Here is the Firstie's report from the Key West Come Around.

USNA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION RV CHAPTER

2008 Key West Come Around

After Action Report

The annual Key West Come Around was held at Truman Annex 4-11 February 2008 with 35 members, spouses and friends attending in 18 Rvs. In attendance were the Arnolds, ’62; Bradfords, ’63; Burlingames, ’65; Christensens, ’57; Conerys, ’58; Corroums, ’59; Dalla Muras, ’54; Glaesers, ’59; Hansens, ’65; Jaaps, ’60; Tom Monaghan, ’59 and Betty Hagan; the Pinkhams, ’58; Sharpes, ’48; Snyders, ’55; Van Metre, ’61; Wigingtons, ’67; Williams, ’67 and Wynns, ’59.

Our hearts went out to Mary Jane and Bob Metcalf, ’61, Firsties for the last two years, who experienced a house fire shortly before their planned departure for this Come Around. Luckily, a neighbor informed them of the smoke, the fire department responded quickly and damage was limited. However, the repairing new "skylight" in their den and other reconstructive efforts kept them from attending this year. Missed you, Metcalfs!

Monday, was devoted to settling in and visiting old friends and making new ones. A Happy Hour in the MWR tent preceded the traditional Firstie dinner. Kathie Corroum performed her culinary magic with a barbequed brisket/spiral-cut ham dinner topped off with "To Die For" brownies and carrot cake. Everyone rolled back to their rigs in "crew rest" for the next day’s events.

And well they should have, since the early morning (0830R) car pool took us to Boca Chica to sit in on the VFC-111 "Sundowners" VIP briefing to the Navy Inspector General team that happened to be visiting that week. Our group settled into the overstuffed chairs of the Ready Room and heard a terrific presentation by Commander Rod DeWalt, USNA ’87, the commanding officer of the Aggressor squadron, who fight all the fleet units that deploy from the eastern US and fleet units to train on NAS Key West’s instrumented ranges. This was followed by a replay on the large video screens of a recent exercise in the Tactical Combat Training System blockhouse. We then walked back to the hanger for a hands-on look at the venerable F-5 that these aggressors fly against the FA-18s of the fleet units. Everyone was truly impressed by this peek into today’s Navy as well as the easy, informative presentation offered by Cdr. DeWalt - not to mention his courage in allowing us to piggyback on the IG briefing! The rest of the day was devoted to lunch at various favorite Key West haunts, visiting and shopping with Happy Hour in the tent.

On Wednesday, six golfers attacked the beautiful Key West Golf Club: Jan and Bart Dalla Mura, ’54; Netta and Don Wigington, ’67 and Frank Conery, ’58 with a friend. Unfortunately, the course won, as usual! The rest of our intrepid campers slept in or visited and shopped. Happy Hour preceded our annual excursion to the El Siboney restaurant, where we were treated to a wide and delicious menu of Cuban fare.

The next morning, we car-pooled to the U. S. Army Special Forces Underwater Operations School on Fleming Key. Many of the group had watched from our sites in the Sigsbee RV park for many years as the students jumped from C-130 aircraft, boarded Zodiac boats and performed swim and dive training. Never did we dream that we could actually get a tour of this super-secret facility. And did it ever live up to our expectations! This is where all the Army’s Special Forces personnel get their underwater and dive training. We were briefed by CWO3 Mike Grogan, who has been in the Special Forces almost since he enlisted in the Army in 1983. He stood in for the commander, Maj. Pat Leslie, who had just received orders to deploy to Iraq within two weeks. Fortunately, his orders were later rescinded and he will not have to pull his fourth combat tour in the War on Terror - at least for now. One of the highlights was a lecture by the unit medical officer and a hands-on tour of the compression chamber that is used for all dive accidents, civilian as well as military, in the Lower Keys. It was truly a memorable day.

After lunch, we gathered at the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center for a reprise of the tour that was set up last year by Bob and Mary Jane Metcalf. Some members had not seen this wonderful exhibit, while the rest agreed that there was so much to see that it was worth a repeat. Another Happy Hour in the tent completed our day.

Friday dawned clear and calm, an auspicious start for the day of our Day Sail on two Danger Charters boats. We were transported to the dock by the MWR bus and went aboard the skipjacks at 1400. After a quick ride under power out to the area with fresh fruit trays and soft drinks, we were given a swim call while a fleet of kayaks was brought topside. We were given several lectures about marine life and the vegetation of the hammocks (islands) before and during our kayak tour. The captain and crew members who accompanied our group were extremely knowledgeable and keen on ecological issues regarding the keys and reefs. The kayak voyage was followed immediately by almost an hour of snorkeling, with all the gear and instruction included as needed. Many of our group were amazed at the number of colorful fish and the beauty of the gulf bottom vegetation. One of the crew members brought up a conch shell with a large, old hermit crab inside! After we retrieved the line from the mooring buoy, we sailed back to the Mallory Square area of Key West, enjoying some delicious hors d’oeuvre beer, wine and even champagne with a magnificent sunset on the way. The MWR bus was waiting to assure all of our senior citizens a safe passage back to the RVs. What a wonderful day it had been!

Board of Directors member, Jack Glaeser, conducted the Chapter meeting on Friday morning, and folks enjoyed lunch on their own. In the afternoon, we gathered in the open field behind the RVs for the Great Golf Cart Race. MWR loaned us a golf cart and some traffic cones which were laid out to form a short slalom course with gates and a box. The idea was to begin at the start-finish line, go through each gate, back into the box and cross the start-finish line in the shortest time. There was only one complication: the navigator in the right seat had to verbally direct the driver who was BLINDFOLDED! Penalty seconds were added for indiscretions like verbal abuse, physical abuse, hitting cones, destroying cones and any other "frap" at the discretion on the Race Director, Bill Corroum. What a hilarious bunch of inept drivers our chapter possesses! The best time was recorded by Patti and Jay Williams, ’67, who were awarded an appropriate medal.

Another Happy Hour in the Tent led to the famous Van Metre Lobsteerfest. Once again, Brian, ably assisted by Charlie Pinkham, ’58 (you know who did all the heavy lifting), put on a real feast. Of course, the rest of the gang put together some fabulous side dishes and desserts to round off this very popular event.

Sunday saw many folks heading out for church services, while others took part in the countless breakfast meals and brunch buffets at local restaurants. This was the final free day, so the sea stories reached a crescendo, and the assault on the stores and shops hit a climax. Following the last Happy Hour, everyone split up for dinner on their own. Monday morning, the Firsties offered breakfast pastries while folks made plans to resume at the next Come Around. There were many wishes of "Fair Winds and Following Seas" as we departed Truman Annex.

Kathie and Bill Corroum, ’59