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  • Mac,
    Really glad to hear back from you. Yes, I still work. My retirement check just isn't quite enough to pay all the bills. I'm a Maintenance Engineer for a paper recycling company here in Maryland where I live.
    Been working there for 12 yrs. now. Also receive a small check from the VA for a service connected disability.
    Yeah, I remember running into to you in San Diego. That was when I
    was stationed on the U.S.S. Sperry AS-12. That's the ship I went to when I left the Cochrane. That seems like so long ago. Mac you can still call me Mikey if you want to, a lot of my friends still do. Helps make me feel younger! Wow, somehow just can't picture you on a Harley! I remember cruising around Oahu in that Datsun 240Z, or was it a 260Z that you had when we were on the Cochrane. Whatever it was, still remember it. Those were some good times back then! Remember you getting me pretty messed up on several occasions. Gee, what an influence you were on a young kid! Ha! Ha! I also remember John Butts, and that bike he had. Have you ever heard from John? Wasn't he from Florida? I tracked down Lee Ivey several yrs. ago. We kept in contact for awhile, but he must have changed his e-mail address or something because haven't been able to get in touch with him for awhile. Damn Indian! Also I may have a lead on Mitch. I remembered that he was from Jackson Hole, Wy. Was checking out the listing for Jackson Hole High School at Classmates.com, and saw the name Mark Mercill listed. I recall Mitch
    mentioning he had a brother, hoping that's him. Sent him a message, and just waiting to hear back from him. I'll left you know if I hear anything. Guess I'll have to try tracking down Eddie again too.
    Well hope you have a great time at your Yosemite reunion. Some of us from the U.S.S. Jason are having a reunion in July down in Virginia Beach. Really looking forward to it. It's not the official Jason reunion, just some of us that were onboard during the late 80's and early 90's.
    Stay in touch Mac, and take care.
  • Hey Mac,
    You have no idea how glad I am to know that I have finally tracked you down. Have tried locating you numerous times over the yrs., but never had any luck. Have always wanted to let you know how much of an influence you had on me. Being my first LPO on the Cochrane, I have always wanted to thank you for taking me under your wing. And really training me to be a HT. Taught me a little about drinking beer too, but that's a whole other story! Don't know how much it means to you now, but I'll have you know that your guidance and friendship really
    left a lasting impression on me.
    How could I ever forget Barney Lewis. I think that you always remember your first Chief. What a character he was. I located him awhile back through the Classmates.com website, and sent him a message. He got back to me, he lives in Tennessee. Him and Audrey are married, and still together after all these years. I still remember when we use to have parties at your all's house there in Salt Lake. Talk about some good times. I have tried finding Mitch and Eddie numerous times over the yrs., but have never been able to locate them. I have managed however to find a few of our old shipmates over the yrs. The Cochrane does have it's own website, when you have a chance check it out. It's www.usscochrane.com. There's a crew listing there. That's how I tracked down some of the old crew. I still stay in contact with Stu Lilly (IC2), he's a lawyer now and lives in Saudi Arabia. He's the Senior Law Counselor for the Saudi government's oil company. You remember Charles "Stew" Stewart (EM3), he works for the U.S. Patent Office and lives down in Virginia. I still keep in contact with him. Him and Retired Rear Admiral Gaston go to the same church. Stew told me the two of them talk about the Cochrane all the time.
    I'm now living in Maryland, and have been married now for 22 yrs. My wife's originally from Hawaii, but we met when I was stationed in San Diego on the U.S.S. Sperry AS-12. Went to the Sperry when I left the Cochrane in 1979. It's a long story, but we got married in 1986. We have a 21 yrs. old daughter, and am also grandparents to a 1 1/2 yrs. old grandson. Well I've rambled on enough for now. Take care Mac, and please stay in touch.
  • I use to know an Ernie "Mac" McDowell who I worked for on the Cochrane when he was a HT2. Just wondering if you might be him. The "Mac" McDowell that I knew took this 18yrs. old kid fresh from HT "A" School under his wing, and taught him how to be a true sailor.
    If this is the same "Mac" that I knew, would really like to hear from you!
  • Hey Mac,
    Would you happen to remember Chief White and Chief Py. They were my CCs in Dec. 79 to Feb 80. A couple of great guys!
  • Hi
    Sounds like you were there at the same time as I was.
    My CC's were Chief Wyman & Petty Officer 1st class Popel. Don't know the first names. I think Wyman was an Aviation Ordinance Chief and Popel was a Fireman.
  • Welcome Aboard Mr. McDowell! Thank you for your service in The Cold War, Iran, and Desert Shield. Congratulations on your retirement!
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