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Blue Water Navy Discussion Group
I received this from my old navy buddy Bill Crowell.
Bob, could you please put the word out for our members to join/or at least log on to our Blue Water Navy discussion group at http://bluewaternavy.org/phpBB2/index.php . It is a fantastic site dedicated to the restoring of our VA claims and benefits involving all the presumptive diseases associated with Agent Orange exposure. At the present time Blue Water Navy vets don't qualify for benefits, but we have won our appeal last year and are awaiting a ruling from another the Circuit Court of Appeals as we speak. This affects all of us. Very interesting group, I can't stress the importance enough to get involved....... Bill Crowell
If the link does not work copy this "http://bluewaternavy.org/phpBB2/index.php" and paste it into your browser's navigation window (without the quotes)
Recieved this from the USS J P Kennedy folks, and decided to share it with everyone. Those of you in the northeast and haven't had a chance to visit Battleship Cove in Fall River, should do so. If you are planning a vacation or trip to the area, consider stopping there. If you are a member of 'Tin Can Sailors' there are special benefits to the visit. If you are not a member of 'Tin Can Sailors', you should be if you are a former "Destroyerman".
Some of you are new to this email report and are representatives of Sumner and Gearing class destroyer associations. This is a periodic report on the restoration of the FRAM 1 Gearing class destroyer USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. DD850 that is currently berthed in Fall River, MA. We hope that you find this interesting and could possibly pass this along to your shipmates. We need your support in preserving this GEARING class destroyer and welcome any help and interest that our sister ships (both Gearing and our close siblings of the SUMNER class) can provide. You also may find that some of your shipmates are members of our volunteer crew already or that holding your reunion aboard KENNEDY DD850 is a terrific trip back in time.
It was unfortunate that we had to use the Foul Weather Bill for our May Major field day but over 50 volunteers reported aboard USS JOSEPH P. KENNEDY JR. DD850 despite the rain, cold, and wind. Much work, comradery, and services were provided to the ship and crew during this past weekend and we were extremely pleased at the amount of accomplishments and the "family" atmosphere that existed aboard. It seems that it is more of a family reunion when we get together than a work party but the upkeep of this destroyer is a major part of what we do.
Work was accomplished to the following spaces: Combat Information Center; Bridge; Radio Central; ET Shop; ET Test Equipment Stowage Locker; ASROC Control station; Gun Mt 53; Mt 53 Upper Handling Room; Interior Communications; Aux Radio; Aft Diesel; Ship's Office; 01 Level Passageway; 02 Level foyer; Main deck Passageway and Amidships Quarterdeck station; Aft Shower Compartment (new Boiler room); WR Pantry; MG Room and in-Port EM Shop; B-4 After Engine Room
Note: All installed or mounted items were obtained on strip trips. These items have not been aboard KENNEDY in their correct locations since her active days. Items came from USS DES MOINES, USS FORRESTAL, USS HORNE, USS TROUT, and USS JOUETT.
Restoration News:
1. The ET Shop has been completed 2. The ET Test Equipment Stowage Locker has been readied for exhibit. We are now acquiring USN test equipment for display. 3. Painting of the MG Room/In-Port Electrician's Mate Shop was started 4. Painting of the WR Pantry was started. 5. Painting of the AFT Diesel and preparation of the Bosun Locker areas continue 6. New life has been breathed into CIC. Much electrical work and mounting of missing equipment was completed. This space is just starting to "get online".
We had many families working aboard KENNEDY during the past field day. The Rositani father and son team(USS Fiske DD842), Mike Angelini and two sons (USS J.P. KENNEDY Jr. DD850), and the five members of the Levesque family who joined us representing the DD850 Sea Cadet Corp.
If you miss the field day, you are missing a good time! The ship and your shipmates need your support!
Unfortunately, I have more than likely missed a great deal of the work we have done. Every detail, no matter how small, is much appreciated. Thank you all again for joining our efforts.
Please consider helping KENNEDY in any manner you can..history and this ship depend on YOU.
Fair winds and following seas, Rich Angelini Assistant Curator, USS JOSEPH P KENNEDY JR DD850 http://www.ussjpkennedyjr.org
We have moved the old Reunion related items on the Home Page to the Archives Section of the Forums. Will do the same with other older items shortly. If anyone has some thing they think should be posted here, let me know. Send questions or suggestions to Webmaster via link at bottom of the page. The management will consider all suggestions. Implementation will be by concenses of the parties comprising the management. Remember when suggesting or requesting, this page is our representation to the world and is seen by anyone.
05-25-07 Have also relocated other items from the Home Page to the "Home Page Archives" section of the forums.
In NYC where I live we have on every Memorial Day what we call Fleet Week. Normally we have a bunch of tincans and some other major surface ships. This year the USS JFK is in port. For me it brings back a lot of memories of days spent in the Med following her around. When I hear talk of her being decommissioned I feel even older then I am. If I remember right when I first saw her in (I think) 1970 I was told she was new. Not only that but her 5000 men and women that server on her are all over the city. I look at them and have to think to myself "did I really look like that at one time".
On this Memorial as on all past Memorial Days, as vets, we all know it is more then a day off from work We remember all who have defended our great country and to those who gave up their life for their Country. You do not have to be a combat vet to be remember and honored. To have answer the call and to have been ready to carry out the orders given is more then a lot of men in this day and age do.
I came across a article written by a member that made me stop to compose myself before reading the entire piece. Ken Hummel is the author and the article can be found at his site. When I was talking with Ken through email he told me this piece made it all the way to Washington DC .....He also related a story to me here is, in his own words. "I had a lady call me to thank me for the article for it would be the first Memorial Day that she would be able to get through the day without a tear, because it insured her that an experience she had at her son's funeral 5 years before. He was a Vet that died to Agent Orange, and at the services, she watched a man walk down the sidewalk to their service, a man she had never seen before, and he came and stood beside her for a moment. This man made the statement to her, "Don't worry mom, Im alright!"
Please take the time to read it and maybe drop Ken a email or private message.
05-25-07 Now that some of the older posts on the Home Page have been Archived, this comes back to the top and makes it more noticable when you come here.
Even though Bobby posted this 2 years ago, it still fits, as with most things associated with the holidays celebrating our country and its' heros past.
If you have not done so, or have not done in awhile, visit Kens' 'site' by clicking on the link above. Those of us who were at the 'Placerville' reunion will recognize it. A very beautiful and moving place.
And enjoy this week end and as I am sure all of us do, remember and pray for our fellow shipmates and all other commrades in harms way.
Edited on 05-07-07: The system to register on this site has undergone another change since this was posted, so I thought I would finally update this explanation: When an individual signs up to register on the site an email is sent to me. I then will email the individual for additional information and to verify the email address. If I do not recieve a response within a month, I delete the entry. If the email I send comes back as undeliverable, it is automaticly deleted. If someone has registered on this site and does not hear from me within a week, send me an email (chris@uss-basilone-dde-dd824.org).
The following is no longer valid, just left here for reference: some crew trying to register and it has not been working for them. First off let me explain the process. When you register to protect the site we require that your email is entered. Then when you submit you registration an emil is sent to you with a validation link. When you click on this link you validate your email and activate your account. What has been happening is some of the new accounts are not getting this email so cannot activate their account and use the forums and other member benefits. The trouble lies mostly with email sent to AOL accounts, but it can happen to other accounts. I do not know for sure what is causing this. I do know it is not the site. I suspect it is spam filtering... So if you have registered and not received the validation email get in touch with either Jim Elliot, Chris or Bob Talamo ... You could also be sure we are listed as a trusted site in your email software.
