| USS Vreeland Log, November 2004 |
|
| Name : Tim Kershner |
6 Nov 2004
|
| Rate/Rank : GMT3 |
| Years Onboard : 69-72 |
| e-mail : tpk21029@comcast.net |
Comments : Nobody yet has mentioned the very beginnings of the USS Vreeland. Well I guess I have an obligation. The New Orleans days before commissioning are still vivid in my memory. The Vreeland was built at
the Avondale shipyard in Westwego, Louisiana and I was was one the 'nucleus' crew members assigned to the duty of watching the ship being built. Didn't know what that really meant at the time other than getting familiar with every square foot of the ship. So that's what we did. Every day we were bussed out to the shipyard from the Algiers Naval Station to walk around the ship and stay out of the way of the 'yardbirds' a.k.a. shipyard workers. We ate some great beans & rice with hushpuppies for lunch!
If anybody out there remembers Ed Stringer, a Gunner's Mate I worked with and he drove the bus each day out to the shipyard, let me know. Had to steal some Navy fuel a couple times but all is forgotten, I hope. I drove it once and ran into an oncoming vehicle in New Orleans, the Navy bailed me out.
OK, to skip ahead, we stood watches on the ship late at night while it was not even launched yet and they gave most of us the week off during Mardi Gras for some R&R. Not bad! What a party town!It came time to launch the Vreeland and set sail for Charleston. All that went smooth until we spotted a small boat adrift in the Bermuda
triangle. The yardbirds hoisted it aboard but I don't know what happended to it after we got to Charleston. The creepy thing about it was that it's line was still coiled up in the boat and no sign of bubbles or any distress around the boat.
If anybody else remembers that, let me know. I think one of you mentioned it.
Got to Charleston and met up with Ken Worley, Larry Wade, Tim Brace, Phil Shufelt, Gravino, all the other Sonar Techs and Mesker. We had some great times in GITMO and the Med. I pulled SP duty in Naples and Athens. Had to drag some of you guys back to the motor whaleboat from the wine festival but I never had to use the nightstick or 45. Glad I didn't have to. I don't think I would have done it anyway.Well, I've rambled on enough. I hope to see some of the Nucleus crew at the reunion.
Tim K.
Please email me if you remember those pre-commision days.
|
|
| Name : Darryl Melton |
7 Nov 2004
|
| Rate/Rank : DCFR/DC3 |
| Years Onboard : 88-90 |
| e-mail : dmelton@ddg-roosevelt.navy.mil |
| Comments : Didn't see a whole lot of DC/HT on here. I am now a DCC currently stationed onboard USS ROOSEVELT DDG 80. It is my fourth ship and I must agree that my time on Vreeland certainly has given me the best memories. I remember all those crazy ST's listed in this site and a couple of old milestones that have not been mentioned. Like when I stood sounding and security mid-watch and would scare the crap out of all the ST's hangin' out on the fantail...why were they out on the fantail in the middle of the night?? They know why. How about the pier brawl in puerto rico with the Mount Whitney? I know Mr. Stallings (STG2 at the time) remembers that one. I also went to the Jets Miami game for Fleetweek in Miami and partied on the beach for two days after which we all crawled into a cab early monday morning and barely made it back to the ship. I have talked to STGC 'Dude' Reardon many times as we are both stationed out of Mayport. Anybody remember HT3 Smitty, HT2 Pickins, D!C2 Padilla, BM2 Shilkus. I too remember a few visits and drinks at the stabbin' cabin' I also remember being the only one sober enough to get us back to yards in Charleston one weekend. That was a long Monday. How almost every weekend Repair division ended up partying and pasted out at my place. Our old CMC BMCM 'Fred' Bennett retired and owned the flies tie pub then went on to open the brass anchor pub which is still located off Mayport road. He sold it last year and retired for real back in Pa. I remember in GITMO when he secured the whole bowling alley for Vreeland sailors only and we got trashed when REFTRA was over. Someone
mentioned the Gold engineering 'E'I was the guy who got the priviledge of painting it on the bridge wing.
|
|
| Name : Frank Splendorio |
7 Nov 2004
|
| Rate/Rank : STG1 (SW) |
| Years Onboard : 82-87 |
| e-mail : frank@greystokegifts.com |
| Web URL : www.greystokegifts.com |
|
| Name : Thomas Wilkerson |
18 Nov 2004
|
| Rate/Rank : FTG3 |
| Years Onboard : 69-70 |
| e-mail : thomaswilkerson@gmail.com |
| Alt email : techtsar2000@yahoo.com |
| tel: 636 356 1334 |
| Comments : This is the only information I have found on the Vreeland. I have been looking for a few of the old crew especially those that were on the pre-commissioning duty in New Orleans. If any body knows David Peeler ST1, or Mack Horn FT1, Stanley Bouler FT2 or the information on the Chief Boatswain Mate that used to stand OOD watches on the bridge, please tell them I'm looking for them and I will be at the decommissioning in Charleston.
Many good miles on that old ship....enjoyed every one of them!
|
|
| Name : Dennis E. Pickrell |
24 Nov 2004
|
| Rate/Rank : SK2 |
| Years Onboard : 71-74 USS WILLIAM M. WOOD DD/DDR-715 |
| e-mail : dennis_sk2@yahoo.com |
| Web URL : www.dd715.com |
| Comments : I was on the William Wood in Greece with the Vreeland. I have some pictures of the greek ships....I am webmaster for the william wood. I am at www.dd715.com. I am searching for the history of the ships from our greek years.
|
|
| Name : Jim Steely
|
26 Nov 2004
|
| Rate/Rank : MM3 |
| Years Onboard : 1980-1984 |
| e-mail : jim_steely@yahoo.com
|
| Comments : Hi shipmates! I found this site and knew eventually I
would recognize some names. I remember Bud Morris and Big Al Bigham
football player for NAVY. Some good people during those years. I (as
well) as others was young and dumb. Drop me a line if you remember.
|
|
|