Volume 8, Issue 3 June 2005

Special Points of Interest

Did you like being a sailor? The essay sent in by Bob Bowman captures the essence of being a sailor. You’ll enjoy the cover article.

Jake Jacobs shares his thoughts with you on page two in his Presi-dent’s Message.

Eight new names have been added to the roster. See if one of them is an old buddy. Welcome Mat is on page three.

A few friends share some of their happy moments in “Scuttlebutt” on page three. We need your news for the next issue.

Mail Call has a correc-tion on a story from last time. See page four.

REFLECTIONS OF A BLACKSHOE SAILOR

I like the tempo of a Navy Band, blaring through the topside speakers as we pull away from the oiler after refueling at sea. I like liberty call and the spicy scent of a foreign port. I even like all hands working parties as my ship fills herself with the multitude of supplies both mundane and exotic which she needs to cut her ties to the land and carry out her mission anywhere on the globe where there is water to float her. I like sailors, men from all parts of the land, farms of the Midwest, small towns of New England, from the cities, the mountains and the prairies, from all walks of life. I trust and depend on them as they trust and depend on me.– for professional competence, for comrade-ship, for courage. In a word, they are “shipmates.” I like the surge of adventure in my heart when the word is passed “Now sta-tion the special sea and anchor detail—

(Continued on page 2)

I like the Navy. I like standing on the bridge wing at sunrise with the salt spray in my face and clean ocean winds whip-ping in from the four quarters of the globe– the ship beneath me feeling like a living things as her engines drive her through the sea. I like the sounds of the Navy-the piercing trill of the boatswains pipe, the syncopated clangor of the ship’s bell on the quarterdeck, the harsh squawk of the 1MC and the strong language and laugh-ter of sailors at work. I like the vessels of the Navy-nervous darting destroyers, plodding fleet auxilia-ries, sleek submarines and steady solid carriers. . I like the proud sonorous names of Navy capital ships: Midway, Lexington, Saratoga, Coral Sea –memorials of great battles won. I like the lean, angular names of Navy ’tin-cans’: Barney, Dahl-gren, Mullinix, McCloy-mementos of he-roes who went before us.

PAGE 2 VOLUME 8, ISSUE 3

all hands to quarters for leaving port,” and I like the infectious thrill of sighting home again, with the wav-ing of hands of welcome from family and friends waiting pierside. The work is hard and dangerous, the going rough at times, the parting from loved ones painful, but the companionship of robust Navy laughter, the ‘all for one and one for all’ philosophy of the sea is ever pre-sent. I like the serenity of the sea after a day of hard ship’s work, as flying fish flit across the wave tops and sunset gives way to night. I like the feel of the Navy in dark-ness-the masthead lights, the red and green navigation lights and stern light, the pulsating phospho-rescence of radar repeaters—they cut through the dusk and join with the mirror of stars overhead. And I like drifting off to sleep lulled by the myriad noises large and small that tell me that my ship is alive and well, and that my ship-mates on watch will keep me safe. I like quiet midwatches with the aroma of strong coffee-the lifeblood of the Navy-permeating everywhere. And I like the hectic watches when the exacting minuet of haze-gray shapes racing at flank speed keeps all hands on a razor edge of alert-ness. I like the sudden electricity of “General quarters, general quarters, all hands man your battle stations,” followed by the hurried clamor of running feet on ladders and the re-sounding thump of watertight doors as the ship transforms herself in a few brief seconds from a peaceful workplace to a weapon of war—ready for anything. And I like the sight of space-powered phones that their grandfathers would still recog-nize. I like the traditions of the Navy and the men and women who made them. I like the proud names of Navy heroes: Halsey, Nimitz, Perry, Farragut, John Paul Jones. A sailor can find much in the Navy: com-rades-in-arms, pride in self and country, mastery of the seaman’s

(Continued from page 1)

MISSISSIPPI PIRATE

trade. An adolescent can find adult-hood. In years to come, when sailors are home from the sea, they will still remember with fondness and respect the ocean in all its moods—the im-possible shimmering mirror calm and the storm-tossed green water surg-ing over the bow. And there will come again a faint whiff of stack gas, a faint echo of engine rudder orders, a vision of the bright bunting of signal flags snapping at the yardarm, a re-frain of hearty laughter in the ward-room and chief’s quarters and mess-decks. Gone ashore for good, they will grow wistful about their Navy days, when the seas belonged to them and a new port of call was ever over the horizon. Remembering this, they will stand taller and say “I WAS A SAILOR ONCE. I WAS PART OF THE NAVY & THE NAVY WILL ALWAYS BE PART OF ME.”

By: Vadm Harold Koenig, USN (Ret) Submitted by: Bob Bowman

__________

Well, all I can say is that it was one rough winter. Most of the coun-try received more than normal snowfall, and we here out on the west coast had more than usual rainfall, causing flooding and mud-slides, and abnormally cold temps. So now, it’s on to spring and sun-shine and flowers. With me it’s to-mato planting time. Since the change has taken over, it means that we’re getting closer to our reunion date, not that I want to rush things, but planning for it now wouldn’t hurt at all. Tucson is one interesting place, and has a lot of history of the “Old West.” There is a lot to see out there, and I feel that it would be a worthwhile trip. The full information regarding Tucson is forthcoming. I heard from several newly dis-covered shipmates, and it’s amaz-ing how publicity can make it hap-pen. Let’s try and keep with it. The Missy was around for many a year, so there are many shipmates who served. I hope that we’re participating in sending items for the newly estab-lished column of the Pirate, namely, Scuttlebutt. Why not share happen-ings with the “group.” Was sorry to learn from his wife Katherine, that Richard Noel passed away. He will be missed by all.

Jake __________

Financial Statement Balance remaining after 03/05

$973.26Funds collected since 03/05

$50.00Funds available for 06/05

$1023.26 Funds expended for 06/05

$245.02 Balance remaining for 09/05

$778.24

Send contributions to ML&RS, Inc.

Published By: Military Locator & Reunion Service, Inc PO Box 11399 Hickory, NC 28603

828-256-6008 (voice) 828-256-6559 (fax)

DINAMLRS@CHARTERINTERNET.COM KARENMLRS@CHARTERINTERNET.COM

www.mlrsinc.com (web site) “Our Reunions Work So You Don’t Have To”

A MESSAGE FROM THEPRESIDENT

USS MISSISSIPPI REUNION

NOV. 3-6, 2005

TUCSON, AZ

PAGE 3 VOLUME 8, ISSUE 3 MISSISSIPPI PIRATE

Herbert Coleman, Jr. (1950-53) Damage Control R Div

Died May 15, 2004

Bobby “Boats” Jones (1955-56) BM Died in 1980

Richard Noel (1944-47) SM2 C Div

Date of death not reported __________

baby. Gregory Clark Brasher. He weighed 9lb 11oz. He was born May 2. Gregory is our son’s grandbaby. The only thing wrong with being a great-grandmother is that I have to sleep with a great-granddaddy. We are having a lot of fun this summer with all the celebrating. Our 54th wedding anniversary will be July 7. Happy Birthday to Lucile Iannetti, and Happy Anniversary to Jake and Ann. These names were in the Scut-tlebutt, but Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary to everyone who has had an anniversary and birth-day.

James & June Storey __________

WELCOME MAT The USS MISSISSIPPI Asso-ciation cordially welcomes the fol-lowing shipmate who has been located since the last newsletter. We hope to see you at the next reunion, and we hope you will take an active part in the association.

Jim Terborg 874 Longleaf Pl

Minden, NV 89423 775-783-9123

Mario Alleva (1953-55) 200 Valley Rd D10

Warrington, PA 18976

Arthur Berg (1950-52) IC3 E Div 1441 US Rt 11 Tully, NY 13159 315-696-5425

Jarvis Ray Everett (1952-54) SH2 Barber 5057 Eastern Pines Rd Greenville, NC 27858

252-757-0530 jreverett@cox.net

Anthony Garramore P.O. Box 987

Utica, NY 13503

William “Charlie” Chan (1943-46) GM 3/c 4th Div

4946 E Lakeside Ave Orange, CA 714-974-6079

cbh6079@aol.com

John Cannon 903 Tranquility Cir Osprey, FL 34229

Richard Long (1953-54) ET2 8th Div

1329 Lincoln Ave Pomona, CA 91797

909-624-2845 rklbll@hotmail.com

__________

TAPS The Pirate has learned of the following shipmates’ deaths since the last newsletter. The entire crew sends our deepest sympathy to the widow, families and friends of the deceased.

SCUTTLEBUTT Surprised my wife Ann with a 75th birthday party on 7 May. She really was surprised to the point where the tears flowed, making me feel sorry to see them rolling down her cheeks. Our grandson #3 is currently serving in Iraq with Marine Corps, by driving his tank. Hear from him regularly via e-mail.

Jake Jacobs __________

June Story will have a big birth-day May 22. James Howard Storey will also celebrate a big birthday August 22. He will be an old man, 76 years young. We just had a new great grand-

Hi, I served in the Missy 1943-1946 as an ETM 3rd C division and was assigned to the after transmitter room. I received a notice from MLRS about your up-coming reun-ion. I found some discrepancies in the Mail Call article and would like to set the record straight. After the signing of the uncondi-tional surrender on September 2nd (my birthday), we left Tokyo Bay September 6 and were to return to the USA via the Panama Canal, then up to New York to celebrate Navy Day. While steaming home, we re-ceived new orders and were di-verted to New Orleans arriving ei-ther late September or early Octo-ber. They dredged the Mississippi River at the foot of Canal Street, we tied up to the dock and re-mained there for 31 days. We then went to Norfolk where I was dis-charged April 6, 1946. Your article indicates that Missy

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MAIL CALL

VOLUME 8, ISSUE 3 PAGE 4 MISSISSIPPI PIRATE

was reclassified as the AG128 in February 1946. This is not correct.

Phil Klein ussbb41@myexcel.com

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(Continued from page 3)

REUNION NOTICE MARINE DETACHMENT USS MISSISSIPPI (EAG-128)

AND (BB-41) SEPT. 15-17

ARLINGTON, VA (WASHINGTON, DC)

CONTACT: BILL TERRELL

19327 TEMAN ROAD BEAVER DAM, VA 23015-1327

804-449-6907 locustrow@aol.com

This photo from the Boston Daily Record dated May 22, 1950 was sent to us by Rudolph Slosek. Thank you for sharing the photo with the Missy crewmen.

Arizona observes Mountain Standard Time on a year round basis.The battleship USS Arizona was named in honor of the state. It was commissioned in 1913 and launched in 1915 from Brooklyn Navy Yard.The original London Bridge was shipped stone-by-stone and re-constructed in Lake Havasu City.The state’s precipitation varies. At Flagstaff the annual average

is 18.31 inches; Phoenix aver-ages 7.64 inches; and Yuma’s annual average is 3.27 inches.Four Corners is noted as the spot in the U.S. where a person can stand in four states at the same time.At one time camels were used to transport goods across Arizona.Tombstone, Ruby, Gillette, and Gunsight are among the ghost towns scattered throughout the state.

ARIZONA FACTS AND TRIVIA

NAVY COLORS: 27 August 1802 the Secretary of Navy signed an instruction which set a pattern for the dress of the U.S. Navy in Blue and Gold.

UNIFORM REGULATIONS: The first uniform instruction for the U.S. Navy was issued by the Sec-retary of War on 24 August 1791. It provided a distinctive dress for the officers who would command the ships of the Federal Navy. The instruction did not include a uniform for the enlisted man, al-though there was a degree of uni-formity. The usual dress of a sea-man was made up of a short jacket, shirt, vest, long trousers, and a black low crowned hatl

PEACOAT: a cold weather ver-sion of the first uniform author-ized-the Pea-Jacket. A warm, heavy coat made from “Pee” cloth or “Pilot” cloth, a course stout kind of twilled blue cloth with nap on one side.

ORIGINS OF US NAVY UNIFORMS