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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Source: Aerograph November 2024
From the President’s Desk,
HAPPY 249TH
BIRTHDAY UNITED STATES NAVY
ESTABLISHED OCTOBER 13, 1775
“I SERVED IN THE UNITED
STAETS NAVY.”
JOHN F. KENNEDY
“WE ALSO SERVED IN THE
U.S. NAVY.”
NAVAL WEATHER SERVICE ASSOCIATION
Another 4 years have passed, and an election
year is upon us. We all struggle with
thousands of political promises (some true, some not so true). We have one thing in common, let the best man
or woman win. As career military, I
think… “Do not let our vigilante efforts ever be in vain.” May the next elected Commander in Chief make
us proud and show the rest of the world the United States of America is a force
to be reckoned with. A quote from
Theodore Roosevelt, “A good navy is not a provocation of war, it is the surest
guaranty of peace.”
Speaking of birthdays. October 27th, another birthday
came and went, MINE! 75, WOW! Things I remember over the years like owning
a car with an automatic transmission – power steering - power windows – and Oh
My God… air conditioning. I was 32 when
I talked Patti into buying a microwave, she said it was too extravagant and
totally against it, I won that argument.
And in 1985 we purchased a Mac Plus computer. $4000 from the NEX. Fortunately, Patti used it for creating
menus, work schedules, and advertising for the Barbers Point Enlisted
Club. Hence, tax deductible. And sometime in my fifties I got my first
cell phone. Life’s been good, but once
again – WOW, where has time gone?
The first lady and I celebrated our birthdays
on a Celebrity Cruise sailing the Caribbean.
By the way, me to forget.
We sailed on a 17-day cruise October 21-Nov 7. We left Ft Lauderdale and visited Puerto
Plata, Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, Tortola, Antigua, Barbados, St. Lucia, and St.
Kitts. We also celebrated
Halloween. I dressed as Don Ho and Patti
was a Hawaiian Hula girl. We had enough
wine that we were able to pull it off.
My rendition of “Tiny Bubbles” carried us across the finish line!
I would like to wish all members a wonderful
Thanksgiving. Sometimes holidays can be
stressful. Our worst Thanksgiving was in
Adak. We were due to transfer December 3rd,
1983. Our personal items had been
shipped and the refrigerator was bare. We managed to get frozen turkey dinners
at the exchange and had a lovely time watching AFTRS. But seriously, to all military personnel around the world, I am thankful for your courage and dedication for keeping us safe
and may you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
We have also planned a 4-day family Christmas
cruise aboard Carnival Glory. We will
have approximately 20 family members and will celebrate Christmas day at
sea. The last time I had Christmas
dinner at sea, I was on the USS Ranger in the Tonkin Gulf. I believe this will be a lot more fun. Merry Christmas to all.
Please don’t forget our upcoming reunion at the
Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast. Patti and I
are already excited about our annual get together. Can’t wait!
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And please keep thoughts and prayers for members suffering from illness, loneliness, the toll that time takes from all of us. God Bless.
AG1 (NAC) Ed Straten, USN, (Ret.)
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Source: Aerograph August 2024
From the President’s Desk,
The first lady (AKA Patti) and I have had another great
year. We removed our condo from the market due to
inactivity and economic conditions and are happy to
remain here at the golf resort. This may or may not be
warranted by Patti’s recent psychic trip with her sisters.
Can’t argue with that logic.
We just returned from New Hampshire after
attending our granddaughter’s graduation ceremony. It was so great to see so many excited young
adults preparing for the future. I was
impressed with the wisdom and demeanor they displayed during the ceremony. Such maturity gives me great confidence in
future generations of Americans. The
ceremony speeches were well thought out and professionally presented. We (the attendees) were treated with respect
and dignity. Our granddaughter has
already been accepted by Southern New Hampshire University, my old alma
mater. We are so proud of her and the
graduating class of 2024.
Well done and congratulations to the
Aerographers of the world. We just celebrated our 100th
anniversary. The Aerographer’s rating was established 1 July 1924. In 1923 the QM(A) rating (known as Quartermasters
Aerographic) was replaced by the Aerographer rating. Chief Quartermaster John R. Dungan changed
his rating per AerM BuNav Circular Letter 99 dated December 23, 1923, and officially became the first Chief Aerographer’s Mate in June of 1924. By 1925 nearly all
shipboard and naval air station Aerological units were led by Chief
Aerographers. And as they say, “The rest
is history.” The article I read online was very interesting and thorough by FRA today dated October 2016.
I would like to give a shout out to Mike Gilroy
for his great work providing funding for the AMS Scholarship program. This year’s award went to Jocelyn Bilker who
is going to Pennsylvania State University and Roy Patrick Galang going to the
University of Oklahoma. Congratulations
Jocelyn and Roy. Good job Mike.
The next reunion (number 48) will be held near
Naval Oceanography Command, Stennis, MS.
AG “A” and “C” schools are located at Keesler AFB, Biloxi. Are you feeling lucky? The reunion is under
the guidance of Bob Cutting and his wife FJ.
The dates are set for May 5-9, and we eagerly await further
details. It will be wonderful to meet
again and swap sea stories. Please put
these dates on your calendar, we would love to see everyone.
A shout out to Smitty, Gary, and Cap for
keeping the lines of communication up and running and flow of information
current and safe. We were hacked and compromised this last year. The sharks are always in the water, circling
and waiting for an opportunity to strike. Be careful, be aware.
AG1 (NAC) Ed Straten, USN, (Ret)
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Source: Aerograph May 2024
Greetings
Shipmates,
Spring has sprung here in Pensacola with temperatures
in the 70’s and 80’s. I see golfers out
my window wearing T-shirts and shorts.
After 6 rotator cuff surgeries, my days of hitting little white balls
into thick underbrush and snake infested ponds are over. I still love spring, the warm temperatures,
grass turning green, and trees producing a beautiful veil of leaves. Mother Nature works hard protecting us from
volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, forest fires, prairie fires, El Nino, La Nina,
blizzards, solar flares, hurricanes, tornados, constant wars and of course,
human progress. Yes, I love spring and
the renewed contract of life to all living things. Spring always brings hope and new beginnings.
Speaking of hope,
Patti and I have put our condo on the market, and we HOPE it sells. We will be moving to a rental or a cruise
ship, not sure yet. I think after 56
years of moving, it has become a habit, the itch that can’t be scratched. The condo is nice, but 2am fire drills have a
way of bringing out the worst in me.
Navigating 5 flights of stairs can be hazardous to your health that
early in the morning (elevators are disabled when the fire alarm goes
off!). Most of the fire alarms have been
pulled by either drunks or kids. The
only legitimate alarm was an overheated HVC unit which happened during the
day. Go figure! As we embark on another new adventure and a
place to live, we look forward to new beginnings. My first lady,
Patti, is always in-charge of the music when we travel or move. It is safe to say she has played “On the Road
Again” and “I’ve Been Everywhere” several thousand times. We have worn out 8 tracks, cassettes, and
CD’s over the years. Thank God for
technology and the iPhone, traveling music at the press of a button. Music is a great stress reliever when
traveling. We hit all four corners by
car. “Like a Rolling Stone”, we have
travelled I-95, I-80, I-10, I-5, I-495 route 66 and 40, been to Bar Harbor
(pronounced Ba Ha Ba), Seattle, San Diego, Key West, Nashville, St Louis,
Denver, and Las Vegas. Thank you, Willie
Nelson, and Johnny Cash for all the new beginnings. It is great to
travel, but it does have its moments. Flat tires, broken air conditioners, road
construction, and overheated engines to name a few. As military members, we can all relate to
heat of the desert, the ice storm crossing Nebraska, the hurricane along the
gulf coast, the endless roads in Texas, next gas station 150 miles, getting
caught behind a herd of cattle for 10 miles, driving up the side a mountain and
crossing a one-lane bridge I’m sure a seasoned Billy goat would not
attempt. But when you crack open a beer
and sit down with a shipmate the stories get longer, stranger, and more
embellished. But it also brings out the
comradery of roads traveled, and paths crossed and new beginnings. I have also been
saddened over the years while talking to strangers I’ve met on my
adventures. There are so many
individuals that have never left their home state. I spoke to a woman at my 30-year high school
reunion suffering with cancer that had never seen an ocean. Whenever I start feeling a little bit down, I
think about what a great life I have had, and the things I’ve accomplished because
of the U S Navy. I still remember
watching Walter Cronkite back in 1966 as a sophomore in high school when Viet
Nam was headlining the news. I knew in
my heart of hearts I would soon be there.
I was right, by October 1970 I was headed to Nam aboard the USS Ranger. And so, my travels began, and to this day,
have brought many new beginnings.
Yes, spring
brings eternal hope to kids and grandchildren and the memories of a life well
lived and to friends I would have never known. And of course, new beginnings.
AG1 (NAC) Ed
Straten, USN, (Ret)
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Source: Aerograph February 2024
Greetings Shipmates,
I can see clearly now that the cataracts are
gone. It’s gonna be a clear, clear,
clear visionary year. Yes, we’re looking forward to another great year. I can
see it filled with travel, new adventures, and more fun experiences. Patti and
I continue to meet new people, taste new foods, and sample life like a lavish
buffet. Now that I have 20/20 vision, I see a wonderful 2024 ahead. Patti and I plan on visiting New Hampshire to
attend our granddaughter’s graduation. Patti will also make a trek into the
White Mountains with her sisters for their annual Psychic weekend. We also plan a trip to Ohio to visit my
family, as well as the Caribbean Islands, via cruise ship, to celebrate my 75th
birthday.
December started out with another cruise. We had a group of 16 celebrating our friend’s
75th birthday. We went out on the
Celebrity Summit and had stops in Key West and the Bahamas. There was lots of
food, drinks, and outstanding music.
We had great chapter Christmas party. The NWSA
Pensacola Chapter was hosted by Larry and Nancy Warrenfeltz. Lots of good food, the wine was flowing, and
yes, the dirty Santa gift exchange was as exciting as always! Nancy had a great spread along with all the
side dishes the guest contributed. The house was decorated beautifully. Thank you, Larry and Nancy, for hosting.
We had a very Merry Christmas and hosted a
Christmas Eve party with family and friends. Our grandson, Dominic, a nurse,
flew in from Reno. And our granddaughter, Caitria, who earned her master’s
degree at FSU and currently works there as an Analyst, drove in from
Tallahassee. We celebrated Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve at our daughter and sons-in-law house with many new and old friends. Lots of good food and yes, plenty of
wine. And yes, lots of resolutions. Patti’s resolution this year is to eat one
oyster. That’s right, she has never had
an oyster. Lookout Oyster Bar, here we
come!
Happy New Year to all and I hope all your resolutions
are reachable and followed to completion.
It is said the New Year tradition of making resolutions was started by
the ancient Babylonians some 4000 years ago.
The year began in mid-March….at this time people would pay off their
debts, return all borrowed items, and
plant their crops. And they would also crown a new King or reaffirm their
loyalty to the old King. Simple yet
effective.
Then came Julius Caesar, circa 46 BC, who decided
to tweak the calendar, making January the first month of the calendar year. At
this time, Romans offered sacrifices to the gods. It did not pay to be a lamb,
goat, cow, or a Christian.
In 1740 Clergyman John Wesley, founder of the
Church of England known as Methodism, where praying and making promises to God
was acceptable, and making resolutions only for themselves became the norm. New
Year resolutions today are quite different.
Instead of making promises to gods, the focus is only on ourselves. Research says approximately 45% of all
Americans make a New Year’s resolution and approximately 8% keep that
promise. So, whether your resolution is
fitness, finance, health, weight, diet, or relationships, I wish you much
success. I personally will pay my debts; return all borrowed items, hope for
good crops worldwide and vote. Can’t go wrong with a good old Babylonian
resolution.
I want to give a shout to Tom Miovas for his
cost-cutting idea. He is working with Steven Smith (Smitty) and will soon be
printing and mailing the Aerograph from home, saving the NWSA substantial
amount of money. Thinking outside the
box, I love it.
Unfortunately, I need to let you know that
Reunion 48 at the Villages scheduled for May 2024 has been cancelled. Kudos to Tom Berkeridge, he was doing an
outstanding job coordinating this reunion. His current health issues take
precedence, however. Thank you, Tom, for all the fine work you have put into
this, and we all wish you a strong, complete recovery.
AG1 (NAC) Ed Straten, USN, (Ret)
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