A collection of news this issue thanks to lots of folks sending in information.

Quite a group of 83ers - Spike Kelly, Chip Strangfeld, Tom Cullen, Paul Wiedenhoeft, Brad Robinson, Matt Cutts, Fred Tucher, and Rod Smith - gathered in Alameda, CA in August as part of a Planning Section Meeting. The details with the photo didn't say if anything other than the get-together lunch was on the planning agenda. Overall it looks like the meeting was quite a success.

Left to Right: Paul Wiedenhoeft, Tom Cullen, Chip Stragfeld, Spike Kelly, Brad Robinson, Matt Cutts, Fred Tucher, Rod Smith in Alameda, CA.

Congratulations to Sarah Shores on her appointment to the Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service in the position of Chief, Office for Human Resources, Directorate for Human Capital at the Defense Intelligence Agency. I'm not sure I have the clearance to know any more about Sarah's position, other than it sounds way cool. It's great to see a classmate serving in such an important position. Sarah hosted a few classmates (Mike Tekesky, John Macaluso, Ed Thiedeman, and Gene Gray - as well as Mary & Charlie Jager who missed the class photo-shoot) for a get-together on her last day at CG Headquarters.

Mike Tekesky, John Macaluso, Sarah Shores, Ed Thiedeman, Gene Gray at Sarah's Farewell.

A birth announcement came in from John Macaluso: "I'm very happy to announce the birth of our fourth child and first son, Noah L. Macaluso (7 lb 2 oz and 20 inches). He was born on Friday August 25, 2006, at DeWitt Army Community Hospital. Betsy and Noah are doing very well. The Army doctor said he has a sound body, a stout heart, and an alert mind. With a name like Noah he should easily develop a liking for the sea and its lore. His sisters, Laura, Giuliana, and Emma (who attended our 20th reunion at the CGA) are helping out a lot - it's getting to the point where I'll have to take a number to hold my son. We'll have to manage Noah's schooling carefully to ensure he is in an odd class at CGA." Congratulations Betsy & John. One more future 83-derivative headed to CGA.

Becky Dyche wrote to say that she came back to be with the Coast Guard family over a year ago. Previously she was in Minnesota where her husband was VP for Special Assets with U.S. Bank. In Becky's words, "It's been great coming back, running into so many people. I am the Web Program Manager, working in CG-6 over at the Jemal Building (I'm not sure if it's going to ever by called HQ2!) John Macaluso, Ed Thiedeman and I represent the class here in CG-6 but I've seen Kirk Hiles and Dan Abel wandering around in this building. I've also seen Kristy Plourde plenty since my return. She's settled in an extremely busy job with TC Yorktown and has an awesome house in near Colonial Williamsburg." Becky's son Kyle is interested in applying for CGA's class of 2011 and Becky said that he is extremely excited about the prospect of being in an odd-numbered class. She did mention that doing 11 push-ups seems a bit whimpy. Welcome back to the Coast Guard Becky and best wishes for Kyle in his CGA pursuit.

The enclosed photo of Chris Sinnett and Annmarie (Hickey) Georgopolis was taken this summer when Eagle sailed into Portsmouth, VA. Annmarie was surprised to see an '83er in command of Eagle, and she said Chris is doing a wonderful job.

Chirs Sinnett and Annmarie Georgopolis at the EAGLE Captain's Reception in Portsmouth, NH

I asked Annmarie for an update on things, to which she responded, "I've been married to my wonderful husband Jerry Georgopolis for 19 years. We own a couple of acres and a lovely colonial-style home in East Hampstead, NH. I still go out to Plum Island a lot, to visit with my mother and make sure that she is all right. Plum Island - which is in Newbury, MA - is where I grew up. Jerry has nearly 38 years with the Phone Company – which was originally New England Telephone and is now Verizon up here in the Northeast. I worked in Boston for the telephone company, for almost 17 years - that is where Jerry and I met. After I left the Academy, I worked during the day for New England Telephone in Boston, and attended night school at Merrimack College in Andover, MA. I finished my degree, majoring in Mathematics and got into computer programming at work. I moved on from my career at the Phone Company, to a successful, second career as an independent computer consultant working with PeopleSoft software - and have done very well at it for the past nine years. Then as a side note to that career, I took pen in hand and have written a number of stories. My latest, a children's story called An American Flag for Their Father, was published just last year. It was a tribute to my beloved father, who has since passed away - and to my older brother, Lieutenant Colonel Martin Hickey, who served with the 804th Medical Brigade in the Middle East for over a year, during this latest Gulf War. Although it is a fictional story, it is based on a lot of truths about our childhood, growing up out on Plum Island. I'm always happy to hear how well my classmates are doing. It is a lot of fun to take a peak at the '83 HomePage and to see what positive things are going on in old friends' lives. I still keep in contact with some old pals from the Academy. Many of them are graduates from '83 or '82. But I also keep in touch with other '83 non- I graduates like my old pal, Lauren (Larkin) Kruysman. She is doing very well. She and her husband Keith have been very happily married for many years now. And they are currently in the process of building a brand new home at the beach, in Milford, CT. They have three beautiful children, Keith Jr. Kourtney, and Kelly. Thanks Annmarie for sending along the update. You can take a look at Annmarie’s book at www.ahg7.com. Continued best wishes.

From Terry Gilbreath: “Here is a picture of my son and I at the Chinese Wall in the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Western Montana. We completed a 68-mile hike in 6 days with a crossing of the Continental Divide twice from East to West and then back from West to East. Hope all is well - Terry"

Terry Gilbreath and his son, hiking in the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Western Montana.

One last note - Greg MacGregor sent a note that he was looking to get in touch with Cub Schlatter. I don't have access to my normal e-mail list, so I am hoping that someone out there can connect Greg and Cub. From Greg's e-mail, it looks like he works for Gore-Tex. Any way we can get some Gore-Tex 83-jackets for the next reunion?

Thanks for all the updates. Cheers to all - Vince & Jean