Here it is my last few months as President of our Association. I have enjoyed it very much and am looking forward to serving under the next person you select. I am looking forward to locating shipmates. That will be my main goal in the coming years.

At this time I want to give credit where credit is due. I could have done nothing without my wife, Kay. She has been 110% behind me in this endeavor. She never meets a stranger and has fallen in love with the Whetstone Association crew and family. She works harder at it than I do and never asks anything in return. She has faith that you all will come through with financial support and the percent that are faithful always come through and have made her very proud. So not only am I praising my wife, I'm thanking all of you for your support of the Association. Without you, this could never work. There are so many that have called, written, encouraged and kept us focused. I have made so many new friends and count myself fortunate to know you all.. 

I want to impress on you why I am so gungho about the reunions. I made a call last week to a friend that I met aboard ship to see if he was coming to San Diego. His wife said he was looking forward to the reunion but he passed away in February. I was very saddened that I wouldn't be seeing Darrell Jepsen, as well as others I served with.