USS Galveston Shipmates News

Galveston, Departing

2011-10-07T17:29:00.000-07:00

On September 15th, the last skipper of the USS Galveston CLG3, James W Montgomery, was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery during a ceremony befitting his national service. Our association president, Stan Shock attended the ceremony and shared the material presented below.

Just two years ago, Rear Admiral Montgomery (Ret) was the honored speaker at the dedication ceremony for the USS Galveston Plaque at the US Navy Memorial Museum in Washington, DC. A video recording of his speech is available on this website in the History/Video section or from the following link http://ussgalveston.org/video/videopage1.htm

In addition to being the last Galveston CO (1969-70), Admiral Montgomery was last surviving Galveston CO.

To Captain Montgomery and all those that preceded him, the crews of the Galveston salute you,

GALVESTONS, DEPARTED

Navy Terminology List Added

2011-07-15T16:54:00.000-07:00

Our shipmate, Dave Love, sent us a link to a interesting web page built by the USN having a long list of navy terms and their origin. I enjoyed reviewing the list and learned some things to boot *.

Rather than just copying the link here, I decided to copy the whole list to our website in the "Ship's History" area accessible from the home page. I figured the Navy owes us something. I also added a submission form where anyone can send additional words with origins to grow the list.

Check it out. Go to the Galveston Home Page, click on menu item Ship's History, then click anchor next to Naval Terminology.

* To boot -- term has nothing to do with footwear. The 'boot' is thought to be a derivative of the earlier old English 'bat' meaning 'good or useful'.

Finally, this picture is not my buddy Dave Love and really has nothing to do with anything. Any objections?

Bob Rank
BM3 1966-68

Calling All USS Galveston History Buffs

2011-02-20T20:19:00.000-08:00

We recently received the very last official Navy document that mentions the Gal. It's the SEALED BID FOR SCRAPPING you see above.

The bid document has been scanned and posted on our web site for those of you that may want to know the details. Well, at least the relevant pages have. The bid also covers the USS Los Angeles, CA-135. After we finished with the document it was sent on to the LA shipmates association. They have posted it on their web site as well, and forwarded the original to the Maritime Museum of Los Angeles.

The bid document may be of more interest to our engineering guys as it covers mostly big chunks of things like pumps and turbines. But there are a few other tidbits. For example, the bid specifies that the Navy will retain certain items such as the anchors, a bunch of the armor plating, and 200 feet of that beautiful teak wood from the main deck.

Anybody want to volunteer to find one of the anchors and bring it to a reunion like we did the ship's bell?

Seriously, it would be nice to find the wood and get some of it for souvenirs.

I don't know about the anchor, but here's how you can find the bid... from the main page click on Ships History... then Timeline... then scroll down to 1975 where you click on the "Info" link next to the the bid entry. Now, be advised, it takes about 30 to 45 seconds to download (on broadband - sorry Ted) the whole thing. You will see an introduction page telling you about the good man who sent it to us and then you can page through - note the zoom magnification buttons on top - and read to your heart's content.

Veteran Discounts?

2010-10-15T16:43:00.000-07:00

At the membership meeting in Memphis, there was a general discussion about the availability of veteran discounts. Specifically mentioned were Lowes and Home Depot. I offered to put an information page on this web site listing details of these discounts.

One shipmate who thought he had a list of discounts was unable to locate it, and not hearing from anyone else, I did a little research with the following results:

Lowes Policy:

“We offer an all-day, every-day 10% Military discount to all military personnel who are active, reserve, retired or disabled veterans and their immediate family members, with a valid, government-issued Military ID or VIC (Veterans Identification Card). Please visit your local Lowe’s store, provide a valid, government-issued Military ID or VIC(see below), and ask the cashier for the discount.

All other military veterans will receive the discount on the Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Veterans Day Weekends. (Customer must provide Military ID, VIC, or a DD214).”

Home Depot Policy:

“We offer a 10 percent discount, up to a $500 maximum, to all active, reserve, retired or disabled veterans and their family members with a valid military ID. All other military veterans qualify for a 10 percent discount during Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Veterans Day Weekends"

There is a discount section on the military web site http://www.military.com/ , but again these discounts seem to apply mostly to active or retired military and not just a veteran. I also recognized that my AARP or AAA Auto Club card has gotten me some of the discounts equal to those being offered active military. Finally I found a few other web sites offering discounts to veterans, but one required a membership fee of $5 per month and the others were just “click through” sites that earns a little income for redirecting web searches to retailers.

So Shipmates, if you’re retired military, there are some discounts available, but not much for those of us with less than twenty years service. And unless someone can provide me with a more specific list of discounts sources, I won't be adding a discount referral page to our site.

Bob

Note: VIC Cards are Veteran Identification Cards available from The Veterans Administration and are available to veterans with special eligibility like Service Connected Disabilities, Purple Heart or former POW. for more info on VIC
www.ussgalveston.org/blog/vic.pdf

Last USS Galveston Captain Speaks at the Navy Memorial in Washington DC

2010-07-21T22:00:00.001-07:00

Well, it's been a bit over a year so I guess it's time to get this posted. Last June several of us travelled to Washington DC to participate in the unveiling of the USS Galveston Commemorative Plaque at the Navy Memorial (http://www.navymemorial.org/).

There are two videos to view. The first one acknowledges the efforts of Stan Shock, the significant financial contribution of our shipmate Ralph Batson, and has photos of the various speakers and attendees.

The second video is the entire speech by the last commanding officer of the Galveston; RADM James Montgomery (retired). The admiral gives a great talk and I was able to locate a special item he mentions towards the end of the video and include it.

I might yet post the comments made by the son of VADM Colwell, the first C.O., but if anyone wants to see the video of Soupy, Stan Shock or Linda 'Sweethang' Hawkins, you'll have to pay me first!

Go to the ship's history page and then click on 'Videos'... Keith Hedley

Check it out... 23 new Shipmate Profiles

2010-04-04T07:30:00.000-07:00

The Galveston "Shipmate Profiles" system now has 767 listings of men who served aboard her. If you are looking for an old shipmate, or just curious about the past crew, the "Shipmate Profiles" page is the place to start.

Since Jan 1 of this year there have been 23 new shipmate postings in the "Profile System".

By the way, anytime you would like to check who the "new" guys are it's easy to do. Just log in with your profile id and password. On the page you'll see next, click on the "Search" button in the "Browse" box. Near the top of the next page that displays is a "List" button right under the blue bar that says, "List Shipmates by most recently registered (or updated):", click it and there you are!

To save you some clicking here's the list of our new arrivals for the first part of 2010:

Bill Hickman ~ SF2 in R Division 1966
Jan Blum ~ QM3 in Navigation from '67 thru '70
Mark McLean ~ BT3 in B Division '66 thru '70
Morris Butcher, Jr. Whose dad was a BTC (the chief passed away in 2005) and had Jr. baptized on the Galveston in October 1961
John Allen ~ a MM3 on board from '62-64 and went to to the sub service and retired as a MMCM (SS)
Kenneth Thieme ~ SH3 '66 thru '70
Robert Schantz ~ MT2 in Missile Division '62 thru '64
Daniel Gratton ~ a GMG3 in 3rd Division '65 thru '69
Warren Brown ~ a SN in S-3 '62 thru '64
Reuben Lyon ~ FTM2 in FM Division from '65 thru '68
Lathaggar Aylesworth ~ ET3 in OE Division from '66 thru '69
Johnny Gibbs ~ a EM3 in E division from '66-'69
Albert Coburn ~ was a SN in OL division from '66 thru '68 then went to Da Nang (Camp Tien Sha) where he became a BM3. Albert passed away last year, his brother Michael visited our web site and posted Albert's profile
Robert Shelden ~ BT2 in B Division '65-'66
Charles Prine ~ was a barber to the crew and Captain of the ship during 1962
Jim McGrath ~ Still in New Jersey after spending '62-'64 in 1st Division
Chester Kaminski ~ Was a Gunners Mate from '62-'64
James D'Elia ~ An FT3 in FM Division from '58-'60
Robert Terrell ~ Took care of the big SPG-49 missile control radars as a FTM3; '66-'70
Ed OQuin ~ "Bucky" was a FTG3 in the FG Division from '61-'63
Fred Moore ~ Another deck guy from 1968
Gordon Barron ~ Started his service as a SN in one of the Deck divsions in '66, but left the ship for Radioman A school... then got assigned to USNS Adak Alaska!
Myatt Lipscomb ~ Kept the search radars humming as a ET2 in OE Division '58-'61

New Article on MARDET

2010-03-06T16:37:00.000-08:00

On the MARDET page we have added an article about one of "our" Marines who distinguished himself in Vietnam during the Tet offensive. Read about SSgt John Mullan who was a member of the Galveston MARDET from '64 thru '66. From our home page click on "Ship's MarDet" then click on the "more pictures" below the Subic bar photo and finally, in Album 3 - the third page - is a scan of the 'Old Breed News' story about John.

Early Film of the Gal

2009-11-05T03:12:00.000-08:00

Just added another video file to the USSGalveston.org site. The video was prepared by shipmate Charles Fritz from film and tapes supplied by five other shipmates and includes some of the earliest known film of the Gal from the late 1950s. The film is grainy, but if you've ever been aboard, you'll remember what you're seeing. What follows is a short preview of the video.

To view the complete movie, return to the Associations Home Page menu and navigate to Ship's History then Videos.

2009 Reunion is Underway in Everett!

2009-10-02T14:35:00.000-07:00

The first day tour was the USS Stennis CVN-74 in Bremerton. The brow is on a lowered elevator, the quarter deck just inside the hangar deck.

We had over 80 Galveston guys and gals so we were split into 4 groups. First stop, the fo'c'sle...

Everything is big up here. Each link of the anchor chain weighs well over 300 pounds.

Our tour guide, PO1 Owsley is a Mass Commmunications specialist, so he learned a little more about the gear and proceedures from our own boatswain mates about the gear in this space.

The flight deck. Four-and-a-half acres big.

The "island" where you find the bridge, flag bridge, primary flight control and the Sky Bar & Lounge.

PO1 Owsly has us gather around the only aircraft on board this day... a broken F/A-18C.

... and this here is the hook thingy...

On the bridge...

A modern helm station...

More high-tech goodies for the OOD to play with...

Mike Clark is at his "Special Sea & Anchor" station and is ready to take the Stennis out...

A Legend Passes: RADM Wayne E. Meyer

2009-09-02T08:22:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, September 1, 2009
A Legend Passes: RADM Wayne E. Meyer

From the official DoD release: Retired Navy Rear Adm. Wayne E. Meyer, regarded as the father of the Navy’s AEGIS Weapons System, passed away today.

"I am deeply saddened by a great loss to our Navy family,” said Admiral Gary Roughead, Chief of Naval Operations. “Rear Admiral Meyer’s passion, technical acumen, and warfighting expertise served as the foundation of our Navy combatant fleet today. On behalf of the men and women of the United States Navy, I extend my deepest and most heartfelt sympathy to the Meyer family. He was a close friend and mentor to so many of us. His legacy will remain in the Navy forever."

Meyer was born in Brunswick, Mo., on April 21, 1926. In 1946, he graduated from the University of Kansas with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. He also held an master’s degree in astronautics and aeronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School.

Meyer’s Navy career began in 1943 as an apprentice seaman. In 1946, he was commissioned an ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve and was transferred to regular Navy in 1948. After several years at sea, he returned to school in 1951 and attended the Joint Guided Missile School, Fort Bliss, Texas, and the Naval Line School, Monterey, Calif., and eventually served as an instructor at Special Weapons School, Norfolk, Va.

Meyer returned to sea as executive officer on USS Strickland, followed by service on the commander’s staff, Destroyer Force Atlantic. He was then ordered to USS Galveston.

In 1963, Meyer was chosen to head the TERRIER desk in the Special Navy Task Force for Surface Missile Systems. He turned down a destroyer command to continue his work with missile, radar, and fire control systems, and became the founding Chief Engineer at the Naval Ship Missile System Engineering Station, Port Hueneme, Calif. In 1970, the Navy chose then Capt. Meyer to lead the development of the new AEGIS Weapon System in the Naval Ordnance Systems Command.

In this position, Meyer was promoted to rear admiral in Jan. 1975. In Jan. 1977, he assumed duties as the founding project manager of the AEGIS Shipbuilding Project. This project was ultimately responsible for the construction of all of the Navy’s current cruisers and destroyers – with 89 ships built or in construction, and more in planning. This is one of the longest and largest naval shipbuilding programs in history. He retired from active duty in 1985.

In Nov. 2006, the Secretary of the Navy announced that an Arleigh Burke class destroyer, DDG 108, would be named in honor of Rear Adm. Meyer. Christened on Oct. 18, 2008, the ship utilizes the same combat system that Meyer helped to develop, the Aegis Combat System, including the SPY-lD, multifunction phased array radar. This advanced system makes the AEGIS ship the foundation of the U.S. Navy’s surface combatant fleet. Additionally, when the ship is commissioned in Philadelphia, Pa. on Oct. 10, 2009, it will be manned with a complement of highly trained sailors, providing the Navy with a dynamic multi-mission warship that can operate independently or as part of carrier strike groups, surface action groups, or amphibious ready groups, ensuring USS Wayne E. Meyer will lead the Navy into the future.

Rear Adm. Meyer’s personal decorations and service medals include: Distinguished Service Medal; Legion of Merit; Meritorious Service Medal; Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon with Bronze Star; China Service Medal; American Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal; Navy Occupation Service Medal; National Defense Medal with Bronze Star; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Vietnam Service Medal; Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation; and Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation.

His other awards include: American Society of Naval Engineers Gold Medal, 1976; Old Crow Electronics Countermeasure Association Silver Medal; Distinguished Engineer Alumni Award, University of Kansas, 1981; Naval Ordnance Engineer Certificate #99; Fellow in the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics; Missile Systems Award for distinguished service, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 1983; Navy League's Rear Admiral William Sterling Parsons Award, for scientific and technical progress in construction of the nation's AEGIS fleet, 1985; Harold E. Sanders Award for a lifetime of contributions to Naval Engineering, American Society of Naval Engineers, 1985; Admiral J. H. Sides Award for major contributions to Anti-Air Warfare, National Security Industrial Association, 1988.

In 1977, Meyer was designated a Pioneer in the Navy's Acquisition Hall of Fame in the Pentagon. In 2008, he was presented with the sixth annual Ronald W. Reagan Missile Defense Award.
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RADM Wayne Meyer is remembered as the "Father of AEGIS" and should be credited for giving the United States the most powerful Naval Weapon System the world has ever seen.
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Following Remarks as Delivered by Admiral Mike MullenDelivery of the 100th AEGIS System, Moorestown, NJ27 November 2006

Secretary Etter, fellow flag and general officers, foreign guests, other many, many distinguished visitors, ladies and gentlemen. I really am delighted to be here and thank you for joining us today… as we celebrate the delivery of the Centennial AEGIS combat system to our Navy. To echo what Charlie Hamilton said -- “What a great Navy day.” What a great Navy day.

I would like to extend a special welcome to a mentor and a dear friend, Admiral Wayne Meyer, the “Father of AEGIS.” It is also very special to have here today, someone who I consider a Saint, that will have a very high place in Heaven, that’s Anna Mae and many others from the Meyer family. I’m very fond of speaking to the needs to recognize the sacrifices of our families of the families of men and women in the uniform. And I assure you that there has been that sacrifice in the Meyer family as well. We simply would not be here without it. I am not sure that many of those working on that very first AEGIS system would have believed that one day the Navy would be accepting System One Hundred except, of course, for Admiral Meyer. He was never not sure, he was always committed to realizing the full potential of this fantastic combat system or to constantly improving it along the way.

It was his belief in rigorous system engineering that got us here and it is those same principles that must lead us forward, not just in AEGIS but in all aspects of engineering design in our Navy. All you have to do is ask him and he’ll tell you.

Now being the CNO, you think I might be able to affect this program and I always worried about having the might before Admiral Meyer. He loves this work with a passion. Every time we speak, it seems he is quick to tell me that my career peaked about 12 years ago. It’s always good to hear how I haven’t progressed since I left command of YORKTOWN. He then always goes on to explain, like only he can do, how the AEGIS system is always reaching for new heights.

It is truly a system that has delivered time and again. We saw it during the Cold War, when our brazen motto was: “Stand by, Admiral Gorshkov, AEGIS is at sea!” We saw more recently during the Desert wars, as our AEGIS ships performed brilliantly providing a shield to the fleet, launching Tomahawk cruise missiles, interdicting smugglers, controlling aircraft – and so much more. We see it today, as AEGIS is at the heart of our surface Fleet that is globally deployed in defense of freedom.

While founded on the same basic system design that graced TICONDEROGA and YORKTOWN this Centennial System’s advanced combat system and revolutionary radar – truly represent a new era of technology. For while AEGIS was originally optimized for blue water operations against Soviet bomber raids, this system brings unprecedented capabilities to the fight to the new wars and the new enemies we now face. These enemies know no bounds. They believe nothing that we believe. It is the war that we must win and it is a war we will win. In today’s fight, AEGIS is a sword and shield that enables us to command the sea, control the littoral, project power ashore, and safeguard our troops and our allies from growing threats like ballistic missiles. Nothing else at sea today even comes close.

AEGIS ships today truly represent naval excellence, strength and freedom. And are the foundation for a strong fleet and a strong Navy which this nation has always had and must have for the future. But it isn’t just our Navy; there are other navies as has been stated. AEGIS is sailing strong aboard Japan’s KONGO class of destroyers as well as Spain’s F-100 and Norway’s F-310 frigates. And it will not be long before AEGIS is put to sea aboard new destroyers in Australia and the Republic of Korea. Wherever freedom is challenged, AEGIS is there. Thanks to Admiral Meyer and this team, Sailors across the globe can sail confidently, they have the best equipment this great country can produce -- with the best training we can provide. I am mindful, that sailing with them, is a little piece of every one of you here, those of you who design, build, test, and deliver AEGIS. Yes, where AEGIS sails, you are there too. Your hard work – your enthusiastic patriotism – your dedication to putting AEGIS to sea is every bit as important as that of the Sailors who operate this terrific system in harm’s way. To this entire Navy team, Lockheed Martin, and specifically to the workers here at Moorestown, thank you -- I appreciate what you are doing for our country. And I know each of you work tirelessly everyday to make AEGIS even better. I am convinced that as you embrace open architecture you will stand on the shoulders of this great AEGIS legacy as you take this program to new heights. Legacy -- clearly, the AEGIS Fleet has a legacy of excellence. But, some use the term “legacy” to refer to “antiquated systems.” I have even heard some call our in-service Fleet, “legacy ships.”

AEGIS and the fleet is anything but that. As AEGIS transitions to open architecture, innovation will rapidly and simultaneously be introduced throughout our Fleet. O-A assures that there will be no “legacy ships” – instead, every ship of the line will be a state of-the-art combatant. It is clear to me that we must spread this open approach across the entire Navy. When I say open, I mean open systems, open competition and open the throttle. I want to move as fast as we can. Open architecture starts with fielding systems that leverage commercial standards to create an interoperable Fleet that connects seamlessly with our sister Services, our allies and many other global partners.

Navies all over the world are excited about the idea of coming together in a 1000-ship navy to help each other meet the difficult challenges ahead. But to do that we must be able to talk to each other and it is open systems that will enable us to work together as one. As we open the throttles and move quickly forward it is clear that Admiral Meyer’s principles of “build a little, test a little,” of innovation, and of sound systems engineering are the model we must continue to follow. It is a model that is reflected soundly in the 100th Aegis system we accept delivery of today. Every AEGIS system needs a home, and this Centennial System is no exception -- it is heading to Bath Iron Works in Maine for installation in DDG-108, or, as they like to call her in Bath: “Hull Number 503.” When he hears someone refer to a ship simply by her hull number, Admiral Meyer always reminds us that “a ship has a name for a reason!” Indeed, the namesake of a warship inspires the crew and instills a fighting spirit. To have one’s name immortalized in an AEGIS warship is a high honor indeed -- both for the individual, and for the ship. And that’s why DDG-108 will forever be known as United States Ship WAYNE E. MEYER. Honor - we are all so proud!

I can think of no better name for a warship of the U.S. Navy than WAYNE E. MEYER and no better tribute to the man who delivered engineering excellence to the Navy and instilled operational excellence in the fleet. Now, I know you’re proud of the Wayne E. Meyer Institute for Systems Engineering at the Naval Postgraduate School and the Wayne E. Meyer AEGIS Education Center in Dahlgren, but those buildings will never get underway. So, yes, Admiral, ships do have a name for a reason, and that’s true of this one in particular.

Many of us here have seen first hand how your commitment to learning, your demanding standards, your fighting spirit and your extraordinary leadership changed our Navy indeed; revolutionized warfighting while changing everyone around you -- for the better. It is a spirit and character that will undoubtedly serve the crew of MEYER well as they serve in defense of freedom.

Just as your noble legacy lives in every AEGIS ship, it will confidently guide those who sail in the one that carries your name. You can take great pride in knowing that some day soon a young Commanding Officer will surely consider command of the USS WAYNE E. MEYER the peak of his or her career.

You have blessed us all for over four decades. May God continue to bless you, your family, our Navy and our Nation.

The USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) commissioning will be at Penn's Landing, Philadelphia on October 10, 2009.

New Video 1968/69 Galveston Cruises

2009-08-09T11:51:00.000-07:00

The video clip below is just a preview of a movie now viewable on the Galveston website. Shipmate Cyrus Moy - RM3 made the movie from 8mm film he shot over the 1968 and 1969 WesPac and Med Cruises. Included are narrated clips of Panama Canal crossings, liberty ports, unreps, and much more.

To view the complete movie, return to the Associations Home Page menu and navigate to Ship's History then Videos.

New Photo Galleries

2009-07-15T00:08:00.000-07:00

Our web guy, Bob Rank, has been busy! He has added hundreds of new photos and revised the cruise books with a new photo gallery program that improves on what we had before. He even borrowed a copy of the San Diego boot camp "yearbook" from 1966, scanned and posted it too. Even if you went to recruit training at Great Lakes, paging through the "Anchor" will bring back a lot of memories (and check out the last page where you should recognize a very familiar missile cruiser). So go to the Ships History page and click on the Photo Gallery and enjoy!

Ship's Clock Raffle

2009-05-21T12:26:00.000-07:00

Recently Soupy distributed an email regarding the Ship’s Clock raffle at this year’s reunion. For those shipmates who’ve never been to a reunion and for those of us who have, but can’t remember squat, I decided to ask a few questions and here’s what I’ve learned.

Beginning in 1992, now deceased shipmate Leroy Wagner began the tradition of a Galveston Ship’s Clock raffle when he handcrafted a wooden plaque to display a brass, ships chronometer (a navy clock for you land lubbers). Leroy refused any compensation for his effort with all proceeds from the raffle directly benefiting the Shipmate’s Association. When Leroy passed a few years later, his shipmate and good buddy Bobby Sajdera picked up the tradition and has continued to donate clocks without reimbursement ever since. Now Bobby’s not feeling up to continuing his contribution which over these many years has without question been above and beyond the call of duty. How much longer will there be a clock raffle?

In the past, up to three clocks have been won in each year’s raffle and most recently one or two of those clocks were provided through a business Soupy located. But even Soupy is the first to admit his clocks aren’t quite as good as Bobby’s. Today, there’s three of Bobby’s clocks left. It’s up to our President (no pressure on Stan) to decide how many of Bobby’s clocks will be included in this year’s raffle.

This brings me back to Soupy’s email. He says, only $170 worth of clock raffle tickets have been sold @ 5 tickets for $10. Remember you don’t have to be at the reunion to win. The clock will be shipped to you. Also, if you are absent, with the first ticket drawn, you will receive the traditional clock.

Even though, I’m unable to attend this year’s reunion, I’m going to honor Leroy and Bobby with a $10 chance / contribution. Want to join me? Send your check made out to USS Galveston CLG3 to 310 Monroe Ave., Edgewater Park, New Jersey 08010-1822. Soupy will mail back your stubs.

2007 winner, Mr. Lucky, with Soupy

Remember Pay Day?

2009-04-23T08:59:00.000-07:00

About forty-three years ago, I enlisted in the USN earning a monthly salary of $97. Today an enlistee makes $1,294.50 a month. I know the numbers need to be adjusted for inflation, but fantasy of fantasy, it’s sure fun to imagine how much damage I could have done on that first liberty with $1300 in my pocket.

If you would like to know what your monthly salary would be today for enlisted and officers, you can click on the link below to see a 2009 pay chart.

http://ussgalveston.org/blog/paychrt2009.htm

And when was the last time you saw a $2 bill?

Did You Get All the Medals You Earned?

2009-03-27T19:37:00.000-07:00

Depending on when you served aboard the Gal, you may have earned some or all of these ribbons and medals. Our Association Historian, Art Tilley, has compiled a comprehensive list of awards and dates earned by Galveston crew members. To review the list, you can follow the home page navigation menu from "Ship's History" and then "Medals and Awards" link.

There are also links on the Medals and Awards page that will take you to instructions on requesting issuance of you earned medals and/or personnel (DD214) record.

While you're on the Ship's Log page take a look at the recently added link for Videos. Depending on your computer configuration and Internet provider, you may not be able to view the videos directly from this site, so we also loaded lesser quality copies on YouTube. Just click on one of the YouTube links on our video page. If that doesn't work, try again later... the technology is getting better everyday! Good Luck.

Plaque Dedication Ceremony Scheduled

2009-03-01T09:49:00.000-08:00

Association President, Stan Shock with wife Donna, points to the spot on the wall where the plaque honoring the USS Galveston and its crew will be placed and dedicated during a ceremony scheduled for 1 pm on June 6, 2009 at the The United States Navy Memorial, 701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. If you think you'll be able to attend, Please RSVP to Stan Shock by mid March, as he needs a head count to inform the Navy Memorial personnel. For more information on the ceremony, directions, lodging, and transportation please email Stan : sshock1@verizon.net

For the full history of the Plaque donated by shipmate Ralph Batson at the last reunion, read various articles going back to October 4, 2008.

Shipmate Photo at USS Meyer Event

2009-02-05T14:37:00.000-08:00

We just received this photo that shows a couple of Galveston shipmates at the USS Wayne Meyer mast-stepping ceremony. Retired Rear Admiral Wayne Meyer is holding the presentation box with a USS Galveston command coin cradled within. It was given to the admiral by our other shipmate in the photo, Clarence Kirby, on the behalf of the entire USS Galveston Shipmates Association. A second Galveston coin was placed in mast box of DDG-108 to commemorate Admiral Meyer's service on the Gal. More info and photos on this event can be seen by scrolling down in this blog.

Ship's Store Adds Lapel Pin

2009-01-22T00:19:00.000-08:00

Following on the footsteps of our fabulous USS Galveston Command Coin, we have just added a new item to help you show your pride of being a Galveston shipmate. The USS Galveston Lapel Pin is pictured above and available now at the ship's store for only $6, including mailing costs. This was a project taken on by Stan Shock and he did a great job.

Hand Salute Authorized for Veterans

2009-01-15T09:01:00.000-08:00

Iraq War Veteran Brian Fontaine salutes the flag

Veterans and service members not in uniform can now render the military-style hand salute during the playing of the national anthem, thanks to changes in federal law that took effect in October.

"The military salute is a unique gesture of respect that marks those who have served in our nation's armed forces," said Dr. James B. Peake, secretary of Veterans Affairs. "This provision allows the application of that honor in all events involving our nation's flag.

"The new provision improves upon a little known change in federal law last year that authorized veterans to render the military-style hand salute during the raising, lowering or passing of the flag, but it did not address salutes during the national anthem.

Last year's provision also applied to service members while not in uniform. Traditionally, members of the nation's veterans service organizations (like the VFW) have rendered the hand-salute during the national anthem and at events involving the national flag while wearing their organization's official head-gear.

The most recent change, authorizing hand-salutes during the national anthem by veterans and out-of-uniform military personnel, was sponsored by Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, an Army veteran. It was included in the Defense Authorization Act of 2009, which President Bush signed Oct. 14.

The earlier provision authorizing hand-salutes for veterans and out-of-uniform service members during the raising, lowering or passing of the flag, was contained in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008, which took effect Jan. 28, 2008. (reprinted from VA News 10/31/2008)

Thanks to shipmate Mike Michalski for notifying us of this news.

New Navy Service Uniform

2009-01-03T07:48:00.000-08:00

The new E1-E6 Service Uniform (SU) became available for purchase in Great Lakes and California Navy Exchanges starting July 31, 2008.

The SU is for year-round wear and replaces the summer white and winter blue uniforms. Sailors will have up to 24 months to purchase the new uniform, depending on their duty station location.

The mandatory wear date for all E1-E6 personnel is July 2010. Clothing replacement allowances for fiscal years 2008 and 2009 were increased to cover the purchasing of two sets of new uniforms by July 2010.

Basic SU components include a short-sleeved khaki shirt for males and a short sleeved khaki overblouse for females; black trousers with black belt and silver buckle for males and black beltless slacks for females. Collar insignia consists of miniature silver anodized metal rank insignia for E2-E6. Petty officers will wear large silver anodized metal rank insignia on their garrison cap. Males must wear a white undershirt.

Optional components include a black, Eisenhower-style jacket with epaulets, black pullover v-neck sweater and black skirt, beret and handbag for females Existing E1-E6 summer white and winter blue uniforms will continue to be authorized for wear until the July 2010 mandatory wear date.

(mouse clicking on pictures may enlarge image)

Memorial Plaque Design Approved

2008-12-16T06:30:00.000-08:00

This is the approved design of the USS Galveston commemorative plaque that will be placed on Commemorative Wall at the Navy Memorial in Washington DC during a ceremony ---date to be announced.

For more information on the Plaque donated by shipmate Ralph Batson at the last reunion, read the October 4 article posted in this blog. To order your own exact replica of the Plaque, go to the Ship's Store page.

Navy says goodbye to dungarees

2008-12-04T08:07:00.000-08:00

This uniform will be the standard working uniform both afloat and ashore for the Navy. It will replace:
• E-6 and below utilities (dungarees)
• E-7 and above wash khakis
• Tropical working uniforms
• Winter working blues
• Aviation working greens

The new Navy Working Uniform will debut around the fleet Dec. 15, when senior leadership, commanding officers and command master chiefs will be allowed to wear the digital camouflage uniform, which will become required gear for everyone on Dec. 31, 2010.

But don’t expect to see anyone wearing the uniform in an off-base grocery store, which is allowed in the Army and Air Force. Navy officials have instead decided to stick with the restrictions in effect for the existing utility and wash khaki uniforms, which the NWU replaces. Sailors can wear the uniform to and from work, either in an automobile or by public transportation, but they cannot make any stops along the way. The only exception to the rule is for emergencies, although it is not clear what qualifies as an emergency at this point.

Information and photos compiled from various military websites.

Next month, we will show the new year-round E1-E6 dress uniform that will replace the cracker-jack blues and whites.

Galveston Shipmate Honored

2008-11-20T11:52:00.000-08:00

The USS Wayne E. Meyer DDG-108 was christened last month in Bath, Maine and we had several USS Galveston shipmates in attendance (in the photo directly above it's the Meyer crew, with USS Galvestion and USS Goodrich association shipmates). One of our shipmates in attendance was RADM Wayne Meyer (retired) whose rare and distinct honor it was to have a US Navy warship named after him while he’s still alive. He's in the top photo with his family.

Just to put this in perspective, since WWII there have been only 10 ships besides DDG-108 named after living persons! That list includes Hyman Rickover, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George Bush Sr., and Bob Hope. Pretty impressive company.

The day before the christening there was a traditional mast-stepping ceremony where coins and mementos were placed inside the base of the mast and welded shut. One of those items (center photo) was the new USS Galveston command coin to commemorate when Admiral Meyer was a crewmember on our ship.

If you would like to follow the progress of the USS Wayne E. Meyer, or see addiotional photos of the ship and the recent ceremonies, just point your browser to http://www.meyer.navy.mil/

Burial at Sea – still an option

2008-11-06T13:41:00.000-08:00

FYI

While surfing the internet, I found that the US Navy permits veterans with an honorable discharge to be buried at sea from a US Navy vessel. They can handle both cremated and casketed remains, however the casketed handling seems pretty complicated and expensive. But for someone like me who has already decided on cremation and loves a good deal, this is a real find. All my wife has to do is mail my burial urn, a returnable burial flag, and a filled out form to a special address listed on the website.

One down side to the program is that family members are not allowed to attend the burial service. Still, I find the idea of going to sea one last time alone appealing, and my wife says she expects to be busy interviewing gardeners and handy-men, so even this works for us.

To find out more click on following link:
http://www.navy.mil/navydata/navy_legacy_hr.asp?id=204

Bob Rank
BM2 66-68

Galveston 'Command' Coin Now Available...

2008-10-22T23:14:00.000-07:00

The USS Galveston coin that was designed and produced in response to the USS Wayne Meyer DDG108 request (see posts below) is now available for all to purchase. The coin is 1.75" in diameter, cast in 3D and epoxy coated. The coin looks even better than the photos here. All who have seen the coin claim it is absolutely beautiful. In fact, the chief on the USS Meyer who was our liaison for the mast stepping ceremony told us that the Galveston coin is "by far the best looking ship's coin I have ever seen", and he's seen a lot of ship's coins in his career.

The coins are $10.00 each, postage included. We'll get the coin and an order form on the ships store page a little later, but for now simply mail a check (payable to Keith Hedley) for the number of coins you want to:

Keith Hedley
317 Bowsman Ct.
Oakland, CA 94601

Be sure to indicate where the coins are to be mailed to.

Association Donates to Texas Hurricane Relief

2008-10-15T21:45:00.000-07:00

Shipmate, Mike Merkel made a motion at the 2008 Reunion for the Association to donate $200 to the Hurricane Ike Relief Fund. The motion was passed with The Salvation Army selected to receive the funds.

As of the date of the vote, the Salvation Army had already provided 1.3 million meals throughout Galveston and Southeast Texas to those affected by Hurricane Ike.

SHIPMATE DECEASED

2008-10-15T05:20:00.000-07:00

I was just informed shipmate Harold Ackley passed away. He was on board the GAL 63 and retired as a DCC. He will be added to our "DECEASED ROSTER" and his wife Jon will be added to our "HONORARY MEMBERS ROSTER". Our Condolences to Mrs Ackley and her family. May he REST IN PEACE.

DECEASED GAL

2008-10-12T05:17:00.000-07:00

I was informed by Shipmate Mike Merkel that his wife, and our GALVESTON Gal Eydielyn died Saturday, October 11th, 2008 due to Heart Failure. Eydielyn, Wanda Brush and Joanie Campbell were very close friends, so I am guessing that they are all together now. She is added to the Gals "DECEASED ROSTER". May she "REST IN PEACE". At least we got to see Eydie at the reunion in GA before she left us. Our sincere Condolances to Mike and their family.

REUNION 2008

2008-10-08T05:24:00.000-07:00

Another great reunion was had in Pooler, GA. We had a total of 208 people who attended. We now have 408 shipmates and 49 honorary, which brings our overall total up to 457. The association and gals had a very tough year. We lost 17 shipmates and 4 gals. Lets hope that we have a much better 2009. We are all set for Everett, WA 2009 reunion. I have already contacted Memphis, TN concerning the 2010 reunion.

USS Galveston Shipmates at DDG-108 Mast Stepping

2008-10-06T17:44:00.000-07:00

At the USS Wayne E. Meyer mast stepping ceremony in Bath, Maine on October 17 there will be a USS Galveston challenge coin included in the mast box. This is being done to commemorate the admiral's time aboard the Galveston as a fire control and gunnery officer. Additionally, we will be providing the Navy personnel running the ceremony a second challenge coin (also referred to as a command coin) that is to be presented to RADM Meyer as a token of our shared bond as shipmates of the USS Galveston. The presentation box is pictured above.

IF THERE IS ANY GAL SHIPMATE WHO COULD ATTEND THE CEREMONY... please contact Keith Hedley (keith@ussgalveston.org or call 415-298-1964) and we may be able to have you make the presentation of the coin... no speeches!

The coin shown above will be available for all to purchase soon after the mast stepping.

Shipmate, Ralph Batson, Funds Memorial Plaque

2008-10-04T08:45:00.000-07:00

After a lot of discussion at the (2008 Reunion) meeting both pro and con, the negatives about the money and how to deal with it, Ralph Batson stood up and said that he would donate the whole $3000 for the plaque. Once Ralph did this the votes for was an overwhelming majority.

About the Commemorative Plaque Program

The Commemorative Plaque Wall offers individuals and groups the opportunity to create a permanent memorial by sponsoring a plaque dedicated to an individual, group, ship, squadron, command, battle or event within the U.S. Sea Services, while supporting the mission of the Navy Memorial. The plaques are publicly displayed within the Naval Heritage Center and on the Internet, where they are viewed by thousands of veterans, families, friends, tourists and school groups who visit Washington or browse our website.Each plaque is an archival Silvaloy plate measuring seven by three and three-quarter inches and is created by our Graphic Designer in co-operation with the plaque's sponsor. Plaques can include pictures, text, group insignias, logos, and other graphical elements.

Plaque sponsors are given a picture of the plaque on a CD-ROM and can use the image to create coffee cups, fabric patches, baseball caps, or other items using the picture.

Each sponsor is also entitled to a dedication ceremony in our newly RENNOVATED theater. During the ceremony, a member of the Memorial's leadership team will give a speech honoring the sponsors of the plaque, in addition to any other speakers from the sponsoring group. Often, Plaque Dedications are done in conjunction with a scheduled reunion in the greater Washington D.C. area. These events are frequently very meaningful to the participants.

Thanks, Ralph

Rear Admiral Wayne E. Meyer - A Shipmate, Honored

2008-10-03T15:28:00.000-07:00

Admiral Wayne E Myer has been honored with a namesake ship: USS Wayne E. Meyers DDG-108. Read all about it in the following story.

Rear Admiral Wayne E. Meyer - Biography

Wayne E. Meyer was born Brunswick, Missouri, on 21 April 1926. His father and family were livestock and grain farmers, plowing the land referred to by locals as the "gumbo". Meyer's father was displaced in the drought and the Great Depression and lost everything in 1935. He and his family of four children moved eleven miles into clay country five miles North of Brunswick. Wayne and siblings were enrolled in St. Boniface Catholic School, a 2-room schoolhouse. Enrolled in the 140-pupil Brunswick High School in 1939, his primary teacher (and principal) was Miss Edith Marston. Under her tutelage, he and three other boys had been prepared by her to take a three day Armed Services competitive exam in January 1943, which all passed. In April they were called to Kansas City to examine their physical fitness for enlistment in a competitive college program created by President Roosevelt, called the V-12 in the Navy.

He enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve on 12 May 1943 after his parents signed the required papers, as he was only 17 at the time). Meyer graduated from high school on 23 May as president of his class and valedictorian. In June he was called to active duty as Seaman Apprentice, USNR, reporting to the University of Kansas on 1 July.

Meyer was enrolled in the University's Engineering School as his primary duty. He completed eight semesters towards his degree on 1 February 1946. Later that month the Navy ordered the remainder of that Naval Unit (only 35 out of approximately 500 originally) to be commissioned as Ensign USNR, and the University awarded him a B.S. in Electrical Engineering (with Communications and Pre-Radar option). After 11 months at M.I.T. in Radar/Sonar training (and an additional B.S. in Electrical Engineering with an Electronics option), he was ordered to radar picket destroyer USS Goodrich. He qualified for Officer of the Deck underway at the age of 20. Meyer subsequently served as part of the Occupation Forces in the Mediterranean along with service in the Greek Civil War. He was part of the force supporting the creation of Israel in 1948. He was also accepted for transfer to the regular Navy that year.

Over the next two decades he served in the occupation forces in Japanese and in Chinese waters. His ship, the light gun cruiser USS Springfield, was in the mouth of the Huangpu River when Chiang Kai Shek's Nationalist forces fell to Mao Zedong's Red Army in March 1949. Probably the last U.S. warship in China, his ship sailed for home only to head to Hunters Point, San Francisco shipyard for decommissioning. From 1951 through 1955, he attended the Joint Guided Missile School, Fort Bliss, Texas, the Naval Line School, Monterey, California, and served as instructor at the Special (atomic) Weapons School, Norfolk, Virginia. He returned to sea as Executive Officer on USS Strickland followed by service on the Staff, Commander, Destroyer Force, Atlantic.

Later, he returned to Monterey to study Ordnance Engineering, followed again by M.I.T. for 12 months. Here he was awarded one of the early master's degrees in Aeronautics and Astronautics. Then he was ordered to the guided-missile cruiser USS Galveston as Fire Control officer and subsequently Gunnery Officer for her conversion as the first TALOS Cruiser. He has fired, in exercises and tests, more TALOS missiles than any other person.

After an assignment with the Secretary of the Navy's Special Task Force for Surface Missile Systems in Washington, D.C. He transferred to the Naval Ordnance Engineering Corps in 1966.
In 1967, he reported as Director of Engineering at the Naval Ship Missile Systems Engineering Station, Port Hueneme, California and three years later to the Naval Ordnance Systems Command, as Manager, AEGIS Weapons System. He was named Project Manager for Surface Missile Systems in 1972 and in July 1974, he was named the first Director of Surface Warfare, Naval Sea Systems Command. He was selected for Admiral in January 1975. In July 1975, he assumed duties as the founding Project Manager, AEGIS Shipbuilding. In September 1983, he was reassigned as Deputy Commander, Weapons and Combat Systems, Naval Sea Systems Command. He retired in 1985.

As of mid-2008 Rear Admiral Meyer operated a consultancy with offices in Crystal City, Virginia. He chairs and serves on numerous Panels and Committees chartered by various DOD civil and military officials. He has served on the National Ballistic Missile Defense Advisory Committee for the past seven years, serving as its Chairman for the past three years. He also gives numerous speeches besides reviewing and editing articles, essays and books.

USS Wayne E. Meyers DDG-108
The Navy received the 100th Aegis weapon system from Lockheed Martin, 27 November 2006, and announced it would be installed into a guided-missile destroyer named in honor of the man recognized as the 'Father of Aegis,' retired Rear Adm. Wayne E. Meyer. The centennial Aegis system that will be installed in the future USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) came more than 20 years after the first system was delivered to the Navy in 1983 and, according to Lockheed Martin, has eight-times more computing power and costs 66 percent less than the first Aegis baseline. Aegis is widely considered to be the Navy's most successful air defense weapon system and multi-mission combat system in history.

Rear Adm. Meyer was on hand for the ceremony. Remembering something Adm. Arleigh Burke said in the 1950s about integrity, Meyer said he hopes the ship named in his honor, and the Sailors who will sail on her decks, will embody integrity. "I've tried to lead that way, I've tried to be that way, I've tried to raise my kids that way," Meyer said. "And I'm hoping that the Wayne E. Meyer has the capacity also to recognize it."

"Adm. Meyer reminds us that a ship has a name for a reason. Indeed the namesake of a warship inspires the crew and instills a fighting spirit. To have one's name immortalized in an Aegis warship is a high honor indeed," said Adm. Mike Mullen, Chief of Naval Operations. "And that is why DDG 108 will forever be known as United States Ship Wayne E. Meyer."

The 509 foot, 9200 ton, DDG-108 Wayne E. Meyer is a Flight IIA variant of the Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer and incorporates a helicopter hanger facility into the original design. The ship can each carry two SH-60B/R helicopters in addition to it’s vertical launch missile systems that can fire the RIM-66 Standard Missile 2, Tomahawks or ASROCs. The ship will be crewed by 380 officers and enlisted personnel.

Guided missile destroyers operate independently and in conjunction with carrier strike groups, surface action groups, expeditionary strike groups and replenishment groups. DDG108 will be home ported in San Diego following her commissioning in the fall of 2009.

The picture above is what an Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer looks like.

CLG3 Unrep Pictures - another perspective

2008-09-26T09:38:00.000-07:00

Curt Knierim sent us the following pictures taken from USS Sylvania AFS-2 during an unrep in either 68 or 69.

Thanks, Curt for a different perspective, and if anyone has a picture taken from the Galveston of the Sylvania, send it to me and I'll forward it to Curt.

Bob@USSGalveston.org