MINUTEMAN T H E S O N S O F T H E A M E R I C A N R E V O L U T I O N

VOLUME XXVIII : NUMBER 5 M A Y 2 0 1 9

Tony Shoemehl receives SAR Certificate of Appreciation President’s Notes leadership functions. I thank them as they really help keep the chapter e have good news to report functioning. We are still looking for W from the team working on volunteers to fill several officer and new member applications. They are committee positions. Please give serious successfully working on the large backlog consideration to stepping forward and of applicants, and have completed helping the chapter. Our ancestors several applications. These have been stepped forward to fight for freedom and forwarded to the National Society for independence. We must keep their review and approval. memories alive. As you prepare for your summer Remember, you will have a great activities, please join us for the May opportunity to participate in and enjoy Chapter Meeting (the last one before the the National level activities soon. The summer break). We are scheduled to 129th SAR Annual Congress will be held have a Secret Service Agent who has on July 5 to July 10, 2019, in Costa Mesa, some interesting information to relate on California. This is open to all members, his duty on the White House detail. but you need to register. Take a vacation Recently, the Thomas Jefferson to Southern California, and participate in Chapter has had several Compatriots who the activities. have stepped forward to assume various — Timothy Ernst, President Thomas Jefferson Chapter Hornet was an iron-side wheeled Officers for 2019 steamship which was captured from

Timothy L. Ernst, President the Confederate Navy in 1864, and 32 Monivea Place used by the Union Navy for the Pleasant Hill, CA 94523-2518 Secretary’s Notes (925) 937-0526 remainder of the War Between the [email protected] he Thomas Jefferson States. The sixth Hornet was a yacht Vice President T Chapter had 25 members purchased for use in the Spanish- vacant and guests at its April 20, 2019 American War of 1898, which Stephen R. Renouf, Secretary/Editor regular meeting at the Old Spaghetti defeated a superior force at 16123 Paseo del Campo San Lorenzo, CA 94580-2311 Factory in Concord, California. Manzanillo, Cuba. (510) 397-1762 President Tim Ernst called the The seventh Hornet (CV-8) [email protected] meeting to order, and introduced was the final member of the William E. Rood, Treasurer CASSAR President Derek Brown; Past Yorktown-class aircraft carriers, with 2107 Dunblane Court Walnut Creek, CA 94598-3325 Vice Presidents General Bob Ebert a size limited by the Washington (925) 937-8659 and Stephen Renouf; DAR Members Naval Treaty of the 1920’s. She had Donald H. Gurley, Registrar Janet Brown, Kay Ernst, and Virginia a of 19,800 tons, and 2921 Encina Camino Walnut Creek, CA 94598-3503 Rood; guests Vernita Bohannon, was 824 feet long. She launched (925) 943-1960 Cynthia Cleveland, Joy Javellana, and prior to the in [email protected] Diane Stevens; and applicants Steve 1941. She was loaded with planes in Eugene A. Stevens, Chaplain 268 Carlisle Way Main, Jeff Nibert, Phil Stage, and Alameda for the famed Doolittle Benicia, CA 94510-1529 Bob Vernagallo. The special guest Raid on Tokyo in 1942 to retaliate (707) 747-9507 [email protected] was Tony Shoemehl of the USS for the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Hornet Museum. last living Doolittle Raider, Richard Historian vacant Following lunch, President Cole, died on April 9, 2018 at age

Gregory D. Owens, Sergeant at Arms Tim Ernst introduced guest speaker 103. The USS Hornet participated in (510) 523-5835 Tony Shoemehl, who spoke about the , and the [email protected] the USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space capture of . During the Jeffrey H. Brown, Eagle Scout Chairman Museum in Alameda, California. He Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands in (925) 360-3647 [email protected] noted that there have been eight October 1942, the USS Hornet was ships named USS Hornet. The first seriously damaged by Japanese Michael A. Wendorf, Eagle Scout Chrmn (925) 381-9837 Hornet was a sloop that was torpedoes and dive . She [email protected] christened in 1775, and with her was abandoned, and after a failed Derek J. Brown, Awards Chairman sister ship the USS Wasp were the attempt at the ship, was (925) 672-2055 [email protected] first two ships of the Continental finally sunk by the Japanese. The Navy. The second Hornet was a USS Hornet, nicknamed the Fighting Col. Gary M. Bohannon, Webmaster (916) 806-0040 sloop that fought at Djerna in the Lady, the Happy Hornet, and the [email protected] Barbary War of 1805. The third Horny Maru, was awarded four Stephen A. Tucker, Past President Hornet was a sloop-of-war that service stars for her service in World (925) 586-5977 [email protected] fought in several battles in the War War II. The wreck of the USS Hornet of 1812, carried out anti-piracy (CV-8) was located in January 2019 operations in the Caribbean Sea, and at a depth of 17,500 feet near the The Thomas Jefferson Chapter Minuteman is the official newsletter of the Thomas Jefferson was lost at sea in 1829 off of . Chapter of the California Society Sons of the Tampico, Mexico. The fourth Hornet The eighth Hornet (CV-12) American Revolution. The opinions expressed herein are the opinions of the authors, and not was a 5-gun schooner used for was originally laid down as the USS necessarily those of the Chapter or the SAR, unless specifically stated. inshore patrol and as a dispatch Kearsarge, but was renamed USS CIVIS AMERICANUS SUM vessel from 1813-1829. The fifth Hornet before being launched due to the loss of CV-8. She was a larger marked on her hangar deck. Later Essex-class , which that year, she recovered the Apollo was launched in 1943. She had a XII space capsule with astronauts displacement of 27,100 tons, and 1947, and assigned to the Pacific Charles Conrad, Alan Bean, and was 872 feet long. She had a crew Reserve Fleet. Richard Gordon. of up to 4,000 sailors and airmen, In 1953, the USS Hornet was The USS Hornet was and carried about 100 planes during recommissioned as an attack carrier decommissioned in 1970, and World War II. The USS Hornet – (CVA-12). She operated in the mothballed at Puget Sound Naval participated in raids on New Guinea, Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Shipyard. She was stricken from the Palau, and Truk. She also took part Ocean, before joining the 7th Fleet in 1989, and in the Mariana and Palau Islands in the South China Sea. The was designated as a National campaign, and the Battle of the Communist Chinese shot down a Historic Landmark in 1991. The Philippine Sea. The USS Hornet was Cathay Pacific civilian airliner, and Navy decided to scrap the USS not hit by enemy bombs, torpedoes, the Hornet helped search for Hornet, and had her towed to Long or kamikazis – the only serious survivors. Two of her planes shot Beach. The company was not able damage sustained by the Hornet down two attacking Communist to scrap the Hornet, so it was towed was in June 1945, when a typhoon Chinese fighters. The USS Hornet to Hunter’s Point in San Francisco. smashed the end of the . helped to cover the evacuation of In 1995, the commander of the She had to steam in reverse and Vietnamese from Communist North Naval Air Station Alameda held a launch the planes in the opposite Vietnam to the Republic of South ceremony for the 50th Anniversary direction to remove the planes from Vietnam. The USS Hornet was of Victory Over Japan Day, and the ship before putting up for modernized by converting to a arranged to have the Hornet towed repairs. The USS Hornet was hurricane bow (the prow of the ship to NAS Alameda for the ceremony. awarded nine battle stars for service wrapped around to the flight deck to The Thomas Jefferson Chapter sent in World War II from 1944 to 1945. prevent the damage she suffered in representatives to the ceremony, She was also awarded a Presidential the typhoon in 1945), and adding an including President Richard Schmidt Unit Citation for ten operations angled flight deck. and Secretary Stephen Renouf. The during World War II. In her 18 In 1958, the USS Hornet was ceremony generated interest in months of service in World War II, recommissioned as an anti- saving the historic carrier, and in the USS Hornet shot down 668 submarine warfare support carrier – 1998, the USS Hornet was donated Japanese planes, destroyed 742 (CVS-12). She patrolled the waters by the US Navy to the Aircraft Japanese planes on the ground, sunk around Japan and the Philippines, Carrier Hornet Foundation, and was 73 enemy ships (and probably 37 and participated in the US Space opened to the public as a museum. more), damaged 413 enemy ships, Program. In 1966, the USS Hornet The USS Hornet Museum and steamed 155,000 miles. She recovered the unmanned Apollo focuses on the impressive legacy of assisted in the sinking of the super space capsule after splashdown near CV-8 and CV-12 in naval aviation, Yamato, and launched the Wake Island – the capsule is on defense of our country, and the first carrier aircraft strikes in the display in the Hornet Museum. In exploration of space. There are self- liberation of the Philippines. In 1967, the USS Hornet operated off guided tours, as well as docent-led 1945, she launched the first strikes Vietnam in the war zone. In 1969, tours to restricted parts of the ship. on Tokyo since the 1942 Doolittle the USS Hornet recovered the Apollo There are numerous exhibits relating Raid. After the end of World War II, XI space capsule, and quarantined to the Hornet’s war service in World the USS Hornet participated in the returning astronauts on the ship. War II through Vietnam, as well as Operation Magic Carpet, which The first steps of Neil Armstrong, her role in the recovery of Apollo XI ferried US troops back to the United Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins and Apollo XII space capsules. There States. She was decommissioned in since returning from the Moon were is a flight simulator for guests to experience piloting a fighter jet. The Ventura, California; the SAR Trip to USS Hornet is available for rental for Scotland in May 2019; the SAR filming, military ceremonies, parties, Annual Congress in July 2019 in and group events. There are 18 Compatriot Tom Silva. Compatriot Costa Mesa, California, and the decks on the ship, and all but 4 are Ralph Dean presented the 25-Year CASSAR Fall Board of Managers open to the public. Tomy Shoemehl Pin to Secretary Renouf. Compatriot Meeting on November 1-2 in Irvine, noted that the Hornet Museum was Dean was one of the first people California. always looking for volunteers to that Compatriot Renouf met when President Ernst adjourned paint, restore aircraft, perform he joined the chapter in 1994 at the the meeting, and Diane Stevens led maintenance on the ship, and lead Concord Hilton Hotel. the chapter in the singing of God tour groups. You can find more Awards Chairman Derek Bless America. information on the USS Hornet Brown announced that 20 SAR Eagle — Stephen Renouf, Secretary Museum website at: www.uss- Scout Certificates have been Rev War Burial in CA hornet.org. After his presentation, presented, as were medals to the Tony Shoemehl opened the floor to Naval Sea Scouts, with the help of alifornia has one known questions and comments. SAR Compatriot Jim Cleveland. The next C American Revolutionary War Applicant Jeff Nibert noted that he event would be the ROTC Awards to Patriot burial—William Smith. participated in an overnight program be made at UC Berkeley in May William Smith of Virginia with the Boy Scouts – they spent the 2019. Compatriot Brown reported (age 11) joined the Virginia Navy night on the ship in the crew’s on the Registrar Committee, during the American Revolution. He compartments, dined in the crew’s composed of Derek Brown, Stephen served with his father on the Manly, mess, and toured the ship. SAR Renouf, Tim Ernst, Gary Bohannon, the Jefferson, and the Tarter. After Applicant Bob Vernagallo asked Greg Owens, and Eugene Stevens, the war, he made 23 round-trip about the other ships located near which was created after Registrar voyages to the Caribbean, a trip to the USS Hornet in Alameda, and Gurley had to step down due to his China, and eight round-the-world asked if they were part of the health. The committee is working voyages. museum. Tony Shoemehl said that on a backlog of 61 applicants. In the In 1800, Smith visited they were “active ships” belonging last month and a half, 4 applications California, then under Spanish rule. to the US Department of have been sent to National, 2 have He spent 5 years in the trade Transportation, which are ready for been sent to the state, and another between Hawaii and Southeast Asia. deployment in 96 hours – they hire 2 are about to be sent to the state. In 1816 he retuned to California. His merchant marines and Compatriot Brown is checking with ship, the Albatross, was wrecked, longshoremen, and can sail to about 35 applicants to see if they and he lost everything. He settled in anywhere they are needed. The City are still interested in applying for Sonoma in the 1840’s. of Alameda will no longer dredge for membership. William Smith died in the 32 feet of water needed for the President Ernst announced Sonoma in 1846, and was buried in ships to leave port, so they will soon that the next meeting would be held the Mountain Cemetery in Sonoma. be relocated from Alameda. on May 18, 2019 at the Old President Tim Ernst presented the Spaghetti Factory. The speaker is SAR Certificate of Appreciation to scheduled to be a Secret Service Tony Shoemehl for his informative man who has had duty at the White presentation on the history of the House. He will be returning from USS Hornet and the museum. training in Washington, DC, the day President Tim Ernst called before our meeting. Upcoming upon Secretary Stephen Renouf to events include the California Society present the SAR 10-Year Pin to Annual Meeting in April 2019 in Grave of William Smith Chapter Meeting Concord, California

SECRETARY RENOUF PRESENTS THE SAR 10-YEAR PIN TO COMPATRIOT TOM SILVA

COMPATRIOT RALPH DEAN PRESENTS THE SAR 25-YEAR PIN TO STEPHEN RENOUF CASSAR PRESIDENT DEREK BROWN DISCUSSES THE REGISTRAR COMMITTEE’S PROGRESS

COMPATRIOTS AND GUESTS GATHER FOR THE USS HORNET PRESENTATION MAY 2019

OFFICER INSTALLATION MEETING Saturday, May 18, 2019 the old spaghetti factory

1955 Mount Diablo Street, Concord, CA

11:30AM—Pre-Meeting Noon to 2:30PM—Meeting Social

Programme: Secret Service Agent Jim Holcomb will discuss the history of the US Secret Service, protecting the President, and trends and tactics in counterfeit currency. Senior Special Agent Holcomb has served with the Secret Service since 2000, and was part of the White House detail from 2004-2010. Come join us for a great meeting!

MENU

Spaghetti with Mushroom Sauce, Fettuccini Alfredo, Chicken Parmigiana, or Baked Lasagna $20 per person

Deadline: 15 May 2019 Questions? Contact Tim Ernst at [email protected] Please make check payable to THOMAS JEFFERSON CHAPTER, enclose this reservation slip, and mail to: President Tim Ernst, 32 Monivea Place, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 OR go to https://tjsar.org/index.php/calendar and select “Order lunch online now with your credit card!” Name: Entrée choice: Spaghetti Fettuccini Chicken Lasagna

Guest: Entrée choice: Spaghetti Fettuccini Chicken Lasagna

Guest2: Entrée choice: Spaghetti Fettuccini Chicken Lasagna Quote of the Month “All problems, personal, national, or combat, become smaller if you don’t dodge them, but confront them. Touch a thistle timidly, and it pricks you; grasp it boldly, and its spines crumble. Carry the battle to the enemy! Lay

THOMAS JEFFERSON your ship alongside his!” CHAPTER — Admiral William Halsey SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

Timothy L. Ernst President Visit us on the web: Stephen R. Renouf TJSAR.ORG Secretary

William E. Rood Treasurer

You can download the full version of the Minuteman at http://www.tjsar.org/index.php/minuteman/minuteman-archive

The Thomas Jefferson Chapter MINUTEMAN Stephen R. Renouf, Editor 16123 Paseo del Campo San Lorenzo, CA 94580-2311