Grant Kessler

Congratulations on your retirement. Since we last spoke, it sounds like you've had nice visits to Europe. I've vacationed in or visited 20+ countries in Europe dozens of times. For me, vacationing in an area did not do it justice, I would suggest living there for a year or so to get a more-accurate feel for the areas.
I have lived and visited most every state in the US. Since retiring, my wife and I have visited Europe but we prefer places in the US. We use our RV but we also travel by plane and car.

Posted on: Sep 13, 2021 at 3:27 AM

Grant: Thanks for thanking me for my service. I just went where they sent me. I was fortunate not to have been in a theater of combat operations during my 20 years in the Navy. The closest I got to the Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield in 1990 was while stationed at Naval Hospital, Rota, Spain. We were told that we were forward-deployed in support of Fleet Operations going into the Gulf, and could not serve on the USNS Comfort or be more forward deployed. The operations temp at Rota during that time was very high, as many ships stopped at Rota, and many munitions were dropped off there, where they were then taken by truck to Moron Air Base (Spanish), and loaded onto B52s, which headed to Iraq. That was kept sort of quiet as the Spanish really did not want the public to know that...Anyway, as Mortuary Affairs officer collateral duty, I ended up managing 45 deaths of active duty, dependents, and retirees while at Spain. Not pleasant. I still think a lot about those guys, and in particular, one from Rochester, NY, Captain Thomas P. Driscoll, USMC, who crashed his Harrier near Sevilla, Spain. I had to recover his remains, personally lay them out for autopsy, and ensure he was embalmed properly prior to sending him to Dover.

See:

https://marines.togetherweserved.com/usmc/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=AssignmentExt&ID=726060

And

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-dec-17-na-wall17-story.html

"CAPT. THOMAS P. DRISCOLL

Call Sign: Biscuit Died: Nov. 11, 1991

When his AV-8B was in trouble, Driscoll steered away from the Spanish village of Villagarcia de la Torre and ejected with the plane upside down. His parachute broke away before he reached the ground.

The investigation determined that a problem with the ailerons caused the crash but offered no explanation for the parachute failure.

Driscoll, 26, who graduated from Villanova on a Navy ROTC scholarship, never seemed intimidated by the Harrier, said his father, John Driscoll. “His mind-set was that he would not do anything that would jeopardize himself.”

His son showed an interest in flight at an early age. He liked to watch planes at the airport in Rochester, N.Y., where he grew up. He built more than 50 model airplanes, which remain boxed in his parents’ attic. “We don’t have the heart or stomach to throw them away,” his father said."

______________

I had two morticians on staff, but I had to run through a lot of hoops to try to get these deceased out ASAP and back to their families.

Retired from the military in 2000, but continued to work for the Military Health System.

On 9/11 I was about a mile from the Pentagon when the plane hit. I was in a building knowns as Skyline on route 7 on the 14th floor. We heard a big boom and the building shook, but I don't know if that was from the plane hitting the Pentagon, or the fighters they finally scrambled from Langley AFB near Norfolk, that broke the sound barrier. No, I will never forget 9/11. I drove by that big hole in the Pentagon for a long time with much sadness in my heart. I have Navy MSC friends that ran across the street from our Navy Personnel Command to the Pentagon and actually went into the hole and pulled out survivors. Soon after the plane hit the Pentagon, we were told to go home. I can recall driving up route 7 Leesburg Pike back to my house in Ashburn, VA, looking up in the sky to see if additional planes were coming our way.

Posted on: Sep 12, 2021 at 3:42 PM

Thanks for your service Bob. Always remember.

Posted on: Apr 30, 2021 at 11:26 AM

Happy Birthday Paul. You still playing Ball?

Happy Birthday Cindy! I hope you and the family are doing well.

Happy Birthday Corey. You still playing ball?

Posted on: Jun 18, 2020 at 2:52 PM

Grant Kessler here, how have you been Paul?

Happy birthday and thank you for your service as a healthcare provider.

Posted on: Apr 23, 2020 at 11:10 AM

Happy birthday Dan, the family looks good.

Happy Birthday Barb. It's been a few years since I've seen you. I hope all is going well with you. I hope to make the next big reunion.