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MOBOAT NEWS 15 Mar 09
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Bob Behm
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Mar 15, 2009 21:02 PST
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MOBOAT NEWS - VOL. 6 NO. 2
A newsletter for veterans of the “USS Monticello LSD 35"
Our website has had over 24,000 visitors since it was launched in
August 2004.
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Inside This Issue:
1. WHAT'S NEW?
2. 2009 REUNION
3. PHOTOS & MOVIES
4. VEterans' SALUTE
5. WEBSITE OF THE MONTH
6. HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED
7. SEARCHING & FINDING
8. TOP REASONS NOT TO ATTEND
9. BRANSON, MISSOURI
10. HUMOR
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1: WHAT'S NEW?
At last count, 577 crewmembers have signed into the online Deck Log.
We have had over 24,000 visitors to our homepage. That's a lot of
folks browsing your photos, videos and ship's history. The main reason
that the website was built was that the ship's history could be shared
with anyone that wanted to read about her and that our ship may never be
forgotten.
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2: 2009 REUNION!
The 2009 reunion is to be held in Branson and the Branson Grand Plaza
Hotel.
To have the banquet room and hospitality room given to us at no cost, we
need to book at least 30 rooms per night.
Many of you have told me that there are cheaper rooms in the Branson
area, but unfortunately that doesn't do the reunion group much good if
we aren't centrally located at the guest hotel. We need to take
advantage of the "group rate" and free breakfasts offered by the Grand
Plaza.
Be sure to send in your reunion registration forms as soon as you
can.There is no other way to determine how many shipmates will be in
attendance.
I am sending out an updated crew's list. Call your friends on the list
to see if they are planning to attend this year's get-together in
Branson.
The dates of the reunion are 16 - 19 September. Remember that the
banquet will be held on the evening of the 19th.
http://www.ussmonticello.com/reunion_update.htm
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3: Photos & Movies
We're still looking for more photos & movies to place on the website.
Break out those old photos, 8mm movies, vhs and DVDs send them in to be
shared with all of our members.
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4. VETERANS' SALUTE
Veterans and active-duty military not in uniform can now render the
military-style hand salute during the playing of the national anthem,
thanks to changes in FY09 National Defense Authorization Act.
This provision adds to a change in the FY08 NDAA that authorized
veteransand military members not in uniform to render the military-style
hand saluteduring the raising, lowing or passing of the flag. Last
year's provision also applied to members of the armed forces while nit
in uniform.
"The military salute is a unique gesture of respect that marks those who
have served in our nation's armed forces", said the Secretary of
Veternas Affairs Dr. James B. Peake. "This provision allows the
application of that honor in all events involving our nation's flag.
The VA noted that members of Veterans Service Organizations have
traditionally rendered the had-salute during the national anthem and at
events involving the national flag while wearing the organization's
official headgear.
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5. WEBSITE OF THE MONTH
www.militarytimes.com/
Best all around news source for the military community.
The Military Times is a website of the Army Times Publishing Company, a
division of the Gannett Company. Like other Gannett newspapers (USA
Today and several city papers) it is professional reporting but done for
and about the military community. The Military Times is the collective
name for Air Force, Army, Marines, and Navy Times editions.
It also publishes more specialized defense newspapers. Just about
every soldier, contractor, and defense civilian employee reads one
of these journals.
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6. HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED
Call girl allowed to retire at O-4
By Andrew Tilghman - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Nov 28, 2008 8:08:26 EST
Sent in by BM3 John Huard
Lt. Cmdr. Rebecca Dickinson has retired from the Navy with no reduction
in rank, despite her admission that she moonlighted as a high-end
prostitute for Washington powerbrokers while assigned to the Naval
Academy, a Navy spokeswoman confirmed.
In federal court in April, Dickinson testified about her stint as
an escort at the trial of Deborah Jeane Palfrey, a California
businesswoman known as the “D.C. Madam.” Dickinson said she charged $275
for a 90-minute session, typically keeping $130 for herself and sending
$145 to Palfrey.
A Navy spokeswoman confirmed Dickinson’s Oct. 31 retirement after it was
first reported by the Web site militarycorruption.com.
The 38-year-old divorced mother of three enlisted in the Navy after high
school in Tennessee and served as an aviation electronics technician
third class. She was later commissioned in 1993. She served as the Naval
Academy food services officer, responsible for feeding 4,000 midshipmen,
and occasionally taught a Navy leadership class in the academy’s ethics
department.
In April, the Navy fired her from her job at the Navy Supply Corps
School in Georgia, gave her a letter of reprimand and forced her to
go on indefinite leave. A Navy official at the time said the Navy
could give her a reduction in rank if it determined that her service
as a lieutenant commander was not honorable
Dickinson’s attorney, Jonathan Gladstone, said federal prosecutors
granted Dickinson immunity earlier this year in exchange for her
testimony. That agreement prevented naval authorities from taking
Dickinson to court-martial, but provided no guarantees regarding
the terms of her retirement.
“This is a very unhappy case for just about everyone who it touched,”
Gladstone told Navy Times. “I’m glad to see that efforts were made to
not make things any worse than they had to be.”
http://hothottie.com/24/lt-cmdr-rebecca-dickinson/
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7. SEARCHING & FINDING
The wall-usa.com is a new web page for listing and searching for
military reunions. Add and edit information about your own reunion
using a login and password you choose. Information can be expanded
and edited as reunion plans progress and become firm. Submissions
and modifications are immediate.
Instructions for linking are at thewall-usa.com/howto/.
There is no charge though donations are gratefully accepted.
The site is operated by a 100% disabled (wheelchair-bound)
Vietnam Veteran.
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8. TOP REASONS NOT TO ATTEND
Top reasons people don't attend their ship's reunions.
1. "I'm fat!"
Who cares I am fat too!
I haven't seen anyone that hasn't put on some weight. No one cares!
2. "I'm single, separated, unmarried or widowed!"
So are 30% of our shipmates.
3. "I can't afford the reunion fee!"
Come on it is only $150 and it only happens once every 2 years.
4. "I'm busy!"
If your that busy then you need a break.
Come relax and reconnect with old friends and make some new ones.
5. "I am bald"
Bald is in baby! Remember KojaK?
6."I keep in touch with everyone I want to talk to"
Then you should all come and have a great time and
what about the people that want to see you again.
7."I didn't like Navy life"
Get over it already!
It has been 20 - 40 years ago. You must have some good memories.
8. "People were mean to me on the ship"
We are all 30 years older and wiser, maybe someone has been
waiting all these years to apologize to you.
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9. BRANSON, MISSOURI
In the 30's, Lake Taneycomo had become an inexpensive place
to vacation. With street fairs, parades, community picnics
and boat races, not to mention the beauty of the area, all
of the businesses were able to survive through the Great
Depression and bank failures. After World War II, craftsmen
and artists inundated the area as well as returning servicemen
and industry workers. In 1949, Steve Miller, an artist, had
an idea to put a large, lighted Adoration Scene on the Mount
Branson bluff across from Lake Taneycomo that left the
thousands of viewers of the first lighting awe-struck.
After the first Adoration Parade, plans were made to construct
Table Rock Dam, which was completed in 1959. Once the dam was
completed, Branson's citizens were relieved that floods no
longer threatened the waterfront. From that time more visitors
came each year to see the new lake. Lake Taneycomo became too
cold to swim in since it was being fed by the cold waters of
Table Rock Lake, so fishing became a big sport at Taneycomo.
Area attractions like Silver Dollar City and Shepherd of the
Hills Farm also began to bring in the visitors.
Branson, Missouri Today
Branson has hosted over seven million visitors, almost half of
them coming from 300 or more miles away. With 412 restaurants,
200 lodging facilities and 45 theaters that provide more seats
than New York City's Broadway District, Branson has come a
long way from the humble beginnings of the Mabes and Presleys,
who performed wherever they could before the theaters were built
in the late 60's. Now more than 80 shows in 45 theaters are there
to offer breakfast shows, matinees and evening performances that
promise to keep you entertained all day. These live shows are what
make Branson known today as the "Live Country Music Capital of the
World". You will find all genres of music at these theaters as well
as magic and comedy, to add more fun to your stay.
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10. HUMOR
A Navy man walks into a bar. Sitting himself down, he tells the
bartender, "Quick, pour me a drink, before the trouble starts."
The bartender pours a drink and watches as the man quickly downs it.
Putting the glass on the bar, the sailor says, "Give me another drink
before the trouble starts."
The bartender pours another glass and the sailor drinks it as quickly as
he had the first, before asking for another, again adding, ". . . before
the trouble starts."
After several rounds of this the bartender says, "Look sailor, you've
been in here ten minutes and you keep talking about trouble starting.
Just when is this "trouble" going to start?"
The sailor looks at the bartender and says, "The trouble starts just as
soon as you find out that I ain't got any money."
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Well... that's all for this Issue of the MoBoat News.
I truly hope this newsletter found you well.
Please continue spreading the word about ussmonticello.com. Feel free
to forward this Newsletter to anybody you think might 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
ofthe MoBoat News are also available there as well.
So long for now,
Bob Behm (Beamer)
Webmaster: USSMonticello.com
Former BM3
USS Monticello LSD 35 '69-'71
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