USS Springfield CL-66, CLG-7, SSN-761 2021 Reunion Newsletter

“We sleep safely at night because rough men stand Volume XIII Issue I ready to visit violence on those who would harm us.” June 2021 Sir Winston S. Churchill (11/30/1874 - 1/24/1965)

President All the arrangements have been made for the 28th reunion of the USS Springfield Bluejackets. Our Rich Wilson reunion will be held in New Orleans, Louisiana on September 9 - 12, 2021 , (Thursday - Sunday). Two tours are being offered. The first will be on Friday, September 10th starting at 9:00 a.m. We’ll 101 East Rd will be traveling by bus on a New Orleans City Tour and then to the World War II Museum. The bus Tacoma WA 98406-7632 will return to the hotel NLT 5:00 p.m. The second tour, on Saturday, September 11th, takes us on the 253.210.5609 (H) Battlefield Boat Cruise. At 9:00 a.m. a bus will take us to the river boat. This is a 4 hour tour that 425.736.6899 (M) will include a buffet lunch and a short tour of a Civil War Battlefield. The Battlefield Tour is not wheelchair accessible . We should return to the hotel NLT 1:00 p.m. So, you’ll have a free afternoon. 253.625.7449 (F) Important! Hotel reservations can be made by contacting Hampton Inn & Suites Hotel New Or- [email protected] leans, located at 1201 Convention Center Blvd, New Orleans LA 70130. Here is an online webpage Vice President where you can make your reservation: https://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/groups/personalized/M/ MSYLAHX-USB-20210908/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG . If you received this newsletter via email, Donald Smith you can hold the ‘control’ button and click on the above link. The Hampton Inn & Suites direct num- 26278 Timbercreek Ln ber is (504) 566 - 9990 or Toll Free (800) HAMPTON (426-7866). The Group Code is “USB” . In my Millsboro DE 19966-8101 opinion, your best using the link provided above. The hotel room rate is $129.00 for a single or dou- 973.993.1166 (H) ble, (plus 16.2% tax + $1.00, total $150.90) which includes breakfast. There is no additional charge for a 3rd or 4th person in the same room. The price of the hotel is good for three days before and there [email protected] is no availability after the reunion, subject to room availability . Be sure to mention the USS Spring- Treasurer field Bluejackets (Group Code USB) when booking reservations. Valet Parking ( only, no self-parking) Keith Rivard at the hotel is at $39.00 per night, plus 12.45% ales tax ($4.86). There is no courtesy airport shuttle to and from the Airport. An airport shuttle is available from www.airportshuttleneworleans.com . Toll 160 Tommotley Dr Free 866.596.2699, R/T $44.00 & one way is $24.00. Uber is approximately $35.00 each way and taxi Loudon TN 37774-2120 service is available. 865.388.2478 (M) We will hold an evening social on Thursday and Friday evenings in the hospitality room. Hot hors d'oeuvres will be served this year and there will be a cash bar. Refer to the reunion agenda you’ll [email protected] (new) receive upon arrival. Check-in will be in our hospitality room, the Dauphine I & II. Secretary If you’re in contact with any of your old shipmates, ask them to join the USS Springfield Bluejack- Mario Lombardi ets. Have them contact Rich Wilson or any officer for more information or better yet have them go to 231 Mitchell G Dr our web page to join, www.ussspringfield.org . Shipmates who have never been part of our organiza- tion can register and pay dues on our website. Also, See the “Ship’s Store” on the web page. Tewksbury MA 01876-2184 While there’s a membership dues notice at the bottom of this page, I want to mention few shipmates 978.851.4334 (H) send in their dues. Dues provide necessary funds to ensure we have operating funds. We use the op- [email protected] erating funds to produce and send this newsletter and also, for fronting the deposits required by our hotel and vendors for our reunions. Webmaster We again, want to thank shipmate Dave Schantz who created our great web page. It is a dynamic Dave Schantz and up-to-date Web Page. You’ll be able to access the registration and photo forms for this reunion on 29 Wood Run Cir the web page. We will have a raffle again this year and we’re asking everyone to bring at least one Rochester NY 14612-2271 item that represents your city, state, or locale . Please don’t spend a lot of money for what you will do- nate to the raffle. We will also have 50/50 raffles in the hospitality room each evening like we had in 585.723.0760 (H) Buffalo, and Washington DC, with 50% of the proceeds going to the winners and 50% going to the or- ganization which helps reduce our expenses. We look forward to seeing you in New Orleans. In This Newsletter Ship’s Store

2021 Meal and Tour Form 2 Both Springfield CL-66 and CLG-7 ball caps are available through our web site, www.ussspringfield.org or by calling Keith Rivard at 865-458-6324 (h) or 865-388-2478 (m). Ball caps are $21.00. Polo Shirts in men's & women’s sizes in various colors with gold embroidery are Reunion Memory Book & 3 $21.00; CL-66 and CLG-7 ship’ patches are $5.00 each. T-Shirts, gray color, with gold embroidery Picture Information & Order are $14.00. Embossed Flashlight $5.00. Embossed Lighted Compact Mirror $5.00; Car Window Form Sticker: Veteran USS Springfield with anchor MAR-DET, or SSN 761, $3.00. Shipping is via USPS Our 2021 Tour Information 3 First-Class Mail or Priority Mail for heavier shipments. There are still Memory Books available 4 from Boston (2013), San Diego (2014), Charleston (2015), Portland (2016), Our 2021 Tour Information - Continued on Page 4 top (continued page 4 bottom) Organization Dues For 2021 Ship’s Store Information - 4 A reminder, annual dues are $20.00 or $100.00 lifetime are due as of January 1, 2021. Please mail your dues to (continued page 4 top) Treasurer Keith Rivard, 160 Tommotley Dr, Loudon, TN 37774-2120. Your dues are always appreciated whether or not you attend a reunion. Your dues help our organization pay for the many expenses associated with organizing and running a reunion as well as the newsletter mailings. Please make your checks payable to: USS Springfield Bluejackets Inc. You can also pay via our web page: www.ussspringfield.org and click on membership. We really need you to send in your dues! PAGE 2 USS SPRINGFIELD CL-66, CLG-7, SSN-761 VOLUME XIII ISSUE I

2021 Meal & Tour Form USS Springfield Bluejackets Inc. 2228th Reunion CLCLCL-CL ---66/CLG66/CLG66/CLG----7/SSN7/SSN7/SSN----761761 --- USN & USMC Hampton Inn and Suites, New Orleans, Louisiana September 9 --- 12, 2021

Name: CL-66 - CLG-7 - SSN-761 (please circle one)

Dates On Board (mm/yyyy to mm/yyyy) : Division:

Home Phone: ( ) - Important - eMail : We are building an email database to save mailing costs

Spouse’s First Name: Cell Telephone No: Please include area code Guest’s Name:

Staying at The Hampton Inn & Suites?: YES NO (please circle one)

Important! Rooms can be booked by calling (800) 362-2779 or logging on to https://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/groups/ personalized/M/MSYLAHX-USB-20210908/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG . The group code is “USB”. This will identify you to get the rooming block. The address is 1201 Convention Center Blvd, New Orleans LA 70130 . The hotel room rate is $129.00 for a single or double, (plus 16.2% tax + $1.00, total $150.90) which includes breakfast . The price of the hotel is good for three days before and not available beyond Sunday September 12, subject to room availability . Be sure to mention the USS Spring- field Bluejackets when booking reservations and use the group code USB. Valet Parking only is available Thursday through Sunday. There is no self-parking) at the hotel. The cost is at $39.00 per night, plus 12.45% sales tax ($4.86, total $43.86). There is no courtesy airport shuttle from and to Airport. The cutoff date to receive these rates is August 7, 2021 .

Mode of Travel to Reunion: CAR AIR TRAIN (please circle one)

Date of Birth: ______(we’d like to send you a Birthday greeting)

DUES: ANNUAL $ 20.00 $ ______

LIFETIME $100.00 $ ______

Social Gathering: Thursday Evening: # of people _____ x $26.00 = $ ______

Friday Evening: # of people _____ x $26.00 = $ ______

Registration: (SHIPMATE ) $ ______20.00 _____

Registration: (Spouse ) $20.00 $ ______

Registration: (GUEST ) $20.00 (Each ) $ ______

Donation to the Bluejackets Organization: $ ______

Saturday Night Banquet Pepper Crusted Beef Tenderloin Number of People _____ x $58.00 = $ ______

Pan Seared Gulf Fish Number of People _____ x $51.00 = $ ______

Oven Baked Stuffed Chicken Breast Number of People _____ x $44.00 = $ ______

Tour 1 - Friday, September 10th: City Tour & World War II Museum admission but not movie - pickup 09:00 a.m. and returns NLT 5:00 p.m., Does not include lunch

Wheel Chair requested ______Number of People _____ x $66.00 = $ ______

Tour 2 - Saturday, September 11th: River Boat Cruise to 1815 Civil War Battlefield - pick up 9:00 a.m. & returns to hotel by 1:00 p.m. - A buffet lunch is included

NOT Wheel Chair accessible Number of People _____ x $76.00 = $ ______

Total Amount Enclosed $ ______

Please make your check payable to: USS Springfield Bluejackets, Inc. and mail it to: Keith Rivard, Treasurer, 160 Tommotley Dr, Loudon TN 37774-2120 VOLUME XIII ISSUE I USS SPRINGFIELD CL-66, CLG-7, SSN-761 PAGE 3 2021 REUNION NEWSLETTER

Reunion Memory Book --- Order Form For the reunion memory book we will have a professional photographer. Color photographs will be taken for your portraits. Por- traits (5” x 7”) may be available the night of the banquet depending on the photographer we use for a cost to be determined. Rich will be producing the Memory Book and will have it printed commercially. You are encouraged to send us candid photos taken at the reunion for possible inclusion in the 2021 Memory Book. The pictures shipmates submitted were a great help in producing the 2019 Washington DC Reunion Memory Book. Whether or not you attend , you may order your personal copy of the book by enclosing your check in the amount of $25.00 for each copy desired (includes postage). There are a few copies available from the Boston (2013), San Diego (2014), Charleston (2015) , Portland 2016 and Memphis, 2017, Buffalo 2018, and Washington DC 2019 reunions. These copies are also $25.00. There will be old Memory Books available in New Orleans. See Rich if you’re interested in obtaining one of these. There will also be an opportunity to have a group picture taken of CL-66 shipmates & CLG-7 Plank Owners & other groups by request. The cost is $5.00 for each 5”x7” color group picture, and will be mailed to you with your Memory Book, after the reunion.

Please complete the order form below and return it prior to August 7, 2021 with the proper amount. Name: Address: City, State, & ZIP+4 Code:

USS Springfield Bluejackets Inc. - 28th Reunion September 9 - 12, 2021 Hampton Inn & Suites, New Orleans, LA PHOTO DATE - Evening of Saturday, September 11, 2021

Qty Description Unit $ Total $ Photo Memory Book $25.00 Group Pictures: CL-66 & CLG-7 Plank Owners and other groups $5.00 Grand Total Make Check Payable to: USS Springfield Bluejackets, Inc. Mail to: Keith Rivard, Treasurer, USS Springfield Bluejackets, 160 Tommotley Dr, Loudon TN 37774-2120

Our Tours --- Provided by Red Team Events Friday, September 10, 2021 New Orleans City Tour / National World War II Museum

Founded in 1718, New Orleans is known as the Crescent City, as the French Quarter area was built at a sharp bend in the Mississippi River. Today, you’ll see one of New Orleans’ so-called “cities of the dead,” other- wise known as an above-ground cemetery. Follow the route of the historic St. Charles streetcar to the south- ern-style mansions of the Garden District and then past the campuses of Tulane and Loyola universities that border the Audubon Zoo. Along the way, you’ll hear about the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina and its lasting effects. In the French Quarter, you’ll have free time in and around the Shops at Jax Brewery for lunch and shopping on your own. Don’t forget to try a Beignet! The remainder of the afternoon will be spent at the National World War II Museum. This world-class military history museum tells the story of the Ameri- can experience in the war that changed the world —why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today—so that all generations can understand the price of freedom. Through exhibits, multimedia experi- ences, and thousands of personal accounts, take an immersive tour of World War II in every theater of war. Learn about the D-Day Invasion of Normandy in the Louisiana Memorial Pavilion; see WWII airplanes and vehicles in the US Freedom Pavilion; learn about the Road to Tokyo and Road to Berlin in the Pacific and European Theater Galleries; and so much more. The award- winning film, Beyond All Boundaries, narrated by Tom Hanks is not included in the tour price, but can be pur- Continued Page 4 Bottom VOLUME XIII ISSUE I Springfield Book, Ball Cap & Decal PAGE 4 Memphis (2017) Buffalo (2018) and Washington DC (2019) at $25.00 each of which includes postage. Checks should be made payable to USS Springfield Bluejackets, Inc. and sent to Keith Rivard at: 160 Tommotley Dr, Loudon TN 37774-2120 or via Springfield Decal - $3.00 credit card by calling Keith. All purchases include Sixth Fleet Ball Key Chain - $8.00 postage (free shipping). Star Ship - America Cap - $18.00 emerged from World War II the most powerful na- Star Ship Book tion on Earth. But she was not without adversaries, including devious and treacherous ones. That $16.95 tension culminated in the Cold War of the 1960’s and 1970’s. The hostile players converged on the Mediterranean Sea where the United States brandished its radiant emblem of American military maj- esty and might, the Flagship of the Sixth Fleet and its august three-star Admiral. It was shown off to Ambassadors, Heads of State and European Royalty. However, while its surface glittered, at its core was the biggest bunch of miscreant meat- heads ever assembled on a six-hundred-foot-long structure. With one junior officer who took it upon himself to suppress the mayhem from rising to the surface to embarrass and undermine the United States and its Navy at that critical juncture. Star Ship tells the story of that struggle, the zany episodes constituting it and the undercurrent of intrigue that gives the story geopolitical significance. Mr. Buck served on Springfield from 1969 to 1972 primarily as its Legal Officer and Shore Patrol Officer during which stint the ship was for two of his years the Flagship of the Sixth Fleet in the Med. For most of his professional career he was a successful serial entrepreneur but closed that down about five years ago to write books. Star Ship is his second book. Continued from Page 1

Our Tours --- Provided by Red Team Events (continued from Page 3) chased on your own. Please inquire early about available times. Bus departs hotel at 9:00 a.m. and returns to hotel by 5:00 p.m. & includes bus, guide, and museum admis- sion. Lunch is not included. Saturday, September 11, 2021 Creole Queen Battlefield Cruise

Enjoy sweet river breezes on the promenade deck as you cruise down the mighty Mississippi River as a histo- rian entertains you with a detailed narration of New Orleans landmarks, history, and river lore as the city sky- line slips by. The boat will stop for about thirty-five minutes at the Chalmette Battlefield which is where the battle of 1815 took place. Please note the Battlefield isn’t wheelchair accessible . There are some rocky ar- eas, and most of the walking is on grass. There is a gift shop where you can see little movie clips of some of the battles. Enjoy a buffet lunch on the return trip to the dock. The menu is subject to change, but typically includes salad, Creole favorites like jambalaya, gumbo, and seafood pasta, along with dessert. The Creole Queen is pure New Orleans, pure pleasure! The entire cruise is about 2.5 hours. Bus departs at 9:00 a.m. and returns to hotel by 1:00 p.m. & includes bus, escort, cruise, and buffet lunch.