PHHS Class of 1963, BLOG

Hello. You may or may not know but I have a email distribution list of classmates. Sometimes there are a couple of things to write about, and other times there may be only a side note. Well at address those that I do not have email addresses for and for those small but important items I thought it might be worth while to post them in the form of a BLOG. For those that want to receive the emails for large communications, please send me you email address. I keep them private and only send out BLIND COPY notices. I will not share email addresses with out first seeking your permission. Please check back often.

As a child I remember hearing the adage, "I cried because I had no shoes until I saw a man with no feet". The Christmas season is upon us and it is a special time to give thanks to God for all of the blessings that we/you have been given. I say special as I give thanks daily but this is the season to remember the special gift, the birth of Jesus. Some of us are blessed more then others, no doubt. But I am reminded of the the biblical story found in Mark 12:41-45, of the widow giving just a two small coins. Those much richer gave much much more. But she gave more then all of the wealthy givers because she gave all that she had. I am not asking you to give all that you have, just decide to give cheerfully out of thanks. There are many around us that are less fortunate, figuratively like the man with no feet. I encourage you to take whatever you choose and give to a person(s) or place of your choice. Might I suggest places like a church, your church, Salvation Army, community chest, or an individual you know that may be in need.

Giving can be in the form of new clothing, food, household supplies, or cash. Just GIVE. I suggest that you include your grandchildren in your giving activity if you are so blessed. I it an excellent opportunity to share a biblical teaching. I want to relate to you one way to share and give. Take a Christmas card with a Godly message. Insert some cash. Take it to a mall. Walk around until you see someone that God puts on you heart and give them the card. Share with them a message like, "My Lord has blessed me and He wants to bless you at this special time of year. Blessings and Merry Christmas." Then promptly exit the mall. Don't wait around for them to open it. Don't wait for a thank you. Leave knowing the you gave with a cheerful heart.

As it says in 2 Corinthians 9:7; "As every man purpose in his heart, so let him give, not grudgingly or out of compulsion; for God loveth the cheerful giver."

Merry CHRISTmas. May the Lord continue to bless you.

I am a proud veteran that served in U.S, Navy as a volunteer in the early nuclear powered submarine service. I completed ET “A” school in Great Lakes, and classroom training at Mare Island, Vallejo, California. Following classroom training I was assigned to on the job training in Ballston Spa, New York to one of two reactor plants (D1G vs. S3G). Successfully completing that training I was sent to submarine school in Groton, Connecticut. From there I was assigned to the Reactor Control Division, as a qualified reactor operator aboard the first missile capable submarine, the USS George Washington, SSBN 598, Blue Crew.

I enjoyed my service to my country aboard the Washington, completing two patrols out of Holy Loch, Scotland. I was medevaced back stateside following my shake down exercise preparing for my third patrol after hemorrhaging raw blood from my stomach. During my second and third patrol I was required to enter the reactor compartment, in close proximity to the reactor, to cleanup radioactive hot spots identified by our ELTs. During one work detail I maxed out my dosimeter exposure and was no longer allow to enter the reactor compartment. Treatment for the hemorrhage involved three major surgeries and limited shore duty. As a result I lost my submarine and nuclear power qualifications. I service in shore duty until my honorable discharge in 1971.

Now I have recently been diagnosed with a form of leukemia, CML. The medicine I am currently on to control (not cure) my diagnosis costs $31,100. per month. I am required to take this drug for the rest of my life. Fortunately the drug manufacture has blessed me with free drugs until December of 2015 at which time they will review my status.

I filed a claim with the veteran’s administration in March of 2015 for a service connected disability related to my exposure to radiation in the line of duty as a reactor operator. I just received my denial of claim from the VA, acknowledging my illness, current treatment, but saying there is no entry in my service record to indicate a health problem related to radiation exposure. Dismissing my radiation exposure records and saying that my current health issue is beyond any sort of statute of limitations. A prominent attorney’s office I have contacted for appealing and processing has advised me to seek support from DAV. The law office believes I have a case for a claim, unfortunately they have no one experienced in radiation claims but should they obtain one, they will reactivate my request for representation.

I have filed a rebuttal with the VA but have not received a response.

OH, I forgot to say that I received a warning both a phone call and written communication from the VA about potential issues with my blood two years ago following an annual physical. Following my diagnosis from my private physician I asked my VA physician about seeing a VA oncologist and was denied.

I am a life member of Disabled American Veterans and currently on disability since honorably discharged in 1971. I am interested in talking to any other nuclear power shipmate that may be suffering from a related illness, successful and denial of a service connected disability. Did you serve about a sub, aircraft carrier or guided missile destroyer and are suffering from leukemia? I would like to hear from you.

I have two major concerns related to my treatment. The first in being recognized for what I feel is a valid service connected disability. Secondly, I am seeking VA assistance in getting the drug to treat my condition. Should my drug manufacture rescind their offer, you can chalk up another veteran waiting proper recognition for their honorable service to their county.

Women serving on Submarines? You betcha! The first female officers to serve on U.S. submarines qualified in December 2012, and the first woman to qualify for service on a fast-attack submarine recently joined the USS Minnesota(fast attack) after qualifying as a submariner in May 2014. Officers have a unique environment. They share a bathroom amongst themselves like in an airplane. They sleep in separate wardrooms. Lower grade officers may share a room but for pairs of women aboard a boat, this might work out. Secondly fast attack patrol boats are unique, the are usually impromptu missions, and relatively short duration compared to boomer (a missile carrying sub). There was an announcement on January 22, 2015 that U.S. Navy will immediately begin allowing female enlisted sailors to sign up for service on board submarines. The full integration of women from the enlisted ranks will begin in fiscal year 2016 after the required training process is completed.

Some of you may know I served nearly two years aboard the USS George Washington, SSBN 598, blue crew. She was a missle carrying sub, a boomer! I say blue crew because each boomer had two crews, a blue and a gold. The reasoning behind that came from the fact of the extended patrols, usually 90 days more or less. So I think I have some experience when it comes to sub life. The enlisted crew shares what might be described as an open berthing area. Each bunk is only separated from the passageway by a 2X3 foot curtain. The nice thing, you have your heat, ventilation, bunk light, sheets and blankets. The enlisted crew shares one bathroom, six commode, and two showers, two washing machines and two dryers. Some one in each division usually does the laundry for, in this case, his or hers division. There might be need for some adjustment here. Normally enlisted personal are not allowed in Officer's Quarters unless they are part of the steward's staff, so I don't think the enlisted women will be going there. The converse is true as well, Officers do not generally go into the enlisted crew area. Can you image women sleeping, showering, etc. in a common area for 90 days with half naked men running around. I think this will be a challenge for both sexes.

Now I want to bring up the life style of those enlisted men. I can tell you this, it is like a brotherhood. On the positive side, after a single patrol all prejudices go a away. Race doesn't matter, religion doesn't matter, nor does about any other thing. What matters in the crew mate beside you depends on you and your depend on them. Did I mention sexual preference? That remained a subject best not talked about if you didn't prefer the opposite sex. Which brings me to another point. Guys will be guys especially knowing you are going to be in locked room for 90 days, and with guys only! Clothes in the berthing area were optional. NO MAN wears PJs to bed on a sub. Or at least they didn't when I served. Unless you have served aboard a sub, jokes and tricks are beyond imagination. Leisure reading material is nothing you would bring home to momma, wife, girl friend, or sister. I honestly don't know where those guys got such filth. And I do mean D-I-R-T-Y. Pictures of nude women could be found about anywhere in the restricted areas.

Putting a women in this environment: I have some deep concerns. My concerns are not around any women's ability to do the job. Its about the social pressures. Living together does not stop when you get of the boat. When you are back home or on liberty you are expected to participate in non-official social activities, which usually includes a lot of heavy drinking. I think sometimes this is where the brotherhood learns who you are. If you don't participate you will have problems. These same people sign your submarine qualifications. If you don't get qualified...there will be problems. It not a written exam, its a one on one oral exam with each member of the division on the boat.

I respect the women who want to serve in sub service. I truly believe it takes a unique individual to serve on a submarine. I loved my time there. I enjoyed the comradery. I still remain in contact with my closest submariner friends, even those on other boats. I hope that the people that have made the decision to allow enlisted women understand the obstacles both men and women will have to over come to become a "crew".

I would be interested to hearing your thoughts. Especially the military guys and all the ladies.

Missing and dead. I do not want to dwell on death, but I do want to locate those classmates that are said to have passed. In all of my research I have been unable to locate the obituaries for all but six classmates. This is not to imply that any or all of the most wanted or missing classmates are alive. I am just unable to trace the missing. You can review the missing list at CLICK HERE. I need your help in locating the obituaries for the following classmates:

Sharon Leonard - I know nothing about her. It is said that Sharon passed before 1983. I do not know if she married or where her passing occurred.

Carl Young - I know knowing about him. I think his middle initial might be "D". Carl too is said to have passed prior to 1983.

Joseph Uresti - It is said that he has passed but curious enough I find a Joseph Uresti living on Oak Moss Court, Fort Gratiot. Age: 71. Update Nov. 05, 2015 - Obituary located, Joe passed Sep. 04, 2002.

Ernestine Tillman - Again, I can not confirm her whereabouts. My records only indicate she may have passed in 1992, location unknown. Update Nov. 05, 2015 - Obituary located, Earnestine passed Feb. 26, 1990.

Alfred Jones - I have been told that he passed away sometime in 2000 in the Macomb area?

Merle Wesley Slack Jr. - Wes passed away about November 2012 in Berkeley, California. An obit can not be located. I did have one email from a child, Courtney, that indicated that the loss of Wes was taking a tremendous toll on the family. They indicate that they would follow up with more information but I never received any word.

Research can be exhaustive, sometimes rewarding, sometimes heartbreaking. Either way, I like the pursuit. What disturbs me most is that we have lost classmates and nothing is known about them. Did they die in obscurity? Were not their lives important? We can't all be president, or millionaires, but we are important none the less. If you can provide any details that might help me, I would deeply appreciate it. You can send any hints to my email address. Thank you.

Life without your WALLET. It all started with a simple bike ride with my wife and sister-in-law while on vacation in East Tawas. On a cool morning on August 31st, Sue and prepared to ride from the Bay Inn to the Tawas Point Light House, a trip of about 14 miles round trip. All went well on our leisurely ride on the bay sidewalks and eventually in to the light house park. We stopped for a drink of water and a protein bar and began the uneventful trip back. Upon arriving at the hotel I was about to load the trikes in the back of the pickup when I began to look in my backpack for my wallet that contained the hotel pass key. Unable to locate my wallet I began a high speed retrace of our path. I covered the 14 mile round trip in seventy minutes, half the time of the original trip. The search was uneventful, and you know what that means, a trip to the sheriff's department and the Secretary of State. My outlook was not good for a recovery, but felt I had made another tithe for the month. The sheriff's department held little hope but took a report and issued a local bulletin. Sue and I walked in to the Secretary of State's office just as they closed and locked the door for lunch, but they did allow us in. They continue to wait on the two customers ahead of us, then came our chance. I asked for a temporary license, but was promptly ask for identification. The agent was very polite and said that she understood that I had lost everything that identified me but would be willing to accept my vehicle registration, and insurance papers and any other documents that might support my claim. I as able to get a temporary license, thank you kind agent! BUT the ordeal did cause some profound thinking. Do you know the contents of your wallet or purse? Did I mention a call to the credit card company, who promptly verified recent purchases and cancelled the card. OH, the hotel was charged on that same card! Thank fully the card company approved any charges for the hotel beyond the report date. Normally I empty my wallet of all necessary documents before vacation. Lucky for me I did not take my home protection on vacation this time because I also lost my CPL license, along with my Blue Water Sportsman's ID and pass key, Sam's card, Costco card, hospitalization card, veteran's ID, Dick's, Pro Bass, and Speedway points cards. SO, I would urge you all to take additional photo ID on vacation and secure them in your hotel room just in case you run into the same situation and lose your wallet or purse. Also take any unnecessary items from your wallet before leaving home for vacation. (Your snow birds have are a different story.) Lastly, periodically inventory your wallet/ purse so that should you lose it, you have some idea of what your lost and what to do to notify necessary businesses and obtain temporal documents. I would suggest that you have ID cards with contact information in your wallet, like home phone and in particular CELL PHONE number in case an honest individuals finds you lost item. I did have business cards with phone numbers on the cards, but I guess my wallet was recovered by a wayward seagull, or at least that is what I would prefer to think. Just my thoughts. I still have hope that the wallet will eventually return.

Life without INTERNET a challenging task for most of us. Yet that is what Sue and I have had to endure. It seems that ATT is upgrading the phone system in the Marysville area. Higher speed fiber is being installed and is has its costs. I have been reluctant to upgrade because of some of the comments I have rad on the internet. A new modem is required with the fiber upgrade for a cost! Beware some modems are on a monthly lease basis while another cost $100. They offer a free one, but it isn't the best. It seems that because I have not upgraded, ATT interrupted my service for a week. Our service was returned to us yesterday. Our repeated calls for service (no dial tone at the customer interface box out side) only gave us the satisfaction that "...service would be return no later that May 30th. You know there were storms in the area." It seems to me that for the last 40 years we never lost service due to any storm or other forms of nature. So now I will be updating the web page again... wait a minute... the phone is ringing. Its ATT and the want me to up upgrade to the new fiber... incidentally the do not run high speed fiber to your home. Your still on copper to the nearest switch station.