As always, Ihopethis finds youand yourloved onessafe anddoing well, especially duringthesedifficultand challenging times.Undoubtedly, the speed at which events havechanged life as we know it,not only here in America,butall around the world,has beenliterallybreathtakingandwill no doubt lead to much discussion atreunion #46.
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Source: Aerograph May 2024
Greetings and happy spring everyone,
A potpourri of fine articles awaits you in this edition of the Aerograph. Among them is the biography of LCDR John Dungan Jr., USN (Ret), the first Chief Aerographer of the United States Navy. It was provided by his grandson, AWCM John David Dungan Jr., USN (Ret), and wonderfully complements the painstaking research and write up done years ago by AGCS Enrique Acosta Gonzalez, USN (Ret). Needless to say, the biography, historical documents, and pictures donated by John are an invaluable contribution to the history of the Naval Weather Service. Thank you Master Chief!
And on this issue’s back cover, there is a great picture of USS Iowa (BB-61) firing her guns with a link discussing the ship’s displacement, or lack thereof; as well as a link to an old classic training video about the structure and operation of a battleship’s gun turret. I’m guessing a few 2 memories will be stirred by those who served onboard those amazing ships.
Smitty
Thursday, 25 July 2024, is the cut-off date for the August issue of The Aerograph E-Mail Steve at sumisus@mac.com USPS Address: AG1 Steven Smith, USN (Ret) 750 Avenida De La Barca Chula Vista, CA 91910 (571) 278-5259 (If I don’t answer, please leave a message and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.)
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In lighter vein: © Jeff Bacon 2020
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EDITOR’S CLOSING THOUGHTS
It
just so happens that this issue of the Aerograph has weather articles regarding
typhoons. Perhaps not a bad thing since hurricane season is right around the
corner. And although it wasn’t on my radar, no pun intended, it allows me to
effortlessly segue into the “climate change” fiasco. A topic that has a lot of
people worked up, some to the point of violence and others towards making
unnecessary laws. No doubt climate variability is real, and we
know that it changes from year to year, decade to decade, century to century.
It always has, and always will. But, is it really the existential threat to
mankind that the elitists and a growing number of government leaders worldwide
tell us it is? I guess what frustrates
me about the whole climate debate is the untruthfulness of those with an agenda
that have driven a wedge between people to the point where it can’t even be
discussed in a civil and reasonable manner.
Like so many things in our world today, it has been politicized to the point
of insanity. Thankfully however, like an anchor in a storm, the never changing
truthfulness of God’s word remains. In fact, the promise of climate’s fate was
written about long ago in Genesis 8:22:
“As long as the earth
endures, seedtime and harvest; cold and heat; summer and winter; day and night;
will never cease.”
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And in those words, unlike the destabilizing divisive rhetoric of man, I find peace and stability for my soul, and hope you do also. So until next time dear friends, take good care of yourselves and the ones you love.
Smitty
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Source: Aerograph February 2024
Greetings everybody,
I hope you and your loved ones had a beautiful holiday
season and are off to a great start in the New Year! Harumi and I spent a fantastic Christmas with
our son Brian, daughter in law Rosemary, and eight year old grandson Noah in El
Paso, TX. We had a lot of fun with Noah
playing many games of Uno, getting in some catch, and taking nice walks. We
enjoyed a plethora of good meals and conversation courtesy of Brian, Rosemary,
and the Texas Roadhouse, ha! I also managed to get in some long morning walks
with Brian to a couple of coffee shops, making for some good ole father and son bonding. One of the highlights of our visit however,
had to be the night we all hopped in the car and drove through the “Magic of
Lights” holiday show, especially when we got to the “Twelve Days of Christmas”
section where difficulty in remembering lyrics resulted in more laughing than
singing. It was a blast!
Have a wonderful transition into spring and I wish you all the best of
health and happiness in 2024!
Smitty
Wednesday,
24 April 2024, is the cut-off date for the May issue of The
Aerograph
E-Mail Steve at sumisus@mac.com
USPS Address: AG1 Steven Smith, USN (Ret)
750 Avenida De La Barca
Chula Vista, CA 91910
(571) 278-5259 (If I don’t answer, please leave
a message and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.)
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In lighter vein: © Jeff Bacon 2011
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Source: Aerograph November 2023
Greetings
everybody,
Ah, autumn….my
favorite season. I love its gentleness as lengthening shadows cast a softer
light, temperatures begin to fall, and trees make their glorious transition
from a wardrobe of green to a festive multicolor display. It is a time when all creation seems to slow
down in advance of winter’s solitude. But thereby I digress. Unlike other parts
of the country, our summer was relatively short and rather mild. And on August
20th during what is typically one of our driest months, we logged
2.50 inches of rain in our backyard gauge (1.84 inches at San Diego
International) courtesy of remnants from Tropical Storm Hilary. In light of
last year’s unseasonably cold (for San Diego) and wetter than average winter
that caught the local experts by surprise during a La Nina year, I am curious
to see what this winter brings, especially under the influence of a
strengthening El Nino. Ah, weather….I
still love its beauty and times of fickleness that have a way of keeping this
retired sailor, humble and amazed.
Being editor certainly has its perks, none more
gratifying than the wonderful inputs I receive from members who assist me in
filling its pages. This issue continues that tradition with a fantastic variety
of interesting and entertaining articles.
Among them, just to name a few, is a totally unexpected biography
featuring AGC W.S. McFarland, USN (Ret). Chief McFarland joined the Navy in
1934 and was an “A” School classmate of Don Cruse in 1940. For those who love the call of nature, there
is an epic story of family, fishing, and the great outdoors! And for you history buffs, you’ll take a
moving journey to the depths of the Pacific, revealing the fate of American and
Japanese aircraft carriers and their crews lost during WWII in the Battle of
Midway.
Have a great November everybody and as always, my
heartfelt thanks to ALL contributors!
Smitty
Thursday,
25 January 2024, is the cut-off date for the February issue of The Aerograph
E-Mail Steve at aerograph@navalweather.org
USPS Address: AG1
Steven Smith, USN (Ret)
750 Avenida De La
Barca
Chula Vista, CA
91910
(571) 278-5259
(If I don’t answer, please leave a message and I’ll get back to you as soon as
I can.)
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| In Lighter Vein: © Bacon 2020 Broadside.net |
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Source: Aerograph August 2023
Greetings
everybody,
Well, the dog
days of summer are certainly upon us.
For many it’s the season of highly anticipated vacations and outdoor
recreation; eating slices of cold sweet watermelon out on the front porch;
watching fireflies light up the evening sky; heading to the beach to cool off;
or firing up the grill for a classic American BBQ. Whatever summer means to you, I hope this
finds you having a safe and enjoyable one as we make the transition into the
shorter days and cooler temperatures of fall.
Recently, LCDR
Mike Gilroy, USN (Ret), and I, joined a few shipmates for lunch and friendly
banter over at Liberty Station, located on the grounds of the old Naval
Training Center. Mike volunteered to do the following little write-up, and I am
much obliged.
“We had a small gathering of former shipmates in San
Diego in July. So fun to reconnect and spend a little time together. Some of these relationships go back to the
70's. Mike Gilroy last saw Jim Vann on
USNS Chauvenet in 1983. Jim checked in for a Midshipmen summer cruise and
Mike was XO of OCUNIT 4. Lots of good
memories were shared and we all hope for getting together again soon.”
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Pictured (L-R)
AG1 Steve
"Smitty" Smith, LCDR Mike Gilroy, LCDR Jim Vann, LCDR Denny
Ruth, LT Tony Parker.
(Photo credit: Tara Ruth)
It never gets
old to rekindle old friendships and share sea stories. Jim was my DIVO aboard
the USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3) in the early 90’s, and I served with Tony at NOCF
North Island in the mid/late 80’s. I
have come to know Mike since returning to San Diego in 2021 and met Denny and
his lovely wife Tara on our Reunion #47 cruise.
Simply put, it was an outstanding day that I will treasure for years to
come with the hopes of getting together again sooner than later.
Have a wonderful end to your summer everybody and thanks
to all who contributed to this edition!
Smitty
Wednesday,
25 October 2023, is the cut-off date for the November issue of The Aerograph
E-Mail Steve at aerograph@navalweather.org
USPS Address: AG1
Steven Smith, USN (Ret)
750 Avenida De La
Barca
Chula Vista, CA
91910
(571) 278-5259
(If I don’t answer, please leave a message and I’ll get back to you as soon as
I can.)
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In lighter vein: © Jeff Bacon 2022
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