A NEWSLETTER SERVING FORMER CREWMEN OF USS BRYCE CANYON

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1 A NEWSLETTER SERVING FORMER CREWMEN OF USS BRYCE CANYON Volume 14, Issue 1 January 2009 Points of Special Interest Mike Nesbit gives you a sneak preview of the 2009 reunion in Norfolk in his Coordinator s Column, our cover article. Welcome Mat on page two lists only three newly located shipmates. If you become aware of a shipmate whose name is not on the roster, let us know. Three former shipmates are being sought. See who they are in Where s My Shipmate on page two. See who was considered the best officer on the BC by reading the letters on pages 3 & 4. AHOY, Bryce Canyon Sailors: Get ready for a Great 2009 Bryce Canyon Reunion in Norfolk, Virginia OC- TOBER 8-11, Norfolk Naval Base is the largest Naval Institution in the World, Head Quarters of the Atlantic Fleet. We plan to visit this base, drive by all the ships in port, visit Admirals Row and all the historic homes on the base and visit the Battleship Wisconsin which is permanently berthed next to the Norfolk Waterfront. We will also visit the MacArthur Memorial which is housed in four buildings in downtown Norfolk. The gift shop displays General MacArthur s 1950 Chrysler Impe- COORDINATOR S COLUMN rial Limousine that he used from 1950 till the end of his life. The museum also houses a Monumental Rotunda which is the General s final resting place. A visit to the MacArthur Memorial is a unique glimpse into the past history of a great man and can renew your faith in those American Values of Duty Honor Country. There is also a great shopping mall directly across from the MacArthur Museum that you can also visit. On Saturday we will spend the entire day visiting Colonial Williamsburg, visiting historic homes, public buildings and 18th century craft shops where costumed hosts recreate the sites and sounds of America 200 years ago. From 1699 to 1760 Williamsburg was the capital of England s oldest, largest, richest and most populous colony and the seat of power in the new nation s most influential state. I ve personally been to Colonial Williamsburg twice and it s a great place to visit with so many interesting things to see, and it reflects some of our nation s greatest Americans and a great glimpse into our country s history. We may also have time to see Yorktown and Jamestown. If you have never been to a Bryce Canyon Reun- (Continued on page 2)

2 VOLUME 14, ISSUE 1 (Continued from page 1) ion, this will be one not to miss. Our 2008 reunion in Portland, Oregon was a huge success, with over 80 sailors and wives in attendance, with many new sailors that showed up. Once you attend a reunion, you ll want to come back again and again. The bonding sailors have at these reunions are amazing, and it makes a part of your Naval history come back to life. These reunions are for you, the Bryce Canyon Sailors, and I always appreciate all the suggestions and help in determining where we go each year and what you want to see. I guarantee you won t be disappointed. Please remember to send in your annual $20.00 Bryce Canyon dues in January to the Military Locator & Reunion Service, Inc, PO Drawer 11399, Hickory, NC 28603, attention BC Dues. This money allows us to send out over 800 newsletters four times a year to keep you informed of what we do and what we re all about. Please send in any great experiences you may have had on the BC to Swabbie Stories and pictures are always welcome. My name is Michael Nesbit (69-71) and I m your Reunion Coordinator and BC Association President. (619) thenezz@cox.net USS BRYCE CANYON REUNION OCTOBER 8-11 NORFOLK, VA NORFOLK HILTON HOTEL BRYCE CANYON UPDATE WELCOME MAT The USS BRYCE CANYON Association announces the following former crewmen have recently been located. Welcome aboard and we hope to see you at the next reunion. Mel Free ( ) CWO-3 Supply Officer Barney St Westminster, CA Michael Calloway ( ) RMSN 3601 River Rd Hazel Crest, IL Calloway_M@msn.com Ludie Washington ( ) SH5 Ship Store Room 1375 Hillside Dr Pomona, CA washing@linkline.com TAPS The Bryce Canyon Update learned of the following shipmates deaths since the last newsletter. Every member of the Association sends his heartfelt sympathy to the family and friends of the deceased. Robert Reed ( ) SK3 S Div Died March 30, 2008 William McCratic ( ) MM3 R2 Div Date of death not reported Ronald VanValkenberg (1950s) Died November 5, 1997 WHERE S MY SHIP- MATE? Looking for a lost shipmate? Send in his name and any information you have about him and we ll see if anyone can help you locate him. The lost shipmates are: PAGE 2 I am trying to locate Stan Dison, SN, Weapons 2nd Div Westpac Cruise on the Bryce Canyon AD 36. Please contact: Stephen Templeton (SN Weapons Div) 223 Silberhorn Dr Folsom, CA The shipmate I am trying to locate is Thomas Gerald Price. The last time I saw him was in Whitter, California. He was on the BC probably between My tour was Feb He was on a minority cruise. He lived on Mystic Ave, Whitter, CA. He went to the BC from the carrier USS Bremerton. Please contact: Ben Baynum 25 Hampshire Dr Williamstown, KY I am trying to locate shipmate David Bravot who was on the BC about He was in the OC Division as a Signalman. I d appreciate any help in locating him or anyone in the OC Division, Please contact: Ambrose Marquez, Jr Plum Ave Lochbuie, CO 80603

3 VOLUME 14, ISSUE 1 BRYCE CANYON UPDATE PAGE 3 THE BEST OFFICER ON THE BRYCE CANYON The following question was posed via to USS Bryce Canyon shipmates: Who was the best officer you served under while you were aboard the Bryce Canyon? What made him a good officer? Are there any examples that you recall that caused you to think of him as the best officer you served under? Your answers are printed below. Joe Mullen: There were two officers that qualify as the best officers I ever served under while serving on the Bryce Canyon. I was a new W-1 Supply Clerk when I reported aboard. CDR Jack Gove was the Supply Officer. My orders to the Bryce Canyon were not handled in the usual manner, in that I was in Long Beach to fill another billet that had not been approved by CNO. So the detailer changed my orders and I had to leave, enroute to catch the BC in Westpac the day before Thanksgiving. When I reported aboard, CDR Gove said I should have sent a wire to the ship and they would have granted me the opportunity to stay home and depart after the Thanksgiving holiday. The following year we were back in Westpac on another cruise and my wife gave birth to our daughter in January. We were to return to Long Beach in April. However, there was an advance team that was going to fly back to prepare for our shipyard overhaul in LB Naval Shipyard. Without any discussion or request on my part, CDR Gove sent me home early to see my new daughter. He always thought of his men first. I worked for a lot of Supply Officers in my Navy career, but he was the best. The other best person that I served under was Capt William Ferguson, the CO, during my time on board. He and I were carpooling since we lived about 25 miles from LB Naval Station. I was driving and just as we turned into his street, one of my tires went flat. I said, Captain, I hope you don t mind walking the next block home and I will change this tire. We were both in Dress Whites. He said, No, come on down to the house. When we got there he changed into jeans and went back and changed the tire. I said, Captain, this isn t right. He said, Just make sure I do it right that is your job. I said, What if someone from the ship comes by and sees this? He said, Leadership Training. He was one great guy and a top notch CO. Bill Stroyan: LCDR C. B. Austin was the best officer I served under on the USS Bryce Canyon. 1. Good Officer: He was always approachable to the enlisted sailors under him. 2. Examples: He advised and encouraged me to change my rating from Ship Serviceman (SH) to Storekeeper (SK), I made SK3 the first time I went up for it. This happened to be the best advice that I received in the Navy, allowing me to qualify in the Navy Reserve TAR program it s only open to YN, PN, and SK. I made a career of the U.S. Navy, retiring in Reverend Birney Phillips, HTCS, USN Ret: I wish I had a list of the officers on the BC, but do not. Our Division Officer for the R-1 Div in 1964 was a fair and good man and since leaving the ship, have not had any contact with any of them. I will say that the crew I served with during those years were some of the finest sailors a person could serve with. God bless them all. Chuck Moulder: The years I spent on the Bryce Canyon, ( ) were great. The officer I recall that did the most for the enlisted people under his command was a Lt. I regret that I can t remember his name. I was in the repair division and he was in charge. He did lots of things for us all. He would juggle our liberty and vacation time off to fit each person s needs. He helped us take the class and tests we needed to advance our rates. One of the best things he did for me was convinced me to put in for a transfer to Fort Mason in San Francisco. It turned out to be the best decision I made in the four years I spent in the Navy. Fort Mason had lots of benefits. One was it was close to where my family lived. To this day I think of him and what he did for us. Larry McKelvy: The best officer I served under while aboard the Canyon was Ensign Tallman. He came aboard after I was there and the first thing he said to our R-1 Division was this, I will never ask you to do something I have not already done or would do. Shortly after that statement we had a bilge pump go bad, and he asked me to go fix it. He said he would go with me, and I told him it was not necessary. He said yes it was as he had never done that and he knew it was not an easy job nor a clean one. He went down there with me and stayed the whole time I was there. It was getting late and he asked me if I was hungry. I told him yes, but the mess hall was closed. He went up to the officers quarters and had their cook make us a couple of steak sandwiches and brought down some coffee. He was an exceptional officer and I wonder from time to time where he is now. Sure would like to hear from him. Tom Shaw: I have many fond memories of my Engineering Officers. I was so fortunate to have had such a positive experience from each one I served under. Lt. Howe was the Engineering Officer mentioned in the 1959 Cruise (Continued on page 4)

4 VOLUME 14, ISSUE 1 BRYCE CANYON UPDATE PAGE 4 (Continued from page 3) Book. Our first stop on that cruise was at Ford Island, Hawaii. The plan of the day admonished us not to climb up the coconut trees that grew by the pier where we were moored. The punishment wasn t spelled out. It was a comfortable Hawaiian night as we waited for the movie call topside. Suddenly, as in the Charles Dickens Christmas Carol, we heard noises on port side. There was Lt. Howe, Officer of the Day, in his tropical whites and dress sword up in the coconut trees hacking down coconuts to the cheers of the crew. Thank you, Lt Howe, for a memorable cruise. Roberto V Belis (Chico), Boilertender ( ): Lt Commander Kronberger was the best. He told me that Saturday evening, December 6, 1941, he was on a launch from Ford Island. When the launch finally reached shore, he jumped out and headed for the taxi awaiting passengers. He told the woman driver, Take me to a whorehouse, whereupon the lady driver told him, You re in one! He commented how he was headed back to Ford Island that Sunday morning and the bombs started falling. He thought of me a very gusty fellow for being very small. He told me once that he had heard I was strong. He said I could not pick him up and throw him in the ocean. We had been having an outing on the shore off Waikiki. He was in dress whites with all those many, many medals. I picked him up, fireman s carry and took him knee deep in the water and he promised me two days shore leave if I would not drop him. I carried him back to shore. He said now he understood why everyone said I was strong and tough. Kronberger was a sailor s sailor. He loved his men and his men respected him. He offered me a job in Seattle after my stint in the Navy. He had just had a meeting with the Captain and when he called me in he said that I qualified for a 3 month early out and that the Captain had strongly suggested to Kronberger to forward that message to me. I had had too many fights with huge, drunk sailors picking on the little guy and I showed them who was smarter. Kronberger hated to see me leave. I never saw him again until one of your letters when there was a picture of him and later with the obit you wrote for him. SWABBIE STORIES Dear Update: I enjoy reading this Update and the picture you showed of Bob Sharpe and the Boxing Coach and another fighter. I went aboard the Bryce Canyon prior to its commissioning and was aboard till Dec 5, Left then because of some emergency situation happened at home. I remember Sharpe and the coach, but not the other young man. After I got out of the Navy I picked up some change by fighting the carnival guys when they came to town. Lee Donigan 1028 E Walnut Ave Lompoc, CA Published By: Military Locator & Reunion Service, Inc PO Drawer Hickory, NC (voice) (fax) dina@mlrsinc.com karen@mlrsinc.com Web site: brycecanyon Our Reunions Work So You Don t Have To FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR 10/08 ISSUE Balance from 10/08 issue $ Received since 10/08 $ Available for 01/09 issue $ Expended 01/09 issue $ (7 pages/845 copies) Postage: $ Paper: $ Envelopes: $ Copies: $ Labor: $ TOTAL: $ Balance Remaining for 04/09 $ Dues of $20.00 are due in January of each year. If you have not already sent your dues, mail them to ML&RS in the enclosed envelope. Be sure to indicate that it is for the Bryce Canyon Update. THE CALL OF THE BRYCE CANYON VOL. 2 ISSUE 6 20 SEPTEMBER 1952 B-C CELEBRATED SECOND BIRTHDAY At 1530 last Monday, 15 Sept. 1952, BM3 Craft, passed the word, Knock off, and the ship s personnel began to celebrate the second anniversary of the commissioning of the B-C, held in Charleston, SC, 15 Sept By 1700 the 1st, 2nd and E Divisions, had decorated the Ceremonial Parade for the Anniversary Show in the evening, and the cooks had a big dinner (turkey, baked ham, and all the trimmings) ready for the ship s personnel. The plankowners were at the head of the chow line and the crew s guest included RAMD BIGGS, CAPT SIGEL, CAPT WILLIAMSON, CDR HUT- CHINSON, CDR SCHMIDT, and the heads of departments. Just before the Anniversary Show at 1900, cigars were passed out to everyone, and then M-C PEREZ CS2 had QM2 ADAMS introduce the judges for the contests and the band sounded off with a familiar note, Japanese Rhumba. The show included pie eating, hog calling, mysterious voices, and cigar-butt queen contests. (Continued on page 5)

5 VOLUME 14 ISSUE 1 BRYCE CANYON UPDATE PAGE 5 This is a picture of the Bryce Canyon: Note it has the symbol AD 36. The only pictures I can find on the web of the Bryce Canyon is with symbol D 36. Sent in by Bill Stroyan Back row: Williams, Bodenhamer, Rooks, Desroche Front: Kilby, Hodges, Picture taken in Operations Compartment Sent in by Ted Marsh Captain s Inspection Kilby, Ladari, DesRoche, Wickland, Williams,?, Marsh, Hodges, & hangovers Sent in by Ted Marsh BC CELEBRATED SECOND BIRTHDAY (Continued from page 4) Feature attractions were Hypnotist QM2 MINTA, the Hill Billy Band, with SN CHAMBERS, and songs by WN SHARPE, SN WALKER, SDC MURPHY, and TA PATRICK. And BM3 SHAFFER will never forget the pie he got for helping out. The climax of the evening was the cutting of the birthday cake and the ice cream served in the mess hall after movies.

6 VOLUME 14 ISSUE 1 BRYCE CANYON UPDATE PAGE 6 PHOTOS BY TED MARSH Christmas 1952 in Yokosuka. Children from orphanage with crew members in back. Party held in Sonar Training Room Mt. Fuji from Yokosuka Harbor STATEMENT OF PUBLICATION The UPDATE is the official publication of the USS BRYCE CANYON Association. From now on it will be published quarterly in January, April, July and October, subject to receiving sufficient funding. The Newsletter is funded by voluntary contributions from the membership. All members are encouraged to support the voice of the BRYCE CANYON. A financial statement appears in each issue of the newsletter. The newsletter is intended to be a vehicle for the members to express opinions, make suggestions and especially share experiences. Unless otherwise stated, the views and opinions printed in the newsletter are those of the article s writer, and do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Association leadership or the Editor of the Newsletter. All letters and stories submitted will be considered for publication, except unsigned letters will not be published. Letters requesting the writer s name be withheld will be honored, but published on a space available basis. Signed letters with no restrictions will be given priority. Letters demeaning to another shipmate will not be printed; letters espousing a political position will not be printed. ML&RS, Inc. is not responsible for the accuracy of article submitted for publication. It would be impossible to check each story. Therefore, we rely on the submitter to research each article. The editor reserves the right to edit letters to conform to space limitations and grammar. You are encouraged to actively participate in the newsletter family, by submitting your stories and suggestions. Waiting for darkness so movie could start