USS BELKNAP Association
Transcription
USS BELKNAP Association
USS BELKNAP Association In Honor of all shipmates, all years, all crews. 2014 Newsletter -- Issue #1 Letter from the President by Mike Abbott Shipmates, We had a very successful reunion in Tampa and more great things are coming in the next couple years. Lots of new people and new ideas… I was elected President this year and one of my major goals is get our master roster in the best shape it has ever been so that we can keep in better touch with everyone. There are several volunteers already working the problem, but I submit that it is a job for everyone, and I ask you to do your part. There are two major steps which you can all easily do to improve and expand the roster, and one to provide additional help. 1. Each of you, please go to the website, www.ussbelknap. com and ensure that your own information is up to date. Many of us move, change email providers, or abandon a land line in favor of a cell phone and neglect to update our contact information. 2. Probably all of you are in contact with one or several of your shipmates from the time you served aboard. Take some time to reach out to them and ask them to either update their registration or register for the first time. You would be surprised how many folks still do not know that we have reunions or a website… Thank you in advance for all you can do in this regard. 3. We already have volunteers to cover the states of VA, WV, MD, MI, IL, and MO. If any of you would like to volunteer to work on a state roster to fill in the gaps, please email me at [email protected] and I will send you the required information. Three of the previous board members have stepped down, having already devoted several years in service to the Association. In many ways, they will still continue to serve. Dick Lemon was elected Vice President; Bob Gilhooly, Secretary, and Skip McCarroll will hold the Treasurer position for the time being even though he just stepped down as President. Bob manages a couple websites and has already teamed with Rich Botteron to work on our site, in addition to secretarial duties. We are all extremely grateful for the support we have gotten over the years from Dick Tremain and Jeff Milnes. Dick has agreed to continue creating the newsletter, and Jeff has a huge network of contacts that will help us continuously. Lou Apuzzo Mike Abbott will be managing the ship’s store, replacing Chuck Taylor, who served in that capacity for many years. As some of you may have already heard, we are going to Portland, ME for 2014! This represents Belknap’s 50th anniversary and we will visit where it all started at Bath Iron Works. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available. In 2015, we will be going to Branson, MO. Start thinking about venues for 2016; we will be returning to the Tidewater area of VA in 2017. We added another Belknap family member to our roster of reunion attendees. Andy Mack, a descendant of the Adm. Andy Mack and the eldest daughter of Reginald Rowan came to Tampa with Rich Botteron. We may expand the family ties even further in Portland. (continued next page) 1 President’s message continued from page 1. Mark Angle, a shipmate from the early 70’s is working with Danny Koker, the “Count” on Counting Cars on the History Channel, and the show’s production company, to commission a bike as a memorial to Belknap and those we lost in 1975. We are all excited about the possibilities. Mark will own the bike, but has promised to bring it to a reunion for a special show-n-tell. In a new initiative, we will be honoring the memory of those lost in 1975 by placing a wreath at the Memorial in Norfolk. A special thanks to Lori Apuzzo, President of the Ladies Auxiliary, who, with her ladies, came up with a plan to streamline the raffle process, thus saving us nearly an hour on the evening of the banquet, allowing more time for shipmates to mingle. Thanks to all of you who joined us in Tampa. The excitement building for Portland may make it the biggest reunion to date. Mark your 2014 calendars for October. Jim Farrow is planning a convoy there from Tidewater and would love to have you tag along. Best wishes to you all for a great 2014. Here’s hoping it will be a year filled with good health and prosperity for you all. Smooth sailing, Next Reunion? Portland, Maine October 22-26, 2014 Shipmates Out and About Jim Gensch’s wreath honoring our fallen shipmates. November 22, 2013, the 38th anniversary of the collision of BELKNAP and KENNEDY, Bob Joseph salutes his fallen shipmates at the BELKNAP memorial at Wisconsin Square in Norfolk, Virginia. Bob, and his wife Pat, had just placed the wreath to the fallen BELKNAP sailors designed and arranged by shipmate Jim Gensch. Mini-reunion. The day after Thanksgiving 2013, past president Fred (Skip) and Jeanne McCarroll (right) from Kingstowne, VA., and Jeanne’s cousin, Cindy (center), dropped in on Dick Botteron and his wife, Jean, in Londonderry, NH. The group discovered it’s a small world. Cindy and Dick were co-workers a couple of years ago without realizing their common Belknap bond. Skip said it was great to connect with the Botterons during their short holiday in New Hampshire and he urges other shipmates to do the same when traveling. 2 USS Belknap Memorial Bike by Counts Kustom’s by Mark Angle My name is Mark Angle and I served on the Belknap in 1972 and 1973 as an OS3. At the Tampa Reunion I was asked to speak shortly on a project I have been Mark Angle talks with shipmates in Tampa about his work with Count’s Kustom Cars and his attempts to get a BELKNAP memorial bike built. working on for about six months. I have been a fan of Danny Koker’s show Counting Cars on the History Channel since it came on as an offshoot of Pawn Stars. After seeing Danny and Shannon make several bikes for military and memorials I thought, “What about a USS Belknap Memorial Bike?” I was lucky enough to know 6 of the 7 men that died in the accident with the USS JFK. This could be a way to let the nation be reminded of the accident and to let everyone know we will never forget those brave men. Plus, doesn’t everyone want a nice chopper? I have been in contact with the production company in New York and have talked with the staff at Count’s Kustoms several times. Twice we have been within a couple of days of flying to Las Vegas to film the commissioning of the bike but production schedules didn’t come through. Right now we are looking at a January filming. This is when you meet Danny and the staff and give them your plans and ideas for what you want. They then take that information, add Please keep your fingers their genius to the mix and build crossed that we can get this projthe bike. The building process ect completed and aired. can take several months. We will I’d like to thank my wife, Judy, then fly back to Las Vegas, from for supporting me in this memoVirginia, for the presentation film- rial to those fine men that were ing. As you might expect, I’m not lost that night. allowed to say much about how the bike will look or post anything about the design or pictures after the build until the show is aired. Season 3 starts January 2014 and most likely this will be shown in season 4. The production company says Count’s Kustoms really wants to build this bike for the guys BUT in television nothing can be 100%. There is always a very small chance the bike will not be built or built but not aired. You can be assured if this project goes all the way we will let you know the air date. I feel sure the Danny Koker, star of the HisAngle is working with Koker’s production tory Channel’s show Counting Counting Cars show to get a company will Cars, sits atop a custom built BELKNAP-themed bike built to allow us post motorcycle. Koker builds custom honor shipmates lost in the 1975 air dates and cars and motorcycles for a living collision at sea. times on the and is a regular on a number of web site and television shows. Shipmate Mark Facebook. 3 Our Association Beginnings by Dick Lemon, Past President The Belknap Association started in 1996, one year after the decommissioning, by Al Sniff and me. We both attended the decommissioning in 1995 and after, we used to call one another from time to time. We kicked around the idea of forming a group to meet once a year and get together with old shipmates. Al was most helpful as he belonged to the Armed Guard Association from WW II and had many good ideas in so doing, attending their reunions for many years. We used a list of people we had from the decommissioning group, which was about 400 names. We both started making phone call’s to former Shipmates, who then called others, giving their names, and after a few years we comprised a list of several hundred more. One of those who contacted us was Jim Farrow, and he had been conferring with an online chat room with many former crew members from the 1975 crew. We got their list, and we asked all if they would be interested in having a reunion in 2002, of which we did. Al & I then set up the first Association meeting in Norfolk and I “stole” a constitution from another association, had it adopted to ours, and we formed the group we have today. Jim Farrow became the first elected President of the official “Belknap Association”. Since then we have had 12 reunions, added several hundred more names to our ever growing list. While getting the association first reunion together, Al and I visited Navy recruiting offices in our respective home area’s to pick up as much Navy paraphernalia as possible for our welcome package. The Chief recruiter at one was very helpful, and while he was looking for my requested artifacts a Second Class Gunners mate sitting in another office told me he had “sunk” the Belknap. He was aboard the Navy destroyer which finished off our beloved ship. He explained to me that the Belknap received three air to surface missile, and was still floating, then his ship hit her with several rounds of 5” salvos. Then she went down. He showed me pictures he had taken of her receiving the missiles. He was going to send me copies, but never did. One of the first projects the Association took on was adding a BELKNAP plaque at Wisconsin Square, a small park on Norfolk, Virginia’s Elizabeth River waterfront, opposite the berth of the USS Wisconsin. The park contains memorials to the seamen lost while serving in United States Navy ships homeported in Norfolk. April 26, 2003 over one hundred people gathered to dedicate the BELKNAP plaque to our fallen shipmates. The event received wide coverage and some shipmates, including Preston Fitzwater shown below, were interviewed by reporters. 4 by Jim Farrow, Past President Are you one of those that received a call, email or voicemail from someone identifying himself as Jim Farrow contacting you on behalf of the USS Belknap Association? Then you live in Maryland or West Virginia! I requested a copy of all shipmates registered on the USS Belknap Website that lived in Maryland or West Virginia in order to update our contact records. What an interesting project it turned into! I sent emails, called phone numbers and even personally visited the home of one shipmate much to his surprise. What made this project really interesting was talking to shipmates that I had never met. Like others I like to talk and it appears that a lot of my shipmates do also. I learned more about the USS Belknap and the lives of men who served on her than I ever thought I would. I heard about surgeries, marriages, divorces, and unfortunately a death. There were also disappointments. In multiple cases I found that the email addresses and or telephone numbers were no longer good. People move, change ISP’s and just drop off the face of the earth, so they think. Having worked in computer analysis for a major telephone company for many years, I have ways of finding people who have fallen thru the crack. Much too some surprised shipmates, they received a call only to ask “How in the hell did you get this number?” I could only say NSA has nothing on me. The answer is no, I did not hack the NSA, public records are all on the Internet if you know how to find them. If you know a city where someone lives, then their tax records arrest records and such are public information along with divorces and such. If you know where to look and have the time, it is fun seeing what is available if you just look hard enough. After going thru approximately 100 records, I was able to update about 85 percent of Jim Farrow the information available, but the project is not complete. I am determined to track down as many of you Marylanders or West Virginians as I possibly can to ensure you know about the reunion in Portland, ME come next October and that we have a good representation. So, if you still have the email or my telephone number, then get back to me, if you don’t have the email, contact me at [email protected]. I also promised to re-establish communications later in the year to remind them of the Anniversary Reunion. I asked them to mark it on their 2014 calendars and ensure they sign up and appear at the reunion. I am sure a few of them would like to squash me for invading their peaceful lives, but I learned long ago that I can run fast if in danger. At the reunion, I will be easy to find, I will be wearing a ball cap with USS Belknap on it. 2013 Reunion Revisited Shipmate Calling 5 Ladies Auxiliary News by Lori Apuzzo, Ladies Auxiliary President Hello to all. Hoping 2014 is a great year for everyone. Our reunion in Tampa got a lot of excitement going for our upcoming reunion in Portland, Maine. Pete Brennan and Christine Maloney are our reunion coordinators. It will be the 50th anniversary of the christening of USS Belknap. There will be tour of the Bath Iron Works where the ship was built, shopping in Freeport. They have also made available a chocolate factory tour and lobster bake. We learned from Mary Wamsley that there is more Belknap family that are living in Maine, so it is a great chance to meet more of our ships ancestors. The weather will be a little cooler up north, so if you want any Ladies auxiliary sweat shirts you can contact Lou Apuzzo at [email protected] who is running the ship’s store. We are hoping for a large turn out for this special anniversary, so contact your fellow shipmates and fill them in. The ladies auxiliary voted for no changes for our officers, so I am pleased to remain the president, with Pat Joseph as vice president, and Joan Perry as sgt. at arms. Raffle time was kept at a minimum with combining gifts together. I think that it was great to see so many shipmates with time to say their good byes and enjoy more time together by having an early evening. A reminder to the men, when you get your newsletter, please share with your wives or girlfriends. Lottery scratch offs seemed to be a hit, and there were some gift cards, Keep some of those thoughts in mind for next year as we can put things together to make nice gifts. We are all looking forward to a great turnout with old and new shipmates. BELKNAP Brochure Coming Soon by Mike Reeves At the 2013 Reunion in Tampa, CAPT Dick Shafer suggested that our reunions would be more complete with a brochure about the Belknap. He provided a brochure from the USS Conyngham reunion as an example. Mike Reeves volunteered to spearhead the effort to produce a brochure on the Belknap, and to have it ready for our 2014 reunion as a memento for attendees. It will include information about the Admirals Belknap, both USS Belknaps (DD-251 and DLG/ CG-26), the ships’ history and service, the USS Belknap Association, and our activities. If you have ideas or materials that would contribute to the brochure (commissioning ceremony programs, change of command programs, ship tour info sheets/pamphlets, cruise books, etc.) please contact Mike ([email protected], 434-944-1376). Coming Soon: www.ussbelknap.ORG by Bob Gilhooly, Association Secretary Lori Apuzzo shares a laugh with her husband, Louie, at a reunion. The Apuzzos are very active in the USS BELKNAP Association. Lori is the Ladies Auxiliary president and Louie runs the ship’s store. ussbelknap.org, our secondary domain, has been moved to Hostmonster, a large commercial hosting company with very affordable fees. A new site is being built there using Wordpress which is widely used on the web and is easy to learn. Richard Botteron and I will be migrating the site from ussbelknap.com to ussbelknap.org. We really are .org as .com is commercial. We will keep the same functions and information and clean it up where necessary. We expect to accomplish this early in the new year 2014. Suggestions for the new site are welcome and can be addressed to [email protected]. 6 For reservations, call the hotel directly at: 207-774-6151 Our Reunion Hotel: Merry Manor Inn -- Amenities for Belknap’s 50th Anniversary Reunion • Free transportation by cab to and from Portland International Jetport. The hotel reimburses you on the way in and prepays the taxis for trips back to the airport. • Maine Table Restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner, and will be open for lunch on days we don’t have a tour scheduled. Complimentary buffet breakfast available daily to all. • Free parking. Free RV parking, but no hookups. • Indoor-outdoor pool and 18’ Jacuzzi available. • Free coffee, tea, and decaf in the lobby 24-hours a day. • Complimentary group reception on Friday evening with beer, wine, cheese/cracker trays. • Non-smoking facility, but designated smoking areas are available outside of the hotel. • Pet friendly – requires $20.00 one-time fee for a maximum of 2 pets. • Free wifi in all rooms. • All rooms have microwaves and refrigerators. • Maps and visitor guides provided in all welcome packets. • When you figure out when you are planning to leave for the airport, sign up at the front desk and they will have a cab waiting. Editor’s note: Want to know more about the area around Portland? See: http://www.youmustbetrippin.com/home/new_england_by_motorcycle_day_3.html Association Acquires Better Budgeting The Association now has a new automated accounting system using Quicken software that our previous treasurer Jeff Milnes had begun to develop. This system will allow us to track all transactions concerning ship store, dues collection, association expense payments, registrations, and donations. This will allow us to provide the membership with more detailed financial reports at the annual meeting. With this system we, as an association, can now begin to propose future annual budgets. 7 PLAN OF THE DAY Wednesday, 22 Oct., 2014 Check-in 0700 Breakfast 1200 Hospitality Room opens 2300 Hospitality Room closes – no bar service in room this 1st day. Thursday, 23 Oct., 2014 Continue Check-in 0700 Breakfast 0800 Hospitality Room opens 1000 Lobster Bake Tour departs 1600 Bar opens 1700 Lobster Bake Tour returns 2300 Bar and Hospitality Room close Friday, 24 Oct., 2014 0700 0800 0800 1500 1515 1900 2300 Breakfast BIW & Freeport Tour departs Hospitality Room opens Bar opens BIW & Freeport Tour returns Complimentary Reception in Hospitality Room Bar and Hospitality Room close Saturday, 25 Oct., 2014 0700 0730 0800 0900 1315 1430 1530 1800 1845 2030 2300 Breakfast Ladies Auxiliary Members Breakfast/Meeting in Wildwood Ballroom Hospitality Room Opens Portland Tour Departs Portland Tour Returns Executive Committee Meeting General Business Meeting Memorial Service in Wildwood Ballroom Banquet in Wildwood Ballroom Bar opens in Hospitality Room Bar and Hospitality Room close Sunday, 26 Oct., 2014 0700 Breakfast Check-out 8 Portland 2014 Tour Itineraries LOBSTER BAKE & TOUR Thursday, October 23, 2014 $68/person, excluding gratuity. 1000 Board the bus and travel to Len Libby’s Candies. 1015 1045 Visit Len Libby’s and Lenny the Moose. Board the bus and travel to Foster’s Downeast Clambake in York, Maine. 1130 Arrive at Foster’s. Enjoy a cash bar, and old fashioned Maine Lobster Bake, and entertainment. 1400 Board the bus and travel to Kennebunkport, Maine. 1430 Pick up step-on guide at Franciscan Monastery and take a 2-hour guided tour of the Maine coast. 1630 Drop the guide off at Franciscan Monastery and travel to the hotel. 1700 Arrive at the hotel. BATH IRON WORKS TOUR Friday, October 24, 2014 $48/person, excluding gratuity. 0800 Board the bus and depart for Bath, Maine. 0900 0900 Bus 1 arrives at Maine Maritime Museum and tours Bath Iron Works. Bus 2 arrives at Maine Maritime Museum and tours museum. 1000 Bus 1 tours Maine Maritime Museum; Bus 2 tours Bath Iron Works. 1130 Buses depart for Freeport, Maine. 1200 1400 Lunch and shopping on your own in Freeport. Board buses and travel to Delorme Maps. 1415 Visit Eartha and Delorme Maps. 1445 Travel back to the hotel. 1515 Arrive at the hotel. PORTLAND TOUR Saturday, October 25, 2014 The Boston Globe called the BIW Tour a “must-see”, Down East magazine named it a “Best of Maine” attraction and Yankee magazine named it a “Best of New England.” $28/person, excluding gratuity. 0900 Board trolleys for a 2-hour guided tour of Portland. 1100 Lunch and shopping on your own in Portland’s Old Port Exchange. 1300 Board trolleys for the return trip to the hotel. 1315 Arrive at the hotel. Remember that a minimum of 35 persons are required for a tour to happen. Google items in the itinerary for more details. 9 About.com’s List of Top 10 Portland Attractions Portland, Maine, is a small but sophisticated coastal city that routinely appears on lists of America’s best places to live, visit, dine and play outdoors. It’s also an increasingly popular port of call for cruise ships. As northern New England’s cultural hub, the city is a showcase for artists, musicians, craftsmen and actors. Portland and nearby towns in southern Maine are also a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts and fans of spectacular scenery. If you’re looking for memorable things to do, here’s your guide to some of the best attractions in Portland and southern Maine. 1. Explore an old 18th-century fort such as Fort Williams in Cape Elizabeth, Fort McClary in Kittery or Fort Popham in Phippsburg (near Bath). 2. Photograph one of southern Maine’s numerous lighthouses: There are six lighthouses within an easy drive of Portland. 3. Browse through an antiquarian bookstore in the Portland area: There are three in Wells alone. 4. Behold Eartha, the the world’s largest revolving globe, at the headquarters of map maker DeLorme in Yarmouth, Maine. 5. View the outstanding collection of American and European paintings and other works at the Portland Museum of Art: Maine’s largest and oldest public art museum. Winslow Homer’s restored studio is the museum’s most exciting recent addition. 6. See Maine in a unique way: from a hot air balloon! Balloons Over New England has flights available near Kennebunkport. 7. Paddle the quiet waters of the Saco River with Saco River Canoe and Kayak in Fryeburg, Maine. 8. Pick a winning harness racing ticket at Scarborough Downs late March through mid-December. 9. Take in a spectacular star show or laser light display at the University of Southern Maine’s Southworth Planetarium in Portland. 10. Shop ‘til you drop at the outlet stores in Kittery or Freeport or explore the unique boutiques in Portland’s Old Port, and don’t miss the L.L. Bean flagship store in Freeport, Maine: It never closes. Distance, in miles, to more Portland area attractions: L.L. Bean Flagship Store 21.2 Lighthouses: Pemaquid Point 42.7 Owl’s Head 70.9 Bug Light 4.4 Doubling Point30.9 Cobbossee 51.6 USS Constitution, Boston 102 Salem Witch Museum94.5 Kennebunkport25.1 Artists Covered Bridge 74.9 Casco Bay Cruiseline 5.8 Whale Watching Boat Tours 4.4 Sea Dog Brewing and the start of the Maine Beer Trail 4.4 Old North Church 102 Belgrade Lakes Golf Course (One of 140 courses) 75.1 10 USS BELKNAP ASSOCIATION 50th ANNIVERSARY 2014 REUNION REGISTRATION FORM October 22 – October 26, 2014 Best Western Merry Manor Inn, 700 Main St., South Portland, ME 04106 Phone: (207) 774-6151 | Fax: (207) 871-0537 – more info at www.bestwesternmerrymanorinn.com Limited rooms are available at group rates ($89/night + tax). Rates are good for 3 days before and after event. Be sure to mention Belknap Group Rate when you call. Name: _______________________________ Guest Name: __________________________________ Years on Belknap: _____________________ Rank/Rate when onboard_______________ # Persons Total Registration Fee: (Shipmate only) $30 (or only $25 if registered by Aug 1) #_______ $_____ One guest free: (add’l guests $25 ea. or $20 if registered by Jun 1) #_______ $_____ Banquet (Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014) $32 ea. #_______ Options (choose one for each person): ___ Baked Stuffed Haddock w/Lobster Sauce ___ Prime Ribs of Beef ___ Chicken Marsala Meal also includes Tossed Garden Salad, Roasted Red Potatoes, Vegetables du Jour, Rolls & Butter, Special Anniversary Cake, Coffee or Tea. Tours: (all require 35 persons minimum) Lobster Bake & Tour - 1000-1700 - Thursday - $68 #_______ BIW & Freeport Tour - 0800-1515 - Friday - $48 #_______ Portland Tour – 0900-1315 – Saturday - $28 #_______ Annual dues for those who need to pay: $20/year Total $_____ $_____ $_____ $_____ $_____ $_____ $_____ $_____ $_____ Is this your first reunion? Yes ____ No ____ Lady Guests: Auxiliary Member? Yes ___ No ___ | Want to become one? Yes ___ No ___ Are you willing to help out during this reunion? Yes ___ No ___ Please update your contact information for our master association roster: Address: ________________________________________________________ Phone number: ___________________________________________________ E-Mail address: __________________________________________________ Make checks payable to: USS Belknap Association Mail completed form to: Skip McCarroll, 6303 Alderman Dr., Kingstowne, VA 22315 11 Postmaster: Address correction requested. Return to: Mike Abbott 292 Brookhaven Dr. Belleville, IL 62221 Stamp goes here! Planning on attending the reunion? Here’s a check list: 1. Reserve your Merry Manor Inn hotel room. Call the hotel directly at: 207-774-6151. 2. Fill out the registration form on the other side of this sheet and mail it to Skip McCarroll along with answers to the questions below. 3. Email a headshot of yourself during the time you served in BELKNAP to: [email protected] by September 30, 2014. The photo will be used to make customized name tags. 4. Make travel arrangements 5. Prepare to have a great time! In three sentences or fewer, answer these questions: a. What is your favorite BELKNAP memory? __________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ b. What is your favorite port-of-call and why? _________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ c. If I could do it all over again I would do this differently: __________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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