![]() Always Ready |
||||||||||||||||||||
Summer, 2004 15 June, 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||
![]() |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
From our President:
Just a little over 90 days left until the 12th Annual
Reunion in Corpus Christi, Texas. Quite a few of you have already
sent your registration forms in. The rest of you thinking of attending,
grab the dang form right now (conveniently located in this issue), get
your pen and check book out, fill out the Reunion Registration form and
get them sent off to our host and hostess in tomorrow’s mail. Then pick up
the phone and call the number for the hotel to make your room reservations
before they are all gone. Don has gotten quite a few rooms blocked for us,
and we may be able to add some more—but there are no guarantees on
that - so make sure you’ve got yours and call today! This is going to be a
whole lot of fun so don’t miss out. See you all there!
Web site update: I have finally
caught up on adding pictures from previous reunions. The latest, and last
one in need of updating, being the 1998 Reunion in Gatlinburg, TN with 18
pictures being added there. Honor Roll: Billy J. Emberton, BT3 ‘63, Jon H. Bensen, SH3 '60 and John P. Weinel, Capt. ‘61.We wish to express our deepest sympathy and most sincere condolences to their family and friends. New Finds, Welcome Aboard: George Young, SN ‘60; Otto Henzel, SN ‘62; Albert Dunn, S1c ‘45; Phillip Tinnes, Ens ‘64; William Anderson, BM2 ‘46; Neil Pumphrey, HM3, ‘61. Elections: The Association By-laws call for the election of officers each year with the election to coincide with the annual reunion. All positions are up for election each year and officers may be re-elected. Nomination made prior to the business meeting should be sent to the Association Secretary. All other nominations will be taken from the floor. Excerpt from Ship’s Deck Log, Monday, 15 January 1973: 20-24 Watch: Ron Zimmerman Doug Hauser Membership Chairman. ![]() Repair 3 Report: June 6th, 1944. Allied forces stormed ashore in France, marking the beginning of the end for Hitler's German war machine. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the “Endless Day.” I wasn’t born yet, but many of our Shipmates were. Some were already in uniform, some were working in industry. Some of them may have watched a father, brother, or friend, go off to fight in the war, perhaps even participate in the D Day invasion. As a “Baby Boomer,” I can only imagine what they felt. 6 months after D Day, the keel of the Great Sitkin was laid in Wilmington, North Carolina. Again, I can only imagine the mood and tempo of work at the shipyard, as workers there labored together to construct yet another ship to join the battle. We know that Great Sitkin was placed in commission 3 days prior to Japans surrender, which ended World War 2. I would imagine that made her a war vet. There is so much history from that period yet to be told. Ron is leading the effort to get copies of the deck log from various years, but I’d challenge everyone of you to make sure your own Great Sitkin story is told. I would be more than happy to take your written tales of life and events on the ship, and put them in a notebook format for future generations to read. Give that some thought and write or email me with your ideas. This month, our look at DC equipment takes us to the
gas free shelf back here. Let’s look at the Flame Safety Lamp. It was used
for years, from before WW II until the 1970s. It was intended solely to
test an atmosphere for oxygen deficiency (to ensure that sufficient oxygen
was present to support life). The lamp was constructed of brass
(non-sparking) and had a glass globe and cotton wick. The lamp used
Naphtha as its fuel. The lamp could have detected the presence of
flammable gases, but it was not intended for that use. Explosions did
occur because of defective parts, incorrect procedure, or improper
assembly of the lamp. When making a test with the Flame Safety Lamp, it
had to be moved carefully and slowly while holding it as close to vertical
as possible. The following indications of flame behavior were a result of
conditions in the atmosphere being tested and these indications had to be
assessed by the test observer: 1.) Flame dies out-insufficient oxygen;
less than 16% by volume. 2.) Flame dies out with a slight "pop"-explosive
concentration of gases or vapors. 3.) Flame flares up brightly- less
explosive concentration of gases or vapors. 4.) Flame flares up, then goes
out- rich concentration of explosive gases or vapors. I hope this look at the Flame Safety Lamp jogs a few memory cells loose. Anyone who worked with me back here should remember that mine always lit! These days, the Navy uses state of the art, digital oxygen detectors. More efficient, but not as romantic. That’s all for this time. Hope I see a lot of you in Corpus Christi in September, especially more of you from the “70's.” We had a good representation last year, lets keep it going this year. And don’t forget the Great Sitkin gear items we have for sale. We still have several DVD’s of the 71 Med Cruise too. Stay safe everyone. George Kaiser, DC3, 1969-1971 Treasurer ![]() From The Fantail: Shipmates, those of you, lucky enough to be in attendance for our reunion last year in Virginia Beach will remember Captain Bob Buchwald and his wife Cindy. You remember? He’s the guy that won the 50/50 drawing. As it turns out we owe him a debt of gratitude. Bob was instrumental in recovering the reunion photographs from the infamous Mr. White, the photographer. Per Doug Hauser the photos are in the mail and many of you will have received them by now. Thank you Skipper. Most of us had given up. The list of reunion attendees is getting longer every day. Have you made your reservations yet? Like Doug Hauser said, it does make it a lot easier if reservations are made earlier. Your registration allows for good firm planning for everything from transportation to meals and even coffee in the hospitality room. Thanks in advance for your thoughtfulness. Pull out the flyer and call the Holiday Inn Emerald Beach 361-883-5731 or toll free 800-465-4329. Be sure to tell the reservations clerk that you will be attending the USS Great Sitkin Reunion code “GSR”. If you experience any problems or have any questions, please call me 972-985-0763. Don McClane, Editor,Secretary and 2004 Reunion Co-Host |
|||||||||||||||||||
"Thank you" graphic courtsey of:![]() |