SUBSIM Radio Room Forums - Average Joe

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- - Average Joe - On Eternal Patrol (https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=96302)

Average Joe - On Eternal Patrol

Some very sad news arrived in my email today - fellow Subsimmer Matt "Average Joe" Chandler passed away on March 20th, 2006.

I first met Matt in the mid 90s on GE's old GEnie online system after becoming intrigued with the Digital Integration/Microprose sim Tornado. Matt was a member of the "Dirty Twisters", a small group who had developed a method of flying a mission in Tornado's single player campaign, writing up an after action report, and passing along the saved mission files to the next member to continue the campaign. Flying this way gave a whole new life to the sim, which had no online multiplayer mode. The real heart of the sim wasn't just the game, it was interacting with the articulate and fun bunch of guys who made up the core of the group. Their after action reports made that old sim come alive, and I was soon a part of the "DT" round robin email list. Our last mission in Tornado was played out long ago, but we've been exchanging emails over the last decade about other games, our jobs, families, and life in general. We must have sent thousands of messages during good times and bad over the years.

The volume of our correspondence would ebb and flow with happenings in our lives. It wasn't unusual for us to sometimes go weeks without emailing one another, then have a sudden flood of messages coming in so fast that it almost seemed like communicating in real time. Given those circumstances, having a message bounce from Matt's mailbox after sending out a group mail after a long dry spell wasn't too surprising. Matt was probably as busy with his work life as I had been with mine. As the messages continued to bounce, another member of our group tried to contact him via telephone and fax. Both were disconnected. His subsequent Google search turned up this excerpt from an online memorial page:

"Matthew Chandler was a quiet man, with a penchance for solitude, and
enjoyed spending time on his computer. ...

Matthew worked as an embroidery pattern maker, working out of his home
in Coopersville. Although he liked solitude, Matthew did enjoy the
company of his dogs. His latest companion was a lab, named Rufus. Rufus
and Matthew had been together for almost 14 years. When work was done,
Matthew could usually be found at his computer, his favorite pastime. Mr.
Matthew J. Chandler, aged 48, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, March
20, 2006."

Many of you knew Matt as avid SH3 skipper and sound modder Average Joe. Some may remember him from various flight sim forums as "Teehole". I knew him as both, and placed a great deal of value on his friendship. Matt was an easygoing, positive guy who was always ready to lend a hand, spin a story that would make me chuckle, and just generally chat about the ordinary things that make up day to day living.

Matt, you'll be missed greatly. You left too soon and too young, and you left many good friends in your wake.

Fair winds and following seas, old friend.

Very sad when a commander don`t return to base and is still on patrol.

Loosing friends is one of the worst thing that could happen to you.
I didn't know this person (except from the forum) ,but i express my deep regrets for your loss.May his last eternal patrol be full of glory.

Rest in Peace, Average Joe.

RIP Average Joe. :cry:

Quote:

Matthew could usually be found at his computer, his favorite pastime. Mr.Matthew J. Chandler, aged 48, passed away unexpectedly on Monday,

:hmm: ....not trying to be even the least bit facetious but perhaps there is some sort of message in the above that just might benefit us all. Certainly gave me pause to consider.

God rest your soul Average Joe...

Taking my sub to test depth as a salute to a fellow sub simer.

RIP

RIP, Herr Kaleun. May fair seas follow you, and may the Big Man provide you with plenty of Britischers to deep six.

Eternal Patrol, forever shall be.....For those in peril on the sea

Eternal Father, Strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bid'st the mighty Ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
O hear us when we cry to thee,
for those in peril on the sea.
O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who walked'st on the foaming deep,
and calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
Oh hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea!
Most Holy spirit! Who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea!
O Trinity of love and power!
Our brethren shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe'er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee,
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.

RIP Average Joe

Deep Six

Sorry to hear this news, My thoughts go out to the friends and family of Matthew ,Rest in peace Average Joe.

There is a port of no return, where ships
May ride at anchor for a little space
And then, some starless night the cable slips,
Leaving an eddy at the mooring place...
Gulls, veer no longer. Sailor, rest your oar.
No tangled wreckage will be washed ashore.
Leslie Nelson Jennings
“Lost Harbor”

Lord God, our power evermore,
Whose arms doth reach the ocean floor,
Dive with our men beneath the sea;
Traverse the depths protectively.
O' hear us when we pray, and keep
Them safe from peril in the deep.
There are no roses on a Sailor's grave,
No lilies on an ocean wave.
The only tribute are the seagulls' sweeps,
And the teardrops that a sweetheart weeps.

"We, who survived World War II and are privilevged to rejoin our loved ones at home, salute those gallant officers and men of our submarines who lost their lives in that long struggle. We shall never forget that it was our submarines that held the line against the enemy while our fleets replaced
losses and repaired wounds.

Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN

:ahoy:R.I.P Fellow Hunter,
I orde my crew to have one minute of silence on the next patrol

I'm sorry for your loss m8, take care.

very sorry to hear about your loss :cry: R.I.P fellow hunter