest jewel" in the SWO crown of Surface Warfare excellence. That's right, SWOS baby, there are a bunch of '98ers that are at the "tip of the spear" ensuring that Knowledge truly is Seapower. Here is some more info on Classmates in the area: Brandon Dye works with the PCO/PXO course. Dean Balcirak is teaching the simulators in the TAO course and working in Evans Hall. Dave McKelvy is your friendly neighborhood "chop." At NAPS you have Dale Matheny, Chris Keith, and Alex Savage. The Seaman to Admiral program (STA-21) is led by Heather Burwell (soon to be married!). And all of the rest of us are at the Division Officer Course (DOC): Susie Balcirak (expecting her first in July!), Mike Conrady, Plebe Year roommate John Mentzer, and myself. We also had an unexpected visitor who graced us with her presence all the way from Japan...Shiho Sefton is stationed in Atsugi, JA, with VAQ 136. We just saw orders for Kevin Canty who should be arriving in October. And we can't forget our illustrious Naval Fire Fighting School is headed by none other then #7 Chris McCoy! We never actually saw him at his desk, but it was a sharp looking picture on the quarterdeck. Chris recently left (resigned) to pursue his dream of the NFL. Good luck, Chris. Also in an apparent requirement for Shipmate, we have not seen or heard anything from Steve Fortmann.     We are all loving shore duty and please congratulate Dean and Susie Balcirak who will probably be proud parents by the time you read this. If any of you find yourself with orders to the SWO "Mecca," don't hesitate to look us up. '98: Together on the Bay, L to R: Shiho Sefton, Mike Conrady (wife, Liz), Loren Reinke, John Mentzer, Alex Savage, Dean and Susie Balcirak, Dave McKelvy, Heather Burwell, Brandon Dye (wife, Rebecca), Chris Keith, and Dale Matheny (wife, Tara)    Awesome letter Loren, sounds like you are really having a great time up there.    Here's another informative letter from Brendan Robinson:    Mike Conrady and I spent the past two years on TRENTON (LPD-14) in Norfolk, VA.    Mike just transferred to the new and improved SWOS in Newport, RI. You can catch Torey Hinkson and Fume Adayemi performing each Friday night at Marine Corps Base 8th and I. Mark Symmes is currently the assistant food service officer for Naval Region Southwest, but will be transferring to Annapolis this summer. Josh Lafferty is the Supply Officer on PORTLAND. As for me, I have only two more days in the Navy. I am headed up to Philadelphia to build Hospitals.    Best of luck on the outside, Brendan.    And finally, a quick note from Gene Brown:    My wife and I are leaving for Germany today. Two year PEP tour as an instructor at the Marine Schule in Flensburg, Germany. It's their version of the Academy. Andrea is very excited. She is German and her family lives in the Frankfurt area. I'll finally be able to speak her language.    Have a great time in Germany, Gene. I'm sure you will.