Tucson Rifle Club, Inc.

HC 2 Box 7128

Tucson, AZ 85735-9729

Newsletter- Tucson Rifle Club – January 2002

MONTHLY MATCH SCHEDULES:

1st Saturday - Blackpowder Cartridge Rifle Silhouette 9AM and Tucson Action Shooters

1st Sunday – NRA Hi-Power Rifle Silhouette 9:30 AM and The Old Pueblo Cowboy Single Action 9AM

2nd Saturday – 1000yd.NBRSA (Light & Heavy) 7AM and Tactical Multi-gun Night Shoot (1600 hrs).

2nd Sunday - 1000yd Saguaro Benchrest 7AM; Southern Arizona Wildlife Callers (SAWC) Prairie Dog Silhouette (*) 9AM

3rd Saturday - TASC

3rd Sunday - NRA Small-Bore Rifle Silhouette (10AM); The Altar Valley Pistoleros Cowboy Single Action (9AM)

4th Saturday - High Power Rifle-NMC (80 round) & The President's Practical Tactical Multi-Gun Action Match (afternoon ~12:30)

4th Sunday - IHMSA Small-Bore Pistol Silhouette AND Big-Bore w/Field Pistol 9AM and Old Pueblo Muzzle Loaders (OPML); (*) “Even” months only e.g. February, April, June, August, October, etc.

Anything on a 5th Weekend are usually special events so do the smart thing CALL THE RANGE to find out what is going on if you THINK you are going to have a certain range ALL to yourself. 

·         RANGE HOURS  7:00 AM to 5:00 PM Daily

Call the Range 822-5189 for information & conformation of match dates and times.

Note: TRC monthly meetings are held in TWO different places depending on the month (so pay attention), they are: at the Range in the Alibi Inn on the 3rd Sunday of the EVEN months at 3 PM and in Tucson at Diamondback

Police Supplies 170 S Kolb Rd on the 3rd Wednesday of the ODD the months at 6 PM.

·      Next meeting January 16th 6PM at Diamondback.

Visit the TRC Website: www.tucsonrifleclub.org

The Four Basic Rules of Firearms Safety

1.   Always handle firearms as if they are loaded and ready to fire.

2.        Always point the muzzle in a safe direction.

(“Safe” means at something you are willing to destroy OR at something that can effectively stop the round)

3.         Always Keep your finger straight along the frame until you are on target  and  ready to fire.

4.        Always Be sure your target and what's behind it are safe to shoot.

(know where your bullets are going to stop)

The Four Rules of  Firearms Etiquette

(rules for handling guns in the presence of other persons)

1.   Never accept OR hand a weapon to anyone unless the action is open.

2.        Never place a weapon anywhere unless the action is open & unloaded.

3.        Never let the muzzle of any weapon that you control cross anyone's body.

4.        Whenever you handle a weapon that has been out of your control, verify the condition of the weapon immediately—action is open & unloaded.

·         REMINDER – Tucson Rifle Club requires range users to utilize an OPEN BOLT INDICATOR (OBI) and they SHALL be installed (properly) in every firearm ON the Firing Line of each and every range during a CEASEFIRE.

TRC Election Results (from the Annual Meeting)

President - Will Schmall       waschmall@west.raytheon.com

Vice President - Dave Tetrault   3sons@azstarnet.com

Treasurer - May Warren              may126@aol.com

Secretary - Jim Bertrand             Bertrandzona@msn.com

Executive Officer - Maury Krupp  kiloapa@theriver.com

Action Shooting Director - Larry Novak   novakL264@aol.com

Pistol Director - Kevin Baker    khbaker@flash.net

Rifle Director - Ron Calderone     886 – 3103 w  

Safety Officer - Brian Goodwin  ezrablg@aol.com

Upcoming events:

CALLING ALL KIDS for the TRC Junior Marksmanship Rifle Program.  Beginning in 2002 our club will be offering a junior rifle program. Young people are the very future of the shooting sports and we would like to help foster a lifelong interest in marksmanship. If you have a child (10years or older) or know of someone who would be interested in learning about or more about shooting, we would like to invite you to our 1st organizational meeting.
Where - Diamondback Police Supply Co. 170 S. Kolb Rd. (It is on the SW side of Kolb  across from Home Depot)
When - Jan. 11th, 2002 at 7:00PM
Please call Tony Durante at 512-1065 or May Warren 529-3591 to tell us you are coming to the meeting or of your interest. If you are unable to attend this meeting, please tell us so we can keep you informed of future meetings. A parent or responsible person must attend with child for this 1st meeting.
Many thanks to all the people who have been so supported of this project. Especially to Dick Scott who has donated 2 rifles, a huge amount of ammo, and a spotting scope. And to the Tucson Rod & Gun Club for their donation of 10 rifles.
ALSO coming up on the Fifth Sunday weekend – Cowboy Action Match -- Altar Valley Pistoleros will hold an action match on the action ranges and (I think they) will start Friday the 25th.

MATCH RESULTS:

High Power (80 round regional) Rifle (from Nov 18th)

 

SLOW STANDING

SITTING RAPID

PRONE RAPID

PRONE SLOW

MATCH TOTAL

NAME

Score

X

Score

X

Score

X

Score

X

Score

X

G. Fallon

191

5

195

2

197

7

198

5

781

19

P. Hayes

179

1

199

9

198

3

197

5

773

18

G. Scarboro

185

1

191

2

194

2

197

6

767

11

M. Frey

189

3

192

5

193

5

192

3

766

16

T. Albanito

178

1

195

7

191

3

190

5

754

16

B. Gibson

177

1

192

7

196

7

183

3

748

18

L. McKinney

184

3

181

1

190

7

189

3

744

14

J. Denovhcek

185

3

169

2

188

1

182

2

724

8

G. Zettl

182

3

182

1

181

1

168

2

713

7

P. Wolf

161

1

191

2

169

3

167

1

688

7

D. Martin

170

1

184

4

163

0

143

0

660

5

J. Schmitz

150

0

182

1

160

0

149

0

641

1

D. Clements

148

0

157

0

167

1

161

0

633

1

E. Reed

153

0

144

1

171

1

146

1

614

3

M. Krupp

169

1

162

1

135

0

139

1

605

3

Congratulations to Greg Fallon for winning the November match with a very respectable 781-19X. Nice shooting!  Good to see some friends down from Phoenix.  Nice shooting Phil.  We were treated to good conditions all day.  A little cool in the morning, but overall a very comfortable day. This is the best time of year to be shooting!

We were anticipating 22 shooters for this match, but had 6 ‘No Shows’.  Everyone is reminded to notify Bill Frey if they plan to attend and also if they are a last minute cancel.  It’ll help keep the books in line.  Also, if anyone would like the scores emailed to them after the match they should notify me the day of the match.  Thanks.

Thanks to Mike and Bill Frey for organizing and running the match.  Also Thanks to Pete Wolf for preparing targets and running the line. 

There’s still room for more shooters at our monthly match.  Previous experience is not required.  Come on out and we’ll get you shootin’.  All the target carriers are operational with new uprights.  Work Party’s are normally the Friday preceding the match.  Contact Pete Wolf to help out.  Monthly matches are held on the 4th Saturday of each month starting at 0700.  If you’re interested call Bill Frey at 299-9153 in advance so target pullers can be organized. 

Here are our December 22 hi-power scores:

Greg Fallon                           787-23 Match Winner

Justin Skaret                        777-26

Lee McKinney                       762-20

Phil Hayes                            754-16

Mike Frey                               751-17

Danie Bootha                       732-14

R. A. Svomala                       730-13

Dave Staggers                     726-07

John Fumns                         721-08

Peter Wolf                             710-03

David Clements                   662-04

Maury Krupp                         602-05

Emmett Reed                       554-01

We had a great December match on the 22nd.  Fantastic Tucson December weather and some very good scores as well.  Greg Fallon was match winner

with a blazing 787-23.  For all you guys that have never shot the NRA Regional Course let me assure you that this is a score that would look good in anybody's scorebook at any match anywhere.  Congratulations Greg! The rest of us, well we had fun and it sure beat Christmas shopping at the mall.  Next High Power match at Tucson Rifle Club is Sunday January 20th.

Arizona State Service Rifle Championships are the following weekend (Jan. 26 & 27) at Ben Avery in Phoenix.  Please give Bill Frey a call at 299-9153 to reserve a target and puller for our January 20th match.

·         Elements of Rifle Shooting (and somewhat applicable to Long Range Pistol Silhouette) This discussion is predominately about the utility of iron (open) sights in high power (but is scaleable to the practice of small-bore) rifle shooting.

Many folks enter this form of shooting having little or no knowledge of the fundamental practice of firing a rifle at extended ranges.  This short list of items offers the new shooter an introduction to rifle shooting on any Range ‘at’ any range.   The ranges encountered in NRA High Power are 200, 300, and 600 yards in the Regional (80 rounds) or NMC (50 rounds) form of matches and will include firing from 1000 yards in the Long-Range matches.  This list is not complete nor in any detail but is meant to educate the new shooter to the subtitles of the sport of rifle shooting.  The fundamental purpose of the rifle shooter is to place your shots at the center of the target given any condition that nature presents to the shooter.  The fundamental philosophy of this and other sports is, … If you wish to be a good shot you’ve got to shoot.  The practice is improvement.  We’ll start off with the most important part of the equipment -- the sights and where you must begin.

ZEROING: The ZERO of a rifle is the sight setting (windage & elevation) that will enable the shooter to hit the center of the target at a particular distance when no wind is blowing.  It is used as the starting point from which to adjust the sight.  A ZEROED rifle plays an important part in attaining success.  The skilled shot knows where his rifle hits.

{RAPID FIRE ZERO differs from slow fire zero for most shooters when using post front sight; Elevation 1 to 2 minutes UP – and Windage ½ to 1 ½ minutes LEFT (for Right Handed).}

Here is an excellent way to ZERO a rifle at any distance.   Tighten screws on both rifle and sight.  Set rear sight where you think a shot will hit target.  Fire from prone position with a sandbag rest or suitable substitute.  If hit is on target, fire two more shots using same sight setting and same aiming point.  Observe where center of 3-shot group appears on the target.  Plot group in scorebook.  Compute windage and elevation change required to move center of group to center of bulls-eye.  Make full corrections by moving rear sight in the direction you wish the shot group.  Repeat procedure until 3-shot group is centered in bulls-eye.  If there is no wind you now have the correct ZERO at the distance fired, ammunition used and weather conditions at the time of firing.  If there is wind, which affects the bullet, it will be necessary to compensate.  The amount of compensation needed may be determined by referring to windage diagrams.

WIND: The horizontal clock system is used in describing the direction of the wind.  The target being at 12 o’clock, with the firing point considered being the center. The velocity of the wind is described in miles per hour, and may be estimated by throwing up light dry grass, dust or light paper and watching how fast it travels, or by observing the danger (range) flags and by the mirage (more on this later). 

A good rule to determine the wind velocity in MPH is to divide by FOUR the angle in DEGREES a dry flag makes with its flagpole.  (Assuming the flagpole is plumb).  So if the flag makes approximately a 20 degree angle with respect to (w.r.t) the pole the wind is 20O/4 = 5 mph; 40O/4=10mph; 60/4= 15mph; 80/4= 20mph; and so on … 90O /4=22.5mph (forget it, save your ammo).

A light breeze is a 5 to 8 mile wind; a fairly strong breeze is a 10 to 12 mile wind. Wind blowing 20 miles an hour is a very strong wind. (See above comment)

The amount of windage to allow for the first shot is found by referring to a ‘Windage Diagram,’ using the wind velocity previously determined.  Move the rear sight INTO the wind.  Look at the moving parts of the rear sight.  For practical purposes one MINUTE change on the windage gauge will move the strike of the bullet on the target one inch for each 100 yards of distance.  Change varies with ammunition loads, variations in sight radius and sight mounting.  (A “true” MINUTE of angle is actually ~ 1.0472 inches at 100 yd.)

LIGHT: Light has no effect on the bullet but does affect the shooter’s aim. As a rule the shooter will unconsciously aim a little lower in a poor light than in a good light, and therefore needs more elevation when the light is poor.  (This may be explained by the psychological principle that the shooter needs enough of an image of the target to generate a ‘proper sight picture.’  With subdued light the image is ‘fuzzy’ and therefore the shooter will position the front sight infinitesimally lower to reveal more of the target.)  As a rule poor light exists on days when there is a haze, on very bright warm days, when there is a decided mirage, and when the sun is rear of the target.  

NOTE: Sunlight from one side has the same effect with most shooters as wind from that side.

MIRAGE: Observe mirage waves with telescope focused clearly on target then retract focus by adjusting focus so that it is now focused on a point approximately halfway from target.  The shooter must form a mental picture as to direction and speed of mirage. Characterize the mirage as SLOW, FLAT, or BOILING.

The image of the mirage represents the wind caused disturbance in the atmosphere between the target and the shooter. (This is the reason for ‘back-focusing’ the telescope.  It allows the image of the refractive properties of the a atmosphere to be observed by the shooter.)  In a light 5 mile wind, mirage waves move SLOWLY across the target with a decided vertical motion.  In a stronger 10 to 15-mile wind vertical motion of mirage seems less and waves appear nearly FLAT.  In a Very light wind or a wind from 12 or 6 o’clock, waves rise straight up and are called a BOILING mirage.  Care must be exercised ‘in a boil’ so as to not be fooled by the perception of an added virtual elevation of the target image, i.e., the image “floats” above the actual line of sight compared to a non-boil atmospheric condition.

TEMPERATURE: As it changes, it will affect the elevation of the strike of the bullet.  Higher temperatures will cause a more energetic propulsion of the bullet by the propellant and thus to keep the nominal bullet strike the shooter must SUBTRACT in elevation settings.  Lower temperatures one must ADD in elevation.  As a rule of thumb a temperature rise of 10 degrees (Centigrade) will halve the time of a chemical reaction.

CALL: After each shot is fired the shooter MUST CALL THE SHOT.  The shooter must make a claim as to where the shot hit.

Simplified Shooting Procedure:

1.       Fire the shot.

2.       Indicate call and note mirage.

3.       Score and plot preceding shot.

4.        Be ready to fire next shot when target appears.

If wind is blowing, the value must be determined and set on the sights.  In slow fire, after firing the first shot, the windage correction should be entered in the appropriate space in a scorebook, the call plotted and the mirage noted.  When the target has been marked, the firer should mentally note the position of the hit and make necessary sight adjustments before firing next shot. Position of hit must be related to call before any sight adjustments can be made.  After firing the second shot, record any sight changes plot call and note mirage.  At this time plot the location of the first hit.  Numbers corresponding to the shot number are used to plot hits.  For remaining shots this procedure is repeated.

Plot each visible hit, showing location on the target.  Number each hit in slow fire. In rapid fire plot all hits and, insofar as possible, indicate by notation whether or not firer called the shots which are out of the group.

 

ANALIZE PERFORMANCE:

Under REMARKS note any unusual occurrences. Accurate recording and honest analysis of each performance will result in better scores.

Horizontal and Vertical dotted lines on target diagrams represent approximated amount of WINDAGE and ELEVATION change required IN MINUTES to correct for hit when not in center of bulls-eye.  (Lines so spaced that one minute represent one-inch change for each 100 yards of distance.) The TRUE distance of a 1-minute change on the rear sight for a particular rifle and ammunition is best determined by known distance firing.

Analysis of firing with national match ammunition [7.62 NATO; .308 Win] (with 173 grain bullet with muzzle velocity of 2640 f/s) reveals that for all practical purposes a change on the windage or elevation knob moves the strike of the bullet as follows:

M1 Garand - U.S. rifle caliber .30 M1 equipped with one minute click sights-one click (minute) moves the hit approximately 1 ½ inches for each 100 yards of distance, i.e., 200 yd. ~ 3in; 300 yds. ~ 4 ½; etc.

National Match M1 rifle equipped with ½ minute click sight – one click (1/2 minute) moves the hit approximately 0.8 inch for each 100 yards of distance, i.e. 200 yd. – 1.6”; 300 yd. ~ 2.4”; etc.

M-14 rifle (M1A) sights: The sights on the M-14 have the following characteristics: Each click on the standard issue rifle moves the strike of the bullet approximately 1 inch on the target for each 100 yards of range.  If the rifle is equipped with a hooded rear aperture, this gives the sight a ½ minute elevation capability. (This is due to the aperture of the rotating hood is off center by 0.5 minute of angle w.r.t. the front post.)

Each click of the windage on the National Match M-14/M1A rifle will move the strike of the bullet ~ ½ of an inch for each 100 yards of range, while the elevation is the same as for the standard issue rifle. If this sight is equipped with and elevation disk, on click of elevation will raise or lower the strike of the bullet approximately ½” per 100 yards of range.  (7.62 NM ammunition with 173 gr. B.T.; MV 2610 f/s and very similar if using M852 NM Ball “White Box” with 168 BTHP at MV of 2550).

If the 6 o’clock hold is used at ALL ranges the average sight change (without elevation disk) is up 2 click from 200 to 300 yards and up 9 clicks from 300 to 600 yards.  These changes are subject to variations in light and temperature.

 

POSITIONS: Should be steady and comfortable with no muscular tension in any part of the body.  The rifle must point naturally at the target. Sights are naturally aligned on the vertical axis of the target so that when firer breathes, the sight moves from 6o’clock to 12o’clock on the target.  Use positions that are authorized and that best fit the conformation of your body.

In establishing a good position the firer should strive for bone support and muscular relaxation.  Since the rifle becomes an extension of the body, it is necessary to adjust the position until the rifle points naturally at the target.  When the firer takes his position he/she should close the eyes, relax and then open the eyes.  With proper sight alignment, the position of the front sight will indicate the natural point of aim. By moving the feet or body and by breath control, the firer can shift the natural point of aim to the desired aiming point.  By using the position to help maintain the proper sight alignment and with picture, the firer can deliver a well-aimed shot.

 

TRIGGER CONTROL: Trigger control is defined as the independent action of the finger on the trigger, straight to the rear, with a uniformly increasing pressure until the rifle fires.  The slack or free play in the trigger is taken up first and as the resistance is met, the firer perfects his aim while continuing the steady increasing pressure until the hammer falls.  If this is done properly, the firer will not know the exact instant the rifle will fire.  If the shooter does not know the exact instant the rifle will fire, he will not flinch.  The heart and core of good shooting is TRIGGER CONTROL.

 

SIGHT PICTURE: The figures show a normal sight picture with post front sight. Front sight is centered both ways in rear sight, top of front sight is at either the 6 o’clock or the middle of the target bull (use what works best for the individual).  Eye focused so the front sight is clear.

With an aperture front sight the focus moves toward the bulls-eye; with correct size apertures excellent results may be obtained by observing INTENSITY of the bulls-eye color

(i.e. the ‘Blackness’). Usually the blacker the color the better the sight alignment. (However, with post sight, when the bulls-eye is “real black”, it is usually a warning the shooter has lost focus of the front sight, where it should reside.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


1000 yard shooting: Excellent results are obtained by taking a moderately low position with no muscular tension.  Keep uniform tension on the sling.  If you have “young eyes” use a 6 o’clock hold, if you have “old eyes” you might try the center hold.  Fire each shot from 10 to 15 seconds after loading and within 5 seconds after breath is checked.  If unable to fire within that time, unload and start with a new cartridge. Learn to control sights with respect to target by checking breath at proper time for the vertical distance below bull-eye.  This does away with the tendency to hold by muscular effort. Keep cartridges shaded from sunlight.  In loading, tap side of cartridge so that powder will be in same part of shell. (This is to promote uniform propellant ignition from shot to shot.)

AVERAGE CHANGE IN ELEVATION (across the course): 200 to 300 yards = 2 minutes; 300 to 600 yards = 10 minutes; 600 to 1000 yards = 21 minutes.

For RAPID FIRE most shooters raise sights 1 to 2 minutes over slow fire when using post front sight.

This to compensate the force of the sling tension holding the muzzle lower in recoil as compared to off-hand.

And finally some words of advice:

Develop a habit of fast decisive shooting.  Aim and Hold – Squeeze – Follow Through – Call the Shot.  Accept the bad shots – profit by them.  Make necessary correction for Elevation and Windage and not by changing your shooting methods.

 

·        OK, It’s my turn –

Hey, is this surprising?
Terrorist pilot Mohammed Atta blew up a bus in Israel in 1986. The Israelis captured, tried and imprisoned him. As part of the Oslo agreement with the Palestinians in 1993, Israel had to agree to release so-called "political prisoners." However, the Israelis would not release any with "blood on their hands." The American President at the time, Bill Clinton, and his Secretary of State, Warren Christopher, "insisted" that all prisoners be released. Thus Mr. Atta was freed and eventually "thanked the US" by flying an airplane into Tower One of the World Trade Center.  This was reported by many of the American TV networks at the time that the terrorists were first identified. It has been censored in the US from all later reports.  Gosh, I wonder why?

=              =              =              =              =              =              =

Don’t know about you but last year the market gave me a pasteing, and here are some thoughts on same.

Stock Market Dictionary for the past year investor:

Momentum Investing - The fine art of buying high and selling low.

Value Investing - The art of buying low and selling lower.

Broker - Poorer than you were in 1999.

P/E ratio - The percentage of investors wetting their pants as this market keeps crashing.

Standard & Poor - Your life in a nut shell.

Stock Analyst - Idiot who just downgraded your stock.

Bull Market - A random market movement causing an investor to mistake himself for a financial genius.

Bear Market - A 6 to 18 month period when the kids get no allowance, the wife gets no jewelry and the husband gets no sex.

Stock split - When your ex-wife and her lawyer split all

your assets equally between themselves.

Market Correction - The day after you buy stocks.

Cash Flow - The movement your money makes as it disappears down the toilet.

Call Option - Something people used to do with a telephone in ancient times before e-mail.

Cisco - Side kick of Poncho.

Yahoo - What you yell after selling it to some poor sucker for $540 per share.

Windows 2000 - What you jump out of when you're the sucker that bought Yahoo for $540 per share.

Institutional Investor - Past year investor who's now locked up in a nut house.

Profit - Religious guy who talks to God.

 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

EXPRESSIONS FOR WOMEN ON HIGH STRESS DAYS

1. You - off my planet.

2. Not the brightest crayon in the box now, are we?

3. Well, this day was a total waste of makeup.

4. Errors have been made. Others will be blamed.

5. And your crybaby whiny-butt opinion would be...?

6. I'm not crazy, I've just been in a very bad mood for 30 years.

7. Allow me to introduce my selves.

8. Sarcasm is just one more service we offer.

9. Whatever kind of look you were going for, you missed.

10. I'm just working here until a good fast-food job opens up.

11. I'm trying to imagine you with a personality.

12. Stress is when you wake up screaming and you realize you weren't asleep.

13. I can't remember if I'm the good twin or the evil one.

14. How many times do I have to flush before you go away?

15. I just want revenge. Is that so wrong?

16. You say I'm a bitch like it's a bad thing.

17. Can I trade this job for what's behind door #27

18. Nice perfume. Must you marinate in it?

19. Chaos, panic, and disorder- my work here is done.

20. Earth is full. Go home.

21. Is it time for your medication or mine?

22. How do I set a laser printer to stun?

23. I'm not tense, just terribly, terribly alert.

Guns in a Free America lead to a wise decision.

   In 1960, Robert Menard was a Commander aboard the USS Constellation when he was part of a meeting between United States Navy personnel and their counterparts in the Japanese Defense Forces. 

   Fifteen years had passed since VJ day, most of those at the meeting were WWII veterans, and men who had fought each other to the death at sea were now comrades in battle who could confide in one another.

   Someone at the table asked a Japanese admiral why, with the Pacific Fleet devastated at Pearl Harbor and the mainland US forces in what Japan had to know was a pathetic state of unreadiness, Japan had not simply invaded the West Coast?

   Commander Menard would never forget the crafty look on the Japanese commander's face as he frankly answered the question. … "You are right", he told the Americans. "We did indeed know much about your preparedness. We knew that probably every second home in your country contained firearms. We knew that your country actually had state championships for private citizens shooting military rifles. We were not fools to set foot in such quicksand."  

~          ~          ~          ~          ~          ~          ~

Subject:  A September letter home

This is an e-mail from a young ensign aboard USS Winston Churchill DDG-81 to his parents. (Churchill is an Arleigh Burke class AEGIS guided missile destroyer, commissioned March 2001, and is the only active warship named after a foreign national.).

Dear Dad,

We are still at sea.  The remainder of our port visits have all been canceled. We have spent every day since the attacks going back and forth within imaginary boxes drawn in the ocean, standing high-security watches, and trying to make the best of it.  We have seen the articles and the photographs, and they are sickening.  Being isolated, I don't think we appreciate the full scope of what is happening back home, but we are definitely feeling the effects. About two hours ago, we were hailed by a German Navy destroyer, Lutjens, requesting permission to pass close by our port side. Strange, since we're in the middle of an empty ocean, but the captain acquiesced and we prepared to render them honors from our bridgewing.  As they were making their approach, our conning officer used binoculars and announced that Lutjens was flying

not the German, but the American flag.   As she came alongside us, we saw the American flag flying at half-mast and her entire crew topside standing at silent, rigid attention in their dress uniforms.   They had made a sign that was displayed on her side that read "We Stand By You."

     There was not a dry eye on the bridge as they stayed alongside us for a few minutes and saluted.   It was the most powerful thing I have seen in my life.  The German Navy did an incredible thing for this crew, and it has truly been the highest point in the days since the attacks.  It's amazing to think that only half-century ago things were quite different.

     After Lutjens pulled away, the Officer of the Deck, who had been planning to get out later this year, turned to me and said, "I'm staying Navy."  I'll write you when I know more about when I'll be home, but this is it for now.

Love you guys."

=              =              =              =              =              =              =

Small gems pop up here and there during 2001:

"A rattlesnake loose in the living room tends to end all discussion of animal rights."

 

   Writer Joseph Sobran offered a sharp comment on educational decline: "In one century we went from teaching Latin and Greek in high school to offering remedial English in college."

   Writer P.J. O'Rourke said: "Politicians are wonderful people as long as they stay away from things they don't understand, such as working for a living."

   Morton Blackwell, executive director of the Council for Economic Policy, said: "To succeed inside a political party, one must cultivate an ability to sit still and remain polite while foolish people speak nonsense."

 

 OK, I’m done for now and thank you for your indulgence. I’ll see you at the meetings and the range.  NOTE my change of email address it is: Bertrandzona@msn.com