Groggy – Grog is a concoction of rum, water and citrus juice that was originally drunk by British sailors and adopted by the U.S. Navy as a way to make stagnant water more palatable and to fight scurvy. Someone who is dazed or sleepy might feel as if they have had too much grog, making them “groggy.”
Three sheets to the wind – Sheets on a ship are the ropes that control the sails. If a sheet becomes loose and starts flapping in the wind, the ship will lurch and rock. Someone who is cannot walk a straight line because they are staggering drunk is said to be “three sheets to the wind.”
Splice the main brace – The main brace was the largest of the rigging on the ship and essential to controlling the vessel. A damaged main brace was difficult to repair, particularly in the midst of battle, so it became customary for the crew members who successfully spliced it to be rewarded with an extra ration of rum. The phrase came to mean a celebratory drink.
Binge – To binge while on a ship meant to soak and rinse an empty cask in water. Sailors who needed more alcohol than their allotted ration would drink the binge water from rum casks in hopes that it would contain at least a few drops of booze. Binging also caused the wood to absorb water, much like a person binge drinking in the modern sense absorbs alcohol.
Down the hatch – When sailors threw their heads back and poured alcohol down their throats, they equated it to manner in which cargo was loaded on ships by lowering it through the hatches on the deck.
Mind your Ps and Qs – Popular folklore states the phrase refers to barkeeps having to be sure to track the “pints” and “quarts” ordered by sailors, but it more likely stems from the printing industry’s need to avoid accidentally reversing the letter blocks for “p” and “q” on the press.
Cup of Joe – The common story that the term “cup of joe” for coffee originated from Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels’ order to prohibit alcohol in the fleet is probably a myth. The more plausible theory is that “joe” derives from “jamoke” – another nickname that was formed by combining the names of the coffee producing locations of Java and Mocha.

On February 13, 2016, the Atlanta Chapter held its annual Dark Ages Party to celebrate United States Navy heritage and the Founding of USNA.  The party was hosted at Der Biergarten, an authentic German restaurant featuring authentic German cuisine and draft beers, located in downtown Atlanta.
Uniform for the Dark Ages Party was casual civilian or naval attire, or Navy spirit wear…rain gear was optional.
The chow line included a variety of German appetizers, sausages, schnitzels, and roasted chicken. Complimentary USNA Alumni Association Atlanta (USNAAAA) Chapter labeled wines and a great selection of German draft beers helped with the flow of sea stories.  As a special treat and in honor of Valentine’s Day, each lady in attendance was presented with a red rose.
Attendees included Bill & Sue Rentz ’55, Jon & Jan Barton ’66, Parker & Jen Shelato ’08, Nick & Jean Ward ’74, Ron Surfield ’90, Scott & Donna Evans ’88, Pete Canalici ’81, Melissa Mathews ’81 & Larry Taylor, Paul & Jody Borer ’70, Ples & Kameelah Bruce ’77, Steve & Ellen Newell ’89, Don & Joanne Patterson ’74, and Pete & Sue Knoetgen ’77.

Shelato ’08, Knoetgen ’77, Borer ’70, Evans ’88 at the trough!

Atlanta Chapter has made tentative arrangements to tour Vogtle Nuclear Plant.  Plant Vogtle is operated by Georgia Power and is located near Waynesboro in eastern Georgia near the South Carolina border.

Tour of Plant Vogtle is tentatively schedule for Tuesday, September 27, 2016, departing Atlanta in the morning and returning to Atlanta by late afternoon.
Atlanta Chapter needs a headcount to determine interest among alumni and adult (over 12 years old) family members and guests.
Transportation will be arranged and itinerary planned for a visit and tour of the plant.

Plant Vogtle 3 & 4

Plant Vogtle units 3 & 4 will be the first in the industry to use the Westinghouse AP1000 advanced pressurized water reactor technology. This advanced technology allows nuclear cores to be cooled even in the absence of operator interventions or mechanical assistance. The AP1000 is the safest and most economical nuclear power plant available in the worldwide commercial marketplace, and is the only Generation III+ reactor to receive Design Certification from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
Vogtle Units 3 & 4 will be the first new nuclear units built in the U.S. in the last three decades.
Please register below by July 15, 2016, to indicated your interest in participating in the tour.  Price per person will be determine to defray the costs of transportation and box lunch once we have a tentative headcount.
Plant Vogtle Registration

Attention U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association Atlanta (USNAAAA) Chapter Members, Guests and Atlanta Area USNA Alumni:

Atlanta Chapter’s Monthly luncheon will be held on Friday, June 17th, with registration and pre-lunch social beginning at 11:30am and lunch will be served at 11:50 a.m. We meet at the American Legion Post 160 in Smyrna.
Luncheon Speaker will be Bob Tata, Esq. and USNA Class of 1979.  Bob will give a presentation regarding Commander William Lewis Herndon, USN (of “Herndon Monument” fame).  The presentation details Herndon’s last voyage, the recovery of the treasure trove from the ship 132 years later, and the resulting legal case.   Bob has also written a Shipmate article entitled “The Last Voyage of Commander William Lewis Herndon” (see the link below).

Please plan to attend the June 2016 Monthly Luncheon and share in the camaraderie and fellowship of sea going service.
The American Legion Post 160’s address is: 160 Legion Drive SE Smyrna, GA 30080.  American Legion Post 160’s telephone number is (770) 436-2501.
Shipmate – Herndon Article_57027357_1-c

President Awarding Naval Academy Football team the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy video:   Navy Football accepts CINC Trophy YouTube video.
The team’s co-captains, Bernie Serra and Keenan Reynolds, had a couple of mottos that I really like.  The first one was “one-and-oh” –- a reminder to take each game one at a time.  So they started the season 1-0 with a 38-point blowout.  They went 1-0 against Air Force in another rout.  For the 14th straight year, they went 1-0 against Army to reclaim this trophy, and then Navy went 1-0 in the Military Bowl.
All those “one-and-ohs” added up to 11 wins, which is more than any Navy team in history –- and Navy’s been playing football a long time — about as long as we’ve had the lightbulb.  (Laughter.)  In four years, these seniors have won more games than any Navy team since the Class of 1909.   They’ve won this trophy three times, won three bowl games, and has anybody here ever lost to Army?  (Laughter.)  That’s sort of a deafening silence there.
The team’s second motto that I like is something Coach Ken would remind his players at halftime:  “You don’t have to do anything special -– just do your job.”  “Just do your job” –- I really like that slogan.
In doing their jobs, these players did something special.  And that’s especially true for the anchor of this Navy team, Keenan Reynolds, one of college football’s all-time greats.  The only quarterback in the 125-year history of the Army-Navy rivalry to win the game four times.  Holds 11 NCAA records, including most rushing yards by a quarterback.  With his 88 touchdowns, no one in college football history has been in the end zone more times than Navy’s number 19.  And in honor of his leadership, both on and off the field, no one will ever wear it again, which is not bad for a guy who started out as the third-string quarterback