Volume 9, No. 3
May-June 1999
Dick Rohde, editor
TABLE OF CONTENTS (excerpted)
MORE RECOGNITION FOR CAPTAIN COPELAND
On May 1, 1999, Copeland Hall was dedicated at the Naval Reserve Center in Tacoma, Washington named after our Commanding Officer, Rear Admiral Robert W. Copeland. Harriet Copeland performed the Ribbon Cutting for the $2.2 million, 15,000 square foot facility named for her late husband. This multi-use building will be used by Naval Reservists for many years to come. Occupying the building will be Naval Cargo Handling Battalion 5 which throughout its 25 year history has provided outstanding support to operating forces across the globe including Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.
CDR D. Van Badzik contacted me via email on April 25th to inform me that he had just received approval to name the building after RADM Copeland. He apologized for the short notice but wanted to invite any interested members of our association to attend, recognizing that it would indeed be difficult to arrange transportation, etc., with such short notice. I immediately called Associate Member Joe Fortier, who served with our Captain on other ships and found that he knew of the honor since he is a member of the Naval Reserve in Tacoma. I knew that our other two members who live in Washington State, Bud & Lil Comet and Jack & Ruth Yusen were in Hawaii with Leah Felt in a condominium on the island of Kauai.
Through Whit's children, I was able to get the telephone number where they were staying. I knew that Jack and Ruth were due back in the States on Friday, April 30th and hoped that perhaps Jack would be able to attend the dedication to represent our Association. Jack was able to make the dedication and appeared on the program. According to LCDR Van Badzik, "Jack made quite the impression during the ceremony. His short but heartfelt speech was dignified and meaningful. It was a pleasure to have him here."
LCDR Van Badzik has also invited us to visit Copeland Hall any time and suggested that we might wish to hold a future reunion in Tacoma and spend all or part of our time in "this great facility". He also told me that he was sure that Mr. Yusen would agree that they have a top notch building including a state of the art lecture hall/auditorium.
We thank LCDR Van Badzik, the Commanding Officer of the Naval Reserve Center, Tacoma, for all of his efforts in having this building named after our Captain Copeland.
As of today, June 7, reservations for our reunion have been received from the following: Bob & Billie LeClercq, Tom Stevenson, Vince & Fran Goodrich and Dick & Helen Rohde. I know that we will have a great time in San Diego, but it would be nice if I would hear from a few more of you. Jack & Ruth Yusen will be there and I hear that Leah Felt is planning on joining us as is Harriet Copeland. John Wukovits. and Henry Doscher will also be with us.
By the time that you receive this NEWSLETTER, there will only be four months until the reunion. Please, if you are planning to attend, send in your reservation form. If you want to wait a while before sending in the check, that is fine. Unfortunately, I cannot offer the possibility of your charging your reservation. As you well know, we must make commitments to those who are going to provide the services for our reunion, and we need to know approximately how many are going to attend.
For some of the newer members of our family, this will be an excellent opportunity for you to meet the shipmates of your father or brother or uncle who served on our ship. We will welcome you with open arms and try to answer some of the questions that have been with you through the years. Please send in your reservation form. We want to see you in San Diego.
Remember, there will probably not be many more opportunities for us all to get together. We'll be looking for you in San Diego on October 2, 1999! Send that reservation form in today.
Since our website went on the Internet, there have been over 1000 "visits" from persons who took a look at our message. While certainly some are repeats from our members, there are a lot of people out there who have checked out just what we have to say.
For those of you who are not yet involved with computers, I thought that you might be interested in knowing just what is there. There are copies of the Gismo and articles from the NEWSLETTER. The program for our reunion is listed. There is a list of the crew of DE 413 as of October 25, 1944. There is a discussion area where you can list a topic, or question and hopefully get some answers. There are "links" to other websites of interest and much more. If you do not have a computer, ask a neighbor or family member to bring up the website so that you can view it. I think that you will be very pleased.
Following is an editorial from the Bradford (Pa) Era, dated May 31, 1999.
"It was some time ago now that Vince Goodrich was approached about the worn-out World War I memorial in Veterans Square, a once-proud marker that had been dismantled by vandals over the years.
The forlorn and empty kiosk would be an ideal place for advertising, someone had suggested to Goodrich. "Would the veterans mind?" he was asked.
The more I thought about it, the more angry I got," Goodrich reports.
Himself a naval combat veteran of World War II and longtime Naval Reserve officer, he certainly understood that this tribute to World War I vets deserved better than to be turned into a swap sheet on the square.
And so he began a project that culminates today with the rededication not just of the "new" monument, which also includes World War II veterans, but of Veterans Square itself.
Much had been made in recent months of the younger generation "discovering" the sacrifices made by our men and women in World War II. No doubt, that process was spurred by such movies as "Saving Private Ryan" and others.
For many, however, there was no need to rediscover the enormous sacrifices made by a generation of Americans who have learned the hard way how a country earns its freedom. They lived it.
Goodrich himself was a sonarman on the destroyer escort U.S.S. Samuel B. Roberts, which was part of a little task force - Taffy 3 - that challenged a mighty Japanese armada during the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944. The Roberts, which slugged it out with much larger enemy ships in a desperate attempt to protect U.S. landings on the Philippine island of Leyte, was sunk. But in the end her sacrifice during the largest naval battle ever fought - and the last in which old-style warships hammered away at each other with their guns - helped turn the Japanese from destroying the U.S. beachhead.
Appropriately, it was on May 13 of this year that Goodrich learned he had raised enough money to complete the project - exactly 80 years to the day after the hexagonal monument was first dedicated.
It was just this past April when Goodrich told The Era that he was still $1,800 short of his $2,200 goal. But then things really got rolling, and Goodrich received contributions from a variety of individuals. And Wal-Mart in Allegany, N.Y. pledged to match $500 for the project. From there an anonymous donor stepped forward and the project went from the drawing board to reality.
The names of those killed in the two wars takes up four panels of the marker and the other two sides house grave markers from the 10 conflicts in which the United States has been involved. A pewter plate to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Pennsylvania infantry, and a dedication to all veterans of all military services.
May we suggest an addition?
It seems entirely appropriate that another plaque be added, one calling attention to the untiring effort of Goodrich and his assistants to restore the memorial.
Certainly a man who honored the value of America's true heroes over a trivial advertising campaign deserves that much.
When the memorial and square are rededicated today, we hope the town turns out to venerate the memory of these men and women named on the monument - and all veterans - but also to thank Goodrich and his group for a job well done."
Well done Vince, we're proud of you!
On or about May 20th, in Washington, DC, our daughter-in-law Allison Schultz, wife of son Cliff who is our Webmaster, spotted a New Jersey license plate on a blue Ford Taurus which read "Samie B". At least two of our survivors live in New Jersey as I am sure do many crew members of the FFG 58 and the DD 823. It would be fun to find out who the car belongs to without getting involved with the NJ Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Anyone want to step forward?
Reading through Captain Mike Davis' "Tides and Currents" column in their website, I learned the following:
.....They recently completed a month-long maintenance availability and during the ensuing 2 day sea trials, one of the underway watch sections consisted entirely of an enlisted crew from Officer of the Deck to CIC Watch Officer to Engineering Officer of the Watch.
.....Over the next month they will be training midshipmen, giving the prospective naval officers a taste of life at sea.
.....Many activities are planned for not only the crew but for their families as well including a "Day at the Beach"at Virginia Beach, a ship's picnic and a Family Day Cruise to show what the sailors do when the ship sails.
It almost makes you want to reenlist. (Said he with tongue in cheek.)
USS SAN ANTONIO (LPD 17) "Remember The Alamo"
Bob LeClercq sent me some information about a new ship which will not only be named after San Antonio, but will be the first of 12 ships in the Navy's new "San Antonio Class" . This Landing Personnel Dock will be the "Navy's top-of-the-line amphibious vessel for the next millennium" stated then Navy Secretary John Dalton in 1996.
The ships will have landing pads for two helicopters or tilt-rotor aircraft and a rear "well deck" to launch amphibious landing vehicles. It will replace ships that have been in service since the 1970s. The ship designed to carry 363 sailors and 720 Marines will have "sit-up berths" to allow personnel to sit and read, write letters or work on laptop computers. The USS SAN ANTONIO will have two missile launchers and two 30mm cannons on deck; a decoy system to divert enemy missiles; a rear anti-torpedo device; and a degauss system to repel mines and torpedoes that hone in on magnetic fields.
One of the first Navy ships to be built without any urinals, it will have berthing compartments that can accommodate groups of either men or women. The keel will be laid down next year and will be christened in 2001 in New Orleans. Sea trials and delivery is scheduled for 2002. Three sites under consideration for its home are Corpus Christi, New Orleans and Norfolk.
Bob also reported that The George Bush Gallery of the Pacific War will be dedicated at the Nimitz Museum on June 11th by President Bush. He will give us a full report in October.
Sadly, I must report that our friend and faithful member of our association, Leotha C. Wells died peacefully on April 14, 1999 after a lengthy battle with cancer. She is survived by her son Chris Wells.
Leotha was the widow of shipmate Fred Grove, Chief Watertender, who was killed in action when our ship was lost. Leotha became a member and supporter from the start of the Association and had not missed any reunions. We will all hold that memory of Leotha riding "shotgun" on all of our bus trips. Rest in peace, Leotha. We all miss you.
This is in no way intended to be a commercial for this magazine but Don Young send me an email, telling me about the June Issue which has a picture of the USS SLATER (DE 766) on the cover. The story is entitled "Those Amazing Destroyer Escorts of World War II." This story is Part Two and unfortunately, I have not seen Part One. The story of the Battle of Leyte Gulf is included along with a picture of our ship. The caption under the picture says, "The hero-ship USS SAMUEL B. ROBERTS (DE 413)was sunk in a dramatic running battle with the Japanese fleet during the battle of Leyte Gulf…."
The article notes that 15 USN DEs were sunk or became constructive losses in WWII as were 13 lost in the Royal Navy. Thirty-three others were damaged, most as the result of kamikaze strikes. Proper credit is given to the USS ENGLAND (DE 635) which made history by sinking six Japanese submarines in 12 days.
President .......................................... Jack Yusen
Vice President ........................ Dudley Moylan
Co-Treasurer........................... Vince Goodrich
Co-Treasurer .................................. Mel Harden
Directors ...................Those listed above and John Harrington and Dick Rohde
I received a nice email from Bruce. He was browsing the web and found our site. His father served on the NEUENDORF(DE 200) which screened fleet tankers for the Leyte invasion. He has written a book entitled "The Buckley-Class Destroyer Escorts" which will be published by Naval Institute Press and is scheduled to be released at the Slater Museum on June 19 which is DE Day. His book discusses the entire DE program but focuses on the Buckley class.
Letter from Kathy Cronin Gastan
Kathy Cronin Gastan Just received the March-April Newsletter. I would be happy to hear from anyone who has stories to tell about Dad (and knowing Dad I am sure there are many). Feel free to pass on my e-mail address to anyone who cares to correspond. Dad has 2 sisters who are still living and I forwarded my letter to you as well as your response - both of my Aunts were very moved about your recollection of Dad helping you - they were very proud of their Big Brother. I will continue to copy and send your newsletter to them. Can you tell me where I can purchase the book about the Sammy B? Thank you for including us on the newsletter mailing list. I will also send a copy to our son Captain Gregory Gastan - Armor Division, US Army who is currently at a training assignment at Fort Leavenworth, KS - Greg has his computer with him so he can check out the web site. (The modern military). My brother Mike is planning to e-mail you any memorabilia he can locate - he said he knows he has a copy of the Gismo and will look for any photos of interest he might have. I am glad my surfing the net found you and the survivors organization. [email >>Kathy 1162@aol.com<<]
Letter from Gloria and Frank Kupidlowski
Dear Mr. Rohde,
We thank you and Mr. Yusen very much for all the telephone calls, pictures, newsletters and information about the USS SAMUEL B. ROBERTS and the association. It has been very interesting and exciting to learn all about it after so many years. Once again we thank you both.
Thank you and take care, sincerely,
Gloria & Frank Kupidlowski
Hank writes that he enjoys the Newsletter and feels that I have captured Whit's style. (I hope so.) He says that Whit is dearly missed by more than just the SBR survivors and that Whit always made him feel like a friend. He says that Taffy III-wise, he is keeping abreast of the World War II Memorial in Washington. Hank wonders if we are aware that the Satellite D-Day Museum in New Orleans is more Pacific Theater oriented and one large room is dedicated to the Battle for Leyte Gulf. Hank's e-mail address is >>pyz-zaz@mn.uswest.net<<
Vince sent along a very interesting article by Guy Peter Boudreau which was featured in the magazine "Wooden Boat". It seems that some time in 1955, shortly after the "Corvette" CONSTELLATION was transported to Baltimore aboard a Navy Drydock, the then caretakers became convinced, or just decided that the vessel they had was in fact the "Frigate" CONSTELLATION of 1797 built in Baltimore.
According to Boudreau, The "Corvette" CONSTELLATION of 1854, built at Gosport, Virginia is not even physically similar and they had such dramatically different technology and design that any comparison was ludicrous.
The CONSTELLATION has recently undergone a restoration through use of a laminated shell.
Sidney is a former crew member of the USS O'FLAHERTY (DE 340). I got in touch with Sidney through Don Young, and he is responsible for the pictures of the "radio shack" that appear on the website. He has many pictures taken on the ship and has offered to look through for other pictures that we might be interested in.
Mr. Morrow feels that possibly we might have taken their place at Manus Island when they were sent off on another mission. He says that the O'FLAHERTY had been running back and forth between Manus and Eniwetok for several weeks at that time. The BUTLER and RAYMOND had been in the Manus area for several weeks. It appears that the DENNIS was in the Manus area drilling with CVEs in September and October. He just returned from Washington and was checking in the NATIONAL ARCHIVES for deck logs but says that the deck log for the SBR is not there. If anyone wishes to give him some information, contact Dick Rohde.
INFO FROM BUD COMET
On Bud and Lil's return from their Hawaiian vacation with Leah Felt and Ruth and Jack Yusen, Bud sent me copies of some materials that he has had for quite some time. Bud felt that since I was handling the NEWSLETTER and the website, that it made sense for me to have these materials.
I was delighted to receive them and spent many hours reading through what he had sent. Among the items are:
Thank you, Bud, for sending this information to me. I will see that it is properly taken care of and that the information will eventually be on our website so that the next generation of our family will be able to have a better idea of just what went on back in October of 1944.
If you, or anyone else out there has some information, please send it along. Thanks again, Bud.
Following is the list of medals and commendations referred to in the previous column. I know that it is incomplete and would appreciate your letting me know of the omissions or errors.
Alexander, William C. - Bronze Star Medal
Blue, Sam - Bronze Star Medal Letter of Commendation
Burton, William S. - Bronze Star Letter of Commendation
Carr, Paul H.- Silver Star Medal (Posthumously)
Copeland, Robert W.- Navy Cross
Davis, John K. - Bronze Star Medal (Posthumously)
Ferris, Lin S. - Navy and Marine Corps Medal
Goheen Jr., Chalmer J. - Bronze Star Medal
Grove, Frederick A. - Bronze Star Medal
Macon, Shirley R.-Bronze Star Medal(Posthumously)
McCaskill, Jackson R. - Silver Star Medal
Moylan, John D. - Letter of Commendation
Natter, Charles W. - Navy and Marine Corps Medal
Roberts, Jr., Everett E. - Legion of Merit
Rozzelle, John T. - Navy and Marine Corps Medal
Schaffer, George F. - Bronze Star Medal
Stansberry, Gilbert J. - Silver Star(Posthumously)
Stevenson, Jr., Tom - Bronze Star Medal
Stovall, William - Bronze Star Medal(Posthumously)
Tase, Doyle E. - Navy and Marine Corps Medal
Trowbridge, Herbert W.- Silver Star(Posthumously)
Wallace, Cullen - Legion of Merit
Wetherald, Thomas R. - Bronze Star (Posthumously)
I know that there were others, and as I indicated, I am not sure of the source of this material. James Gregory received a Bronze Star (Posthumously), I believe and there may well be others. If you can add to this list or make corrections, please let me know.
I seem to have come to the end of another NEWSLETTER. I ask again that you send me your letters, your thoughts of what you would like to see in this epic work. Tell me about those anniversaries that have happened or are about to happen. What is happening to the grandchildren? One of ours just graduated from the University of Texas and we are certainly proud of her. Write - Write - Write and above all, send in those reservation forms for this next reunion in San Diego. It will be, I'm sure, the best one that we have ever had.
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