Checkmates / Blue
Bolts 2004 Reunion Wrap Up
2004
Attendees
Your two organizers, Doc
Prothro and Dave Smith, hereby declare that they had a wonderful, fun-filled,
and rewarding time that would not have been possible but for the top-drawer, all
volunteer team we had making every evolution run smoothly. We don't believe
there is a single soul out in the holding pattern that did not have a really
good time. Dave and I figure about 80 percent of all the members of our very
first squadron showed up. Some of them we had not seen in over 55 years. It was
fantastic just hearing about all the things that had happened to them, what they
had accomplished, and were doing now. Then to top it all off, Gerry Peddicord
slipped "Ringer" White into the Octogenarian foursome with Prothro, Thuesen, and
himself to make-up an absolutely awesome winning golf team. As always though,
when Sailor Men gather together there is some incredible endeavor accomplished.
For us it was Roc Trout driving from California to Missouri to help Hank
Herrington make it to the reunion, and, give a special treat to all his old
squadron-mates; Well Done Roc!
Our only disappointment
was not having any of the Skippers present, but visiting with Pierre and having
Mary Charbonnet participate in just about everything was a credible substitute,
and having Nancy Nystrom participate in our Memorial Roll Call was a perfect
touch of class. Thank you, Mary and Nancy, for helping to make our day. And we
do indeed thank Doc's very own daughter, Robin, for so graciously filling in for
her mother, and visiting with Mary, too.
The truly great tribute to
the spirit of our Navy and especially Navy Aviation is the drive, energy,
initiative, innovation, selflessness, and especially good humor that permeated
our entire organization. How fortunate, and remarkable, that Doc and Dave were
able to work with individuals like Dennis Hughes & Charlotte, Don Boose & Pat,
Bud Thuesen & Ann, Jim Populorum, Gerry Peddicord, BiII Hanson & Jean, and Dave
Johnston not to mention some of the early helpers like Buddy Yates, Beaver
Horton and Harry Harber. Ken Burrows steered us onto John Bloore who introduced
us to Dennis, and then others just stepped forward and went to work. Ken and
Bill Hanson also provided some great golf clubs as auction items. And last but
not least, a noted thanks to Nancy Prothro and Vivian Smith for their sustained
support, and putting up with the hours their husbands were on the computer and
away from home affairs. A special thanks to Vivian, also, for her "Reunion (W)rap."
There is no other
organization in the world like a Navy Squadron; every one knows what needs to be
done and just naturally pitches in and gets the job done. A Marine Combat group
has that Navy spirit, too. I have always liked the story of the battle between
BONHOMME RICHARD and SERAPIS, the British Man of War, during the Revolutionary
War. The two ships were lashed together in a death struggle when the commander
of SERAPIS, Captain Pearson, yelled across to BONHOMME RICHARD saying, "Have you
struck? Do you call for Quarters?". John Paul Jones, his ship sinking beneath
him, then shouted those never to be forgotten words, "I have not yet begun to
fight." Well, there was a Marine sharp shooter high up in the ship's rigging and
as he looked down at the deck with all the death and destruction and heard his
Captain's words he leaned over to a fellow Marine and said, "Some poor bastards
never get the word!" And, as an aside... We are fortunate to have our old Navy
partners in the Marines doing away with a goodly number of terrorist enemies in
Iraq and helping us to maintain, and share, our freedom. I suppose they could
still say, "Some poor bastards never get the word."
Now, a new team has
willingly, and eagerly stepped forward and taken command with the able
leadership of Tom Mercer. Dave and Doc are delighted, and plan on relishing our
new "senior" status. As our final act Dave is putting the finishing touches on a
turnover folder which we will mail to you, Tom. It is mostly about organizing,
job descriptions, answering questions, finding squadron mates, contacting
historical information sources, and other possibly useful addresses, phone
numbers, and e-mail addresses. Our Checkmates & Blue Bolts organization will
probably double or triple by November 2006 and we are fortunate to have so many
"re-ups" like Dennis, Don, Jim, and Dave J. Also, both of us are "on call" any
time you need help, especially for things like advice, which you probably won't
need. Don and Pat's efforts recording DVDs and CDs as a living history of our
squadron will go down i n the archives as a masterful work of art. We hope it
will be on sale someday at the Museum store. Thank you both so very, very much.
Doc: Dave, do we have
permission to leave the ship?
Dave: I don't know, can't
find the OD.
Doc: How about the
squadron SDO?
Dave: It's Midshipman
Harber, he says go ahead, no one will miss us.
Doc: Don't forget to
salute the ensign.
SNAP! SNAP!
GONE.
Doc & Dave
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