ISSUE #78                                                                                                                              October 2007
 

    Attendees were: Frank & Gail Savino, John, Pat, Bill, & Chris Savino, Mary Louise Spain & Jean Newell, Paul & Barbara Perez, Joe & Jackie Bateman, Sam & Sandy Friedman, Bob & Valerie Morales, Allen & Helen Miller, Bill & Jane Dutton, George Mealy & Steve & Annette Kuss, Donn & Nancy Cranor, Henry & Joan Harden, Roland & Marianne Proctor, Ken & Beverly Carlson, Alfred & Norma Zinter, James & Kathy Kane, Ed & Nancy Burris, Emerson Tiebor, Mike & Bea Simenic, Charles & Mary Ann Collins, Robert & Mary Lu Matoka, John & Cecilia Popich, Harold Stewart, Frank & Joanne Schwerin, Charles & Josephine Trinca, James & Edith Lowe, Tom & Regina Sullivan, Herb & Anne Price, Dan & Janice Romando, David & Janet McAhern, Fred McCleaf, Ralph Ruhl, Cliff Palmer & Virginia Winslow, Marsha Ann Benjamin, Cathy, Andrea & Sara Palmer, Lyle Christenson & Cassie Griffin, Christenson & Tony Hrynczyszyn, Harold & Mary Jane Buehler, Jerry & Carol Raposa, Joe & Jana Strecker, Donald & Sherri Slack, Troy & Jamie Slack, David & Alice Del Pizzo, Thomas & Sharon Ankrom, Harold Holbert, Vito & Imajean Tomaselli, Dale & Peggy Weed, Dennis Cichowicz, Jerry Hess, Kenneth & Frances Carver, Donald & Kathy Maxon, Joseph Schevitz, Bob & Deanne Gancarz, Malcolm Jones, Fred Ross, Brooks & Peggy Bryant, Chuck & Betty Woll, Ken Hartman.

GOVERNORS WORKSHOP: The meeting took place on September 5, 2007 at 0920 hours. Bob Morales gave the President's Report indicating that he received a resignation letter from governor Bill Maine. A contribution of $250.00 will again be made to Tin Can Sailors. Vice President Harold Buehler cited the Life Member Certificates given out as well as the number of sympathy cards sent this year to the families of our departed  shipmates. Secretary Dan Romando reported his expenses to date as $1,129.00. Treasurer Frank Savino indicated the treasury had a balance of $27,594.00 as of August 30. 2007. However, this is before all reunion expenses have been paid out. Nominating Chairman Bill Dutton put forth Henry Harden, 58-60, 1st Div, SN, as a candidate to be a governor, which was accepted. Paul Perez tendered his resignation as governor and ship's storekeeper. Both resignations were accepted. Bill to continue the search for another governor. Ship's Store articles to be sold at discount prices in order to reduce the inventory. Dan Romando brought up a proposal for the Association to consider paying $2,500.00 for a 7" X 3.75" SIERRA plaque to be housed in the US Navy Memorial in Washington, DC. After October 1, 2007 the cost will be $3,000.00. A vote was taken ending in a tie. It was decided to let the members choose at the General Meeting. Harold Buehler made a presentation to have our 2009 reunion be held in Branson, MO. His presentation was accepted and he is to proceed. The next reunion will be in Portsmouth, VA from October 2 - 5, 2008 at the Holiday Inn Olde Towne Portsmouth. The banquet menu was selected. Bob Morales is also looking into Washington, DC as a 2010 reunion site. Dues will not be increased and the dues amount will be indicated in the newsletter. The meeting concluded at 1415 hours.

MEMBERSHIP MEETING: On September 8, 2007 at 1500 hours and after the Pledge of Allegiance, the meeting commenced. President Bob Morales welcomed all members and guests. Dan Romando gave his report, which was accepted. Frank Savino reported that after expenses being paid our bank balance should be around $16,500.00, which is about what it was last year. The membership approved our $250.00 contribution to Tin Can Sailors. Dan Romando explained the proposal to have SIERRA memorialized with a 7" X 3.75" plaque housed in the US Navy Memorial. Total cost $2,500.00, after October 1, 2007 it will be $3,000.00. After a spirited debate a vote was taken resulting in the proposal being turned down, 17 to 14 with one abstention. Bob Morales gave his report on next year's reunion in Portsmouth, VA at the Holiday Inn. In 2009 we will go to Branson, MO. Bill Dutton proposed the slate of officers and governors to be elected. They being, Robert Morales, President; Harold Buehler, Vice President; Daniel Romando, Secretary; Frank Savino, Treasurer; Governors - Kenneth Carlson, William Price, Dennis Cichowicz, Henry Harden, and Fred Ross, 56-59, Deck Div, FT3, and who also agreed to be our new storekeeper. Since there were no other nominees from the floor, the nominations were closed, a vote taken d the slate was unanimously voted in. A round of applause was given to Paul Perez as our out going storekeeper. Other business: Frank Savino will look into putting part of our funds in a CD in order to gain interest. Frank also welcomed the new members and their guests , Lyle Christenson, who is also a plank owner, Malcolm Jones, Jerry Hess and Joseph Schevitz. The meeting ended at 1542 hours.

BANQUET: After the Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation by Mary Louise Spain, the officers and governors and their wives were introduced. A wonderful dinner was then served culminating in the cutting of the SIERRA cake by our two oldest members in attendance, Charles E. (Chuck) Woll, 44-45, G Div, LTJG and Charles W. (Charlie) Trinca, 44-46, 2nd Div, S1/C. After dinner we had our customary gift exchange and raffle. Our first President Fred McCleaf gave a history of the Association. Mary Louise Spain, who was wearing a tiara, told a story about her being mistaken for the Queen of England at a function. She even had the Royal Wave down pat. Bob Morales spoke about our next reunion in Portsmouth, VA and Harold Buehler spoke about Branson, MO for 2009. Harold also read off the names of departed shipmates reported to us this year. Dan Romando read off the names of departed non-member shipmates. Frank Savino introduced the new members in attendance and their guests. Master of Ceremonies Bill Dutton gave the Benediction, which was a prayer provided by Ken Hartman, 53-57, 1 Div, BMSN.

   We received a thank you from Mr. James V. Jones, President, of Tin Can Sailors, Inc. for our contribution of $250.00. He said this would help defray their operating costs and the cost of sending their newsletter to VA Medical Centers, active duty destroyers, and any destroyer veteran down on their luck who can't afford a subscription.

    Frank Savino, our Treasurer, would like to advise as to our current financial situation. As of January 1, 2007 our balance was $16,957.10. Taking into account expense payouts during the year  and incoming funds for dues and the reunion we had a balance of $27,594.24 as of August 30, 2007. After the hotel expenses were paid and a refund for the Hospitality Room expenses the balance as of October 3, 2007 is $18,071.98.

CREW'S NEWS

    Frank Savino received this from Kenneth Moffett, 53-54, S Div, SN, "I'm glad you called re-dues. Please be in touch with Brother Romando to put a note in the newsletter about the amount. When you are 76, your memory slips." (DPR: Thanks for the suggestion. Basic dues is $20.00 and will be noted in this and future newsletters. I'm near your age and know what you mean.)

    Charles Terenghi, 60-63, X Div, YN3, writes to Frank, "Hope you are feeling much better now that your surgery is over and done. Please find enclosed $40 check for SIERRA Vet. Assoc. dues. I will not be at this year's reunion though. I really enjoy our newsletter but wish we had more SIERRA vets for the early "60" years, I've tried to contact some with no success..."

    Mrs. Irene Bousquet, Ted's widow, 50-51, E Div, EMP3, relates, "I was happy to hear from you a few days ago. Sorry I didn't contact you first. Ted often talked about his days on the SIERRA. Enclosed you will find a check for $20.00 for my dues. I will be looking forward to future newsletters."

    Tony Molinar, 48-51, A Div, EN3, writes, "I am not sure if my dues are up to date but here are my dues. We tried to make Colorado Springs but my wife was in the hospital. In April took her to the Mayo Clinic in Arizona and she needs a liver transplant. But her heart wasn't strong to do it. So it's day to day with medications. She has been in the hospital now since July 19. Enjoy your newsletter. Keep it going." (DPR: Tony we all wish the best for your wife and yourself.)

    Received this from Cas Golosinski, 58-61, 1st Div, PO2, "I came across the attached item in our local newspaper yesterday and it caused a chuckle from me. It seems that the 'HOMELESS' people in Honolulu are working on being able to live in a decommissioned Destroyer Tender! I guess if a person is going to be 'HOMELESS' ( I seem to recall that being known as a 'bum' or 'hobo') it most definitely must be better in Honolulu than in someplace like, say Chicago, Illinois or Whiting, N.J., especially during the winter." (DPR: Cas refers to an AP article in the Chicago Sun Times dated September 12, 2007. The tender is the ACADIA.)

    Hayward "Bud" Hinkhaus,71-73, Repair, HT3, writes, "Please note my change of address noted below. Hope all went well at the Reunion! I am still looking forward to making one of the Reunions and meeting everyone! Keep up the good work, and thanks for the address update!"

    This from Kenneth McDonald, 51-54, 1st and 4th Div, MR2, "Sorry so late with this. Loss of memory; only excuse. Have a heavy load here with my wife's health problems so I'm anchored most of the time. Bought 20 acres of land and sub-divided it into 5 lots. Hope to sell some and get my money back. That takes a lot of time..."

    Frank got this from John Eberhardt, 67-69, R-3 Div, EM3,"I enjoyed our brief phone conservation. Unfortunately I won't be able to be at our reunion this year. Please pass on a 'hello' to everyone and tell Jim Kane (68-70, R-3 Div, EM3) I'm going to make an extra effort next year."

    Campbell M. Sowell, Jr., D.D.S., P.C., ^9-71, Dental, LT, "Enclosed please find my dues for 4 years. Also met a lady in my practice who met and married her husband while both were stationed in SIERRA! They are still married. I gave her a copy of the newsletters so maybe we'll get some new members." (DPR: Thanks a lot Doc; we need all the new members we can get.)

We received an article in "The Gazette" in Colorado from Ken and Beverly Carlson. It seems that one of our members, John Hartley, 67-69, R-4, ETR2, and his wife Donna are beekeepers and were at a 5 day beekeepers seminar at the University of Delaware while our reunion in Erie was in progress. Briefly, the article states that John began relocating honeybees in 1978 while stationed aboard the USS PREBLE in Pearl Harbor. When he found out his captain was planning to kill a swarm that landed on the ship's equipment, he found a local beekeeper to remove them. This piqued his curiosity and began taking classes and began keeping his own hives.

    New member Michael Blakley, 75-80, sent a nice note, "Service aboard the USS SIERRA was like planting a garden, with much to harvest after the rich cultivation, hard-work, constant vigilance, and team-focused efforts of work or play by the many crew members that served aboard. For myself, whether 'playing in the dirt' within the Foundry and later supervised, or in completing other duties assigned to me either onboard or TDY, I still remember the memorable satisfaction gained by working toward helping others, whether for US or the many allied ships that requested our assistance. The harvest I personally gleaned included learning to speak without stuttering, gaining a desire for life-time learning through academic pursuits that eventually came to include a post-graduate education, keen appreciation and knowledge of successful leadership qualities, and a sincere appreciation for the great diversity of people that make up this beautiful nation we collectively enjoy. Having had the privilege of serving with the many officers and enlisted personnel through their often unspoken yet untiring example, I ultimately had 'the seed' of service planted within my heart for a life-time dedication of helping others, instead of pursuing self-centered goals and ambitions which need 'weeding' from my character. Onboard the USS SIERRA it was always the normal routine to serve others, which was formed from everyday commitment to timed mission accomplishment within consul or overseas ports, as well as untimely missions as the humanitarian efforts by our command when Hurricane Frederick made landfall in Mobile, AL in the fall of 1979. Currently serving as a member of a federal disaster assistance team, it is still an honor and privilege to help others and to try in my own humble way to carry on the time-honored tradition tradition of the many past crew-members and patriots of 'the ship with the helping hands.' Thank you for your example!" (DPR: Amen, Mike.)

WELCOME ABOARD

John J. Kelleher              Belmont, MA                           52-55                 E Division                         EM2
Joseph K. Schevitz          Point Pleasant Beach, NJ          75-78                 S-4 Division                      DKCM
Anthony La Torre           Del Ray Beach, FL                   52-55                 E Division                         EM3

E-MAIL LIST

Michael Blakley                  75-80                                                                michaelblakleysr@hotmail.com  (new)
Harold L. Buehler               52-56               5 Div                 EM1                 hlbuehler@embarqmail.com  (change)
James K. Kane                   68-70               R-3                    EM3                 jkkane11@verizon.net  (change)

SIERRA WEB SITE

    We now have a web site with web master Richard Keough in control. It is under construction, and hopefully, Rick will recover his health soon and work out all the details on the site such as a Discussion Section (It will be a live discussion). If you have any pictures while you were aboard the ship and comments, stories, etc. please pass them on to Rick. He resides at 18 Walcott Street, Hopkinton, MA 01748; telephone: 508-435-2679; email: r_keough@covad.net 
The Web site is www.uss-sierra-vets.org

SICK BAY

 Harry W. Wareing, 59-61, Medical, HMC, is handicapped to the point of being homebound and can't participate in any activities.

 Charles E. Woll, 44-45, G Div, LTJG, fell at our reunion. Chuck says his son drove he and Elizabeth home safely and although both are banged up, they are OK.

 George Cale, 49-53, 1 & 2 Div, BM2, underwent open-heart surgery on September 18th and is in for a long recovery.

 James Hagan, 57-58, 4th Div, MR3, has Lymphoma Non-Hodgkin's disease. His treatment has started and is in good spirits. He's sorry he missed the Erie reunion but hopes to make the Portsmouth, VA reunion.

 Richard Keough, 68-70, R-3 Div, EM3, was admitted to the hospital on September 5th with Acute Pancreatitis. He was out in seven days and is scheduled for a CAT Scan this month. (DPR: Rick is our web master for our new web site, more on that above.)

 Fred G. Ross, 56-59, Deck Div, FT3, our new governor and storekeeper, is scheduled to have a back operation on October 22. (DPR: I hope he didn't hurt himself carrying the ship's stores back home and we hope all our shipmates have a speedy and lasting recovery.)

 We also hope Mike Simenic, 44-46, 9th Div, PM2, feels better after his brief malaise.

TAPS

Ted Bousquet            Glastonbury, CT        50-51        EMP3         E Div                      2005
Lawrence Tritz          Palm Desert, CA        47-53        MRC          7th Div                June 14, 2007
Wilfred Jerue             Ruskin, FL                46-47        S1/C           C & N Div           July 16, 2007
Anthony Vocino         Somerville< MA        52-54        YN3            R Div                  August 9, 2007
James Gatchell           Fort Wayne, IN         45-46        MM3           A Div                  August 24, 2007

May they and all our departed shipmates find safe harbor in heavenly waters.

The Officers and Governors wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving, Joyful Holiday Season and a Happy and Healthy New Year.

Respectively Submitted By
Daniel P. Romando
Secretary

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