USS Stoddard Alumni Newsletter—April 2010 Page 2

Website: www:ussstoddard.org USS STODDARD Date: April 15, 2010 ALUMNI NEWSLETTER

USS STODDARD DD566 WWII * Korea * Vietnam

22nd Reunion - Toms River, New Jersey September 15th– 18th - 2010

Hosts: Bill & Ulla Melyan Quality Inn 815 SR37 West List of Events for the USS Stoddard 22nd Alumni Reunion Toms River, Wednesday, Sept. 15th—Registration in USS Stoddard Hospitality Room New Jersey 08755 Reservations: Thursday, Sept. 16th—Luncheon at Seaview Country Club and Casino Trip USS Stoddard (Slot Voucher for $30.00 — dinner on your own) Alumni Reunion Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, Rate $ 90.00 New Jersey, United States. Famous for its board- (Honored before and walk, casino gambling, sandy beaches, shopping centers, view of the Atlantic Ocean, and as the in- after reunion) spiration for the board game Monopoly. Today, the Breakfast Included Atlantic City Boardwalk is 4.12 miles (6.63 km) Call: long and 60 feet (18 m) wide, reinforced with steel and concrete. The combined length of the Atlantic 1-732-341-2400 City and Ventnor boardwalks is approximately 5.75 miles (9.25 km), currently the world's longest Boardwalk at Atlantic City boardwalk. Inside this issue: Seaview Resort and Spa is a world-class

bayside retreat situated on 670 acres of pristine 2010 Reunion News 2 pinelands in southern New Jersey. It offer 36 holes of Championship golf on two of New Jersey’s oldest Stoddard Years CO’s 3 and most prestigious courses Chaplain—TAPS 6 Seaview Country Club New Members 6 Airport Shuttles: Arrangements have been made for transportation from Secretary’s Report 7 Newark Liberty International Airport and Atlantic City International Airport for shuttle service to the hotel in Toms River. Cost of shuttle service and Ship’s Store (Back Cover) more information to follow in next newsletter.

REUNION REGISTRATION DEADLINE—AUGUST 1st USS Stoddard Alumni Newsletter—April 2010 Page 2

Friday, September 17th The Statue of Liberty, offi- Ellis Island / Statue of Liberty Tours cially titled Lib- erty Enlighten- (Lunch on your own there are concessions at venue) ing the World dedicated on Oc- Ellis Island in tober 28, 1886, New York Harbor is a monument was the gateway for commemorating millions of immi- the centennial of grants to the United the signing of the States as the site of United States the nation's busiest Declaration of immigration station Independence , from 1892 to 1954. given to the Prior to that, the United States by much smaller origi- the people of nal island was the site of Fort Gibson and later a naval France to repre- magazine. Since 1990, restored buildings on the island host sent the friendship between the two countries a museum of immigration run by the National Park Service established during the American Revolution. It as part of Statue of Liberty National Monument. represents a woman wearing a stola, a radiant crown and sandals, trampling a broken chain, carrying a torch in her raised right hand and a tabula ansata, where the date of the Declaration Friday Evening—Poolside BBQ at Hotel of Independence JULY IV MDCCLXXVI is in- (weather permitting) scribed, in her left arm.

PHOTO ID REQUIRED for Ellis Island & Navy Lakehurst Tours

Saturday, September 18th—Hidenburg Crash Site/Museum Tour Cathedral of the Air—USS Stoddard Memorial Service (Lunch on your own)

The Hindenburg disaster took place on Thursday, May 6, 1937, as the German passenger airship LZ 129 Hindenburg caught fire and was destroyed as it was attempting to dock with its mooring mast at the Lakehurst Naval Air Station, which is located adjacent to the borough of Lakehurst, New Jersey. Of the 97 people on board, 35 people died in addition to one fatality on the ground. The disaster was the subject of spectacular newsreel coverage, photographs, and Herbert Morrison's recorded radio eyewitness report from the land- ing field, which was broadcast the next day. The actual cause of the fire remains unknown, although a variety of theories have been put forward for both the cause of ignition and the initial fuel for the ensuing fire. The accident served to shat- ter public confidence in the giant, passenger-carrying rigid airship, and marked the end of the airship era.

The Cathedral of the Air was conceived in the late 1920s by a member of the American Legion, Gill Robb Wilson of Trenton, with ground broken in 1932 for a memorial to the self-sacrifice and devoted service of aviators. This cathedral was built entirely by the AMERICAN LEGION. There were no federal subsidies or grants, and the labor was mostly by volunteers. Eighteen stained-glass windows have been installed through the years commemorating the history of flight in fact and in myth -- from the mighty horse Pegasus and the wax wings of Icarus, to one window honoring Dr. Hugo Eckener, the German pioneer of lighter-than-air aviation. The windows dazzle the eyes. The spec- trum of colors falls on the pews and nondenominational worshippers amid the subdued sounds of prayer.

Saturday Afternoon —Business Meeting after lunch Saturday Evening Banquet — Cash Bar Please remember to bring an item unique to your city or state for the raffle—Thanks! USS Stoddard Alumni Newsletter—April 2010 Page 3

Commanding Officers—Revised April 2010 After the list of Commanding Officers USS Stoddard DD-566 was published in the January Newsletter, several shipmates pointed out that some CDR Horace ―Iron Mike‖ Myers Apr 15 1944 –Dec 1944 names were missing and others were in the CDR George Paul Unmacht Dec 1944 - Feb 18, 1946 wrong order. The source was the CDR Orville (Ollie) Liebschner Feb 18, 1946– June 10, 1946 NavSource, an online web site devoted to LCDR William James Hurst June 10, 1946-July 8, 1946 US Navy Ships including the ship’s Cap- ( Decommissioned Jul 8 1946 - Mar 9 1951 ) tains. I have since checked several sources CDR Eli Thomas Reich Mar 9, 1951 – Apr.17, 1952 and found what I think is the correct order CDR John Baumeister Jr. Apr 17, 1952-1954 and dates. This information has been given CDR John Blount Nelson 1954 - 1955 to NavSource and they are correcting their CDR Jacob Vincent Heimark Sep 1955 - Jan 1957 records. The web site is very interesting, - CDR Claude Lloyd Reeves Jan 1957 - 1958 check it out at www.navsource.org. CDR Robert T. Hanley 1958 – 1960 Submitted by: CDR James Richard Collier 1960 – June 1962 John Rauh SK3 1967-1968. If you find CDR Charles Louis Wall June 1962 – Feb 18, 1964 anything in error or missing, please let me CDR Theodore L. Morgan Feb 18, 1964–June 1965 know. CDR Charles Kenneth Presgrove June 1965 –Oct. 1966 [email protected] or call (573)547-8523 CDR Robert Carhart Conolly II Oct 1966 - Oct 1968 CDR James Ernest Lacy Oct 1968 - Sep 26 1969 ( Decommissioned September 26, 1969 )

CDR Born Boise, Idaho - March 30, 1908 – Deceased October 1977 Horace First CO of USS Stoddard DD-566 (Plank Owner) ―Iron Mike‖ Commissioning April 15, 1944 – December 1944 Myers First CO USS Everett F. Larson DD-830 (Plank Owner) April 1945-1946 CO USS Schley APD-14/DD103 Served Aboard USS Broome DD-210 Served Western Sea Frontier –Responsible for defense of US Pacific Coast Served US Navy June 1926 – January 1957 Awards – Silver Star – Legion of Merit – Bronze Star Medal

Born September 2, 1911 – Deceased February 26, 1988 CDR Graduate US Naval Academy 1933 George Served aboard USS Wichita CA-45 and USS Massachusetts BB-59 Paul CO USS Paul Jones DD-230 Unmacht CO USS Stoddard December 1944 – January 1946 CO USS Waldron DD-699 1948 - May 17 1950 Commander of the USNRRPAT -Rhine River Patrol 1954 CO USS Platte AO-24 Sep 1956 - Nov 1957 Awards – Bronze Star – Gold Star in lieu of second Bronze Star Citation for Solomon Islands Campaign

CDR Born E. Liverpool, Ohio October 7, 1915 Now Resides in Warminster, PA Orville (Ollie) CO USS McLanahan DD-615 1945-1946 Liebschner

CO USS Stoddard Feb. 18, 1946– June 10, 1946

CO USS Forrest Royal DD-872—1950-1951

USS Stoddard Alumni Newsletter—April 2010 Page 4

Born Coalinga, CA July 10, 1918 LCDR Graduate US Naval Academy December 1941 William XO USS Williamsburg PG –56 James USS Stoddard XO -1945-1946 Hurst CO USS Stoddard – June10,1946 – July 8, 1946 XO of USS Sequoia Presidential Yacht Commodore of nine ship squadron – Vietnam Naval War College –Newport, RI CO NROTC Unit at Dartmouth College US Navy Career December 1941 – 1972 Now Resides in Hanover, New Hampshire

CDR Born New York, NY—March 20, 1913 – Deceased November 30, 1999 Eli Graduate US Naval Academy 1935 Thomas Officer original sub USS Sea Lion SS-195 sunk by Japanese 12/10/1941 Reich XO sub USS Stingray SS-186 1942 – XO sub USS Lapon SS-260 43-44 CO new USS Sea Lion II SS-315 which sank Japanese battleship Kongo CO USS Compton DD-705 Jan 1945 – Nov. 1945 CO USS Stoddard Re-Commission March 9, 1951 – April 14, 1952 Asst.Chief Bur. Naval Weapons 1962-1965-Cmd Surface Missile Project Reich Commander Antisubmarine Warfare Group S. E. Asia – Vietnam War Receives Awards – Navy Cross From Navy Cross (3) – Navy Distinguished Service Medal (2) –Legion of Merit Admiral Bronze Star –WWII Victory Medal-US Navy Service – 1935 – Oct. 1973 - Nimitz Retired as Vice Admiral & is Buried in Arlington National Cemetery

CDR Born Pensacola, Florida – June 4, 1912 – Deceased August 1986 John Graduated from US Naval Academy 1936 Baumeister Jr. Prior to WWII he served aboard USS Lexington CV2 & USS Yorktown CV5 During WWII he served aboard USS Enterprise CV6 During WWII he served aboard USS Bon Homme Richard CV31 Served Force Comm. Officer Naval Forces Reyukus Okinawa Campaign CO USS Stoddard April 14, 1952 - 1954

CDR Born Orange, Texas - May 14, 1918 – Deceased February 4, 1981 John Graduated from US Naval Academy 1940 Blount Officer USS Houston CA-30 sunk Battle of Java Straights March 1942 Nelson Japanese prisoner of war 1942-1945 His story is told in the book ”The Ghost That Died At Sunda Strait” POW’s from USS Houston used as slave laborers in SE Asia, some were forced to build the (Death Railway) and the Bridge on the River Kwai. CO USS Porter DD-800 1945-1946 XO of USS Robert L. Wilson DD-847 1951 – 1952 CO USS Stoddard 1954 - 1955 Served US Navy June 1936 – June 1965

CDR Born Montevideo, Minnesota – April 17, 1917 Deceased Feb.15, 2004 Jacob Graduate of US Naval Academy 1940 Vincent Graduate Naval Intelligence in DC Heimark Three Naval Attache assignments -Latin America (Argentina- Uruguay-Mexico) XO of AKA (Attack Cargo Ship) Service Force – Sixth Fleet –home ported in Naples CO USS Stoddard September 1955 – January 1957 CO of USS Arcadia AD-23 April 1962-March 1963 Buried Arlington National Cemetery USS Stoddard Alumni Newsletter—April 2010 Page 5

CDR Born Glendale, South Carolina – April 29, 1918–Deceased Oct. 30, 2002 Claude Lloyd CO USS Stoddard January 1957 – 1958 Reeves Served US Navy June 1938 – May 1962

Only Information Available

Born Butte, Montana – October 20, 1917 – Deceased February 1983 CDR Received Officer Commission-Friday 5th Dec 1941 Robert 1941-1943 Served Submarine Chaser USS PC-466 T. 1943-1945 Served Submarine SS Dempsey DE-26 Hanley 1945 Served Submarine USS Charr SS-328 1953-1954 XO USS Murray DD-576 CO USS Stoddard 1958 – 1960 1963-1968 Staff-COMNAVDISTTHIRTEEN –Seattle 1960-1962 Navy Staff-Pentagon Buried Arlington National Cemetery

NO CDR Served aboard USS Kenneth D. Bailey DD/DDR-713 in 1952 James CO USS Coontz DL-9/DDG-40 PICTURE Richard Collier CO USS Stoddard 1960 –June 4, 1962 AVAILABLE Now living in Bremerton, Washington

Only Information Available

Born Casey County, Kentucky-March 27, 1921–Deceased Mar. 28, 2009 CDR Graduated US Navy Midshipman School- Columbia University-1942 Charles Served aboard USS PC 481-Escorting convoys off North Africa- 1944 Louis CO of USS PC 1588-participated in the invasion of Iwo Jima Wall Director of Naval Officer Procurement, Seattle, Washington – 1947 XO USS Diachenko APD 123-June 1948 CO USS LST 1123- Korean War - XO USS Compton DD-705 Served USS Henderson DD-785—CO USS Burdo APD 133-1957 CO USS Stoddard June 4,1962 – February 18, 1964 Asst. Comptroller of the Navy at the Pentagon Served in US Navy 23 years

Born Rome, Georgia - May 28, 1918 – Deceased October 27, 200 Served USS New Mexico BB-40 & USS Whipple DD-217 Served PTC Squadron 2 (Experimental testing Sonar for ASW craft) CDR Served Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 13 Theodore Served PT31 (Sunk by Japanese but he evaded capture) L. Served USS Trabajador PT Tender (Sunk by Japanese batteries-1942) Morgan Joined 3rd Batt. Fourth Marines-Corregidor –taken prisoner by Japanese Released end of war –Line school Newport-commissioned Lieut. 1950 Served aboard USS Midway CVA-41 & USS Mellette APA-156 XO USS Kenneth D. Bailey DDR-713 & USS Hancock CVA-19 CO –Naval Magazine and Net Depot at Newport, RI Served Headquarters Support Activities –Saigon, Vietnam CO USS Stoddard – February 18, 1964 – June 1965 XO NAD (Naval Ammunition Depot) Bangor-Kitsap County, Washington Served US Navy December 1936 – July 1968 USS Stoddard Alumni Newsletter—April 2010 Page 6

CDR Born December 1, 1924 – Deceased January 6, 2001 Charles Kenneth Served 1951 aboard USS Harry Hubbard DD-748 Presgrove CO USS Stoddard June 1965 – October 1966

Only Information Available

Born Baltimore, Maryland – Nov. 7, 1926 – Deceased Aug. 12, 1997 CDR Graduate US Naval Academy 1948 Robert Served USS Henry W. Tucker DD-875 Carhart Served USS Epperson DD-719 Conolly II CO USS Egret MSC 46 & XO USS Hawkins DD873 CO USS Stoddard October 1966 – October 1968 Staff Commander in Chief, US Naval Forces Eastern Atlantic & Med. President US Naval War College Commander, Sixth Fleet Served US Navy June 1944 – September 1981 – Retired Vice Admiral

CDR Served USS Manchester CL83 James Served USS Ammen DD-527 Ernest CO USS Dunn County LST 742 Lacy XO USS Walker DDE-517 CO USS Stoddard Oct.1968–Sept. 26, 1969 De-Commissioning CO USS Bausell DD-845 Instructor NROTC – Villanova University Staff Fourteenth Naval District Served Bureau of Naval Personnel

tommy brant, acting chaplain… The Sailor’s Creed TAPS... I am a United States Sailor. I will support and May They Rest In Peace defend the Constitution of the United States of Amer- Carmack, William RD1 52-55 5/31/09 ica, and I will obey the or- Felty, Hugh Gerald SMSN 60-62 5/11/09 der of those appointed Swanton, Leonard H. 51-55 1/27/10 over me. I represent the Warnecke, Barry MM3 66-69 2/02/10 fighting spirit of the Navy, and those who have gone before me to May the Lord our God bless all who served and are defend freedom and democracy around serving in the military and especially those who served the world. I proudly serve my country’s on board USS Stoddard to preserve liberty and freedom Navy combat team with Honor, Courage, in our nation and in the world. And may the Lord our God remember all those whose sacrifice gave this nation and Commitment. I am committed to ex- its greatness, progress and richness. cellence and the fair treatment of all. Amen USS Stoddard Alumni Newsletter—April 2010 Page 7

USS STODDARD DD566 from secretary, WWII * Korea * Vietnam carlene rauh ...

This issue includes a revised list of USS Stoddard DD-566 Commanding Officers. Apparently the information in the last issue was not complete. We heard from several alumni members. The good news is that we found out that the newsletter is read by our members, and we now have a corrected roster. We are including all the information John researched with your help. President: Bill Melyan Because of the cost of the newsletter, if your dues email: [email protected] date on your mail label is 2008, we will no longer mail you the newsletter. It will be available on our web- Secretary: Carlene Rauh email: [email protected] site. We do this to avoid raising the annual dues. The Reunion Registration is enclosed—please note Acting Treasurer: Carlene Rauh email: [email protected] that the deadline for registration is August 1st. Also, there are a couple of the tours that require a Photo Storekeeper: Tommy Brant ID. email: [email protected] Remember the Reunion Raffle. We encourage Acting Chaplain: Tommy Brant everyone to bring something unique from your city or email: [email protected] state. However, keep in mind that some of our members will be flying to the reunion and that will deter- Webmasters: Dan & Roxane Withers email: [email protected] mine what they can bring or take back with them. Also, we are looking for ideas for next year’s reun- Email Coordinator: Bob Hoag email: [email protected] ion— and someone interested in hosting the reunion. Please bring your ideas to our annual meeting. If you Newsletter Editor: Carlene Rauh have any suggestions before our next meeting, please email: [email protected] let us know so we can present them at the meeting.

Ship’s Store: A new order form for the ship’s store WELCOME ABOARD! is included on the back cover of the newsletter. We NEW MEMBERS now have the 4” USS Stoddard patch in stock again for $5.00. There are no shipping charges for the patch. We welcome the following new alumni members since our last newsletter:

**DUES NOTICE** Gonzales, Frank GMG2 66-67 Please check your mailing label to make certain your dues date is correct. The year of your last dues *Lacy, James CDR 68-69 payment is printed above your name. * (Captain During 1969 Decommissioning) If the dues date on your mailing label is 2008, we will be unable to mail you the next newsletter. It is available on our website at www.ussstoddard.org. USS Stoddard Alumni Association 4337 S Hwy 51

Perryville, MO 63775

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Ship’s Store Ship’s TommyBrant 508S.Maish Road 46041Frankfort, IN M L XL XXL XXXL M L XL XXL XXXL M XL XXL XXXL M XL XXL XXXL M L XL XXL XXXL

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USSSTODDARD SHIP’S STORE

*Checkspayable to: USSStoddard Alumni Association Ship to: STREET______CITY______STATE______ZIP______TO: Email: Phone: Item Shirt Golf Shirt Golf Shirt Golf Shirt Golf Shirt Golf Shirt Golf Shirt Golf Shirt Golf Shirt Golf Shirt Golf Sweatshirt Sweatshirt Sweatshirt Sweatshirt Sweatshirt Sweatshirt Sweatshirt Sweatshirt Jacket Jacket Jacket Jacket Jacket Hat StoddardBall StoddardMug Coffee 4”PatchStoddard (shippingincluded)