SBR Survivors’ Ass’n. Newsletter, Vol. 12, No. 1
June 2002

Reunion in Biloxi, Mississippi

Get that calendar out and mark down Tuesday, October 22 to Sunday, October 27. Those are the dates for this year’s reunion and it sounds like Bill Mercer, President of the U.S.S. Johnston/Hoel Ass’n has planned a great time for all of us.

While some details still need to be worked out, present plans are as follow:

Tue 10/22

Arrival and check-in. Get acquainted.

Wed 10/23

Buffet Breakfast and Business Meeting with afternoon and evening free.

Thu 10/24

Bus trip to New Orleans and visit the National D-Day Museum.

Fri 10/25

Bus trip to Mobile, Alabama for visit to USS ALABAMA and Memorial Service.

Sat 10/26

Banquet and Door Prize Drawing.

Sun 10/27

Farewell breakfast for Samuel B. Roberts Survivors’ Association.

Hotel accommodations:

The host hotel is President Broadwater Resort Tower, located at 2110 Beach Blvd., Biloxi, MS 39531. The telephone number is 800 843-7737. The hotel is associated with the President Casino which is located across the street and easily accessible by hotel shuttle. The hotel rate is $52.00 and includes a continental breakfast. Be sure to make your own reservations at the hotel!

The cities of Gulfport and Biloxi are served by the following airlines:

AIRTRAN 800 247-8726

ASA/DELTA 800 282-3424

CONTINENTAL 800 523-3273

NORTHWEST 800 225-2525

SOUTHEAST 800 247-9229

Bus service to the hotel from Gulfport-Biloxi International is available by Coastliner Airport Transportation. The approximate cost per person will be $12 one way or $20 round trip.

If you plan to drive, Biloxi is located between Mobile, Alabama and New Orleans, Louisiana on Interstate Highway 10. More complete directions will be included in the next NEWSLETTER.

More Reunion News

This year’s reunion will last one day longer than Albuquerque. Bill Mercer says that since we will be so close to New Orleans, it would be a shame to miss visiting the “National D-Day Museum. We are scheduled to travel by bus to New Orleans on Thursday, October 24th. The trip will take about one hour. On the following day, Friday the 25th we will travel by bus to Mobile and visit the battleship USS ALABAMA. Our Memorial Service will be conducted aboard the Alabama and we will then have lunch in the Officer’s Ward Room. While on this site, we can tour a submarine, the USS DRUM and also visit the

Aircraft Museum. The trip to Mobile takes about 50 minutes.

The Opening Breakfast and Business Meeting will be on Wednesday morning, October 23rd. Following the business meeting, a speaker has been scheduled, the Cajun humorist Ed Taylor. He spoke to the Hoel/Johnston reunion in Baton

Rouge in 1999 and was very well received.

Following Saturday night’s banquet, the door prize drawing will be held.

On Sunday morning, the Samuel B. Roberts Survivors’ Association will hold our annual Farewell Breakfast.

It sounds like a wonderful time. We hope that you will plan on attending and renewing friendships with our friends from the U.S.S. Johnston/Hoel Association as well as with our own SBR family.

The next NEWSLETTER, in July, will have all the details on the trips, menus, costs and a reservation form. I would urge you to make your hotel reservations now if you are planning to attend. If necessary, they can always be canceled later. It is probably not too early to start looking for bargains if you are planning to fly.

THE REST OF THE STORY

I’m sure that our old friend Paul Harvey would not mind if I borrowed the above from him. So much has gone on since the last NEWSLETTER that I do not know just where to start. On a personal note, Helen has had some setbacks of late and is now facing a cleaning out of her carotid artery to be followed by cataract surgery. Both of these are not earth shaking, but in December she had a serious spike in her blood pressure one evening - 255 over 198. Thank God she did not have a stroke. She had a stent placed in her renal artery and was told that she would have to consider cleaning out her right carotid artery which was 70% blocked. On advice of our surgeon, this was put off. Then in January, she had a bad case of bleeding ulcers. Had to have 2 units of blood ASAP. Seems that some of the medications for the blood pressure problem caused the ulcers. After 36 hours in the emergency room, she was finally admitted to the hospital (no room at the inn). The carotid surgery is scheduled for May 7, about the time that I hope to have this edition at the printer. [webmaster's note: all went well!]

News from the Authors...

from Jim Hornfischer--

Thanks for checking in, and for the opportunity to reach your membership.

The writing is coming along very well -- I've been hard at it almost everyday since the beginning of the year -- and now I'm making some headway on what photos will be included in the book.

In fact, I am writing you from the National Archives, where I'm rooting through America's treasure chest in search of fresh, unseen photos that have not appeared in a book before. Some of them are pretty neat. Roberts-wise, there's not much new to be had, but there is a photo of Mrs. Roberts at the launching. Do you have any information on her, personally? Any correspondence with the association?

In terms of photos, and in view of my last observation, I would like to take this opportunity to ask the Roberts Association's members to consider sending me photos of themselves (circa the 1940's, in uniform or otherwise, aboard the ship or otherwise) to be considered for the book. My editor at Bantam will decide what photos make the cut, so I am able to make no

promises. Nonetheless, as you know (and as my editor knows), it is important to me to give readers a sense of the human dimension to this remarkable war story. Photos contribute to that nicely when they're used well.

I hope the men of the Roberts will be able to dig into their scrapbooks, have their photos reproduced or scanned (no originals please!), and just e-mail them to me at hornfischer@sbcglobal.net, or mail them to me at 2405 Indian Trail, Austin, TX 78703.

Dick, thanks again. I'll look forward to reading your next newsletter.

from John Wukovits

John writes that he is continuing to research the book and has made progress. He had a few other writing projects offered that were too good to pass up at this time. As soon as these projects are completed, perhaps in 8 to 12 months, he will return to the Samuel B. Roberts and devote his full attention to it. He asks that the readers be assured that this book is a

priority of his and that he retains his deep love and desire for our story and that he will return with a vengeance as soon as the previously mentioned projects are completed.

from Marshall Richards

Marshall says that he is continuing to move forward with his writing project. He will be calling as many of you as time permits in he next two months. If possible he will try to visit those in the North East. He says, “Being a first-time writer/author, the process takes a long time but it continues to be an incredible journey.” He concluded by saying, “The

question is not IF the project will be completed, but WHEN.” and thanks us for all of our support.

In a telephone call, Marshall told me that he had met some people in the publishing business who have taken an interest in what he is doing and opened some doors for him. He continues to be very interested and enthusiastic.

Barbara Williams

Barbara continues her work on her book about the “Sammie B”. I have been privileged to see the first chapter and she is doing a real good job. It is being written for young children and is based on our story. More about this later.

Officers and Directors of the Association

Bob LeClercq Chairman

Dudley Moylan Director

Sam Stewart Director

Don Young Director

Vince Goodrich Co-Treasurer

Mel Harden Co-Treasurer

Dick Rohde Newsletter Editor

Mel Harden sent the following Treasurer’s Report to be included in this issue of the NEWSLETTER. By the time you receive this, Mel and Leona will be off on a cruise to Bermuda with their daughter, her husband and his parents. Mel says that they want to see what they missed the last time they were there. He probably also wants to see what Bermuda looks like at night since we were not permitted to be ashore after sunset when we visited on our shakedown cruise.

From Here and There

Suzanne Hartley, our Captain Copeland’s daughter wrote to let us know that her mother, Harriett recently had a severe heart attack. She is now out of the hospital and in a private care home in Gig Harbor with the help of Hospice. Suzie says that despite the not too positive prognosis, her mom continues to be alert and has not lost her appetite for chocolate.

Son Bob Copeland is still in Scottsdale, Arizona and Suzie commutes to Portland to work so they are not so fortunate to be able to spend a lot of time with their mother.

In addition to our prayers and best wishes for our First Lady, please send a card or note to:

Harriett Copeland

3013 Island View Court N.W.

Gig Harbor, WA 98335

I received word of the death of Anne Burton who was the widow of our Gunnery Officer, Bill Burton who died 10 years ago. Anne passed away on November 26, 2001. Some of you will remember the instructions on how to eat lobsters given by Bill Burton in Bath, Maine some years ago.

Thanks Maggie Hayes for the nice note at Christmas time. Things were a bit hectic here and I did not get a chance to reply to a lot of you. Maggie sends best wishes to all and says that she continues to spread word of the DE 413 and the Battle of Leyte Gulf in various schools throughout her area of South Carolina. Keep up the good work Maggie, and I hope that we may see you in Biloxi in October.

Letter to Shipmates of Paul Henry Carr

On Friday, June 7, 2002, at 2:00 p.m. our friend CAPT Ned Bagley will have his retirement ceremony at the Navy Memorial and wishes to invite all shipmates of Paul Carr to attend the ceremony if possible. He plans on talking about “family” and “service” and will specifically discuss the SBR Survivors. Ned and his wife, Catriona, were with us two years ago at our reunion in Washington D.C. Ned was very helpful in making things work. He served as CO of the USS CARR for two years.

I asked him for some background information, and he sent me the following.

“I had the honor to command USS CARR (FFG-52), homeported in Charleston, South Carolina from October 1989 to September 1991. During my tour, CARR participated in the recovery from Hurricane HUGO for which every crewmember was awarded the Humanitarian service Medal for their efforts to restore every damaged home of our shipmates. CARR completed a successful six month deployment to the Arabian Gulf and three very interesting tours in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean in support of counterdrug operations.

I was honored to host several survivors of the USS SAMUEL B. ROBERTS (DE-413) on board when TAFFY-3 had their reunion in Charleston on the ex USS LEXINGTON.

After I completed my tour on CARR, I drove across country to report to the staff of Commander, Carrier Group Three in Alameda, California as Surface Operations Officer on USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN-72). Making arrangements with Peggy Carr Dodd, I stopped in Kahoka, Oklahoma, the hometown of GM3 Paul Henry Carr. Never in my career have other people made me feel so proud. There was a huge crowd standing outside the Checotah Museum when I drove up in my Jeep. Luckily, I was in Trop Whites to meet the Carr sisters. All seven who live there in Oklahoma were waiting to greet me. It was great.”

Please RSVP to Ned at << bayley.miriam@hq.navy.mil >>. Please, some of you shipmates in the DC area, be there to represent those of us who won’t be able to attend.

Thank you, Ned, for your service to our Navy and our Country. You make us all proud. Our best wishes go with you and we hope that your retirement will be everything that you could hope for. Fair winds, friend, and following seas, always.

During the past 4 months, there was not a lot of mail to report on. Via e-mail, I hear from some of you faithfully. Some are full of news and some are filled with fwds of fwds and dire threats of viruses and impending charges for e-mail or IMs or you name it. It is a lot of fun even though there is a lot of repetition. I would appreciate hearing from some of you via snail mail, while we can still afford it. While our treasury is in good shape right now, your dues are always welcome. We have been fortunate in having some large donations, some anonymous. Our thanks to you.

We still have a supply of “The Spirit of the Sammy B” for sale at $10 and there are two shirts available, both XL. Price is $20.50 including shipping. Hats are also available at $11.25 incl. the shipping. Patches are available for $3.00. End of commercial.

So happy to hear from the Comets. Sounds like their last year was a busy one with Bud checking out the facilities of the VA hospital. They had an enjoyable time at a State Park in good old West, by God, Virginia. Quite an honor their son and his wife had in carrying the Olympic Torch through the city of Little Rock, Arkansas.

Don Young has been having some serious times with his battle against Cancer. Chemo-therapy treatments are about to end and I know that he and Gin are happy about that. Send your prayers and wishes and cards to them at PO Box 104, Los Alamos, CA 93440.

Red Harrington.........

A while ago, I e-mailed some of you a report about Red Harrington. I now pass this information on to all of you. The telephone rang back in January and it was Red. He sounded like himself again but is (self admission) still quite ill. He has had some rough times - had heart by-pass surgery as well as surgery on his carotid artery. He is terribly upset about his being separated from his wife, Adelaide, by her children and court orders. Adelaide is in a home with Alzheimer's. Red is able to visit her occasionally and he says that she does recognize his voice. Don’t we all.

Red has strong guilt feelings about his breakup with Adelaide. he realizes that in his pursuit of addresses and information of our fallen shipmates, for the purpose of getting certificates to their families, he neglected her terribly. He feels that this caused her to say things which she later regretted, but which caused the breakup. He is paying for her care. I spoke with him at length. He is happy in the place where he now lives with some other veterans. VA is taking care of his health needs and he is receiving 100% compensation. He has a nephew in the area who drives him to see Adelaide. Red would enjoy hearing from you. His address follows:

John E. “Red” Harrington

North East Community Residence

114 North Main Street

North East, MD 21901-3522

E-mail: Barbaraladybird@aol.com

I have spoken with the woman in charge of the residence. She has about 8 to 9 vets living there and told me that he is unquestion-ably the ruler of the roost. Please drop him a line. I know that he would enjoy hearing from you.

www.de413.org

We have had over 22,350 “hits”.

Navy Memorial

Most of you are familiar with the Navy Memorial and the Navy Memorial Foundation. Some of us are listed in the Navy Log. For some years, they have been raising the funds to list all those killed or missing in action in the Navy Log. There was recently an appeal for funds for that specific purpose. I provided a list of our shipmates who were lost in action several years ago. This past month, our Board of Directors approved our making a donation to this fund in the amount of $900 which represents $10 for each of our shipmates. If you wish to visit the website, the address is: << www.lonesailor.org >>.

In March, Helen and I were in Washington, D.C. visiting our son Cliff and wife Allison. The real reason for the trip was to get acquainted with our new grandson, Ethan. What a guy! While there, we visited the Navy Memorial and saw the new plaque. Also visited a bit with Admiral McKinney

Back in December I received an e-mail from Gary B. Killough who is the oldest son of shipmate Archie Wallace Killough. He reported that his father was deceased. He died of cancer in 1984. Gary says that he was two years old when the ship was sunk but remembers his father talking about his experiences. Those of you with access to a computer can contact Gary at: << coastnc@bellsouth.net >>

A Trip Back in Time - 1957

• "I'll tell you one thing, if things keep going the way they are, it's going to be impossible to buy a week's groceries for $20."

• "Have you seen the new cars coming out next year? It won't be long before $5000 will only buy a used one."

• "If cigarettes keep going up in price, I'm going to quit. A quarter a pack is ridiculous.."

• "Did you hear the post office is thinking about charging a dime just to mail a letter?"

• "If they raise the minimum wage to $1, nobody will be able to hire outside help at the store."

• "When I first started driving, who would have thought gas would someday cost 29 cents a gallon. Guess we'd be better off leaving the car in the garage."

• "Kids today are impossible. Those duck tail hair cuts make it impossible to stay groomed. Next thing you know, boys will be wearing their hair as long as the girls."

• "I'm afraid to send my kids to the movies any more Ever since they let Clark Gable get by with saying 'damn' in 'Gone With The Wind,' it seems every new movie has either "hell" or "damn" in it.

• "I read the other day where some scientist thinks it's possible to put a man on the moon by the end of the of the century.They even have some fellows they call astronauts preparing for it down in Texas."

• "Did you see where some baseball player just signed a contract for $75,000 a year just to play ball? It wouldn't surprise me if someday they'll be making more than the president."

• "I never thought I'd see the day all our kitchen appliances would be electric. They are even making electric typewriters now."

• "It's too bad things are so tough nowadays. I see where a few married women are having to work to make ends meet." "It won't be long before young couples are going to have to hire someone to watch their kids so they can both work."

• "Marriage doesn't mean a thing any more; those Hollywood stars seem to be getting divorced at the drop of a hat."

• "I'm just afraid the Volkswagen car is going to open the door to a whole lot of foreign business."

• "Thank goodness I won't live to see the day when the Government takes half our income in taxes.

• “I sometimes wonder if we are electing the best people to congress."

• "The drive-in restaurant is convenient in nice weather, but I seriously doubt they will ever catch on."

• "There is no sense going to Lincoln or Omaha anymore for a weekend. It costs nearly $15 a night to stay in a hotel."

• "No one can afford to be sick any more; $35 a day in the hospital is too rich for my blood."

• "If they think I'll pay 50 cents for a hair cut, forget it.

Love one another - see you in Biloxi

Richard K. Rohde