USS Benjamin Stoddert (DDG-22) & USS Jupiter (AVS-8) Association T h e SITREP VOLUME 10 - NUMBER 4 2014 FALL/WINTER EDITION Association President: Ron Zorn, 9609 Vomac Rd., Santee, CA 92071, [email protected] (619) 402-5523 Editors: Art & Janie Hansen, 5800 30th Avenue, Kearney, NE 68845, [email protected] (308) 237-5435 many sailors and their guests the opportunity to visit Aloha Oe old neighborhoods, look for old haunts—now long gone, and re-visit places where memories lingered 40 After one Great Reunion in Honolulu, Hawaii and 50 years later. Well, it is done. The Hawaii reunion is in the A long walk around Honolulu resulted in seeing rearview mirror now, and everyone is looking down the some things a bit off the beaten path. The statue of road to Nashville. However, the recent memories of King Kamehamea (left) is Honolulu, just like the more distant memories of those in front of the Aliiolani who were home-ported in Pearl Harbor, are now ours Hale (home to the Hawaii to cherish forever. And what a reunion it was: fun-filled State Supreme Court) tours and dinners made this one especially across from Iolani Palace memorable. Many of this year’s attendees took advantage of the hotel’s policy to allow the reunion rate for rooms before and after the reunion to extend their stay— either on the front end or in the days following the reunion. Others used the opportunity to visit some of the other islands and see parts of Hawaii that were not on most sailors’ itineraries 40 and 50 years ago. The main reason for choosing Hawaii for the 10th Stoddert/Jupiter reunion was because this year is the 50th anniversary of the commissioning of the Benjamin Stoddert. Everyone knew that it would be rather and is not on most tours, expensive but seemed willing to look beyond that. but often visited. The The “Benny Sweat” was home-ported in Pearl Hula dancer is by the walk-way to the Aloha Tower Harbor, and the Association members overwhelming (the one that Jack Lord was standing in at the start of validated through a vote that it was fitting to celebrate the original Hawaii Five-O television shows. Below is her 50th year there. The reunion in Honolulu gave Page 1 of 4 Benjamin Stoddert Association Volume 10 – No. 3 Summer Edition 2014 one view from the Aloha Tower. The view has Other stops included changed since 1976, no doubt. the Byodo-In Temple with its huge bell and black swans, and a wonderful grounds in which we were allowed to walk and enjoy the serenity of the area. The buffet dinner and floor show was very much enjoyed by those in attendance. The Liberty Belles did a bang up job and really engaged the crowd. The Friday tour to Ford Island, the USS Missouri, The Grand Circle Island tour of Oahu on Thursday the USS Oklahoma Memorial, and the Pacific Aviation included a stop at Kualoa Ranch which had a great Museum was also a hit with the reunion attendees. It restaurant for lunch, where I tried a local Hawaiian was inspiring to see the spot where World War II favorite, loco moco, which is a huge pile of white rice ended. There was ample time for a great lunch in the topped with a hamburger patty, brown gravy and eggs Aviation museum cafeteria and still explore the over-easy….mmmmmm! It isn’t everybody’s idea of a artifacts and displays in the Aviation Museum. There treat but it is right up my alley, and I found it delicious. was a little bit of pre-tour excited confusion as the The Grand Circle tour also took us by most of the ladies tried to figure out whether or not they could take famous stops on the island of Oahu. We drove their purses and pocketbooks. through Waikiki and past Diamond Head on the way to The Saturday tour to the Arizona Memorial went a places like Halona Point/Blowhole Lookout, bit smoother because Friday’s tour worked out the Chinaman’s Hat and Lion Head Rock, and a stop at kinks with the security procedures, so we knew what Pali Lookout. Below is a view from one of the stops on to expect. The visit to the memorial itself was very the Grand Circle Tour (Hanauma Beach). moving and memorable. Unfortunately, the tours were “modified” and some of the stops advertised (National Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl and Dole Plantation, for example) were either skipped or shortened, owing to time constraints. Reunion Book is out! And this was from Pali Lookout (below). We received our reunion book in the mail! What fun to search through all the photos and see what people were doing! Everyone who ordered it should have it by now. If you didn’t order one, well, maybe you can look at someone’s at the next reunion! (The shaded part of the image in the above photo shows the back of the book.) Page 2 of 4 Benjamin Stoddert Association Volume 10 – No. 3 Summer Edition 2014 NOTICE: The SitRep will be issued only two times per year. The Fall/Winter edition will follow the reunion and the Spring/Summer edition will come out about 2 months prior to the next reunion. Are there any aspiring newsletter editors out there? We are looking for a new one! Art and Janie Hansen want to retire. Upcoming in 2015: Tennessee Reunion Save the Date: Mark your calendars (now that you have the 2015 on the wall) or write it in your Sept .12: (9:00) Business Meeting; (10:30) cell phone calendar—the next reunion will be in Shuttle to explore Nashville and shop. (6:00- Nashville, Tennessee from September 8- 13. 11:00) Banquet with entertainment $58. Here is a taste of what you will see and Sept. 13: (8:00-noon) Hospitality Room; experience in Nashville besides the wonderful Departure for home, or stay longer at same stories and memories shared by your shipmates Reunion rate, good for 2 days prior to or after and their guests: Reunion. First and foremost is a place to stay. The As always, you can sign up for as little or as hotel selected for our reunion is affiliated with much as you want to do. However, as soon as the Marriott Hotels: The Inn at OpryLand, 2401 you DO know, please do a favor for those who Music Valley Dr., Nashville TN 37214, phone are planning the reunion and get your number: 1-800-291-9434. The hotel is, as its reservations and payments in as soon as name suggests, close to the Grand Ole Opry! possible to help with the planning process! Of course, we are all eligible to receive the reduced rate of $109.00/night. Tell your friends It wouldn’t be a good to mention the “Jupiter-Stoddert Reunion” and qualify for that rate during that time as well! Hawaii Navy While there is no continental breakfast, the newsletter without a area has a lot of options including Starbucks and little bit of hula: Bill Cracker Barrel. Hotel amenities include a lounge/bar, airport transportation, ATM, jacuzzi Christiansen, who or spa. There is limited RV parking though there hula’ed into a prize at is no electrical. Germaine’s Luau! A brief outline of the plan for the activities is as follows: ***News Flash!*** Sept. 8: Registration and Hospitality Room Mike Rigdon, John and Bernie Dishaw, and Sept. 9: Registration and Hospitality Room Ron and Maureen Zorn are meeting April Sept. 10: (9:00-4:00) Tour of the Hermitage Stoddert sometime in February of this (home of Andrew Jackson). Lunch on your own year in San Diego, CA. April is a direct at Farmer’s Market. WW II Memorial; Vietnam descendent of Benjamin Stoddert and she Memorial; Centennial Park; Music Square; retired from the Navy in November 2013. Country Music Hall of Fame Museum (7 Hours) Pictures will undoubtedly be on the $60. website, and she has been invited to be (5:30-9:30) Walk to Nashville Nightlife guest speaker at the Nashville reunion. Theatre for Dinner/Country Music Show $44. Sept. 11: (9:00) Board the General Jackson for SHIP’S STORE IS OPEN: Enclosed in Lunch/Show while cruising the Cumberland this newsletter is a one-sheet store-and- River $90; (6:15-9:15) The Grand Ole Opry order form. Please peruse it and make your Show $52. purchases from this handy-dandy insert! Page 3 of 4 Benjamin Stoddert Association Volume 10 – No. 3 Summer Edition 2014 In Memorium - Jim Leapley 66-69 July 10, 1947 -- February 26, 2013 Lest we forget: Leapley, Jimmie K. “Jim”, age 65, passed away The 50-50 drawing was Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at Vandalia, OH following held in Hawaii with the a lengthy illness. Jim is survived by his father, James, happy winners: Belleville, OH, loving wife Anna {Gates} Leapley, son; Bob Brown, Steven and his wife Cindy Leapley, 6 grandchildren, along with many others. Roger Evans, Jim was a Viet Nam veteran who served aboard the Benjamin Stoddert from 1967 to 1969. Jim Hinton, and A Celebration of Life service was held Saturday, Dave Saunders! March 2, 2013, at Tipp City Nazarene Church in Congratulations to these lucky sailors! Vandalia, OH. Who knows? You may be the lucky Jim loved to attend the reunions, and, in fact, he attended the last one as some of the Benjamin winner in Nashville! How? You ask.