Frank Gregory

Thank you John for letting us know. I heard he'd been sick at the Reunion Golf Tournament and called that day to beg him to show up at the Friday night get-together. Fortunately he did and I am so glad because I got to see him one last time. He was a kind and gentle human being.

Bruce Wilson

Mr. Holmes, congratulations on reaching what seems to be pretty close to the top on the ship. It's still not clear to me though. If the CO were to become disabled somehow, then the assistant would assume command of the ship?

If both CO and assistant became disabled who comes next?

Here a little statistical info from when Michele's dad enlisted (at age 17, he had to get his mom's permission). 

Richard Thor (Dick) Holmes

Suddenly I'm "Mr Holmes"?  :)   I'll take it as a Veteran's Day "thank you" for all of us who served.  I saw your note about the arresting gear cable breaking during a landing...I never witnessed one snap, but have seen films from the early 50's.  It's very dangerous as the 50' steel cable (1" in diameter) whips across the flight deck at knee height.  There's no getting out of the way and the results are traumatic.  Engineering and safety advances have virtually eliminated this casualty in recent times.  

Regarding the VIP trips to the carriers, my son's friend just flew back from the Stennis - here's what he wrote back to my son who was aboard ship flying helicopters: "I think I've looked through my pictures 50 times since I got home.  Words can't express what an amazing time I had.  It's an experience I'll never forget.  I couldn't be more proud of you, you are really my hero".  

And to answer your most recent post, if both the Commanding Officer and the Executive Officer were incapacitated, command would fall to the next senior officer aboard ship based on years in the service.  It hasn't happened since WW II to the best of my knowledge, so it's obviously a rare event.  

I'm happy to answer these good questions about our armed forces because most people don't recognize the dangers they face and the sacrifices they and their families make.  It's certainly not done for the money.  Our service members do their job out of pride and loyalty to our nation.  Those serving and who have served appreciate that "thank you for your service" when they hear it.  

Your friend and classmate,

Dick

Bruce Wilson

Hi Dick:

I actually got it from Mutiny on the Bounty (which I think I started at age 4), but yes it is clearly a sign of respect and thanks to all our vets who served around the world in order to protect us. 

I am glad that folks as dependable and bright as you and Jim and Tom were out there watching out for us.

I still brag on you three getting into the academy from time to time (not just getting in, but succeeding so well there and thereafter)

This is not meant to slight any of the others from our class (at last count, 34 have checked in here) who served and deserve equal thanks, but I comment on it because it is such a statistical anomaly.

I will mention and thank another three, not from our class who I knew somewhat and died in this service.:

Geradld Martin

Wayne Humphries

Ray Kincannon

Lastly, "The Bull", Michele's dad who is still with us, Purple Heart and all.

BCW

.

.

Sallie Marie Schedel (Graf)

After reading some of the post from the class of 64. It appears that many are not too aware of what military (Navy) life is about. Check out the below web site to see what my self and others who served in the Navy while your class was in high school and shortly thereafter.

Vic Graf  husband of Sallie Marie (Schedel)Graf

http://raunchyredskins.us/index.htm

Bruce Wilson

Thanks Vic.

The Bull, mentioned below, flew in helicopters. Not his favorite.

Bruce Wilson

Gerarld Martin lived on Halsey, just below First Avenue.

I started wondering who lived on First Ave. between I & J.

Bob Beckwith (I?), Cheryl Pike, Jim & Harry Banner, Judy Lodemeir, Billy Carnes, Cathy Anderson (but I think her address was probably on J).

Bruce Wilson

Continuing the theme of things not changing for the better. Although we played mostly at Coronado and the CV gym, we ventured out to South Mission on occasion (Foncerrada, Wehmeyer, Hitchcock, Jensen, Wilson, UDT guys come to mind). 

The over-the-line tournament used to be held there too. 

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George Bracey Gillow

FEAR OF TERRORISM

A few days after the terrorist attacks, on September 11, 2001, I heard a news interview with a terrorist expert.  I believe it was Jessica Stern who wrote the book "The Ultimate Terrorists".

She was asked what Americans can do to keep their families safe.  She told the reporter "to forgive her if she sounded flippant", but the best things people could do would be to drive safely, wear seatbelts, and watch what they eat.

So, yes, the danger needs to be put in perspective. Here are some numbers:

Bruce Wilson

News of San Diego:

New carrier, Theodore Roosevelt, arrives in new Holmes [sic] port of San Diego. Rumour, unsubstantiated, that Mr. Holmes is coming out of retirement to sharpen up the crew.

Will John Muir return to Dunbar?

San Diego is not number one, but has reached number four on the size of homeless population list after Seattle, LA, NYC. Is it a ratio or a gross number.

Bruce Wilson

George:

It would be a very anomalous statistical situation indeed  for a person living in the U.S. to be killed by a terrorist.

Meanwhile, Michele and I had a scary incident just the other night when a car (deliberate, drunk, texting ?) nearly jumped the curb and hit us as we were out walking the Streets [technically Sidewalks] of Lorado.

News of CV:

TRIAL SET IN FATAL CRASH

Judge says woman likely 'targeted' motorcyclist, who later died

George Bracey Gillow

 

George,
For what it is worth, when 9/11 occurred I was the Dad of two year old twin boys and a two month old daughter.  I can still clearly remember you telling this story to me for the first time in the Large Conference Room right before an all hands meeting that we were about to have with Stu Baily, back in September 2001.  It put me at ease then and still does today.  I think of your telling that story often.

 

Paul

George Bracey Gillow

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Fall colors are coming in late this year in Bonita and will be nice for Thanksgiving:

Here is a good fall colors video featuring Nat King Cole:

Treasa Struble (Skiles)

Monday, during my morning run on Harbor Island, I saw the Roosevelt come into the bay and sail into North Island. It was a very impressive sight. There were several spectators waving American flags. It never gets old watching those big ships come into the bay.

Karen Etsuko Tachiki (Savel)

Happy Thanksgiving to classmates from class of 1964. I am grateful for this website and everything old and new we are able to remember. Thanks to all of you willing to contribute to the site and share all the little known bits of information.

LaBerta King (Forys)

Happy Thanksgiving from Australia to Hilltop Class of 1964!  While we are a day ahead I will be celebrating Thanksgiving here with friends and family tomorrow.  Wishes for a great day with your families from Downunder!

Bruce Wilson

It must be time for the intermittently-appearing, annual Holiday Season Quiz, eh?

If CV was/is The Lemon Capital of The World, can it's denizens be safely referred to as LemonHeads?

Part Two, if you made it through Part One:

Where did all those lemons go after traveling down Third Avenue on the train and veering off toward Broadway and down by the Freeway.

Contest entrants mus "shw their work" to be considered for the Premio Grande.

George Bracey Gillow

Concerning Bruce's quiz.

1.   I never heard of anyone in CV called a LemonHead. So don't know the answer to this.

2.  Over 1000 refrigerated railroad boxcars, per year, carried lemons out of Chula Vista when it was the Lemon Capital of The World.  Lemons were shipped all over the US including to Florida.  They also were shipped to foreign countries.  CV lemons were loaded onto ships on the east coast destined for Europe.

After the 1916 flood and freeze, a number of lemon orchards were destroyed and owners converted to growing celery.   Chula Vista was also know as the Celery Capital of The World by 1930.

Terry Lee Maple

Chula Vista's celery heritage caught my eye. In the late thirties, during celery's reign, my mother was depicted in a local newspaper as the "celery queen". She wore a skimpy dress covered with celery stalks and held two stalks in her hands. She modeled quite a bit in San Diego before marrying my father in 1938.

Bruce Wilson

That's cool Terry. My mom was a model in Michigan. I actually have her modeling "union card". My father squelched that career. 

What I was curious about concerning the lemons is whether they left from the port of San Diego or traveled further up the coast by rail.

I bet the packers were glad they didn't have recalls in the old days.

Obviously other means precedced the trains.

Ellen Jo Ann James (Bell)

my mother and father moved from Oklahoma to Chula Vista in 1936 because there were no jobs in Okla and that's what they did worked in these groves picking lemons.  They lived out of there car and didn't feel any different than anyone else because a lot of people were living in their cars.  I've been meaning to ask does anyone remember the bakery store on 3rd ace.  As I young child when my mom took us there I thought it was a little like heaven with all those sweet baked goodies in one store!

Gail Eileen Dillon (Boone)

Bruce -- Just caught a glimpse of one of your posts back in August...Yes, there was a Hamilton exchange, if that's what it was called.  The Dillion home phone number was Hamilton 0-2379.  Before that it was 14O2J and I think we had to speak to the operator and request that she connect us to another number.  Fun memory in these days of smart phones.

Bruce Wilson

Hi Gail:

August? 

Can't confirm it (yet), but we had GA(rfield)2-3425. I've been looking for an old phone book, so if there are any hoarders out there, let me know please.

Terry:

You don't by any chance still have the celery outfit. If so, Michele would like to borrow it for her next pageant. .

EJAJB: It's a faint memory. What cross street was it near? This looking back reminds us where we came from and (I think) keeps us humbled.

George Bracey Gillow

Chula Vista: George's Bakery

Ellen Jo Ann, I recall George's bakery on the west side of 3rd Avenue south of F Street. 

I believe it later became Harvey's bakery at that location.  

When the City of Chula Vista redeveloped 3rd Avenue, in the early 1980s, all the buildings on the southwest corner of 3rd and F were demolished. This included Peters Feed Store and Fusons Garage.

Harveys moved across the street, on 3rd, and eventually they served lunch and breakfast there. The location is still a breakfast and lunch restaurant, but I don't think it is called Harvey's, nor is it a bakery.

The focus area that was developed in the early 1980s  (F street on the right):  

John Carleton Cowherd

Gail:  My grandparents number was 1393j.  I remember saying "1393j please to the operator.  It was like the please was part of the number.  When everyone was converted to dial telephones they got HAmilton 0-0507.