When you start reading this, you’ve probably still got a couple weeks to buy that last minute Christmas present...BTW, MERRY CHRISTMAS...and what better place than logging on to Amazon.com via our web site <http://www.oocities.org/CollegePark/Campus/7184/index.html> for books, music, movies, electronics, and other must have stuff?  But before you fire up that computer, the Court will come to order.

Did you read BOB VAIL’s announcement of TERRY NEWELL’s pending nuptials in ‘72’s October’s Class Notes?  As one our “Those Who Have Gone Before” guys, TERRY sent in a fishy update: “Just back from traveling.  I visit the '71 homepage on occasion, and it's always good to catch up on the news regarding the boys. I'm in close contact with BOB "MOLE" VAIL, and communicate with PHIL "PISS ANT" VOLK on occasion. Hey, did you see that Volkswagen named a car model after PHIL, the "Passant". PHIL must have fleeted down from the aviation community to the land based auto industry. Every time I see one of those Passant's on the road, I yell out "Piss Ant" and visualize PHIL with his sly smile. I've signed on MOLE to do the "officiating" at my pending marriage next May.  BOB will perform the ceremony in his capacity as a lay Chaplain of the Unitarian Church, or so he says. I guess it's 50/50 that the marriage will be legal, but that's good enough odds for me. One classmate marrying another, now isn't that a kick! Hey, wait a minute, that didn't come out right!!!  I plan on wearing my Parade Dress uniform, complete with leggings! And Mole will be in his Bridge Coat ... ok, that will never happen, but it's a thought!  During my recent trip, while fishing the minor league bass circuit in Texas, I set a new personal best record with an 8 lb 10 oz bass on Lake Fork. After a few pictures, I kissed the big boy good bye and released the critter back to the pond to live another day and hopefully grow to double digits.”  Great photo TERRY, but that really looks like one of those singing Bass removed from its plaque?

Speaking of Mr. VOLK, CHUCK BECK and Dr. MOONERS make reports on the Hughie’s Welcoming lunch: “I am pleased to report that the Class of 71 have properly welcomed PHIL and ANNE back to Connecticut. The welcoming ceremony took place at Hughie's on  23 August 2002. The attendees included PHIL and ANNE, BOB ALLING, WALT SHERWIN, PETE BARRETT, PAUL LJUNGGREN, KEN BORDEN, PETE TEBEAU, TOM MAWHINNEY, ROGER GUYAS, BARBARA VANN and me. The VOLKS, BOB, WALT, ROGER, KEN and I were on scene at the appointed 1300 hours with TOM rolling in an hour later.  I even listed both military and civilian time in the announcement just for folks like the Principal of Rhinebeck High School. Apparently his tardiness was due to the fact that he has forgotten anything he may have learned in nautsci about time distance problems. PAUL and PETER T were next to arrive followed by PETER B and then the lovely BARB who was representing CHRIS who could not get out of work.  In typical aviator fashion PHIL "graciously" allowed the rest of us to pick up the tab.  We even talked about his involvement as a "consultant" on an CG contract to give PHIL the opportunity to pick up the tab as a tax write-off.  Actually, we insisted on picking up the tab mainly due to the fuss he made about not be welcomed immediately upon his arrival.  In his defense, he did actually put some money on the table which we told him to take back.  The food at the new Hughie's is as good if not better than at the old.  The decor of the new location is very nice, almost too nice for the bunch of us.  There is close to 2 times the room as well with a bar area and a smoking and non-smoking dining area.  Everybody got to catch up on the gaps between last visits.  Of course much of the conversation evolved around stories that have been told just a few times before.  Dr. MOONERS gets the prize for traveling the longest distance.  He also gets an accolade for bringing a digital camera.  As the last of the group departed around 1630 (that's 4:30 PM for Dr. MOONMOON), there was talk about getting together again.”  The good DOCTOR chimes in: “Because of my advanced degree, the group that convened at Hughies to welcome PHIL and ANNE to Connecticut, appointed me as the event scribe. It could also have been because I was the only one who brought a camera and CAPTAIN BECK ordered me to do it. Can he do that as a civilian to another civilian?  WALT SHERWIN was hobbling.  Apparently, he is a medical wonder.  He just had a hip replacement, to go along with two knees.  WALT did say that he has a special get-out-of-jail-free card when he goes through metal detectors at airports.  This brought up the subject of ROLAND HARRY LOOMIS who had some surgical work done at the end of his CGA career.  I always though LOOMO was the class of 1971 most likely to go psycho, with ACID and BECK a close second and third.  LOOMO is apparently feeling no after effects of that motorcycle accident and is doing something in Tucson.  We traded old CGA stories -- again.  I remembered a few that I thought I had forgotten.  After hearing them, PETE BARRETT reneged on his opinion that I got the shaft in 1971 and proclaimed that I got what I deserved. That brought up the story of JIM SYLVESTER refusing to join the alumni association in protest of my not getting a commission, until he found out that I had been a member since graduation. Sorry, SYLVIE!  I was interested in the fact that PAUL, KEN, and PHIL were all on the MUNRO in Baltimore for their first billet.  I also found out that PHIL was not one of CGA's top scholars and the MUNRO was one of the few options left for him.  He gives CAPTAIN BECK the credit for getting him through the academic program at the academy.  I can't remember who he gave credit to for getting throughout flight school, but again, he needed intensive assistance.  Pete Muth, who I don't even remember being a tactics officer, showed up on PHIL’s doorstep recently.  He has a son stationed at the sub base and ran into someone who knew where PHIL lived.  PHIL reported that Pete was a nice guy as Fox-trot's company officer and allowed them to have free beer their senior year. I don't believe that story for one minute.  Muth lives in Woodstock, which is only a short distance from Rhinebeck, maybe I'll go visit him for a free beer?  I was late, as CHUCK reported, but I underestimated the travel time from Rhinebeck to New London.  It had nothing to do with military time. I do have a complaint about the language you former Coasties use.  You constantly speak in initials, like a normal person is supposed to understand you?  Here is just a short sample from your last class of 71 notes: SITREP, HHG, TAD, PCS, and so on. I have no clue what you are talking about.  Help!”  Help?  Shouldn’t that be SWABO...and not until you pass Military Time 101.

Where’s Waldo...I mean JAY TAYLOR this edition?  “Greetings to all from Marmaris, Turkey.  I have been here on the Turkish Riviera for 6 days and will leave tomorrow for the USA.  Marmaris is a departure location for the "blue voyages" on gulets (Turkish wooden yachts).  I don't think I have ever seen so many wooden yachts in one location.  I sailed around the harbor and nearby islands along the Aegean for a day and then made a day visit to the island of Rhodes, Greece.  The water temp of the Aegean Sea is cool which provides some nice swimming to counter the hot temps during the day.  The quaint village of Dalyan, about 1.5 hours via minibus from Marmaris, has spectacular scenery with opportunity to hike to nearby Kaunos to view Lycian style cliff tombs as well as the ruins of an acropolis, theater, basilica, and defensive walls.  The coastline in this part of Turkey is mountainous with isolated pebble and sand beaches such as those found in Marmaris.  Trips into the mountains via jeeps are available and interesting.  The culture and history of Turkey is unique and intriguing.  The populace is over 95% Moslem but there is no local evidence of traditional clothing as seen in nearby Islamic republics.  The people are all quite amiable and easy going.  As with most of my foreign trips, I have only had a superficial look at one region of a vast country.  I am already planning future trips to other more remote regions of Turkey.”

Have you been thinking about that last minute Christmas present?  Here’s an idea...DOUG KROLL reports on the publication of his biography of the First Commandant: “As you may have seen in the October issue of the Alumni Bulletin, the Naval Institute Press has published my biography of Commodore Ellsworth Bertholf, the First Commandant of the Coast Guard.   It is the first biography of anyone in the Coast Guard (or its predecessor bodies) ever published by a major publisher.  It is available from the Naval Institute Press <http://www.usni.org/webstore/shopexd.asp?id=19516>, as well as through Amazon.com via our class web page, of course!  I currently teach history at College of the Desert in Palm Desert, one of California's community colleges.  On campus, I ran into one of our students who is the son of CDR Woods (CGA Math professor).   I guess it's a small world after all.   You can be assured as I teach American history to my students, they learn about the Revenue Cutter Service and the Coast Guard, and their contributions to our nation's history.”  

DON WETTERS checked in with an update and great photo of son Kyle’s wedding: “Don't see classmates too often except for occasionally bumping into RUSS WILSON...maybe that's why we enjoyed the reunion last year so much.   Busy time for our family as with most.  BRENDA and I seem to still be doing the kid thing, but are looking forward to more time for just us.  August has been an especially busy time.  In one five day period, we enjoyed the wedding of Kyle and Molly.  Molly is a super young lady from the Champaign, IL area.  They met at school and reside near there as Molly completes graduate work at the University of Illinois.  We delivered Nathan back to the University of Illinois where he is a Sophomore majoring in Bio Chemistry.  He is currently using an academic scholarship as an excuse to not work and play baseball instead.  After being red shirted last year he hopes to see some playing time next spring.  You can check up on him at <http://fightingillini.ocsn.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/wetters_nate00.html> and cheer him on.  Finally we delivered Kindra to Eastern Illinois University for her Freshman year.  She will be playing piccolo with the Marching Blue and majoring in education.  So things are a little quiet at home as Noah experiments with being an "only child" and pursues 3 sports - football, wrestling, baseball as a high school Junior.  Would like to hear from anyone passing our way.  Visitors to the Midwest always welcome.”  Thanks for the invite DON...Columbia’s about 10 miles south of St. Louis and you’re in the book, right?

AL GRACEWSKI reports around with a quick update: “No exciting news to pass, which is good.  Still working at Northrop Grumman
Electronic Systems in Baltimore....trying to pay off the house and get the kids thru college.  Jessica is a senior at University of Central Florida, and Nathan is a sophomore at Virginia Tech....both interested in communications, not engineering.  SUZANNE and I are just fine and are stuck around our home since as a new employee one only gets 10 vacation days first year (I suppose I could have negotiated this, but I was so glad somebody wanted to hire me, I just said yes to all the standard terms/conditions!).  I have been in the new saddle for 7 months now and can honestly say I still have a lot to learn.  I am sure you are in the same situation....you leave an organization you know intimately and you know the people in it....then you start in a completely different organization with people you have never met or heard about,  pursuing profit with different procedures and different culture.   I have felt like a LT again.  NGES is a defense company and the group I am in is almost totally Navy business.  Am more of an individual doer than a manager of a group of people like the last 10-15 years in the CG.  So it has been an interesting transition and I am very happy I took the 6 months off between jobs.  No new toys...still have the 35' Bertram I used to come over to your
MACKINAW change of command.  No big cruises this year, just local Chesapeake Bay.  I can't remember if I mentioned that last year we went up to New England and cruised the Islands....Long, Block, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Cuttyhunk.  Looking forward to doing the Bahamas when I finally retire for good or get fired ... whichever comes first!”  AL, you’ll have to ‘splain that “job” word to me!

Reporting around from Curacao... DAVE HENRICKSON: “I'm stuck in Curacao for some remaining months working for the Air Force on a contract and loving it. This place is much more civilized than the last assignment (Albania) and there's much less sniper fire .... the work did, however interrupt our plans to move on board our 44 foot Thompson Trawler "Forever Young" and establish a course generally east southeast from Port Canaveral to places unknown. We've pushed that idea off until next spring although we've had offers to freight the yacht here - would be a great launching point to cruise Central and South America. Kids .... moved out .... the oldest now transitioning from Border Patrol into an undisclosable security position somewhere in the world. He loves it of course, and in the long run will have more potential than crawling around mesquite bushes at midnight. He's married with one new daughter. My youngest flies rear seat in a Marine Corps F-18D ... just returned from a world tour of Al Jaber Air Base and he's happy to be back with the wife and baby. I console myself imagining they're both librarians and idle away their days checking out books in a dusty small town somewhere. Denny Sirois stopped in last month for a quick tour ... he's at JAITF-East these days. It was good to see him.”  DAVE was a little sketchy on the details, but is Site Manager for DynCorp International LLC.  The Court will entertain a motion for more details in a future issue.

WAYNE VERRY adds a few more details on the move to Foley, Alabama: “RITA was offered an early retirement from her DoD job in May, and we jumped on it.  I gave my notice to the senior management at AmeriCorps, we put our townhouse on the market, and by the end of June we were outta there!  We both had very rewarding experiences with our jobs in DC, but we reached the point where we just had enough of the pace, the stress, and the $$$, and we were ready for a change.  So now we're in the town of Foley, AL (pop. about 12K, not counting tourists), which is located in the very deep South - about 5 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, in between Mobile and Pensacola, FL.  Most of RITA’s family is down here, and in fact we're living with her daughter, son-in-law, and our granddaughter while our house is being built.  Time line shows we'll be moving in our new place next spring.  Neither of us have immediate plans for employment.  RITA has several opportunities for consulting work from her former job, and I'm putting out a few feelers here and there, but nothing too serious yet.  Mostly, we're making critical decisions for the house (such as what color the wood should be in the kitchen), enjoying our time with family, and getting adjusted to the much more laid back life style in small town America.  We've traded the Washington Redskins for the Foley High School Lions, and I think we've come out ahead in the deal.”  WAYNE added a quick postscript: “On September 13th, RITA and I flew from LA (that's Lower Alabama for the uninformed) to upstate New York to celebrate my dad's 80th birthday.  We met a fellow traveler hanging around the Atlanta Airport.  CHUCK BECK was returning to CT after attending a save-the-world-bioterrorism course at Anniston, AL.”  As DOUG said, it is a small world!

He was in the photo taken at THADMIRAL’s LANTAREA CofC and now JOHN WALTERS reports around with an update: “Wife: same one that I acquired a week after graduation, JEAN.  Children: 3; 2 boys and a girl.  All three are graduates of Virginia Tech-'96, '99 and '02.  Older son, John, is a Mechanical Engineer, Project Engineer at Bristol Compressors, a subsidiary of York. He has a wonderful wife and 2 great children (classifying JEAN and me as grandparents). He's one course shy of a Masters in M.E. Should have that by December.  Second son, Joe, was a History Major, and is currently a policy representative at USAA here in Norfolk.  Married in May '01 to a great wife, who is currently seeking a graduate degree in Speech Pathology that she should have completed by next spring.  Daughter Emily graduated from Va Tech in May, an Environmental Science major with minors in chemistry and biology. Looks like a wedding within the next year.  We have been in this area since '75.  In '86 we moved to the country and last year began a major renovation of a 1880 farmhouse.  We're nearing completion, maybe another year. We've got 14 acres with the house and have investigated planting a vineyard...still a possibility.  I've been in the D5 AtoN program as a civilian since '85.  In about 2 years I'll be eligible to retire from civil service but the jury is still out whether I'll continue or not. I really enjoyed my assignments to SOUTHWIND and EDISTO and though there were some tough days in arctic seas, I look back on those experiences as one of the best in my life. Trust you enjoyed your tours on breakers, too.”  Me...like icebreakers?  You and GREG COPE have to get together and compare 1800’s farm house renovation stories, maybe start your own PBS series “This Old Farmhouse!”

JIM RIESZ and JOHN HERSH both had unscheduled E-mail address changes and after tracking ‘em down, JOHN provided a HERSH update: “It is hard to begin without commenting on post 9/11 impact.  Living in the Washington, DC area and especially living just down the road from the CIA has meant that many of our friends and neighbors are actively involved in the fight against terrorism.  My children had parents of their school classmates killed in the attack on the Pentagon.  Two of my girls, Emily (17), a junior and Anna (14), a freshman, go to Bishop O’Connell high school which is in Arlington, VA; not all that far from the Pentagon and Washington, DC.  We have developed some family contingency plans if something far more serious occurs in the metro area.  My oldest daughter, Rachel (19), started her sophomore year at The College of William and Mary.  She enjoys living on her own away from home, and is now more appreciative of her dear “old” parents and siblings when she visits.  CAMILLA and I are still trying to hold back the ravages of time by walking and eating reasonably. I still play as much tennis as my knees and elbow permit; after 2 hours on the court I wonder whether I lost more in wear and tear than gained in improved health???  I played JON WALDRON in tennis a few months ago, or maybe I should say that JON gave me a tennis lesson.  He has my vote for class athlete of “latter” years.  We have to work through a lot of issues affecting my wife’s business.  CAMILLA , is an Obstetrician and Gynecologist.  I helped her start her practice when we moved back to Northern Virginia in 1992.  Her business now has 4 doctors and 2 nurse practitioners with all the supporting staff in 2 office locations, Tyson's Corner, VA and Reston, VA.  CAMILLA has an office manager that handles most of the business's needs. I work with the lawyers, accountants and builders in dealing with the corporation (annual reports, corporate taxes, pension plan trustee, expansion planning/construction).  I also have an insurance license and I place some of the business insurance needs. Never a dull moment!  This should be getting easier, but the rules keep changing; it is like running a business were all the costs to the business follow basic capitalistic principles and all the revenue to the business is controlled by socialistic principles.  Eventually the system will not deliver the needed services.  As the years slide by we keep hoping that life will begin to slow down a little, but with 2 teenage high school girls at home, business issues, and assisting with our own parents’ frailties we are still running in “high gear”!!!  I am happy to say that CAMILLA and I have each other to share this fun family adventure together.  We hope to see you at the next reunion.”

RAY COYE also had his E-mail address changed when DePaul recently shortened email addresses. “I incorrectly assumed that I didn't need to do anything about it.  Hope all is well with you.  We had a very busy visit to Vancouver in late July.   Travis and Linda had a second "wedding" ceremony in order that the U.S. and Canadian contingent could participate.  They were married in South Africa in Dec. but only PATRICIA and I were able to attend.  We had beautiful weather for the outdoor ceremony and had a great day all around.”

JULIE MARSH reports that she and GORDON survived Isadore’s assault on New Orleans. “We were very lucky with Isadore.  We had minor street flooding last Wednesday, starting at about 4:00 PM alternating with high winds.  That lasted until about 1:00 am. Gordon has plywood for all of our front large windows and doors.  We only used it on the front and side doors. The boat is also fine.  The water level in the lake rose to over the main pier, but Gordon had the boat tied up just right.  Actually only two boats were lost at our marina.  Now we are bracing up for Lili, so we’re battening down the hatches again.”  The season’s almost over...looks like you guys dodged a bullet!

J.B.’s got another one of those new “job” things!  “I thought I'd just drop a short line to let you know I'm changing jobs,
again.  For those of you that I need to 'catch up', here's the short version: Jan 2001--Retired from Coast Guard; Jan-Sep 2001--Worked as VP of QA at CENTECH GROUP.  Attained ISO 9000 certification for manufacturing plant in 6 months; Oct 2001--Job Hunting and Vacationing in Canada; Nov 2001--Returned to Active Duty for a 90 day assignment in Yemen.  Built a
strategic plan that will guide them as they develop a Yemeni Coast Guard; Mar 2002--Started a GS job in training at the new Transportation Security Administration.  Hired a bunch of talented people and produced several major training packages in short order for Passenger and Baggage Screeners and their supervisors; Oct 2002--Selected for a 'lateral' to Deputy Director, National Conservation Training Center.  I have enjoyed all the jobs and especially the people I have worked with, but all of them have required me to either be 8000 miles from home or commute 200 miles per day to work.  The commute is getting old after doing it for 6 years.  The new NCTC position is literally two miles upriver on the Potomac from our West Virginia home.  I'm looking forward to the new commute AND the new challenges.  The Fish and Wildlife Service runs the National Wildlife Refuges (over 500 of them) and manage the Endangered Species Act among other things.  The NCTC is their primary training center.  I'll be wrapping up some projects I've been doing for TSA, and I start work at NCTC on 21 October.  I don't have my new email or phone number yet,  but more details on NCTC are available at <http://training.fws.gov/>.”

BRAD TROTH reports around on sighting a couple more of the “Those Who Have Gone Before” guys:  “Found some old classmates the other day; MATT HAAGA and CECIL WILLIAMS.  Can't believe I now work in a law firm as Business Manager for 6 attorney firm in Kodiak.  Truly enjoy bossing lawyers around.  If the Exxon case ever settles I will be out of a job again since our senior partner was lead attorney on the Exxon suit.”  The Court will subpoena HAAGA and WILLIAMS updates ... and while it waits for reports on other MIA Classmates, we’re adjourned!