Another 6 months have passed. It is time to start considering the gathering of the faithful for our annual USS MAHAN reunion.

As was decided in Las Vegas in 2003, our reunion this year will be held at POINT PLAZA SUITES AND CONFERENCE HOTEL, NEWPORT NEWS, VA. 12 to 17 October, 2004.

Everything is under the planning and direction of our president, Jeff Sweet.

Enclosed is all information of the schedule of events and hotel reservation information.

President Sweet informs me that anyone who would like to find out who is attending the reunion are welcome to call him at 302-698-6304 or to e-mail him at tcws@verizon.net .

For everyone’s information, our membership in the association is growing by leaps and bounds. As of last count we have 600 members registered on the website. The last mailing of the newsletter, I mailed out 564 and to my disappointment 54 were returned as undeliverable as addressed. After a search of the internet, I assume, correct addresses were found for 21, as when re-mailed they must have been delivered. Each of these double mailing cost the association double postage.

If you know of anyone of our shipmates who have moved and you are still in touch with, please prompt them to go to our website, ussmahan.org and enter a change of address and their e-mail address. If they are not on the internet, please send it to me.

Jerry Emmett

6832 Shepherd Rd.

Shepherd, Montana 59079

406 373 6254

President Sweet also sends his greetings and reports the following 2^nd quarter sailors aboard DDG 72.

Senior Sailor of the quarter GSM1 DOMENIC IANNIA

Junior Sailor of the quarter HT3 JOHN L. McFARLAND

Bluejacket of the quarter DKSN JAIMEL D. GREENE

Congratulations to them and the best of luck in the future.

I would like to take this time to introduce you to Command Master Chief of the DDG 72, Mike Conran.

Master Chief Conran was born in Charlotte, NC in November 1962, raised in Greensboro, NC and West Palm Beach, FL, graduated from high school in Wilmington, NC in June 1981. He began his navy career in 1982 with a 6 year hitch in the electronics program, taking his basic training in Orlando, FL.

After completing Basic Electronics and Electricity school he attended Electronics A school at Great Lakes and C school for Test Equipment in Denver Co.

July 1983 found ET3 Conran assigned to Maintenance Activity, Norfolk, Va.

January 1985 found Mike assigned to Pre-Com Unit for SAMUEL B. ROBERTS (FFG 58). Other than his duties in electronics aboard the ROBERTS, ET 2 Conran was assigned as a search and rescue swimmer.

1988 found ET2 Conran assigned to instructor duty at Fleet Training Center Norfolk. On arrival he was promoted to ET1.

ET1 Conran’s next assignment was USS VIRGINIA (CGN 38) where he was promoted to Chief Petty Officer in September of 1991. While assigned to Virginia, Chief Conran was qualified Anti-Air Warfare Coordinator for Counter Narcotics Operations and Combat Information Center Watch Officer.

1994 found CPO Conran assigned to Fleet Technical Support Center, Mayport.

1997 he was transferred to USS SPRUANCE (DD 963). In 1998, while in SPRUANCE, he was promoted to Senior Chief Petty Officer and qualified Officer of the Deck (underway). Chief Conran led the first enlisted only duty section in SPRUANCE history.

April 2000 found Senior Chief Conran assigned to FTSCLANT Mayport. In March 2001 he was promoted to Master Chief Petty Officer and in June 2002 he was selected to the Command Master Chief Program.

Mike’s personal awards include Navy/Marine Corps Commendation medal (3 awards), Navy/Marine Achievement medal (3) and multiple unit commendations. He is married to the former Deborah Garrow of Wilmington, NC. Together they have two children, Stephanie (19) and Michael Jr. (17).

Enclosed find a message from Command Master Chief Mike Conran.

Enclosed you will also find a list of merchandise and order form for the Mahan Ships Store. Note that all merchandise is of top quality and wear it with pride. Let me take this opportunity to thank Russ Owens for taking the responsibility of being the Ships Serviceman in charge of the store. Good Job Russ.

On a report from our Treasurer, Bill Sumner, thanks to everyone the coffers of the association have grown by quite a substantial amount. Let me take this opportunity on behalf of the officers and the board of trustees to thank everyone that contributed for their generosity.

In closing, I wish to offer everyone smooth sailing in the future and hope to see all the old faces and lots of new ones in Virginia in Oct.

Jerry Emmett FTM2 DLG 11

Newsletter Editor

Member of the Board of Directors.

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