ISSUE #88                              Web Site: www.uss-sierra-vets.org                             MAY 2010
 

         This issue of the SIERRAN mostly concerns our reunion in October in Ocean City, NJ. Please note carefully the registration and hotel reservation information. Registration is to be made through our treasurer, Malcolm Jones. Also the tour selections are included in this form, as well as meal selection at the Lobster House on the Cape May tour. On the other hand, the hotel reservations are to be made directly with the hotel, which also includes the banquet meal selections. As with last year's reunion, payments for registration, tours and hotel are to be made in advance.
         If you are driving, Port-O-Call Hotel is located at 15th and Wesley Avenues in Ocean City. The hotel has no shuttle service. If coming in by air there are shuttle services and car rentals at Philadelphia and at Atlantic City Airport. The closet would be to get a flight into Atlantic City.
         We will have a Breakfast Buffet consisting of cereal, pastries, eggs, bacon, sausage, fried potatoes, pancakes and French toast, etc. The Banquet menu is wild green salad with seasonal garnish and balsamic vinaigrette. Your choice of Prime Rib with natural au jus or Chicken Cordon Blue, which is chicken breast stuffed with Swiss Cheese and Canadian Bacon and topped with a rich brown sauce. Both selections come with peas and mushrooms and mashed potatoes. For desert we will have an ice cream sundae along with our traditional SIERRA Cake. Do not forget to note your meal choice on the hotel reservation form.
          On Wednesday, October 20, 2010 we will have our Battleship New Jersey and Historic Philadelphia Tour. We will go through the ship, have a wreath laying ceremony and have a barbeque lunch on the fantail of the ship. After which we will travel to Philadelphia and have a step on guide to explain the sights as the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Congress Hall, Franklin Court, Betsey Ross House, Christ Church and Elfreth's Alley.
           On Thursday, October 21, 2010 we will be on the Cape May Tour in which we will have a guided tour of the Cape May area, coastal fortifications at Cape May Point, including Battery 223, the Fire Control Tower No.23, Cape May Canal and a tour of the Naval Air Station, Wildwood Aviation Museum. We will have lunch at the Lobster House Restaurant on Fisherman's Wharf. Lunch will consist of Clam Chowder and your choice of Lobster Salad Platter or Crab Cake Sandwich with French Fries. Please note your meal choice on the registration form.

PLAN OF THE DAY - USS SIERRA - 23rd REUNION
October 19, 20, & 21, 2010
PORT - O - CALL HOTEL
1510 Boardwalk
Ocean City, NJ 08226
Telephone: 609-399-8812 or 800-334-4546

NOTES

   1.   The deadline is September 19, 2010 for reunion prepayment, Port-O-Call room reservations and two were signed up. The banquet and will feature Prime Rib and Chicken Cordon Bleu.
    2.  Prior to September 19, 2010 the charge for the reunion, including hospitality room and banquet is $75 per person called after this date that charge is $85 per person. Banquet only is $27 per person. Also please bring a gift for the gift drawing, suggest spending $10 - $15. Something from your hometown or state. 

  Special Note: The 2010 Reunion Reservation Forms are available in PDF Format for printing. Click Here >> 2010 Reunion Forms

MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: USS SIERRA VETERANS ASSOCIATION
MAIL TO: MALCOLM JONES
2613 W. HIGHWAY 83
MCALLEN, TX 78501
TELEPHONE: 956-343-3644

                                                                                     Date: __________________
Registration fee is $75.00 per person before September 19, 2010; after the 19th the fee is $85.00 per person; banquet only, $27.00. Please register the following for attendance at the 23rd reunion on October 19, 20, and 21, 2010 at the Port-O-Call Hotel, 1510 Boardwalk, Ocean City, NJ 08226.

Name of shipmate _____________________________________ address _____________________________________
City _____________________ State __________ Zip _______ Phone ________________ Price$ _________________
Name of Spouse, Relative, Guest ______________________________________________ Price$ _________________
Tour #1: 10/20/2010 BB New Jersey / Philadelphia Tour    $73 per person No ____ X $73=Price$ _________________
Tour #2: 10/21/2010 Cape May WWII Tour                      $54 per person No ____ X $54=Price$ _________________
                                                                                                Annual Dues at $20.00            $ _________________
My check is enclosed for this total amount                                                                        Total $ _________________
Lobster House Choices: Soup: Clam Chowder ____
(Pick one entrée)           Lobster Salad Platter ____            Crab Cake Sandwich w/ French Fries _____

_________________________________________________________________________________________________
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_______________________________________ DETACH HERE ______________________________________

HOTEL RESERVATIONS
Mail to: PORT-O-CALL HOTEL, 1510 BOARDWALK, OCEAN CITY, NJ 08226
TELEPHONE: 609-399-8812 -334-4546

Dates: October 19, 20 and 21, 2010. Rate is $98.56 includes tax.
Room Type Request    Single _______________ Double _______________   Handicap ________________
                                                                          All Non Smoking Rooms

Please reserve _______ room(s) for ______ person(s).  Will arrive _______________ Depart ________________

Name(s) _______________________________________________________________________________________

Address ____________________________________ City ____________________ State _______ Zip ___________

Arriving Time _______________________________ Check in time is 3:00 p.m.   Check out is 11)) a.m.

Credit Card Type ________ Card No. __________________________ Exp. Date ___________ CVV# ________

Meal Selection: Please indicate choice - Prime Rib ________   Chicken Cordon Bleu ___________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________
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 WELCOME ABOARD

A LITTLE LIGHT HUMOR ?

      Arthur is 90 years old. He's played golf every day since his retirement 25 years ago. One day he arrives home looking downcast. "That's it", he tells his wife. "I'm giving up golf. My eyesight has got so bad....once  I've hit the ball, I can't see where it went."
      His wife sympathizes. As they sit down she says, "Why don't you take my brother with you, and give it one more try?"
      "That's no good", sighs Arthur. "Your brother is a hundred and three. He can't help".
      "He may be a hundred and three", says the wife, "but his eyesight is perfect".
      So the next day Arthur heads off to the golf course with his brother-in-law. He tee up, takes a mighty swing and squints down the fairway. He turns to his brother-in-law, "Did you see the ball?"
      "Of course I did", says the brother-in-law. "I have perfect eyesight."
      "Where did it go?" says Arthur.
      "I don't remember."

Words which ought to exist:
       CARPERPETUATION (kar'pur pet u a shun) n. The act, when vacuuming, of running over a string or a piece of lint at least a dozen times, reaching over and picking it up, examining it, then putting it back down to give the vacuum one more chance.
        DISCONFECT (dis kon fekt') v. To sterilize the piece of candy you dropped on the floor by blowing on it, assuming this will somehow "remove" all the germs.
        PHONESIA (fo nee' zhun) n. The affliction of dialing a phone number and forgetting whom you were calling just as they answer.

CREW'S NEWS

          From Arnold Court (56-59), "Enclosed is 2010 annual dues. Hope to see you at the next reunion."

             Malcolm received this from Rose Reardon, Jack's (43-46) widow, "Sorry I'm late with my dues. Looking forward to making the reunion this fall if my daughter and her husband drive me down."

           Cas Golosinski (58-61) writes, "It seems that the older I become the more I forget. Just today while looking through some papers in order to begin compiling them for Income Tax work I realized that I had NOT, as yet, sent in my membership dues for year 2010. So attached to this note you will find my check for $20.00 for my dues."

            Malcolm got this from Di Carlo 57), "Enclosed is my check for $20.00to cover my 2010 dues. Lots of luck on your new position as treasurer. If you get a chance would you be kind enough to send me your e-mail address. My e-mail address is brd9635@aol.com. P.S. I guess we both have something in common; we were probably in the same engine room."
(DPR: Malcolm's e-mail address is jnauto@att.net)

            Don Slack (6064) Notes, "enclosed is a check for my 2010 USS Sierra Assoc. dues. Excited for the reunion in N.J."

            Malcolm also received this from Harry S. Scroggs 54), "in closed find my check for the 2010 Association dues. We haven't been able to attend the last few reunions that I would like to put my vote in for Washington, D.C. reunion next time.
hope to see you there! On March 7, 2010 I will be 80 years old. P.S. as you can see this is the second time I had to mail this. Seems our postal workers can't figure out the problem when just the house number was wrong. It seems to be the same way here in Ohio how a low tolerance for using their brains and figuring out the problem! I was how one who called you at home on the evening of the 24th (February). Hope to see you in Washington, D. C. If that is our next reunion."
(DPR: Harry you are in luck. We are working on having the 2011 reunion in the Washington, DC area.)

              Malcolm received this from Bill Maine (87-89), "in closed is my dues check for $40.00 that will cover the last two years before my 80th birthday (4222011). I believe that is the amount you inform me this past December. I am sorry it has taken me so long to remit that amount. Two things happen since you are e-mail that delayed my payment. First, on Christmas eve I had a slipped disc (3-4 vertebrae) that kept me in great pain. Second, someone, somehow invaded my e-mail and took all the stored items, including your address. The Sierra letter came today and, hence, I now have your address. I have had to back shots into the affected spinal area which has helped me some. However, I have much pain when I miss a pain pill. On March 31st I will be operated on to correct the problem. I am being assured, I am my back specialist doctor, that I should be fully mended in about three months. I am sorry that I missed the Branson reunion. I had a family conflict. I look forward to the next Ocean City N.J."
(DPR: A word to all those approaching 80 years. Let us know when soul you can receive a Life Member certificate and be excused from dues payments.)

                Joan Burlew, John's (5962) widow writes, "My deceased husband, John N. Burlew, served on the USS Sierra from 1959-1962. He was previously a dues paying member of the Veterans Association. I am sorry that I let the membership lapse. Please accept the enclosed check for $60.00 to cover the years owed. I am interested in receiving the newsletter, especially with the necessary information about the 2010 reunion in Ocean City, N.J. I would love to attend and see John's shipmates. We all wish had a wonderful time at every reunion. Thank you for your assistance. P.S. my Association contact is Henry Harden.

                  Ken Moffett (52-54) says, "I served two years on the USS Sierra from August 1952 until April of 1954. I was attached to the Storekeeper Division after serving in the Deck Division initially. since my discharge I have noticed hundreds of Veterans wearing hats with particular ships and inscribe. never once have I seen a Sierra  hat in the past 58 years. Last weekend I attended the first round of the NCAA basketball tourney in New Orleans (Thursday and Saturday). A gentleman sitting in front of me wore a Notre Dame hat for the first four games on Thursday, but on Saturday he wore a Veterans hat, and sure enough it was a Sierra hat inscribed with the Veterans Association logo. we spent the halftime telling respective Sierra stories. His name is John "Frenchie" Falgout from Morgan City, L.A. He is 82 insert on the Sierra from 1945 -- 48. The Sierra was operating out of San Diego when he's served aboard and made a trip to China and other ports. Like all young sailors, he served in the deck division first and later as in the "E" division. Like myself, he played multiple sports while aboard the Sierra. After discharge he went to college, taught in H.S. and became a school principal. Because neither of us had a pen I did not get his address, meeting John was the highlight of my trip."

                     Malcolm received this from Beverly Carlson, "on behalf of all of Ken Carlson 5), a Sierra shipmate, please accept this check for $50.00. It will cover Ken's dues plus a little extra to cover the great newsletter we both enjoy."

                     Malcolm also received this from Bob Gancarz 57), "as I recall we spoke briefly during the entertainment intermission aboard the paddle-Wheeler on the lake in Branson. use the extra five dollars for postage."

  
TAPS

May they and all our shipmates who have passed rest in peace.

Respectively Submitted By
Daniel P. Romando
Secretary

DUES $20 * NEWS * DUES $20 * NEWS * DUES $20 * NEWS * DUES $20 * NEWS * DUES $20 * NEWS * DUES $20 * NEWS

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