The SixGun
Vol. XXIII, Issue 30 Official
Newsletter of the USS Charles S. Sperry DD 697 Association October 2010
President's
Message:
The 2011 Sperry reunion in
Benefits of attending the 2011
reunion are: the location -
Another good reason is the huge
number of historical, educational, and national attractions in the area. Such important sites as the
Members are encouraged to arrive early or stay after the reunion in
order to see the many sites the area has to offer.
I hope to see you there.
B. W. Jennings
You don't want to
miss this opportunity to visit one of the most historical and inspirational sites
you will ever see.
I am excited at the opportunity our tour will afford attendees. If you have never been to
We will tour the cemetery via a tram so walking will not be an
issue. After the tour we will have lunch
at Tutto Bene’s for a large buffet to choose from.
See you there.
Barbara
U.S.S CHARLES S. SPERRY DD697 ASSOCIATION
QUARTERLY FINANCIAL REPORT & BANK ACCOUNT ACTIVITY
SEPTEMBER 25, 2010
OLD ACCOUNT USED BY BLAIR
ROUGEUX:
(CLOSED ON JUNE 16, 2010) ENDING
BALANCE $-8.05
NEW ACCOUNT OPENED MAY 28,
2010 : (Opened with loan of
funds by Bob Jennings)
BEGINNING BALANCE $100.00
ACTIVITY UP TO SEPTEMBER 25,
2010:
JUNE INCOME $324.45
JULY INCOME $49.00
BAD
CK. CHARGE BACK $-16.00
AUGUST INCOME $10.00
SEPTEMBER INCOME $20.00
INVOICE-INSPIRATIONAL
CRAFTS $-60.00
INVOICE-BAUER
VISUAL GRAPHICS $-70.30
INVOICE-ACE
T-SHIRTS $-119.68
REIMBURSE BOB
============================================================================
SEPTEMBER 25, 2010 ENDING
BALANCE $122.98
A full report of the findings
of the investigation into the Association’s financial records will be provided
at the 2011 Annual Meeting of the U.S.S. Charles S. Sperry DD697 Association in
Gary Chesser
Treasurer,
U.S.S Charles S. Sperry DD697
Association
If IIBR
RR
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Be sure to notify the secretary
of an address change.
Drop a stone into the water
–
In a moment it’s gone,
But there are a hundred
ripples
Circling on and on and on.
Say a word of cheer and
splendor –
In a moment it is gone
But there are a hundred
ripples
Circling on and on.
In Remembrance:
Shipmate
William
H. Brown passed away on April 24,
2010. Shipmate Brown sailed through
life's cruises meeting his share of calms, storms, adverse tides, and favoring
winds. His ship of life has now come to its final anchorage in a harbor unknown
to mortal man.
We who remain do not know the course to steer and we
believe our shipmate is setting his course by those beacons that were given to him
from those who have found their harbor safely.
To those loved ones who our departed shipmate left behind,
await their own day of departure and voyage to that same harbor of eternal
mercy, we can offer our sincere condolences in this time of separation and
loneliness.
"Final Tribute"
to Galen "Smitty" Smith as requested by Adaria.
Smitty's
widow, Adaria was honored to received his 60 year membership
recognition
from the American Legion. This was a
great tribute to a man
who was
dedicated to his beliefs.
Galen was a man of many accomplishments. Serving
his country during WWII he was awarded the Meritorious
Mast for assisting in saving a shipmate.
Smitty was
an active member of the Tin Can Sailor Association,
Durff-Kuhn VFW, Oscar M. Hykes American Legion, PA State
Fire,
Police
Association and the Cumberland Valley Hose Company 53.
While
Smitty accomplished many things in his lifetime.
Smitty was
loved and will be missed.
Over the past 21 years we
have lost so many of our shipmates. Hold
on to the wonderful memories of your time with each of them. Please do not forget the widows that are left
behind to only have the precious memories of their time with your shipmates.
Crew's
News:
B. W.
and Barbara Jennings would not describe their summer as
"dull." In April their
daughter Tami who has cystic fibrosis moved in with them after her husband went
back to
Jerry
and Sara Smith doing fair. Jerry
is having some health issues but hopes to be at the reunion. Jerry says he would enjoy hearing from
his shipmates.
Jess
Mayberry, Vice President reported he had made several contacts
via emails and telephone calls recruiting shipmates. Response has been slow. We all need to assist in recruiting
members.
Gary
Chesser and Fred Hilberer reported during their
travels since the reunion in
If you have not renewed your membership please fill
out the enclosed form and mail to:
Barbara Jennings, Secretary, 2018
Fred Hilberer (68-71) Our thanks to Fred for sending the following article, which is sure to bring back
a lot of memories for every shipmate.)
REFLECTIONS OF A BLACKSHOE
By VADM
Harold Koenig USN (Ret.)
I like the Navy. I
like standing on the bridge wing at sunrise with salt spray in my face and
clean ocean winds whipping in from the four quarters of the globe - the ship
beneath me feeling like a living thing as her engines drive her through the
sea.
I like the sounds of the Navy - the
piercing trill of the boatswain's pipe, the syncopated clang of the ship's bell
on the quarterdeck, the harsh squawk of the 1MC and the strong language and
laughter of the sailors at work.
I like Navy vessels -
nervous darting destroyers, plodding fleet auxiliaries, sleek submarines and
steady solid carriers. I like the proud
names of Navy ships: Midway,
I like the tempo of a Navy band blaring through the topside
speakers as we pull away from the oiler after refueling at sea. I like liberty call and the spicy scent of a
foreign port. I even like all hands
working parties as my ship fits herself with the multitude of supplies both
mundane and exotic which she needs to cut her ties to the land and carry out
her mission anywhere on the globe where there is water to float her.
I like sailors, men from all parts of the land, farms of the
Midwest, small towns in
I like the surge of adventure in my heart when the word is
passed, "Now station the special sea and anchor detail - all
hands to quarters for leaving port", and I like the infectious thrill of
sighting home again, with the waving hands of welcome from family and friends
waiting pier side. The work is hard and
dangerous, the going rough at times, the parting from loved ones painful, but
the companionship of robust Navy laughter, the "all for one and one for
all" philosophy of the sea is ever present.
I like the serenity of the sea after a days of hard ship's
work, as flying fish flit across the wave tops and sunset gives way to
night.
I like the feel of the Navy in darkness - the
masthead light, the red and green navigation lights and stern light, the pulsating
phosphorescence of radar repeaters
- they cut through the dusk and
join with the mirror of stars overhead.
And I like drift off to sleep lulled by the myriad noises large and
small that tell me that my ship is alive and well, and that my shipmates on
watch will keep me safe.
I like quiet mid watches with the aroma of strong coffee - the
lifeblood of the Navy permeating everywhere.
And I like the hectic watches when the exacting minuet of haze-gray
shapes racing at flank speed keeps all hands on a razor sharp edge of
alertness. I like the sudden
electricity of "General
Quarters General Quarters - all
hands man your battle stations", followed by the hurried clamor of
running feet on ladders and the resounding thump of watertight doors as the
ship transforms herself in a few brief seconds from a peaceful workplace to a
weapon of war - ready for anything by youngsters clad in
dungarees and sound powered phones that their grandfathers would still
recognize.
I like the traditions of the Navy and the men and women who
made them. I like the proud names of
Navy heroes: Halsey, Nimitz, Perry, Farragut, John Paul Jones. A sailor can find much in the Navy,
comrades-in-arms, pride in self and country,
mastery of the seaman's trade.
An adolescent can find adulthood.
In years to come, when sailors are home from the sea, they
will remember with fondness and respect the ocean in all its moods - the
impossible shimmering mirror calm and the storm-tossed green water surging over
the bow. And then there will come again
a faint whiff of stack gas, a faint echo of engine and rudder orders, a vision
of the bright bunting of signal flags snapping at the yardarm, a refrain of
hearty laughter in the wardroom and chief's quarters and mess decks. Gone ashore for good, they will grow wistful
about their Navy days, when the seas belonged to them and a new port of call
was ever over the horizon. Remembering
this, they will stand taller and say,
'I WAS A SAILOR ONCE."
"I WAS PART OF THE NAVY."
"THE NAVY WILL ALWAYS BE A PART OF
ME"'
Officers
President
Cal Dyk
616-669-9785
Vice President
B. W. Jennings
2018
281-479-4844
Treasurer
Gary
Chesser
662-323-5059
Secretary
Barbara
Jennings
2018
Appointed Positions
Web
Master Chaplain
662-323-5059 931-484-0375
WEBSITE ADDRESS: http//usscharlessperrydd697.com