The Ironman—A Double Ender's Newsletter
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USS Reeves (DLG-24/CG-24) Association Fall 2017 Volume 10, Issue 3 The Ironman —A Double Ender’s Newsletter Membership Scorebox In Memory of Current 51 Rear Admiral Ming E. Chang, USN (Rered) Lifeme 15 April 20, 1932—October 3, 2017 - - Past Due 143 Captain, USS Reeves (CG 24) 1977 79 Snail Mail Ad- 251 From: Cox, Samuel J SES NHHC, DNS -H of MEC Internaonal, LLC. dresses Only Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2017 8:18 AM As a personal recollecon, RADM Chang rode Email Address 495 To: Cox, Samuel J SES NHHC, DNS -H IKE as CRUDES TWO on a TRANSLANT when I Total Shipmates 4,249 Subject: Passing of Rear Admiral Ming Chang was an embarked squadron intel officer. RADM Chang had a reputaon as an extreme- Fellow Flag Officers (Acve and Rered) ly demanding leader, which I observed him Dues Notice! live up to on several occasions. At the end of It is with deep regret that I inform you that the line period, there was some trepidaon Please be sure to check your RADM Ming Chang passed away on Oct 3. amongst the airwing about how a mailing label or email nota- Ming served from 1955 to 1990. Born in “blackshoe” admiral would react to the tradi- tion. If it doesn’t say Current or Shanghai in 1932, son of Chief Pey Officer Yu onal (and then quite freewheeling) Foc’sl Life above your name at the Ching Chang, USN, Ming had the disncon of Follies. RADM Chang sat stoically as the air- top of the label, you should becoming the first naturalized cizen of Asian wing skits lampooned him, shall we say, renew your annual dues. To descent to achieve flag rank in the United “mercilessly,” At the end, he got up, took the reach the greatest number of States Navy. Graduang from the College of microphone and dished it right back to the shipmates, we will publish the William and Mary in 1955, Ming enlisted in airwing with a sense of humor that praccally complete Association news- letter to any valid email or the United States Naval Reserve in Sep 1955, had people falling off their chairs laughing. snail mail address. Your dues and was subsequently commissioned an en- payments make this possible. sign in the U.S. Naval Reserve and reporng Funeral services will be held at Arlington Na- for acve duty in Mar 1956 aboard USS Lex- onal Cemetery at a future date. ington (CVA -16.) Seagoing assignments in- Inside this issue: cluded XO of USS Hollister (DD 788,) CO USS Rest in Peace Admiral Chang Rathburne (DE1057,) CO USS Reeves (CG -24,) President’s Message 2 Chief of Staff, Carrier Group THREE, Chief of Very respecully, Letters & Email 3 Staff, Commander Third Fleet, and Command- er Cruiser Destroyer Group TWO (1983 -1985.) Sam Captain Destructo 10 of 11 4 His shore tours included me in Vietnam Financials 6 (1970 -71) with Naval Forces Vietnam/Naval Samuel J. Cox Advisory Group/Military Assistance Com- RADM, USN (Rered) Ship’s Store 7 mand, Naval Support Acvity Saigon, and Director of Naval History RADM/CAPT Chang photos 9 Senior Advisor, Amphibious Task Force 211. Curator of the Navy Other Shore tours included Deputy Com- Director, Naval History and Heritage Com- Reeves Assoc reply to Char- 10 mander, Weapons and Combat Systems, Na- mand lotte Chang val Sea Systems Command. He finished his 202 -433 -2210 [email protected] disnguished career as Naval Inspector Gen- Providence Reunion 11 eral, 1987 -1990. A er rerement, he became vice president and corporate director for the Pacific Region at Raytheon and the president Page 2 The Ironman —A Double Ender’s Newsletter The President’s Page Greengs to the see what his ship was up to. We’d would have to be requested through Reeves Associa- like to welcome Mrs. Chang as our the Freedom of Informaon Act. Un- on Family newest life member, and we thank fortunately, the Naval History and her for her generous contribuon to Heritage Command did have to re- Here we are, all the Associaon. Welcome aboard dact any names menoned before lined up for the Miss Charloe. they released. Other than a few miss- holidays with a ing years and a lot of names, these year that seems While we are on the subject of me- are a huge historical resource that to have gone by way too fast. The morial donaons, we would like to you can use to re -connect actual rec- calendars seem to have found a way acknowledge, and thank, Bob Van ords with your Reeves voyages. of accelerang themselves over the Der Kamp, our illustrious Ironman There are 25 CHRs for the REEVES last few years, or so it appears. This editor, for his recent memorial dona- from 1964 to 1993. Eric sent them to version of the Presidents leer is a on to the Reeves Associaon. A us in a series of five emails, and we lile disjointed, as we tried to save as $1,000 donaon was made to the have posted them all on the much page space as possible to make associaon in the name of his Father, ussreeves.org website. If you are not room for RADM Chang. Everything LT Ralph Van Der Kamp, USN (Ret). able to locate those files or download else is in here…. His dad passed away in 2001, and his the years which interest you, please trust was recently released upon the contact Eric at: We start this issue of the Ironman passing of Bob’s mom in May of this [email protected] . with the news that RADM Ming year. We feel parcularly privileged Chang passed away. RADM Chang to be able to honor Ralph’s memory While we’re out there downloading, was the CO of the Reeves 77 -79, and by using this contribuon to protect we might menon that we have had le behind a rich legacy with the and preserve the things that he, as a more than a casual interest in the Reeves community. We have dedi- rered sailor, would embrace. Our recent deadly ship collisions that cated this issue of the Ironman thanks to Bob for keeping us in mind. have taken place in WESTPAC. The Newsleer to the memory of RADM separate incidents involving at -sea Chang, and we have several arcles We recently got some new old news collisions involving the USS Fitzgerald posted from the me frame of his from Shipmate Eric Wenzel, who has and the USS McCain. Both incidents command. We were nofied of been busy digging into the history of involved collisions with merchant RADM Chang’s passing by a personal the USS Reeves by vising the Naval vessels, and both incidents claimed leer from his wife, Mrs. Charloe History and Heritage Command in the lives of mulple sailors aboard Chang. She explained that RADM DC. Being a member of the SECNAV each US ship. Our hearts go out to Chang considered that commanding Reree Council, Eric was able to ob- the families of those lost. These two the Reeves to be one of his most tain ALL the unclassified Command incidents have completely shaken the sasfying assignments in a very rich History Reports (CHR) for USS Navy, and there was a flurry of inves- naval career, and that he always Reeves, with the excepon of 1969 gaons iniated to get to the root looked forward to our newsleers to and 1970 (which were classified), and (Connued on page 8) This newsletter is published by: Life Memberships The USS Reeves Association 15709 N Sycamore St, Mead, WA 99021 At the 2014 reunion in Portland, ship- The schedule is simple: mates voted for a Life Membership. Age Amount After researching various Associations, Under 50 $500 - Newsletter Editor it was decided that the US Navy Cruiser Under 60 $400 Robert Van Der Kamp Phone: 609 -668 -3557 Sailor Association’s plan was best for Under 70 $300 E-mail: [email protected] the USS Reeves Association. Monies Under 80 $200 All comments, suggestions, submissions and for life membership are placed in an 80 or older $100 criticism are welcome. My email is always interest -bearing account and not mixed We already have 15 life members. open.. with operating funds. Volume 10, Issue 3 Page 3 Emails, Etc. Dear Mr. Bailey, we explained that they had insulted saon between him and the pilot My husband Rear Admiral M. E. the ship and our Captain and we could go down in the record books. Chang USN (Ret) passed away on Oc- simply couldn’t let that slide. As we tober 3, 2017 from Parkinson Disease stood there at aenon, we looked Captain Chang always seemed to be due to Agent Orange. His favorite prey beat up. A er contemplang a very organized and meculous command was USS Reeves. He en- what we said for a few minutes, he man. I think this is one reason the joyed reading your newsleer ll the asked how bad the other guys Navy put him on the Reeves when end. In fact I too enjoy reading about looked. We told him “much worse”. they did. We were geng ready to the shipmates. He smiled and said “well, that’s go through a major yard period as good” and that was that. We were soon as we got back from West - You may enjoy reading the enclosed. dismissed and nothing more was ever Pac. He led the Reeves through our (RADM Samuel Cox’s leer) I would said. Yard Period late 77 through late 78.