July Newsletter

“Operational Call Sign of the USS William J. Bordelon DDR/DD 881”
B o r d e l o n
R e u n i o n
C o m m i t t e e
July 2014
OFFICERS
Jim Sullivan
National Chairman
[email protected]
Seb Riccobono
Secretary/Treasurer
[email protected]
Charles Morgan
Store Keeper
[email protected]
Position Open
Historian
Barry Richards
Chaplin
[email protected]
ADVISORY
COMMITTEE
Ray Cotton
Herman Achtzlger
Milo Fuller
Cal Casey
Bob Comins
Barney Oursler
Volume 25, Issue 2
I hope this Newsletter finds all in good health and
looking forward to next year's Reunion in Philadelphia,
PA.
This edition of the newsletter contains a Status Report
on the 2015 Philly Reunion along with a very short reunion survey which I hope you will review and, most
importantly, provide us with a response.
The reunion committee has identified quite a few sightseeing opportunities and tours available in the Philly
area and in the next month or so we will be forwarding
an extensive listing for review and comment to those
members who are considering attending the reunion.
The goal is to make the Philly Reunion a memorable event.
Bravo Zulu!
“Sully” Sullivan
James Sullivan—National Chairman
Do You Know These Bordelon Shipmates
Page 2
Bordelon
Reunion
Loses
Long-time
Shipmate,
Friend and
Historian
T he smiling face and a quick “how have you been” or “how
has your day been.” That describes what will be missed at
future reunions. Recently one of our shipmates with a
wealth of Bordelon history passed on to a higher command.
We are referring to Francis J. Doherty. “Frank”
was here at the beginning of the Bordelon Reunion Committee, ever present to lend his shipmates a hand or search
out some little known fact about the Bordelon ’s history.
Frank, You will be Missed!
Bordelon shipmate John (along with his wife,
Barbara) Reed contacted us with the suggestion that the Bordelon Reunion Group sponsor a Commemorative Plaque in honor of the
USS Bordelon DDR/DD881to be placed on the
Commemorative Plaque Wall at the U.S. Navy
Memorial, Washington, DC.
Sponsorship of a Commemorative Plaque requires a total donation of $3,000 to the U.S.
Navy Memorial. If you would like to support
this project, please contact Reunion Chairman Jim Sullivan (via email at: [email protected]) indicating how much you
would like to donate towards this project.
U.S.
Navy
Memorial
Commemorative
Plaque
Once we reach the necessary $3,000 in donations, Jim will then contact all donors requesting they mail in their checks. We will
not move forward on this project until we
have obtained commitments for the full
amount of $3,000.
Are you in Favor? If so, vote with your checkbook!
SAMPL E PL AQ UE
For more information, see the e Navy Memorial website at: http://www.navymemorial.org/
events/exhibits/commemorative-plaque-wall
Page 3
Page 4
This is John Edward (Jack) Joy III, son of John Edward (Jack)
Joy, Jr. who served on the Bordelon. For some time, I have
been receiving copies of the ForeRunner News. I assume the
reason for this is my having the same name as my Dad. I’d like
to offer some brief information about my Dad for the benefit
of any surviving shipmates who may have known him.
My Dad, “Jack Joy”, would have been part of the late 40’s or early 50s crew because I was born in
1954 and his Bordelon service predates me. I know he served on many ships as a young enlisted
man that I can no longer recall, but I definitely recall the Bordelon being one of them. After I
was born, he strove for shore duty and was quite successful in that quest. After shore duty in
San Diego and New Orleans, my memory sharpens when we were stationed in San Angelo, Texas
with back-to-back stints from about 1959 through 1962 where my Dad made Master Chief and was
second in command of the Naval Reserve Training Center there (since demolished circa 2000). We
were stationed on Guam at the Naval Hospital in 1963-1964. Although on shore duty there, my
Dad spent some time aboard the USS Wandank (aka the USS “Winkie Dink”). The Wandank was just
a seagoing tug, but her claim to fame was escorting the bathescape “Trieste” to its historic
Marianas Trench dives a few years earlier. His last sea duty was aboard the carrier Midway circa 1965 when we (me and my Mom) were stationed in Alameda during the early Viet Nam era. Finally, after serving shore duty in Kingsville, Texas my Dad retired in 1968 as a Master Chief with
submarine service (aboard the USS Besugo).
In civilian life, my Dad did well. He had been an accomplished and published Zoologist and Herpetologist throughout his military career. He became the assistant director of the Dallas, Texas
zoo after his retirement until about 1978 whereby he retired again to an active life of adventure
including African and Mexican scientific safaris. He was invited to direct the Abilene, Texas zoo
in 1982, which he did until 1992 whereby he retired once again. He died in 2003 at age 79.
Because I have never served, I can never completely understand the bond of the Bordelon
crew. However, as a Navy Brat, I can assure you that I have a very good understanding of military life in general. Thus, with that understanding, and in honor of all who served, and specifically on behalf of my Dad, Jack Joy, I have sent his belated dues to Sebastian Riccobono. I consider it a personal privilege to support an organization such as yours.
Sincerely,
Jack Joy (John Edward Joy III)
2400 Summit View Dr.
Bedford, Texas 76021
o
W A N T E D
Page 5
Current & Lost Shipmates Contact Information
Every couple of years we try to update Shipmates contact information. This way you will
receive the latest information and we will make sure you get information and details on the
next reunion.
If you have contact information on any of your Bordelon Shipmates that you think we may
not have in our database please give us the information so we can include them in Bordelon
mailings.
Please take the time to mail in your information with your dues or email them to us.
We need the following information:
Full Name:___________________________________________________ Rate/Rank_____________
Address: ___________________________________________________________________________
Home Phone: ______________________________________
Email Address: _____________________________________________________________________
Time aboard Bordelon: _______________________________
Did You K
n
o
w ?
That Bordelon went to west pac twice ?
That Bordelon made two complete trips around the South American continent?
The year & place Bordelon was FRAMED?
That Bordelon lost it’s starboard turbine while under enemy fire in the Tokin Gulf?
Find out more Bordelon history on the Bordelon Reunion Committee Website:
www.1DynamicPlace.com **
** Then click on the Bordelon Logo to start exploring all the events and information Bordelon.
Plan For 2015 Reunion—
Things to Do in Philadelphia
As mentioned in our February Newsletter,
our 2015 Reunion will be held in Philadelphia, PA. The tentative dates chosen are
August 26-30, 2015, but may change by a
day or two based upon availability. As also mentioned in the February Newsletter,
the selection process which resulted in
the choice of Philly was, as usual, done by
majority vote of those in attendance at
the 2013 Reunion in Milwaukee.
What was unusual about the selection,
however, was that Philly did not have a
local sponsor who had already performed the financial and logistical
ground work. Thus, the selection was
made without much knowledge of hotel
pricing, parking costs, or local hotel
rules regarding our Hospitality Room
(i.e., ability to bring in our own beverages
and snacks.)
As it turns out, hotel rooms are pretty
pricey (highest $230, lowest $149 per
night total, with other hotels priced
somewhere between the high and low),
Parking is very pricey (highest$40, lowest
$15 per day, but mostly around $25), and
Philly hotels do not allow groups to
stock their Hospitality Rooms with their
own beverages and snacks.
As a result of the above, the committee
expanded its search into the Philly suburbs, including across the Delaware River into New Jersey. Room rates are cheaper ($115 per night total), Parking is Free,
and there appears to be no problem with
having our own beverages and snacks in
the Hospitality Room.
Of course, getting into Philly to enjoy
Page 6
the food, sights, sounds, and ambiance of
this fine city becomes somewhat problematic; the Downtown Train ($3.80) is 3.5
miles from the hotel, which does not have
a shuttle service. Additionally, all hotels
require a guaranteed number of booked
rooms. This latter point, however, is not
that unusual, except that we have, at this
time, no estimate of how many of our members are considering attending the 2015
Reunion
Thus, I would like to ask those who are
currently considering attending the 2015
Reunion to take part in a small survey (not
more than 4 questions). Your input will
greatly influence the decision on whether
we hold the reunion in a Philly hotel, or
we cross the Delaware River to New Jersey.
(Continued on page 7)
Milwaukee
Memorial Brick
Page 7
For the Milwaukee Reunion we purchased a
Memorial Brick. It was placed and dedicated this
past Memorial Day at the Milwaukee’s Lakefront
Veterans Park Vietnam Memorial.
This tribute will act as a reminder to all who visit
the Memorial that our shipmates, living and departed are honored and acknowledged for their
“Honor, Courage and Commitment” to the Nation and Navy they served!
Plan For 2015 Reunion—Continued
(Continued from page 6)
I would encourage ALL to reply to this
survey, especially since the first question
is very important to us in planning the reunion.
Please reply to Jim Sullivan, at email address: [email protected] or Phone:
919-467-2342. ****We need your reply
ASAP, certainly no later than August 15,
2014.**** Please remember to include
your name with your response.
You need only include the question number, followed by your answer.
Bordelon Milwaukee Brick
1. At this time do you plan to attend the 2015
reunion (YES or NO or UNSURE). If NO, you
can bypass all further questions, but please do
respond! Note: We know plans can change, so
a YES response will not be considered a firm
commitment to attend.
2. Indicate your preference on location:
PHILLY HOTEL, or NEW JERSEY HOTEL, or
EITHER LOCATION.
3. Do you plan on driving a car to the reunion?
(YES or NO).
Approximate Location
of Brick
4. Is having our own Beverages and Snacks in
the hospitality room important to you? (YES or
NO).
Thank you in advance for your input.
Wisconsin Vietnam Memorial Veterans Park, Milwaukee Lakefront
Bordelon Reunion Committee
1213 Glenview Avenue
W auwatosa, W I 53213
Fore Runner News
James Sullivan—Editor
Copyright © 2014
All Rights Reserved
Website
www.1DynamicPlace.com
Click on Bordelon Logo
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Sickbay & Taps
Lacy Harding Milam – 2011
Vernon D. McLane – 2014
James Cappua- 2009
William E. Gausman – 2012
Lamarr Beatty - 2014
Cornelius J. Carmody
(Skipper, 1971-1973) - 2008
Cathy Myers, wife of Jack Myers – 2014
Francis J. Doherty – 2014
John Edward (Jack) Joy, Jr. – 2003
Alfred Troian – 2014
William "Billy" McAden - Unknown
Roy Wilken — Unknown
Lee Benson — 2014
————————————If you know of any Shipmates or
Spouses’ death, hospitalization or
being homebound due to medical
issues, Please let us know.
—————————————
2014/2015 Dues
Just a reminder for those
who have not paid your 20142015 Dues. Dues are $25.
Send check to
Bordelon Reunion Committee
C/O
Sebastian Riccobono
1213 Glenview Ave
Wauwatosa, WI 53213
Remember Dues support this
newsletter, the ship’s Store
as well as the Hospitality
Suite at the reunions.
Send Sebastian an email [email protected] or call
(414) 852-2103 to find out if
your dues are current.
Nautical Humor
A boat painter was awarded
the job of painting a small
sailboat and when the owner
asked him, how long it
would take him to finish the
job,
he
replied,
"Two
weeks".
Three weeks went by and
the owner, a little concerned
of the delay, confronted the
painter. "Hey Paul", said the
owner, "You told me that it
would take you two weeks
to paint my boat and it's
been three weeks... What's
up with that?"
The painter put his paintbrush down, looked the
owner square in the eye and
said, "That was two NAUTICAL weeks, like a nautical
mile, they're a little longer".