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From Our President: Here
it is March already and Spring is just around the corner. I
have no idea where the time has gone these past couple of
months as it seems like just a couple of weeks ago we were
in Chattanooga having a good time. Not much has gone on to
report about. We did here from the insurance company about
the items we lost in the fire at George’s Storage units.
The news is not good…. After at lot of talks with his
attorney, George informed us that the other person’s
insurance was not going to cover the loss since we did not
actually “rent” space from him. George has always donated
the storage place to us so we had a place to keep the
memorabilia. The bottom line is this… If we want them to
cover the loss then we will have to file suite against the
company that caused the fire. The Executive Board held a
discussion about what to do and it was decided that it was
going to cost us more money than what we lost in
merchandise, probably take several years for it to go to
litigation or trial and was not worth the time, effort or
money. Since all of the pictures we had are on the web
site, basically all we lost was the merchandise we had left
in stock. The Executive Board also decided that for the
time being, we were not going to restock the Ship’s Store.
Looking at the list of those that pay dues and attend
reunions, most have already purchased shirts, hats, mugs,
pins, etc. It just doesn’t make sense to buy in the
quantities needed to get decent prices and end up maybe
selling only 25% of what we buy. If anyone wants to, they
can bring this up for discussion under New Business at the
General Business Meeting.
Web
Site: I’m sorry to
tell you I have some bad news about the web site also.
Effective 1 April we will be losing our
Visitor Log.
Since the inception
of the current web site, back in Jan 2000, our Visitor Log
has been hosted by a web server providing this service for
FREE. They have decided to no longer continue the “Guest
Gear” feature they offered, either free or for money. They
have provided us with great service for the past 12 years.
Not only was it maintenance free for us, they also had
things in place to block spam attacks and foul language from
being entered into the logs. I am looking into seeing if I
can locate another service that we can use for guest book
feature. It seems that everyone is going to Facebook or
Twitter features. I have looked into this as a possibility
and decided that we
would not go that
route at this time. Doing so would mean that I would have
to set-up the account and maintain it on a daily basis to
chunk out the garbage. I don’t have the time to devote to
doing that. If anyone wants to come up with a way to do a
Visitor Log/Guest Book using Facebook or Twitter and also do
all the maintenance on it, let me know and we can discuss it
in more detail.
Ron Zimmerman
President
A word from the Vice-President:
Well here it is time for
another exciting newsletter article! Ok,OK time for another
newsletter article! Anyway I’m glad the snow from previous
years decided to stay away, all the tulips and Lilies are
about 2-3” out of the ground. It reminds me of the butter
commercial saying “it’s not nice to fool Mother Nature”
looks like Mother Nature is pulling a fast one this time. On
a more surprising and Happy note our oldest daughter just
informed us Grand Baby #6 is due in August!!!
Now it’s time for the usual membership update,
as of this time we have 106 paid members from a current
roster of 214, I believe that last year we ended up with
about 150 paid. Now for the bad news this will be the last
newsletter for anyone who’s dues are not current. Sorry
those are the rules folks.
I would also like to update you on the 2013 reunion but it is
still too far out for the Cruise lines to give dates and
prices, hopefully by the next newsletter I will have
something. So until them everybody can look forward to
Baltimore.
Jim Dunno
Vice-President & Membership
Chairman
The Chaplain’s Corner:
"Good
Day” to all of you. Well it certainly has not been a much of
a winter. I don’t remember one like this one. We have folks
around here that have flowers starting to come up. I am
ready for Spring!
We conducted a funeral last week of another WWII Army
veteran, Patsy’s uncle Lee. He was 87 years old. He lived a
long and happy life. One of his hobbies was being a Grotto
Clown. He loved to make people laugh and smile. It made me
think what King Solomon said in Proverbs 17:22 A merry
heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth
the bones. Sometimes the trials and storms of life make it
hard to laugh but remember, Psalm 30:5 “….. in his favour is
life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the
morning.”
“A smile costs nothing but gives much. It enriches those who
receive without making poorer those who give. It takes but a
moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None
is so rich or mighty that he cannot get along without it and
none is so poor that he cannot be made rich by it. Yet a
smile cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it
is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given
away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give
them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who
has no more to give.” -- Author Unknown
A last minute note. We just received word from Dorothy
Hodnichak that Mike passed away. We will miss him so much
at our reunions. Please keep Dorothy and the family in your
prayers.
Let’s keep all those families in our prayers that have lost a loved
one who sailed aboard the Great Sitkin. May the Lord Bless
and Keep You..
Honor Roll Update
Russell Willard, EN3, '58
Paul Rhorer, Capt '70
Richard Stuart, FA, '52
Albert Flaton, BM2, '63
Charles DeRoche GMG3 '53
Antonio Avallone, MMC '63
Mike Hodnichak, ME3 ‘53
Mark Rucker
Chaplain
Secretary’s Report:
Spring
Has Arrived Shipmates! Here in PA we have the four seasons
but this past winter was the most mild I can remember in my
life-time. I don’t have a lot to report in this newsletter
other than we have lost some great Shipmates this since our
last newsletter. My thoughts and prayers go out to all the
families. The 2012 reunion will be here before we know it.
Hope to see you there. I would like to remind everyone that
if your dues is not paid up to November 2012 this will be
the last newsletter that you will receive. So, please keep
your dues up to date by sending it to Jim. Until June, take
care and enjoy the Spring and Happy Easter.
Joe Savadge
Secretary
Repair 3:
Getting ready some
thoughts for this newsletter, I started thinking about the
“firsts” we’ve all encountered in our lives, but recognizing
the need for brevity, I started to narrow it down to our
military experience. Further narrowing puts it to some of my
own firsts I encountered early in my Navy experience.
September 1968; First airplane flight to boot camp. First
time away from home. First Navy uniform. Lots of first time
stuff. After boot camp, a short time of reserve center
boredom, then, September 1969; off to service school. Damage
Control “A” School in Philadelphia. First time fighting
fires, real, big fires. First leadership responsibilities.
So many more firsts. Then came the orders we all received to
that first duty station. For most of us, it was more than
likely also our first ship. And even more likely, USS Great
Sitkin was that first ship. My pal from DC School got orders
to the USS Albany, a real live shooting warship. Another guy
went to a carrier. Me? My first ship carries bombs and
rockets? I was doomed! November 1969; I dutifully reported,
climbing the accommodation ladder to the Quarterdeck.
“Request permission to come aboard Sir.” Hmm, first time I
said that. And while I was standing there with EMCS Kerfien
sizing me up for the first time, the first real officer I
was to encounter came by. Holy Cow, this guy has eagles on
his collar. That would make him a Captain! (Recalling my all
too fresh boot camp education.) Captain Hermann, my first
commanding officer! A very awkward first salute, and I was
ushered off to my first contact with my R Division
shipmates. And so my time aboard Great Sikin began, with
almost every day bringing me new firsts. Working
assignments, Repair 3. Berthing assignments, mess cooking,
first time underway, which very humorously was from Bayonne
to the yards in Hoboken. July 1970; First real deployment,
to our first attempt at refresher training at GITMO. That
didn’t go real well, so we went back to Bayonne for more
readiness training, heading back to GITMO in October. By
this time, I was serving under my third Captain, but he was
really the first one I really looked up to. Captain Hermann
left after only a month, being relieved by Captain Gerhard.
Captain Paul Rohrer took command just prior to our return to
GITMO. We did well this time, came home, and started
prepping for my first overseas deployment. Along about this
time I also met my first girlfriend, Mary. The last week in
January 1971 Great Sitkin deployed to the Med, taking me on
an adventure that would also encompass many firsts.
Right now, I want to leave the “first time” thought process
and talk about a significant third. As I mentioned, Captain
Paul Rohrer was my third Captain during my time on Great
Sitkin. I’m sure a lot of you have different thoughts about
various officers you served under, but I consider Captain
Rohrer to be the best. I really liked him, he treated a 3rd
Class Damage Controlman with respect, which was pretty cool
to a 20 year old kid. I can remember him coming around the
ship during working hours, looking in on things, keeping his
ship tight. Comforting to know, seeing how the floating bomb
carrier was also our home. He sent letters to the families
of the crew, keeping them informed of what we were doing and
where. And he got us home. July 1971, back in the states,
and my first duty was coming to a close. Time for
separation. Time to check out from my first ship. The last
person I had to see was Captain Rohrer. I went into his
stateroom, he kind of rocked back in his chair, “So what’s
next for you petty office Kaiser?” “Well sir, back to my
first job I guess.” He asked my about my first girl, and for
some reason, he advised me 2 things. “Marry the girl.” I
did, My first wife, and I’m happy to say, my only wife! He
also suggested I stay in the reserves, which I also did.
Great advise from my Captain.
Rear Admiral Paul Rohrer transferred to the Staff of the Supreme
Commander in December. Those of us that served him are
greatly saddened by his passing.
Another important first coming up is my first attempt at co-hosting a
Great Sitkin reunion. Ron and I have a great time planned,
and yes, it will encompass quite a few military and nautical
venues. The hotel is within walking distance of the awesome
Baltimore waterfront, we will be spending considerable time
on the Liberty Ship John W Brown, and we will be making a
few stops at war memorials in Washington DC. Everyone will
enjoy the Brown, while it’s not exactly like the Great
Sitkin, it’s close enough to be able to provide a unique
experience for us service force Sailors. Be sure to check
out the website for much more info, and sign up early. It’s
been almost 40 years since the youngest of us left the ship,
I can promise that if you come to the Baltimore reunion, you
will have a first of your own. You will see an shipmate you
sailed with for the first time in a long time.
Wishing you all smooth sailing this spring. And
remember, “Once a Sailor, Always a Sailor!”
George Kaiser
Treasurer
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