due to the virus again - uss ticonderoga veterans' …

CV / CVA / CVS-14 CG-47 APRIL 2021

The USS TICONDEROGAVeterans’ Association NEWS

VOLUME 48 NO 2

IN ORDER TO RECEIVE NEWSLETTERS, YOU MUST BECURRENT ON YOUR MEMBERSHIP. (DUES MUST BE PAID)

NORFOLK 50th REUNION HASBEEN RESCHEDULED TO 2022

DUE TO THE VIRUS AGAIN

PLEASE MARK YOU CALENDAR FORMAY 15&16, 2021 FOR

THE FOLLOWING AUDIO CONFERENCES1. OFFICERS & DIRECTORS 5/15

2. GENERAL ASSOCIATION MEMBERS 5/16

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGEGREETINGS TO ALL SHIPMATES, FAMILY AND FRIENDS,

Again we continue to find Our Nation, Our Navy and World fighting thispandemic! Sorry to say but many of us have lost someone in our family ora friend from this virus! I myself have lost two friends from it! andhad family members come down with it!

Many of us have received or are scheduled to get one of two vaccinesbeing administered against the Covid-19 virus! At the writing of thisnewsletter Johnson & Johnson are seeking emergency use for their vaccine! Hopefully, by earlysummer all those wishing to get vaccinated will be able to do so!

One of the unfortunate results of the pandemic is again the cancellation of our 2021 NorfolkReunion! I didn't take this step in canceling the reunion lightly! I also wanted to see everyone inNorfolk! This area has changed since many had served here or attended a reunion previously! I would have been devastated if just one of our Tico Family became sick or God forbid died fromthe virus! I would never expect anyone's forgiveness! I know once a group of shipmates get togethersocial distancing goes out the window!

We were also notified that the tour company we were to use this reunion went out of business!They literally haven't had any business since the pandemic started.

The Great News is Sean McConnell, Incoming President, has requested that next year's reunionbe held in Norfolk instead of Louisville! It will be held May 12-16,2022 at The Doubletree By HiltonNorfolk Airport! In early June the hotel booking link will be on our Website & Facebookpage.

We have been able to secure another tour company , Colonial Connections, Inc. They have agreedto give us the same tours that our previous tour company offered! A new reunion sign up sheet willbe available in the August newsletter! I have had many calls from our shipmates, members andnon-members, interested in coming to the Norfolk Reunion. One member today said he had neverattended a reunion but was coming to Norfolk next year.

Our Membership Chairman, Edgar Trotter, Jr. has decided to step down from his post. Weappreciate the years of outstanding service he has given to our association. If anyone wishes tovolunteer for this post please let myself or any other officer know & see page 5. Thank you!

Again , we will be holding a virtual Board of Directors meeting on Saturday, May 15from 12PM to 2PM EST.

The General Membership Meeting again will be virtual and held on Sunday,May 16from 12PM to 2PM EST. We will be using Google Meet at meet.google.com/yyj-ujrv-crt

We are also seeking nomination for Second Vice President. Please Inform any Officer of thename of your nominee!

I just realize that in the history of Our Association I'm the only President that was sworn inVirtually and again will turn over his position to Sean McConnell on May 16th again in the sameway!

I know the association will be in good hands!

Larry QualterUSS Ticonderoga Veteran’s Association President

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OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS 2020 - 2021

President: Director: Director: Chaplain:Larry Qualter Jerry H. Cole P. P. Parker W. Patterson P. P. Pastor Brett Inman69 Hemlock Circle 945 N. Delacroix Dr 10914 WHISPERING OAK CIR 8838 E Cooper StPeekskill, NY 10566-4963 Green Valley, AZ 85614-5266 RIVERVIEW FL 33569-5949 Tucson, AZ 85710-4416(914) 734-7677 (708) 227-0073 (813) 405-8308 (520) [email protected] (520) 648-7196 [email protected]@bigt.net [email protected]

William Spanbauer P. P.1899 COUNTY ROAD FF Jerry H. Cole P. P.

Sean McConnell John F. Deasy P. P. OSHKOSH, WI 54904-6818 945 N. Delacroix Dr554 MOUNTAIN RD 560 Maple Ave. (920) 410-7500 Green Valley, AZ 85614-5266Boiling Springs, PA 17007-9515 Doylestown, PA 18901-4451 [email protected] (708) 227-0073(717) 713-3895 (215) 348-9981 (520) [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]@bigt.net Edgar S. Trotter, Jr.

1150 Baywood Ave. John B. Dupont P. P. Camarillo, CA 93010-3005 Robert Hildebrand

Sardo Sanchez 4590 Linwood Circle (805) 484-2930 2016 Reseda WayP.O. BOX 36411 Deep Haven, MN 55331-9297 [email protected] Antioch, CA 94509-5834Albuquerque, NM 87176-6411 (952) 474-4731 (925) 757-1836(505) 999-8129 [email protected] [email protected]@gmail.com Fred [email protected] 5808 SW 27TH STREET

Lloyd Frank P. P. Topeka, KS 66614 Edgar S. Trotter, Jr.2129 Bliss Comer St (785) 271-5900 1150 Baywood Ave.

Jim Lutz Henderson, NV 89044-0174 [email protected] Camarillo, CA 93010-30051311 11th AVE (702) 361-6660 (805) 484-2930Kearney, NE 68845-6543 [email protected] [email protected](308) 293-3636 [email protected]@gmail.com [email protected] David Graf P. P. Edgar S. Trotter, Jr.

100 South Tremain St. Bldg 5 1150 Baywood Ave. Carrier Store OperatorMount Dora, FL 32757-6015 Camarillo, CA 93010-3005 STORE CLOSED 4/15/20

Dennis SaBell NEEDS BACKUP (407) 388-4608 (805) 484-29305 NEED VOLUNTEERPO BOX 3178 DUE TO HEALTH [email protected] City, TX 78148(303) 881-4787 [email protected] John Lunsford P.P.

2504 McNutt Bakersfield, CA 93306-4469 VACANT Richard Radigonda

Robert Sullivan (661) 872-8850 NEED VOLUNTEER 357 Jade Circle96 Esmeralda Rd [email protected] Vallejo CA. 94590St Augustine, FL 32095-8506 (707) 563-5556(757) 754-0547 [email protected] [email protected]@yahoo.com Alfred F. McDonnell P.P. [email protected]@bigt.net 1749 9th Ave

San Francisco, CA 94122 415-661-6753 VACANT Gordon S. Humphrey, Jr. [email protected] NEED VOLUNTEER 2771 Cherrydale Falls Drive

Henderson, NV 89052-7005Steven Codding P. P. (425) 785-80949260 Hilltop Lane Joseph McDonnell P. P. [email protected], IL 61705 4141 Inola Trl. Ne VACANT NEEDS BACKUP(309) 827-4017 Roswell, GA 30075-1658 NEED VOLUNTEER NEEDS [email protected] (770) 335-1715

CRUISER MEMBERS! As you probably know the Membership Chairman is working on CG recruiting thisyear. To do this I have been having all the CG cruise book names typed into a data base. The problem is thereare years no cruise book was done so I do not have names for that period of time. The gaps are: Sept 1990-July1997. That is a lot of missing names. If any of you served on the ship during that time period and have names ofyour Division Mates and other shipmates in any form (typed lists that could be copied and mailed to me, scannedand sent to me or typed and sent would be greatly appreciated. As I retire from being Membership Chairmanduring the business meeting in May I would like to get as much of this project done as possible to give to whoevervolunteers to be the next Membership Chairman. Thanks for you help in this. Any questions or ideas on how todo this please email me at: [email protected]. - Ed Trotter

[email protected] FOR DETAILS ON NEEDED VOLUNTEERS SEE PAGE 5

USS TICONDEROGA VETERANS’ “ALL HANDS ONDECK” PROJECTS

1. LETTER WRITING PROJECTFOR NEW USS TICONDEROGA SHIP

SEE PAGE 6, 8 & 9 OF AUGUST 2020 NEWSLETTER.

2. MISSISSIPPI MARITIME MUSEUMSEE PAGES 6 & 7 OF AUGUST 2020 NEWSLETTER.

Per Perry Thompson: Here is update to what is happening at the MMMOn behalf of the Mississippi Maritime Museum (MMM) Board of Directors

I am extremely excited to announce two major accomplishments that haveoccurred since the professional experience includes significant tenure with JuneNewsletter.

The Board of Directors has voted tomove forward with Phase 3 ofrelocating the museum to a moredesirable and visible location. InAugust we signed a contract with theGautier family to purchase the old IceHouse off Highway 90. This not onlygives us a better location to build astate of the art Maritime museum , butalso saves one of Pascagoula’s oldestlandmarks. In addition we plan to establish a small visitor center for the Cityof Pascagoula in the museum lobby. Thanks go to Robert Hardy who has ledthe charge with developing plans relocate the museum. In addition, I am proud to announce that we have hired a museum Director,Ms. Lorren West. Her first Director’s Report will tell you more. Thanks go tothe Search Committee, chaired by Terry Bollman, for their diligence in findingour new Museum Director.

3. PLEASE SEE PAGE 22 OF AUGUST 2020 FOR LIST OFPOSITIONS WE NEED TO FILL OR HAVE A BACKUP!

WE WOULD LIKE EVERYONETO PARTICIPATE IN THESE PROJECTS!

ATTENTION SHIPMATES & FAMILIESWE NEED SOME GREAT CRUISER GUYS!

THE ASSOCIATION SECRETARY, DENNIS SABELL, WOULDLIKE TO HAVE A BACKUP FOR FUTURE HEALTH REASONS.

PLEASE CONTACT: DENNIS SABELL AT (303) 881-4787.IF NO ANSWER, PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE OR TEXT

WITH YOUR NAME & NUMBER. THANK YOU!_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ALSO, THE ASSOCIATION WEBMASTER / NEWSLETTERPUBLISHER NEEDS TO HAVE A BACKUP. NEEDS SOMEONE

W/ COMPUTER SKILLS HE TURNED 80 THIS YEAR. HE WILL BE STEPPING DOWN IN THE FUTURE FOR HEALTHREASONS. SO THERE NEEDS TO BE A TRANSITION PERIOD!

PLEASE CONTACT: GORDON HUMPHREY [email protected] OR 425-785-8094

IF NO ANSWER, PLEASE LEAVE MESSAGE WITH YOURNAME & NUMBER, OR YOU CAN TEXT HIM AT THE ABOVE

CELL NUMBER. THANK YOU!_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ALSO WE NEED A NEW: HISTORIAN!& A NEW: SITE COORDINATOR!

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, PLEASE CONTACT PRESIDENTLARRY QUALTER AT (914) 734-7677

OR EMAIL: [email protected]_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

THE SHIP’S STORE HAS CLOSED 4/15/2020IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN OPERATING THE SHIP’S

STORE, PLEASE CONTACT LARRY QUALTERAT (914) 734-7677 ASAP!

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

EDITORS NOTE: – MEMBERSHIP CHAIRMAN ED TROTTER WILLBE STEPPING DOWN FROM HIS POST AT THE GENERAL

MEMBERSHIP MEETING ON SUNDAY MAY 16, 2021.

WE WILL BE NEEDING SOMEONE TO VOLUNTEER FOR THIS POSITIONTO ACTIVELY RECRUIT NEW MEMBERS FOR THE ASSOCIATION.

Chaplains Corner By: LCDR Brett InmanGreetings Shipmates, Family & Friends,

Whether you lean to the right or the left politically, when you are indisagreement with our national leaders policies and the direction of theculture seems crazy, many people find themselves asking, “where is Godin this mess?” Does God not care about what is going on anymore? MaybeHe has given up on the country, or maybe He is not as powerful as wewere led to believe. What you are actually questioning is God’s sovereignty.God’s sovereignty refers to His absolute and unrivaled rule over all His creation and circumstances.To affirm that God is sovereign is to affirm that God reigns, universally and invincibly.Sovereignty implies absolute ownership and is conveyed in frequent divine titles such as King ofkings, Lord of lords, and Sovereign God.

God’s sovereignty is a natural consequence of His omniscience (all knowing), omnipotence(all powerful), and omnipresence (everywhere present). Through these attributes God essentiallyhas the power, wisdom and authority to do anything He chooses with His creation. His controlextends even to what may seem to us as chance events and includes events that can harm God’speople or appear to defeat God’s purposes. Nevertheless, God’s purposes can never be thwarted.At the same time, Scripture describes God as offering humanity a certain degree of freedom tomake choices, holding them personally responsible for their choices and harmful ways.We tend to assume that, if God is not directly, overtly, purposefully driving some event, then Heis somehow not sovereign. This is a simplistic vision of God’s sovereignty which depicts a Godthat must somehow do everything He can do, or else He is not truly sovereign.God does have the ability to do anything, to take action and intervene in any situation; but Heoften chooses to act indirectly or allow certain things for reasons that are His own and furthersHis intentions.

Everything that happens is, at the very least, the result of His permissive will. This holds trueeven if certain specific human behavior or decisions are not the way He prefers. The right of Godto allow mankind’s free choices is just as necessary for true sovereignty as His ability to enactHis will, whenever and however He chooses.

Although there have been many attempts to understand the relationship between God’ssovereignty and man’s free will by theologians and philosophers, only God has the perspectiveto be able to truly know how they work together.

Scripture both commands and exemplifies our appropriate response to God’s sovereignty:joyful and worshipful submission (see 1 Chr 16:31; Job 42:2-6; Ps 2:10-12; 97:1; 99:1; Isa45:22-23; Phil 2:10-11; Mal 1:14; 1Tim 1:17; Rev 19:6-7a).The lesson here: Even though we may not understand what is going on, nor are able to see “thebig picture,” we can rest in the knowledge that God is still in control, and His good purposes arestill being worked out right before our eyes.Lexham Survey of Theology (n.d). God’s Sovereignty. LOGOS Research Edition. Logos.comWhat does it mean that God is sovereign. (n.d.). Got Questions Ministries. Retrieved Feb., 2021from GotQuestions.orgHow do God’s sovereignty and humanity’s free will work together in salvation. (n.d.). GotQuestions Ministries. Retrieved Feb., 2021 from GotQuestions.org

SECRETARY’S LETTERHi y’all,Hello from Texas, the state that can’t keep the lights on when it gets alittle chilly and then wants to charge its customers for its errors.

(Sorry! I try real hard to be non-political, but as a transplant fromColorado – where it actually snows and gets cold – I was incredulouswhen a light dusting of snow and temperatures below freezing but wellabove zero somehow paralyzed South Texas and blew a large part of thestate’s power grid (which was then responsible for several deaths). Maybe someone fromMinnesota could explain to Texas what cold really is and how to deal with it.)

Also unfortunately, the Association once again had to cancel a reunion due to COVID.I mirror our president Larry Qualter’s concerns and I am hopeful that the vaccinationprograms and careful but prompt re-opening of schools, churches, and businesses will resultin so-called “herd immunity” and we will be able to meet safely in Norfolk in 2022. I havetalked to a number of people who have been vaccinated and have heard of no particular badside effects yet. We miss getting together with all of you. Some of us are getting older (really?)and may not have too many reunions left in us. We hope you are all well and anticipatingbetter days. For those of you who are not so fortunate we pray daily that you will recoverquickly.

Which brings me back to my job as Secretary. I am having a more difficult time thesedays keeping the membership roster and mailing lists accurate. I am getting a number of“undeliverable” notices from the post office. It is very often difficult to find out why anewsletter cannot be delivered because the contact information I have (phone numbers, emailaddresses, etc.) has not been updated. I intend to publish a list of members for whom I havegotten these notices in a future newsletter. Anyway, if any of your contact information changesplease send me a note (or you can fill in the “dues” form inside the back page of the newsletterand just mark it as “information change only”). I prefer written notice if possible becausemy hearing isn’t the greatest on the phone and you would be amazed at the number of waysI can hear your information incorrectly. Honestly I love to talk with you but …

Finally, If you know of a member who has moved or passed away please let me know.If you have friends who served on one of the Ticos who are not members, please give

them a copy of the dues form and encourage them to join! We are still a bargain at $20/yearand will be getting the reunions going as soon as possible!!

Finally! I will serve as Secretary as long as I am able, but I still need a backup andeventual replacement. Let me or the current President know if you are willing. That goes forall of our open positions, it is really rewarding in many ways to serve the Association.

Best wishes to you all! Hope to see a bunch of you in person in 2022!

Dennis SaBell - SecretaryEmail: [email protected] or [email protected]: P.O. Box 3178, Universal City, TX 78148-2278

It is with sadness and respect that we report the passing of our shipmates:James Edward Connolly – James was a Life Member who passed away on February 6, 2021.While on-board Tico from 1957 to 1959, he was an RD2 in OI Division. We were notified by hisson Stephen. James was born in Scranton, PA on September, 25, 1938. He earned the rank of EagleScout with the Boy Scouts of America and graduated from Scranton Central High School in 1956.James enlisted into the United States Navy in 1956 and studied at the US Navy radar school. Heattended business management courses at Michigan State University and Northwestern Universityand, in 1963, he began his 32-year career at Denman and Davis Steel where he worked his way upto Vice President of Sales. James enjoyed golfing, fishing, and spending time with his family. Jamesis survived by his wife Caroline Anne Connolly, brother John Raven, three sons (James, Christopher,Stephen), and six grandchildren.Talmon Lynford Wood – “Lyn” was not an Association member. He passed away November 30,2020 at the age of 89. He was aboard in 1954 and 1955 as an AN. He operated the ## Elevator andwas in the Recommissioning Crew.George MacClements Nelson, Jr. - George was a not an Association Member who passed awayat age 93, of San Antonio, TX passed away December 10, 2020. We were notified of his passingby Life Member Edgar Trotter who saw his obituary in the Ventura County CA newspaper. Whileonboard in 1944 – 45 he was a SN in F Division. He was wounded in the Kamikaze attack on theship on January 21, 1945 and sent to a Guadalcanal hospital until he was well enough to go back tothe States. The Veterans Administration helped George obtain a civilian job with the US Navy asa draftsman at the Naval Air Development Center (NADC), Warminster, PA. He went to LaSalleCollege at night where he entered the physics program and majored in electronics. He retired fromthe federal service in 1986 after a 42 year career with Navy Air. He had worked at NADC, NASPoint Mugu, CA and the Pentagon during those years and received the Navy Meritorious CivilianService Award while at Pt. Mugu. George married Terese Smith in 1949 and had five children withher. In 1984 he married Roberta Ballard with whom he owned Newbury Park Travel in California.He is survived by his children: George, Thomas, Kimberly, Scott and Terry and 12 grandchildrenand six great-grandchildren. He was interred at Arlington National Cemetery.Adam Komisarcik, Adam was a Life Member who died at age 86, in Reston, VA. He passedaway April 7, 2020. We were notified of his passing by Life Member Fred Notter. While onboardin 1963 – 65 he was a LT in Navigation. After attending Purdue University, Adam entered navalflight training and was designated a naval aviator in 1956. He served in five aircraft squadrons(including the VP-40 seaplane squadron on both the east and west coasts) and accumulated over5,000 flight hours. Adam served three tours in Vietnam and was aboard the USS Ticonderogawhen the Vietnam War began and on the USS Midway when the War ended. He was also thecommanding officer of the largest squadron in the Navy, Training Squadron Three, in Pensacola,Florida. Adam was a graduate of the Naval War College and of George Washington Universitywhere he earned a master’s degree. His last tour, before retiring in 1980, was at the Pentagonwhere he served as the Aviation Assistant to the Chief of Naval Information. Adam thenembarked on a career with Marriott Corporation and retired after 14 years as the Loss PreventionDirector for more than 200 Fairfield Hotels and Courtyard Hotels." Adam is survived by wife,Gerry; sons Paul and David and daughter Kim and 10 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

CONTINUED NEXT PAGE

OBITS CONTINUEDClyde Henry Beigh, Clyde was a Life Member who died at age 99, in Beaveron, OR.He passed away 9th November 2020. We were notified of his passing by his daughter,Rita. While onboard in 1945 he served as an LTJG in fighter squadron VF-87 pilotingthe Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat fighter. After he left the ship he returned to civilian life.Though a civilian, Clyde stayed connected to the Navy as a member of the NavalReserve. When hostilities broke out in Korea Clyde was called back to active duty.He served on the U.S.S. Point Cruz (CVE-119) as a member of VS-23 flying theTBM-3W Avenger aircraft. Clyde returned to the United States in December, 1953.He chose to remain on active duty. Subsequently, he and his family were sent toHawai’i. Clyde served as the XO of Fleet All Weather Training Unit Pacific(FAWTUPAC). When that assignment came to an end Clyde was temporarily assignedto the Office of Naval Research (ONR) where he trained under LTCDR Grace Hopperas a Computer Scientist. When the Washington, D.C. assignment ended Clyde wasassigned to the University of Illinois at Champaign, IL. He served there as the Navy’sprogrammer on ILLIAC 1, the world’s largest computer at the time. In 1958, LTCDRClyde H. Beigh resigned his commission and returned to civilian life. Clyde is survivedby his child, Rita, his step-son, Daniel, five Grandchildren, seven Great-Grandchildren, and one Great-Great-Grandchild.

FIRST NAME LAST NAME DIVISION RATE/RANK YRS ABOARD CITY STATE SHIPJohn Martin Weapons LT 85‐88 Virgilina VA CG47Linda McCormick Associate ‐ ‐ Virginia Beach VA ‐James Wheeler V‐2 Cats AN 56‐59 Hernando FL CVA14

WELCOME ABOARD!NEW MEMBERS BETWEEN 07/01/2020 and 10/31/2020

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

FIRST NAME LAST NAMEGENERAL

FUNDMEMORIAL

FUNDDATA ENTRY

FUNDCG‐47

MUSEUMSHIP'S BELL

FUNDJoseph Aboussleman XJohn Andrulonis X XJohn Dupont XLaVerne Golen XEd Heasley X XMike Hanley XDale Pfeiffer XDennis Segar XGeraldine Scuzzarella XWe have received $465 in donations this year so far.

FROM 11/01/2020 TO 02/28/2021DONATIONS MADE TO USS TICONDEROGA VETERANS' ASSOCIATION

THANK YOU!

In November 2020 Life Member Tom Rostkowski ATN2 VA-87(68-69 on the Tico), was contacted by John Kennedy ofSmithfield NC and told that John had a Tonkin Gulf Yacht ClubPatch which came off of Captain Pete Schhoffel's flight jacketand thought it would be good to make it available to someonewho served in Viet Nam and Tom noted he did serve there. Johnwas kind enough to send it to Tom. Captain Schoffel wasCommander John Mc Cain's roommate in the Hanoi Hilton. Tom wondered if one of the Tico rooms would be the right placeto display it and would the Association want it? When thatquestion got to me I thought of the Viet Nam display at the USS ALABAMA museum inMobile, AL. After being contacted by us, Shea W. McLean, Curator, USS AlabamaMemorial Park stated that they did have a Jeremiah Denton Display in their museum andit has a Hanoi Hilton section and they would be glad to display the Tonkin Gulf Yacht ClubPatch which came off of Captain Pete Schhoffel's flight jacket.

While talking to Shea I asked if they still had a William E. Dennis Display there and he saidyes and provided the pictures of the display. ENS William E. Dennis was in V-6 Divisionon USS TICONDEROGA, CVA-14 in 1962-1963. Pictures of this display are on pages 12-14.

The Editor knew of this museum, pier side to the USS ALABAMA, because of our 2003reunion in Mobile, AL when we had a tour of the USS ALABAMA Museum area. Thatreunion and our recent reunion in New Orleans reminded me of the numerous NavyMuseums on Highway US 10 between Lake Charles, LA and Pensacola, FL. Page 15 providesa map of those museums. I believe the Infinity Science Center is closed at the present timebut hope it will be open again soon. In the 2003 Reunion we did have a tour to the NationalNavy Aviation Museum in Pensacola, FL. It was a one building Museum then but Iunderstand it now has another building. This brings back many great memories of thatreunion and makes me hope that we can have another reunion in Mobile, AL soon so wecan see the Mississippi Maritime Museum in Pascagoula, MS and the National Navy AviationMuseum in Pensacola, FL and of course enjoy some of the great Southern food there.More details on the places to visit on US 10 – See Page 15USS Orleck, DD-886 Naval Museum, 604 N Enterprise Blvd, Lake Charles, LA, then to theUSS Kidd, DD-661 Museum 305 River Rd S, Baton Rouge, LA, 225-342-1942, then to theNational WWII Museum, 945 Magazine ST, New Orleans, LA, 504-528-1944 (could taketwo days to do it all), then to the Infinity Science Center (old Stennis Space Center, 1Discovery Circle, Pearlngton, MS (Just off US 10) (228) 533-9025 (Seems to be closed rightnow but hopefully will reopen soon), then to the Mississippi Maritime Museum, 609 DupontStreet, Pascagoula, MS, then to the Colonial Fort Conde, 150 S Royal St, Mobile, AL,251-208-569, then to the GulfQuest National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico, 55 SWater St, Mobile, AL, (251) 436-8901, then to the USS ALABAMA MEMORIAL PARK,2703 Battleship Pkwy, Mobile, AL 36603, 800-GANGWAY, and finally to the National NavyAviation Museum, 1750 Radford Blvd, Pensacola, FL, (850) 452-3604.

REPLICA OF PT BOAT OF LT. WILLIAM E DENNIS

The postponement of the Norfolk reunion freed up a lot of pages in the AprilNewsletter as we did not put in a lot of Norfolk pictures and write-ups aboutthe reunion. Fortunately Tom Rostkowski got a request to see if we couldfind a home for a Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club patch worn by a roommate ofJohn McCain at the Hanoi Hilton prison compound in Vietnam. That ledto contacting the Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile, AL to see if they wereinterested in having it in their Museum and they were. That led to see ifthey had some pictures of William E. Dennis memorial there as I had servedwith William on the ship in 1963 and knew about his memorial. They didso I was able to add that with the pictures of the Patch in the newsletter.That led to the memory that there are quite a few military museums on US10 between Lake Charles, LA and Pensacola, FL. It was fun putting theMap with that information together. I hope that some of you will be able totake all or part of that trip in your lifetime. With still some empty pages, itwas fun to list some of the statistics/history of our ships. I trust you willenjoy these pages as much as I did developing them. —–-Ed Trotter

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AGENT ORANGE CLAIMS – BLUE WATER NAVYHR‐299 Legislation passed the house and senate, and was signed into law by PresidentTrump becoming effective January 1, 2020. This new law defined the “Territorial Waters”of the Republic of South Vietnam which established a “12 Mile Zone”. This legislationallows for medical benefits for veterans exposed to the herbicide “Agent Orange” whiledeployed within these territorial waters. In order to file a claim under this legislation, theveteran must show deck log evidence that their ship entered territorial waters while theveteran was deployed aboard the ship. There are 17 Illnesses related to Agent Orangeexposure, which are determined to be “Presumptive Illnesses”. This enables the veteranthat has any of these illnesses to file a claim with the Veterans Administration, as the newlaw defines that these illnesses are presumptively service connected. The veteran doesnot need to show evidence of where or when exposure occurred.

17 Agent Orange Presumptive IllnessesHodgkin's Disease Multiple Myeloma Non‐Hodgkin's LymphomaAcute and Subacute Peripheral Neuropathy Prostate Cancer Respiratory CancersSoft‐tissue Sarcoma AL Amyloidosis Diabetes Mellitus (Type II)B Cell Leukemia’s, such as Hairy Cell Leukemia Parkinson’s Disease Ischemic Heart DiseaseHypothyroidism Chloracne Porphyria Cutanea TardaBladder Cancer Parkinsonism

The following 27 dates have been verified that the USS Ticonderoga CVA‐14 enteredwithin the 12‐mile zone of territorial waters, on these dates. Deck Log evidence isrequired to support your claim. This responsibility falls on us veterans, as the VA will notprovide evidence to support your claim or do any research to assist. It is not fair, but thatis the way their process works. We have this deck log evidence to support your claim. Wecan help.

27 Dates That the Ticonderoga Entered Territorial Waters

08/09/64 11/05/65 11/08/65 11/09/65 11/18/65 12/25/6512/26/65 12/27/65 12/28/65 01/26/66 01/27/66 02/01/6602/02/66 02/07/66 03/06/66 03/08/66 03/09/66 03/10/6603/12/66 03/13/66 03/14/66 03/16/66 03/17/66 03/19/6603/20/66 04/01/66 04/16/66

There is no other “Deck Log Evidence” available for any other dates that indicate that theTiconderoga entered into the 12‐mile zone during 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, or 1972.Research for additional deck log evidence for 1967, 1968, and 1969 is being conducted byvarious Tico Veterans. For some reason the deck logs for 1971 and 1972 have not becomeavailable by National Archives, who claim that they are in the process of having themdigitalized.

There are 3 different matters yet to be determined that would have an impact onTiconderoga Veterans, if our efforts are successful.

#1 The Blue Water Navy group has Lawsuits with the Court of Appeals, and if successful,it could widen the area of Agent Orange expose. Now it is 12 miles, as it could widen thearea to 24 miles, or possibly widen the area to that the Vietnam Service medal is awarded.(All of Yankee Station) More to follow.

#2 Agent Orange Survivors of Guam is another item that is currently in the Court ofAppeals that could add Guam to the area covered for Agent Orange exposure. TheTiconderoga was moored in Guam in Abra Harbor in Late May 1972 with liberty groups ashore. Also, we had a number of Tico veterans that flew into Anderson Air Force Base inGuam in route to meet the ship already deployed in Westpac. If successful with theappeal, we would see the conditions.

#3 The Veterans Administration is currently evaluating navigational evidence that theTiconderoga entered the 12‐mile zone on April 1, 1968. There are several claims beingconsidered by the VA using evidence for this date, and currently under their review. Nodecision yet and may take a while. More to follow.

Since the inception of HR‐299 on January 1, 2020, (thru 12/31/20), there has been 77,548veteran claims entered, 41,589 being completed, with 35,959 still pending. We have hada number of our Tico Veterans being successful in this group, with more pending. This hasbeen made possible primarily due to the efforts of the Blue Water Navy Vietnam VeteransAssociation. They have been working on this legislation for many years, lobbying congressto help our Blue Water Veterans. They have incurred significant expenses in this projectand are in need of additional membership to pursue benefits for our shipmates. I am aLife Time member of the BWNVVA and I would like to request that you consider joining,as well. You can join on line by contacting www.militaryveteransadvocacy.org. Theannual dues are $25, and be sure to click on to the “Blue Water Navy” tab in theregistration form. Also, check out “Blue Water Navy” on Facebook, as there is a lot ofuseful information about filing Agent Orange claims with the VA. Thank you!!

George Passantino ‐ Oversight Chairman USS Ticonderoga Veterans Association 3/1/21

Mt. Beacon Eight 85th and 75th Anniversary ObservanceTo Honor Eight Navy Servicemen including Navy legend, Commodore Dixie Kiefer

The Town of Fishkill along with the Friends of the Mt. Beacon Eight hosted a ceremony on SaturdayNovember 7, 2020 at Fishkill’s Veterans Park to honor the eight Navy servicemen, including CommodoreDixie Kiefer, who lost their lives in two separate plane crashes on Mt. Beacon.

The first plane crash took place on Saturday September 14, 1935. Two Navy reservists, Pilot LincolnDenton (27) and Aviation Machinist Mate 2/c Clinton Hart (28) lost their lives as their single engine bi‐plane crashed on the Scofield Ridge section of Mt. Beacon. Denton, a Harvard graduate was employed asa commercial artist. Hart, a Katonah, NY native, was employed by the NY Stock Exchange. They weremaking their return flight from Albany, NY to Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn. Denton was single. Hartwas married. He and his wife Marguerite had no children.

On November 11, 1945, (Armistice Day) a second Navy plane crashed one mile northwest from the1935 Navy plane crash. Six Navy servicemen including highly decorated Navy legend Commodore DixieKiefer, lost their lives when their Beechcraft Expeditor transport crashed while they were on their returnflight from Curtis Wright Airport in Caldwell, NJ to their base in Quonset Point, RI. The six men travelledto the NYC area on Saturday November 10, 1945 to attend an Army/Notre Dame football game that wasplayed at Yankee Stadium. The traditional popular Army / Navy game was just weeks away. The otherfive men were Pilot/ Navy Ace Lloyd Heinzen (27), Co‐Pilot Lt. (jg)Hans Kohler (25), passengers Lt.Commander Dr. Ignatius Zielinski (45), Sea 1/c David Wood (23) and AMM 3/c, Clarence Hooper(22). Hooper was married and the only one of the eight men who had children. He had one son and onedaughter. His daughter Patricia Hooper Wiggins was scheduled to attend this ceremony, but the recentlyimplemented Covid travel restrictions required Mrs. Hooper Wiggins to cancel her flight plans. The Townof Fishkill had planned to present a Proclamation to Mrs. Hooper Wiggins in deepest appreciation of herfather AMM Clarence Hooper’s service and ultimate sacrifice that he made on behalf of our country.

Kiefer served on five of the first 14 US aircraft carriers. The Lexington – CV – 2, the Saratoga – CV– 3, the Yorktown CV – 5, the Yorktown CV‐ 10, (The Fighting Lady Documentary) and the Ticonderoga CV– 14.

Heinzen served on the USS Intrepid CV‐11 and the USS Bunker Hill CV – 17. Heinzen flew overtwenty‐five combat missions, He himself was shot down only to survive to fight another day. He was giventhe title, Navy Ace for shooting down six Japanese fighter planes during his time in the Pacific Theater.

Kohler served on the USS Essex CV – 9. While first serving as a Chief Gunner’s Mate in the southAtlantic Theater, Kohler was responsible for damaging a German submarine. From there he became a USNaval Aviator and completed twenty aerial combat missions. He was responsible for sinking a number ofJapanese ships and inflicting severe damage to Japanese installations on a number of islands in the PacificArea.

For additional background regarding the life of legendary Dixie Kiefer, Don Keith with David Rocco,published a biography, The Indestructible Man: The True Story of World War Hero “Captain Dixie.” (ErinPress, 2017) You can also visit the Friends of the Mt. Beacon Eight Facebook page for more info.

Keith and Rocco’s book was recently taken over by major publisher Rowman & Littlefield. Therelease date of the new update version is set for April 1, 2021.

NEXT PAGE FOR PHOTOS >>>>>

Mt. Beacon Eight 85th & 75th Anniversary Observance

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