Latest News 07-25-09
USS BRUSH (DD-745)
C/O John Larney, ETN2
PO Box 153, Medway, MA 02053
508 935 8929
Onboard 1963 to 1965
J.Larney@comcast.net (best way)
FROM THE QUARTERDECK:
PLEASE PLEASE LET US KNOW WHEN YOU CHANGE ADDRESSES,
PHONE NUMBERS, AREA CODES AND EMAIL ADDRESS. IF YOU HAVE EMAIL, LET ME
KNOW PLEASE
Well it has been awhile since you got a newsletter and I apologize for
that, I’d tell you what’s been going on but that would take up two pages
and you don’t really need to hear it all…..suffice to say, I am now back
in full action and cannot wait for us to all get together for the 25th
reunion of the ships company.
The plans for the reunion are mainly in place, the hotel is all set, the
banquet is all set and the final draft for the tours is coming along
very nicely. (UPDATE: had to switch tour companies and this has caused a
big delay—sorry)
We are staying at a Marriott Residence Inn in the heart of Milwaukee, it
is an original department store which has had several lives but it is
now a wonderful hotel. Free Parking is limited but I have negotiated
some free parking, more on that later. The hotel connects to several
downtown malls, if you like to walk, you’ve got it made, if you like
restaurants, there are several within a short walk on the streets.
The Residence Inn turned out to be the most reasonable hotel we looked
at and it is beautiful, we not only have our own hospitality area, we
have our own floor, actually, almost two. All the rooms have a kitchen
area and the FREE breakfast is very nice, seating may be a little tight
but we can also bring the food back to our rooms or to the hospitality
suite.
Phil Trast (engineering officer from 1962-64) and I visited Milwaukee in
March, we were met with below zero temps and wind chill and one morning
with over a foot of snow……I’m sure the weather will be better in
September.
Our banquet will be a local downtown casino, free bus transportation is
being supplied by the casino and it should be a fun night.
NORFOLK
If you missed Norfolk, you missed a good one, over 125 shipmates and
family members gathered at the Norfolk Radisson Hotel last September for
a great time. Tours included Williamsburg, Jamestown, the USS Wisconsin,
the Mariners Museum, a Harbor cruise and a tour of the Naval Station.
Our guest speaker was Commander James R. Midkiff, the CO of the USS
Oscar Austin (DDG 79) which was in Norfolk going thru a yard period. He
enlisted in the navy in 1983, served as an Electrician’s mate Third
Class on the USS Saipan (LHS 2) but then he received a fleet appointment
to Annapolis, and graduated in May of 1990 and received a Master’s
Degree in 1995. He is the son of a Chief Petty Officer and said he was
raised going to ship’s reunions; he volunteered to be our guest speaker,
said he always enjoyed reunions with his dad.
Since graduating from the naval academy, he has been:
A gunnery officer and boilers officer on the USS Josephus Daniels
(CG-27)
Engineering officer on the USS Arthur W Radford (DD 968)
Engineering officer on the USS San Jacinto (CG 56)
Assistant Surface Operations officer/Antiterrorism Officer on the
Commander, Carrier Group Two Staff embarked in the USS Harry S Truman
(CVN 75). He also was the commander of a group of sea going mine
sweepers, did a stint at the pentagon and also at the Naval Personnel
Command in Millington, TN as the post department head detailer.
The commander called me and asked if he could bring four enlisted men
from the ship to the reunion, they were all finishing up their first
tour and he wanted to introduce them to reunions, also hoped to find
some lifers who might talk them into reenlisting. As the crew started to
arrive, I noticed we have five guests including a Chief Petty Officer….I
approached him and asked if he was lost and he said no, the CO had
invited him and there was a story to go along with the invite. It turns
out one of the enlisted guys who the CO wanted to bring to the reunion
had the duty and so the Commander went and found the chief, note, he did
not sent for him. He asked the chief is it was ok if he took the guy
along to the reunion, get that, he ASKED if it was ok with the chief.
The chief responded it was fine and then asked what ship the reunion was
for, the CO said the USS BRUSH. The chief immediately said, Oh,
DD 745. The CO was amazed and asked the chief how he knew that, the
chief said he considered telling him he memorized every hull number in
the navy but in reality, the chief’s grandfather served on the Brush.
The CO said get dressed you’re coming with us.
It seems his grandfather served during the Korean war and was on board
when the mine hit, so I called over Lloyd Sellers who was aboard at the
time
and said Lloyd do you know this Chief’s grandfather, name of
Stouffer…..you could see Lloyd’s mental card file flipping thru his
memory bank and after a minute or so, said……can’t place him…..what did
he do…….answer, he was an engineering officer…..Lloyd now says, oh you
mean MR. Stouffer, of course I remember Mr. Stouffer, what a fine
officer. The chief got a little emotional and actually eight other crew
members knew his grandfather. Addresses were exchanged and I’m sure
letters have been going both ways, I sent the chief a Brush hat, shirt
and patch.
By the way, the other four guys had a great time and I am very pleased
to tell you all that any time they went to the bar, one of the Brush
crew ran up and paid for their drinks……a good time was had by all.
We had a four piece band of retired Navy musicians playing for us and
they were fabulous.
Our local host was retired Warrant Officer Charley Floyd, he was a
second class Machinist Mate when he was on the Brush. A former shipmate
of his is the current Chief of Naval Operations and he sent the Admiral
a nice note about the great job Commander Midkiff did at the reunion.
Charley also makes home made wine and half of us in the bag drinking
wines made from all sorts of exotic things. Thanks Charlie for all the
help! He also donated his USS Brush softball shirt which he wore on the
1964 west pac cruise when playing other ships, I’m sure it shrank from
sitting in the closet all these years because it seemed quite small.
NEWS FROM THE CREW:
Lyndel Barnes, GM2 came aboard after the Mount 52 hit and stayed onboard
until 1954 when he was transferred to the USS Mason to await discharge,
the Brush was heading back to Korea. He returned home, attended college
and then the seminary then enlisted in the Army as a Chaplain and
retired as a Lt. Colonel. He said he also bumped into two other Brush
alumni over the years who were also in the army. Small world.
1440 holly Branch Road, Greenville, NC 27858
unfettered.1@Juno.com
SHIPMATES WHO HAVE PASSED ON:
Just a note, sometimes it is several years before we find out someone
has passed. In some cases, the family likes to keep getting the
newsletter and in other cases writing that letter regarding the passing
is just too painful.
Plank owner Dr. Shillito wrote and asked me for the address of
Chief Ed Vecera, another Plankowner, the last he had said Florida, turns out that
was 15 years old, so we got the new address in San Diego but then I got
a change of address to Indiana…in the meantime, Dr. Shillito received
the following from Ed’s daughter Diana Price:
“Dear Dr. Shillito. My name is Diane Price and I am the eldest daughter
of Ed Vecera. We recently received your letter informing us of your
memoirs. It would be extremely kind of you to send us a copy of your CD.
My parents were in San Diego for 15 years, but decided to move back to
their hometown of Richmond, IN in August of 2008. Unfortunately, Dad
passed away on Jan. 23, 2009 of cancer. We have found so many papers of
his military service and would love to have more. My three children,
especially my sons are interested in any information about any military
records of WWII.” Diana Price, 2110 South “B” Street, Richmond, Indiana
47374
Frank Nicholson passed recently, his daughter Debbit said he always
enjoyed the reunions, SH3, post Korea era lived in Ridgecrest, CA
James Richardson, WT2C, WWII passed on May 24, 2008
Captain Arthur Mullens, had hoped to attend our Norfolk reunion but
passed just before it.
Oliver G. Skipper, Plankowner, RM3 passed away some time ago but we were
just notified
Floyd A Campbell, Plankowner, Seaman 1st, passed on 10/21/2008 according
to his wife Rosalie
Lloyd (Mac) McCord, Gunner mate, Korea passed fall of 2008; he was
wounded when mount 52 was hit by a Russian artillery round. He lost half
of his left foot and had shrapnel wounds in the head. His memorial
service was held in Texas, Woodie and Carol Porter went to it.
James C. McAughey, Plankowner, Fireman 1st will be remembered by most
from the reunions for his love of Michigan football and if we were near
a casino for his love of gambling and he was lucky.
Pasquale Digiesi, Plankowner, Gunners Mate 1st Class passed on March 24,
2009 according to his wife Edith, they both loved the reunions.