Okinawa O-club Hail and Farewell

In early May, the command hosted a Hail and Farewell at the Butler Officer's Club.  Fortunately, the $150 we "contributed" to become members of the wardroom in the 11th hour/as we prepare to depart was well worth the going away Shisa-containing plaques and the fantastic food.  I'm not exaggerating when I say that I visited the chocolate fondue about a dozen times...hey, a guy's got to get his daily servings of fruit and chocolate, right?
    Pictured are Mike McKee, the outgoing department head for radiology, Marie Parry, the department physicist and administrative bulldog extraordinaire, and the dapper McFarlands.  The attire was "black and white semi-formal"...Mike and I decided, in typical radiology fashion, to take things down a notch.
    All the departing officers were invited to make a speech.  I got the requisite chuckles with an apology for mumbling into the microphone, but since I sit in a dark room and do just that all day it's hard to break the habit...then thanked everyone for a great first tour and the family-like unity that overseas commands engender.  I think T made a far more moving and eloquent farewell statement, but unfortunately I missed it while sitting in the lobby reading head and facial CT's for the ER...it's hard to complain too much, though, since  I could do my bit o' work at the party. Or at least near it!