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Strike Up the Band

Occasionally when a WHOI ship returns to Woods Hole, the Institution’s Brass Ensemble helps give the crew and science party a rousing welcome home. From left to right: Alex Dorsk (trombone), Jack Whitehead (trombone), Bob Katcher (trumpet and leader), and Dan Smith (trumpet). In this case, however, the homecoming was bittersweet. In the background, R/V Oceanus ties up after returning from its last science mission. After 36 years and nearly 500 missions, Oceanus was retired from the academic research fleet in November 2011. (Photo by Ken Kostel, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)