Rush GramNewsletter of the William R. Rush Association

President: Bernie Caprera Treasurer: Jim Hocking

Vice President: John Buglione Secretary: Art Bramfeld

Historian: Jim Kelly Recruiter: Bud Lincoln

Issue Number 33, SUMMER 2002

M anaging Editor: Bernie Caprera

Editor: Jim Hocking

Production: Fred Strachan

q MEET YOU IN CHARLESTON qCHARLESTON SELECTED

FOR THE 2003 RUSH REUNION

Charleston, South Carolina is the overwhelmingchoice of the membership for the 2003 Rush Reunion.We received 124 responses for the site selection, witheach member asked to prioritize their vote by placingtheir top three selections in the order of their preference.Points were assigned to each pick (3 points for firstchoice, 2 points for second choice and 1 point for thirdchoice). The final vote was as follows:

Charleston, SC — 246 pointsSavannah, GA — 163 pointsMayport, FL — 146 pointsMobile, AL — 118 pointsBuffalo, NY — 74 points

The fall of 2003 was also an overwhelmingchoice by the members virtually garnering as many votesas the other three seasons combined. The final vote forseason of the year was as follows:

Fall — 59 pointsSpring — 28 pointsSummer — 26 pointsWinter — 8 points

The next step is for the Reunion Committee toselect hotels and specific dates to have the reunion. Thereunion will be held Sunday to Thursday in eitherSeptember or October, 2003. We will keep you posted inthe next Rush Gram as to the progress of the planning.Anyone wishing to volunteer to join the ReunionCommittee, please contact any of the Officers.

Here are your comments:

“Do as well as you did with the other reunions and wewill see you there.”

“It doesn't matter where the reunion is held as long asthere is one. We had so much fun at the last one, we areready for the next one.”

“All are good choices. Hope to see you at the nextreunion. I'll go with the majority.”

“Thanks for your ongoing efforts - it's reallyappreciated. I know that most of the Rushmen live inthe northeastern and northwestern parts of the country,but they may enjoy a trip to the southeastern andsouthwestern portions. It would be good for me, andmaybe I could afford to attend sometime”.

“I would like to thank all the officers and anyone whomakes this association work..”

“We enjoyed the reunion in Branson. Looking forwardto the next one.”

“I'm game for California.”

“We enjoyed the last reunion and are looking forwardto the next one. I know you will make a goodselection.”

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OVERVIEW OF CHARLESTON

(Excerpted from the 2002 Charleston Visitors Guide)

Charleston is America'smost beautifully preservedarchitectural and historictreasure, with rich, 300 yearheritage. Since its founding in1670, Charleston has played animportant and often pivotal rolein the course of American

history. Charleston has been the scene of numerousand varied historic "firsts". The first decisiveAmerican victory during the Revolution occurredat the Battle of Fort Sullivan. The first regularlyscheduled passenger train service in America wasestablished here in 1830. The initial shots of theCivil War were fired on Union soldiers stationed atFort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. And the firstgolf course (Harleston Green) and golf club (TheSouth Carolina Golf Club) in America wereestablished in 1786. History is literally foundaround every corner, providing a focal point for avisit to this intriguing city. The readers of Conde Nast Traveler havenamed Charleston a "Top Ten" domesticdestination for nine consecutive years. Charlestonhas also been named the most mannerly city inAmerica. Charleston lends itself to walking, andmany visitors find this to be a convenient way tosee everything the city has to offer. Beautifulhomes, churches and public buildings line the city'stree-lined streets. Magnificent formal gardens gracemuch of the Historic District, adding to the beautyof the colonial antebellum and Victorianarchitecture. Some of the more popular attractionsare White Point Garden, (commonly called "TheBattery"), and the Waterfront Park. Other "mustsee" attractions include the new South CarolinaAquarium, the Old Exchange and ProvostDungeon, the Gibbes Museum, the CharlestonMuseum and its Museum Houses, the Aiken-RhettHouse, the Edmondston-Alston House and theNathaniel Russell House.

Visitors to Charleston are constantlyamazed at the quality and variety of restaurantsthat can be enjoyed. These range from southernstyle to five star French and everything in between!Shopping in Charleston is just as diverse andexciting. Be sure to visit the quaint antique shopsalong King Street, and browse for hand- madesweetgrass baskets and other crafts in Charleston'sHistoric District and famous Old City Market.From its recognizable shops such as Saks FifthAvenue and Gucci to its specialty stores like BenSilver and Croghan's Jewel Box, Charleston ischock full of interesting and unusual specialty shops. In nearby Patriot's Point, you can visit theaircraft carrier, USS Yorktown, World War II'sfamous "Fighting Lady" along with destroyerLaffey, submarine, Clamagore, Coast Guardcutter, Ingham, Medal of Honor Museum, 25vintage military aircraft, Memorials, Exhibits,Displays and Viet Nam Naval Support Base. We will be giving you more detailedinformation about Charleston in future RushGrams, but if you would like more informationnow, please either call the Charleston Visitor'sBureau at (800) 774-0006, or, on-line at:

www.charlestoncvb.com

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Start saving for Charleston in 2003

3

WELCOME ABOARD

The following shipmates were located by JimKelly, Jim Hocking, Art Bramfeld and BudLincoln. Thanks!

(*) means they have joined the Association

*James L. Cole, STG2 1967-68*MMC Isom (Jack) Lee, USN, ret., MM2, 1960 -62

Associate Members

*Barbara Burke, wife of Martin Burke*Joan C. Hodder, wife of Capt. AJ Hodder*Lonnie Reiman, wife of Chuck Reiman*Nancy Stone, wife of Jerry Stone

————————

Don’t miss ship’s movement. Plan to be in Charleston in 2003.

MAIL CALL

Wanda Lamb (wife of Larry Lamb, GM3, 1955-56) — Thank the William R. Rush Associationfor the beautiful plant sent in honor and memory ofLarry. (Larry passed away February, 2002.) Hewas able to renew some old friendships via the e-mail and some telephone calls to and from thesefriends. Due to the effects of ALS (Lou Gehrig'sdisease) he was unable to speak, but he could typeon his computer and ring a bell to tell friends of hisattention to their questions and comments. Hethoroughly enjoyed the contact he had throughthe Association.

George R. Kelder, PN2, 1952-56 — I receivedmy copy of the Rush Gram yesterday, March 22,2002, and as always I fingered through it first andlooked at the captions of the articles. The storythat struck me was "The Tragedy of DESRON11" by Frank Parra.. It was then that I rememberedthat I had the book titled, "Course 095 to Eternity"by Elwyn E. Overshiner. I retrieved the book, as Iremembered that I had cut out of my localnewspaper a story about the notorious shipwreck.I thought that you could use the newspaper articleas a follow up to Frank Parra's story in the nextRush Gram. I think it was a happy ending for onefamily. The article tells the story of CaptainWilliam Loundes Calhoun (commanding officer ofUSS Young, one of the destroyers lost on therocks) and his missing Naval class ring that wasfound after 61 years in the salt water by a scubadiver and returned to the captain's wife. CaptainCalhoun was eventually exonerated of any wrongdoing and went on to rise to the rank of four staradmiral.

4

More from the Rush Association Web site:www.atlantic.net/~gdmunk

Terry Reed — Served on Willy R. 1970-71,

First Division Deck Ape. Great memories of the

Med Cruise. Would like to hear from anyone who

served during that time. Really enjoy web-site.

Daniel P. Howell — Just surfed in from the

number 2 fire room. Got any number 29 sprayer

plates for FLANK speed?

Thurman E Imboden — I am looking for a

reunion with shipmates who served in the “Road

Runner” from 1966 to 1968.

Dale Ford — Looking for any shipmates who

served in the Personnel Office January 1966 -

January 1967

——————————

BINNACLE LIST

We have received a series of emails from

Bill Mason, BTCS, 1952-59, which have kept the

Association informed of the illness of RushMate

John Tait, BMC, 1952-60. John’s address is:

BMC John Tait, USN, ret.

13949 12 Streetth

Dade City Florida

Sylvia Tait, (wife of John Tait, BMC, 1952-60) —

Thanks for the lovely basket of fruit sent yesterday

from the Rush Association. It was so kind, and

John will really enjoy it. He is feeling a little

stronger and is eating a little better. Although he

still only weighs 115 lbs with his clothes on. He

calls himself "Bones Tait" (Ha ha!) It is a miracle

he is still with us. He certainly is doing much better

though, and I am hopeful he will gain his strength.

His breathing is so much better. He has an

appointment with a heart specialist next Monday.

I will let you know what he has to say. Thanks for

your concern.

Best Wishes,

Sylvia and John

——————————

IN MEMORIAM

John P. Greenwood, SKG2/c, 1945-46, Plank

Owner. — Word was received recently that John

passed away on May 20, 2002 from emphysema

at age 75.

Charles "Ted" Merkle, FC3/c, 1946-48

From Ginny Merkle, (wife of "Ted") — I have

received your correspondence to Charles "Ted"

Merkle, for which I thank you. Mr. Merkle

enjoyed the literature and newspaper you mailed

him to read. “Ted” was ill for the last five years

with throat cancer. His voice box had been

removed, so the only way he could eat or drink

was through a stomach tube. “Ted” was one of the

most courageous patients I have ever seen.

However, when the doctor gave him only six

months to live, and the pain became unbearable,

he gave up. Charles Merkle died February 13,

2002. For 49 years he was an active member of

the American Legion Dewey Lowman Post 109.

He will be missed daily by his two loving daughters

and four step children and his beloved wife, Ginny

Merkle of twenty years. God bless.

5

SHIPWRECK YIELDS RING

TREASURED BY WIDOW

By David Haldane, Los Angeles Times

Printed in the Asbury Park Press on Wednesday,

March 5, 1986

(submitted by George Kelder)

To eyes trained by modern sensibilities, it

is a strikingly ornate piece of jewelry.

An 18-carat gold signet ring crowned with

the initials W.L.C encircled by a fancy coiled rope.

On either side, almost rendered indecipherable by

time, is the year 1906, surrounded by flowing

mermaids and graceful sailing ships. Inside, as

clear as if it had been engraved yesterday, a simple

inscription: William Loundes Calhoun, U.S. Navy.

For 61 years, the ring’s berth was a

notorious shipwreck at the bottom of the sea,

forgotten by all save the man who lost it and those

who loved him.

Recently it was found.

“It’s like part of him was brought back,”

says Rosalie Calhoun, William’s widow, who lives

near San Diego.

She, and Dan Purdie, a diver who found

the ring, agree the story of the ring — how it was

lost and ultimately returned — is one they will be

telling their children and grandchildren.

The tale begins in 1906 when William

Loudes Calhoun, great-grandson of the same John

C. Calhoun who served as vice president under

John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson,

graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at

Annapolis, Md. Like any other 22-year-old

schooled in naval tradition, Calhoun was proud of

the class ring.

But on the evening of Sept. 8, 1923, 14

ships — members of a U.S. Navy destroyer

squadron — were convoying south from San

Francisco to San Diego when a Navigation error

caused seven of them to go aground at Hondo,

Calif., a treacherous point several miles north of

Point Conception. Third to go down was the

destroyer Young, commanded by Calhoun.

“I was starting for the bridge when I

noticed a slight trembling,” a 1980 book on the

subject quotes the captain as later telling a court of

inquiry. “I dropped everything and went on the run.

I reached the bridge to be sprawled by a terrific

knock. I thought we had been rammed.”

In what the author calls “the most

incredible navigational blunder of naval history”

and what experts generally consider the worst

peacetime disaster in the history, 23 lives were lost

— most of them aboard the Young.

Calhoun was eventually exonerated of

responsibility for the accident and, in a brilliant

career spanning most of the next three decades,

went on to attain the rank of four-star admiral with

responsibility for supplying and maintaining the

Pacific Fleet during World War II. In 1946 he

married Rosalie, an Army nurse he had met the

year before in New Caledonia, and, following the

war, retired from the Navy to work for a civilian

company involved in the postwar reconstruction of

Greece. He had three children after the age of 60

by his new wife, who was 34 years younger, and he

died in 1963 at the age of 79.

Members of his family say sometimes he is

reminisced about the Honda disaster. And he

occasionally mentioned the honored class ring

which, along with another similar one once owned

by his famous ancestor, had been lost when the

ship went down.

“It wasn’t an everyday thing,” recalled

Rosalie Calhoun, 67, “but I think he would have

liked to have had it.”

Purdie, a 34-year-old welder-mechanic

whose hobby is scuba diving on shipwrecks, is

vice-president of a club of shipwreck enthusiasts

— California Wreck Divers — that periodically

charter boats to explore most of the state’s known

wrecks. Honda, where the scattered remains of the

seven ghostly destroyers can still be seen on calm

6

days, is one of the club’s regular haunts. It was on

the group’s annual four-day sojourn there in 1984

that Purdie got lucky.

Wreck divers get excited whenever they

find something personal. If the owner is well-

known — well suffice to say Purdy was a hero.

The club eventually gave him its annaul award for

the rarest find of the year.

But, fellow diver, David Lee — whose

father, uncle and brother had graduated from the

Naval Academy — used old academy yearbooks

and alumni lists to piece information on Calhoun,

including the name and phone number of his

widow.

The ring had rested in a drawer until

Purdie let his girlfriend, Linda Preachy wear it.

When he called Rosalie Calhoun, she had

one question upon hearing a stranger had been

diving on the Young. “Did he find the ring?” she

asked. At that moment he made his decision.

Though he was offered $1500 for the ring by a

collector, he decided to give it to Rosalie Calhoun

for $400 — enough to cover the cost of the dive.

On Oct. 6, 1985, Purdy and Peachy took

a two-hour drive to deliver the relic. Peachy recalls,

“When (Mrs. Calhoun) put it on, the tears swelled

up in her eyes.” Peacy said the ring clearly “was

where it belonged.”

Memorable Quote:

"Events of October 1962 indicated, as

they had all through history, that control

of the sea means security. Control of the

seas can mean peace. Control of the seas

can mean victory. The United States must

control the seas if it is to protect your

security...."

President John F. Kennedy, 6 June 1963, on

board USS Kitty Hawk.

MISSING MOVEMENT:

CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS

(By Lawrence (Larry) E. Campbell, YNC, 1962-1965)

I was sitting at home with the family when

the phone rang. My wife answered it and began

talking to the wife of HMC John Hopper. She

asked my wife about the sailing of the ship and

wanted to know if I had said anything about it

before I left. My wife said I was still at home. I

talked to Mrs. Hopper and she told me that John

had gotten a phone call to report back to the ship

immediately. After talking to her for a few minutes

I hung up and told my wife that I was going to go

out to the base to see what was happening. When

I arrived at the base, I noticed that security had

been tightened and that ID checks were being made

at the gate.

After getting on base, I drove to the pier,

only to watch as the "Willy R" was steaming out of

port. I checked aboard a tender and was told to be

back on board Monday morning. On Monday I was

told that all sailors who missed their ship's

movement would be required to stay aboard until

arrangements were made to fly us to Cuba. Not

having my shaving gear with me, I asked for

permission to go to the dock to make a phone call.

It was like pulling "eye teeth" just to get off the

tender to make that call. When my wife arrived at

the pier with my shaving gear, she was unable to

come to the tender because security placed a wire

fence between the ship and the dock. No one was

allowed past the fence with the exception of

authorized personnel. I had to be escorted from the

ship to the fence to pick up my gear and kiss my

wife good-bye.

Arrangement were made to fly a group of

us from Mayport to Homestead, Florida where we

were put on a Cog flight to be transported to the

aircraft carrier. It was dark, and having never

7

BITTS AND PIECES

COMMISSARYMAN

landed aboard a carrier, I did not know what to

think. As we were making our approach, the

engines were stopped and everything became very

quiet. The next thing I knew, I felt the bump of the

aircraft hitting the deck of the carrier and then a

sudden jerk before coming to a dead stop. This is

one experience I will never forget. We spent the

night aboard the carrier and the next day we were

transported by helicopter to the "Willy R"

——————————

HISTORY OF THE NAVY RATION —(Reprinted from the 1971 Commissaryman 3&2

rate training manual. Submitted by Jim Hocking)

The first Navy ration law is found in a act

of Congress passed in 1794, which provided for a

daily fixed allowance of food items for each day of

the week. A typical day's ration was one pound of

hard bread, one and one-half pounds of salt beef

and one-half pint of rice. Included with this ration

was a half-pint of distilled spirits or one-quart of beer.

In 1842 the fixed allowance for each day

of the week, as provided for in the1794 ration law,

was discarded in favor of a more flexible allowance

of specified items and permitted substitution.

In 1842, the spirits ration was

discontinued. This action was compensated for by

a five-cents-a-day raise. Fresh meat and dried

vegetables and fruit were added to the ration, which

by this time already included coffee, tea and sugar.

By 1902, management of the general messes had

been assigned to the supply officers of the navy and

it was the year that the first Navy cookbook was

published.

The molasses was of the old-fashioned

black strap kind, thick and heavy. The hardtack

was really HARD. The coffee was weak enough to

prevent the crew from getting nervous. (The bottom

of the pot was always to be seen when it was full.)

The port and salt horse was packed in large barrels

that would have to be open to leeward because of

the smell. It generally was put in small cargo nets

and towed overboard to get the tock salt and smell

out of it. (Sharks never disturbed it.)

On bean and soup days, enough was

generally made to have enough for soaking

hardtack to make scrouce. When in port, the crew

generally fared pretty well, as they could get fresh

food and vegetables but never cake and rarely

butter. Meals generally consisted of stews, soups,

meats and potatoes. Fruit had to be bought from

bumboats by the crew, as it was rarely served in the

mess.

The ration was approximately $9 a month

per man. The sea ration was all they had on a trip

from Newport, R.I., to Queenstown, Ireland, 16

days, and 42 days from Funchal, Marderia to

Newport; fresh vegetables and meats could not

be carried beyond two or three days.

In 1933, the present Navy ration law

became effective. It increased the allowance of

vegetables, milk and fruit while decreasing the

allowance of meat. This ration law has remained

unchanged to the present time except for the

addition of vegetables and fruit juices and

enrichment of flour with vitamin B1, niacin, iron

and enriched yeast.

8

THE 1933 NAVY RATION LAW —

(Reprinted from the 1971 Commissaryman 3&2 rate

training manual. Submitted by Jim Hocking)

The present Navy ration law is authorized by 10

U.S. Code 6082. The navy ration is a quantity

allowance of food. Each person, so entitles, may be

served the following quantities of food each day:

— 8 oz. biscuit, or 12 oz. soft bread or 12 oz. flour

— 12 oz. preserved meat, or 14 oz. salt or smoked

meat, or 20 oz. fresh meat or fresh fish or poultry

— 12 oz. dried vegetables, or 18 oz. canned

vegetables, or 44 oz. fresh vegetables

— 4 oz. dried fruit, or 10 oz. canned fruit, or 6 oz.

preserved fruit, or 16 oz. fresh fruit, or 6 oz.

canned fruit or vegetable juices or 1 oz. powdered

fruit juices or 6/10 oz. concentrated fruit juices

— 2 oz. cocoa, or 2 oz. coffee or ½ oz. tea

— 4 oz. evaporated milk, or 1 oz. powdered milk,

or ½ pt. fresh milk

— 1.6 oz. butter

— 1.6 oz. cereal, or rice, or starch foods

— ½ oz. cheese

— 1.2 eggs

— 1.6 oz. lard or lard substitutes

— 2/5 gill oils, or sauces, or vinegar

— 5 oz. sugar

THE BEST NEW FAD DIET —

(Author Unknown. Submitted by Bernie Caprera)

A friend of mine asked me if I had lost

weight the other day. I told her I had thought about

it! After thinking more about I came to the

following conclusions. Here's the real truth:

Q: I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can

prolong life. Is this true?

A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and

that's it, don't waste them away on exercise.

Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your

heart will not make you live longer; that's like

saying you can extend the life of your car by

driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits

and vegetables?

A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What

does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these?

Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an

efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to

your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also

a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable).

And a pork chop can give you 100% of your

recommended daily allowance of vegetable soup.

Q: Is beer or wine bad for me?

A: Look, it goes to the earlier point about fruits

and vegetables. As we all know, scientists divide

everything in the world into three categories:

animal, mineral, and vegetable. We all know that

beer and wine are not animal, and they are not on

the periodic table of elements, so that only leaves

one thing, right? My advice: Have a burger and a

beer and enjoy your liquid vegetables.

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?

A: Well, if you have a body, and you have body

fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two

bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.

9

Russian Foxtrot Class Submarine

Q: What are some of the advantages of

participating in a regular exercise program?

A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My

philosophy is: No Pain - Good.

Q: If I stop smoking, will I live longer?

A: Nope. Smoking is a sign of individual statement

and peace of mind. If you stop, you'll probably

stress yourself to death in record time.

Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?

A: You're not listening. Foods are fried these days

in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it.

How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?

Q: What's the secret to healthy eating?

A: Thicker gravy.

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little

soft around the middle?

A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it

gets bigger. You should only be doing sit- ups if

you want a bigger stomach. I hope this has cleared

up any misconceptions you may have had. This

works for me!

——————————

— To All Career RushMates, a toast offered

at the 2001 Branson reunion —

"I would like for all the career men to please

stand and accept this toast from the rest of us

for all the years you stood guard at the walls

while the rest of us went about our lives. The

attack on September 11th shows to all of us

that the barbarians are never far from the

gates. I offer my thanks to all of you."

Jerry Stone, MM3, 1962-64

NOW DOCKING, A GENUINE COLD

WAR SOVIET SUBMARINE —

(Seattle Post-Intelligencer Staff, Wednesday, May 22,2002. Submitted by Jim Kelly)

A 300-foot vintage Foxtrot submarinethat once was part of the former Soviet Union'sCold War arsenal will soon be Seattle's newwaterfront attraction. The submarine, whichserved from 1974 to 1994, arrived Mondayafternoon under tow to its new home at Pier 48,following a month-long cleanup at Tacoma'sPetrich Marine Dock.

Submarine Attractions bought the subwhen the cash-strapped former U.S. adversariesauctioned it off.

Beginning in early June, a visitor can pay$10 to see how the crew of 80 sailors lived in thesub, which once was capable of firing nuclearweapons.

10

Anchor Detail

STRIKE IT! By CDR. Richard King, USNR (Ret.)

Submitted by Jim Kelly

President John F. Kennedy appointed ashis Secretary of Defense former Ford MotorCompany president William S. McNamara, and hewas carried over into the Johnson Administration.To say he was controversial would be anunderstatement. Although we were in the midst ofthe War in Vietnam, or perhaps in part because wewere in a war and needed lots of warm bodies tofill the ranks, McNamara decided on some socialtinkering.

When a potential recruit was beingscreened for eligibility for service, part of theprocess was to administer an “IQ” exam. It wasnot the standard IQ exam; it was one the militarydeveloped on its own. It had a name, but I haveforgotten what it was called. At any rate, aftertaking the exam, the scores were lumped into fourcategories.

Category I’s were the best and thebrightest. They were fast tracked into difficult andtechnical schools. Category II’s were the nextbrightest. They were tracked into rates requiringintelligence, but not as difficult as the CategoryOnes. Category III personnel often became un-designated seaman or firemen so they could beobserved for a while until someone later helpedthem find an appropriate rate. Category IV’s wererejected for military service. It was about the sameas having a bad knee or some other disqualifying

medical condition. Secretary McNamara, in his infinite

wisdom, decided that Category IV’s were the veryyoung people that would benefit the most frommilitary service. The military’s training programswould help them develop skills that would carryover into later civilian life. To him, it was a win -win situation. More warm bodies in the ranks andbetter more productive citizens later. While theidea was still being tossed around, both the airforce and the navy objected strenuously. This didnot deter McNamara, however; it just made himmore determined. He then came up with a quotasystem. Each service, including the navy and theair force, were given a quota of Category IV’swhich they had to take, like it or not. The newpolicy was announced in advance ofimplementation, so we knew they were comingeventually.

I had “Personnel Officer” on the USSCHEVALIER DD-805 as a collateral duty. AsPersonnel Officer, I was generally the one whobroke the seal on a new sailor’s Orders toCHEVALIER and the first to glance at them. Iwas always alert to the possibility that occasionallythere would be a few that could best serve bybypassing First Division and going straight tosomewhere else.

One day a new seaman apprentice walkedup CHEVY’s brow orders in hand. He wasmuscular and looked like a model for a recruitingposter. He seemed very polite and personable. Iopened the orders and glanced at his personnelrecord. CATEGORY IV, CHEVY’s very first. Iput him in 1st Division temporarily and the XOlater concurred. I will call him Seaman ApprenticeJones, although that was not his real name.CHEVALIER was in a stand down period andstayed tied to the pier. SA Jones was assigned tothe painting crew and did a good job. Only a veryfew officers and the two Personnelmen knew hewas CAT IV.

On a warship, sound powered phoneshandled most interior communications. In manyinstances specific persons were designated as“phone talkers”, to wear the sound powered phoneheadsets and relay orders or reports. For example,

11

when getting underway from a pier, the Captainmight order “single up all lines”. The phone talkeron the bridge would say “single up all lines” intohis mouthpiece. Phone talkers on the main deckwould then relay “single up all lines” to the leadingBoatswain Mates on deck who would then order“single up all lines” to their deck crews. At leastthat was the way it was supposed to work.Sometimes, however, things were lost in thetranslation.

It ultimately became time forCHEVALIER to go to sea again, for the first timesince SA Jones had come aboard. When enteringor leaving port, 1 Division assigns one man tost

stand by the anchor chain with a sledgehammer. Ifthe ship got in trouble in crowded waters, such asby losing propulsive power, the Captain couldorder that the anchor be dropped to secure the shipuntil the engineers had their act together again.The sledgehammer was used to strike a pin on thepelican hook that secured the anchor chain. SAJones was assigned that job on this particularmorning. The leading Boatswain Mate showed himwhere to stand, showed him the pin that was to behit and told him “now if I give the Order to strikethis pin, hit it hard with the sledge”. “Then jumpback away from the chain”. SA Jones nodded hishead; he understood what was to be done.

In port, a Navy Warship flies theAmerican flag from a small flagstaff on the sternand flies the union jack (just the blue field) on asmall jack staff on the bow. At the exact momentthe last line is cast off from the pier, “Shift Colors”would be ordered. The small flag on the stern andjack on the bow would be hauled down at exactlythe same time as a big flag was hoisted up the mainmast, signifying the ship was now underway.Because the jack staff on the bow was verysusceptible to damage from high seas, it wasalways dismantled and stowed away in theboatswain’s locker until the ship entered portagain.

On the big day, Seaman Apprentice Jones’first voyage on a Navy ship, “shift colors” wasordered as CHEVY began backing from the pier.Soon CHEVALIER was steaming ten knots downthe main channel of San Diego Harbor heading for

the open sea. At some point, the Captain noticedthat the boatswain mate’s hadn’t yet starteddismantling the jack staff. He turned to the bridgephone talker and said, “Tell the focsle to strike thejack staff”. The phone talker replied “Aye, aye sir”and passed along the message.

Meanwhile, down on the focsle, the focslephone talker received the message and told thesupervising petty officer “Bridge says strike thejack staff”. The Petty Officer promptly holleredout to his crew “Strike It!” Can you guess whathappened next?

Jones’ moment of glory had arrived. Hismuscular arms delivered an accurate and solidblow with the hammer to that critical pin exactlywhere he had been shown. Meanwhile, back up onthe bridge, a rumbling sound was heard. Confusedfaces looked at one another and then someone said,“I think the anchor chain is coming out of thelocker”. The Captain ordered “Back fullemergency” and brought the ship to a stop asquickly as possible. Fortunately, just before thelast of the chain pulled out of the chain locker.

A preliminary investigation of the mishapby the Weapons Officer took only a few minutes.After hearing about what had happened and why,the Captain mulled it over for a while and decidedthis was close to a “no fault” situation. Therewould be no hanging for Seaman Apprentice Jones,or for anyone else involved. He figured it wouldnever happen again and it didn’t.

Jones went on to become a popular andrespected sailor on the ship. He eventually madeSeaman, then he made third class and by the timeI left the ship in 1968, he was a second class andfrequently was the Boatswain Mate of the watchwhen I was OOD. He was reliable, polite,knowledgeable and efficient. I was always glad tohave him on my watch and became convinced thathe just had a bad day on the day when he took themilitary IQ test.

As time went on, more and more of the“McNamara Wonders” (as we called them) cameon board. Jones proved to be the exception; mostof them did not work out and caused a lot of grief.The program was abandoned when we went to theall-volunteer force.

12

WHY I JOINED THE NAVYBy Jim Kelly, GMG3 1969–73

THE FAMILY TREE

A few days after my birth on 17 November

1946, Mom and Dad brought me home to Kelly's

Hotel in Margaretville, Delaware County, New

York. This was to be my home for the next seven

years. Dad was the proprietor of the hotel, having

sold his small trucking express company and

bought the hotel with the proceeds just prior to

WWII. In 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army.

Training took him to Camp McQuade in Watson-

ville, California, and then on to Camp Blanding in

Stark, Florida. He became a Technical Sargent

assigned to the Coastal Artillery. His outfit shipped

out to the Pacific, but due to a back injury, Dad

was transferred to Thomasville, Georgia, where he

received an Honorable (Medical) discharge.

Dad was born not far from Hancock, New

York, close to the Pennsylvania state line; his

father had come to America from Ireland. My dad

was a large man, 6' 2" and powerfully built at 250

pounds. His wit, charm, and political savvy, along

with good timing, made for a successful business

in Margaretville. My mother was born in Eastern

Tennessee and brought to New York State as a

toddler. Her father wanted to try farming in a

place where the soil was rich and the future was

bright. He settled in what was arguably the pretti-

est valley in the whole state of New York; The

valley was to become 20-feet deep in water des-

tined for the City of New York. New Yorkers got

an abundance of fresh mountain water and we gave

up our natural beauty and heritage in the exchange.

Mom supported her husband, working long

hours while tending to three children. She was

everywhere at once and had "eyes in the back of

her head" as I often discovered, quite by accident.

I frequently claim myself to be half Rebel and half

Yankee as a result of this mix! Her father was a

tall Tennessean named William Roy Leonard, but

he wasn't known to anyone as William or Bill, he

was my Daddy-Roy. I never heard the word

“Grandpaw” uttered in his direction. I spent a lot of

time under his watchful eye, and I do mean eye.

You see, in 1954 he developed a problem with

reading and headaches. A trip to Memorial Sloan-

Kettering Cancer Center in New York City re-

vealed the problem; he had cancer, and his left eye

would have to be removed! For the rest of his long

life he wore a patch like a pirate. He and Annie, my

grandmother, kept me under their care in the

absence of Mom and Dad, who worked long hours

building up the family business. I grew quite fond

of my maternal grandparents. Hence the name,

Daddy-Roy. I was given the task of watching for

snakes. If one was spotted, out came the hoe and

off went his head. Grandma would let me walk

behind her in the garden while she picked tomatoes,

and I would never fail to find one she had "missed."

I wondered why I was told to carry that salt

shaker....

STORIES — IMAGINATION.

I went to New York City on one of those

post-operative check-ups. It was a day trip begin-

ning early in the morning, with a return after dark.

For a young lad, used to the pace of life in a village

of perhaps 800 people, the big city was a sharp

contrast to say the least; unimaginably large, tall,

dirty, loud, and exciting. I remember leaving the

hospital and being driven down the street, looking

up at the tallest buildings I had ever seen. We

drove from one end of Manhattan to the other. As

we drove past the piers that lined the Hudson

River, I saw another amazing sight – ships, all

majestic in proportion, some more than others. One

of the "Queens" was there but I cannot recall

which. On the ride home, I recalled the stories of

his youth that Daddy-Roy had told me – the loss of

RMS TITANIC and later the sinking of RMS

LUSITANIA. These events were followed not long

after by the Battle of Jutland. I was deeply moved

13

by these tales from the sea. Something was stirring

within me.

As I grew older, I continued hearing these

stories and never tired of them. One day I was

invited to go to a friends house in the community of

Dunraven a few miles away. Larry Shultis was his

name, and we spent a good deal of time riding our

bicycles. Upon coming in for a pit-stop, we sat on

the front porch and were entertained by his father,

a strapping man more than 6-feet tall with big

hands and a broad grin. Lenny Shultis had served

in the Pacific during WWII on an aircraft carrier.

He showed us pieces of a real Japanese Kamikaze,

and regaled us with tales of his adventures in the

Navy. I was hooked. He never told us of the

danger, of being bored, or of missing home. We

got the good stuff. He spoke of having races on the

flight deck with tractors (normally used for spot-

ting aircraft on the flight deck or moving them

about the hangar deck). All the tractors were

"stock", but some ran better than others, and some

were tweaked to run even better! Imagine the pool

of talent on a ship with a few thousand sailors and

you get the picture. Although he didn't mention it,

I think it likely that more than a few dollars chang-

ed hands every Saturday as the races were held.

BATTLESHIP NORTH CAROLINA

In 1960, we were on a family trip. Near

Wilmington, North Carolina, a billboard showing

the USS NORTH CAROLINA (BB-55) came into

view. Now, mind you, when traveling with Dad,

the car did not stop until the end of the day or at

the end of the trip. This image of a battleship

apparently caught his imagination because we took

a detour off Route 301. I was excited at the pros-

pect of seeing the ship, and when her funnels came

into view above the trees, the excitement became

even more unbearable. The ship had only recently

been saved from the cutters torch by the small

businesses, and school children’s fund- raising

drives across the state for which she was named.

Those pennies and dollars added up. She had been

towed from Philadelphia a few months prior to our

visit. The parking lot, ticket sales office, and

gangway were rudimentary at this early point in

here museum ship history.

I left the ship with many impressions and

images. One that still haunts my memory was the

appearance of the Wardroom with its red carpet,

leather chairs lining the bulkheads, and that long

table in the middle; a splendid and regal sight.

Today, that same space has been turned into a

"museum space", and the entire character of the

ship has suffered. Who got that table and those

leather chairs? Where are they now? Who robbed

her heart and soul?

INFORMAL EDUCATION

During high school, I spent the better part

of my noon recess in the library. I found many

nonfiction titles of interest and topics that engen-

dered pure imagination. I read everything I could

lay my hands on about the World War II, with

emphasis on the Navy's war. I became a junior

historian of sorts. I took up the hobby of

assembling scale plastic models. Many long and

enjoyable hours were spent with famous planes and

ships. I grew up watching television. True, we had

only two channels to chose from and a black and

white television to watch, but we didn't know the

difference, or care. I saw the movies OPERATION

PETTICOAT and RUN SILENT - RUN DEEP ,

MR. ROBERTS, and shows like, THE SILENT

SERVICE, which documented the exploits of the

U.S. Navy's Pacific submarine force during the

darkest days of WWII. I wanted to be a subma-

riner! I later wanted to be a New York State

Trooper. I wanted action, but the older I became,

the wiser I became. Neither of the options seemed

any longer appealing in 1969, when I enlisted. The

country was at war in far-away Vietnam. The U.S.

Army wanted me to report to Fort Dix with a tooth

brush and a change of underwear. That invitation

from my draft board in Delhi, NY shook the very

ground I walked on. Things change and the future

14

always seems to arrive a little ahead of your being

prepared for it. That lesson applies today as well.

AHOY MATE

All those stories, TV shows, and movies

downtown for a half a dollar at the Galli-Curci

Theater led me to one firm conviction. I knew

damn well I wasn't going into the Army. Dad had

gone into the Army, both uncle's had gone Air

Force during the Korean War (I liked airplanes, but

just didn’t feel the passion), and I didn't think I'd

make much of a Marine, so I decided to go where

my heart sent me – the United States Navy. If I

was going to serve, I would pick the branch. In a

world thrown upside down, at least I would have

control over that small thing. I even had the option

of coming aboard late in the summer, plus a Navy

"A" School upon completion of boot camp.

Great Lakes Recruit Training Command

was an eye opener. We learned the ropes, the

basics. As we hustled from building to building,

collecting bedding, uniforms, and all the things

necessary for military service in the United States

Navy, I took comfort looking at the well-worn

wooden floors of the uniform issue rooms. I knew

that these pine boards had been worn smooth by

thousands of young recruits like me. They did this

before me and now it was my turn to follow in their

footsteps. I was glad I'd read all those books, and

watched all the movies and TV shows. I knew port

from starboard, bow from fantail and I was sur-

prised how many simply had no clue!

EDUCATION NAVY STYLE

Things certainly had taken an interesting

twist, and I got all the action I could handle. I'd

flown on a jet airliner from Albany to Chicago,

graduated with class #548 at RTC and now I was

in the "GREEN HOUSE" or the Naval Gunnery

School at Great Lakes. Weekends were spent

driving down to Chicago to see the zoo, the sights

and the museums. It was here I toured the captured

German submarine U-505.

THE FLEET

Upon graduation from “A” school, orders

came in, and phase three was about to commence.

I was ordered to, USS WILLIAM R. RUSH (DD-

714), a GEARING-Class destroyer at Newport,

Rhode Island. She was assigned to DesRon TEN

and had a junior Commander, a "Mustang", as her

Commanding Officer. Spike Sullivan had earned

his merits as a Signalman during the closing days

of World War ll. A man of few words, he instilled

confidence in his men We were the fifth ship out in

a nest at Pier One. I can close my eyes and still see

the sight of grey ships as far as the eye could see,

and can still hear the sound of an HP steam leak

beneath the pier in the darkness. I hauled my sea

bag up and over five ships, each with a Quarter-

deck and a set of watching eyes. Once I was

settled in, there came a day at Quarters when I

heard the words, "Now Station the Special Sea and

Anchor detail!" As we departed the harbor, I was

walking forward up the starboard side. As the new

guy, I had been given the "honor" of serving my

division as Mess Cook and I was on my way to the

scullery. Suddenly the deck gave way and I nearly

lost my balance! The ship had cleared the shelter

of the harbor and had met the first swell of the

Atlantic, and suddenly I was AT SEA. Now I

began to understand the reason the deck was

slanted. This feature was built into the design to

allow water to run off. In the ensuing weeks a lot

more detail began to present itself. In September of

1972 I watched from the fantail as my ship entered

the confines of Pearl Harbor. I was surprised at

the narrow passage leading into the harbor and felt

a strong sense of the past. Many times I had read

of December 7 1941. Once again something deepth

inside me was moved as we paid tribute to USS

ARIZONA (BB-39) with a hand salute and an

“Attention to Port”. Later that same day I took

the Navy shuttle out to the memorial and a per-

sonal goal had been achieved.

I guess one of the best things in the whole

world was being at sea. I didn't like the separation

15

Jim Kelly

and I can only imagine the anguish of those with

wives and children. Once the break was made

however, we enjoyed the rare privilege of being

totally independent of landlubbers and all of the

problems associated with their kind. To go up to

the signal bridge while making full speed, feeling

the ship shudder under 60,000 horse power, the

wind in your face... to hang out on the fantail at

midnight, watching the heavens display a canopy of

stars, and to see the phosphorescence of the sea in

the ship’s wake, without a hint of manmade light-

ing, was the stuff of which dreams are made.

Coming alongside another ship, transfer-

ring personnel via high line, firing the guns, taking

on mail from a helicopter while underway all

provided excitement. I think we had a good life,

and I haven't even scratched the surface enough to

mention visiting foreign lands with strange cus-

toms! That is a whole other story.

AFTER ALL

At the end of the day, when the quiet time

settles in, it is easy to reflect on the memories, and

the friendships made. Some last a lifetime, some

are new and fresh, much of the good in my life has

come about as a direct result from my association

with the sea, the ships, and the men who sailed

upon them. Life is good.

Why did I join the Navy? .... Go Figure.

ELECTION RESULTSBy Art Bramfeld

In Issue #32 of the RUSHGRAM all

members in good standing were asked to cast their

ballots for election of the Association President,

Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.

The voting results were as follows:

For the Office of President:

Bernie Caprera - 138 votes,

Jim Kelly -1 vote,

Bill Mason - 1 vote

For the Office of Vice President:

John Buglione, Sr. - 139 votes,

John Tait - 1 vote

For the Office of Secretary:

Art Bramfeld - 140 votes

For the Office of Treasurer:

Jim Hocking - 140 votes

The Association wishes to thank those who

responded. In addition, the officers of the Associa-

tion wishes to extend their sincere appreciation to

the Election Committee members, Bill Mason and

Ralph Wallen, for their time and efforts in receiv-

ing and tabulating the ballots.

Art

16

SOME STATISTICSBy Jim Hocking

Each year some members seem to lose

interest in the Association. We notice this because

they do not pay their membership fee. Our policy

is to contact members who fall out of good stand-

ing and let them know that they are in arrears. This

usually gets the member’s attention and the fee is

paid. However, some members do not answer the

reminder. When this happens, we then send a letter

to the RushMate informing him that he will no

longer be considered an active member. We also

advise him that he will not receive the RushGram

until he is once again a member in good standing.

Of course, we recognize that there might

be a hardship that would prevent a RushMate

from paying his dues, and for that we offer a

hardship membership until the member gets himself

squared away.

— Total RushMate Membership ........... 293

— Total Delinquent Members................ 43

— Total Hardship Members.................. 13

— Total Honorary Life Members.......... 1

— Total Widows................................... 12

— Total Associate Members.................. 77

— Total Delinquent Associates.............. 28

WRAP UP(By Bernie Caprera)

THE ASSOCIATION SALUTES YOU,

FRANK PARRA —

Frank Parra, the Rush Gram Copy Editor an-

nounced his retirement from the job after the last

issue of the newsletter. Frank has been an impor-

tant factor in this publication for many years and

we wish him the best of health and luck, and thank

him for a job well done. We'll miss your input, Frank.

YOUR CHANCE TO MAKE THE NEXT

REUNION THE BEST EVER —

Now that we have selected Charleston,

South Carolina for the site of our 2003 reunion,

we need some volunteers to visit Charleston and

act as the eyes and ears of the Association. We are

looking for two people who can spend about two

days in Charleston to physically inspect the hotels

and various attractions. The mission is to help us

decide what hotel we will use and what attractions

we will offer for tours for the attendees. All reason-

able expenses will be paid by the Association.

Please contact one of the Association Officers by

July 1st if you are interested.

FUTURE ELECTIONS —

After being a part of the election process

since the beginning of the Association, I can sadly

say that we have had fewer and fewer members

volunteer to run for office as the years have gone

by. I hope and pray that when the next election

takes place in the fall of 2003, we will have, at

least, two candidates running for each office. Now

is the time for you to start thinking about which

office you feel you would be best qualified, and as

we approach 2003, be ready to give us your name

and a write up about your qualifications for the job

you want.

"The Navy has both a tradition and a future— and we look with pride and confidence inboth directions."

Admiral George Anderson, CNO, 1 August 1961.

17

I Was A Sailor

(Author Unknown)

Long ago I was a Sailor.I sailed the Ocean Blue.

I knew the bars in Singapore,The coastline of Peru.

I knew the sting of salt spray,The taste of Spanish wine.

But I wear a different hat now,A tie and jacket too.

My sailing days were long ago,With that life I am through.

But somewhere deep inside of me,The sailor lives there still.

He longs to go to sea again,But knows he never will.

My love, my life, is here at home,And I will leave here never.

Though mind and body stay ashore,

My heart`s at sea forever.

The Wall

(Author Unknown)

They walk along the granite block, Past names all etched in stone. Among so many others here,

But feel so all alone.

So many here to touch a soul, That passed so long ago.

And tears now streak from off your cheek, Emotions, have to show.

There are so many people here, Who wish the pain to end.

Why not reach out a hand to them, To listen, be a friend.

The Wall can bridge the largest gap, It made our nation one.

We thank the nurses one and all, And every soldier, son.

Whose names we see forever etched, Upon the granite stone.

Though painful make us realize, That we are not alone.

The sacrifice, that you all made, That bring us to this shrine.

Bring all those closer, left behind, Perhaps the grand design.

To help the friends and family, To understand the call.

That took your names from off life’s list, And place it on this Wall.

You fought a war, unpopular, In Nam so far away.

And now you've found the greatest peace, As we stand here and pray.

Beyond the Wall we hope to find, The reason for it all.

Why you with pride went far away, To answer duty’s call.

Perhaps the flag that others burn, Became your symbol proud.

Why you gave life, proclaim your love, Of country, very loud.

So rest in peace, my Warrior, My nurse and doctor too.

And rest assured forever more, We'll all remember you.

The Wall means much to everyone, These names on granite cast. To keep your memories alive,

As long as time will last.

So look upon the granite face, And touch the names with pride. For all their spirits linger there,

Beyond the Wall, inside.

4

18

IMPORTANT ADDRESSES

Bernie Caprera, President29 Old Oak Lane

Levittown, NY 11756email: eggcream31@aol.com

Phone: 516 731-5184

John Buglione, Sr, Vice President244-20 88 Roadth

Bellerose, NY 11426email: jbuglione@nyc.rr.com

Phone: 718 343-6261

Art Bramfeld, Secretary1224 Nolan Ave.

Chula Vista, CA 91911email: abramfeld4699@juno.com

Phone: 619 691-8424

Jim Hocking, Treasurer65 Currier Road

East Falmouth, MA 02536email: jhocking@capecod.net

Phone: 508 548-5233

Bill Gaul, Chaplain206 Deer Run

Norristown, PA 19403 email: billdd714@aol.com

Phone: 610 279-2772

Jim Kelly, Historian53 Jake Tucker RoadMidland, NC 28107

email: catskillsailor@juno.comPhone: 704 455-5689

Roger “Bud” Lincoln, Recruiter174 Military StreetHoulton, ME 04730

email: rush_icman@ainop.comPhone: 207 532-4103

Association Web sitehttp://www.atlantic.net/~gdmunk