Hello Shipmates and Friends,

Time is drawing near; I hope you all have

your reservations in for Albuquerque. We are planning on a real good time,

I know there is a restaurant in Old Town that keeps whispering to me to

come back and eat there. We will be arriving in Albuquerque on the

Monday afternoon or evening September 19th. If you are also arriving early

keep an eye out for others, I know some will be coming in that weekend.

Don and Maria have already begun working on next year’s reunion down

around the Gulf. Some of sent in suggestions and literature of places in the

area and Don and Maria have already made a trip down there looking

things over.

I hope everyone keeps in mind to try to locate their shipmates that we have

not found yet. We know there are many more out there and we should be

able to track down quite a few more. We could use some new sea stories

and it’s always good to see new faces at the reunions that bring back more

memories.

Start packing your bags and smiles and we will see you in September.

Smooth Sailing,

You’re Shipmate & Friend,

Terry prichett@charter.net 618-259-3007

July 2011 Volume IV Issue V

Prez Says WE ARE ON THE WEB

www.ussprichettdd561.org

USS PRICHETT DD-561

REUNION ASSOCIATION

LOOK OUT

P a g e 2

Excerpt taken from Westpac ’58-’59 cruise book: For the PRICHETT, it was more of a

question of whether or not the Americans would survive Okinawa. We anchored at White

Beach, in Buchner Bay, and it was a good place to start. Not only was it a fine jumping-off

spot for villages 1, 2, and 3 (and points west), but a popular watering-place in its own right.

It’s a wonder that we ever got beyond those clubs beneath the cliff. White beach also saw

many a scramble in the PRICHETT [baseball] pennant race. Division played division,

department played department, and the Chiefs and First Class, in turn, faced off against the

Officers. (NOTE: That cruise, the Chiefs won, 22-19)

Alan Want (left) and L. Reed, BT1, of B

Division, crossing the equator. Both

had crossed before aboard the USS

Collett DD 730 in 1956.

The photos on this page were

submitted by Alan Want (below),

who served aboard the USS

Prichett 1957—1959, 1st Division.

L-R: E.M. Covington and Alan Want

ashore in Okinawa. “Okinawa invaded

many times. Not sink in ocean yet. Survive

Chinese. Survive Japanese. Survive mission-

aries and Americans….” The Teahouse of

the August Moon

Yokosuka swim call

P a g e 3 Dear Ma’am or Sir, I just spoke to my dad (Gene Lowry) on the phone and he asked me to send a copy of this

poem I just wrote and read to him. He said “I will send it to the ship committee to see if they might want to print it in the ships letter.” I thought I could help out and just email it since I

composed it and saved it on my computer.

I am JoAnne (Lowry) Hess and I live in Texas. My Dad is Herald (Gene) E. Lowry and as you know is in Roseburg, Oregon.

If you would be so kind to pass this poem along the person/s in charge of the USS Prichett let-ter composition I would be ever so grateful. I am sending in hopes it does get printed in

honor of what an awesome man my dad is to me, my entire family and to so many others.

I hope all of you have a wonderful time at your reunion.

Thank you. God Bless JoAnne Hess

A SAILOR’S DAUGHTER A SAILOR’S DAUGHTER A SAILOR’S DAUGHTER A SAILOR’S DAUGHTER

A SAILOR’S DAUGHTER I WILL ALWAYS BE!A SAILOR’S DAUGHTER I WILL ALWAYS BE!A SAILOR’S DAUGHTER I WILL ALWAYS BE!A SAILOR’S DAUGHTER I WILL ALWAYS BE!

WHETHER DAD WAS AT HOME OR FAR AWAY AT SEAWHETHER DAD WAS AT HOME OR FAR AWAY AT SEAWHETHER DAD WAS AT HOME OR FAR AWAY AT SEAWHETHER DAD WAS AT HOME OR FAR AWAY AT SEA

I ALWAYS KNEW HOW MUCH HE LOVED MEI ALWAYS KNEW HOW MUCH HE LOVED MEI ALWAYS KNEW HOW MUCH HE LOVED MEI ALWAYS KNEW HOW MUCH HE LOVED ME

I COULDN’T WAIT TO HUG HIM AND SIT UP ON HIS KNEEI COULDN’T WAIT TO HUG HIM AND SIT UP ON HIS KNEEI COULDN’T WAIT TO HUG HIM AND SIT UP ON HIS KNEEI COULDN’T WAIT TO HUG HIM AND SIT UP ON HIS KNEE

I REMEMBER DAD BRINGING HOME GIFTS FROM OVERSEASI REMEMBER DAD BRINGING HOME GIFTS FROM OVERSEASI REMEMBER DAD BRINGING HOME GIFTS FROM OVERSEASI REMEMBER DAD BRINGING HOME GIFTS FROM OVERSEAS

HE ONCE BROUGHT ME A SPANISH DOLL WITH A BRIGHT FRILLY DRESSHE ONCE BROUGHT ME A SPANISH DOLL WITH A BRIGHT FRILLY DRESSHE ONCE BROUGHT ME A SPANISH DOLL WITH A BRIGHT FRILLY DRESSHE ONCE BROUGHT ME A SPANISH DOLL WITH A BRIGHT FRILLY DRESS

SOMETIMES I HAD DAD HOME THAT IS WHEN MOM GOT TO TAKE A RESTSOMETIMES I HAD DAD HOME THAT IS WHEN MOM GOT TO TAKE A RESTSOMETIMES I HAD DAD HOME THAT IS WHEN MOM GOT TO TAKE A RESTSOMETIMES I HAD DAD HOME THAT IS WHEN MOM GOT TO TAKE A REST

I REMEMBER GETTING TO DANCE STANDING ON HIS FEETI REMEMBER GETTING TO DANCE STANDING ON HIS FEETI REMEMBER GETTING TO DANCE STANDING ON HIS FEETI REMEMBER GETTING TO DANCE STANDING ON HIS FEET

BUT SOONER OR LATER DADDY’S SHIP HAD TO GO AND JOIN THE FLEETBUT SOONER OR LATER DADDY’S SHIP HAD TO GO AND JOIN THE FLEETBUT SOONER OR LATER DADDY’S SHIP HAD TO GO AND JOIN THE FLEETBUT SOONER OR LATER DADDY’S SHIP HAD TO GO AND JOIN THE FLEET

HE PROTECTED OUR BORDERS AND WATERS ABROADHE PROTECTED OUR BORDERS AND WATERS ABROADHE PROTECTED OUR BORDERS AND WATERS ABROADHE PROTECTED OUR BORDERS AND WATERS ABROAD

HE LOVES ALL HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS HE LOVES ALL HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS HE LOVES ALL HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS HE LOVES ALL HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS

HIS COUNTRY AND GODHIS COUNTRY AND GODHIS COUNTRY AND GODHIS COUNTRY AND GOD

I WRITE THIS NOW SIMPLY TO HONOR THE MAN THAT IS I WRITE THIS NOW SIMPLY TO HONOR THE MAN THAT IS I WRITE THIS NOW SIMPLY TO HONOR THE MAN THAT IS I WRITE THIS NOW SIMPLY TO HONOR THE MAN THAT IS

MY FATHERMY FATHERMY FATHERMY FATHER

BUT MOST OF ALL TO LET HIM KNOW HOW HAPPY I AM TO BE BUT MOST OF ALL TO LET HIM KNOW HOW HAPPY I AM TO BE BUT MOST OF ALL TO LET HIM KNOW HOW HAPPY I AM TO BE BUT MOST OF ALL TO LET HIM KNOW HOW HAPPY I AM TO BE

A SAILOR’S DAUGHTERA SAILOR’S DAUGHTERA SAILOR’S DAUGHTERA SAILOR’S DAUGHTER

JoAnne (Lowry) Hess

for Herald E. Lowry

P a g e 4 TAPS

Doty Fernandes Wife of James E. Fernandes Lafayette, CA

Richard McKinney 55-56, MM1 Milton, FL

CHANGE OF ADDRESS

Lynn M Dorrell LMDorrell@fidnet.com

David (Doc) M. Yoder Jr 1204 Hunters Creek Blvd Greenwood, SC 29649

dmyoderjr@gmail.com

Hi all...I received a very short notice that Richard “Mac” McKinney, MM1, 1955-56 of the Prichett has passed away. The only Richard McKinney in the directory was a SFP2 on board in 1961-63.

They said he loved talking about his shipmates and that is all they sent. Terry Crawford

HAPPY 4th! I have on flag earrings, flag necklace and even flags on my socks! Hope you all have a good day! Jim and Irene Basham

My last update on Doty's condition stated that I thought I saw a light at the end of the tunnel and I did. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a train. She died at 0250 today (15 June 2011). No

need to give you all the details leading up to this, but she died peacefully with all three of her children and me present. She will be interred in the Columbarium at Arlington National

Cemetery some time in the future. Thanks for all the kind thoughts and prayers during this very trying period. Jim Fernandes

P a g e 5

THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE WAS POSTED ON A WEBSITE AND SUBMITTED

BY DAVID (DOC) YODER. UNFORTUNATELY, I DO NOT HAVE THE EXACT WEBSITE, BUT FELT IT WARRANTED PRINTING. THANKS, DOC.

Doc, Thanks for the fire power you folks provided for us, it saved a lot of

lives and helped many of us come out of there alive. God Bless.

Dean A. Morrison, 4th Platoon, Charley Company, 506th Airborne, 4/67-10/68

To David M. Yoder, Jr.

Your post deserves special attention, therefore, we are posting it on our

Message Board so that our members may thank you and your shipmates

for a job well done. Please visit the Message Board and we hope you and shipmates will join is in Reno in August for our 7th Annual 3-506th

Reunion. Detail can be found on the Reunion Pages & Newsletter here on

this website. AIRBORNE!

Re(1): Naval Support for the Currahees IP: 12.17.164.38

Posted on May 1, 2003 at 08:56:43 PM by Jerry Berry

David, Many of us Currahees from the 1967/68 tour of duty operating out of LZ BETTY remembers the outstanding Naval support from the USS

Pritchett, during the Battle of Phan Thiet. I have detailed fire missions of

the USS Pritchett in support of us during February 19-28, 1968. Your

destroyer with its four-guns pounded Viet Cong and NVA positions in Binh

Thuan Province with nearly 300 five-inch projectiles on the 19th, while supporting advancing Currahees during the infamous TET Communist

Offensive. Your ship firepower was credited for destroying 33 masonry

structures, damaged 64 more and ignited four secondary fires. In one

instance, the destroyer's salvos flushed 10 Viet Cong into the open, which

TF 3-506th engaged and destroyed. No sweeter sound was those projectiles coming to the aid of our engaged Currahees.

Your destroyer came back on the firing line from March 1-10, 1968 to

provide our battalion with naval gunfire support. Doc Yoder, the Currahees

of the 3-506th salute you and your shipmates, stand tall.

NOTE: Since I did not know what “Currahee” meant, I looked it up.

Currahee, is a Cherokee word meaning "We Stand Alone Together", and

in this case refers to the motto of the 506th Infantry Regiment, a unit of

the 101st Airborne Division.

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK:

WOW! This summer has been a record setting hot and dry one here in San

Antonio and for a lot of you across the country. We will pray for a cool reprieve in

New Mexico for the reunion. I am SO looking forward to seeing everyone there!

So, if you haven’t made your reservations yet, do so NOW! The phone numbers

that was in the last edition were not the correct numbers. Please use 505-884-2511

or 800 884-4900.

As you can see, this newsletter is a little lean this time. I am having a hard time

getting information and photos. I will do my best, but I need everyone’s help. One

of the things I plan to do while at the reunion (other than take photos) is try to

gather stories from you guys (and gals). So, please plan to bring any old photos

that I can scan and then I can get the story straight from the horse’s mouth. (Now,

now, Don...I said mouth, not a...well, you know.) Anyway, I am going to try to

gather enough material that, along with any new stuff that gets sent in during the

year, I will still have enough to make the newletters interesting. And, as I have said

in the past, give me suggestions of what you want to see. I am happy to oblige!

So, until then, I remain sincerely and faithfully yours Lucy Forcum

President Terry Crawford

Vice Pres John Benoit

Sec/Treas Don Calvin

WWII Rep Leonard Beetstra

Family Rep Verna Stovall

Hon. Bd Mem Harry Galbraith

Hon. Bd Mem Jim Simms

USS PRICHETT DD-561

REUNION ASSOCIATION

C/O LUCY FORCUM

2730 JOHNSON GRASS

SAN ANTONIO, TX 78251

NAVIGANS OPPUGNARE

THEY SAIL TO ATTACK FIRST CLASS MAIL

Contributions for membership 2010-2011 are as follows: Full membership & receive hard-

copy newsletter, $35.00 Full membership & receive email copy only of newsletter, $30. No

membership, but receive hardcopy of newsletter, $10. Please make checks payable to USS

Prichett DD-561 & mail to: Don Calvin 305 Columbus St Coatsburg, IL 62325