Welcome to these new service members:
- Gerald Schuchman (on his second tour at WRAMC after several years service at the VA)
- Eric Fallon (has strange resemblance to the old Eric Fallon, but looks older and wiser)
- Norvis Haygood
- Alicia Johnson – FT Bliss, TX
- Andy Merkley – FT Drum, NY
- Kel Kratzer – FT Sill, OK
- Kevin Hanna – in OBC, headed for Wurzburg, GE
- David McIlwaine entering OBC, headed for Heidelberg
Awards and Honors
Honors of the AAA – 2001
Congratulations to Brian Walden, PhD, of Walter Reed Army Medical Center who was awarded the Jerger Career Award for Research in Audiology by the American Academy of Audiology (2001). His research aims at establishing a scientific basis for clinical practices and through his dedicated service, Dr Walden has contributed significantly to upgrading our profession. Congratulations, Dr. Walden! (Audiology Today, Volume 13, Number 2, Mar/Apr 2001)
- LTC Pierson is promotable. Expected pin on date is June or July 2001. Also has been selected to serve as a Health Clinic Commander in Germany. Site TBD for a summer move 2001.
- Vickie Tuten received MSM #4
- Marjorie Grantham was awarded an MSM upon departure from Ft Stewart, GA
- Jennifer Johnson received ARCOM #8
- Martin Robinette awarded first ARCOM on PCS from Campbell to Rucker
- Dale Ostler was awarded his Ph.D. from University of Florida Aug 2000 PCS to USAARL, Ft. Rucker Sept 2000
- Mr. Loyborg has been extended in Germany until summer of 2002.
News From The Home Front
Dale Ostler –
It is great to be back in uniform in the real Army again, to have my own office, my own phone, and my own computer that I don’t have to share with half a dozen other students. (Interpreted: It’s great to be done with the doctoral program)! While I miss the associations and opportunities I had at school (some of them anyway) one of the benefits of working in this research lab is the opportunity to work with and interact with top-notch researchers and personnel both in and out of Army circles. (Did I mention that it’s great to be done with the doctoral program?!)
Norvis Haygood
- 27 June 00- Celebrated 2-year anniversary with wife
- 01 Oct 00- Promoted to Captain
- 17 Oct 00- Wife (Jacquetta) had a beautiful, healthy, baby boy. 7 lbs. 9 oz, 19 inches long. His name is Keelan Hun Haygood.
- 20 May 01- 17 y/o niece will graduate 1 year early. Maintains a 3.9 GPA, Will attend college to study psychology on an academic scholarship.
- June 01- Will PCS to Ft Benning, GA
John “Andy” Merkley – Prior military experience: Before I came active duty I had been in an Army Reserve unit in Lubbock Texas for about three months as an Audiologist and had almost 8 years in the Utah National Guard as a linguist/interrogator.
Civilian experience: I completed my CFY and worked for almost a year after my CFY at Hendrick Hearing HealthCare in Abilene, Texas. I loved the people of Texas, but had to get out of the heat. The Army was the best decision at the time.
Great Military Audiology stuff: I had the opportunity to spend a month with COL Richard Danielson and LTC Marc Stevens this past summer working with the ROTC cadets and doing some clinic work at MAMC. I had a great time, worked hard and enjoyed some of beautiful areas of the Northwest (Mt. Rainier, Puget Sound, etc.). It was a great learning experience and a wonderful introduction into Military Audiology.
I am currently stationed at Ft. Drum, where there is plenty of outdoor excitement to partake of. The fishing here is great, you just have to watch out that you don’t get poisoned from all the pollution in the lakes. The area is some of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen and we don’t lack for things to do. My family and I love it up here. The picture was taken at Cranberry Lake, approx. 50 miles from Ft. Drum.
Jennifer Johnson – I’m in Colorado now which (in my opinion) is far better than being in the middle of Texas. I began my Au.D in September of 1999. I picked the University of Florida program because it’s “working-woman friendly”. Trying to accomplish the Au.D and Command and General Staff College (CGSC) at the same time requires the friendliest program available. But don’t let the ease in learning full you; it’s still a lot of work. Each course demands a project, 3 quizzes, and a final examination. One must attend weekly chat sessions with their local Au.D group. National Chats are optional (Course Instructor is present). I started with the Tulsa group, transferred to the Dallas group, then moved to the Denver group – pretty cool. I will graduate in May this year. As for CGSC, I will finish Phase III this May and start Phase IV in June. Light at the end of the homework tunnel!
This May, my cat (Mittens) will turn 16 years old. She is fighting hypothyroid disease. At the National Hearing Conservation Association Conference, I out-bid Dr. Ohlin for a pair of Bose Active Noise Reduction Headphones. Then, after my last Au.D final examination, I bought a Bose Surround Sound System. Mittens and I like to listen to our Bernie Krause Nature CDs on the Bose System.
The last vacation I took was a trip to Yosemite National Park (September 1999). After finishing CGSC, I plan to do mega hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, and snow biking.
Marjorie Grantham
- Hired a civilian audiologist and a civilian hearing conservation tech for Ft Stewart with ASAMS data to back us up.
- Discovered that AR 600-8-101, Personnel Processing (In- and Out- and Mobilization Processing) does not require that all SRPs include hearing tests. This made a big difference at Ft Stewart, when we got complaints that we could not provide 300 tests a day with our existing resources. The solution: Soldiers continued to receive annual tests by battalion-sized unit. Soldiers with hearing aids were provided batteries (I trained Occupational Health personnel to distribute these at the SRP), IAW AR 600-8-101. The Division Surgeon supported AR 600-8-101 with a policy letter to cover “Soldiers with a 3 or 4 physical profile, who have not been evaluated by an MMRB and declared deployable, will not deploy.”
- Awarded MSM upon departure from Ft Stewart, GA.
- We PCS’d to Ft Lewis, WA, this October. Expecting our first child, a boy, in mid-May 2001.
- Selected for promotion to Major.
Martin Robinette – In the last two years I have learned how to play the banjo (Scruggs style and frailing, for you diehard bluegrass fans) and have taken up small boat sailing. I completed my second round of EFMB training and was Honor Grad. Never did get my Air Assault but I really wish I had!! Last summer I went back to Wyoming with Dad, brother and brother-in-laws on a fishing trip. We hiked in to a very remote place. We caught literally hundreds of fish. One day I caught 50 fish in the AM and another 50 in the PM. Mike Alley, a fellow audiologist, was our guide. His kids tied flies and sold them to us. As the fishing got good the price went up. It was the most memorable trip I have had in a long time.
Gerald Schuchman – I recently retired (Sept 1, 2000) from the Washington, DC, Veterans Affairs Medical Center where I had been coordinator of the Audiology Section. I am now “back home” at the Army Audiology & Speech Center working as a contract audiologist. I served as a military audiologist at AASC from 1969-1972 and was the Supervisor of the Hearing Evaluation Section from 1973-1976. I’m delighted to report that there are still a few of us Forest Glen folks actively contributing to this marvelous organization!
Lynnette Bardolf – Been busy as OIC, Schofield Audiology and Acting Chief at Tripler Audiology (since Dec 2000). But my main bragging news this last year is the announcement of our new little addition to the family. Our daughter, Michaela Rachele (pronounced Mikayla Rashell) Bardolf was born on 13 July 2000. She weighed in at 8 lbs., 6.4 oz, and was 20 inches long. She is now 7 months and is a true joy to have. Mommy-hood is awesome!
Melissa Leccese – In October 2000, I got my CAOHC course director certification in preparation for my PCS to Korea for a year. My report date is in April 2001. I have been trying to learn the Korean language and have been reading about Korean customs and traditions. My sister had twin boys in December, so I am an aunt for the first time. I’ve been keeping a scrapbook using Creative Memories and that has been super nice for keeping pictures of the twins.
Vickie Tuten – I had a PCS move from Ft. Sam Houston, TX to Ft. Hood, TX where I am waist deep in Hearing Conservation (and loving it). Received an MSM for an award upon leaving (3rd oakleaf cluster). In the past several years I have finished CGSC, done the Preventive Medicine Manager’s Course (6AF6), and completed to date 12 credit hours towards my AuD. My daughter was a CPT on active duty stationed at Ft. Hood with her husband who was an Armor Officer. They have separated from service but are living in the Austin area with my 14 month old granddaughter Taylor. My favorite vacation during this time was going to Montana (where I lived during most of my childhood) for a school/family reunion. We had five generations of women together as Taylor’s great, great grandmother is still living.