VOLUME 45 NUMBER 3 WWW.USSESSEXCV9.ORG December 2014 HAPPY HOLIDAYS NOTES FROM THE EDITOR Vol. 45 December 2014 No.3 Chairman Robert C. Zeller, Jr. We have designed the Buccaneer to provide you with as Vice Chairman Berlyn Ware much information, news, humor and coming events as Secretary H. Bruce Sims possible. This is your newsletter so please forward us Treasurer Robert D. Peters feedback as to articles and material you would like to see. Chaplain Bob Nause Historian Richard M. Scales We will keep all future issues to a maximum of 24 pages, and Ship’s Storekeeper Tom Ferelli 20 pages would be ideal. This will keep our postage expenses Buccaneer Editor Tony Medina Master at Arms Fred McCaskill to a minimum. With a tighter format, while using the front Membership/Publicity Scott Packer and back cover to eliminate wasted space, we should have as much if not more material to present to the reader. BOARD OF DIRECTORS *** CONTENTS*** Class of 2015 1- COVER-ESSEX/LHD-2 EMBLEMS Tom Connell Eugene Schmidt Gordon Kreiner 2- NOTES FROM THE EDITOR, CONTENTS/OFFICERS/ DEAD LINES, etc. Class of 2016 3- CHAIRMAN’S REPORT Berlyn Ware Richard Scales Ed Mrozinski 4- CHAPLAIN’S REPORT/MEMBERSHIP APPL. 5- USS ESSEX GENERAL MEETING MINUTES Class of 2017 6- CONTINUATION OF MINUTES Bob Dreher Scott Packer Tom Ferelli 7- RECAP OF THE 2014 REUNION IN BUFFALO N.Y. Berlyn Ware 8- REUNION PICTURES FORMER CHAIRMEN 9 - REUNION PICTURES Joseph DuErmit William Pihl 10- TAPS /SICK BAY Robert C. Zeller Jr. Robert Walker Frank O’Connor 11- MEMORIAL AND HONOR LIST Norm Thompson Dan Ganet 12-FROM THE TREASURER/WELCOME ABOARD 13-CHANGES TO THE ROSTER/RETURN TO SENDER ADVISORY BOARD 14- LHD-2 Class of 2014 15- SALUTE TO THE SAILOR’S WIFE Bill McCaffrey Don Fortin Bob Watson 16- TIDBITS FROM THE EDITOR 17- NAVY CARRIER WILL BE INCOMPLETE THE BUCCANEER is a periodical publication published a minimum of three times annually by the USS ESSEX CV/CVA/CVS -9/LHD-2 ASSN. INC., a 18- SHIP’S STORE page 1 non-profit organization. Members are composed of those who have served on the 19- SHIP’S STORE Page2 above ships at various times from 1941 to present. Offspring of those who served 20- ESSEX ORGANIZATION DUES NOTICE are also qualified for full membership. Spouses and others who are sponsored by a member may become an Associate Member but without voting privileges. NOTE: All photos, prints, articles, biographies, events, naval news, letters, humor, cartoons and all other newsworthy material should be sent to the editor as clearly and comprehensive as possible. All material forwarded for publication will be used when space and time permits. *Bob Nause–Chaplain /570-788-3157/ [email protected] 2014 DUES ARE DUE! 28 Country Club Ln., Sugarloaf, PA 18249-9733 PLEASE SEND YOUR DUES TO *Tony & Maria Medina-Editor /732-738-6807 EUGENE SCHMIDT [email protected] 1719 Sunnyview Oval HIS ADDRESS IS ON THE BACK COVER OF THIS Keasbey, NJ 08832 PUBLICATION *H. Bruce Sims-Secretary /770-707-1812/[email protected] 581 Conkle Rd. Hampton, GA 30228 BUCCANEER SUBMISSION DEADLINE *Gerald McDonell-Publicity/Membership [email protected] Last day of October for December issue. 42543 Applecreek Dr. Plymouth, MI 48170 *Robert D. Peters-Treasurer/[email protected] Last day of February for April issue. 2329 Princeton Berkley, MI 48072-3020 Last day of June for August issue. *Chuck Fiedler-LHD liaison/[email protected] 612 Fieldwood Cir. Richardson. TX75081-5608 2 From The Eyes of the Chairman From: The Eyes of the Chairman: Our 2014 reunion in Sept. was probably the least attended but, was a huge success. People enjoyed the tours and the hotel was lovely, and plenty spacious for getting together. We are working on our 2015 reunion in Indianapolis, finalizing the tours. That promises to be great also. We really need more members to attend. This increases membership input and hotel perks. Our chairman recently had a defibrillator placed in his heart and is doing much better. The holidays are upon us and we wish one, and all a safe and happy holiday season. Your chairman, Bob Zeller U.S.S.ESSEX CV/CVA/CVS-9/LHD-2, INC ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION $25.00 FILL OUT THIS FORM AND MAIL WITH ABOVE APPLICATION FEE TO: U.S.S. ESSEX ASSN. H.Bruce Sims/Secretary 581 Conkle Rd Hampton, GA 30228-2702 Phone: (770) 707 1812 Fax: (770) 707-0356 Email: [email protected] PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY * REQUIRED FIELDS * NAME: _________________________________* BIRTH DATE: _____________ * ADDRESS: ______________________________________________________ * CITY: ___________________* STATE:_____________* ZIP CODE:__________ * PHONE: ______________________* EMAIL: ___________________________ LIST MY EMAIL ADDRESS IN THE ASSOCIATION ROSTER ___YES ___NO LIST MY EMAIL ADDRESS ON THE ESSEX WEB SITE___YES___NO SPOUSE FIRST NAME: _________________________OR CK HERE IF NONE___ NAME OF SPONSOR, IF ANY:_________________________________________ HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION? ______________________ _______________________________________________________________ REMARKS: _______________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ NOW HEAR THIS! My current term after being re-elected in Nashville will expire with the 2016 reunion. Therefore, I will not seek another term as your secretary. It has been a pleasure serving you all these years but after sixteen years, I will step down and pass it on to another shipmate. This will give the association two years to find my replacement. Sincerely, H. Bruce Sims Secretary USS Essex Association 3 Chaplains Message To everyone who participated in the memorial service at the reunion, I appreciate your help and support. It was wonderful to see all those who attended! The holidays are quickly approaching and to most families they will be filled with parties, celebrations and social gatherings. For some families, the holidays will be filled with sadness, loneliness and anxiety. This is especially true if they have lost a loved one during this past year, experienced a broken relationship, failing health, loss of a job, even a shattered dream or some form of loss. It is normal to grieve, and really feel that loss of a loved one. This holiday season will not be the same without a grandparent, husband, wife, child or close loved one. We must go on with our lives and continue to remember the pleasant times of our past with them. We must have faith in the future. Our young ones can continue to give us joy with their carefree ways, their accomplishments and the hope for the coming years. We need to enjoy each day one at a time, stop and smell the roses, and thank God for what he has blessed us with. Most of all, remember the most important reason we celebrate the holidays. THE BIRTH OF CHRIST. Merry Christmas and A Blessed New Year! God bless you and God Bless America. God bless and keep our troops safe. Father, we thank you for our veterans. We thank you for their willingness to risk all so that our nation might dwell in peace and security. May they receive the honor and recognition they deserve. We pray that you will heal the physical and psychological wounds some of our veterans have suffered. Bring peace to those who mourn the loss of our comrades. May our nation always respect and acknowledge those who have served our country so well. 4 USS ESSEX GENERAL MEETING MINUTES BUFFALO, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 12, 2014 Chairman Bob Zeller opened the meeting and Richard Scales, Historian, led the Pledge of Allegiance. Chaplain Bob Nause gave the invocation. Minutes of the 2013 Nashville Reunion: A motion was made by Berlyn Ware and seconded by Tom Ferelli to waive the reading of the minutes as they were printed in the December 2013 issue of the Buccaneer. The motion passed with a voice vote. Secretary's Report by Bruce Sims: Figures as of August 28, 2014 were reported. Total membership is 587. In 2013 we had 623 members, down 36 members this year. We now have 232 life members and 3 hardship cases with a total of 235 paying no dues. Only 352 members are paying dues, which creates financial problems for the association. Dues have not been paid by 78 of our members. We do have 43 that have paid ahead for 2015, 10 for 2016, 5 for 2017 and 1 for 2019. We will have to drop 44 this year if dues are not paid. A reminder postcard is mailed to those that have not paid their dues and we have seen a response from this mailing. We have also lost a lot of members due to death. Our attendance is the lowest ever this year and we continue to see a decline in participation and membership. We need members willing to serve and to spread the word about our association. A motion was made by Dan Genet and seconded by Tom McNally to approve the secretary's report as given. The motion carried by a voice vote. Treasurer's Report by Bob Peters: The membership received a written copy of the financial statement and report. Peters reported our declining membership, donations and money made at the reunion impact our finances. Our cash position remains very strong but we can't live on cash alone. This is to be our rainy day fund. The Board of Directors and Officers continue to work on plans to right the ship so "stay the course." A motion was made by Richard Scales and seconded by Dan Genet to accept the treasurer's report and a voice vote carried the motion. Audit Report by Berlyn Ware: The committee examined the financial record of the Association and feel they are accurate for the period covered by the audit.