[CAPT Grim, USN, Ret]

[CAPT Grim, USN, Ret]

As many of you may know, HAL-3 reunion this year is in San Diego from 3-6 September 2018. Please go to HAL-3 website or facebook page to get more information. HCS and 84/85 members have been attending several of these events through the years now and it has always been a great experience. On Wednesday, 5 SEP, HSC-85 will be hosting a BBQ in honor of HAL-3 and all HAL/HCS/84/85 alumni who would like to attend. Event will be at hangar and should be a great time to meet up with past, current and future members of the community.

[CAPT Grim, USN, Ret]

From: CDR Joe Zack, CO of HSC-85 Firehawks

Gents

I wanted to reach out for a few reasons. First to let you know that the Seawolf Reunion is in San Diego in September. Specifically we will be hosting a BBQ in our hangar at HSC-85.

http://www.seawolf.org/2018reunion/2018a.asp

The invitation is open to all alumni. That being said I volunteered to host and the cost is on me. Mark Brush has started a go fund me page to assist with the catering costs. My intent is no Seawolf nor any of my E-6 and below will pay. Whatever we don’t cover here I am going to cover.

https://www.gofundme.com/hal3-seawolf-reunion-bbq

I appreciate Butch allowing me to solicit you all!

I truly hope that you can make it, if you have never been it is amazing to be able to spend time with these hero’s and their families. I would also like to show off the legacy you have created.

V/R, Joe Zack

CDR Joe Zack
Commanding Officer
HSC-85 Firehawks
Office: 619-545-7209
Cell: 858-922-2166
NIPR: joe.zack@navy.mil
SIPR: joseph.zack@navy.smil.mil

[CAPT Grim, USN, Ret]

From: Sean Butcher

Would like to get more traction regarding winter social. I’m recommending Norfolk, VA for this year and now need to hammer out a date and then establishment. A few have weighed in on dates but need to get moving if we want to firm this up.

– Date/time: Thinking to keeping in mid-winter and away from any holidays so some dates again.

– 02-03 FEB
– 09-10 FEB
– 23-24 FEB

If we have enough support for a gathering, will start to focus on location, and establishment.
As always, please spread the word to folks who might not be in on this distro.

Cheers,

Butch

[CAPT Grim, USN, Ret]

From: Sean Butcher

Warrior, friends,
I’m sure everyone is gearing up for the holiday but our timeline to pick a date and establishment for winter social is getting tight. Main intent of this email is to get a date for the event and how many would like to attend. To refresh everyone:

Where: Norfolk, VA
When: Proposed dates- Request dates you could make it in priority order.
2 FEB
9 FEB
23 FEB

How many guests: You coming alone? Bringing someone …. let me know.

Currently tracking up to 11 folks who would like to attend…. Have not head from anyone else.

Joe DiPaola,

Ralph Cacci

Bob Larned

Leon Garber

Jim Garrow

Brian Bartlett

Chris Murphy

Sean Butcher

Tom Dougherty

Mike Steffen

Sam Harris

Hope to see you guys this winter to catch up, please reply to all in the cc line with positive, negative or questions.

Cheers,

Butch

[CAPT Grim, USN, Ret]

From: Sean Butcher

Gents,
Looks like 23 February has won out by a nose. I realize that some of you will not be able to make it due to scheduling conflicts and that is disappointing but I also realize that we would have lost some folks regardless what date we picked.

First off, below is the list of names and number in each party that has rogered up for the weekend of 23 February. Please review the list to make sure it’s accurate. If you’re not on the list and want to attend, please let the group in the cc line know and we will take care of it.

The cc line cast of characters:
myself, Tom Dougherty, Don Hughes, Chris Sillman, and Leon Garber.

Now that we have a rough number of guests (+/- 5), Leon is going to be point man to find a place that can house this august body and come up with dinner and costing for each person. Don Hughes will be point man on collecting the money ….. the fun part.

Look forward to seeing everyone again soon.

Cheers,
Butch

DATE: 23-FEB
L Name F Name # party
Bartlett Brian 1
Bauer Brian 1
Bishop Andy 2
Brinker Alex 1
Butcher Sean 2
Cacci Ralph 1
Carroll Rich 1
DiPaola Joe 2
Dougherty Tom 1
Emerson Tracy 2
Garber Leon 1
Garrow Jim 1
Harris Sam 1
Hoesly Mike 2
Lukin Lain 1
McTigue Kevin 1
Orgain Marc 1
Persiani Matt 1
Ridings Chuck 1
Sillman Chris 2
Swain JW 1
Terronez Dante 2
Weselesky Allen 2
Wright Matt 1

Total 32

[CAPT Grim, USN, Ret]

From Marc Orgain

Redwolves and Firehawks

I was completely surprised and absolutely humbled to receive your very thoughtful gift at last night’s dinner. While I am always impressed by the generosity of this group, I have never seen such OPSEC. (Even when Skipper Dumont told us all to leave our cell phones at home so that we could not be tracked by the enemy, our wives were able to track our every movement on our pre invasion European vacation through our credit cards.) Due to the surprise, eloquence failed me in the moment so allow me to express my thanks in print.

It is true that when I retired, I requested not to be recognized. I made this request because , I owe so much to this group that it did not seem right to accept anything further. Whether we deployed together or just share a love for the same remarkable squadrons, you have given me more than I can repay in a dozen careers.

Patient mentors who showed me a better way
Leaders who challenged me to step up my game
Crewmen who saved our lives more than once
Good friends who helped me celebrate the good and endure the bad
Men and women who remained dedicated to the mission and the people despite unforgiving conditions, hostile fire and the malignant neglect of Big Navy.
Staff and political warriors who fought by all available means to preserve a critical capability that parochial pressure and shortsighted budgeteers sought to destroy.
Families that supported / support us at home and overseas

You are truly a magnificent family of misfits. This has always been our strength as it gave us freedom to dedicate ourselves to mission and each other. No one else was going to do it or could do it. You could not have accomplished all that you did and continue to without this common undistracted focus.

Thank you for recognizing me as a member of this family. I am forever humbled by your generosity. Like any member of a good family, I know I can never repay you for all that you have given me….I am OK with that ;-).

In the bonds…
Ogie, Organ, Huge
Marc Orgain

[CAPT Grim, USN, Ret]

Message Body
Warriors/ friends,
Fall update for you regarding a variety of topics that will need your attention and input.
To start off, a few milestones to touch on regarding some members:

ADMINISTRATIVE
CAPT Mike Steffen, recently pinned on his first star in Norfolk, VA. Mike has served many years in both HCS-4 and HCS-5 and was Commanding Officer of HSM-60 in Jacksonville. He recently served as the EA for the Chief of Navy Reserve, VADM Luke McCollum. This is the third member of our organization that has achieved Flag rank in the last decade. Well Done Mike.

Speaking of the HCS Flags, RADM Russ Allen, former HCS-5 CO will be retiring soon. Once I get some details, will certainly share but want to thank RADM Allen for all of his support through the years and congratulations to a most impressive career.

Senior Chief Logan Warner retired October 4th as an HSC-85 Firehawk in San Diego. Warner is one of the most decorated crewman in the HCS/84-85 community and that says a lot concerning the company he is in. Enshrined in the Combat Aircrew Roll of Honor on the USS Yorktown, congratulations Logan on an amazing career and best of luck on the next chapter.

Other items:

WINTER SOCIAL
Running a little late but hoping there is enough interest to have another social event this coming winter where we can enjoy each other’s company once again. These events seem to get bigger each year and I for one certainly look forward to it.

Would there be some interest to have this affair in another location, somewhere in the mid-Atlantic again? Perhaps Washington DC, Richmond, Williamsburg or Norfolk/ Virginia Beach? Will send out an email this coming week to iron out dates and location.

Please pass to the folks in the cc line your primary and secondary preference for location.

Perhaps late February or March would be amenable…………….
22-23 Feb
29-01 Feb/Mar
07-08 Mar
14-15 Mar
21-22 Mar

Please pass to the folks in the cc line your primary and secondary wish for weekend

SURVEY/QUESTIONNAIRE
Chris Sillman is working on an electronic survey questionnaire that will go out to all of you to help us shape where we want to go with this organization. Is a social dinner club enough or is there a desire for a more structured organization?

WEBSITE
Our website is up and running, firewolf-association.org
Please take a look, this is first edition and will only improve with input.

We are in need of any members who have experience in building/ maintaining a website and managing social media;

please contact me directly and I can fill you in on where we are and what we need.

This website was originally built to support the legislative pillar of this organization to lobby and support the squadrons on Capitol Hill.

LEGISLATIVE ACTION
THE US Navy, once again, is planning on shuttering HSC-85 in 2021. We will be asking for your help starting soon to support our lobbying effort as we engage with key members of congress and their staffs to help save the only remaining Navy squadron dedicated to NSW/SOF support.

To help spread the word, we would be interested in meeting and interviewing with journalists and publications that might find this topic interesting and would like more information on the topic. We are ready to engage.

Thanks for your time and attention, standby for more info.

In short order…. Due outs for you guys:

1- Primary and Secondary location for winter social.
2- Primary and Secondary date for winter social.
3- Volunteers to help run our website/ social media
3- Please complete survey when delivered.

Cheers,
Butch
Sean Butcher
HCS-4/HSC-84
1999-2010

sbutchman@msn.com
cell: (757) 576-6417

[CAPT Grim, USN, Ret]

2020 Winter social update number two
Message Body

Warriors, friends,
Second email to pitch upcoming winter social in March for HAL/HCS/84-85 alumni. I have received some feedback and right now have 20 folks who are interested in attending. If you have reached out to me, no action required regarding this email.

Details below:
Location: Norfolk, Va Beach venue
When: Target weekends below (please provide desired weekends in priority order for you.
14-15 March
21-22 March
28-29 March

In a nutshell- I need three things:
You would like to attend.
How many in your party will be attending.
Preferred weekend(s) in priority order.
Once we have some more inputs, we will put out a final weekend and work on venue and menu.

In addition, RDML Mike Steffen would like to host an informal gathering at his quarters on Friday evening prior to social.

More to follow.
Cheers,
Butch

Sean Butcher
sbutchman@msn.com
cell: (757)576-6417

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