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August 2006
Great '98...Its certainly been a while but we have some updates from around
the world.I received this note from Jon Hager '97:
I'm sorry to report that LT Raul Jiminez '98 and ENS Jeremy Drag were
killed in a training accident on January 27, 2006. They were conducting landing
pattern work at Waldron NOLF flying the T-34C "Turbo Mentor" when the crash
occurred. Both pilots were members of the VT-27 "Boomers" at NAS Corpus Christi, TX.
Raul was an instructor pilot for VT-27 for a year prior to the accident. Previously
he served with HM-15. Raul is survived by his new wife, Laura. Jeremy flew his
first student solo on his previous flight. He is survived by his parents.
I would like to write more, but I'll leave that up to their classmates who
know them better. However I know they touched many lives- over 600 people
turned out to their memorial service which included a 21 gun salute, a missing
man formation and a stirring and inspirational speech by Jeremy's father. At the
service, Jeremy's parents were presented with Jeremy's "Wings of Gold." Please
keep their families in your prayers. --Jon Hager '97
Gaby Bolton sends some highly entertaining notes about a recent wedding:
Hello, 1998! There was a wedding last August in Annapolis of one of our
classmates. Pointer #1 for other former donners of necktab: the need to stretch
the truth about one's undergraduate affiliation to frequenters of Griffin's on
a Saturday night loses its urgency once you look more like the mother of a
midshipman than a midshipman... Pointer #2: stay away from Griffin's. What
happened to that place? Which leads me to my reason for writing to you: Ashley's
making me. Or, put another way, I thought I'd provide an update to all of
you who are curious as to what's happening with all of us other than, well, us. So,
parents of us, read on:
Without a doubt the 2005 Navy-Marine Corps Wedding of the Year (NMCWOY) was the blessed nuptials of
Ashley Renee McCrea to Capt Brendan Sullivan last August. Many opposed the
marriage because it further entangled the incestuous 8 th Company web, because
Brendan Sullivan is the little brother of Mary Kate (Sullivan) Bailey, who is
married to Jimi Bailey, of "Bailey's Triette" fame, and the former 8th company
commander. More about them later.
The Sullivan-McCrea camp spared no expense to make this a fabulous affair.
It was truly an A-List only party. If you weren't there,it's because you weren't invited.
Every major newspaper covered the
event: The Trident, The Annapolis Capital, Naval Institute Proceedings, The Log, The
Navy Times, Marine Corps Times, and Shipmate all had reporters present.
Meanwhile, AFRTS provided a live feed to ships at sea and troops in the field.
Without further ado, the juicy details from the red carpet:
Gaby Bolton arrived with the official party dressed in David's Bridal. Gaby is a
consultant in DC, and in keeping with that line of work, she will charge you her hourly
rate for any conversation or part of a conversation you may have with her. As she
stepped out of her limo, the press immediately accosted her. Gaby merrily shouted,
"Fuschia is the new black!" Everyone present was billed for this statement.
Also in the official party was Jennifer (Seguin) Yuchasz, who wore David's
Bridal as well, which is very big this year. On Jen's arm, was her husband of just a
few months, Jake Yuchasz. When the paparazzi asked about her dress, Jen only
said, "Paybacks are a bitch."
Becky (Dowling) Adams arrived via F/A-18, which she left conspicuously parked on Stribling Walk.
Beck showed
up in Vanguard with shoes by Bates Lite, but quickly changed before the ceremony
into her matching DB ensemble. "I love ASHLEY!" she shouted as her cockpit
opened. Becky really lives up to the old adage, "Always a bridesmaid and never get
to wear the dress again."
Rounding out the official party was Mary Kate (Sullivan) Bailey. Dress by DB, shoes by Asics.
MK is training for the Olympic Trials in the marathon, a distance
which I'm told is slightly longer than a mile and a half. MK was accompanied by
her long time sidekick and husband, Jimi Bailey, who is in medical school in DC.
Rumors were swirling that Jimi constantly frying up those Triettes was
starting to interfere with MK's training and causing conflict. Remember, you
read it in Shipmate first.
Cori Thornton low crawled her way
to the red carpet. Cori arrived wearing Vanguard. Cori is a terminal Marine.
Correction: she is on terminal leave from the Marines. Cori is currently looking for
a job -- you can check out her website at MarineCoriForHire.Com.
Katy Evans arrived on the red carpet in Isaac Mizrahi for Target. She kept
saying how she was "still on L.A. time." Katy has spent much of the last two years
mourning the loss of the CH-46 aircraft. She lets go of her grief by slapping
SERE candidates.
Cristina Esposito showed up in Kathie Lee Gifford for Wal-Mart. Espo is
finishing up her chiropractic studies in Atlanta and will soon be known professionally as DOCTOR Espo. Personally, you can call her Doctor Cristina Esposito.
A little birdie told me she was valedictorian of her graduating class. And they said
that soccer team would turn out no good.
Caroline Rodi wore Jacklyn Smith
for the Big K and arrived via small boat from her ship, the USS JOHN PAUL
FARRAGUT HALSEY where she is doing her Dept Head tour as the Assistant
Weapons Control Liaison Operations Fires Control Assistant. Rodi took a year
and a half off to travel before going back into the Navy for life. Her ship is
homeported in Albuquerque.
Last to walk the red carpet was Ashley "It's All About Me" McCrea,
who wore a dress by Vera Wang and shoes by Jimmy Choo.
Inside the chapel, there wasn't a dry eye in the house as the happy couple
exchanged their vows. Nor was there a dry eye OUTSIDE the chapel, where
legions of ex-Navy Football players cried alligator tears as McCrea took her vows.
The after party was at the O-Club. The After After party was at O'Brien's.
And the After After After party... well, I can't talk about that.
As this went to press, Jen "It's Been More Than 9 Months" Yuchaszgave
birth to a second generation W, Jacy Elizabeth Yuchasz, on June 3rd. Jacy weighed in at just 7.5 pounds,
which in my opinion is a little light for a W, but Jen assures me she will teach her the importance of snack machines, Cannonball Runs, and NOT SHARING FOOD.
On a related subject, our blushing bride Ashley "Has It Been More Than 9
Months?" Sullivan,is already with child. Said child is due in August. Stay
tuned to Shipmate to find out if it's the pink kind or the blue kind.
This also in from Carlos Jativa:
I hope everyone is doing well.The last few months for me have been exciting as
I have transitioned to the civilian sector. I got out of the Navy,
graduated from business school and started my new job all
within a few days of each other. I work in Ridgefield, CT with two other USNA
grads, David Bryson '90 and Scott Jackson '97. During that time, I have
gotten a chance to catch up with several '98ers. Jeff Sowa, Arny Stankus, Blake
Dorr and I attended Jonas and Georgia Zikas' wedding on March 4th. The
reception was highlighted by Jonas entertaining of the crowd with his mandolin. It
was great to see everyone again and we all had a great time celebrating. Jonas is close
to completing his second year at UCONN Law. Jeff is currently living in
Florida and is working in a sales position.
Arny lives in New York City and is working in commercial real estate. Blake is
finishing up his last semester at Washington and Lee Law School.
I had a chance to catch up with Leighton and Kate Pitreon a trip to
Annapolis. Leighton is wrapping up his tenure as a company officer and will be
heading to Groton to start SOAC in May. They are expecting the birth of their
daughter Chloe in late April. Speaking of newborns, I just got word that Jason and
Pam Weed have a new daughter, Shealyn Morgan Weed. Congrats to the Pitres and
Weeds. Jason is currently assigned as the Navigator of the USS Memphis. During
that trip to Annapolis, I also caught up with Gaby Bolton. Gaby lives in
Washington DC and is working in consulting. I heard from Britton Smith
recently and he is close to graduating from Harvard Business. He will be
moving to NJ and will also work in consulting. Last but not least, I got to
hang out with Justin Anderson one last time before he and his family head out to
Washington. Justin is slated to be the Weapons Officer of the USS Alabama.
Also from Jake Schmitter:
Greetings from the Desert! A lot has happened since I last wrote to shipmate.
After two deployments in the Prowler Community, I decided to head back to
Canoe U as a Company Officer. Yep, Jake Schmitter is/was a Company Officer (you
can stop laughing now). I did the one year Masters course, during which my wife
Drew and I had our daughter Lainey (who is now a year old).
I actually had a blast as the ALPHA company officer for plebe summer. After
that period, I became the 14th Company Officer. It was a great experience and
truly one to remember. Unfortunately, I was told in February 2006 that I would
no longer be spreading hate and discontent in Bancroft Hall and instead get
Happy Fun Time with the Army for a whole year in Iraq (I guess all that MLT
stuff will finally come in handy). That darn ol' "needs of the Navy." In case you
haven't heard the term "Individual Augmentee"- guess what? You will.
Joining me in the desert is Mario Wilson '96, Phil Simpson '97, Cisco
Alsina '97, Fisher Reynolds, Bill Lehner '99, CDR Greg 'Meat' Ellison '86 and my
Dirty Thirty Alum, Pete Codina.
I also forgot- surfing through channels
I spotted Jany Collaco on 'Deal or No Deal'. That was the hardest $600 I ever
saw anyone earn! I hope everyone is doing well and staying safe.
Fairs winds --Jake
Pictures to share...
Army-Navy
Jonas and Georgia's wedding
Ashley (McCrea) and Brendan Sullivan's wedding
I hope this finds everyone well. Carissa and I are doing well in Wilmington. We're
expecting our third baby in November- a girl. I look forward to getting some more
updates from everyone!
Semper Fi, CB
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