EODA Party

USNA Class of 1954

END OF THE  DARK AGES PARTY

WEDNESDAY 21 MARCH 2012

SAVE THE DATE

Message from Peggy Ertlmeier

I would like to thank George's classmates who graciously rearranged their schedules to attend his funeral service on Friday the 13th here at USNA.  Some of you also came to the reception and more either called or sent condolences - to everyone let me say it meant a great deal to me and I know George would have been honored. I was so pleased that Bill Crawford sent the Class of 54 yearbook which I put on the Memorial table and was read by many of the guests.  I was not able to spend much time with you but I hope in the future we will be able to get together on occasions, and for sure attend the wives' luncheons.

We are missing my son's black coat (with prescription sunglasses in the pocket) which, I believe, was mistaken for a woman's lovely black coat which was left after the reception  Anyone with knowledge of a missing coat please contact me at 410-573-1399.

Death of a Classmate - Robert Hall, 2nd Company

Robert Alan Hall, 79, of 9 Nugget Hill Drive, Gales Ferry, passed away Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012, at the New London Rehab and Care of Waterford. Robert was born on Jan. 21, 1932, in Everett, Pa., the son of William H. and Elsie (Locke) Hall. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., where he received his bachelor's degree. He also received a master's degree in business administration from the University of New Haven. He served in the Navy from 1954 until 1965, when he went to work for General Dynamics Electric Boat division in Groton. He retired from EB after 29 years. He was a member of the United Methodist Church of Gales Ferry. An avid bridge player, he played duplicate bridge, and made many close friends with whom he and his wife June vacationed with in Cape Cod for many years. They also traveled to Naples, Fla. He was an avid golfer, and was a member of the Ledyard/Gales Ferry Lions Club. Bob and his family are also members of the Shennecosset Beach Club in Groton. Bob was pre-deceased by his wife of 55 years, June, in 2009. His family includes his daughters, Linda Sue Hall of Gales Ferry and Melissa Smith, and son-in- law, Randy Smith, of Mystic; and his son, Robert W. Hall of Gales Ferry. His loving grandchildren include, Harrison and Haley Smith of Mystic, and Cassidy and Matthew Hall of Waterford. Other survivors include his sister, Jean Menk of Verona, Pa.; his sister-in-law, Libby R. Scheid; and many nieces and nephews. A graveside service will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, at the Avery-Stoddard Cemetery, Rt. 214, Ledyard. There are no calling hours. Byles-Groton Memorial Home, 310 Thames St., is assisting with the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Gales Ferry Library, P.O. Box 225, Ledyard, CT 06339.

Scenes from Annapolis Class Luncheon 19 January 2012

Ned Shuman, Bob Shields, Jess Owens, Fitz Woodrow, Phil Livingstone, Lee Wood, Bill Montgomery, Bill Land, Jim Bell,  Dick Hollenbach

I'll see you and raise ....

Death of a Classmate - Lieutenant Colonel George Joseph Ertlmeier, USMC Retired

Lieutenant Colonel George Joseph Ertlmeier, U.S. Marine Corps, retired, 81, died January 1 in Annapolis. He was born August 18, 1930, in New York City, and enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1947. While he was serving on the battleship Missouri, his gunnery sergeant, who later became the first Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, suggested he apply for the Naval Academy Preparatory School; he took the gunny's advice and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1954. Commissioned in the Marine Corps, he married the former Peggy Fitzgerald of New York City that June. He served as an infantry officer at Camp Lejeune, NC, and with the Marine Detachment aboard the aircraft carrier Antietam, before entering flight school; he was designated a Naval Aviator at Kingsville, TX in 1958. He began his career as a fighter pilot with Marine Fighter Squadron 232 at Kaneohe Bay, HI, flying the FJ-4 Fury. He transitioned to the F-8E Crusader and deployed to the Western Pacific with Marine All-Weather Fighter Squadron 312 in 1965, where he also served as a Landing Signal Officer with Marine Composite Reconnaissance Squadron 1 aboard various Task Force 77 carriers during the early days of the Vietnam War. He taught leadership at the Naval Academy, transitioned to the A-4E Skyhawk, and in 1969 returned to Vietnam for a combat tour flying from Chu Lai Air Base. He then commanded Marine Attack Squadron 324, the first operational unit to fly the new A-4M, at Beaufort, SC, until he retired in 1974. He became the owner of a technology company in Texas before moving to Annapolis in 2009. He was preceded in death by his son Clay Ertlmeier, who died in January 2007. Surviving are Peggy, his wife of 57 years; a son, Mark Ertlmeier (Terri), of Annapolis; a daughter Susan Turner (James) of Davidsonville; and two grandchildren, Christopher and Lauren Turner of Davidsonville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, January 13 in St. Andrew's Chapel at the Naval Academy, where the Ertlmeiers were married in 1954, followed by a committal service at the Naval Academy Columbarium. Arrangements by the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomon's Island Road, Edgewater, MD. Memorial contributions may be made to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program at toysfortots.org. Online guestbook available at www.kalasfuneralhomes.com

USNA Class of 54 SnowBird

USNA 54 classmates and spouses, 

I've been asked to coordinate the USNA Class of 54 SnowBird event this year on 10-11-12 April.  

I ask for your assistance in notifying any classmates or their widows whom you think may be interested in joining us. Although our golf tournament will be the magnet for our gathering, we are encouraging non golfers to join us and make this a sort of "mini-reunion"with other activities than golf. 

The plan is to meet in Jacksonville, Florida during the week after Easter. The golf will be played at the NAS Jax golf course and I plan to arrange housing on base or very nearby and we will plan dinner parties on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. For those non golfers who attend, we will attempt to have other interesting activities and social gatherings. We plan to wrap up our mini reunion at the golf awards luncheon on Thursday, 12 April. 

I plan to get more details out shortly, but ask you please let me know any others who may be interested so I can include them in the more detailed invitation I'm working on now.

I look forward to your response and any suggestions. 

Warm regards, 

Tom and Lynn Watson

SUNSET ON THE ROCKIES

           SUNSET ON THE ROCKIES

 

When Christmas Eve arrives, we seek our churches,

Our feasts are set, the guests are due next day,

We've hung the stockings, filled with hasty purchase--

This still and holy night, we kneel and pray.

 

A crowded, busy week is now before us,

No time for sunsets, splendid and surprising--

Ah, wait! the twilight sings, an angel-chorus,

And ... turn! Behind, our glorious sun is rising!

 

RR 1,-1-12

 

 

* And thanks to Bill Crawford's Colorado LOG post,

"... seeing this, one knows that God is in control."

George Ertlmeier Funeral Mass

Services on Friday, 13 Jan 2012, Mass at USNA St. Andrews Chapel 10:30 A.M. 

There will be a reception following the services at  Ginger Cove

                                                                        4000 River Cresent Dr.

                                                                        Annapolis Md.

 In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

     MARINE TOYS FOR TOTS FOUNDATION

     18251 Quantico Gateway Drive

     Triangle Va. 22172   

Ted Walker

Just received word from George Zeberlein that Ted Walker was in Fairfax Hospital with a broken hip. Will post additional info when it is available.

VADM Edward Martin Named Bowl's Honorary Chairman

The Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl announced today that Vice Admiral Edward Martin, U.S. Navy (Retired), will serve as Honorary Chairman of the 34th annual Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl. In honor of this year’s celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Naval Aviation, the Honorary Chairman title was awarded to an individual who has contributed to the Navy and our society in a meaningful way. Martin also was named Grand Marshal of the bowl game’s parade, the Port of San Diego Big Bay Balloon Parade presented by the San Diego County Credit Union.