The Alumni Board of Directors made an excellent decision and held a traveling Board meeting in Seattle the end of July.  As always in Seattle, weather was perfect, mountains were spectacular, hospitality exceptional ... oops, I mean it rained constantly and no one really wants to live here.  More in the October edition.  But before we start, when did you have your last physical exam and PSA test?  It’s important...don’t put it off!  The Court will take a short recess while you schedule an appointment.

The Court will come to order.  WAYNE and RITA VERRY went to Kentucky for Memorial Day weekend and the baptism of Dominic Scott Verry.  Complying with the previous Court order, WAYNE provided and update and photo of the new grandson.  “Dominic Scott Verry was born on St. Patrick’s Day.  And yes, everything that anyone ever said about the joy of a new grand baby is true.  So here’s the duty bragging photo, and a few details about our family.  David (Dominic’s Dad) is the construction manager for the Lexington Habitat for Humanity, and Mom Laurie is a counselor/therapist at a center for foster children. They’re making all the necessary adjustments to their lives that two brand new parents with full time jobs must do, which means they’re not getting much sleep right now.  Our son Jeff and his wife Teresa also traveled to Lexington for Dominic’s baptism from their home in Spring Lake, MI, where Jeff works for a computer software company, and Teresa is studying to be a nurse.  And finishing out the “Verry” side of our family, son Christopher is a music teacher at a school in Philadelphia.  His partner Polly is employed by the city as a social worker, and helping foster children.  We also have two children on RITA’s side of our blended family.  Our daughter Terry lives right down the street from us here in Foley, AL, along with husband Roddy and our 10 year old granddaughter Natalie.  Terry works for the Chamber of Commerce, and Roddy is a computer engineer for the local phone company.  And our son, Sonny, is a high school band director outside of Atlanta.  His lady-friend Emily also teaches music.  The only real problem we have with our kids is that too many of them are too far away, and we just don’t see them often enough.  But RITA and I are always looking for a chance to travel or have visitors, even though our lives have become very busy.  Our contractual work with the Navy continues to grow, and we’re busy volunteering at Habit for Humanity and church, maintaining our house & yard, and playing with the dog and cat.  Overall, life is very good here in the Deep South.  And if anyone is ever in the neighborhood (that means somewhere near the Gulf of Mexico), please stop in!”

Doug Kroll's recently published biography of Commodore Ellsworth Bertholf (Naval Institute Press) has been selected as "The Best Book on Coast Guard History" by the Foundation for Coast Guard History.   The Foundation is headquartered at the Coast Guard Museum in Seattle.  Doug, an Assistant Professor of History at College of the Desert in Palm Desert, CA has also been selected to present a paper at the Pacific Coast Branch of the American Historical Association Meeting in San Jose, CA this August.   His topic will be "The Russian-American 'Love Fest' of Civil War San Francisco."

CHARLES SIBRE updated his address and added a short update: “Daughter Kelly is now 1 week from finishing the first year of medical school, has done well and has loved it.  For summer employment, she'll be in Boston as a counselor for a 7 week National Youth Leadership Forum program for high-achieving high school juniors/seniors focused on medicine.  She did this last summer in Washington DC and loved it.  It will be a great way for her to see the Boston area.  Kelly is now 1 week from finishing the first year, has done well and has loved it.  For summer employment, she'll be in Boston as a counselor for a 7 week National Youth Leadership Forum program for high-achieving high school juniors/seniors focused on medicine.  She did this last summer in Washington DC and loved it.  It will be a great way for her to see the Boston area.  My mother has recently decided to move into a retirement home.  She's lived in the home I grew up in for 54+ years, and this will be only the fourth move in her 87+ years, all within 10 miles of each other.  How's that for stability!”

THADMIRAL ALLEN got an E-mail from the 1st District Chief of Stuff, relating a note received from Mr. John Cragin who just renewed his license at REC Boston.  It seems Mr. Cragin qualified a 1/c Cadet THAD ALLEN as underway OOD on CASTLEROCK in August 1970 along with shipmates SYLVESTER, EIDE, and SGANGA.  He further reported that all stood their own underway OOD watches, ALONE and WITHOUT SUPERVISION present.  And, he states, "By the way, ALLEN, and the above individuals were EXCEEDINGLY PROFICIENT...but, were they full of the devil."  Exceedingly proficient?  Certainly full of the devil...CHUCK BECK embellishes: “The connection to Jack Cragin is way cool. I wonder if he remembers WIMP doing push-up for him; that is that WIMP was sounding off over the 1 MC pretending to do the push-ups until Jack's face appeared in the porthole of the Balloon shelter! As a matter of fact, SLY, MOONERS, PETE BARRETT, ACID, CHRIS VANN, PHIL VOLK and I were together for a dinner last week. Met on PETE’s boat in Westbrook, had cocktails accompanied with sea stories, then dinner at a local establishment. The CASTLEROCK stories were recounted for the listening pleasure of LCDR Jay Vann (CHRIS' son) who was to make a presentation to you and the flag corps the next day in Newport.  We loaded Jay up with stories about the CG Chief of Staff and then challenged him (”not a hair on your a..” verbiage) to work some of the information into his presentation to you and the other stars.  We gave him our business cards as his "get of of jail free" passes.”  Wonder if Jay’s out of jail yet?

MIKE CONWAY stumbled into KEN COFFLAND at the Anchorage airport.  KEN still lives in Fairbanks.  He was on his way to Sitka to visit his girls and grandbaby.  They had a great (but short) visit while they waited for flights.  KEN gave MIKE a new email address, with apologies for dropping out of contact.  But he’s still out of contact...KEN answer your E-mails!

Your Class Fund Donation Committee, PAT WIESE, RON FRAZIER and KELLY CALLISON have met on several occasions to look at projects that the class could fund at the Academy.  All of you on our Classmates distribution list should have received a lengthy E-mail detailing the proposals for our Class Fund.  If you didn’t get it let me know and I’ll forward another copy.  But in a follow-up E-mail KELLY passed on a major CALLISON update:  “I would like to say that I was recently married (December 5th 2003) to STACEY Ganes now STACEY CALLISON in a very small ceremony in Alexandria Virginia.  We are living in Arlington, Virginia.  My oldest son Daniel is a salesman for Verizon Wireless.  My youngest son is a senior at Bishop O'Connell High School in Falls Church, Virginia.  He is a roller coaster aficionado.  He hopes to design and build them in the future.  A parent's dream - has to take engineering, science, etc.  Check out his web site at www.pkdplace.com.  CHARLIE ALLEN recently visited while back in DC for a conference put on by
the Department of Homeland Security.  CHARLIE has taken his skills in digital photography and applied them to a number of very interesting technologies that the Department is interested in.”  CONGRATULATIONS KELLY...and thanks for the great photo of the happy newlyweds!

CHARLIE WURSTER sent in a big Thank You!  “Hey!  I was just going through my emails and realized I hadn't "reported back" about RON SILVA’s retirement send off at the spring Flag Conference.  My humble apologies, esteemed classmates!  With the football helmet and jersey (with RON’s number 67) provided by JIM, a couple of stories from CHUCK and some photos from BEV and RON’s staff, I was able to give RON a pretty good send off.  I even got him up in the front of the room and he put on the jersey and helmet.  I gave him a couple of knocks on his helmeted noggin, told the stories, and showed the photos--which my public affairs Chief had put to music.  RON really seemed to enjoy the evening.  All thanks to you guys providing something to work with.  CHUCK’s story about speeding away from a bar fight in Mobile brought an admonition from THADMIRAL--that RON should have consulted THAD on such matters, given THAD’S knowledge of such things!  So, thanks again for helping make RON’s send-off memorable for him.  As for GEORGE ANN and I, we are having a blast living in Hawaii.  Come and visit if you can.  Only one year left on our normal tour length; so don't delay your plans too long.”  CHUCK BECK passed on a story?  “Several of us (RON, KEN, CHARLIE PIKE, BOB GONOR and yours truly as I remember) were together on the Air Force Academy exchange during our 2nd Class Summer. We traveled the country with the Zoomies 1st and 2nd Class Cadets instead of going to Mobile.  We had to attend all of the indoctrination classes with their 3rd Class Cadets but had the privileges of the Firsties.  One memorable event took place in Riverside, CA.  We had spent the day or so at Norton AFB.  The First Class Zoomies "appropriated" a government car and took several of us to a local "club".  While sipping a beer and viewing the "talent", a fight broke out among some of the other (believe it or not, not us) patrons. We all decided to leave and were graciously bid adieu by the doorman (re: bouncer).  As we drove away, the look on the doorman's face was priceless when he read the "For Official Use Only " statement on the door of the dark blue sedan with government plates.  Ah yes, the makings of an Admiral!  The Montville Monster has done good!”

The Ol’ SEADOG reported around with an update: “Just wanted to report in from East Tennessee, where life is beautiful.  MELODY and I are now officially "empty nesters", and we love it.  We continue to enjoy living in the Knoxville area (actually, Halls Crossroads),
where the people and the natural beauty are fantastic.  Great boating, great fishing, and the Tennessee Vols!  I am staying very busy with my environmental, health & safety consulting company, but not too busy to become an avid hockey fan.  Growing up in Southern California, I didn't even know that ice hockey existed, but all of that has changed.  Take a look at the picture and you will see why.  My grandson, Levi Armstrong, has just finished a truly stellar season skating for the Champaign Chiefs, a traveling team based in Illinois.  He is phenomenal.  If anyone wants to know more about Levi, including his stats (hint:  several hat tricks) just block off a couple of hours on your schedule and give me a call.  Believe me, I can fill you in!  Or just stop by and see me.  Our welcome mat is out, and we can grill some ribs out on the deck while we watch the grass grow.”  

NORM, great photo...but you’re not the only Classmate with a hockey progeny.  CHUCK BECK reported a great Father’s Day present: “The student-athletes on the University of Connecticut women’s ice hockey team have proved their abilities in the classroom, as an impressive 15 members have been named to the Women’s Hockey East All-Academic team. The Huskies fill more spots on the 62-member team than any other school in the league.  To qualify for the team, an individual must achieve a grade point average of at least 3.0 in each of the two academic periods during which she was actively competing. Eight of the 15 UConn student-athletes named to the team are repeat honorees from the 2002-03 season.  Among the Huskies’ ranks is junior defenseman Lisa Beck (Tolland, CT), who achieved a perfect 4.0 over the course of the season. With that achievement, Beck shares the honor of Top Scholar-Athlete with Allison Edgar from the University of New Hampshire. Beck has also been named as one of two defensemen on the Women’s Hockey East Academic All-Star Team.”  CONGRATULATIONS LISA!

Received a short note from NICK BURAKOW.  “I have been heartened and amazed by all of the support I have received from my former CGA classmates.  It has been a help to realize that there are so many acquaintances from the past, despite the many years that have gone by, who have been ready to offer their sympathy in such a time of grief.  My wife, DIANE, son, Michael, and I are still struggling to cope with the loss of Sasha.  Unfortunately, even with the passage of time, it doesn’t seem to get much easier.  Thank you for your offer to add me to “Those who have gone before” at the class email site—by all means please do so.  I enjoyed reading through the class notes and, thereby, reminiscing about my three years at the Academy.  Finally, if you ever have plans to travel to the DC area, please let me know.  I would enjoy the opportunity to see you and introduce you to my family.”

CONGRATULATIONS to KIM WILLIS.  J.B. passes the word: “It's official.   My wife KAREN (aka KIM) has officially completed her doctorate as of 31 May 2004 in Organizational Leadership.  On 19 June, her Dad and I will escort the new Doctor to south Florida for the graduation ceremony.   This has been a challenging and exciting journey for a woman who has spent most of her life in the arts, with a BS in Music and an MS in Theatre.   But as you can see, she was up to the task and even finished with a 4.0 average (straight A's).  Along the way, for her dissertation, she evaluated the Leadership program of the Fish and Wildlife Service, establishing and validating a Return on Investment of 302%.   She now knows more about the theory and practice of leadership than anyone I know.”

More CONGRATULATIONS are in order for RON and BEV SILVA.  CHARLIE told us about the Roast at the Flag Conference.  RON tells us about his Change of Command and Retirement: “The ceremony was very nice with VADM Jim Hull presiding for the C of C and ADM Collins presiding other the Retirement.  Lots of your fans and old friends were present.  I was very proud as BEV was awarded the Swivel Shot Award for her many years of support to the Coast Guard family.  I had the opportunity to recognize many folks who did great Coast Guard service on the Great Lakes.  The Retirement Ceremony was great and complimented by many.  It concluded with a flag poem that weaves wonderful words about patriotism and our US flag with a few snippets from my career.  That was followed by the singing of "God Bless the USA".  There were lots of tears by this time.  Here's the lineup for the pictures:  PAUL BARLOW from Cleveland, OH area; JOHN WALTERS from Portsmouth, VA area; RAY COYE from Chicago , IL area; Yours Truly; LARRY HOWELL from Concord, OH; Steve ST Pierre from Cleveland, OH area; and TOM MARHEVKO from Chicago, IL area.  Missing from the photo was THADMIRAL ALLEN who attended the Ceremony but had to leave the reception early to fly back to the DC area on the Commandant's plane ... the weather dictated an early departure.  I'll be starting work in July for an Engineering and Construction firm called Washington Group International.  I'll be the Business Group Vice President for Harbors, Ports and Maritime Interdiction.  My first assignment will be leading a team of contractors to develop and improve Coast Guard-like capabilities in the Caspian Sea region.  Right now, BEV and I are busy unpacking boxes and setting up our home in Arlington, VA.  I'm very glad that we kept it when we transferred to Cleveland as values have continued to rise.”  BEV added a little more: “The Retirement was spectacular-we are up to our necks with boxes here in Arlington.  We heard THADMIRAL and Commandant thought it was one of the best retirements ever.  RON received the CG Distinguished Service Medal, and can you believe it, I received the Swivel Shot Award.  I’m not one for receiving awards, but that was a real joy.”

Did you make that physical appointment yet?  Don’t forget to add in an eye exam.  Couple months ago I started to notice a real decrease in the vision in my right eye.  Went in for an exam on the 28th of May and the optometrist said I had a hole in my retina.  The retinal surgeon had good news...I didn't have a hole in my retina.  However, I did need a Vitrectomy as my vision problem was caused by some retinal separation and scarring.  The surgeon would peel away the scar tissue, he’d laser zap an old detachment found during my retirement physical, and also throw in a intraocular lens implant...basically cataract surgery on the right eye.  He said one of the ultimate results of this kind of retinal surgery is cataract development, so he’d swap out my own lens for the implant to eliminate a future surgery.  Very good news, a 90+% chance for improved vision and will definitely stabilize the eye so I shouldn’t have problems in the future.  Quick report...very successful surgery.  Took about an hour and a very interesting procedure as you’re awake and can actually watch the little instruments work inside the eye.  Fascinating to watch as long as you didn’t think to much about what you were watching and where the action was taking place!  The surgeon was very pleased with the results in the post surgery exam the next day, although my vision was still very blurry.  The retina was still swollen and aggravated, but the surgeon said my vision would steadily improve.  Fingers crossed that by the time you read this, I’ll be able to read it as well.  Make those appointments...we’re adjourned!