Island MCB 7 At Large

Now Hear This :: Spring 2005

N S V A Island MCB 7 at Large

John O Blaisdell Sec/Treas. ~ 740 W County Road F, Unit F ~ Shoreview, MN 55126-2391
Home Phone 651-490-5062 ~ E-mail jbcb1962@juno.com
web: www.mcb7.com

* * * NOW HEAR THIS * * *

To: Members and Friends of Island MCB 7 at Large

From: John Blaisdell, Secretary/Treasurer, Island MCB 7 at Large

Subject: A newsletter for Fall 2005

For those of you who failed to make the reunion in Phoenix, Arizona, I have to say you missed a really nice time. The hotel was superb, the buffet breakfast was great, the banquet was terrific and the tours were very enjoyable. Our guest speaker, Sheriff Joe Arpiao of Maricopa County, gave us some insight to his "tent camp" where he keeps the county prisoners. They are in tents, in all weather, and he feeds them with whatever he can get on sale. To take advantage of the persons he has in custody, he employs them on county projects referred to as the chain gang. This includes women prisoners who have a chain gang of their own. Equal opportunity. The workers have to earn a spot on the gang. If you ever get a chance to hear this guy, do it.

My friend Tex Wurzach reminded me at the reunion of some sage advice. Never squat with your spurs on. Some of you guys might remember Gene Ginder, a BU3 when most of us knew him in the islands. He retired a Master Chief after 28 years. I met him again at a school reunion and we chatted. He is living in Arkansas but he and Myrna vacation in the South Pacific. They recently returned from a three month barefoot cruise through Polynesia. They left again in August for five months in Polynesia. Sure sounds like tough duty.

On anniversaries, the wise husband always forgets the past but never forgets the present.

For those of you who can remember the name of the LST that got you there, there is a reunion notice out for the Terrebonne Parish LST 1156. Contact: David Bader. Seems I rode the ship either to or from Port Lyautey or both.

Many girls like to marry a military man - he can cook, sew, and make beds, and he is in good health, and he is already used to taking orders.

I attended the 2005 NSVA National Convention in Bloomington, MN. I offered to assist the local Island so I worked at the registration table for several hours for several days. It just so happened it was near the hospitality room. I was joined by Ed Monoscalco, Fred Heins, John Dever, and Dave and Irene Perkins from our Island. There were some boat tours on the river, a St Paul Saints baseball game, and several trips to the Mall of America. I thought attendance was down from the last few conventions. Next August the reunion will be held in Orlando, Florida.

Considering all the lint you get in your dryer, if you kept drying your clothes would they eventually just disappear?

At the Sunday morning meeting at the reunion in Phoenix, Hurt and Trudy Mollohan volunteered to hold the next reunion in West Warwick, Rhode Island. This is just down the highway form Davisville and near the Providence airport. The date is yet to be determined.

I still say a good wife is one who helps you with the dishes.

One of the new guys at the reunion, R Dale Kennedy, Viet Nam era, retired BUC, joined our Island. I heard from another former member of MCB 7. He was in the Viet Nam era and I don't know his rate at this time. Name is James S Beatty. If you know him, get in touch with him. After he left Seven he directed the Seabee Band. I also heard from Ronald Slater, '63-'64, from Washington state, who was an EONCN at Roosevelt Roads with Seven.

Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me. I want people to know why I look this way. I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved.

I am still having problems with the MCB 7 web site. The Pros tell me I have an old Netscape program for the site and have to either upgrade or create a new web page. I have been trying to upgrade but without much luck. A local guy will redo the site for around $450 but I am trying to get a better deal. If you know anyone who is into web site creations, let me know.

Oh, and Merry Christmas to you all Ho Ho Ho

John Blaisdell