1943 1972 THE BANG GANG NEWSLETTER Published to perpetuate the memory of USS BANG (SS-385) and her Crew PRESIDENT - Henry Kozloski 102 Meadow St. Agawam, MA 30101-6819 (413) 786-6934 [email protected] VICE PRES - Bill Fenton 185 Haviland Rd Stamford. CT 06903-3326 (203) 329-1517 [email protected] SECRETARY - Bob Swank 18112 Fernando Cir. Villa Park, CA 92861-6420 (714) 639-6358 [email protected] TREASURER - Gene Lockwood 512 Windsor Gate Cir. Virginia Bch, VA 23452-2129 (757) 340-8488 [email protected] EDITOR - Phil Beals 2127 Oahu Dr Holiday, FL 34691-3625 (727) 934-9665 [email protected] WEB MASTER - Bill Fenton 185 Haviland Rd Stamford. CT 06903-3326 (203) 329-1517 [email protected] FALL/WINTER 2006 WWW.USSBANG.COM ISSUE-43 JOSEPH W CHAMP SETH P HENDERSON 1921 — 2006 1925 — 2006 LOST AND FOUND This column is dedicated to informing you of any additions, deletions, or corrections to our active roster. It has been brought to our attention that the following shipmates have passed away and will be placed on Eternal Patrol. Joseph W. Champ, QM1 (43-45), WP1,2,3,4,5,6 Seth P. Henderson, RM2 (44-46), WP5,6 Neil Jones, EM3 (57-58) John Sousa, YN1 (59-60) SHIPMATES, REST YOUR OARS! The following shipmates have changed their mailing address. Please let us know when your address has changed or you may not receive the next Newsletter. LASTNAME FIRSTNAME ADDRESS CITY ST ZIPCODE PHONE Y-O-B Adamek James R 1008 Riviera Dr Norman OK 73072-7623 57-59 Foglesong Lloyd 3839 Lake Blvd Apt 122 Oceanside CA 92056-4650 (760) 940-1330 43-44 Gunny Robert R 1460 Silver Peak Ave Pahrump NV 89048-5481 (775) 537-0274 44-45 Harrison William H 401 Elise Lane Melborne FL 32940-7345 (321) 255-5895 61-62 Kielbasa William J 4 Dartmouth St Danvers MA 01923-1712 (978) 774-0499 68-70 Morgana Richard J 695 Talcottville Rd Apt 16B Vernon Rockvl CT 06066-2392 62-64 The following shipmates are new (found) additions to our roster. Your committee is thankful for all your help in locating them and we will continue our search until we have attempted to locate everyone. LASTNAME FIRSTNAME ADDRESS CITY ST ZIPCODE PHONE Y-O-B Clark Christopher M 3314 S Pine St Tempe AZ 85282-5757 66-68 THANK YOU! Since our last publication, the following shipmates $ have generously donated to our slush fund. Bob Cellupica John Fitzsimmons Neil Jones Jim Maney Jack Myers Mildred Champ Lloyd Foglesong John Kraft Byron Murray Neil Tierney Marv Christenson Dick Gahan Gerald Maly John Murray Dino Toro Karl Evans Bob Gunny Richard Wolfe THE INTERNET CONNECTION CHANGES SINCE LAST PUBLICATION Jim Adamek …………… [email protected] Lee Sivil ……………… [email protected] Chris Clark …………… [email protected] Bill VonDerLieth ............. [email protected] R. Scott Rodgers ……[email protected] Ed White [email protected] MAIL CALL FPO This column is dedicated to all the letters we receive from you. Any info about yourself or others you want to share with your shipmates will be published here. Think of this as a combination of the bulletin board in the Crew’s Mess and the 1MC. Editor's Notes and Ramble: Hi Shipmates! I just Champ. Born Feb. 20, 1921, in Philadelphia, he was a son of the returned from 7 days of special ops in the late Joseph and Ella Mae (Tomlinson) Champ. He was Carribbean aboard a huge target. Enjoyed the a graduate of The Williamson Free School of cruise but now find myself rushing to get this Mechanical Trades in Media, Class of 1940 in the Newsletter out to you. Bad planning on my part. Brick-Masonry Program. Mr. Champ was a veteran of This year has brought us a lot of sorrow with so World War II, serving in the U.S. Naval Submarine many of our shipmates leaving us for Eternal Patrol. Service on the U.S.S. "Bang" for six patrols in the And, I regret to say that the sadness continues. South Pacific. Joe Champ was an original Mr. Champ was retired from the James Hamilton Plank Owner who helped Construction Co. of West Chester and the Haverstick- commission BANG in 1943 Borthwick Co. of Plymouth Meeting. He was an active Portsmouth, NH, guided her to member of First Presbyterian Church at Airy & DeKalb the Pacific Theater during St., Norristown, where he served as a Sunday School WWII, stayed aboard for all six Teacher, Deacon, Trustee and Elder. of her war patrols, and then In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, guided her back to Portsmouth, Amy Roye (David) Fraschetta of King of Prussia and NH. Shortly thereafter he left Kristine Holly (Alan) Beck of Yerington, Nev.; a son, her. Sound familiar? Well it Dale Timothy (Joy) Champ of Millstone, N.J.; five should as I said basically the grandchildren: Jason Beck and Holly Beck Holst of same thing two issues ago Reno, Nev., Tim Beck of San Diego, Calif., Megan and about Joe Hutchins. In fact, Scott Champ of Millstone, N.J.; three great- everything I said about Joe Hutchins applies to Joe granddaughters; a stepgreat-grandson; several nephews Champ also. Two fine gentlemen who had a job to and a niece. He was preceded in death by a sister, Anne do—and did it. The only wording that needs to be Champ, and brother, James Champ. updated is the number of Originals we still have on Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery in Norristown. our mailing list. That number is now 17 with only 2 In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made serving all six patrols. Joe’s widow Mildred mailed to Visiting Nurses Assoc. of Pottstown Hospice the following to me: Program, 1963 E. High St., Pottstown, PA 19464, or to the First Presbyterian Church, 113 East Airy St., Sending a note to advise that my husband, Joseph Champ Norristown, PA. died on Thursday, September 7, 2006. He struggled with lung cancer from March until his death. If you wish to contact Mildred, her address is: He served on the USS Bang from 1943—1945, including Mildred Champ all six of her war patrols in the Pacific. 2461 E High St Apt J-103 Pottstowh, PA 19464 We attended several BANG Reunions. It was great to meet old friends of Joe’s and take part in the activities. Seth ‘Whitie’ Henderson We always looked forward to receiving the ‘Bang Gang arrived aboard BANG in Newsletters’ and as everyone has said—you do a great December 1944 from Division service to the BANG Submariners. 202 Relief Crew. He was I am enclosing Joe’s obituary in case you want to mention aboard for BANG’s final two war something in the Newsletter. Also enclosing a donation patrols and then rode her back to the Slush Fund in Joe’s memory. to Portsmouth, NH. Whitie Joseph W. "Bud" Champ, 85, of the Sanatoga Ridge continued to stay aboard BANG Community, Lower Pottsgrove, went home to be with for another year before his Saviour on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2006, and died at transferring to Spinax (SS489). home with his family at his side. Formerly of Cedars, Though he missed the first four he was the husband of 63 years to Mildred (Garis) of BANG’s Patrols, I consider him no less a hero than the rest of his WWII Neil Jones reported to BANG shipmates and, like all BANG shipmates, we who 2/21/57 and transferred to survive mourn his passing. Halfbeak (SS352) on 9/16/58. Whitie’s son Dana sent me the following: He was in attendance at most of our Reunions and helped host My father passed away late last month (October). He was our 2001 Reunion in Mystic. a submariner and very proud of his service in both WWII In trying to describe Neil, the and Korea. I am enclosing information regarding him and word ‘unique’ keeps coming to hope you will publish it in your next Newsletter. mind. You never knew what to YOUNTVILLE - S. P. “Whitie” Henderson died on expect him to say or do next. Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2006, in Yountville. He was 80 His whole life seemed to be run years old. He was born on Nov. 4, 1925. on spur-of-the-moment Born and raised in Highland Park, Los Angeles, he decisions. He was always graduated from Franklin High School and entered the thinking to keep one step ahead. U.S.N. Submarine Service in 1942. During his tour of And, like the way he lived his life, Neil’s death was duty as a radioman on the U.S.S. Bang, he had an no different. He just did it. The month before Neil’s opportunity to show outstanding courage by rescuing a son called me to report the sad news, I received a downed fighter pilot in open water in the South Pacific. call from Neil requesting I send him a ballcap He also had employment history with the United Parcel because he lost all of his hair to chemo. He joked Service, and in business equipment and television/ about changing his name to Kojack and mentioned movie industry video sales. the up-coming reunion at Albuquerque. Like in the Later, while stationed at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in past, I expected him to show up any second. Maine, he met the girl of his dreams at a U.S.O. dance The following obituary was found in a NJ and they married on Sept.