|
MOBOAT NEWS 4/15/06
|
Bob Behm
|
Apr 15, 2006 23:36 PDT
|
MOBOAT NEWS - VOL. 3 NO. 2
A newsletter for veterans of the “USS Monticello LSD 35"
Our website has had about 8000 visitors since it was launched.
=====================================
Inside This Issue:
15 APR 06
1: WHAT'S NEW?
2: REUNION
3: MOBOAT IN RICHMOND
4: BRANSON MISSOURI
5: PAST ISSUES
6: SITE OF THE MONTH
7: SILENT AUCTION
8. SHIP'S HISTORY
9. I AM A VETERAN
=====================================
1: WHAT'S NEW?
At last count, 362 crew members signed into the online Deck Log.
26 Officers
4 Skippers
30 Plank owners
322 Enlisted
84 Life Members
5 Annual Members
25 Chiefs
5 Marines
1 Attached (Australian)
1 Midshipman
I want apologize for not sending out a newsletter over the past three
months.
Things have been far busier than I anticipated.
Keep spreading the word. If you know someone who served on the
MoBoat, and they're not listed on the Deck Log, please forward this
newsletter to them.
ERRORS... If you have logged-in and can't find your entry in the deck
Log
or the "Member's List" please let me know and I will correct the
deficiency ASAP.
=====================================
2: REUNION
The preparations for the 2007 reunion is underway. We're beginning to
contact the Veteran's magazine's and related websites about the proposed
festivities.
The name tags, ship's crest lapel pins, lanyards, and items from the
ship's
store all are being ordered.
As soon as we nail down the dates and the hotel, we'll post the
information
on our website.
=====================================
3: MOBOAT IN RICHMOND
As some of you might know, Ron Harben, my wife and I have been visiting
the
MONTICELLO at the Port of Richmond. We have gone aboard twice to take
photos
and some video. The photos can be found at:
http://www.ussmonticello.com/port_of_richmond.htm
I want to thank the crewmembers of the Red Oak Victory for informing us
of
the activity abaord the MoBoat and helping us get abaord. They are a
non-profit
organization and are always happy to get donations to keep their ship
afloat.
Here's their website:
http://www.ssredoakvictory.org/
We found a couple publications during our visit, the entire Ship's
history
while she was commissioned and the Welcome aboard pamphlet. Both of
these
documents are available at the "Ship's History" web page.
AS I walked around the ship's weather decks taking photos and video, a
flood of
memories came back to me. I thought about my friends of the ship's crew.
the god times
and the bad. As I looked in the well deck I thought about the Boatswain,
Mr. Overly,
being in the well deck as we were towing the fleet tug. I remembered how
the line parted
knocking him down and severely injuring him. I could see the crew during
swim call and
the enjoyment of swimming in the welldeck safe from any sharks.
I walked through the bridge where I stood duty as messenger of the
watch, port lookout
and helmsman. Those cold mid-watches where I learn to drink coffee to
keep warm.
I had the opportunity to show my wife where I lived, slept, took
showers, ate meals,
bought my geedunk and watched the evening movie. Although she was a
second class
Hospital Corpsman, she was never aboard a ship.
=====================================
4. BRANSON, MISSOURI
My wife and I have returned from our visit to Branson, Mo and I must say
the
four days were very tiring, but very informative. They had us on the go
from 0730
until about 2330 daily.
We visited restaurants, hotels, shows and museums. The NRA (National
Reunion
Association) sponsored the CONFAB for reunion planners. I strongly
recommend the the NRA to any of you that are reunion planners. Their
information
is both quality and timely. They schedule these CONFABs all over the
country.
They website can be found here:
http://www.reunionfriendly.com/
We are waiting for two of the three hotels to give us their proposals
before we set
the date. I can say that it will be scheduled during the last two weeks
of July or
the first two weeks of August, 2007.
The patriotic spirit is alive and well in Branson! It was a culture
shock for me
when during each show or event, they thanked the veterans for their
service to this
country. Things like that would never be said here in California in a
public platform.
=====================================
5. PAST ISSUES
Past issues of the MoBoat News can be found here:
http://lists.topica.com/lists/ussmonticello/read?sort=d&start=0
To sign-up for future issues of the MoBoat News, please log-in here:
http://www.ussmonticello.com/newsletter.htm
=====================================
6. SITE OF THE MONTH
http://www.ssredoakvictory.org/
The crew of the Red Oak victory are in need of volunteers. As you can
see by their
photos on the website, they are in need of paint chippers and painters.
If you live
in the San Francisco Bay area and would like to volunteer, please fell
free to contact
Tom Bernard at 415-531-6543
Email: Berna-@aol.com
=====================================
7. SILENT AUCTION
http://www.ussmonticello.com/silent_auction.htm
There are a few MoBoat items at this website. To bid on an item, just
send an email to me
with the Item number, description of the item and YOUR NAME. I'll run
the auction until
1 June 2006 at 0001 hours. I hope there's something there for you to bid
on.
Keep this web address in your "favorites" because there will be no link
from our website.
This auction is for the crew of the MoBoat, not the general public, so
send your bids in today.
=====================================
8. SHIP'S HISTORY
I have a supply of the ship's history while she was commissioned. It was
written for the
vistors at the decommisioning ceremony in 1985. I'll place them in our
ship's store and
charge just a couple bucks for mailing and handling.
=====================================
9. I AM A VETERAN
You may not know me the first time we meet
I'm just another you see on the street
But I am the reason you walk and breathe free
I am the reason for your liberty
I am a Veteran
I work in the local factory all day
I own the restaurant down the way
I sell you insurance, I start your IV
I've got the best-looking grandkids you'll ever see
I am a Veteran
I;m your grocer, your banker
Your child's schoolteacher
I'm your plumber, your barber
Your family's preacher
But there's part of me you don't know very well
just listen a moment, I've a story to tell
I am a Veteran
I joined the service while still in my teens
I traded my prom dress for comouflage greens
I'm the first in my family to do something like this
I followed my father like he followed his
Defying ny fears and hiding my doubt
I married my sweetheart before I shipped out
I missed Christmas, then Easter, the bitrh of my son
But I knew I was doing what had to be done
I served on the battlefront, I served on the base
I bound up the wounded, and begged for God's grace
I gave orders to fire. I followed commands
I marched into conflict in far distant lands
In the jungle, the desert, on mountains and shores
In bunkers, in tents, on dank earthen floors
While I fought on the ground, in the air, on the sea
My family and friends were home praying for me
For the land of the free and home of the brave
I faced my demondsin foxholes and caves
Then one dreaded day, without drummer or fife
I lost an arm my buddy lost his life
I came home and moved on, but forever was changed
The perils of war in my memory remained
I don't really say much, I don't feel like I can
But I left homw a child, and came home a man
There are thousands like me, thousands more who are gone
But their legacy lives as tome marched on
White crosses in rows, and names carved in queue
Remind us of what these brave souls had to do
I'm part of a fellowship, a strong mighty band
Of each man and each woman who has served this great land
And when Old Glory waves, I stand proud, I stand tall
I helped her keep flying over you, over all
I am a Veteran
Andrea C. Brent
=====================================
Well... that's all for this Issue of the MoBoat News.
Continue spreading the word about ussmonticello.com. Feel free to
forward this Newsletter to anybody you think will find it interesting.
If this Newsletter was forwarded to you and you'd like to subscribe,
just visit http://ussmonticello.com/newsletter.htm. All back issues of
the MoBoat News are also available there as well.
So long for now!
Bob Behm (Beamer)
USSMonticello.com Webmaster
Former BM3
USS Monticello LSD 35 '69-'71
|
|
 |
|
