|
Association Officers
|
President
Ron Zimmerman Sr.
474 SW Prater Ave.
Port St. Lucie, FL 34953
(772) 621-4016
ae17assn@adelphia.net
|
Vice President
Jim Dunno
272 Stone Hedge Row
Johnstown, OH 43031
(740)817-2177
jdunno@columbus.rr.com
|
Secretary
Jack Norton
2386 SE Patio Circle
Port St. Lucie, FL 34952
(772)335-9852
nortonae17@msn.com
|
Treasurer
George Kaiser
311 W. Oak Lane
Glenolden, PA 19036
(610)237-1652
dcckaiser@juno.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
From our President: The
past couple of months have been busy ones with doing the
revamp of the web pages and incorporating all of the
different pictures into one central area making access more
convenient. Check out the Crew's Lounge to see what's been
done.
It is now only 3 short months before it is time for the
Annual Reunion. Your Hosts for this year, Jim and Joy Dunno,
have been working hard getting the finishing touches
completed before this newsletter went to press. They have a
great package put together and with the central location, we
hope to see many of our shipmates who live in the Ohio
Valley area that we haven't seen in a while. So before you
put this aside and forget to do it, pull out the Reunion
Registration insert, fill it out, enclose a check and get it
in the mail to Jim and Joy. You'll be glad you did…..
New Finds:
Donald Hansen, BT2, '59; Charles Bearish,
SH3, '54; Michael Mahoney, IC3, '71; Ronald Jakubowski, FP1,
'56 and Mark O'Brien, SN, '68
Honor Roll:
William
Mollman, MOMM1c, Plank Owner and Vince Carpency, SKSN, '53
We wish to express our deepest sympathy and most sincere
condolences to their family and friends.
Web Site:
In addition to the changes to the Welcome and
Crew's Lounge pages, I was able to convert the 35mm slides
and have added 12 pictures to the 60's Cruises and 1 picture
to the 60's Crew pages. I also finished extracting the
information on which ship's we have rearmed and/or UNREPed
with from the Deck Logs we have already purchased and that
list will be available in the Hospitality Room at this
year's Reunion. See you there!
Ron Zimmerman Sr.,
President

From the desk of the Vice President:
Here it is time again for another newsletter, I thought I
had just finished writing an article and Ron tells me it’s
time to write another one! It’s time again for the warm
weather, flowers, and showers that make the flowers grow. So
speaking of showers; I know what you’re thinking, here comes
another sea story, you’re right!
It so happened that one day in the fireroom we had to do
firesides, for all you topside guys that’s when we open up
the boiler to wash it out. I happened to get stuck washing
the stack from the inside, at the bottom of the stack. When
a certain MPA, whose name I won’t mention, stuck his head
into the opening at the same time I brought the hose to the
same spot. Needless to say Mr. Stephanski got a shower. He
will swear I did it on purpose but really Charlie, it was an
accident! (hehehe).
Things are moving right along with the membership. We have 126
paid members of which 6 are first timers. So, any of you
fellows who just happen to find an extra $20 lying around,
go ahead and send it to me. I will be happy to send you a
shiny new membership card complete with my signature.
The reunion bank is OPEN so fill out those registration forms
and send them to me. The Drawbridge Inn has been taking
reservations and a few of you have already made yours.
If any of you would like to attend a Reds ball game Friday
night during our free time please let me know when you send
in your registration. Again, if enough people are interested
in attending the game, I will try to set something up. The
Montgomery Inn is next door to our Inn and they have the
best Ribs around. Don McClane thinks Blue Ash Chili is the
place to be, but to each his own.
If anybody has any questions about the info in the insert in
this newsletter feel free to e-mail or call me and I will
try to answer them.
Jim Dunno
Vice President & Membership Chairman

Secretary Report:
Shipmates, again this year we did not receive
any nominations for replacement of the current slate of
officers. Nominations for all offices will be accepted at
the Annual Business meeting. Nominees must be present at
the meeting to accept the nomination. We hope that you are
planning to attend the reunion in Cincinnati and are looking
forward to seeing you there.
As a reminder, one of the duties of my job as Secretary is to
send get well cards to our members. So, if you know of a
member who should have a card sent to them, please let me
know and a card will be sent to let him know that the USS
Great Sitkin Association is thinking of him.
I also would like to encourage our shipmates that have
stories of interest about their time served aboard the Great
Sitkin to put it in writing and send it to me or one of the
officers. When we have space in a future newsletter it
could be included. Also, regarding the newsletter, if you
have changed your address recently or will be changing it
before the November newsletter please give one of the
officers that information so you will continue to receive
your newsletter.
Jack Norton
Secretary

Repair 3:
Isn’t it
funny that as we get another year under our belts (a nice
way to say “getting old”) we tend to reflect back on events
that have shaped our lives, for good and bad, to recall
individuals who’ve set us on our own paths in life. I guess
you’re thinking “here comes another reunion pitch!” A little
later maybe, but not here. I’m thinking more along the lines
of how much my short 18 months on the Great Sitkin set me on
the direction that led me to where I am in my life, in May
2008. Right now, I own my own business, I’m happily married
to my best friend, I’m an officer in my local volunteer fire
department, I teach fire fighting at our county fire
academy, I retired in 1997 after 27 years in the Naval
Reserve as a Chief Damage Controlman, yeah, I’m quite
satisfied with where I am today. Each of these places I owe
to my time on the Sitkin. Let me explain.
I went on active duty in September 1969, attended the
Navy Damage Control “A” School at Philadelphia, Pa. I got my
orders to the Sitkin from there, reporting aboard on 22
November, 1969. Here’s where I start naming names. After
getting checked in, PN2 Leo Minnickel admonished me to “turn
2” and sent me to see DC3 Fred Applegate. Thanks Leo. Fred
was a volunteer fireman, and he ran the repair lockers like
a little Great Sitkin fire department, which I guess is what
they were. I’m not sure who actually gave me Repair 3 as my
cleaning responsibility, but it was another career move. A
DCFN, and I had my own command! How cool was that? I dug
into that place, and had it so ship shape, I got a Letter of
Commendation during a SERVRON 2 Admin Inspection in January
1970. I know I stepped on some toes back when that took
place, hope the 38 years since then has cooled things off a
little. That letter meant a heck of a lot to a boot Damage
Controlman, and was another little career shaper. Thanks
Fred. While I’m thanking my Shipmate Fred for his early
damage control guidance, I would be remiss not to mention
the fact that he also set me on my course to be a volunteer
firefighter. Right after I was released from active duty and
settled in at home again, I joined our town’s fire
department, and have been there ever since.
As 1970 went on, I got to know DC2 Gary Miller very
well. He was my steaming buddy and shipmate. Gary had Repair
2, and we dueled it out as to who had the most ready locker.
Gary kept me on my toes, he also was a 4.0 Damage Controlman.
He taught me to love my rate and the responsibilities that
went along with it. Thanks Gary. There were also other
Damage Controlmen on the Sitkin that made up our little fire
company. DC3 Jay Miller, DCFN Joe Weber, DCFN Russ Marion.
And while I’m at it, I also owe a debt to the other members
of the AE17 R Division “Wrecking Crew.” You were all the
guys that taught me early on the meaning of “Brotherhood”
that is the watchword of the fire service. Guys, I took that
lesson, and have used it every day as a firefighter. I used
it for the 27 years I was with the Navy Reserve. For 15 of
those 27 years, I drilled as an instructor at the DC School
in Philadelphia. The job I was able to do so well there was
due to the education I got with my Brothers on the Great
Sitkin.
Well, that was the story of how I found the fire
service on the Great Sitkin. I also learned how to be a
Chief, and maybe even run a business from my Great Sitkin
days. Have you ever stopped to consider the impact your
senior petty officer, Chiefs, and officers had on you, for
good and bad? R Division had, as our division officer, the
Damage Control Assistant, or “DCA.” My first DCA was Lt
David Bull. He left in March 1970 so I didn’t know him that
well, but as I recall he was a pretty good guy. Not on our
found list right now. He was probably the one that got the
Letter of Commendation by. Thanks Lt Bull. Mr. Bull’s
replacement was Ens David Obershimer. He is on our found
list, so it’s good that 38 years does have a way of changing
ones outlook on past events. I guess by the spring of 1970 I
was a pretty cocky SOB, and I’m sure that got on Mr.
Obershimers every last nerve. I remember we were in the ammo
piers in Virginia, on our way to Cuba in June 1970. Mr. O
had told me to make an inventory for Repair 3, or no weekend
liberty. Well, I didn’t get it done, but went ahead and made
my bus reservations home anyhow. We went up to the
quarterdeck, and who had the watch? Mr. Obershimer! Holy
Crap! How was I going to get this one past? Well, I didn’t.
He stopped me, made me go finish the inventory. He could
have kept me on the ship for the weekend, but he let me go
after I showed him the finished work. All told, I lost about
45 minutes, still made the bus, and learned a valuable
lesson in following, and eventually giving, orders. Thanks
Dave!
Mr. Obershimers replacement was Ens Brett Burbank, and he
was our DCA for the 1971 Med Cruise. As I recall, Mr.
Burbank was a good guy, just had a lot of rather bizarre
ideas on how to run a DC department. By the time our paths
crossed, I was a seasoned 3rd
Class, and no boot camp Ensign was going to change my
routine. More lessons in giving and taking orders. Hindsight
always being 20/20, it worked out for the good. One “life
lesson” I was able to get from Mr. Burbank that I’ve used
over the years was during a port visit to Corfu. I had the
duty that day so I was on board, standing sounding &
security watches. I also was On Scene Leader for the inport
fire party. That was kind of as big step up for a 3rd
class petty officer, and I was kind of apprehensive. Well,
we got word that Mr. Burbank had the intention to light a
fire in a trash can on the welding flats outside of R Div
shop. Now, on an ammunition ship, I would imagine that if
one was predisposed to set an intentional fire, the welding
flats would be the safest place to do it. I believe that Mr.
Burbanks intention was to put the small fire out with one of
the pressurized water extinguishers we had in the area.
Quick knock on the fire, easy to recharge. Nice fire drill.
But I guess being the hot shots we were, we ( the inport
fire party) decided to go at the fire with all our
resources, which meant charging 2 fire hoses, with the hose
teams in full battle dress including OBA’s. And that’s just
what we did. Someone saw the smoke, notified the Quarterdeck
there was a fire. The fire party was called away, we geared
up at Repair 2, got set up at the top of the ladder in the
starboard passageway, and with hoses flowing water, we went
down the ladder, around the corner, where we encountered a
very surprised and by this time a very wet DCA. Oh, and we
put the fire out too. I guess the lesson in it all for me
was that I discovered that I could make decisions and lead
my shipmates in a fire situation. I recalled that day many
times in later years when I was put in positions of
leadership in far more hazardous situations. So, I owe a tip
of the battle helmet to you too Brett, thanks for
challenging us to “think outside the box” so many years ago.
In recalling life lessons I received at the hands of
my Great Sitkin shipmates, I would be remiss if I left out
the advice I received from my Commanding Officer when I was
checking out at the end of my tour. We had been back in the
states, berthed at the ammo piers at Leonardo, NJ. I was
making the rounds getting my signatures so I could get off
and get back to my civilian life. I think my final stop was
to see Captain Rohrer. I’m sure he knew who I was, I wasn’t
a bad Sailor, but my mouth tended to get me noticed at
times. I knocked, requested permission to enter, he invited
me, offered me a seat, and we had a sort of “father, son
chat.” Me and the Captain. Wow! He asked what my intentions
were for the future. Well, I had been writing for the 6
months to a girl I met before I left back in January. “How
do you feel about her?” Geez, the Captain asking me this “I
think she’s pretty cool, sir!” “Marry her!” Uh…ok. “Your in
the reserves, aren’t you son?” Uh…yes sir. “Stay in the
reserves son, it will do you good.” So, I married Mary, and
I retired in 1997 from the Reserves. Thanks for the advice
Admiral!
Ok, so much for my life story tour of the 71 Med
Cruise. Remember, it’s been 38 years, so some of the items
in these tales might be stretched a little, but you all get
the idea. To take care of some association business, the
ships store is still stocked and waiting. When you get your
government rebate check, be sure to send VP Jim Dunno 20
bucks for dues, and buy a few things from the store. And
maybe use some of it to pay for your trip to Cincinnati in
September! See you then!
George Kaiser
Treasurer

Looking for shipmates:
Recently I
became acquainted with a German friend who is writing a book
about the WWII German ship Prinz Eugen IX - 300. He found
me via the USN Cruiser Sailors Assn. I had been a
crewmember when the USN sailed the ship to the Bikini
Islands for the 1946 Atomic Bomb test. I was asked to try
and locate any other USN sailors who might have been on
board prior to the test. My friends name is Ingo
Bauernfeind and you can contact him at ingobauernfeind@hotmail.com.
Please include me in your correspondence to him. My e-mail
address is bjogloworm@yahoo.com. Thank you shipmates!
B. J. Reynolds, XO, '71 - '72
|