in memoriam - Fleet Reserve Association

1100. There were 18 senior enlisted personnel plus two Branch 103 members present. Lunch was served followed by
an FRA Indoctrination/Legislative Brief by the National President at 1200. The lunch was funded by the FRA and
the cost was $620.
At 1715, Shipmate Misiura picked us up at the DVQ and took us to FRA Branch 103 Club in Yokosuka for
their Branch General Assembly Meeting which was followed by lunch.
After visiting with the shipmates present, we returned to the DVQ around 2100.
Thursday, 8 February
Shipmate Misiura picked us up at 0830 at the DVQ, we then proceeded to the CPO Club for the first of two
Active Duty Briefs on FRA Initiatives by the National President at 0900. Unfortunately, only two active duty personnel
(one Chief Petty Officer and one 3rd Class Petty Officer), plus one member of Branch 103 attended. Neither
of the active duty shipmates was familiar with the FRA (a constant repeat of previous comments from many active
duty members and a continuous public relations problem within the FRA).
Both of the shipmates who attended had received the information from their commands on the brief and
came to “see what it was all about.” When the CPO left, she said “you have me as a new member and indicated she
was going to sign up on-line.
We then returned back to the DVQ until 1130 when Shipmate Misiura picked us up at the DVQ and we
went to lunch at the Seaside Restaurant. After lunch we did another auto tour of the local visitor areas within the
City of Yokosuka.
Following lunch, we returned to the CPO Club for the second Active Duty Brief on FRA Initiatives at 1400.
We had 50% of the attendees at the 0900 Brief – one Chief Petty Officer. Once again the Chief was not a member of
the FRA and did not know of our existence. We had a casual “one-on-one” visit with him for about twenty minutes.
During this visit, one retired CPO who is an employee of the Chief Petty Officers Club partook in the discussion.
After the Chief departed, I was interviewed by the Armed Forces Pacific Network and talked about what
FRA does, our legislative agenda and the benefits of membership.
Shipmate Misiura then returned us back to the DVQ for the rest of the afternoon and evening.
Friday, 9 February
At 1100 Shipmate Misiura picked us up at our quarters and we went to the Officers Club for lunch. After
lunch we took another short auto tour of a shore-side drive on Tokyo Bay. We then returned to quarters and dropped
Sandy off. Shipmate Misiura and I went to the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) and met with CMDCM Ashley Smith
briefly, who presented me with two USS Kitty Hawk ball caps. We were taken on an extensive tour of the ship and I
was interviewed by the Public Affairs CPO, MCC Jason Chudy on what the FRA was and why I was visiting Japan.
At 1500 we met for a courtesy call with Rear Admiral James D. Kelly, Commander U.S. Naval Forces Japan.
We discussed quality of life issues and military readiness. Admiral Kelly is keenly aware of the FRA and promised
his command support of FRA at both the local and national levels.
Shipmate Misiura then dropped me off at our quarters after another busy, but eventful day.
Saturday, 10 February
Shipmate and Mrs. Misiura picked us up at the DVQ at 1145 and the four of us went to lunch at the Seaside
Restaurant. After lunch we did an auto tour of the country side between Yokosuka and Yokohama and the City of
Yokohama. We stopped at Neguishi for refreshments
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