July 27, 2000

A special Thank You to all those members who have either registered with the Embassy Suites Hotel or returned their registration form to us. You have helped a great deal.

By the time you receive this letter, the 12th Annual Reunion of the Stoddard Alumni will be less than three months away. That might seem like a lot of time. It is not really. There is still a lot to be done and it would be very helpful if you could make your reservations with the hotel and/or return your registration form at your earliest convenience. We just learned that our hotel does expect to “sell-out” for our weekend. It is really imperative that you make your reservations as soon as possible.

We expect a good turn-out (we already have 64 registered), but we do need to determine the number of buses and deposits will soon have to be paid. We would greatly appreciate your cooperation.

Our Reunion headquarters is the Embassy Suites Hotel, located at 9300 Baymeadows Road in Jacksonville, Florida. The special “Stoddard” rate of $84 per day includes a beautiful two room suite, a cooked-to-order breakfast each morning and two hours of complimentary cocktails each afternoon. The Embassy is extending this special rate for the week prior to, and the week following, the reunion. Please make your reservations today at 1-800-Embassy, (800-362-2779). Be sure to tell them you are with the “Stoddard” group and write the confirmation number on the registration form.

We have planned a Golf Tournament for all alumni and guests that might be interested. The Baymeadows Golf Course is just across the street from the Embassy Suites. It is an excellent course and they have offered us a very special rate of $25. The charge includes carts and greens fees. Rental clubs are available for $15. The Tournament is scheduled for Friday afternoon following the luncheon at Mayport. Fees for the Tournament will be collected in Jacksonville. Please note that this will be a “fun” tournament and you do not have to be a semi-pro to participate. Everyone is welcome.

Registration will start on Wednesday, October 18th when we open our Hospitality Room. We will display mementos, photographs and other memorabilia here so be sure to bring any “treasures” you might like to display. Bring your memory books and tour books. They will help you recognize those faces from 30, 40 or 50 years ago. The Hospitality Room will remain open throughout the weekend unless there is a scheduled event taking place.

Thursday evening we will depart our Hotel for The Lady St Johns Riverboat. After boarding this beautiful boat, we will dine and dance as the beautiful paddle boat cruises along the very unique, north-flowing, St, Johns River. A “Traditional Riverboat Buffet” will be served. A DJ will spin the music and a cash bar will be available. The $45 cost includes transportation, the cruise and the complete dinner.

Friday morning will start with a cooked-to-order breakfast and then a tour of the Mayport Naval Station. Mayport is an active base with ships from carriers to frigates in port. We will hold a Memorial Service and then tour one of the ships. We will enjoy lunch at the Ocean Breeze Club on the Mayport base. After lunch we will head for a ferry across the St. Johns River and a visit to the Anheuser-Busch Brewery for a tour and samples of your favorite brews. Transportation, lunch and the brewery tour are included in the tour price of $35 each. Those members who are playing golf will head for the Golf Course instead of the Brewery.

Friday evening will begin with a complimentary bar from 5:30 until 7:30 in the Commodore Room. We will enjoy a Seafood & Prime Rib Buffet. On the menu are Peel & Eat Shrimp, Fried Shrimp, Crab Legs, Smoked Salmon, Crawfish, Fresh Pasta, Cold Salads, Salad Bar, Carved Beef, Seafood Newburg, Fried Fish Fillets, Hush Puppies, Chicken Piccata, Fresh Vegetables, assorted Breads and Flambé Desserts. We will want to work that off so we have arranged for music and dancing from 7:30 to 10:30 PM. The cost of Friday’s dinner is included in the Registration Fee. A cash bar will be available following the complimentary cocktail service.

Following breakfast on Saturday morning, we will visit St. Augustine, the oldest continuously inhabited city in the United States. We will see the Fountain of Youth, the famed Hotel Alcazar, the Ponce de Leon Hotel and the magnificent Flagler Memorial Presbyterian Church. Our tour will also include lunch at the King’s Forge Restaurant. We will have free time following lunch and we will arrange for a bus to the Outlet Center for those who would like to shop for some bargains. There will be ample time to view more of St. Augustine on your own, should you prefer. Round trip coach, the guided tour and lunch are all included in the price of $50.

Saturday evening will also begin with a two hour Complimentary Bar in the Commodore Room. We will have a Reunion photographer there to snap us all looking our very best. “A Taste of the South” is our Banquet theme. We will enjoy Roasted Pork Loin with Apple Stuffing, Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Seasonal Corn & Green Beans Almandine, Corn Muffins, Iced Tea & Coffee and Chocolate Layer Cake. The Awards ceremony and Golf Tournament awards will be distributed after our Banquet. The Banquet cost is also included in your registration fee. A cash bar will be available after the complimentary cocktail service.

Sunday morning we will head for the Kennedy Space Center. This is one of Florida’s premiere attractions and well worth the 2½ hour bus ride to the area. At this time we are uncertain as to NASA’s launch schedule, and whether a Space Shuttle will be on the launch pad, but there’s plenty to see at this unique center. The Visitor Complex tells the story of NASA’s exploration of space through interactive exhibits, movies and tours that are sure to delight us all. We can witness actual components of the International Space Station being readied for their trip into orbit. Enter the full-scale mock-up of the habitation module that space station crews will call home. (Your shipmate Joe Harpster, ’51-54, and his company Intek, Inc., has designed, built and delivered several critical system components for the Space Station!) Other highlights include the Rocket Garden; the Launch Status Center, which offers a behind-the-scenes look at mission briefings every hour; Space Shuttle Plaza, a full-sized replica of a shuttle orbiter; and the Astronaut Memorial, which honors the astronauts who gave their lives in the Challenger disaster. We will also visit one of three spectacular IMAX productions which are guaranteed to thrill. The $50 cost includes the round-trip coach, admission to the Center and one IMAX presentation.

The Embassy Suites does not have a shuttle to and from the Airport. (Few of the Jacksonville Hotels provide that service.) There is a shuttle bus with an excellent service record. The Super Shuttle charges $21 for the first passenger and $6 for each additional passenger. The van holds up to 10 passengers. If we know the arrival information for those flying into Jacksonville, we can try to coordinate the trip to and from the Embassy Suites. That could save a couple up to $12. each way, if there were ten passengers in the van.

If you would complete the travel information on the registration form, we will make the shuttle reservations for those arriving within a reasonable period of time. I will contact each one who responds and let you know who you will be meeting and where. It should not be a problem to coordinate. If you would prefer to make your own arrangements you can call the Super Shuttle directly at 904 355-2583.

We are looking forward to seeing you all in Jacksonville. Should you have any questions, suggestions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to call Jerilyn or myself, or drop us a note or e-mail.

Cordially,

Joe Robinson

Have you visited the fabulous Stoddard website Dan and Roxanne Withers designed and built for us? They have also been busy adding new information and posting news and announcements too! Several of you have sent in Ship’s Store orders by completing the order form and sending it by e-mail. So please visit often and check out the happenings at:    http://www.ussstoddard.org

Past President Bob Hoag maintains the “Stoddard.net” of all those who are wired by e-mail. In between our regular newsletters, Bob has been keeping us updated by e-mail. If you move, get wired, change your web box, or have information you wish to share, please send it to one of the following Association officers:

	President	Joe Robinson	jerilynr@sunline.net
	Treasurer	Jay Romack	romackjay@juno.com
	Secretary	Marilyn Harpster	harpsterj@juno.com
	Chaplain Pro Tem	Joe Harpster	harpsterj@juno.com
	Past President	Bob Hoag	rwh12@psu.edu

Dan Withers is planning to bring a computer and scanner to the Jacksonville Reunion, so please bring a lot of pictures and written material or other mementos that you have of our beloved ship and your time on her so Dan can record it and get it on the web page. This is especially a blessing if you have material that have a great deal of sentimental value and you are unwilling to part with it or loan it out. Frank Buck, who donated many of his sketches for the Charleston Reunion in 1998, has volunteered to donate new drawings for the Jacksonville Reunion. Using his art, we are requesting that you send us information that you wish to share with other shipmates or post on the website...

Shipmate Richard T. Counts (RD2, 53-55) sent in a newspaper clipping about the arrival of Destroyer Squadron 21 at San Diego on January 12, 1955 - we are bringing it to Jacksonville to share with everyone.

Merle Weedlun (WW II) wrote: I was going over some of the past correspondence and I see out of the 56 plank owners accounted for, 16 were in my original “O” Division. I was very proud of my Division and they did an excellent job. In rapid fire we got off 3 second shots and in shore bombardments we fired 5 second salvos. I remember our first air action at Okinawa. I had just relieved the watch in the Director when combat reported bogies to port. I trained the Director and two ready guns to the target and saw in the scope a 2-engine plane. Since we had no 2-engine planes in the area, I ordered “action port - commence firing!” General quarters sounded and I never dreamed battle stations could be manned so fast. I spent five years on destroyers: the Lamberton, the Stoddard, the English and the Livermore, as Engineering Officer, Gunnery Officer, Executive Officer and Commanding Officer, and I consider myself as a Destroyerman, even though I spent fifteen more years in the Supply Corps. We would like to be able to attend the 12th Reunion, but turning 80 in May might slow me down.

Dean Qually (QM2, 51-54) wrote, upon reading Dick Phillip’s memories of the wonderful baking of Rudy Sheptock . . . During the icy cold mid-signal watch, in the North Atlantic, we would sneak down to the bakery and con him out of a steaming hot loaf of bread, and a pound of butter - to this day, I think of those chunks of really hot bread dipped in the block of butter plus coffee as one of the most delicious meals I’ve ever had. That’s my idea of ‘marlinspike seamanship.’

Dick Phillip wrote: When I arrived at Charleston for my new assignment after a six month stint at Great Lakes, I arrived aboard that temp vessel (where we bunked and did our work degreasing the Stoddard during the day). Well, I didn’t realize it when I came aboard the vessel that I had a small bottle of apricot brandy (one shot type); to make a long story short, I ended up restricted and cleaning up their compartments (painting, etc). But the best part was, every morning the ship’s company would muster on the pier and when they were all nicely at attention they played the star spangled banner and I was one of three little sailors who had to march down the gangway carrying this large banner “PRISONERS AT LARGE” (PALs, as they say), until there was left a sole banner carrying sailor - me. That was 30 days restriction; my most cherished days! . . . I still have some tapes of the CW (NEBX) caalls with the comsixthflt x2w4. If you say it fast in code, it is like musical song. The voice of DD566 at the time was Two Bits and I almost forgot about the little two bits we picked up on the Med trip. . .

Tony Bordanaro (51-53, SH3) remembers that the Braine’s call sign was “Carlotta;” Dick Phillip says the Mullany was “Ghastly;” now who remembers the call sign for Isherwood?

Robin Rex, daughter of Robert N. Rex (WW II plank owner, rating: WT3), wrote to advise that her father is recovering from complications from surgery from a year ago - a long, slow process, and is making good progress. He has moved into an assisted living facility in Toledo (10542 Fremont Pike Apt. 134, Perrysburg, OH 43552). Robert had attended several reunions in the past, and while he will not be able to join us in Jacksonville, he surely would love to hear from those he served with, or any other Shipmate.

Gary Niehaus (68-69, Lt. jg) wrote that one of the USS Stoddard alumni would really enjoy hearing from fellow shipmates. Gary writes: He is a great guy and a bit of a hero; you will enjoy communicating with him. Let me tell you a little about him:

Ensign Christopher Silleroy joined the Operations Department of the Stoddard in early 1968. Like all Ensigns, Chris didn’t know much (how can a guy from New Mexico know anything about the navy?) but he listened to the Chiefs, he worked hard, and he made his shipmates laugh (it is impossible not to laugh a lot when you are around Chris). He was a valuable member of the crew during the Stoddard’s last Westpac cruise. When the Stoddard was decommissioned, Chris received brown water training and was sent to Viet Nam to command a squadron of river patrol boats (PBR). While on patrol, an AK-47 round hit the right side of Chris’ head. He was medivac’d to a field hospital, stabilized, and sent home by way of Japan. His prognosis was so poor that he had to be held in Japan for six months to permit him to gain strength for the rest of the trip home. During his long convalescence he had to relearn to write, walk and function with left side paralysis. As Chris earned a journalism degree, he kept the people around him laughing. With that same laughter, he wrote to champion veterans rights. A few years ago, Chris fell and injured the left (other) side of his head. When my wife and I visited him at his assisted living apartment (in May), he was confined to a wheel chair and is nearly blind . . . but his joy of life remains contagious. Chris is one of those few people who can be dealt a really bad hand and play it with great exuberance and skill. In my book, he is a true hero. Chris fondly remembers his time on the Stoddard. It would mean a great deal to him if you would write him (in large print) a letter saying something like “I understand you served on the Stoddard, I did too.” Then you can tell him your favorite sea story. The letter would brighten a shipmate’s day. However, you should not expect a reply . . . he really can’t write letters anymore.

Chris’ address is: Christopher Silleroy, P.O. Box 10248, Albuquerque, NM 87184-0248. Thank you for your kindness to a shipmate. How about it guys? Let’s all send Chris a short note to give him cheer and brighten his day! It’s our turn to spread some laughter and sunshine to Chris!

Bob Hoag sent in this information: COMBAT ACTION RIBBON FOR SERVICE 1941-1961 - Navy and Marine Corps veterans who served in combat in or after WW II are now eligible to receive the Combat Action Ribbon (CAR). Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig has recently authorized this award for those who served in combat, but never received their CAR.

Bob Hoag and Don Whitworth are researching the ship’s name sake: James Stoddard. If any of you out there has information, please contact Bob at: rwh12@psu.edu

James R. Riesenberg (Veterans Service Officer, Courthouse 615 N 6th Street, Sheboygan, WI 53081-4692 920-4593054, riesejrr@co.sheboygan.wi.us) wrote to say that he is looking for anyone who served aboard the Stoddard in 1968, 1969 and 1970 at the Navy Support Activity, Saigon to support the following. If you have information that you wish to share, please contact him directly.

1. Members of the crew were exposed to Agent Orange when they routinely went into the field with back packs and sprayed AO around the perimeter of facilities at Ben Loc and GoDau Hoc; these men were armed, and did periodically engage the enemy during their spraying operations. Are you aware of any Combat Action Ribbon being issued to Stoddard crew under those circumstances?
2. Crew members were exposed to AO while handling the barrels of chemicals in confined areas such as ship’s holds and warehouses. Are you aware of any crew members who may be receiving AO compensation from the VA?

Requiescat in Pace . . .

It is with much sadness that we report Shipmate Suel F. Gardner, Sr. (service: WW II) passed away on July 23, 2000 just as this letter is being readied for print. Condolences may be sent to his grandson Joseph (and Selina) Gardner, gardnerh@grm.net, PO Box 161, Worth, MO 64499.

Ship’s Store:

We now have navy blue as well as white Stoddard golf shirts sporting embroidered gray ship's silhouette and yellow USS Stoddard DD566 identification. They are high quality cotton and match the patch on your Stoddard hats, $25.00 each (sizes M, L & XL). With several expressing interest, we ordered additional Stoddard windbreaker nylon jackets - navy blue windproof/water resistant urethane coated nylon shell, supersoft 6 oz. light weight fleece lining, elastic cuff and waistband, two front and one inner chest pockets with zippers - it is really nice, $47.00 each. We have sizes M, L, and XL. The net shipment of Stoddard hats (fabric back) with embroidered ship’s silhouette are $12.00 each. There are license plate frames, yellow with "USS Stoddard (DD 566) Last Fletcher Class Destroyer" in blue letters - very handsome; $4.00 each but only $2.50 each for 2 or more, or if ordered with any other ship's store item. We welcome your orders; all prices include shipping charges. They make excellent holiday and birthday gifts! Send orders to Marilyn Harpster 751 Intek Way, Westerville, OH 43082, e-mail: harpsterj@juno.com; make checks payable to USS Stoddard Alumni Association.

New Members and Contact Changes:  

Our “lost” shipmates have been finding us! Here are those who have located the Stoddard Alumni group, or have been located through your efforts since our last newsletter.   Welcome aboard! 

William T. Allen (service: 60-62, GM) 821 Hatcher Court Montgomery, AL 36109-1703  Ph: 334-271-0094  Glen Balzer (service: Nov. 64-Aug. 66, ET3) 11550 Magdalena Avenue Los Altos, CA 94024 Ph: 650-917-0703 e-mail: GlenBalzer@email.msn.com  Bob Boza (service: 65-67, ET) 550 E. Light Street Urbana, OH 43076 Ph: 937-653-4576 e-mail: duffy@foryou.net Tom Brantley, Jr 1209 Nelson St Orangeburg, SC 29118  Phil Campbell (Susan) (service: 66-69) 1032 Rosehill Rd. Reynoldsburg, OH 43068-1902 Ph: 614-755-8860  Franklin W. Carter (Jane) 1203 San Bernadino Way Lady Lake, FL 32159 Ph: 352-750-5282; fax: 352-750-5005 e-mail: jfcll@aol.com  Robert Cusson (Linda) (service: 51-54, BT3) 257 College Hwy. Southwick, MA 01007 Ph: 413-569-0089  Douglas Doughenbaugh 121 Martin Dr. Corvallis, MT 59828 Ph: 406-961-5108 e-mail: dryice@peoplepc.com  L. Tom Downey, Jr. (service: 66-68, BT3) 903 N. 4th Street Duncan, OK 59828  Cliff Feltrope (Peggy) (service: 66-69, BT3) Rt. 4, Box 120 Eureka Springs, AR 72632 e-mail: drgngate@mail.cswnet.com  Adair C. Frank 124 Stetson Park Dr. Deland, FL 32720 Ph: 904-734-7550  Ralph Fry (Service: 52-53, Supply) 32470 Wisconsin Avenue Livonia, MI 48150 Ph: 734-261-7968  Ken Gleason (Sherry) (service: 68, BT2) 2624 Walnut Lane Plano, TX 75075 Ph: 972-867-1645 e-mail: gleason1@airmail.net Charles (Chuck) Graves (service: 61-64, RD2) 70 Circle Drive Garden Valley, ID 83622 Ph: 208-462-3834  Joe R. Lee (Stoddard: 62-63, Lt jg, ret’d USN) 1725 Oriole Ct. Norman, OK 73071 Ph: 405-579-9266 e-mail: jklee@telepath.com  Patrick Licese (service: 51-54, SH2) 5 Nathan Court Waterbury, CT 06708 e-mail: patandmaryl@cs.com  Joseph Maholm (service: 66-69, BT2) 29760 SE 150th ST. Altoona, FL 32702 Ph: 352-669-8670; fax: 352-669-7686 e-mail: kemaholm@aol.com

Frank Mosley (service: 60-62, Storekeeper) 204 College Street York, AL 36925 Ph: 205-392-9868  Dr. Gary Niehaus (Vicki) (service: 68-69, Lt jg) 633 Park Avenue Kent, OH 44240 Ph: 330-673-0780 e-mail: gdn@neoucom.edu Clair Pressler (service: 53-54, BM) 1601 Connecticut Avenue Marysville, MI 48040 George W. (Bill) Reynolds (Stoddard: 51, ret’d Cdr) 26951 Leport Street Bonita Springs, FL 34135 Ph: 941-992-4708 e-mail: nfn06232@naples.net  Paul Rubincam (service: 61-63, Lt jg) 2420 Via Rivera Palos Verdes, CA 9027 Christopher Silleroy (Stoddard: 68-69) PO Box 10248 Albuquerque, NM 87184-0248 Arthur F. Schottenheimer (Edith) 550 Village Gr. Dr. #104 Natrona Heights, PA 15065 e-mail: afs2@impop.bellatlantic.net Thomas Sutton (service: 67-71, barber) 4303 11th Street Ellenton, FL 34222 Ph: 941-722-3591  Gordon Warfield (Judy) (service: 53-55) 8921 Branton Avenue Highland, IN 46322 Ph: 219-972-1090 e-mail: scaevola@netnitco.net  Barry Warnecke (service: 66-69) 709 S. Washington St. Delphos, OH 45833-2168 Ph: 419-695-3503  Tom Williams (service: 50s, engineering) 10361 Debutant Dr. South Jacksonville, FL 32246 Ph: 904-642-2716  New address/contact information are: Robert V. Dandrow, MD (Mary) 43 Hills View Rd Milton, MA 02186-3802  Dan Sedgewick (Dan is full time RVing!) cell phone: 209-815-5496 e-mail: anavy17man@aol.com  Robert N. Rex (Bettie) 10542 Fremont Pike Apt. 134 Perrysburg, OH 43552 Ph: 419-475-6178 e-mail: RobinSRex@aol.com (daughter’s) Al Bergeron - sparky2983@aol.com Reid Carns - wrnbcarns@nidlink.com James R. Collier - jrcollier@silverlink.net Patrick P. Duncan - W5RHU@texinet.net Roger Gress - rsgress@bossig.com Freeman Neish - fneish@hotmail.com Don L. Olsen - donwil@rconnect.com Walter G. Roemke - comauma@home.net Harold Rupert - harbv@aol.com   Bob Spotts - spottsrobert@netscape.net Norman T. Taylor - nttaylor@home.com Peter Tufts (service: 66-69) - TuftRobert@aol.com Please keep us informed, Thank you! Your secretary, Marilyn Harpster

12th USS STODDARD ANNUAL REUNION
October 19th through October 22nd, 2000 
Jacksonville, Florida 

March 13, 2000 

Dear Shipmates, Ladies and Friends: 

We have finally completed the plans for our upcoming Reunion. I hope we have set in motion an itinerary that will insure a most memorable reunion. 

The Embassy Suites on Baymeadows Road will be our home base. This is an all suites hotel, which provides a complimentary made-to-order breakfast every morning and a Manager's Reception from 5:30 until 7:30 each evening. The Embassy Suites has offered to honor our special convention rate of $84 for the week before and the week after our Reunion. 

Registration will start on Wednesday when we open our Hospitality Room. The Hospitality Room will display mementos, photos and other memorabilia that you bring. Old and new friends, refreshments and "sea stories" will make this the hub of our Reunion. The Hospitality Room will remain open through Sunday. 

Official Reunion activities will commence Thursday evening with a river cruise on the Lady St Johns Riverboat. We will enjoy the beautiful scenery of the majestic downtown skyline, the famed Riverwalk, and the ambiance of one of our most renowned rivers, the beautiful St. Johns. The cost includes a Traditional Riverboat Buffet as well as a Disc Jockey for dancing and entertainment. There will be a cash bar available. The cost, including transportation, is just $45 per person. 

On Friday morning we will head for the Mayport Naval Station. This is an active base with ships from carriers to frigates in port. We are planning a Memorial service and a tour of one of the ships then in port. We will enjoy lunch at the Ocean Breeze Club on the base. After lunch we will head for a ferry across the St. Johns and a visit to the Anheuser-Busch Brewery for a tour and samples of your favorite brews. Transportation, lunch and the brewery tour are included in the price of $35 each. Friday afternoon will be free for shopping or golf. If there is enough interest, we will organize a golf "tournament" with prizes and awards. 

Friday evening we will dine together at the Embassy Suites. The Prime Rib/Seafood Buffet is included with the registration. Entrees will include Peel & Eat Shrimp, Smoked Salmon, Crab Legs, French Fried Shrimp, Seafood Newburg, Carved Prime Rib of Beef and more. Salad Bar, desserts, coffee, ice tea as well as gratuity are included. Plans are in the works for a dress-up theme, to be announced later. 

Saturday morning we will visit St Augustine, the oldest continuously inhabited city in the United States. Our tour guide will show us the Fountain of Youth, the Spanish Fort Castillo de San Marcos, Henry Flagler's Hotel Alcazar, the Ponce de Leon Hotel and the magnificent Flagler Memorial Presbyterian Church. Our tour will also include lunch at the King's Forge Restaurant. We will have free time following lunch and we will arrange for a bus to the Outlet Center for those who would like to shop for some bargains. There will be ample time to view the "highlights" of St. Augustine on our own. Round trip coach, the guided tour and lunch are all included in the price of $50. 

Our annual banquet will be held on Saturday evening at the Embassy Suites Hotel. We will enjoy a true "Southern Dinner" that will meet all expectations. The cost of the banquet is included in the registration fee. Photographers will be on hand to take pictures for our memory book. 

Sunday morning we will head for the Kennedy Space Center. This is one of Florida's premiere attractions and well worth the 2+ hour bus ride to the area. At this time we are uncertain as to NASA's launch schedule, and whether a Space Shuttle will be on the launch pad, but there's plenty to see at this unique center.. The Visitor Complex tells the story of NASA's exploration of space through interactive exhibits, movies and tours that are sure to delight us all. We can witness actual components of the international Space Station being readied for their trip into orbit. Enter the full-scale mock-up of the habitation module that space station crews will call home. Other highlights include the Rocket Garden; the Launch Status Center, which offers a behind-the-scenes look at mission briefings every hour; Space Shuttle Plaza, a full-sized replica of a shuttle orbiter; and the Astronaut Memorial, which honors the astronauts who gave their lives in the Challenger disaster. We will also visit one of three spectacular IMAX productions which are guaranteed to thrill. The $50 cost includes the round-trip coach, admission to the Center and one IMAX presentation. 

There is so much to see and do in Florida's Northeast. We have barely skimmed the surface for a short weekend get-together. If this will be your first visit to that area you will definitely want to schedule additional time before and/or after the reunion for personal activities. Jacksonville offers deep-sea fishing, kayaking, greyhound races, the Jaguars, a wonderful zoo, 20 miles of beautiful white beaches and over 50 golf courses. The Baymeadows Golf Course is directly across the street from the Embassy Suites Hotel and Jacksonville's best shopping center, the Avenues Shopping Mall is just one mile away. Jacksonville Beach is just minutes away and will be a highlight for those seeking the simple pleasures of swimming, sunning, surf- casting, boating and offshore fishing. To the north, Amelia Island has the flavor of the Carolinas and exudes pure charm. There are miles of beaches, sand dunes and marshes and over 400 ornate Victorian homes built in the early 1900s. Jacksonville is the gateway to the rest of the Sunshine State. If you have never been to Key West or Disney World or our beautiful Gulf Coast, this will be your opportunity. October's temperatures will be in the 70s and 80s depending on your location. We will help in any way to make this a memorable trip. 

It would be a big help if you can make your reservations as early as possible. You can contact the Embassy Suites at 1-800-EMBASSY (1-800-362-2779). The hotel is located at 9300 Baymeadows Road, Jacksonville, Florida, 32256. The Embassy has agreed to provide the special "Stoddard" rate of $84 for the week before and the week following the reunion. Be sure to tell them that you are with the "Stoddard group". It would be helpful if you would record your confirmation number on the Registration Sheet. We look forward to hearing from you soon. If you have any suggestions or ideas that you would like us to implement, please let us know. 

Joe Robinson 

News from Your Shipmates: 

Please send us news you wish to share, or have Dan and Roxane Withers post on the new Stoddard website. Have you visited yet? It's wonderful! They have put in lots of hours to make it what it is, and it's up to us to help them keep it up to date. When you're surfing, do check it out: 

http://www.ussstoddard.org 

Dan and Roxane - Thanks a million! You're the best! 

Thanks to the convenience of e-mail, we have been able to communicate with a number of shipmates more frequently than through formal newsletters. Past President Bob Hoag has spearheaded this effort and maintains the "Stoddard.net." Thank you Bob! If you get wired or if you change your web box, please send your e-mail address to:

In our last newsletter, we reported Les Funk's memories about Stoddard's radio call sign "Two Bits," the sailboat "rescued" by the Stoddard off the coast of Italy, and his request for shipmates to fill in the "Memory Bank." Dean Qually responded: "I was aboard the Stoddard from August, 1951 until fall, 1954. Her call sign was always 'Two Bits' except during a NATO operation Weld Fast it became 'Bad Whiskey,' believe it or not û we got a kick out of that. The code ID group for us was NEBX. The Braines code ID was DACD, so we signalmen referred to her as 'DAD,' which was appropriate since the Commodore (COMDESRON 18) was usually aboard her. The Stoddard became the flagship several times since Commodore Carpendar and our Capt. Baumeister were good friends. I remember how much work the Commodore caused us when we sailed from the Dardanelles to Istanbul across the Sea of Marmara. He had us give signal exercises to the Division (Braine, Mullany and Isherwood) for about 24 hours! It took every signalman we had and we were exhausted. I can't find the call signs for the Mullany or Isherwood in my records." (Richard Phillips remembers that the call sign of one of them was "Ghastly" . . . can someone remember the other?) "The sailboat we 'rescued' in the 1953 Sixth Fleet cruise was named 'One Bit,' not 'Two Bits.' I remember some of the crew sailed it while we were in Izmir, Turkey in July, 1953." 

Shipmate Richard Phillip wrote: "I enjoyed my years aboard the Stoddard, we had a fine crew and pulled together during our hay days aboard. We had a great baker from NJ, Rudy Sheptock, he made excellent bread and his own ice cream; also Patsy Licese from Waterbury CT and George Walsh also of CT who ran the ship's laundry and ship's store. There have been others I have lost track of . . ." 

Bob Wooden wrote: "Before leaving Seattle we watched the USS New Jersey leaving Brementon to be towed to Philadelphia. On November 11th we were at National Park N.J. watching her being towed up the Delaware to Philadelphia. While waiting, I noticed one guy wearing a Tin Can Sailor hat. I asked him what ship he was on and he said the Stoddard! There were 15,000 or more people there at the time." Fancy the coincidence of Bob and Perta Wooden running into William Boyce who served from 55 to 56 aboard Stoddard! 

Don & Lou Whitworth are enjoying the Texas sunshine. Don wrote: "I am building Hadrian's Wall in the backyard to make a raised bed from 'sea' to 'sea,' that is, across the back - a 110' run. I have laid and leveled most of the first course of stones. The stones average 25# each. The wall will be three courses high (about 1+') then backfilled. Of course this is a piecemeal project - work a little, nap a little. My excuse to do this is to obey the doctor's orders to work on upper body strength. Now he is nervous. I'm to report in every two weeks. I think he is behind on his Mercedes payments. Lou doesn't like it and stands by the 911 button. What did slow me down for a couple of days was sailing last Saturday from noon until past dark. We started with a light breeze, a 25 to 30 knot wind developed in the afternoon, then it died. We had to motor in - HOW DISGRACEFUL when you can't sail into the slip as the barbeque parties on the docks look on and grin." 

Lynden Noe has moved from Great Falls, MT to Japan! His e-mail address is deckofcards@hotmail.com; he'd love to hear from his Stoddard friends. 

Carl and Dora Boris have gotten on-line. They sent a message indicating that they'll be "touring" full time for the next year and can be reached by e-mail or through their PMB box (see contact change list). 

Requiescat in Pace . . . 

We recently learned that Shipmate Louis Altman passed away on April 26, 1998, from cancer. Admiral Eli T. Reich who was Commander of the USS Stoddard at the time of her re-commissioning in March, 1951, passed away on November 30, 1999. Admiral Reich suffered from Alzheimer's disease and was at the Jefferson Health Care Center in Arlington. Many of you will remember him as recipient of three Navy Cross Awards, as commander of the submarine Sealion in combat operations during WWII, sinking thousands of tons of Japanese warships and supply ships. A copy of Admiral Reich's obituary published in the Washington Post is available from your alumni secretary. Raymond Drew passed away on December 22, 1999 due to an aneurysm in his stomach. His widow, Mary, wrote to say that Ray had been on oxygen for the past 2+ years due to emphysema, this had kept him from joining the group at the last two reunions. Mary is passing on the Stoddard reunion memento mugs to their sons, Tom & Tim û these mugs were loving reminders of the special time Ray spent on the Stoddard. Ken Johnson passed away on January 14, 2000 from emphysema. Like Ray, this condition kept Ken from our last two reunions. Ken had attended many of the reunions and enjoyed sharing sea stories with shipmates. Frank Buck wrote to tell us his beloved wife, Flora, passed away on January 15, 2000. Those of us who knew Frank, knew his deep love and devotion to her. Your Chaplain Pro Tem, Joe Harpster, has sent cards and letters of condolence to the families on behalf of all the shipmates, and has prayed for the departed and asked God's grace for the families suffering the loss of their loved ones. If you knew these shipmates you may send a note of sympathy and condolence to: 

Congratulations and Thanks . . . 

Shipmate Joe Harpster's company, Intek, Inc., has been awarded the first Space Station Exceptional Company Performance Award by Boeing, NASA's prime contractor to design, develop, manufacture and assemble the International Space Station. This honor recognizes companies that have distinguished themselves by providing the highest level of product quality, technical support and cost performance, while maintaining challenging schedules. Intek produces high tech liquid ammonia flowmeters and temperature sensors, which will be used in the operation and control of the Space Station's thermal control system. Only two companies, Intek, Inc. in the US, and Krunichev State Research and Production Space Center of Russia, were honored with this award at a special ceremony in Houston celebrating the first anniversary of the orbiting International Space Station on December 13, 1999. Congratulations, Joe! 

Captain Bill Hurst has been coaching the champion sailing team of Dartmouth University for over 25 years. He was inducted into the International Collegiate Sailing Hall of Fame and received the prestigious award in January at a ceremony at Dartmouth. Those of you visiting the Naval Academy in Anapolis can see the display of award recipients. Congratulations Captain Bill on this great honor! 

A special "Thanks!" goes to Guy J. Smith of Black Creek, Wisconsin, for his support of the Alumni! Some of you have met him and his lovely wife Karen at the last Baton Rouge Reunion. Guy's father served aboard the USS Terry DD513 during WWII. Guy has made generous contributions to our treasury in the past and has provided historical data related to the war. Now he has again made a large donation to our treasury . . . as he puts it: "Enclosed is some beer money for my heroes of the STODDARD." Thank you very much, Guy; we will raise a toast to your health when we gather in Jacksonville! 

Your Alumni Treasurer Reports . . . 

Alumni dues are $10 per year. Just imagine, still $10 after 11 years! WHAT A DEAL!!! Dues received prior to a year's reunion will be applied to the current year. Please send in your dues - it is used primarily to defray the cost of our newsletters and correspondence. Your support keeps the newsletters coming. We thank these faithful souls who have already paid their Y2K dues (and beyond Y2K): 

If you do not wish to receive Alumni news, simply mark "return to sender" on this mailing so we can save trees, save postage, and keep junk mail from your mailboxes. 

Ship's Store: 

We have a new supply of navy blue Stoddard golf shirts sporting embroidered gray ship's silhouette and yellow USS Stoddard DD-566 identification. They are high quality cotton and match the patch on your mesh Stoddard hats. Order at $25.00 each (sizes M, L & XL). 

We have also a few matching Stoddard windbreaker nylon jackets - navy blue windproof/water resistant urethane coated nylon shell, supersoft 6 oz. light weight fleece lining, elastic cuff and waistband, two front and one inner chest pockets with zippers - it is really nice, at $47.00 each. We have size Large in stock, but can order other sizes (S, M, L, XL or XXL) as you require. 

The Stoddard hats (mesh back) with embroidered ship's silhouette are $12.00 each. 

There are 1998 and 1999 reunion memento ceramic mugs, priced at $5.50 each. The 1998 mug features the "steaming Demon patched up coffee pot" logo; the 1999 mug shows the coat of arms in blue and yellow and the message "per mare ad astra.;" Joe Harpster donated these mugs, and everyone attending the reunion received one. 

There are license plate frames, yellow with "USS Stoddard (DD 566) Last Fletcher Class Destroyer" in blue letters - very handsome; $4.00 each but only $2.50 each for 2 or more, or if ordered with any other ship's store item. 

We are out of the 10th Reunion edition of the Ship's History and Alumni Directory ($10.00); it tells the story of the USS Stoddard, from the laying of her keel to her final resting in the deep off of the coast of Kuaui Island, includes shipmate biographies, selected photos, and directory. If there is sufficient interest, we can reprint it. 

We welcome your orders; all prices include shipping charges.
They make excellent holiday and birthday gifts! 

Send orders to:

New Members and Changes 

Please keep us informed!!!