elsie item issue 65 - USS Landing Craft Infantry National Association

More documents

Recommendations

Info

California LCI Reunions–A Double Header in 2008A Report from State Director Joe FlynnIt was a double header!To combat rising fuel costs and cut travel time, California LCI members had two reunions thisyear; one in San Diego and one 850 miles to the north in Eureka, home of the LCI(L)1091.San DiegoSeptember 9–11, marked the first LCI reunion in San Diego since 1995 when the 1091 sailed intoport. This year, the members and guests gathered on Tuesday for a happy hour and dinner in OldTown San Diego.Wednesday was a tour of the USS Midway CV 41 Museum and lunch aboard in the Fantail Café.Some of the group also visited some of the Naval monuments in the immediate vicinity including a40 foot high recreation of the sailor kissing the nurse in Times Square at the end of WW II and asculpture tribute to Bob Hope featuring Bob entertaining servicemen and women from all the warshe covered.On Thursday the group had a harbor cruise with special attentionto the Naval facilities ringing the Bay and the Navy ships inport and under construction. The narrator also provided recognitionof the LCI sailors aboard, talked about LCI's, and thankedthe Vet's for their service - a nice touch.That evening we had a banquet at a South Seas restaurant witha view of San Diego Bay and the smell of salt air—an LCI sailor'sdelight.Captain. Mark Neeson, USNR and Board Member of theHumboldt Bay Naval Air/Sea Museum, home of the 1091.addreses the Eurela bamqiet.14
EurekaSeptember 23-25, LCI sailors, spouses and guests, augmented by volunteersof the 1091, gathered in a hospitality room Tuesday to get reacquaintedand swap sea stories. An early and ample breakfast next daywas followed by a trip to the 1091 of the Humboldt Bay Naval Air/SeaMuseum. The volunteers have made much progress since last year'sreunion. Non-conforming bulkheads have been removed and replacedaccording to plans. Gun tubs have been added, troop compartmentsrestored with bunks for infantrymen, rust removed, new paint added andbrass polished. AND two new 20 mm’s were aboard still in their shippingcontainers. There are many other details of restorations that only anLCI sailor might recognize but all can appreciate. The old girl was standingtall with flags flying, and a good thing it was, too, because JohnGarofalos, the last skipper of the 1091 was coming aboard.Also standing tall (about 6'4") was Bosun Mate 1st Class Herb Wall,still fitting into his 1945 tailor made dress blues. And Herb had hisbosun's pipe at the ready to pipe Captain Garofalos aboard. Herb alsobrought his bosun's pipe into play when a young woman TV reportercame aboard to cover the reunion and the ship. She interviewed formerowner Captain Ralph Davis and filmed much of the ship for a Eureka station.About 60 people were present and accounted for at lunch aboard the 1091. They didn't want tomiss a chance to eat once more off the tried and true partitioned military steel trays. Thespaghetti dinner was prepared by Don Hanner, one of the three directors of the Museum and aformer restaurateur. Later, a tour of Humboldt Bay was available aboard the Madaket, the oldestcontinually operating passenger ship in the US.The banquet that evening was attended by all, including a contingent of volunteers. Directors ofthe Museum LeRoy Marsh and Mark Neeson Capt. USNR, and Capt. Merchant Marine, MC'd theprogram. Marsh reviewed the restoration progress and reiterated his optimism on sailing the1091 to Portland.State Director Joe Flynn reviewed the National Reunion in Mobile, AL, and provided an update onthe Association's fundraising success and the addition of 161 new Affiliates via gift membershipsfrom LCI sailors. He also talked about the 2009 Portland reunion and the hopes of sailing the1091 up the coast and the likelihood of a joint LCI/LSM 2010 reunion on the east coast.Volunteer Frank Schmidt recited a salute to the Reuben James, a US four stack destroyer sunk bythe Nazis before the declaration of WW II.The guest speaker was former 1091 Skipper Garafolos. He recounted some interesting, amusingand tense moments aboard the ship while under his command. He then presented to the 1091Museum the Commissioning Pennant of the 1091 and his Navy Uniform. That was in addition to acase of select wines he donated for the auction.After breakfast the next day some said their farewells and others took a ride on the 1091 to itsplace in the Marine Expo Saturday and Sunday. It was a short ride, but any time you drop thelines and the 1091 moves out under power is a rare treat.See you in Portland!15
Page 1 and 2: OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THEUSS LANDI
Page 3 and 4: From the Editor/PresidentExcuses! E
Page 5 and 6: TO BE “ONE OF A LIFETIME”Imagin
Page 7 and 8: COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE CRUISEThursday
Page 9 and 10: WELCOME ABOARD!We’re happy to wel
Page 11 and 12: DO YOU HAVE YOUR LCI CHALLENGE COIN
Page 13: THE 2009 LCI CALENDAR IS NOW FOR SA
Page 17 and 18: OHIO LCIers MEETA Report from State
Page 19 and 20: Then, after a short pause, obviousl
Page 21 and 22: Bill Chaplin, they workedto cut the
Page 23 and 24: IN MEMORIAM“Almighty and eternal
Page 25: to the US Maritime Commission since
Page 28 and 29: Welcome, Brittney!We are pleased to
Page 30 and 31: Your Officers and Board of Director
Page 32: USS LCI NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, INC.c

elsie item issue 65 - USS Landing Craft Infantry National Association

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?