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This issue contains information regarding reunion registration, hotel reservations, tours and Plan of the Day. Portsmouth/Norfolk/Newport News area has much to see for our Navy veterans. I note some members are sending me dues checks, that's fine, except I have to mail them on to our treasurer, Frank Savino. If you find your check may not have cleared, it's because of the delay in Frank receiving your dues. In the future please send your remittance on to Frank with any news you might want to share with your shipmates; he'll pass the news on to me for the newsletter. As some of you may know we mail our newsletters to other destroyer tender veterans associations and we receive copies of theirs. Dave Zapf, Reunion Coordinator of the USS SHENANDOAH AD-26 Association, read ours concerning the voting down of the proposal to have a ship's plaque at the Navy Memorial. Dave points out that after our associations finally disband there will be nothing left as a reminder of our ships. The plaque will memorialize our ships and their crews. I think it may be a good idea to again propose the memorial plaque, even though it may cost a few bucks more. REUNION 2008 BANQUET AND TOURS At our Buffet Banquet we will have a choice of Lemon Butter Broiled Flounder, Grilled London Broil marinated and sliced served with a Herb Demi-glaze, and Herb Encrusted Roast Pork Loin with a Madeira Sauce. There will be a Country Garden Salad consisting of Iceberg and Romaine Mix with Shredded Carrots, Cabbage, Cucumber, Sliced Red Onions and Cherry Tomatoes. The Salad Dressings will be Blue Cheese and Low Fat Italian. For Vegetables we have Chef Cut Vegetable Medley and Baby Snow Peas with Pearl Onions plus Scalloped Potatoes. For dessert we will have our traditional SIERRA cake. On Friday, October 3, 2008 from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm we will have a tour of Colonial Williamsburg, where you can sightsee and shop and the Jamestown Settlement, visiting the fort and three ships, "Susan Constant", "Godspeed" and "Discovery". Lunch is on your own. Price for the tour is $54.00 per person. On Saturday, October 4, 2008 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm we will have a tour of Portsmouth itself, a visit to the Mariner's Museum where there is a new USS "Monitor" exhibit and winding up at the Norfolk Naval Station where we will have lunch on Base. Price for the tour is $55.00 per person, lunch included. If by chance you misplaced your copy and/or need one? Link to: Plan of the Day October 2008 Link to: Attend 21st Reunion Form Link to: Hotel Reservation Form ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WELCOME ABOARD
E-MAIL LIST
SICK BAY
We have reports our governor Ken Carlson, 53-55,
A Div, YN2, is have stomach/ nausea problems. He's changed his diet and we hope
all will be better. SOME LIGHT HUMOR? Su Wong married Lee Wong. The next year the Wongs had a baby. The nurse brought in a lovely, healthy, bouncy - but definitely Caucasian - baby boy. "Congratulations," said the nurse to the new parents. "Well Mr. Wong, what will you and Mrs. Wong name the baby?" The puzzled father looked at his new baby boy and said, "Well, two Wongs don't make a white, so I think we will name him Sum Ting Wong." CREW'S NEWS Received a little note from Le Grand Fowx, 50-52, E Div, ENO1, "I know I am not required to pay since I will be 87 in April. I enjoy the newsletter. Robert Hosier, 46-47, M Div, MM3, writes, "I have been a member of the Sierra Club since it started. I went to the decommissioning ceremony in 1993 and it was sad to see the ship setting high in the water with all the flags flying around it and yet knowing it would never be going back into service. I would like to pay my dues for 2007-2008 and since I turned 80 years of age in January, I would appreciate the offer of paid-up dues. I served on the ship in 1946-1947 in the M Division and I remember in 1947 we were taking on fuel in Pearl Harbor which brought back all the memories of that tragic day." (Bob, what we want to know is when a crewmember reaches that magic number of eighty a Life Member Certificate will be sent out.) Frank Savino received this from Barbara Hill (wife of Charles, 46-47, Canvas, S1/C), "Enclosed please find a check for $40.00 for Chuck's dues. I'm sorry we're behind in paying them and hope this brings us up to date. We were able to attend the reunion in 1992 but because of Chuck's health have been unable since. We were lucky enough to spend time with Dan and Jan Romando and so feel a closeness with his newsletter. Thank all of you so much for doing such a great job. Hopefully we'll be able to make Branson next year since it's so close for us! P.S. Chuck turns 80 on March 24." Dolores Smeltzer writes, "Roland (52-56, 4th Div, MR2) has had some heart problems but is home now. We love our trips back to Virginia and hope to make it this fall. Short note from Larry Appel, 46-47, F Div, FC3, "$20.00 dues enclosed. I turn eighty October 8, 2007. Will appreciate my Life Member Certificate. Frank received this from Joe Bateman, 55-57, 5th Div, FP2, "Enclosed is a check for my 2008 dues along with a thank you for a job well done. I won't be able to make this year's reunion but Jackie and I are looking forward to Branson, MO. Thanks again." "Bud" Hinkhaus, 71-73, Repair, HT3, writes, "Thanks for the reminder about dues!! I have included a check for my dues for 2007 through 2011. That should hold me for a while!! Since my last note, changing our address to Florida, we recently got a new e-mail address also - shiphaus@embarqmail.com. Like so many of our Shipmates, I enjoy and look forward to the newsletter !! I am also glad to see new members who are joining. One of these years, we will get to a Reunion to meet everyone. Thanks to all of the Officers and members who help keep the newsletters coming and make all of the arrangements for the Reunions." (DPR: The Officers, Governors and all those who help out at the reunions appreciate your kind words.) We received a letter from Allen Schultz, 82-87, R-3 Div, EM2, "I would like to take this opportunity and thank all the association officers for all the work they do keeping the SIERRA Veterans Association alive. I look forward to the newsletters and hope to one day to be able to attend a reunion. I understand that it will be in Branson MO in 2009. That is only an hour or two away so I should be able to attend. I have kept in touch with a couple of former sailors from the SIERRA. I thought that if you sent them a copy of the latest newsletter and an invitation to join, perhaps they would consider it. It is at least worth a shot." (Allen, many thanks. I took your list and did what you suggested. Happily, LCDR Ken Russell answered.) Stephen Taranto, Jr. (son of Stephen Taranto, Sr., 56-58, 3rd Div, EM3) e-mailed us, "FYI - I have sent my dues into Frank. Thank you for your kind words after my Dad passed. A short while ago I received the sympathy card - and candidly I must tell you it reduced me to tears. My father ALWAYS talked about his time aboard ship - and he loved everyday he spent aboard. I am proud to be able to continue his association with the Association." (DPR: Stephen also wrote in another letter that his dad's funeral was conducted with Navy Honors and he knew he would have been proud.) Frank received this e-mail from a Doug Quintall, drquintall@comcast.net "I was wondering if you might be kind enough to share some of your experiences aboard the USS SIERRA. My wife's father served on her from April 1953 until September 1956. He died in 1967 when she was but eleven years old and she does not know anything about his Navy days. I just received his DD214 that shows his time aboard so I figure it is a start. His name was Tommy Lester Sanders from North Carolina and the only thing I know is that he attended 20 mm gun mount school from April 1953 - May 1953 and then on 40 mm twin in March 1955. I know it is a long shot that any of you may have known him, but if you could spare some stories about the ship at that time it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much for your time and consideration and for serving your country." (DPR: If you do remember Mr. Sanders please contact Doug Quintall.) From Montgomery Smith, 85-88, R-5 Div, OM2, "I see that my dues are due so a check is enclosed herewith. Thanks for the newsletter. Issue #79 included much in the way of hospitalizations and fallen shipmates, it helps to remind us all that our association is finite and with each passing year we have fewer members. I am hoping to make my first reunion this year." This from Lyle Nelson, 44-46, C Div, SM3, "Here's $20 dues. But regards Tony Kozel letter looks like I get a free dues ride from now on. I'm 83. Missed every reunion so far. Had planned on CO Springs but my travel agent gave me a cheepy, Honolulu to Milwaukee, for a Buckley baseball tour out of Chicago and I couldn't get CO Springs included. Dammit! Anyway, one of these times." (For those interested the web site is www.uss-sierra-vets.org ) TAPS
May he and all our shipmates who have passed rest in peace. Respectively Submitted By DUES $20 * NEWS * DUES $20 * NEWS * DUES $20 * NEWS * DUES $20 * NEWS * DUES $20 * NEWS * DUES $20 * NEWS
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