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