Document YrzBdpYrL7vZVB3gNq57JZVNy

PUBLISHED BY THE MARINE DEPARTMENT, HUMBLE OIL & REFINING COMPANY . Volume 14, Number 24 December 11, 1972 Christmas Is A Miracle Christmas is a recurring miracle. So, too, is the Christmas spirit; nothing else has come as close to giving the world an international brotherhood of man. There is no secret behind this compelling force, it is simply that Christmas gives us a chance to enjoy the deepest satisfaction in human experience-that of making others happy. As the Yuletide Season approaches each year, there is a subtle but strong and universal return to the wholesome truth that we are dependent upon one another, not only in a material way, but in social and spiritual ways as well. But Christmas is more than a time of year; it is a noble idea. It is an occasion for charity, love, faith, and hope. It is a season of kindness and thoughtful ness; a season when most of us realize how much we need and enjoy the fellowship of our neighbors and shipmates. It is my privilege to extend Christmas Greetings and Best Wishes for the New Year to all Marine Department employees, annuitants, and their families. May the real meaning of Christmas be yours during this Holiday Season and throughout the New Year. Christmas Is Busy Time Of Year For Sebastian L Koep 100,000 Christmas trees. Who in the world has this many trees and why? Sebastian L. Koep, first assistant engineer, has more than 100,000 Christmas trees and he has them for a variety of reasons, which we'll name later. Mr. Koep and his brother-in-law, a businessman in Elizabeth, New Jersey, own a 150-acre Christmas tree farm located about six miles north of Owego, New York. When the partners bought the farm about seven years ago, some 70, 000 trees were already under cul tivation there. Since then, they and members of their families ("This is strictly a family enterprise," Mr. Koep says) have planted, nurtured, and "mothered along" about 32,000 seedlings--quite a job con sidering that the two men are available to supervise and help cultivate the trees only during va cation or paid leave times, plus occasional weekends in the case of the brother-in-law. "We believe that we have the largest privately-owned Christmas tree farm in New York State, and probably in most of the surround ing states," Mr. Koep said. "I cer tainly must own more Christmas trees than anyone else in the fleet," he added. "I spend practically all of my (See CHRISTMAS, page 2) Sebastian L. Koep, right, examines one of the many groves of trees on his 150-acre Christmas tree farm. CHRISTMAS, from page 1 paid leaves roaming over the farm, trimming and pruning trees and thinning out others that are too close together--not only to pro vide beautifully-shaped Christmas trees for our lot in Elizabeth (owned by the brother-in-law), but to sell to wholesalers who call on us from time to time for trees to sell in other areas. Of course, we always replace trees that we cut with seedlings that we get from the New York State Environmental Protection Department. These plantings not only assure us of a plentiful supply of trees in the coming years, but we always like to return to earth what we take away and Mother Nature has re warded us handsomely for it. Our land doesn't wash away during heavy rains or snows, and the ground remains fertile and pro ductive," Mr. Koep explained. Most of the Scotch Pine and Douglas Fir trees cut for the lot in Elizabeth are from 4- to 12-feet tall. "Last year we furnished an 18-footer to the city of Elizabeth for use as part of its downtown decorations," Mr. Koep said. Although he spends most of his time at the farm, Mr. Koep has sold trees from the lot. . . "so that I know what customers want and can choose and trim trees accord ingly," he said. "We have many repeat customers who prefer our trees because they are freshly cut and we offer a better selection than those shipped in from Can ada," he said. Not all trees grown at the farm are sold at Christmas. From time to time, some of the Red Pines are taken to a sawmill near the farm where they are cut and sold to individuals who want to build log cabins. Some of the 20-foot Scotch Pines go for pulp wood. There are also several acres of natural-growth Hemlock trees, some 18 inches in diameter, which the partners plan to sell for lum ber later. "We make every tree count; it has to be productive in Mr. Koep pulls freshly cut tree through a packaging machine which compresses branches and wraps tree in plastic cover. He then hauls trees to their lot in Elizabeth, New Jersey, about 180 miles from the farm. some way or we don't raise it," he explained. Why is Mr. Koep so enthusiastic about owning a Christmas tree farm? "I'm a farm boy at heart and I like to see things grow. 1 like the clean fresh air, the quiet ness of farm life, and it's a com plete change from my work at sea. Also, the farm is an excellent place where my three sons and my nephews can have a part in maintaining our environment by reforestation of the land, observ ing how things grow (they actually develop a fondness for trees they've planted), and earning money as the result of their labor." -- ... And A Merry Christmas To AH -- A bottle with a letter and two American dollars sealed inside has not only helped relieve the hunger of a poor family in the Philippines, but has led to correspondence that no doubt is contributing to a very Merry Christmas for the family. When the Esso Seattle was in the Sulu Sea early in October, a bottle was thrown overboard containing a letter (written in Portu guese, French, and English) and two dollars, along with an addressed return envelope. "When the ship arrived in Capetown, South Africa on November 1, I received a very touching letter from Alfredo Dela Cruz of Ibil, Mabua, Surigao City, Philippines," explained Captain Edward Craw ford. "Mr. Cruz wrote that he found the bottle in the Gulf of Leyte while on a fishing trip. He also said that he is a 22 year old fisher man, married, and has two sons ages one and three. He took the letter and the two dollars home, converted the money into 13 Philippine pesos, spent one peso to mail a letter back to me, and used the rest to buy much-needed food for his family." The fisherman emphasized his thankfulness for the $2 and ex plained his needs in such a sincere and touching manner that the officers and crew took up a collection to help the family buy Christ mas presents and get a new start in life. Donations totaled $105 and the money was cabled from a bank in Houston to a branch bank in the Philippines. A letter was sent to the family containing a receipt for collecting the money, and pictures of the crew and their ship. The letter was signed by each man in the vessel. _ "The area where Mr. Cruz lives is so remote that $2 is considered a sizable amount of money, so the $105 is practically a fortune to this young man," said Captain Crawford. "Undoubtedly, this Christ mas will be one of the merriest ever for this family." Page 2 Esso Fleet News Employees Purchasing Equity Units Must Sign New Form If you are purchasing equity units under the company's Savings and Investment Program, you will soon receive a letter from the Thrift Trustee showing the per centage you are allocating to the purchase of these units. The let ter will be mailed to your home address about December 15. Be sure to have someone in your family send the letter to you if you will be aboard ship at that time. The letter will explain that since the program has been changed to allow you to purchase equity units with special contributions made after December 31, 1972, the authorization you have signed will not be valid after that date. The letter will also explain that you must sign a new form and send it in, otherwise all of the money going into your account after De cember 31, 1972, will remain 100% in cash. If you are allocating con tributions to a combination of equity units and stock, your pur chase of stock, as well as your purchases of equity units, will stop if you do not sign the new form and send it in. The forms are now being printed and will be forwarded to the fleet within the next two weeks. Those who are ashore and who desire one of the forms should contact the Personnel Services Section. I Retirements I RICHARD K. SURGOCINSKI, who began his seagoing career in April, 1950, as wiper in Esso Greens boro, retired on December 1 with about 22V2 years service. He advanced to fireman/watertender in this same ship in June, 1950, and Personnel Changes Announced The following personnel changes in the Marine Department Houston Office became effective on De cember 1: R. X. Caldwell, formerly Tech nical Superintendent in the Operations-Technical Section, has been named Engineering Advisor in this section; Kenneth W. Wal dorf has moved from Repair Su perintendent to Technical Super intendent; J. C. Same, who was analyst in Logistics & Planning, is now Repair Superintendent; and H. E. Dornak, formerly proj ect engineer in Operations-Technical, has assumed the position of analyst in Logistics & Planning. Mr. Caldwell, who graduated from Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn in 1956 with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering De gree, worked for National Bulk Carriers until 1957 when he joined Esso. International Inc. He was serving as supervisor of Machin ery Design in that company's Tanker Department when on July 1, 1963, he moved to Houston as Technical Superintendent in Hum ble's Marine Department, the po sition he held until his new as signment. Mr. Waldorf obtained a BS De- gree from the U.S. Naval Acad emy in 1961, served the following six yea's as a submarine officer in the Navy, entered the Univer sity of California in 1967, and graduated with a Master's Degree in Business Administration in 1969. In April of that year, Mr. Waldorf joined the Marine Depart ment as economic analyst in Lo gistics & Planning. A year later, he became assistant to the Repair Superintendent, and was named Repair Superintendent in July, 1971. Mr. Same holds a BS degree in Engineering (Naval Architec ture and Marine Engineering) from the University of Michigan. Upon graduation in May, 1968, he joined the Marine Department as project engineer in the Technical Section. In May, 1971, he trans ferred to,Logistics & Planning as economic analyst, H. E. Dornak holds BS degrees in Engineering (Naval Architec ture and Aerospace Engineering) from the University of Michigan. After graduation, he served for three years as research engineer for The Boeing Company. He joined the Marine Department in October, 1969, as project engineer. became oiler in the Queenston Heights in December, 1951. He retired as A/Oiler in the Esso Washington. Mr. Surgocinski lives in Astoria, New York. NORMAN D. MARTELL retired on December 1 with 34 years of ser vice. He began his seagoing ca reer in 1931 as oiler in the Frank lin K. Lane. He had several breaks in service over the next 17 years when he sailed in the ratings of fireman, wiper, messman, and storekeeper. Beginning in March, 1948, he served continually, mostly as fireman/watertender in various company vessels, the rating he held in his last vessel, the Esso Lima. Mr. Martell lives in Chelsea, Massachusetts. Caldwell Same Waldorf Dornak December 11, 1972 Page 3 EDWIN B. CHAPMAN, 2nd assis tant engineer in the Esso Chester, usually has plenty of wild game in his freezer--game that he shot in season while on paid leaves at his 300-acre farm near LaFollette, Tennessee. This includes deer like the one he shows here. Mr. Chap man says he looks forward to paid leaves, not only for seasonal hunt ing trips, but also as times when he can personally tend his herd of 135 cattle. Pamphlet On Pollution Available A background paper entitled "Safer Tankers and Cleaner Seas" has been prepared by the Public Affairs Department of Exxon Cor poration, in cooperation with af filiated companies. The paper, which has been ex tensively researched, describes the world's tanker fleet, the var ious types of sea pollution, and the ways in which pollution can be controlled. The paper also in cludes a section on Exxon's ma rine pollution control activities. Copies of the study, which is in the form of a page pamphlet, are available by writing to Esso Fleet News, Room 4193, Humble Oil & Refining Company, P. O. Box 2180, Houston, Texas 77001. "It Feels Great To Get License // Says New 3rd Mate Juan M. Lerma, who began his seagoing career in 1966 as messman in the Esso New York, is the fleet's newest 3rd mate. He re ceived his license on November 20. He also received a month's wages as part of the Marine De partment's incentive program to encourage employees to obtain or raise licenses. "They're great, great, great," he said enthusiastically when asked to describe his feelings about his new license. "I'm on my way toward further advancement in the fleet and as soon as I've put in the required time, I plan to get my 2nd mate's license. I want to better myself by advanc ing as fast and as far as I can." He also mentioned that the in crease in pay would be helpful. Until a few years ago, he was supporting three brothers, two sisters, his mother, and himself. He still supports all but two brothers who are now making their own living. One of them, Jose Lerma, is messman in the fleet. In 1969, Juan Lerma took ad vantage of an Able Seaman's training course offered by the Marine Department in cooperation with the Texas Maritime Academy at Galveston and obtained his AB endorsement. "This started me on my way up the ladder and I began study ing for a 3rd mate's license," he recalled. He took every oppor tunity to prepare himself by study ing on board ship, whether under way or in port; on paid leaves; and during long offshore voyages in the Esso Seattle. He also sailed in the Esso Boston when she made her last grain voyage. He saved money religiously to pay expenses incurred while attend ing schools in New York. "I spent about 18 days at the Seamen's Church Institute to ob tain Radar, Loran, and Sperry- Assistant General Manager Sydney Wire, left, congratulates Juan M. Lerma, new 3rd mate in the fleet. Gyro certificates. Then I attended navigation school in Baltimore for several months. I studied hard during this period and it paid off. The exams weren't easy, but I made good grades. I'm especially proud of the 97 that I made on the Rules of the Road exam and the 95 in Navigation." Mr. Lerma, who is single and lives in Brownsville, Texas, is on leave of absence until December 12. "I'm really enjoying myself now that I have my license. Man, I'm on the go all the time." And that's the truth. It took the editor of Esso Fleet News nearly three days to get him on the telephone for an interview. SERVICE AWARDS 20 YEARS Y Arthur R. Menard 3rd Asst. Eng. August 17, 1972 Hugh D. Grace A/ Oiler October 3, 1972 ESSO FLEET NEWS is published every other Monday for active and retired em* ployees of the Marine Department Humble Oil & Refining Co.; Emmett A. Humble, General Manager; Sydney Wire, Assistant General Manager. GENE LEGLER......................................... Editor Page 4 Esso Fleet News LU --> 2 tsz H 32 XUD XUJ Ui r- u. EXX-MOR-008077