Vol. XVI Issue 33 Official Newsletter of the USS Charles S. Sperry DD
697 Association July 2011
President's
Message: B. W. Jennings
Several memorable events occurred during
the 2011 reunion in Annapolis, Maryland. Among them were:
During the visit to Arlington National
Cemetery, Sperry members Gary Chesser,
Jess Mayberry, Bob and Barbara
Jennings were privileged to participate in the
wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns. This solemn event takes
place before the huge crowd of visitors who visit this historic site each day,
and pays tribute to those brave individuals who paid the ultimate sacrifice for
their country.
Members also were able to view the sites of
the Viet Nam Memorial, The Marine Corps War Memorial, Lincoln Memorial,
Washington Monument, The Capitol Building, the gravesites of John F. Kennedy,
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Robert F. Kennedy, Ted Kennedy, Audie
Murphy, and numerous other national and historic sites.
We were honored to have the following
first-time attendees at the reunion: Charles
J. Bock, Earl R. Byerley, Jr., Peter LaPlaca, Frank Sullivan and George Newton.Another historical event occurred shortly after the
2011 reunion ended on Sunday, May 1st. That evening,
the President announced that Osama Bin Laden, the world's Number 1 terrorist, had been killed in a clandestine attack on his compound,
which happened to be located a few miles from the city of Islamabad, Pakistan. The
heroic team who planned and carried out the attack
were Navy Seals. Not long after his death, Bin Laden was given a "deep
six" burial at sea from the Carrier USS CARL VINSON.
Members who have never attended a reunion,
or have not attended a reunion in a long time, are encouraged to make plans now
for the 2012 reunion in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. We hope to see you there!
Bob
Jennings
DID YOU KNOW THIS BIT OF
HISTORY?
On December 23, 1950, the USS CHARLES S.
SPERRY (DD-697)
became
the first U.S. Naval vessel to be hit by enemy fire from North
Korean
shore batteries while circling a small island in the harbor at
Songjin.
This attached picture shows some of the damage that was
sustained
by the attack. Shown peering through the hole in the aft
bulkhead
where the shells struck are crewmembers David
Nixon
and
Robert Smith. Fortunately, the
Russian-made shell did not
explode,
but lodged in the after-midships 40MM ammunition
magazine. GMC Gordon Parks immediately realized the seriousness
of the situation, and grabbed the unexploded shell and handed
it
to GMSN Jim Roden through the open hatch above,
and Roden
quickly threw it overboard. Both Parks and Roden received
commendations for their heroic actions, which could
have had
catastrophic
consequences.
U.S.S
CHARLES S. SPERRY DD697 ASSOCIATION
QUARTERLY FINANCIAL REPORT & BANK
ACCOUNT ACTIVITY
JUNE 30, 2011
|
MONTH |
TRANSACTION |
INCOME |
EXPENSE |
BALANCE |
|
BEGINNING BALANCE |
$4,740.84 |
|||
|
APRIL |
MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS |
$50.00 |
||
|
REUNION REGISTRATION |
$887.63 |
|||
|
LOAN: FROM GARY
CHESSER TO CUSHION CHECKING |
$2,000.00 |
|||
|
REUNION REFUND TO ROBERT FOAD |
-$40.95 |
|||
|
REUNION REFUND TO WILLIAM BELZ |
-$189.90 |
|||
|
BAUER VISUAL GRAPHICS FOR REUNION BADGES |
-$38.43 |
|||
|
INSPIRATIONAL CRAFTS FOR REUNION BADGES |
-$54.00 |
|||
|
EYERE TOUR &
TRAVEL/TOUR |
-$1,640.00 |
|||
|
MONTHLY TOTALS |
$2,937.63 |
-$1,963.28 |
||
|
ENDING BALANCE |
$5,715.19 |
|||
|
MAY |
2011 REUNION: DONATIONS |
$235.05 |
||
|
2011 REUNION: SURPRISE BOX RAFFLE |
$286.00 |
|||
|
2011 REUNION: 50/50 DRAWING |
$108.00 |
|||
|
2011 REUNION: SILENT AUCTION |
$634.00 |
|||
|
2011 REUNION: SHIP’S STORE SALE TO B. W. JENNINGS |
$10.00 |
|||
|
2011 REUNION: DUES COLLECTED |
$50.00 |
|||
|
2011 REUNION: REUNION LATE REGISTRATIONS |
$361.70 |
|||
|
DONATION/BARBARA JENNINGS FOR ROOM DRAWING |
$50.00 |
|||
|
BAUER VISUAL GRAPHICS/BADGES |
-$18.58 |
|||
|
DOUBLETREE HOTEL ANNAPOLIS FOR BANQUET |
-$2,646.86 |
|||
|
MONTHLY TOTALS |
$1,734.75 |
-$2,665.44 |
||
|
ENDING BALANCE |
$4,784.50 |
|||
|
JUNE |
MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS |
$85.90 |
||
|
SHIP’S STORE SALE TO RICHARD SMALL |
$49.25 |
|||
|
REFUND OF 2010 TOUR TO BERNIE DONEGAN |
-$72.00 |
|||
|
REFUND TO JOE WAEGELE OF 2011 REUNION FEE |
-$193.93 |
|||
|
REPAY LOAN TO GARY CHESSER |
-$2,000.00 |
|||
|
MONTHLY TOTALS |
$135.15 |
-$2,265.93 |
||
|
ENDING BALANCE JUNE 30, 2011 |
$2,653.72 |
Gary Chesser
Treasurer,
U.S.S Charles S. Sperry DD697 Association
IMPORTANT NOTICE
ALL checks are to be
mailed to the treasurer, Gary Chesser, 4404 Old Hwy 12
Starkville, MS 39759
Vice President's Report: Jess Mayberry
I contacted 11
members. So far, eight will think about joining. They will let me know
later of their decision. Three have not responded by but I will follow up. I
encourage each shipmate to try to locate shipmates you served with and hopefully they will join. We have a great association and I
know they would enjoy the camaraderie if they would come to just one reunion.
*Correction: In the April SixGun,
shipmate Robert K. Confer was listed as
"Nick" by mistake. Mrs. Confer was contacted
and was very understanding. She sends her best to all members.
Shipmate Casey Case,
(55 to 58) passed away on May 1,
2011 and shipmate Rudolph Matesic, Jr., (55
to 58) passed away on June 26, 2011. They sailed through life's cruises
meeting their share of calms, storms, adverse tides, and favoring winds. Their
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 shipmates set their course by those beacons that are
given to them have found their harbor safely. To those loved ones who
our departed shipmates has left behind, awaiting 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.
Crew's
News:
Jerry
Smith (2/52-5/53) is
doing better after emergency triple by-pass surgery and then contracting a
staph infection in his legs. He and Sarah are hoping to make the reunion in
Oklahoma City. Miriam Matesic is doing as well after the sudden passing of
Rudy on June 27, 2011. Please keep Miriam and all the families who have lost
loved ones in your prayers.
In
March this year, an e-mail was received from Michael Schlomas,
a Chicagoan, who stated that he had found the USS CHARLES S. SPERRY website. He
knew that his father has served aboard the Sperry around 1950. After seeing
that caps and jackets were available from the Ships Store, he inquired about
purchasing such items for his father. He wanted to present them as a surprise
to his father, who spends the winters in Florida to avoid the cold weather in
Chicago. The items were ordered and shipped to Michael in time for his trip to Florida
to pick up his dad. We also sent copies of SIXGUN newsletters, a
Membership Application, and urged him to ask his father about joining the
Association. We have not heard from the elder Schlomas,
but a few days ago, we got a membership application from Michael, and he is now on the roster of the Association. He is
planning to attend the Oklahoma City reunion. Richard Perkins ('47-'52)
Several years ago a story in the SIX GUN newsletter featured Richard Perkins, who along with several
other Korean Veterans from the East Texas area, who were honored with a trip to
the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC. Richard and other veterans were instrumental in organizing the
Korean War Veterans of East Texas, and erected a beautiful Koreans War Veterans
Memorial in the city of Tyler, Texas. The group has also served as honor guards
during military funeral services and participated in many parades commemorating
patriotic holidays and other events in their community. A few days ago it was learned that one of the Korean veterans, Leroy Baty,
who was one of the organizers and served as an officer of the KWVM along with Richard, had passed away. Richard said that his leadership will be surely be missed.
Leroy, who was a long-time resident of Deer Park, Texas before moving to
the Tyler, Texas area, and a friend of the Jennings
family.
Save
the date: April 26-29, 2012 2012 Reunion in Oklahoma City
The Clarion Meridian Hotel & Convention Center, 405.942.8511, www.clarionokc.com will host the reunion. Room rate is
$69
+ 13.875%. Total:
$78.58 Free
Shuttle to and from Will Roger's
Airport
PETS ALLOWED AT NO CHARGE Free
Parking
If your personal information is
incorrect in any way please send corrections to: SPERRYDD697-SECRETARY(AT)YAHOO.COM
OFFICERS
President
B. W. Jennings
2018 Concord
Deer Park, TX 77536
281-479-4844
Vice President
Jess Mayberry
132 Granite Way
Wentzville, MO 63385
636-332-3260
Treasurer
Gary
Chesser
4044 Old
Hwy. 12
Starkville,
MS 39759
662-323-5059
Secretary
Barbara
Jennings
2018 Concord
Deer
Park, TX 77536
281-479-4844
Appointed
Positions
Web
Master
Gary
Chesser
1407 Old
Hwy. 12
Starkville,
MS 39759
662-323-5059
Chaplain
Roy Welch
144 Triple R Lane
Crossville, TN 38571
931-484-0375
WEBSITE
ADDRESS: http//usscharlessperrydd697.com
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