Small Talk Volume 14 Issue 1 February 2008
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Small Talk Volume 14 Issue 1 February 2008 SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST HOW THE NAVY BENEFITED MY LIFE, CONT. • One more story for Larry Chassels incentive and to get com- receipts for delivery of “How did the Navy CDR, USNR (RET): missioned as an ENS same) to the board. Need- benefit your life?” when I graduated. Vietnam less to say, there was a lot makes up our cover In the 4th grade, I de- was looking bad, and the of embarrassment at the story. Larry Chassels cided I wanted to be a high Draft Board was trying to Draft Board that day. shares his response. school math teacher. I still get all of us. I was classi- I graduated and got my had this goal when I went to fied 1S (Priority 1, Student Commission as an Ensign, • Only two new names for Welcome Mat on the University of Missouri Deferral) at the time, so I USNR on 8 June 1965. It page two. If you know (College of Education), Co- decided to finish my Offi- took 60 days to get to my of a former shipmate lumbia, MO, 9/61—6/65. cer Training. first ship, USS KING (DLG- who is not on the mail- Since my university was a The funny part is that I 10), in the Tonkin Gulf. Get- ing list, let us know. “Land Grant School,” all was ordered to report to ting there I flew from San male attendees were re- the St. Louis, MO Draft Francisco, CA on an old • Responses to another quired to take two years of Board (for duty in the propeller driven plane, stop- question to the readers ROTC. I was looking for Army) 4 months before my ping on every island across is on page three. If you scholarships; a buddy of graduation and commis- the Pacific; landed at Clark would like your re- mine was applying for a sioning. Apparently, the AFB, PI; took a Navy bus to sponse printed next time, just send it in for Navy ROTC Scholarship; I paperwork filed with the Subic Bay, PI; departed on the next issue. used to get engrossed in Draft Board by the Navy USS TOLOVANA (AO-64); old “Victory at Sea” TV se- got lost. So I received was highlined to the USS • A “Blast from the Past” ries; I applied for a Navy Navy Orders from the Uni- BON HOMME RICHARD is on page four. Ex- ROTC Scholarship. I didn’t versity of Missouri NROTC (CVA-31); was jet cod cerpts from a 23 June get the scholarship, but I Unit to report to the St. flighted to the USS ORIS- 1946 Small Talk News- chose NROTC for my first Louis, MO Draft Board, in KANY (CVA-34), then taken letter is featured. two years. I elected to take my 1st Class Midshipman by helicopter and lowered in two more years of NROTC Uniform to deliver copies a “horse collar” onto the to get the $50.00 per month of the documents (and (Continued on page 2) VOLUME 14 ISSUE 1 SMALL TALK PAGE 2 (Continued from page 1) stern of the USS KING (DLG-10). FROM YOUR TAPS I then spent a total of 10 years active duty in the U.S. Navy, serving COORDINATOR on USS KING (DLG-10), USS SAM- PLE (DE-1048) PRE-COMM DETAIL, Hi all Ernest G. Small Ship- USS FOX (DLG-33), U.S. NAVY DE- mates of all eras, especially those from ‘67—’70. This is the old STROYER SCHOOL, USS SAMUEL Small Talk was notified of the B. ROBERTS (DD-823), USS Postal Clerk from that era. It is now 2008, and our next reunion is go- death of the following shipmate. The ERNEST G. SMALL (DD-838), COM- entire crew extends our sympathy to DESFLOT 5, and COM- ing to be this September in Our Nation’s Capital, Washington, DC. family and friends. If anyone knows NAVSURFGRU MIDPAC. During my of a deceased shipmate please in- shipboard duty I did tutor 12 sailors The exact dates are soon to be determined, but it is going to be a form the Small Talk so he can be and helped them complete their GED recognized in TAPS and also be Testing to get high school degrees. fun packed 4 days, so I invite all of you old shipmates to make plans listed on the honor roll at the reun- After my active duty, I became a ion memorial service. Navy Contractor for 18 months, then I and attend. See old faces that we joined Navy Civil Service for 19 have not seen in 40 plus years and years. During this time, I also actively reminisce about the camaraderie we once shared many, many years Fred C Funderbuck participated in the U.S. Naval Re- (1947-52) BT2 Eng serve for 16 years. After “Catch 62”, ago. Died January 2007 “WEP”, etc. I am now receiving a re- __________ duced Navy Civil Service Retirement Ron Palinkas (GS-12 Computer Specialist), full __________ Navy Reserve Retirement (CDR, USNR) and reduced Social Security Retirement. FINANCIAL STATEMENT But the thing I value most is the Balance after 11/07 $1137.25 time I spent aboard ship with my crew Funds received since 11/07$20.00 onboard my destroyers. We were Funds available for 02/08 truly a “team” and a “family” because $1157.25 we all depended on each other to WELCOME MAT Funds expended for 02/08 survive and return home together. I $129.25 was always a “canon cocker” or The Ernest G. Small family wel- Ending Balance $1028.00 weapons man. I always considered comes the most recently located this as the primary mission of the members of the former crew. We This newsletter is being mailed ship- to get in position to fire my hope to see you at the next reun- only to those who returned the cou- weapons, but you can’t get there ion and ask you to take an active pon for a paper copy. All others can without the Engineers providing the part in our Association. view the newsletter on the website- propulsion, the Operations and Navi- www.mlrsinc.com/egsmall. Send contributions to ML&RS, Inc. as gation people getting you to the tar- Terrie Little shown below. get area, etc. When you went to GQ, STGSN Fox Div you knew you depended on each 209 S Lapham Peak Rd other. This also held true for normal Delafield, WI 53018 steaming, picking up downed pilots, 414-617-1819 Published By: men overboard, etc. Your whole life [email protected] Military Locator & Reunion Service, Inc depended on keeping “your lady” PO Drawer 11399 afloat and operational so you could Joe McKissick Hickory, NC 28603 get to the next liberty port, and more (1963-66) IC2 828-256-6008 (voice) importantly, back home to all of your 1802 Rolling Ct individual families. I still miss my time 828-256-6559 (fax) Piedmont, OK 73078 at sea, including riding out three ty- 405-373-4444 [email protected] phoons, etc. Right now, there has [email protected] [email protected] been nothing too tough to handle on __________ dry land, because I have handled www.mlrsinc.com/egsmall destroyers at sea in almost any situa- tion you can name. “Our Reunions Work, So You Don’t __________ Have To” __________ VOLUME 13 ISSUE 4 SMALL TALK Page 3 me another pair of glasses. When We sail the open seas, my ship got back to Yokosuka about Earning our measly pay, a month later, I went to the base eye Guarding our land with billions, doctor and was fitted with a new pair For two and a half a day. of glasses. The next day I got the pair of glasses I ordered from home. We sweat, We freeze, We shiver, MAIL CALL After that, I always had a back-up It’s more than man can stand, Editor’s Note: When asked if any- pair of glasses. We’re not here to be punished, one had an idea for a question to ___________ We’re here to defend our land. ask all the shipmates, we got this one from a reader: Tell about a Walt Smith, FTG3: We sail to protect our people time when you were frustrated or In May of 1964, we were chang- And our beloved Uncle Sam, irritated while in the Navy. Here are ing our home port from Long Beach, But few know we are living, the responses we received: CA to Yokosuka, Japan. After leav- And few even give a damn. ing Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, the USS Bill Britton: Ernest G. Small and the USS Joseph When we reach the gates of heaven, It’s too bad all these chiefs are Strauss changed course, heading for We’ll hear St. Peter yell, nice now. How come many of their Viet Nam. We relieved the USS “Enter sailors of the Small, kind weren’t so nice while on active Maddox and the USS Turner Joy in You’ve served your time in hell!” duty? Maybe more re-enlistments the Tonkin Gulf after some kind of __________ would have taken place. I person- incident there. Since we had ex- ally know an old command master pected to bring our crew up to a full chief that is incredibly nice to talk compliment of personnel when we PUNS to and enjoy. He asked me person- reached Yokosuka, we were stand- My apologies in advance! ally why I hadn’t stayed in the Navy ing Port and Starboard Watches, instead of getting out as an E5 un- except for times spent at General • Two antennas met on a roof, fell der four.