USS  MAHAN  ASSOCIATION

                                    DD102         DD364         DLG 11      DDG 42         DDG 72

                                                                                                                                                  Jan 5 2011

Greetings  Shipmates.

Let me open with a message from our President.

Greetings:

I hope this edition of the newsletter finds you well and a very happy new year from the Sweet household.

This year we are trying something new with the reunion.  The board picked five locations in the Central US and we are asking those interested in attending next year to pick the location they would most like to see.  It is a straight up vote and the venue and the location with the most votes will be the location of the 2011 reunion.  You can vote either by mail or online.   More details are contained below.

Let me also make a point, to all who are interested, that we are now on FACEBOOK as USS MAHAN ASSOCIATION.

Looking forward to seeing you in ???????? next fall.

All the best,                                                                                                                                                                 Jeff

I am kind of at a loss to start this newsletter after the reunion in Washington DC as I was unable to attend.  I have discussed this with the other board members -it seems that for the members who attended, they had a pretty good time. For some reason the attendance of this reunion was not up to par with others in the past.  Cold weather and rain kind of put a damper on a lot of the activities.   They did get to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns.   We did have several first timers which was a good showing.

Tony and Kathleen Geraci  DLG 11,  Dale and Dianne Nicholas DDG 42, Clint and Terresa Lambert DLG 11, Robert and Judy Lindquist  DLG 11, Capt. and Mrs Rick Wilkins, Pat Needham DLG 11, Malcolm McMillan DDG 42.   Good to see the new faces and hope to see them again in the future.

I received the following from Bob Moe:

While we were at the WWII Memorial in D. C. I was approached by Petty Officer Selby, who asked if I would do an interview.  I said yes, but then saw Bill Sumner coming by.  I told the petty officer that Bill would be a much better interview as he was a WWII Vet.  The interview was taped.   I just received this in my retired AF news e-mail. 

                                                         VETERANS’ REFLECTIONS: A Life of Service.

By Navy Petty Officer 2^nd Class William Selby, Emerging Media, Defense Media Activity.

WASHINGTON (AFRNS)—If all you knew about Bill Sumner was that he joined the Navy during WWII a day after graduating from high school, that would say plenty about his character and dedication to his country.  But it marked only the beginning of a life of service for this retired Air Force lieutenant colonel. When he left for boot camp in 1942, the United States was involved in WWII and he felt he had to do his part. 

“A few months later I was transferred to Pearl Harbor and was stationed aboard the USS Mahan,” he said.  On Dec.7 1944 the USS Mahan was patrolling between Leyte and Ponson Island when a squadron of Japanese aircraft found it.  They were heading home after bombing an invasion force and I guess the
American P-38s started to hit them.”  Colonel Sumner said. “So they decided (that) rather than go home, they would just destroy us.”

During the ensuing battle, Colonel Sumner said, “The nine twin-engine Bettys were diving into the ship one at a time, but only three of the aircraft actually hit the Mahan.  The first hit amidship, the second one hit us between the two stacks.  The third one missed us and them came back around and hit us.”

The ship was exploding from all the munitions and weapons onboard, and there was nothing to extinguish the fires, because one of the planes knocked out the power to the ship, Colonel Sumner recalled.  With no power and no water to fight fires, the Mahan’s skipper decided it would be best for the crew to jump overboard. “ But there one thing he could not leave the ship without,” said Colonel Sumner.  “I had a dog onboard,” he said.  “His name was Butch.  He was a cocker spaniel, and he was our ship’s mascot.  I went down below to get him, and then we all jumped off the ship into the water.”

The Mahan’s crew floated in the water for roughly two hours while waiting to be picked up, and eventually was sighted and picked up by the crew members of USS Walke, a flat-bottomed landing ship.  Colonel Sumner said when the ship was ready to start taking sailors on board, none of the crew would go until Butch was safely aboard—a fairly funny addition to an otherwise less than comical story.  After the sailors from the Mahan had boarded the Walke, the decision was made to sink the listing ship.

The surviving sailors did not get to come home immediately.  Colonel Sumner stayed aboard the Walke.  While leaving the Philippines, Colonel Sumner’s ship was challenged, he said, only this time it was not by the Japanese.  “We were on the way back from the Philippines, and we hit the edge of Halsey’s Typhoon and believe me, that was scarier by far than being sunk. 

Colonel  Sumner returned to the United States after traveling aboard five different vessels over three months, and he was assigned to the USS Steinacker on the East Coast.  Soon after that, he received his honorable discharge from the Navy.

Years passed, and after he earned a degree from the University of Nevada, Colonel Sumner decided to seek a commission as an Air Force officer.  He served in the Air Force for 22 years, including time spent as a bombardier navigator flying combat missions in the Korean and Vietnam wars.  All told, Colonel Sumner spent 27 years serving in the armed forces.  He fought in three major wars and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. 

He said serving his country was the most important thing he ever did.  “I am deeply, deeply heartfelt about my experiences in the service.  To me, I think it’s one of the greatest experiences a person could ever have.”

Thanks Bill, for your service and for the story.

Because the attendance in Washington was so low, the Board of Trustees decided to try something different in choosing next year’s venue.  We chose five central sites and will let the membership select where they would prefer to go. If you plan to attend next year, please select the site that you would prefer.  If you do not plan to attend, no matter where it is located, please do not vote.  The site with the most votes will be chosen.  If voting, please send your choice to mahanwebmaster@cox.net  or if you do not have a computer, check your choice from the following and mail to:

Richard  Hallowell,    9339 Praful Ct.      Santee, CA 92071

CHICAGO______     ST. LOUIS_____   NASHVILLE_____   MOBILE_____     NEW ORLEANS______

Some of the tour options are as follows:

CHICAGO,  IL                                                                                                                                                                           

 CANTIGNY  PARK.   CHICAGO CITY TOUR,  NAVY PIER & LUNCHEON CRUISE,  GREAT LAKES NAVAL STATION TOUR, MUSEUM & LUNCH,  CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE SIGHTSEEING CRUISE,  MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY & U-BOAT EXHIBIT.                                                                                                                                           

Hotel rates are in the low $100 in Chicago but only at airport hotels where there is not a lot around the hotel to do, and not very picturesque either.  Downtown is very high.

ST LOUIS, MO.

PADDLEWHEEL  DINNER CRUISE,  ST. LOUIS  CITY,  GRANT’S FARM TOUR,  ANHIEUSER-BUSCH BREWERY TOUR,  HISTORIC ST. CHARLES,  MISSOURI HISTORY MUSEUM.

Hotel rate of $109 -$119 including breakfast,  $99 without.  The hotel offers comp airport shuttle and is connected to a large shopping/restaurant/entertainment complex.

NASHVILLE

GENERAL  JACKSON LUNCH CRUISE,  NASHVILLE CITY TOUR,  GRAND OLE OPHY Tuesday and Friday nights only,  THE HERMITAGE-HOME & MUSEUM OF PRESIDENT ANDREW JACKSON.  JACK DANIELS DISTILLERY & LYNCHBURG TOUR.

Holiday Inn Opryland/Airport and they offer our groups $109 with breakfast, or $99 without.  Comp airport shuttle. 

MOBILE, AL.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AVIATION AT NAS PENSACOLA,  MOBILE CITY  TOUR & FORT CONDE,  USS ALABAMA,  BELLINGRATH HOME & GARDEN TOUR.

Mobile hotels are around $109-$119.  Can’t always get breakfast at that rate.

NEW ORLEANS.  LA.

OAK ALLY PLANTATION  LUNCHEON &TOUR,  NEW ORLEANS CITY TOUR,  STEAMBOAT DINNER CRUISE,  NATIONAL WWII MUSEUM TOUR & LUNCH.

New Orleans downtown/French Quarter is getting better with rates, around $99-$109 but the parking is very expensive and cannot be negotiated.  Expect $25-$30 per night for self parking.  Airport hotels are better with comp parking and hotel rates at $109-$119 with breakfast.

The webmaster sent me this kind of amusing story that was sent to him by Tom Williams RM2  1970-1973.

It was lunch and I was mostly the CWO (communications watch officer) on the late shift in the radio shack so I didn’t get a lot of lunches.  I got my tray, food and sat down and the 1mc goes “BATTLE STATIONS…THIS IS NOT A DRILL.”  I had never heard this message before,  I was worried…I ran out a hatch to the main deck, fastest way to radio central, and saw 2 maybe 3 bombs hit the water between us and our DDG escort.  I get up to radio and thought,  WHOW…the VC don’t really have an air force.  Turns out some F-4s were dropping ordinance to land clean on the carrier. No damage done and don’t think I ever got lunch.

We have several new members since the last newsletter.  Let me say a hearty welcome aboard to them.

Samuel F Shock  GMM3  DDG 42    85-87            Rick Videkovich   SN  DLG 11    71-73            Donald R Keeslar   BT1   DDG 42     79-81          

James S. Scott   GSM2   DDG 72     98-02            Edwin J Kozinski  E-4  DDG 42   83-85           John Fullwood  BT3   DLG 11   60-63

Bryon Hoogstraat  OS2   DDG 42    86-88             Travis Lansberry   ET2,  DLG 11   60-62         Harry Marino   E5    DDG 42   85-87

I also received word that the following shipmates were unable to answer roll call:  

Stanley L. Ulrich CS3 DLG 11,   29 June 2008        Ray A. Weiss   BMCM  DLG 11, 3 January 2009   Michael G. Fleming SN 1/C  DD 364,  20 January 2010

Jack C. Page  FN 1/C DD 364, 26 February 2010   Robert  Renney  DLG 11  5 March 2010                Bruce “Dukes” White  BM2  DLG 42, 1 May 2010

A. O. Watts  SC1  DD 364, 8 May 2010                   David Ortmeyer  RD1 DLG 11,   16 Aug 2010        Tabitha  Morehouse  BM2   DDG 72,  24 Sept  2010

Edward Petrocy  IC2   DLG 11, 11 Nov 2010          Dennis  Schneider  MSC  DDG 42, 21 Dec 09

Also let me tell you that I got my annual Christmas card from David Bradford of the 364.  It was good to hear from him.  All you 364 people should get in touch with David.  If I remember rightly he is around 95 years young.

I also had a chance to visit with Harold and Grace Ojala when I went to Seattle to visit my daughter this past summer.  They are both doing well but Harold is not really up to making long trips.

I tried to get in touch with Clayton Neuindorf in Everett WA while I was there but found out that he had been moved to a nursing home and that is all the information his son would give me.                                                                                                                                                                   

 Let me call your attention to all members, new and old, of the merchandise in the ship’s store.   Contact Russ Owens at 414-425-9213 or 12314 Woods Rd.  Franklin, WI  53132-1369 to get your association Polo Shirts, Ships’ Caps, Coffee Mugs, Bumper stickers, T-shirts, etc.  

Once again it is that time of the year when we have to hold out our hands for association donations.  I am sure that all members know we are a non-profit organization and that we operate on donations.  As a non-profit we cannot charge dues.  If we did and someone didn’t pay, we would have to drop them from the rolls and Lord knows we don’t want to lose any of our members.  Contributions may be sent to our Treasurer,    Gary White,   10534 Rippling Fields Dr.  Houston Tex.     77064-7823.

Let me once again ask that anyone who can receive the newsletter by e-mail please let us know as the postage of snail mail is getting awfully expensive. Not only do we have to pay to send it but must also pay when it is returned.   Also, if you have a change of address, make sure that you inform either myself or the webmaster so that we can make the changes on the directory and the mailing list.

Now a message from our Sec/Treasurer:

First, I would like to thank all of our shipmates and associates for their continuing membership in the USS MAHAN Association. Without your support, carrying out the mission of our organization and my task as Secretary-Treasurer would be impossible.

Second, as most of you know, our association depends on the voluntary donations of the members to fund our scholarship with the Navy League, publish our newsletters and maintain our website and Facebook page. We do not have dues and we do not remove members for failing to donate on an annual basis. That said; please consider donating Fifteen Dollars ($15) to your association this year so we can continue to improve. That’s a dollar and a quarter a month to help keep the best ships’ association, your association, functioning as we all want it to. All donations can be made payable to USS MAHAN Association and sent to:

USS MAHAN Association         10534 Rippling Fields Dr.         Houston, TX 77064-4298

Finally, here are some highlights from the 2010 ship’s reunion held in Alexandria, Virginia last October:

From July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010, the association added fifty (50) new members, 17 from DLG-11, 28 from DDG-42 and 5 from DDG-72.

The loss of ten members and associates was reported in the Necrology.

The association finished the year in the black financially, although donations declined by 35% for the fiscal year.

The ship’s store continued to have good sales of MAHAN merchandise and added some new items to the inventory including an excellent coffee mug.

Trustees Emmett, Heili and Hallowell were re-elected to three year terms by the members attending the reunion and Leo Shortsleeve (DDG-42) was elected to a three year term to replace out-going Trustee Harold Ojala (DD-364). Vice President Owens was re-appointed to a one year term.                                                                                                                    

The recipient of the 2009-12 scholarship is enrolled as a cadet at the U S Merchant Marine Academy in New York.

The trustees selected several locations for the 2011 and 2012 reunions that will be published to allow the membership an opportunity to decide. The 2011 locations are central US and the 2012 locations are west coast in keeping with the tradition of alternating coasts every three years.

I hope everyone has a safe, happy and prosperous 2011. See you at the next reunion.

Gary White, DLG-11                                                                                                                                          Secretary-Treasurer

I guess that just about wraps it up for the year of 2010.  I hope that 2011 finds you all well and in good health and may God bless you all.  May each and every one of us say a prayer for our men and women in uniform that they are kept safe and soon return home to their loved ones.

Smooth sailing to all

Jerry