Source: Aerograph February 2026
NWSA
President’s Report #3 (22 JAN 2026)
Greetings Shipmates,
Tuesday
night I got a call from Cap Casperson asking if I had a brother Tom. Well yes I do, but he’s out in the left
coast. Someone using his name, instead
of mine was trying to scam NWSA out of $876.00.
Turns out all the officers had received the same message, and thanks to
the diligence of Mike Gilroy, and all who received the email, we were
saved. I thank you for your awareness in
this matter. As Smitty said in the email
he sent out, we would never ask for money in the way that they did.
Back to my brother Tom, he’s the one who I refer to when I say, “My
mother may have raised a fool, but that’s my brother. He married a vegetarian and can’t even cook
bacon in his own house!” Six years ago
they came to the southeast scouting for a possible place to escape the high
taxes and cost of living in California. I took him aside and told him his wife
would have to become carnivorous if they move here, because by law you have to
eat bacon twice a week in the Carolinas and Georgia.
Patty has
been right on top of things for our next reunion. Things are looking like it will be fairly
well attended, but we could always have more.
I’ve called a number of folks in the east coast and some have excellent
excuses, mostly health related, but some just won’t attend reunions.
Item for discussion
at the reunion: Membership
Application - The wording in the application says: Naval Weather Service, its branches or
detachments, ashore or afloat. I met up
with an active duty AGC last month, from the more recent naming of the Mobile
Environmental Team Norfolk, and he said he knew nothing of the organization,
plus he asked what Naval Weather Service was because he’d never heard of
it. I went through the history of the AG
Rating from the 60’s to the present, and I gave him an application, with Cap
Casperson’s contact information. Told
him he could duplicate it for others.
I propose
that we change the wording in the application to say: “Naval Weather Service,
Director, Naval Oceanography and Meteorology, Commander, Naval Oceanography
Command, and Commander Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command (METOC), etc.”
with the dates of establishment. (Smitty has researched those, which were much
more accurate than my memory.)
Basis: I do remember
in the 1980’s reading that it was proposed to admit for membership those who
were in succeeding commands, (at the time Naval Oceanography Command), and it
will give prospective active duty members a bit of history to refer to. I still plan on trying to visit FWC Norfolk
to try to give the CO and CMC some background and gain their checks and
membership application plus support for membership through their command. I may be swimming upstream, but I’ll give it
a try.
2027
Reunion: Charleston, SC. “The Holy
City” I’ve talked with four hotels, and
in the near future visit two more for quotes and included items, such as meeting
room, breakfast and parking. The ones
downtown are a bit pricier and parking is at a premium. Carrier Yorktown and the Patriot’s Point are
happy to cooperate and will try to get complete tours. One thing I will try to arrange is the CSS
Hunley conservation lab, which is normally open only on weekends, to open up
for a week-day. There are a few
historical and social items which I am investigating, including the Fort Sumter
Tour. If you are wanting to have a golf
tournament, let me know and I can try to arrange that, even though I have no
idea how to run a golf tournament. (Last
time I played was in 1973. Then some low
life stole my clubs from my father’s garage when I was on the USS MIDWAY.)
In the necrology
department, I was surprised to have received two spousal deaths, one from
nearly 10 years ago who I remember from my days at NOCF Cubi Point, circa
1986-87. If you look over the Bellinger
List, and see any names that you have known from the past, and are in their
80’s, 90’s or over 100, drop a dime on them or write them a letter, send a
card. If it comes back, let us
know. We would add to the necrology
list.
In
closing, if you’re coming to the 2026 Reunion afloat, I’m looking forward to
seeing you, if not I can understand if you have health, family commitments or
financial limitations. But encourage
those you know to attend. It may be a
last time to see those who you remember. I think back to the Reunion in
Savannah in 2021. That was the last
Reunion for Bruce Glaes, I only saw him once after that.
Tim
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Source: Aerograph November 2025
From the President’s Desk, NWSA President’s Report # 2 (NOV 2025) As I type this, Hurricane Melissa is causing all sorts of havoc in Jamaica, and the forecast is for it to hit southeast Cuba, and the southeastern Bahamas, before heading toward Bermuda. Melissa is the 13th named tropical system this year, and we still have November to go. With winds of 165 mph, it can cause a great deal of devastation and loss of life, especially in places that have people who aren’t in hurricane resistant structures. Please keep those in her path in your prayers.
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I may be speaking a bit
soon, but the US has not had a very strong storm hit our shores this year, but
lots of rain has washed out a great deal of places up the east coast.
It has been a busy time
since the last update. BUT Linda and I
took a vacation in two parts, which lasted nearly a month. There were 3 days when I worked between the
first and second parts. It was good, not
restful, but Linda liked it, even though my bank account didn’t.
Just as I was leaving
for the first part of vacation, I learned of the passing of AGCS(AW) Bruce
Herman Glaes, USN, Ret. I had been
planning on visiting him in the hospital during our vacation, but his daughter
texted me that he had passed the day before.
Per his wishes, he was cremated, but the children haven’t made any
arrangements for a memorial service, nor have they published an obituary. Bruce’s desire was for his cremains to be
buried at sea, off of Hawaii. That
usually takes a year or so to arrange.
Bruce and I were stationed at FWC/JTWC Guam 1970/71. He arrived at Barracks 14, and I greeted him
with a big grin, and welcomed him, and he said he always remembered that. He and I crossed paths a few times over the
ensuing 21 years.
I want to thank Mike
Gilroy for staying atop the McGayhey bequest to NWSA, for scholarships via
AMS. If he hadn’t been up on all the
aspects of it, it may have been a few more years, and we may not have any idea
of what was happening. He got it and Tom
Miovas deposited the check and in turn sent a check to AMS.
So, I would like to
take an informal poll. I’ve talked with
a few hotels here in Charleston and I did talk to some folks up at the Myrtle
Beach Visitors and Convention office.
First: How many would be flying into the reunion in
2027? The reason that I ask is they do
have an airport in Myrtle Beach but the number of carriers which utilize it are
limited. How many would be driving? (It is not yet on an interstate, but is
about an hour off of I-95). Charleston
is served by 12 major airlines. (For
those who drive, it is at the east end of I-26.)
Second: Myrtle Beach is more of a resort city, with
golf and other recreational activities.
USS North Carolina is in Wilmington NC and that is about an hour and a
half away. On the other hand, Charleston
has more museums including USS Yorktown (CV-10), historical interests, but also
has the recreational activities most people partake in, as well as great food.
I have talked with some
of the hotels locally, and their rates for a group are satisfactory, but group
rates require multiple nights and a certain number of “room nights” but I’ll
try to get a good deal in a respectable place (where you don’t have to fight
the cockroaches for the bedsheets), with breakfast and a dining room, and free
parking.
Any questions? Comments?
Email me at t_kenefick@bellsouth.net and put “NWSA
2027 Reunion” in the subject line, that way I won’t delete it without
reading it.
Okay folks, stay safe
out there, winter will soon be here, and so will the big travel holidays. Enjoy the festivities and your families!
Tim
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Source: Aerograph August 2025
2025 Reunion. It was a good affair. We must thank Bob and FJ for all the planning and arrangements
that they did for us down in the Mississippi Gulf Coast. They brought us to places that most of us
didn’t even know existed. The Maritime
Museum was good, but I wish I had known about the Train Museum two to three
years ago, my father would have wanted to spend a whole day, because he loved
model trains. The tour of NOAA’s National Data Buoy Center and Naval
Oceanographic Office were excellent. Even though I work for NDBC, we all had to
get visitor badges, and we did have to jump through some hoops at the last
minute to get things done.
I
have been wondering if there were some “Magic Mushrooms” on the pizza at the
reunion. Here I was, Second Vice
President, (in charge of vice), and, although I did go against the NAVY acronym
and because I was asked, I did volunteer myself, and those present elected me
as the President for the next two years.
I have the gavel and banner in my closet, which is sort of like my
garage, I know approximately where something is, but please don’t ask where.
2026
Reunion: 13 to 17 April. Aboard Celebrity Reflection,
with two stops in the Bahamas. Make your
reservations early. There is provision
for refunds if you must cancel, but as of last week we had 21 folks signed up
for the reunion. Check your
passports! If you need to renew or get a
new one, start now. Don’t be like me,
putting off until next week, what you should be working on last month. (The
State Department charges $35 extra if you put it off until the last minute, and
they must expedite.)
2027 and 2028 Reunions: Now I’m going to let my alligator mouth overpower my canary brain and
volunteer to host the 2027 Reunion in Charleston or Myrtle Beach. Both places have great amenities, and sites
to visit. Since we haven’t had a West
Coast reunion in a few years, how about a few of you folks from San Diego / Los
Angeles area, or San Francisco / Monterey area, maybe even the Seattle /
Bremerton Washington area (even though that is the heavier rainy season, as climatology
records indicate in excess of 300 days of precipitation yearly) consider
hosting the 2028 reunion, with target dates of the third or fourth week in
April. Put your thinking caps on, think
out of the box, envision how it would be to have a bunch of your old shipmates,
and a bunch of younger ones. At this
last reunion we had two folks who were 89, (I won’t mention that it was Jim
Romano and Pete Peterson), and many who were octogenarians. Inviting shipmates
over to your neck of the woods, doesn’t mean you are going to give up your
bedroom and feed them for a month. Forget
that NAVY is an acronym for Never Again Volunteer Yourself, and search out a
good place for a get together. 4 nights with Complimentary Breakfast, Meeting /
Banquet Room, local sites to visit. You
have plenty of time to get something set up.
Telephone calls are nearly free, so talk amongst yourselves, and come up
with an agreeable destination for the rest of us. I’ll even drive on out.
Future of NWSA: I’m not going to do anything grand,
but since I am still working for Uncle Sugar, I have some access to Navy
facilities, and will try to go to Norfolk, and maybe San Diego and pitch NWSA
to the younger folks. (Each place has
employees who are retired AGs and/or METOC Officer types, who aren’t part of
NWSA, so I’ll do what I can to get their ear, and their check for life
membership.) If I really feel venturous,
I’ll try the Navy METOC places in Europe and Japan. Is there any truth in the word going around
that a detachment is spinning up at Cubi Point again? (If so I’ll try to go
there also).
Bellinger List: At the
last reunion, I looked on the listing of both members and non-members, and noticed
one name and said to myself, “She is dead.”
So, I had her added to the necrology listing read by our Chaplain. It isn’t always welcome news about the passing
of a shipmate or their spouse, but imagine being at a gathering and running
into a shipmate you haven’t seen in 40 years and asking them about AGAN
SCHMUCKATELLI from NWSED OLATHE, only to find he’d passed 28 years ago. If you could share that information, whether
you have an obituary, or just dates, please, I ask everyone to keep Cap
Casperson, Smitty, Gary Cox, the Vice Presidents and me, informed of anyone who
passes. We can at the least put a line
in the Website and/or the Aerograph. We
do have a necrology page in the website.
I hope you are all holding up under this heatwave, as I
write this, Charleston has had nearly a month with daily highs in the 90s. Not to mention humidity up in the 90% range
by midafternoon, then the crack of lightning and the boom of thunder sounds
1500 or 1600. But the heat makes it a
challenge to carry equipment up ladders of these newer ships, some have 80 step
accommodation ladders. I do plan on
taking a little time off in late August, through mid-September, but I will
check my e-mail daily. OK? Any Questions? Beat the bushes and try to enlist AG’s and
METOC’s you may know. The Life
Membership Rate is a deal!
Your fault again,
Timothy J. Kenefick, AGC(AW/SW), USN Ret.
President
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Source: Aerograph May 2025
From the President’s Desk,
It has been my honor to be your President.
I retired from the U S
Navy 12/31/1991, over 33 years ago, reliving the past and telling sea stories
has become my favorite past time. I am at a slight disadvantage (sometimes I
get my stories mixed up) due to the fact I served 12 years
as an Aviation
Structure Mechanic.
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I spent 2 years in the reserves and upon
reentry I was informed I was color blind and must choose a new rating. The only
rating associated with aviation was Aerographer; little did I know I was facing
A, B and C schools just to become a viable asset. I traded my tool box and hydraulic jacks for
a sharp number 2 pencil. And here I am, the outgoing
President of NWSA. It has been a pleasure to serve. Thank you.
My only regret is not thinking of a way to
increase membership. The Naval Weather Service Association has an aging membership,
“slightly” above retirement age. To ensure its survival, we need younger
members. I suggest making honorary members out of interested spouses, children,
and grandchildren. With Artificial Intelligence reducing the need for
Meteorologists, Oceanographers, and Aerographer's Mates, recruitment will
decline over the next decade. Our profession is slowly becoming obsolete due to
advances in technology.
The Naval Weather Service Association reunions
are important to members, offering a chance to connect with others who share
common interests. Suggestions for increasing membership are welcome. The history
and development of the Association is not well known, but I am sure it involved
beer. Chief Bellinger and his creation of a lasting list of "Naval Weather
Guessers" was surely the beginning. I feel the founding members were
skeptical of the longevity of the Association, but WOW, Bravo Zulu, excellent
job. These reunions have grown into significant annual events enjoyed by all.
And let us not forget 13 October, when our US
Navy celebrates 250 years. A resolution
of the Continental Congress established the United States Navy in1775. After the American War of Independence, the U.S.
Constitution empowered the new Congress “to provide and maintain a navy”. Acting upon this authority, Congress
established the Department of the Navy on 30 April 1798. In 1972, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral
Zumwalt authorized official recognition of 13 October as the birthday of the US
Navy. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
This year I would like to thank Robert Cutting
and wife FJ for challenging work in making reunion 48 possible. Their hard work and dedication were
exceptional.
Anchors
Aweigh Shipmates.
Ed Straten
AG1 NAC, USN (Ret.)
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Source: Aerograph February 2025
From the President’s Desk,
It’s hard to believe but Reunion #48 is just around the
corner! This year’s gathering will be along the beautiful
shores of the Mississippi Gulf Coast from 5 to 9 May.
Our hosts, Robert and FJ Cutting, are putting the
finishing touches on what is sure to be another
memorable get together.
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GO NAVY – BEAT ARMY GO NAVY – BEAT ARMY
GO NAVY – BEAT ARMY
AND WE DID IT!!!
Happy New Year to one and all. What a way to start out the New Year. We are now in the year 2025, can you believe a quarter of this century is already over? Time flies! I hope everyone had a fantastic year and I hope this new year brings good health and prosperity to one and all. The First Lady and I had another wonderful year.
Patti and I had a great time with all the grandchildren aboard Carnival Glory during the Christmas holidays. We had a total of 17 individuals in our flock. Herding cats is a very good description. Getting a family photo can try one’s patience. Nevertheless, a good time was had by all.
The New Year’s Resolution is over 4000 years old and still around today. It is most common in the Western World in which a person resolves to continue good practices, change an undesired trait, accomplish a personal goal or otherwise improve their behavior in the new year. What is your resolution for 2025? We plan to continue traveling, visit with old friends, and keep close contact with out of state family members, especially our wonderful grandchildren. And I personally will try and sample all red wines that I discover.
We also will continue to see our healthcare professionals and undergo all the necessary testing on a regular basis. Regular exercise is also a must. We are lucky to have a pool at our condo that is available year-round (heated) so there is NO excuse not to take advantage and use it daily. There is time for fun, but we also know how important it is to take care of our health…especially in our 70’s! Please pray for those in need.
Scammers are lurking in the shadows. Beware! As NWSA President I had 2 scam attacks. Fortunately, both were discovered and dealt with. Thank you, Steven Smith, and Gary Cox for dealing with both situations in a timely matter. BZ!
The December issue of America Legion magazine published a very good article on scammers and the military (veterans and active duty). $477 million was the amount scammers stole from veterans, military personnel and spouses in 2023. The median amount was $599 (20% more than the general population). With AI coming online, new computers will only increase scams nationwide. Your identity and voice recognition will be duplicated with little or no effort on the scammer's part. Keep our standards up, be vigilante and NEVER click on anything you don’t understand.
Scholarship Winners - The Senior award goes to Roy Patrick Galang and the Freshman award goes to Jocelyn Bilker. Congratulations on a job well done!
AG1 (NAC) Ed Straten, USN, (Ret.)
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