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GRAMPS' ELECTION
2005
Election of
GPS officers for 2005: Pursuant to the GPS By-laws, the
nominations of GPS officers for 2005 were presented to the membership
at the
October 14th meeting/luncheon. By unanimous voice vote the slate
of officers
was approved. GRAMPS sends a great big "thanks" to these
dedicated volunteers
who have, and will continue to, keep GPS strong and viable.
A Tribute
to Don K. Tooker
By Shelby Forrest, his friend
Another set
of golden wings
has fallen from on high.
No longer now will they be free
to soar across the sky.
A warrior owned
these wings of gold,
A loyal, true marine,
No longer to be proudly worn,
no longer to be seen.
New orders have
been cut for Don,
To guard a distant shore
in a land where pain and suffering
can trouble him no more
God felt his
mission on this earth
By now had been fulfilled
In him love for his fellow man
Had firmly been instilled.
His friends
and loved ones left behind
remember him all the more
like comrades who have served with him
as brothers in the Corps.
We bid farewell
to you, old friend
We'll miss your friendly smile
We'll miss your story-telling knack
and your confident airman's style
Until our orders,
too, are cut,
we'll not ask when or why,
But our greeting when at last we meet
Will still be "Semper Fi".
SEAL BEACH
NAVAL WEAPONS STATION SAILORS OF THE
QUARTER RECOGNIZED BY GRAMPS
The Grampaw
Pettibone Squadron was honored to recognize two Naval Weapons
Station Seal Beach sailors for the outstanding performance that
resulted in
their selection as Sailors of the Quarter for 2nd quarter 2004 at
the October
14th luncheon.
Each received
Gramps' congratulations, a GPS plaque, and a monetary gift
(for the senior SOQ a $100 check from GPS, and for the junior SOQ
a $50 GPS
check and $50 gift certificate to the Crab Cooker restaurant - donated
by
restaurant owner and GPS member Jim Wasco).
Naval Weapons
Station Seal Beach, Seal Beach, California
The Commanding
Officer takes pleasure in presenting a Letter of Commendation
to Master-at-Arms First Class Marcus C. Blackwell, United States
Navy for
service as set forth in the following citation:
For superior
performance of duty while serving as Training Section Leading
Petty Officer, and selection as Sailor of the Quarter, Naval Weapons
Station
Seal Beach, Seal Beach, California from April to June 2004 Petty
Officer Marcus
C. Blackwell consistently performed his demanding duties in an exemplary
and
highly professional manner. During this period, he demonstrated
keen insight and
expertise in course development and classroom instruction. With
remarkable
leadership, he developed and implemented a monthly training program,
maintained
training records and scheduled fleet and service schools for Force
Protection
Department. As Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society chairperson
he raised over
$4,000.
Petty Officer
Blackwell is an innovative self-starter who organized and
coordinated a first ever Child Identification Program for military
families. His
actions allowed Force Protection Department to maintain a high level
of physical
fitness and readiness by conducting physical fitness training prior
to every
training event and implemented a swimming for fitness program. As
a member of
the Command Training Team, his excellent people skills and unique
instructional
techniques received rare reviews from subordinates and superiors
alike. Petty
Officer Blackwell's professionalism and devotion to duty reflected
credit upon
him and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United
States Naval
Service. I take pleasure in commending you for a job "Well
Done." /s/ R. W.
FOWLER, CAPT, USNR Commanding Officer
Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, Seal Beach, California
The Commanding
Officer takes pleasure in presenting a Letter of Commendation
to:
Yeoman Second Class (Surface Warfare) Alfonso Gutierrez Jr United
States Navy
for service as set forth in the following citation:
For superior
performance of duty while serving as Administrative Services
Assistant Leading Petty Officer and Legal Clerk, Naval Weapons Station
Seal
Beach, Seal Beach, California from April to June 2004 Petty Officer
Gutierrez
performed his demanding duties in an exemplary and highly professional
manner,
resulting in his nomination and selection as Junior Sailor of the
Quarter,
second quarter 2004. He consistently demonstrated his ability to
perform all
duties, even those usually assigned to a more senior Petty Officer.
During this
quarter he processed 8 Navy Commendation Medals, 25 Navy and Marine
Corps
Achievement Medals, 11 Letters of Commendation, numerous Letters
of
Appreciation, and over 30 Navy Fitness and Evaluation reports. His
efforts were
instrumental in raising $4,000.00 for the Navy and Marine Corps
Relief Society,
doubling last years amount. His actions allowed his department to
maintain the
highest level of administrative and customer service possible. His
genuine care
and concern for the well-being of his shipmates greatly improved
the mora1e of
Sailors at the Station. Pctty Officer Gutierrez' professionalism
and devotion to
duty reflected credit upon him and were in keeping with the highest
traditions
of the United States Naval Service. I take pleasure in commending
you for a job
"Well Done."
R. W. FOWLER,
CAPT, USNR
Commanding Officer
A BOOK REVIEW
by GPS member Ted R. Heineman
KILL DEVIL
HILL
by Harry Combs with Martin Caidin
Aviation addicts
are missing an emotional experience as exhilarating as flight
itself if they fail to log a few hours ingesting KILL DEVIL HILL.
..an epic of
Wilbur and Orville Wright, two amazing Americans who introduced
the planet Earth
to powered, controlled flight. They did it by themselves in less
than five
years! Two brothers with intense motivation...because they believed
it was
possible but had just never been done. Author Harry Combs obviously
had done
years of meticulous research with records as well as with family
and persons who
knew this awesome twosome candidly. Martin Caidin embellishes events
in his
usual inimitable style.
These young
men, 30 and 34, started their study of aviation and in less than
sixty months accomplished "one of the most dramatic achievements
in the human
experience". They studied and analyzed all available information,
conducted
experiments, discarded most available info as erratic.. . .and accomplished
powered, controlled flight by solving the following:
Lift vs drag
Three axis control
Structural integrity to withstand flight stresses
Thrust.. .with propellers
Power.. . . they built their engine
Power to weight ratio
Equilibrium.. .balance, control point
Actual physical control of the craft
Their piloting
ability had to progress just a bit faster than the
modifications they continuously were making to the machines. Their
MORTAL
SURVIVAL during this concentration of aeronautical engineering and
testing
depended upon the athletic ability to offset the inherent instability
of the
machine becoming a fatal factor as it had to their predecessors,
Lilienthal and
Pilcher, a few years previously. The decision to use the forward
elevator
(canard) saved each of the brothers in the early crashes, as it
tempered the
stalls and prevented extreme rotation. The innovation and ingenuity
of these
young "uneducated" geniuses gave the MIRACLE of FLIGHT
to the world, and
commenced the technical revolution that has currently established
man in space.
The "Rain
on Your Parade" syndrome hit them with the attitude and ineptness
of
the press, as well as the U.S. Government who had spent thousands
backing
Professor Sam Langley who never even came close to flying! Up to
their powered
flights of December 17, 1903 their out of pocket expenses were in
the area of
$1000! However, the "Dayton Bumpkin Phonies" quietly patented
and continued
their air interests... . and in 1908 put on two airshows that proved
to the
world that Orville (at Ft. Myer, VA) and Wilbur (at LeMans, France)
were The
only genuine aviators!! When their short launches became sustained
flights of
over an hour or two and with a passenger... emotional response worldwide
was
uncontrolled!
Aviation is
an infinity of information...which is one of the reasons it is so
very fascinating. Every serious aviation buff will be richer by
far with the
reading KILL DEVIL HILL.
GPS VISITS MIDWAY
By Mel Locke GPS XO
On a bright
sunny day in September, Mel Locke and his wife Marian toured the
Midway Museum in San Diego. Parking was available on the Broadway
Navy pier.
Upon arrival on the hangar deck we received a listening device which
was
programmed for twenty nine locations. Starting aft on the hangar
deck we saw a
display identifying all aircraft carriers by class. Continuing toward
the bow
we visited the quarters of enlisted personnel including bunks and
showers.
At the middle of the hangar deck aircraft simulators were available
to the
delight of the visitors. Adjacent to the simulators was an SNJ Texan.
Aft on
the hangar deck was the gift shop. On the fantail was the fast food
snack shop.
A wooden ladder
was outside of the hangar deck which led to the flight deck
forty five steps later. Aircraft were parked on the flight decd
near the island and the
catapult. We saw an F 14 Tomcat, an Air Cobra, an E2C Hawkeye and
an F-8
Crusader. There was also a snack shack on the flight deck. As we
looked toward
NAS North Island we saw CVN 76, the USS Ronald Reagan.
Midway Magic
was the theme of the fantastic tour of the CV Midway. We
returned our listening devices and departed.
FROM YOUR
MEMBERSHIP OFFICER
FRAN PIERI
So, as always,
keeping current members and bringing new members into the
Association of Naval Aviation and the Grampaw Pettibone Squadron,
is the
responsibility of all of our members. We must maintain a strong
organization to
promote the ideals and objectives of the defense of our country.
We need to
maintain the strength of the GRAMPS squadron to make all the advantages,
that we
have had, available for the new members we will be welcoming.
Next month,
November 11th, we will award the $150.00 (maybe more) to the person
who signed
up the most new members in 2004. ANA is a civilian organization
and membership
is open to anyone who is interested in NAVAL AVIATION. No previous
military
service is required to become a member. The "Wings Of Gold",
by itself, is the
annual fee of $40.00.
We had only
one new member join our squadron this month. He is Mr. Robert Fuhrman.
"Welcome
aboard" sir, and many thanks to his sponsor,Tony Testa. That
makes a total of 22 new members you all have brought into our
squadron this year so far. I still have plenty of spare Op-Plans
in my office.
Send me the address of your friend and I will get one off to them
ASAP. Be sure
that you do the follow up and let them know we want them.
Keep the blue
side up. FRAN PIERI
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