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MOBOAT NEWS 5 Feb 07
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Bob Behm
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Feb 05, 2007 20:15 PST
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MOBOAT NEWS - VOL. 4 NO. 2
A newsletter for veterans of the “USS Monticello LSD 35"
Our website has had over 12,600 visitors since it was launched.
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Inside This Issue:
05 Feb 07
1: WHAT'S NEW?
2: REUNION
3: A REQUEST
4: DRAWING
5: WEBSITE OF THE MONTH
6: ADIM MEMORIES
7: NATIONAL ARCHIVES
8. USS NEW YORK
9. TAPS
10.REUNION REGISTRATIONS
11. FIND A SHIPMATE
12. SMILE
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1: WHAT'S NEW?
At last count, 416 crew members signed into the online Deck Log.
31 Officers
4 Skippers
35 Plank owners
363 Enlisted
89 Life Members
5 Annual Members
25 Chiefs
13 Marines
1 Attached (Australian)
1 Midshipman
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.
The monthly drawing for a MoBoat item began in November.
To be eligible for the drawing, you must have your member's dues
current and your reunion registration sent in by the date of the
drawing.
Monthly Winners will be drawn from a list of those that have submitted
their completed Branson reunion registration forms.
Our last drawing will take place July 1st, 2007.
Our third item to be given away this month is a MoBoat ballcap.
So, get those reunion registration forms in right away and be eligible
for the next monthly drawing.
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2: REUNION
The preparations for the 2007 reunion is in process. We've contacted
19 Veteran's magazine's and numerous reunion related websites about
our proposed reunion.
The dates of the reunion are 1 - 5 August 2007 at the Grand Plaza Hotel
in Branson, MO.
The reunion registration forms are available online in PDF format at:
http://www.ussmonticello.com/reunion_update.htm
Or by clicking on this link:
http://www.ussmonticello.com/2007_registration_form.pdf
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3: A REQUEST
Hello Robert,
Hi, my name is John J. Walsh, President of the National Amphibious
Veterans Association (NAVAgator). I formed NAVAgator two years ago
because the Amphibious Ships of the past membership are getting smaller
and smaller each passing year causing each group to bargaining power.
So I thought if we became ONE we could become a stronger group much
like The Tin Can Cruiser Sailors Association. Our first reunion was
last year in Colorado Springs, CO in September.
Our 2007 reunion will be Branson, MO. September 5-10, 2007 at the
Lodge of the Ozarks.
I am contacting 84 various ships, APAs, AKAs, APDs, LSDs, AGCs, & LSTs
to see if they want to join NAVAgator. I have found some ships who have
only 1 to 5 shipmates remaining that is why I think we shuld become ONE.
Thank you for your time,
Your NAVAgator Shipmate
John J. Walsh
732-367-6472
apa22-@comcast.net
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4. DRAWING
Each month until the reuinon will be having a drawing from those that
have sent in their reunion registration.
This month's winner will receive a emboidered MoBoat "Plankowner"
ballcap.
And the lucky winner pulled from the official "MoBoat" ballcap by my
lovely wife, Maria, is:
Plankowner Jack Dover
Congratulations Jack! We'll get that ballcap off to you ASAP.
If you are planning to attend the reunion in Branson in August '07,
be sure to get those reunion registrations in early to be eligible for
all the monthly drawings preceding the reunion.
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5. WEBSITE OF THE MONTH
For all you former radiomen any anyone else who enjoyed listening to
radio broadcasts from around the world while at sea or inport. Here's
a website for you to listen to shortwave from around the world
over the internet.
http://www.chilton.com/radio/others.html
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6. Dim Memories of a Previously Less Than Glorious Naval Career
A lunatic, a lunatic,
the doctor's all agree,
I lost my bloody marbles in,
a juke-box jamboree.
I fabricate deep visions of,
a life I lived at sea,
a fairy-tale concoction ,
on a naval L.S.D.
She was a mighty gator,
with a broad and clumsy beam,
her fog-horn blasted warnings,
with a hundred pounds of steam.
The azure oceans tasted like,
a box of Morton salt,
and when the safeties lifted it,
was never my own fault.
Our thunderous wake subsided to,
a ripple on the swells,
and then the Chief would find relief,
with sundry screams and yells.
An oak-leaf bearing officer,
replete with scrambled eggs,
the chief was always seasick on,
his spindly chopstick legs.
The narwhales giggled mocking tones,
attuned to our great plight,
and jellyfish were known to race,
around our boat each night.
Translucent moonbeams shone upon,
our hapless steaming wreck,
while albatross and arctic terns,
left piles on our deck.
There were no railroad crossing signs
amidst the ocean's blue,
and if you listened very hard,
there were no subways too.
A raincoat was a handy thing,
when polar gale winds rose,
that's why we sailed the tropics where,
a warmer current flows.
One night while we were hailing,
any trawler, tramp or tug,
my shipmate shared some moonshine,
from a plastic gallon jug.
We hooted and we hollered,
we got drunk beyond belief,
we had our jukebox blaring,
but got busted by the chief!
The party had been perfect,
we were blasting out the rock,
but now I suffer greatly from,
the post traumatic shock.
So if I'm not so vibrant and,
I'm looney as a duck,
it's all because the lucid me
had just run out of luck.
http://allpoetry.com/poem/2012874
Sent in by BM3 John Huard
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7. NATIONAL ARCHIVES
As I mentioned in the last newsleter, I recently contacted the National
Archives asking about the muster rolls of the USS MONTICELLO LSD 35 from
1957 to 1985.
I would like to thank Rich Finkle and Robert Campbell for their
donations to purchase these lists. I sent a check for the following
year's crew lists.
1959
1961
1962
1963
1964
1966
1968
1970
At $65 per list this is a costly project. I believe these lists are
crucial if we wish to find therest of our shipmates. If anyone would
like to help pay for additional years, it would be appreciated.
I have an apology to make to the crewmember that sent the microfilm
reader. Not only did I lose your email, but when my wife picked it up at
the post office, they had to remove it from the box to get it into the
car. So, please send me another email and I promise I won't lose it this
time.
Thank you so much for your donation!
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8. USS NEW YORK
It was built with 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Center.
It is the fifth in a new class of warship - designed for missions that
include special operations against terrorists. It will carry a crew of
360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by
helicopters and assault craft.
Steel from the World Trade Center was melted down in a foundry in Amite,
LA to cast the ship's bow section. When it was poured into the molds on
Sept. 9, 2003, "those big rough steelworkers treated it with total
reverence," recalled Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing, who was there. "It was a
spiritual moment for everybody there."
Junior Chavers, foundry operations manager, said that when the trade
center steel first arrived, he touched it with his hand and the
"hair on my neck stood up." "It had a big meaning to it for all of us,"
he said. "They knocked us down. They can't keep us down. We're going to
be back."
The ship's motto? "Never Forget"
https://www.pms317.navy.mil/ships/lpd21.asp
Sent in By CW4 Jim West
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9. TAPS
Why "TAPS" is played.
If any of you have ever been to a military funeral in which Taps was
played; this brings out a new meaning to it.
Here is something Every American should know...but most don't, until
they read this: We in the United States have all heard the haunting
song, "Taps". It's the song that gives us that lump in our throats and
usually tears in our eyes.
But, do you know the story behind the song? If not, I think you will be
interested to find out about its humble beginnings.
Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when Union Army
Captain Robert Ellicombe was with his men near Harrison's Landing in
Virginia . The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow
strip of land. During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moans of a
soldier who lay severely wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a
Union or Confederate soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life and
bring the stricken man back for medical attention.
Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the Captain reached the
stricken soldier and began pulling him toward his encampment.
When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was
actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead.
The Captain lit a lantern and suddenly caught his breath and went numb
with shock. In the dim light, he saw the face of the soldier. It was
his own so n. The boy had been studying music in the South when the war
broke out. Without telling his father, the boy enlisted in the
Confederate Army.
The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his
superiors to give his son a full military burial, despite his enemy
status. His request was only partially granted.
The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members
play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral. The request was turned
down since the soldier was a Confederate. But, out of respect for the
father, they did say they could give him only one musician.
The Captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series of
musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead
youth's uniform. This wish was granted.
The haunting melody, we now know as "Taps" used at military funerals was
born.
The words are:
Day is done ... Gone the sun
From the lakes ... From the hills ...
From the sky .. All is well.
Safely rest .. God is nigh.
Fading light .. Dims the sight ..
And a star ... Gems the sky
Gleaming bright from afar ..
Drawing nigh. Falls the night.
Thanks and praise ... For our days.
Neath the sun ... Neath the stars...
Neath the sky. As we go
This we know .. God is nigh
I too have felt chills while listening to "Taps" but I have never seen
all the words to the song until now. I didn't even know there was more
than one verse.
I also never knew the story behind the song and I didn't know if you had
either, so I thought I'd pass it along.
I now have an even deeper respect for the song than I did before.
Remember those lost and harmed while serving their country and also
those presently serving in the Armed Forces.
Sent in by BM3 John Huard
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10. REUNION REGISTRATIONS
Here is the list of those that are now registered for the upcoming
reunion in Branson, MO. Thanks for registering so promptly!
John F. and Lori Barry MM2 1961-1964
Michael & Cathy Battisti BM3 1965-1969
Robert & Maria Behm BM3 1969-1971
Lawrence M. Braun EM2 1980-1984
James and Frances Campbell MM3 1961-1964
David and Betty Clifford BT2 1957
Jack & Lydia Dover SN 1957-1958
William (Sonny) & Cathy Gaines EMFN 1966-1967
Keith & Debbie Kaighen BT2 1973-1977
Paul Lindauer & Bonnie Armes ME3 1957-1959
Larry D. Lynch EM3 1958-1960
I will post this list monthly until the reunion.
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11. FIND A SHIPMATE
If you know any of your old shipmates full name and where he was from,
you can go to www.zabasearch.com or www.whitepages.com and submit a
search for them. I get my best results with Zabasearch!
Good luck.
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12. SMILE
A Navy officer was cutting through the crew's quarters of his ship one
day and happened upon a sailor reading a magazine with his feet up on
the small table in front of him.
“Sailor! Do you put your feet up on the furniture at home?” the officer
demanded.
“No, sir, but we don't land helicopters on the roof either.”
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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
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