News From Fort Schuyler

December 21, 1998 - Volume 2, No. 59

HOLIDAY GREETINGS FROM THE CHAGOS ARCHIPELAGO - A reminder that many sea-going Fort Schuyler graduates will be far from home for the holidays comes from KEVIN COATES, Class of 1979, 2nd Mate M/V USNS Henry J. Kaiser. "Greetings from the Rapid Deployment Force, Diego Garcia, BIOT (British Indian Ocean Territory), 'The Rock.' There are four of us out here now: TOM SHATTUCK, Class of 1975, Chief Mate M/V Potomac, JAMES SULLIVAN, Class of 1979, 3^rd A/Engr M/V Potomac, and DAVID PRYOR, Class of 1983, Chief Mate M/V USNS Henry J. Kaiser. Dave and I got a big kick out of the basketball note [MC vs. KP 1/30@ MSG.] I played basketball for the Maritime College, Dave played hockey." From Fort Schuyler to those at sea, our holiday greetings and thanks to all of you who are out there far from hearth and home 'holding down the front lines.'

BELAY THAT LAST PIPE! - Thanks to all who noted that NFFS listed the incorrect month (why just err by a day or two?) for the return date of the training ship to Fort Schuyler. As AL AYMER, Class of 1967, noted: "I know things work a bit differently 'neath the shade of the Bridge. But it looks as if TSES Empty Crate will return to the Fort BEFORE it leaves Wales! Perhaps the latest incarnation of SUNY MC's "cruise liner" has a new WARP SPEED added to the traditional engine telegraph settings."

WHAT'S IN A NAME (I)? - Not everyone enjoys the continuing investigation into the origin of the term 'Domer.' For example, IRV WILLIAMS, Class of 1947, writes: "I have come to the conclusion after seeing the messages re DOMERS that it is an acronym for 'Dull Obscure Mutterings Everlastingly Repetitive.'" Sorry, Irv, but this research must continue. For example, a Domer scholar with very sharp eyes, KEVIN TOKARSKI, Class of 1984, claims that "..my class ring has inscribed 'THE DOME' on a pennant flying at the masthead of the ST. MARY'S between two lower pennants that state 'Loyalty' and 'Valor.'"

WHAT'S IN A NAME (II)? - "I graduated in '65 and never hear the term Domer until I came to MARAD," writes BOB BEHR. "The term I remember is 'cupcake.' The locals used it. I specifically recall it being used in a chat with a couple of Bronx thugs in the 'Vous' [The Rendezvous, once a local "watering hole"] just before they beat me unconscious. Unfortunately I didn't have the presence of mind to inquire as to the derivation of the term. Somehow, I think it must have been related to our hats." (Those style feuds of the Sixties were something, weren't they ?)

WHAT'S IN A NAME (III)? - An interesting, but distressing, aside was included in a recent note from DENNIS COMPTON, Class of 1976. He wrote: "By the way, my name was DENNIS GAY, Class of 1971, but I resigned in 1970 and returned later to finish in the class of 1976. In 1993 I changed my last name to Compton to lighten a burden (the name) being passed on to two young sons." In later correspondence, Dennis explains the intent of his action was: "...to give the children a choice as to lifestyles rather than live through years of derision and teasing about a name. It was certainly not done as a judgement of other lifestyles, good or bad, just a way to give two kids the room to choose without unnecessary pressures (like the hundreds of phone calls we would get at home.)" The power of words. What's in a name, indeed!

UNDERSTANDING FROM A DISTANCE - "I am very fortunate," writes KEVIN COATES from the Indian Ocean," in that my wife understands that going to sea is not only a job, but also a profession. As you can surmise, it has been trying at times. However, I only have 6 more years to go before I can retire with a full 30 years of federal service in MSC." Kevin's wife, Dr. Jean A. Coates, is a faculty member in SUNY Plattsburgh's Department of Nursing.

AIN'T TECHNOLOGY GREAT? - Thanks to the continuing work of the Alumni Association web site creator, JOE TARTAGLIA, Class of 1976, you can access back issues of News from Fort Schuyler by going to http://www.fsmaa.org/nffs/nffs.cfm When the entire NFFS archive is loaded, Joe plans to add a search engine to the whole file. What a nice way to end the year ' recognition.

REMINDER - The college will continue the practice of shutting down most offices during the winter break in order to save money on heat and salaries. The Luce Library Reading Room, therefore, will be closed through Sunday, January 3.