USS BELLE GROVE–EPPING FOREST NEWSLETTER

ISSUE #109 __January 2021

RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA REUNION 2021

On behalf of myself, Brittany, Brooklyn, been the location of several movies. A Avery, and my parents Kevin Sr. and Joy couple of the more famous ones are Dances Kugler we would like to welcome you to with Wolves and National Treasure: Book of Rapid City located in the Black Hills of South Secrets. Dakota. There is so much to see in Rapid City In the 1920's a sculptor named Gutzon and the Black Hills area that it is virtually Borglum was asked to carve a monument in impossible to fit into the 3 days. the Black Hills of South Dakota. He settled on place called Mount Rushmore. In that mountain he carved four of our past presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. These four presidents were chosen to represent our nation's birth, growth, development and preservation. The project started in 1927 and finished in 1941 with the help of Borglum’s son Lincoln. One of our stops will be at Mount Rushmore to learn more about what went into the building of

one of our countries greatest monuments. We hope you enjoy your stay in the fresh air We and take in all that the Black Hills have to hope offer. We have left Friday open as a free day you so you can visit places that we were not able enjoy to fit in the time allotted. all the We have scheduled places in the Black surrounding area of Rapid City in the Black Hills Hills. The Black Hills are very scenic and has to have a lot of history: from Wild Bill and offer Calamity Jane gambling in Deadwood, to the and thank you one and all for joining us in scenic view of our four most historic making this reunion a success. presidents at Mount Rushmore and the story of Crazy Horse roaming the Black Hills protecting his people. The Black Hills has Kevin Kugler

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USS BELLE GROVE LSD 2 REUNION

Rapid City, South Dakota “Mount Rushmore State”

2021 REUNION RESERVATION INFORMATION Sunday, June 20, 2021 - Saturday June 26, 2021 PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED BY MAY 1, 2021 ______6-20 Sunday: Early Arrival: Check-In Hampton Inn by Hilton Rapid City ______6-21 Monday: Check-in and Registration ______6-22 Tuesday: Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Keystone, SD (Shopping/historical sites) Lunch on your own Adults/Child #______@ $40.00 = $______6-23 Wednesday: Deadwood, South Dakota (Gambling, historical sites) Lunch on your own Adults/Child #______@ $35.00 = $______Fort Hayes Chuck Wagon Evening Dinner Show: Adults #______@ $38.00 = $______(12 Years Old – 5 Years Old) Child #______@ $19.00 = $______(4 Years Old and Under are free) ______6-24 Thursday: Wall Drug, SD, Bad Lands, Air and Space Museum Ellsworth AFB Lunch on your own Adults/Child #______@ $45.00 = $______6-25 Friday: On your own for shopping, lunch or visit Black Hills, Sturgis, etc. 7:00 - Auction ______6-26 Saturday: Business Meeting / Raffle after Business Meeting Pictures @ 5:30 PM, Banquet @ 6:30 Cash Bar/Adult Meals #_____ @ $35.00 = $______(12 Years Old and Under) Child #_____@ $17.00 = $______Hospitality Beverage and Snack Charge due with registration (regardless of arrival date) Adult #______@ $10.00 = $ ______(12 Years Old and Under) Child #______@ $ 5.00 = $______Date of Arrival______Check #______Total $______

Name______Make Checks Payable to: Kevin Kugler Mail to: Kevin Kugler 302 Chapin St. Chadron, NE 69337

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HOTEL

Hampton Inn By Hilton, Rapid City 1720 Rapp Street, Rapid City, SD 57701 PH 605-348-1911 Reservation Cutoff Date: May 20, 2021 Ref: USS Belle Grove Rooms are $134 plus tax (includes Continental Breakfast) Rate is available 3 days prior and 3 days post reunion dates (based on availability) Handicap Rooms are available upon request For further information please contact Joy or Kevin at: Joy Kugler [email protected] (308) 289-263 Kevin (Neal) Kugler [email protected] (308) 430-1645

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WELCOME TO THE BEAUTIFUL STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

MT. RUSHMORE

CRAZY HORSE MONUMENT

BLACK HILLS

AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM DEADWOOD SOUTH DAKOTA

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USS BELLE GROVE–EPPING FOREST NEWSLETTER

ISSUE #109 __January 2021

ALL HANDS ON DECK:

Face Masks: Janet Maudlin has been Where to get USS Belle Grove – Epping busy at work making Navy and Patriotic Forest Information as well as posting: I masks. Currently she just wanted to remind everyone of the has made over 1,300 public locations where you can go to masks for VA receive up-to-date information. If using hospitals, nursing Facebook, go to the Public Groups and homes and two search for USS Belle Grove LSD-2. If you hospitals in Des want to Google, go to www.ussbgef.com. Moines. The cost is $5 Contribution of Articles: I would like to each which covers thank Russ Pillion and Joe Braim for their postage. If you would like any of these continuous supply of material for the masks send Janet your address and she newsletters. Joe’s article will be featured will send them to you. Email: in the next Newsletter. If any of you have [email protected] or 5698 Ford Street, articles of humor or importance please Norwalk, Iowa 50211. 515-544-5510. send them to me at [email protected] They are gorgeous and all use patriot material. HOW TOOTSIE ROLLS SAVED US MARINES IN THE KOREAN WAR

We are told that sweets and chocolates By November 1950 the Korean War was are bad for us, and should be eaten in well underway when the People’s small amounts, if at all. However, during Volunteer Army of entered the a terrifying wartime winter, a delivery of conflict. Coming via the north-eastern Tootsie Rolls proved to be a lifesaver. Chinese-Korean border on 27th of November, this development took US Tootsie Rolls are bite-size chocolate forces by surprise. covered toffee treats. Those not from America may be familiar with the name US Marines, under the command of from the 90s dance craze. These General Edward Almond, were based in unassuming sweets have an interesting the Chosin Reservoir Area. history, specifically the role they played Accompanied by UN troops, the total in the Korean War, when they were number of allied troops was credited with saving the lives approximately 30,000. They were soon of American Marines surrounded and outnumbered by 120,000 Chinese soldiers, under the So how did this strange happening command of Song Shilu. The UN troops occur? broke free and withdrew to Hungnam,

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USS BELLE GROVE–EPPING FOREST NEWSLETTER

ISSUE #109 __January 2021

inflicting heavy casualties on the more This should have been a disaster, but numerous but less well equipped and some quick thinking and ingenuity trained Chinese. This left the US Marines saved the day. The tootsie rolls were who were facing freezing temperatures solid lumps of chocolate toffee when and rough terrain as they sought to make they landed. The Marines soon their escape. discovered that they would melt in the mouth. If they were careful, they could As the temperature hit -38°C the ground soften up the sweets and put them to froze, roads became iced over, and good use. Turning them into a sort of crucially technology and weapons began putty, the softened tootsie rolls were then to malfunction in these extreme applied to the fuel pipes; acting as a seal. temperatures. One side effect of this was Surprisingly, this worked. It was so cold that the tank fuel pipes froze over, that the sweets then solidified around the cracking open in some places; making pipes, resealing them. the US’s position more perilous. At the same time, they ran low on mortar With the tanks up and running again the rounds. With the situation looking dire Marines were able to attempt their they made a request for more mortar escape. They took heavy causalities but shells. A wait ensued as anti-aircraft made it out of the Chosin River Area. equipment had been entrenched on the Those that survived, in part thanks to enemy side. Tootsie Rolls, nicknamed themselves ‘The Chosin Few’. It was common at the time to use code words when making requests. Mortar This was not the first time that tootsie rounds were codenamed ‘Tootsie Rolls’. rolls had proved useful. They played a After the request went through the small part in the Second World War too. troops waited until the US were able to They were included in ration packs as a make air drops. It was then that they durable treat that would withstand all found… Tootsie Rolls. weather traditions. A fitting use for an all-American sweet. Actual Tootsie Roll sweets. And not the much sought-after mortar rounds. Article Provided by Russ Pillion

President Fred Reck Chaplin Derrell Ridings [email protected] [email protected] 503-440-9569 501-728-4323 VP John Ellis Ship’s Store Lester Maudlin [email protected] [email protected] 870-834-8900 515-778-3917 Secretary John Vice Master of Russ Pillion Treasury [email protected] Ceremonies [email protected] 337-577-4343 603-887-3222 Newsletter Marilynn Kesslar [email protected] 713-210-9111

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USS BELLE GROVE–EPPING FOREST NEWSLETTER

ISSUE #109 __January 2021

Gone all too soon …….

Frances Trahan passed away May 27, 2020, at the age of 96. Frances is preceded in death by her beloved husband of sixty-six years, P.J. Trahan. PJ as well as Frances were active in all BG reunions. Even after PJ passed away in 2012, Frances continued to attend the reunions accompanied by her daughter Alice Bourg. Frances enlisted in the U.S. Navy WAVES during World War II where she served in Washington, D.C. We will miss Frances at the upcoming reunions.

James H. Pitman –Mr. Pitman passed away February 24, 2015. Mr. Pitman served in the U.S. Navy for seven years in and Vietnam aboard the Epping Forest.

Maynard Gardiner – Mr. Gardiner passed away May 17, 2020. He served on the Belle Grove April 1943 for 17 months. He last attended the Appleton Reunion in 2009. Mr. Gardiner worked for Neenah Foundry and Dauber Co. for 60 years.

Lawrence Laurent – Mr. Laurent passed away August 1, 2020. He served on the Belle Grove from 08/44 TO 05/45. A former journalist and communications executive, Laurent worked at The Washington Post from 1951 to 1982. After leaving the Post, Laurent was a VP for the Association of Independent Television Stations. He taught at American University and George Washington University, was elected to the Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame.

Walter Eugene Gustafson – Mr. Gustafson passed away August 20, 2020. He served in the US Navy aboard the Epping Forest during the Korean War. Walter worked as a Telephone Installer and Repairman 28 years for Northwestern Bell Telephone Co.

Kent Kinsey Wager - Kent Kinsey Wager 79 passed away Saturday, September 5, 2020. Kent served on the Belle Grove 1958-62 as a radar operator. He was a Vietnam Era Veteran stationed in the and . Kent is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Marilyn Wager, two daughters and three sons. We will all miss Kent at the upcoming reunions.

Archie McPherson - Mr. McPherson served on the Belle Grove from 1955-1958

Joe Harbison – Mr. Harbison passed away August 19, 2020. He served on the Belle Grove from 12/62-6/66

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U.S.S. BELLE GROVE LSD 2 ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED

Marilynn Kesslar 411 Jordan Farm Cir. Rockwall, TX. 75087 Cell: 713-210-9111 Email: [email protected]

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

January 2021 109th Edition

DUES and Other Important Information To continue membership as a USS Belle Grove LSD2/Epping Forest Crew Member and receive the Newsletter

Date Mailed: ______Please Print Name Name ______Spouse’s Name ______Address ______Ph #. ______City ______, State ______Zip Code ______Email Address: ______Do you want to receive Newsletter via email Y/N

New Members: I served aboard the USS Belle Grove/EF from ______, 19_____ to ______, 19____ I was in ______Division. My rank was ______

Annual Dues - $10.00 July 15, 2020 to July 15, 2021 or Lifetime Membership - $75.00

Here is a donation of $____ General fund or Special donation to ______

Make check payable to: USS Belle Grove LSD-2 Association Inc. Mail to: John Vice 104 E. Tampico St. New Iberia, LA 70563

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