USS Turner Joy (DD-951) Newsletter The 21MC

Editor: email: [email protected] Feb 28, 2018 Dianne Morgan, Editor

REUNION 2018 Richard E. Asche, President Turner Joy Reunion Group At present, the dates selected for our next reunion to be held in Bremerton, WA are Thursday, August 23, thru Saturday, August 25, 2018, with early arrivals on the 22nd if you choose. We have made arrangements for a maximum number of rooms at The Hampton Inn nearby the ship. As in the past, we also booked 50 rooms at The Fairfield Inn a few blocks away. It is still six months away, but many of you regulars will soon know if you plan to attend. The sooner we know, the better chance we have of securing the necessary number of rooms at nearby hotels, The nearby Hampton Inn at the foot of the boardwalk, has already advised that they are booking out two [2] years in advance. Even a rough head count will help in planning not only the number of rooms, but activities as well. Please make your thoughts and ideas known to Tod Hale or Dick Asche. Tod Hale (Reunion Coordinator) will have the assistance of Chad James, Jim Chester and David Nitsch for any and all ideas and suggestions that may arise. We are trying to plan a reunion that gives everyone a bit of rest between events, with most activities a short walk from our hotels. See the proposed Plan of the Day below for particulars. If you have further activities that you would like to participate in, please let us know soon. We want this reunion to be our Gala Event and want to assure you that your visit to the Pacific Northwest is a memorable one. So start planning now. The dates are now set in stone. They are August 23-25, 2018 in Bremerton, WA on board our Lady, USS Turner Joy (DD-951). Thank you. See you in August 2018.

ADDITIONAL SHIPMATE ATTENDEES Shipmates, we are approaching the time where attendance numbers will be needed to arrange for various on- site activities; meals, room sizes for meetings and possibly putting together an excursion to local attractions. A day trip to via the ferry system, visit Americas Car Museum in Tacoma or taking in the Olympic Peninsula might be an option for those who wish to get out. The last reunion in Bremerton in 2014 some shipmates opted to take an Alaskan Cruise following our reunion. Those who did so had a very enjoyable time. Let us know if you are interested in this cruise (or any other) and necessary arrangements will be made with a local travel agent At present, we have roughly 25-30 names of those who are either regular attendees or first timers. If you plan to attend, we encourage all who read our newsletter to come, and if you have not done so already, please contact Dick Asche or Tod Hale with a short note. We are hoping for a total of 100 shipmates and family.

Tod Hale. Tele 541-840-0492, ([email protected]) Dick Asche Tele 360-871-9482, ([email protected])

USS Turner Joy Reunion August 23-25, 2018, Bremerton, WA Richard E. Asche, LT (SC), USN, OB 63-64, Port Orchard, WA ([email protected]) and Tod Hale, STG3, OB 66-69, Central Point, OR ([email protected]).

Planning for our next reunion in Bremerton, WA on the above dates is underway full force! Please mark them on your calendar. Hotel reservations have been made at the Hampton Inn (a very nice place) at the foot of the pier (360-405-0200) where our proud lady is berthed. We also have rooms available at the Fairfield Inn (also a very nice place) (360-377-2111) about one block from the Hampton Inn. (50 rooms each hotel). We anticipate having 150-175 folks attend this 2018 Reunion. The quoted room rate is $159/night. During past reunions your Reunion Group reimbursed the hotel $20.00 each night of your stay. This year our reunion committee will contribute $30.00 each night of your stay. Airport shuttle service will be provided by Bremerton-Kitsap Airporter, Inc. with hourly service from SeaTac Airport from Door 00 near Carousel #1 beginning at 4:20AM and ending at 12:45AM the next day. The shuttle will take you to either hotel so there should be no need to rent a car unless you wish to explore the area on your own. Some activities that are planned for the three-day reunion include: (1) Icebreaker reception on Thursday evening at the Conference Center, a stone’s throw from the hotel, (2) Free-time – ferry to Seattle and tour the area or tour Americas Car Museum in Tacoma. (3) Salmon Bake onboard the TJ and hosted by the BHSA on Friday evening. (4) Saturday, Memorial Service early morning and tour of all spaces in TJ including a catered lunch. (5) Business meeting at the Kitsap Room at the Hampton Inn. (6) The banquet on Saturday evening at the Conference Center. (7) Other events are being investigated for Friday morning - select your choice using the Registration Form. These include Americas Car Museum, Tacoma or tour Downtown Seattle. (8) Our banquet speaker TBD soon.

USS TURNER JOY (DD-951) REUNION 2018 BREMERTON, WA

PLAN OF THE DAY -- August 23-25, 2018 Thursday, 23 August 2018 1200-1800 Room Check-In, Hampton Inn or Fairfield Inn, 1200-1800 Shipmate Check-in/Register, Kitsap Room/Hospitality Room, Hampton Inn. 1800-2100 Icebreaker/Cocktail Hour w/heavy hors d’oeuvres, Bremerton Convention Center.

Friday, 24 August 2018 0900-1600 Tentative Tours – Inlet Cruise, Bus tour Seattle. 0900-1600 Free Time- Hospitality Room (open all day) for visiting and sharing experiences aboard ship or selected tours. 1600-2100 Salmon Bake aboard TJ provided by BHSA (beer and wine provided w/Turner Joy labels).

Saturday, 25 August 2018 1000-1130 Memorial Service on-board USS Turner Joy 1200-1330 Catered Lunch on-board Turner Joy 1400-1530 Business Meeting (Kitsap Room, Hampton Inn) 1800-2100 Banquet, Bremerton Convention Center

Sunday, 26 August 2018 0800-1200 Check out Hampton Inn or Fairfield Inn

2018 Reunion Reservation Form AUGUST 23-25, 2018 HOTEL RESERVATIONS TO THE HAMPTON INN OR FAIRFIELD INN WHEN MAKING RESERVATIONS - TELL THEM “TURNER JOY GROUP”

NAME(S)______PHONE #______

Address______Email ______

CITY______STATE______ZIP______

YOUR GUEST’S FULL NAME ______

YEARS YOU SERVED ON-BOARD: 19_____ TO 19______, RANK/RATE______Thursday, August 23, 2018 1800-2100 ICEBREAKER/RECEPTION - OPEN BAR IN CONFERENCE CENTER @ $25.00/PERSON **I WILL ATTEND______I WILL BRING _____GUEST(S). TOTAL @ $25 EA.= ______

Friday, August 24, 2018

1100-1600 TOUR: TBD **I WILL ATTEND_____ I WILL BRING______GUEST(S ) TOTAL @ TBD = ______

1600-2100 SALMON BAKE O/B TURNER JOY. **I WILL ATTEND____ _ I WILL BRING______GUEST(S). TOTAL @$35=______

Saturday, August 25, 2018

1200-1330 CATERED LUNCH O/B USS TURNER JOY (DD-951). ** I WILL ATTEND_____ I WILL BRING______GUEST(S). TOTAL @ $15.= ______

1800-2100 BANQUET BREMERTON CONVENTION CENTER **I WILL ATTEND_____ I WILL BRING______GUEST(S). TOTAL @ $55.00=______

GRAND TOTAL ======

PLEASE COMPLETE FORM AND RETURN BEFORE AUG. 1, 2018. ENCLOSE CHECK AND MAIL TO: USS TURNER JOY (DD-951) REUNION GROUP, 2599 ALASKA AVE. E, PORT ORCHARD, WA 98366

SHIPMATE COMMENTS

Richard Petersen, 72-75, MS2, Penn Yan, NY Many wonderful memories. Wish I could turn back time and do it all again.

Richard E. Asche, 63-64, LT (SC), Port Orchard, WA The Reunion Group wishes to extend our thanks to the generosity of two shipmates. They are Roger Tetrault (66-69) and Dwight Robanske (65-67) who together donated a total of $700.00.

Joseph M. Schoennauer, MS2, 79-81, Lagrande, CA I had a nice visit to the ship this October and it was nice to see the ship and recall the many memories in “my” galley. Thanks for the newsletter--I enjoy it.

Daniel L. Talbott, FT2, 59-60, Midlothian, TX My wife Eugenia passed away August 29, 2017. She battled pulmonary fibrosis for three years. Doctors don’t know what causes it or how to stop it. Some cancers can be put in remission but they can’t stop this. Eugenia was just as at ease talking with an Admiral and his wife as she was talking to a Seaman and his wife, but claimed to be bashful. If my kidneys hold out, I plan to see you in Bremerton in August.

Parker H. Dinwiddie, ENS, 81-82, Bartlett, TN Proud to have been a member of the crew for TJ’s final WESTPAC deployment and decommissioning in 1982. I still have the Stars & Stripes newspaper reporting the Turner Joy and Lynde McCormick taking fire from pirate ships while transiting from Thailand to the . Looking forward to attending the 2018 Reunion!

David L. Leonhardt, STG2, 63-66, Waskish, MN I watched the PBS documentary on the war. For the most part it seemed quite accurate and very informative. They sure didn’t give Turner Joy much credit for being very smart or aware of what was really happening!

Howard V. Shores, CDR, 74-76, Las Vegas, NV Thanks for all your work in coordinating the Reunion Group. Hopefully we will be able to make the upcoming reunion.

Mike Austin, LCDR, 74-78, Sheperdstown, WV I still remember my days on T.J. fondly. I conduct current event discussions on the Shepherd University campus and often use the superb TJ crew during the final month of the of offering leadership and positive morale. I regret that our role didn’t have more visibility in the Ken Burns series on Vietnam. I still plan to write about these final months.

Mike Stockreiter, LTJG, 64-66, Glenview, IL Look forward to coming reunion in August 2018

Don Proffit, 69-71, RD2, Roanoke, VA Hope to make it to the 2018 Reunion on the TJ. I had some good times on board. Richard E. Asche, 63-64, LT(SC), Port Orchard, WA Bremerton Symphony Orchestra, “Anchors Aweigh” as conducted by Maestro Richard Asche, LCDR (SC) Ret.. Enjoy” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ErEtC5vfB4&feature=youtu.be

Richard E. Asche, 63-64, LT(SC) Port Orchard WA Obituary Notice: On January 8, 2018 acclaimed astronaut, Capt. John Young, USN, the first person to fly six times from earth to space and the ninth to walk on the moon died at 87. The following was my “Liberty Call” with astronaut John Young, and is a true “Sea story”:

In the early 70s, I had been sent TAD to NAS Lake, for a brief visit. Upon our arrival we were met by the base XO, who happened to be my former next door neighbor from NCBC Port Hueneme, CA. He advised my travel companion and I of a reception to be held that evening for John Young and another astronaut and asked if we’d like to attend. We quickly accepted. At the conclusion of the reception John Young inquired if there was some place off base where we could have a couple night caps before turning in. A local “gin mill” or “honkey tonk” was suggested nearby where there is dancing and entertainment. The word was passed to the establishment that we would arrive, so an announcement was made prior to our arrival. When we arrived we were swamped at the door with eager patrons (mostly women) seeking autographs. When asked my name, I could think only of Scott Carpenter. Consequently, if you know of any Californian who possesses a Scott Carpenter autograph, it’s probably phony as hell! Astronaut John Young you might recall later asserted that on some of his space voyages he would observe alien craft alongside his capsule. Other astronauts claimed likewise. He was a very interesting man and it was certainly a memorable visit to China Lake in my naval history. He later became the NASA Chief of the Astronauts.

TAPS Denice Hood reported that her father Shipmate Charles A. Diskin passed away on July 9, 2017.

Intelligence Test ......

So, you might have a dark sense of humor or failed your driver’s test—all signs of intelligence, according to science. But how smart are you, really? The Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT), also known as the world’s shortest IQ test, claims it only takes three questions to tell if you’re a genius. Developed in 2005 by Princeton psychologist Shane Frederick, the quiz assesses your ability to process information slowly and rationally, rather than jumping to quick conclusions. “In order to succeed in the CRT, you must spend time reflecting on your answer and question your intuitive response,” IFL Science explains. Before you get started, we’ll give you a quick hint: the questions might not be as easy as they first seem. A 2003 study found that students attending some of the nation’s most prestigious universities (including Harvard and Yale) failed to get all three of these questions correct; only 17 percent received a perfect score. Think you have what it takes? Give it a shot! Here are the three questions: 1. A bat and a ball cost $1.10 in total. The bat costs $1 more than the ball. How much does the ball cost? 2. If it takes 5 machines 5 minutes to make 5 widgets, how long would it take 100 machines to make 100 widgets? 3. In a lake, there is a patch of lily pads. Every day, the patch doubles in size. If it takes 48 days for the patch to cover the entire lake, how long would it take for the patch to cover half of the lake? Check out the answers below, and best of luck! By the way, these weird habits prove you’re smarter than most, too.

Answers To Intelligence Test

1. $0.05. If you guessed 10 cents, you’re not alone. However, if that were the case, the bat would cost $1.20—not $1.10. On the other hand, purchasing a 5 cent ball and a bat priced at $1.05 (which is $1 more expensive than 5 cents) would total $1.10, instead.

2. 5 minutes. Although you might have answered 100 minutes, the actual time is a little less than that. Since the question reveals that it would take 5 minutes for 1 widget machine to make 1 widget, you can determine that it would take 5 minutes for 100 widget machines to make 100 widgets.

3. 47 days. At first, your gut might tell you it would take 24 days. But remember: Since the area of the lake covered in lily pads doubles every day, a patch that covers half the lake would fully cover it in just one day. Subtract one day from 48 days, and what do you get? 47 days.

DOUG HEGDAHL, POW, HANOI HILTON Editors Note: The Reunion Group will attempt to secure Doug Hegdahl as our possible Reunion 2018 Guest Speaker.

Doug Hegdahl was only 20-years-old when he decided to join the US Navy. He just wanted to explore and see the world, however, his adventure turned out to be a nightmare. In the 1960s, the Vietnam War was raging. His country called and Hegdahl answered. He joined the US Navy in 1966 and at first, he became a postal clerk, before being stationed on the USS Canberra as an ammunition handler in 1967. One night in the Gulf of Tonkin, Hegdahl, trying to get a better view, was knocked overboard by blasts from the Canberra‘s guns. He swam for about 5 hours before he was found by fishermen and turned over to the North Vietnamese Forces. No one was aware, and no one alerted the ship’s captain to Hegdahl’s disappearance. This is where his nightmare begins, but also, where a new hero was born. Heghdal was brought to the infamous Hỏa Lò Prison, nicknamed the “Hanoi Hilton,” where many American POWs were detained and tortured. His captors believed that he was an agent or commando, mostly because his story about being blown overboard wasn’t convincing enough for them. Surprisingly, Heghdal reacted to his situation in a very unique way; by pretending to be an illiterate fool. Using his accent and his country manners to be more convincing, he succeeded and the Vietnamese even started calling him “The incredibly stupid one.” He was tortured for few more days before his captors finally were convinced that he was nothing more but an illiterate US Navy apprentice. He even succeeded in convincing them that he couldn’t read, so they assigned someone to teach him how to read. In the end, they concluded that he was too stupid to learn how to read and they gave up. “The incredibly stupid one” had probably the best memory of anyone in the prison, and he knew how to use it. Doug Hegdahl was able to memorize the names, other personal information, and even capture dates and methods of the capture of some 256 fellow POWs, all to the tune of the old nursery rhyme “Old McDonald Had a Farm”. His exceptional memory wasn’t his only skill, either. He sabotaged 5 trucks by putting dirt in the gas tanks, and on one occasion convinced his captors that he was in a need of glasses. When they took him to the city of Hanoi, he memorized the route from the prison to the city. The North Vietnamese considered Heghdal worthless as a means of getting information about U.S. maneuvers, and Hegdahl was pressured to take early release. He refused and said that he would wait in solidarity for every one of his POW’s to be released. His fellow captives told him to go. The information that Doug memorized proved to be very valuable and he was sent to Paris to confront the North Vietnamese Peace Delegation on the conditions, torture, and brutalities in the prisons. He might never have fired a gun against the Vietnamese, but his story blows our minds even today.

2 0 18--2 01__ USS T U R N E R J O Y M E M B E R S H I P

NAME______DATE______

TELE (HOME)______TELE (WORK/CELL)______

E-MAIL______FIRST NAME OF SPOUSE______

YOUR STREET ADDRESS______

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CITY______STATE______ZIP______

DATES SERVED ON BOARD______RANK/RATING ON TJ______

YEARS OF ACTIVE DUTY______RETIRED?_____RETIRED RANK/RATING______

PRESENT OCCUPATION/EMPLOYER______

DO YOU HAVE COMMENTS FOR POSSIBLE INCLUSION IN NEWSLETTER? ______

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______• Donations to the Turner Joy Historic Ship Preservation Project should be mailed to USS Turner Joy, 300 Washington Beach Blvd, Bremerton, WA 98337, made payable to BHSA and shown in the “For” line: TJ Sailors.

• Annual dues are $20.00 per year (Jan-Dec.’18). Membership dues (Jan-Dec.) may be paid in advance at the rate of $20.00 per year. Your dues subsidize all reunion activities. Additional amounts paid (in $20.00 increments) will be credited to future year membership dues. Thus, a $100.00 payment for instance, will pay your annual dues through 2022. The year that your dues are “paid to” is indicated next to your name on the mailing label of this newsletter. No date next to your name indicates that your dues have not been paid. If your dues are paid up and if you so desire, please return this form for change of address or for your comments for future newsletters.

Please send this application with your check payable to: USS TURNER JOY REUNION GROUP 2599 ALASKA AVE. EAST, PORT ORCHARD, WA 98366