So you think you can dance

The pressures of operating in a deployed status are unfathomable to the citizen who has never served. The stressors lead to lifelong friendships and fellowship. Today over a lunch of leftover homemade spaghetti and meatballs the discussion turned to the greatest dancers ever. If you are as stiff as Britney at the video awards, watch this and start stretching.

So you think you can dance? Be prepared to be amazed. This is better each time I see it.

September 11th, 2007

I have the good fortune to lead over 15,000 active duty Sailors and Marines who serve their Navy, Marine Corps and their Nation with honor. They do this voluntarily and a majority have taken their oath following September 11th 2001.

"I, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the constitution of the United States of America against all enemies foreign and domestic, and that I will bear true faith allegiance to the same. I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and all officers appointed over me in accordance with the Uniform Code of Military Justice. I take this obligation freely and without mental reservation or purpose of evasion and I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter. So help me God."

I thank each of you for taking the oath. I thank our families and friends for without your support we could not do this mission.

God bless America. We will never forget.

For another thought on 9/11 please read the comment to this earlier blog entry.

God Speed "Junie" Clark

Garnett Yelverton Clark Jr 1915-2007

Garnett Yelverton “Junie’ Clark, banker, businessman, volunteer, died of complications from pneumonia and heart disease at Anne Arundel Medical Center on June 20, 2007. He had been a resident of Annapolis since 1932. Born October 30, 1915 in Howard County MD, he attended the Donaldson School near Ilchester, MD from 1926 through 1932. In 1936 he graduated from St. John’s College in Annapolis, MD. In the summer of 1937 he signed on the Finnish four-masted barque, VIKING as an apprentice seaman for a voyage around the world as a merchant seaman. VIKING carried a cargo of timber from Finland to East London, South Africa and 4000 tons of wheat from Australia around Cape Horn to London.

During World War II he served 5 years as an officer in the Navy, mostly in destroyers in the Atlantic, European, and Pacific theatres. He was gunnery officer aboard USS Shubrick during the invasion of Sicily.

Following the war he entered the insurance business and was president of the Clark -Melvin Companies, insurance brokers, pension plans, and security dealers in Annapolis from 1958 to 1984. He was a Director of Annapolis Federal Savings Bank for 33 yrs and served as Chairman of the Board for 12 years.

He was always interested and involved in the history and development for the future of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County. As such, he helped to found the Anne Arundel Medical Center Foundation Inc. Then, as its Chairman of the Board he spearheaded the campaign to establish the current Medical Park campus. He was a founding member of the Board of Directors of Annapolis Life Care Inc. which established the Ginger Cove retirement community. He was a Trustee and member of the Executive Committee of the Naval Academy Foundation Inc., and a Member of the Historic Annapolis Advisory Board. He funded a project to research the earliest history of Londontown, All Hallows Church, and The South River Club and mentored the Lost Towns Projects staff and college interns who greatly benefited from his extensive knowledge of the region.

He was a member of the Annapolis Yacht Club for 67 years, ultimately becoming its senior member. For 48 years he was a member of the New Providence Club of Annapolis and a member of The South River Club for more than 25 years. He was also a member of the Merion Cricket Club in Haverford, PA. He was a longtime member and faithfully attended All Hallows Church in Davidsonville, MD.

He was married to Mary Burwell Melvin Clark of Annapolis for 49 years until her death in 1989. He later married Mary Jane Hanson Thacher of Gladwyne, PA. They were married for 14 years until her death in 2004. He is survived by two daughters, Mary “Mollie” Clark Pratt of Palm Beach Gardens, FL and Patricia Thacher Scott of Paris, France and two sons, Captain Garnett Y. “Sandy” Clark III, USN retired of Coeur d’Alene Idaho and John H. “Turk” Thacher, Jr., three sisters, Nancy Clark Kramer of Parkville, MD, Elizabeth Dawson Butcher of Gaithersburg, MD, Carolyn Dawson Runia of Aurora, CO, as well as 11 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11 AM on the 6th of July 2007 in Friendship Hall at Ginger Cove, River Crescent Drive, Annapolis, MD. Arrangements are being made by John M. Taylor Funeral Home. Memorial contributions, in lieu of flowers, may be made to Chesapeake Bay Foundation, 6 Herndon Avenue, Annapolis, MD.

"Life don't suck"

A recent commander's conference brought three Naval Academy alumni and task force commanders together. Following a day of meetings and briefings we three "2 star lieutenants" pulled a little liberty, ate Thai curry, and then retreated to the Upstairs Downstairs where we were greeted by our friend Mohammad and ushered to our table to sip Irish whiskey, smoke cigars and swap sea stories. Kevin took a deep draw on his Cuban, set down his drink, smiled and declared, "life don't suck." Here here.

The Perfect Martini

Is there such a thing as the perfect martini? Vodka or gin? Shaken or stirred? Olive or onion? If you know your martinis you see the glaring error already. Add an onion and it's no longer a martini but rather a Gibson. The history of the martini is not as documented as many other cocktails, but one thing is for sure, Ian Flemming changed the way it was prepared for us all when James Bond ordered his shaken not stirred. That's how we make one in my circles - shaken not stirred.

The proper shaker is the two piece Boston Shaker. No self respecting pro would use the three piece cobbler found in most home bartender kits. Go directly to Bar Products online. Great prices for all your cocktail needs. Let's build that perfect Martini.

Chill your martini glasses by refrigerating them or just fill with ice as you prepare the drink.

1. Fill shaker with ice
2. Add one ounce of vermouth to your shaker
3. Stir vermouth with your bar spoon to coat the ice
4. Pour out the vermouth, it's done its job.
5. Add 2 1/2 ounces of Bombay Sapphire gin (this is the premium gin do not substitute)
6. Shake horizontally for the best surface action. When your fingers are cold and there's frost on the shaker it's ready
7. Dump the ice from your glass and drop in one olive
8. Crack open the shaker and pour into your chilled glass, straining the ice
   

Your martini will be slightly cloudy and there will be a thin film of ice on the surface. I'll spare you the science of the ice, shaking, gin and olive combination. Enjoy. Cheers.

As the bartender at Sardi's says, "one martini is too few, and three, why that's just crazy.

Captain Mike "Breeze" Barea

Breeze is one in a million. One of my go to guys, he recently ran our relief efforts following Cyclone Gonu in the Gulf of Oman. He was able to get two warships into port Bahrain, load them up with gear and send them back to sea in less than one day. He used force of personality and the bribe of a pack of gum to the local head of port security. Is this a great country or what? Did I mention Breeze flys faster than the speed of sound in his Tomcat?

USS Bonhomme Richard LHD-6

My flagship is presently the USS Bonhomme Richard Commanded by my good friend Captain Steve Greene callsign "Greeno." I've known Greeno for over 25 years now; a friendship starting when I first taught him to fly the SH-2F LAMPS helicopter back in the early 80's.
Steve, in his words, is living the dream. He commands over 1000 Sailors and Marines as well as one of the Navy's greatest ships. A quick walkabout on his ship and you see a shipshape squared away outfit with high morale and a professional crew. It was a real treat to visit his ship while the crew loaded gear to respond to any humanitarian relief efforts following Cyclone GONU's passage through the Gulf of Oman. Thanks for a super visit Steve. All Americans can sleep tight tonight knowing you and your crew stand the watch here in the Middle East and around the globe.

"Where the hell is Admiral Hall!" (Not a question)

The doors of my command center blew open the other day and a booming voice startled my staff. "Where the hell is Admiral Hall?" was the question that served as an announcement that classmate and friend, General Dave Papak had arrived in town. Luggage lost and needing a shave from a 30 plus hour trek from New Orleans to Bahrain, Dave flashed his signature smile and an impromptu NAPS '72 - USNA '76 reunion was called to order.

After catching up with each other Dave ran off to the Horn of Africa to check on his Marines serving there. On his route back through Bahrain we continued to catch up and swap stories over beers at the Fiddler's Green pub at the Diplomat Hotel where he was staying. I mention the Fiddler's Green because that was the name of our enlisted club at Naval Training Center Bainbridge where we all started on this path 36 years ago. We are no longer 19 years old but the laughter and stories and friendship have not aged at all. Great seeing you Dave.