EEXXPPLLOORREERR’’SS GAZETTE GAZETTE Published Quarterly in Pensacola, Florida USA for the Old Antarctic Explorers Association Uniting All OAEs in Perpetuating the Memory of United States Involvement in Antarctica Volume 14, Issues 2,3 & 4 Old Antarctic Explorers Association, Inc Apr-Dec 2014 Bear in Antarctica —Painting by Hunter Wood U. S. Revenue Cutter Bear on Arctic Patrol J O H N S O N P O I N T A N T A R C T I C A by Laura Snow As a teenager Johnson was active in the Sea Scouts in n 8 April 2014, the U.S. Board of Geographic Names San Diego, headquartered aboard the museum ship Star of Oapproved the name Johnson Point in Antarctica in India. The Sea Scouts learned to sail on two 24-foot honor of OAEA member Robert R. Johnson. Mr. Johnson whaleboats. At the age of fifteen, Johnson signed on to the was a crewmember on the USS Bear during the United Pacific Queen, a three-masted sailing ship. The vessel left States Antarctic Service Expedition, 1939–1941; served in Long Beach, California, on an expedition to the Cedros Operation Highjump, 1946–1947; and was the chief Islands to catch sea lions for the San Diego Zoological Park. boatswains mate on the USS Burton Island during Operation No sea lions were on board when they returned to port, but Windmill, 1947–1948. Johnson Point is located in the area Johnson had fallen in love with the sea. This experience of Wayne Head and Gibbs Point, named in honor of changed his life and eventually led Johnson to the Navy and Anthony (Kelczewski) Wayne and George Gibbs, both to Antarctica. crewmembers of the Bear during USASE. Continued on page 4. E X P L O R E R ‘ S G A Z E T T E V O L U M E 14, I S S U E 2, 3 & 4 A P R D E C 2 0 1 4 P R E S I D E N T ’ S C O R N E R Laura Snow—OAEA President FELLOW OAEA MEMBERS: It is my pleasure to announce that Johnnie Draughon has filled the vacant chaplain’s position. Johnnie is a lay minister and is Director of Lay Servant Ministries with the Virginia Conference of the GROWLERS & BERGY BYTES United Methodist Church. Feature Stories, Odds & Ends, Collected, Compiled, & Johnnie was a journalist Written by Billy-Ace Penguin Baker with Naval Support Forces Page Antarctica Public Affairs Cover StoryJohnson Point Antarctica…………..1, 4, 51 Office while serving in § Operation Deep Freeze, Pensacola, FLLast Call For Mail Call…………………3 1974–1977. § As I am sure you are Here and There—Letters to the Editor…………………...6 aware, the Explorers § Gazette was not issued in the last three quarters of this Boise, ID—USS Arneb at Cape Hallett in 1957… ……10 year. Billy-Ace has done a tremendous job in producing § this triple issue! West Jefferson, NC—This Quarter in History…………14 I solicit your suggestions and recommendations. § Constructive criticism is always welcome. West Jefferson, NC—Lionel Wafer’s Maiden Voyage…16 § Laura Snow Slingerlands, NY—Updates on Ice Eagle………………..17 OAEA President § Here and There—In Memory: Obituaries………………19 [email protected] § Virginia Beach, VA—Chaplain’s Corner……………….25 2014 OAEA Election Results § By Bob Gaboury OAEA Election Committee Chairman Norfolk, VA—Tidewater Group Reunion Report……...26 § he official election count was conducted on 11 Pensacola, FL—Of Maps and Men Book Review……….28 October 2014. I conducted the preliminary count, § T Pensacola, FL—New Members & Reunions…………….31 called Count 1. Mille Buehler and Linda Gaboury did § Count 2, and Cy Buehler and myself did the third and final Here and There—Locator Column………………………32 count. A total of 450 Regular Members voted and the § results are as follows. Brunswick, ME—NE Chapter Meetings ………………34 § Centennial, CO—Nuclear Power Plant Plaque…………38 President Laura Snow § Vice President: Bob Gaboury Pensacola, FL—GCG Chapter Meetings……………….41 Treasurer: Bill Rouzer § Directors: Dick Spaulding and Robert Connor Laguna Woods, CA—2014 Accounting Statement…… 50 DISCLAIMER STATEMENT Laura Snow and Dick Spaulding were reelected for their second terms as officers of the OAEA. The Explorer’s Gazette is published quarterly by the Old Antarctic Explorers Association. Opinions expressed by the Congratulations to every one and thanks to those who ran, editorial staff or contained in articles submitted by members, but were not elected this time around. and non-members are not official expressions of the OAEA nor does the mention of books, products, or events constitute endorsement by the OAEA. 2 E X P L O R E R ‘ S G A Z E T T E V O L U M E 14, I S S U E 2, 3 & 4 A P R D E C 2 0 1 4 EDITORIAL COLUMN LAST CALL FOR MAIL CALL The Explorer’s Gazette is the official publication of the Charging a Subscription Fee for the Explorer’s Old Antarctic Explorers Gazette has been proposal and discussed several times Association, Inc. by the OAEA Board of Directors (BOD). National Headquarters In a recent email to the BOD I stated that a 10819 Berryhill Road subscription fee to all members (the majority access Pensacola, FL 32506 USA the Gazette via the OAEA website) would require that Phone 850 456 3556 the Gazette webpage be password protected so only And is published four times annually paid subscribers would have a password. This would entail a lot of tracking and extra work handling Editor Billy-Ace Baker money, so this option was not considered to be viable. During discussions, the following pertinent details Editorial Assistants were brought forward: Gus Shinn Kerry Konrad The cost of printing and mailing the Gazette is Pam Landy by far the largest single expense in the OAEAs annual budget. Editor Emeritus Jim O’Connell For FY-2013 (the last year that four issues were 2001–2003 distributed) the cost of printing and mailing totaled $3,130 for mailings to approximately Association Officers 250 members; a cost of around $4.00 per copy. It is known that a good number of members who President – Laura Snow receive the Gazette by mail do have Internet access Vice President – Bob Gaboury and could view and/or print the Gazette from the Secretary – Marty Diller OAEA website. Treasurer – Bill Rouzer Optimally, the Gazette would be printed and Assistant Treasurer – Cyril Buehler mailed only to members who have donated to the Life Director – Billy-Ace Baker Gazette Printing and Mailing fund, but the BOD Past President/Director – Jim Heffel agreed that it is not cost-effective to continue to pay a Director – David Bresnahan printing company to print and mail issues to such a Director – Robert Conner small number of donors. Director – Wayne Germann Considering the significant burden to the annual Director – Ed Hamblin Director – Thomas Henderson budget imposed by printing and mailing the Gazette to Director – William Smith a small number (less than 15%) of members, the BOD Director – Russ Livermore decided to cease printing and mailing of the Director – Dick Spaulding Explorer’s Gazette newsletter—effective immediately Chaplain – Johnnie Draughon after this issue is distributed Historian – Billy-Ace Baker Refunds of donations will be considered on a case- Parliamentarian – Jim Eblen by-case basis. 3 E X P L O R E R ‘ S G A Z E T T E V O L U M E 14, I S S U E 2, 3 & 4 A P R D E C 2 0 1 4 Johnson Point Continued From Page 1 most important items related to the work of the base loaded on the With his mother’s permission, Johnson ships. The East Base evacuation was not as simple. Due to the ice the joined the Navy in 1937, at the age of 17. After ships could not enter Marguerite Bay, adjacent to East Base. After three initial training in San Diego, Johnson received weeks, with the ice situation worsening, it was decided that the East orders to the battleship USS Pennsylvania as an Base personnel would be flown to Mikkelson Island (now Watkins apprentice seaman, where he spent eighteen Island) in two flights. Most of the scientific specimens, instruments and months. Later, after his acceptance to submarine all equipment were abandoned. A landing strip was laid out and the school, he received a new set of orders to report East Base personnel were flown to the island in two flights. The island to the USS Bear, the three-masted barkentine had a 400-foot rock cliff which the East Base personnel descended by built in Scotland in 1874 that would serve as lines to a whaleboat waiting below, manned by Robert Johnson and Admiral Richard Byrd’s flagship on USASE. other Bear crewmen. The aircraft was abandoned on the island. The Johnson believes he was chosen to sail on the Bear, its crew, and evacuees arrived in Boston on 18 May 1941, two Bear because of his experience on sailing weeks after the North Star, and almost eight weeks after the evacuation. vessels. Other than Norwegian sailing master Bendik Johansen, only nineteen-year-old Robert Johnson, the youngest crewmember on the Bear, had extensive sailing experience. In October 1939, the Bear left Boston harbor for Antarctica. Although she was fitted with a 500 horsepower Atlas Imperial diesel engine, the ship was under sail for most of the journey. She spent a significant amount of time in uncharted waters and the crew would go for weeks without seeing another vessel. USS Bear Matchbook Cover Twelve thousand miles later, after having left Boston Harbor a week apart, the Bear and the USMS North Star reached the Bay of Whales a WW-II YEARS few days apart and offloaded expedition As the United States entered World War II, Robert Johnson was a members, dogs, aircraft, the infamous boatswains mate first class.