80/80 CLASS NEWS
’80: (L-R): Frank Hughes (20), Joe Heil (19), Mike Glynn (20), Dom Rascona (20), Pete Cotsonas (19), Tom Rossi (20), Ted Mikita (19), Gene Bradley (19), Jim Reagan (19), Patrick Troy (19) and Rick China (19).
state he lived in, made the search difficult. I knew he was friends with Al Wellesley in Annapolis, and both were Napsters. I called Al and he said that he ran into the same issues and was not able to find him. He suggested that I look on the Wall of Faces, which is an online tribute to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial which would have information on Arky’s Dad, Gunnery Sergeant Billy Howard, USMC, KIA in March 1966 and a recipient of the Navy Cross for bravery in battle. Comrades and family members can post online comments for anyone on the wall. The hope was that a family member had posted. One entry under Gunny Howard was from Britney Howard Elkins, from Palatka, FL, who identified herself as a granddaughter. So, she’s either Arky’s daughter or niece (she’s his niece). I found her on Facebook (I got lucky here, since she remarried and changed her last name to Lukenheimer) and I just took a few stabs at any Britney of the appropriate age range in that town.) Luckily, she had not moved since her online entry in 2014. She eventually contacted me with a phone number for Arky. We talked for over an hour. After the initial reluctance, we are in
almost daily contact! So, it was the Alumni network (Al), a fair amount of sleuthing, and luck. But I think that the Gunny wanted me to find his son. I did – and we got together in Colorado! Mission accomplished!
RV from Tampa to his home in Phoenix. We just happened to be spending a long weekend in Destin, which was on his route home. He was able to spend a day/night with us. We were with a bunch of cousins, so he received the full Cajun treatment! We have another grandchild on the way! My daughter, Maggie, whose wedding you were able to attend in Jan, is expecting. So excited. On a more somber note, on Friday the 18th of September we buried Mark Rossano of 19th Company. Because of the hurricanes approaching New Orleans I was not able to make the ceremony, but we were well represented by Cloud 19 and several other Classmates who were able to be there to pay their last respects to our Shipmate. Here is the note from Joe Heil, jphssh1@ aol.com about the service and those who were there: M Joe, As you know, on May 27th we lost our Classmate Mark Rossano (19) and he was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery surrounded by family, friends, Classmates and former Shipmates. Kilo Company was well represented to honor Mark, his wife Susanna, step-son Nick and other family members. There was a nice 20th Company dinner the evening before in Crystal City with Dom Rascona, Ted Snider, Mike Glynn, Tom Rossi and Frank Hughes where they were able to keep the ’80 traditions alive and hoist a few to their Shipmate. Ted was unable to stay for the funeral.
Iowa Shipmate Joe Harriss (‘79, 13th Company) and his wife Sherry. Nick Katsiotis (19) was planning to be there but got stuck in SC due to car issues. A number of Classmates also visited Don Woollett’s gravesite before the funeral.
Special thanks to all who were able to make the funeral and our thoughts and prayers are with Suzanna and the family! Joe also reminded me that recently several of our Classmates joined in the Quantico Area Chapter Alumni Associations “Run to Honor” tribute to fallen grads. This was the third year that an alumnus (Don Woollett) was honored who had been killed in the 1983 Beirut Bombing, and one benefit of the remembrance being held virtually meant that Don’s family and many of his Cloud 19 Company mates (Bob Aller, Rick China, Pete Cotsonas, Mike Durkin, Eric Giosa, Joe Heil, Nick Katsiotis, Matt Lampugnano, Tom McNitt, Ted Mikita and Jay Whitlock) were there in force. BZ to all! Another fellow member of the family here in New Orleans, Michael S. Reed: gatoreed@ yahoo.com put together a great 31st Company Update:
I also had a couple of recent visits from one of my old roommates, Rich Styczynski. He was driving an
Also present at Arlington from ‘80 were Drew Meyer (2) and Mike Grieco (21), as well as Mark’s USS
M Joe, Greetings from Lysite, WY where I have been one of the “Crisis Chefs” at our local Second Harvest
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020 • SHIPMATE 81