27 October 2009
After Action Report, Watts Bar, TN
(aka Last Come Around of the Year)
The annual 'End Of The Year' RV Chapter gathering again took place at Watts Bar, TN, celebrating
the 9th year of the USNA RV Alumni Chapter. We also loudly supported and celebrated the Navy victory over Wake Forest.
Great game, even viewed on satellite.
Attending were, by laundry number, were Faye and Vic Sharpe '48A, Lynn and Dave 'Red Dog'
Cannon '53, Deanie and Terry Sutherland '54, Malinda and Neil Bates '57, Nancy and Denny Sloan '57, Marion and Frank Conery
'58, Chris and Walt Baskin '59, Kathie and Bill Corroum '59, Marie and Jim Roberts '59, Mary Lou and Mike 'Zoomie' Stevens
'59, Mary Jane and Bob Metcalf '61, Susan and Charlie Norton '62, and Dee and Bill Bradford '63. Together we enjoyed the daily
campfires, the beer calls, the pot luck dinners, and particularly, the 'war' stories. We learned again how the oldest classes
had to walk/march to class, barefoot in the snow, uphill both ways when the Academy was 'growing up' in the 'good old days.
And, of course, we heard how tough a plebe year THEY had, while all the younger classes skated.
Chef Neil Bates teased our tastebuds with his marvelous grilled hickory baked pork shoulder,
and Jim Roberts did his usual superb job with the minced beef breakfast with bacon eggs and juice. Donuts abounded around
the morning coffee.
This 'End Of Year' gathering has become so popular that it is now lasting over a week, with
many coming early, and others staying late. Mike Stevens regrets to report, but feels obliged to do so, that he still owes
Frank Conery a golf club cleaning dating to when he borrowed Marion's clubs to teach us all how to play the game. "I do remember
him borrowing the clubs, but I can't seem to remember him teaching us very much", says Frank.
So ends the Come Around Year of 2009. Until next time....'Whenever two or three shall meet..............
