Reunion Reminder - July 20 -24     Newport, RI

Get ready to kick up your heals or just lay back and enjoy another fun filled 'cruise down memory lane' at our upcoming Newport reunion. I know I don't have to talk up the beauty of Newport in July, just ask the Vanderbilt's they've known about it for years. All joking aside, we hope you all can join us but understand it's sometimes an impossible mission to accomplish. However, if you can't join us just promise one thing, please don't say, 'I've been there and done it before.' You and I know reunions are about re-kindling old friendships and enjoying the fond and precious memories of our youth.

We should all be taking our lead from Ernie Peterson who is bringing the largest contingency to the reunion ever.  So don't miss the boat on this one, seize the moment if you can and sign on today.

Looking forward to seeing you all,
Steve Silk

From De Chief Sid Brown, Pres.

The Pittengers have moved into new digs @ 681 Kapota St. Grand Junction, Co. 81505. Dick has been going through hell with surgery after surgery. One level living make life a lot easier on the knees and hips. - Rcpitt@Bresnan.net  970-243-1682

De Chief is spending two weeks in Charlotte with the teenage grandsons while parents are away on their 20th anniversary Alaska cruise. Hard job trying to keep up with two boys of 14 and 16 yr old. I will need a rest when it is over back in Florida! I have been getting some emails from Nigeria promising me that I am to receive $850,000,000.00 because somebody died and left me the $$$$$$$$$. (must be a long lost cousin) As soon as I get the money all those that will be attending the reunion will get a free 21 day cruise compliments of De Chief!!!! So keep in mind, to get to go on the cruise, you have to be at the reunion???????

Looks like Florida is in the news again about the election for president. Seems this time we are making sure that no Democrats votes will count at all. No problem, just don't count any votes for the Democrats in Florida. Oh well, we have to make sure that Florida stays in the news. Florida is also trying to pass a law pertaining to Truck Nutts. You know the blue Nutts and chrome ones you see hanging from underneath the fellows pick-em-up trucks. Seems, some politician's were offended. If you have Blue Nutts, your fine is $150.00, Chrome Nutts will get you a $225.00 fine. Seems the chrome Nutts cost more and the law makers think the fine should be higher for the chrome ones. So if you come to Florida, leave your Nutts at home. Also, if you drive to Florida, when you cross the state line into Florida you will see a sign that says "KEEP FLORIDA GREEN", that really means stay at home, just send your Money to Florida. There is a big shortage of water starting just north of Orlando and south of the rest of the state. A sure cure for the shortage is shower together, that saves water. Don't drink water, drink more Beer. There is a Bill up in the Palm Beach area to split the state into two states. Seems that the politicians think they are not getting their fair share of taxes collected for the southern part of the state. Key West has tried to do this a couple of times, maybe they should take the bridges out going to Key West, cut off the water being piped down, see how long that last?????????? Palm Beach, now that is another story. All the $$$$$$ in Palm Beach can support Palm Beach, but if they cut a big ditch across the state just north of Palm Beach, who could they complain to. I have a suggestion about the border with Mexico, lets dig a BIG and I mean BIG ditch between Mexico and the US. Take the dirt fill in New Orleans, fill the ditch with alligators from Florida. Now that would solve the illegal immigration problem from south of the border.

That is my NUZE from Florida
De Chief AKA Sid

Looking Up Old Shipmates -

Both Arnie & Ski have been leading the campaign on recruiting Perry shipmates that have been lost at sea and unable to find our Perry website. Together they have found about a dozen or so shipmates. Believe me, its no easy task and they must be commended for their efforts.

All in all I believe we have a fair representation of all the shipmates that served aboard the Perry. By my calculation I think we may have had approximately 3,500 men serve aboard the Perry during it's 27 years of active service. We have a ships crew of 650 members and some 80 deceased since the start of our websit back in '99. On average I think a tin can crew is replaced every 2 years with exception to Don Turner who was aboard the Perry 6+ years. ( 28 years of service / 2 * 250 crew = 3,500).
So tell me where are the other 2,850 Perry crew members?

Bob 'SKI' Norowski

I have been trying to recruit former shipmates since the start of our reunions back in the spring of 2000. I tried to remember names and the town and/or state where they came from. That first reunion brought two shipmates: Joe DeCola from Boston and Tom Mores from Colorado. That was only two out of about ten who I contacted. However, Tom & Joe then gave me names of others and things began to snowball. First Andy Marchese, got Dave James, then Dave gave me other names and so on and so on. Since getting a computer two years ago things became a little easier. Sometimes it's easy but other times it is frustrating. But when you find that one shipmate you are looking for, the effort is so satisfying. It's just a good feeling and more so when they come to a reunion. Jack Travilian was one of those shipmates. Toby Merikanto FL, Paul Casavant ND, Knute Sakstrup MI were easy names to find. Names like Anthony, Jones or Wakefield are the tough ones.

The White Pages on the Internet is the way I do it. Just plug in that name and town and state and up comes maybe, MAYBE, some names. Then start calling. Thus far since the San Antonio reunion I must have found eight or ten shipmates. Maybe they won't all come to Newport, but there is always the next time, wherever that may be. If everyone could contact ONE shipmate we would double our membership. If you can't or don't do the Internet or don't have the time but have a name or two, call me. E-mail me with those names and I'll try my best to find them.
I can be reached at 412-462-4602 or bobskiqm2@comcast.net
Lets keep things going, SKI

On a more personal note, my wife Sandy has just completed her last chemo treatment and is doing well. We're both excited about seeing everyone in Newport.

Arnie Myott, Secretary

'Lost at Sea Project'

Just got off the phone with Jerry Tardif of the USS Ware DD-865 and we talked about their Crew Roster project. The who to talk to and things that will go wrong. He told me they implemented a comprehensive program to contact every shipmate that served aboard the USS Ware and are near completion of the project. To accomplish this task they started with the purchase the Ships Log for all the years the ship was in service (1945- 1974). They are pleased to report they have successfully located all past crew members via phone, email or letter. Not an easy task but certainly a worth while endeavor.

I'm very excited about getting a similar project for the Perry underway. Please contact me if you think this a worth while project. More importantly, would you support this project with your personal effort to search and recover our crew members ' lost at sea'.   arniemyotte@comcast.net

Lou Guarineillo

A consideration for our Newport reunion. Would anyone be interested in going to the Tin Can Sailors offices and ships store located just 10 minutes from Battle Ship Cove?

Perhaps we could leave Battle Ship Cove a little earlier and stop at the TCS ship store on our way back to Newport to purchase some mementos or any of the many different items offered for sale.

Again, just a thought. What does everyone think of this?? JANDLASSOC@aol.com

Lou Guarineillo

I hosted the annual TCS Bull Session in Jacksonville Beach in Feb 2008. It was a 2 day event. On that Friday we visited the Mayport Naval base for a ships tour on the USS Klakring FFG-42 and had lunch on the base at the former Chief's Club. On Saturday we held our usual Bull Session and ships store during the day, and in the evening after a great dinner, had 3 guest speakers. The first speaker represented the USS Charles Adams attempt to become the only Adams class destroyer as a museum ship, in Jacksonville. Currently the Jacksonville City council seems to have approved this. By the way Sid served on the Adams and is a contributing member as am I. Our second 2 speakers were the Captain and Command Master Chief of the USS Doyle FFG-39. They spoke on the current and future status of the Navy and also their recent deployment to West Africa for drug interdiction. (I had to look up interdiction so here goes - To cut or destroy a line of communication by firepower so as to halt an enemy's advance.)

The Captain was kind enough to invite all TCS members to their next Family Day Cruise later this year. For your info, this is a one day cruise, out in the morning and back late afternoon. Several TCS guys went on the Doyle's family cruise last year and enjoyed it immensely.

Unfortunately the attendance at this Bull Session was rather disappointing. If we can't increase the attendance next year it is likely to be the last one held in Jacksonville. This would be unfortunate since we have a great program each year with a ship tour and lunch on the base. It's a one day full Bull Session program similar to New Jerseys Bull Session. Any help getting Perry Members to attend would be greatly appreciated.

I was recently talking to Phil Abate in New Jersey who served aboard the USS Goodrich DDR which was part of DESRON 8. They hold one of the largest reunions, attendance wise, each year. He suggested a possible DESRON 8 reunion. As I recall the Perry, Johnston, Kennedy, Ware all DDs and the Goodrich, Bailey, Turner and N.K.Perry all DDRs were DESRON 8. According to the TCS newsletters all of these ships hold reunions.

Can't keep a good man down.

It's been a known fact that when someone looses a sense such as sight or smell etc your other senses become stronger. I guess the same argument holds true for the use of your body parts as well. So what's this got to do with the price of oil? Its simple and Wil Pruett's recent major discovery will shed some light on the subject. It's no secret that Wil Pruett had stopped dancing a few years back because of hip & knee problems. What is amazing is that Wil has found a talent that was never before in his repertoire. Can you believe Wil has learned he has an ear for music and at 80+ he has formed a chorus, 'The SINGING MEN OF ARAKSAS'. What's even more amazing he is the chorus soloist and 1st tenor. wrbjpruett@gmail.com

Check their website http://www.singingmenofarkansas.org/ to learn more about the chorus and their scheduled appearances. You'll be pleasantly surprised.

I wonder what ole Dick Pittenger has up his sleve since he has the same dancing leg problems?

GEICO - We've probably have all seen and enjoyed some of their auto ads on TV. But better than the TV ads, this endorsement by our own Roger Rae beats all. Can you believe Roger was honored by GEICO for carrying his insurance with them for 50 years. I wonder if Roger has ever had an accident claim? What do you think?

See you in Newport,
Steve Silk
steve@ussperry.com