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 November 2024
Greetings everybody,
I hope everyone had a great summer and this
finds you safe and well. This production of the Aerograph was a fun one. It was
kind of like putting a jigsaw puzzle together and for you dissectologists, you
know the feeling of putting that last piece in place!
As you will see, the variety of member contributions
for this issue is awesome! And I am thrilled to introduce a new section titled ‘At Large Member News’ as presented by NWSA member Dennis Ruth. Not only did Dennis
send me a wonderful introduction, he contributed the very first article. You
will find both immediately after ‘Chapter
News’.
I’d like to thank all contributors for making
this edition of the Aerograph a publication all our shipmates can enjoy and
take pride in. Well done!
Smitty
Thursday, 25 January 2025, is the cut-off date for the February 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 ASAP)
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In lighter vein: © Jeff Bacon 2017
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Sitting here writing this, I can’t help but think of how quickly the year has passed and about the uncertainty of things to come. Election drama and chaos, natural disasters, cultural upheaval, you name it. It seems rare anymore when a day passes without something on the 5 O’clock news not leaving one speechless or shaking their head in disbelief. Perhaps that’s why I watch much less news these days. And that’s not a bad thing I guess because my blood pressure is down and Harumi tells me she has a feeling of Feng Shui, whatever that is. With that being said, it is my desire to close this issue with positive vibes because the good Lord knows, we can always use something to lift our spirits and make us smile. In November of 1978 I transferred from the USS Midway (CV-41) to NAFD Atsugi, Japan. Shortly thereafter, in the summer of 1979, the Australian group Little
River Band came out with an AFRTS Casey Kasem chart topper called Cool Change. As
a young AG, duty onboard the Midway was challenging, at times frustrating and
lonely, never boring, and often times rewarding as it set the course for my
Navy career. I can still remember times of incredible camaraderie with my
shipmates during periods of intense flight operations at sea. And then, as if
somebody flipped a switch, moments of solitude and breath taking beauty while
sitting out on the catwalk in the darkest of nights, watching moonbeams dance
upon the ocean’s surface and listening to the ship gracefully slip through the
water. And to this day, I can’t help but think of those times whenever I hear
that song.
Now, in the season of life where I probably do more looking
back than forward, I grow more appreciative every day for the many blessings
God has given me. Wonderful parents, family and friends, a meaningful career,
worldwide travel, music, laughter, love, and so much more that if I were to
list them all, it would make this edition much longer to the chagrin of our
shipmate Tom Miovas, who certainly does Yeoman work in the printing and mailing
of the Aerograph.
So in closing, I’d like to wish you and yours a wonderful
Thanksgiving and beautiful Christmas. And may joy and peace fill all of our
hearts and homes through the holiday season and coming year. Take care and I
hope to see many of you at Reunion 48.
Smitty
P.S. I hope you enjoy the song:
Cool Change LYRICS by
Little River Band ♪
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Sitting here writing this, I can’t help
but think of how quickly the year has passed and about the uncertainty of
things to come. Election drama and chaos, natural disasters, cultural upheaval,
you name it. It seems rare anymore when a day passes without something on the 5
O’clock news not leaving one speechless or shaking their head in disbelief.
Perhaps that’s why I watch much less news these days. And that’s not a bad
thing I guess because my blood pressure is down and Harumi tells me she has a
feeling of Feng Shui, whatever that is. With that being said, it is my desire to
close this issue with positive vibes because the good Lord knows, we can always
use something to lift our spirits and make us smile.
In
November of 1978 I transferred from the USS Midway (CV-41) to NAFD Atsugi,
Japan. Shortly thereafter, in the
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Source: Aerograph August 2024
Greetings everybody,
As the lazy dog days of summer make their
annual trek towards autumn, I hope this finds you and your families safe and
well!
Our summer has been blessed by times spent with
family. There is much I could write about our adventures but will limit it to an
event that occurred on Independence Day during the celebration of our nation’s
248th birthday. Son Brian and family came out from El Paso, TX, to
join us for the festivities and take a reprieve from the desert heat. Once
again my attempts to get tickets to view the fireworks from the flight deck of
the USS Midway Museum were dashed. It’s unbelievable how fast those suckers get
sold out! While searching for an
alternate venue I came upon information about the first annual Freedom Fest VIP
Experience held at Naval Base Point Loma, Harbor Drive Annex. Initially I had
some reservations because the ticket prices were steep and you had to pay for
parking to boot! After giving it a
little thought though, I said “what the heck, let’s go for it!” After all, something that’s a first time
event with VIP EXPERIENCE in the
headline can’t be that much of a gamble. The cost included reserved seating in
a beautiful outdoor covered patio area with a spectacular view of San Diego Bay
and city skyline, delicious catered meals for lunch and dinner, a variety of
veggie trays, fresh fruit and deserts, unlimited water, tea, juice and sodas at
no cost, and adult beverages of choice for a reasonable price. And if all that
wasn’t enough, they rolled out soft serve ice cream and S’mores in the
evening! It truly was a gluttonous
affair if ever there was one, ha! And
did I mention the fireworks? Well, this will
be a little challenging to describe if you’ve never been to San Diego, but I
have a feeling many of you have. So
imagine sitting outside in the cool of the evening and gazing down the bay as countless small
boats, and not so small yachts, glide easily through the water. The colorful
lights of the city sparkle in the distance as do the lights of Harbor and Shelter Islands, the Coronado Bay Bridge and
NAS North Island. And amidst that beautiful setting, fireworks from four barges
around the bay go off promptly at 9:00pm, lasting for a glorious 20 to 25
minutes before ending in a round of enthusiastic patriotic applause! Yes the day
was long, and by the time we arrived home late that evening we were totally
wiped out. But we were happy and thoroughly content because once again, the Navy did it right!
To echo what President Ed mentioned regarding Reunion #48, it will be
held May 5-9 in lovely Gulfport, MS, so please save the dates! Bob & FJ tell me the preliminary schedule
of events includes tours of NASA Stennis Space Center and Keesler AFB, home of
the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron “Hurricane Hunters”. Complete Reunion
details will be published in the November Aerograph.
Smitty
Thursday, 24 October 2024, is the cut-off date for the November 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 ASAP)
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| In Lighter Vein: (c) Jeff Bacon 2024 |
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EDITOR’S CLOSING THOUGHTS
Sadly, Secretary/Treasurer Tom Miovas’ assessment about our
world being in turmoil cannot be denied. Hence my reason to close this issue
with a little levity and a couple of ridiculously cute pictures of kids being
kids, that for some reason, made me think of the old Art Linkletter show from
years ago that included a segment called “Kids Say the Darndest Things”.
Art Linkletter's Kids Say
The Darndest Things (youtube.com)
A Wee Bit of Irish Humor
Paddy is doing some roofing
for Murphy.
He nears the top of the
ladder and starts shaking and going dizzy.
He calls down to Murphy and says, “I think I
will ave to go home. I’ve gone all giddy and I feel sick.
Murphy asks “Ave you got
vertigo Paddy?”
Paddy replies “No, I only live round the corner.”
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Kids enjoy a day of fishing at Convict Lake in the Eastern Sierras of California.
Until next time, may the grace, peace and love of God be with us all. Take good care everybody and stay safe.
Smitty
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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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