The Southerland Scuttlebutt

     Volume Number 1                               Issue Number 2                                                              Summer 2009           

 

    Website: www.usssoutherland.com    

 

                                             Officers

 

Webmaster & Treasurer       President                             Vice President                 Secretary

John Jones                                Rick Anderson                       John Dooley                     Tom Bramhall

(402) 431-1661                        (251) 928-6937                       (318) 232-4266                 (360) 832-6375

Jearlj@cox.net                         Andy743@bellsouth.net         Doojh@bellsouth.net       Bramhallthomas@hotmail.com

 

Ship Historian                              Honorary co-Vice Presidents                      Ship Store                                                                                                                                                                                     

George Chambers                          Stan  & Rikki Shirey                                     Jim Kumbalek

Gjchambers@aol.com                   (410) 822-6805                                              (920) 684-8976

                                                       stan43@goeaston.net                                    Jdakumbalek@sbcglobal.net

     

President’s Message

Submitted by Rick Anderson

 

It’s that time again to remind everyone about the Branson Reunion, which is set for September 21-25, 2010.  The event will take place at the Grand Plaza Hotel, 245 N. Wildwood Drive, Branson, Missouri, and will feature a great line up of shows and tours.  We hope to see all of you there!

 

Members at the Green Bay event agreed to let a representative from Gatherings Plus compile the itinerary for the upcoming reunion in Branson.  Specifics as to the schedule are provided below.  The registration form is located on page 5.  I’m sure everyone will be pleased with the selections that were made.

 

The itinerary has been set up as a total package of $245.00 per person.  This does not, however, include the hotel, which has been negotiated at $99.00 per night (tax included) for the four-night reunion event.

 

 

               Reunion Itinerary

 

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Ÿ         Hotel check-in.

Ÿ         Registration begins at noon, hospitality room open with light snacks and beverages provided.

Ÿ         Welcome Aboard Reception at 5:30 pm.

 

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Ÿ         Complimentary breakfast 7:00 to 10:00 am

Ÿ         10:00 am - The Buck Trent Morning Show and lunch at Plaza View featuring Kenny Parrott.

Ÿ         6:00 pm - Dinner at Charlie’s.

Ÿ         8:00 pm - Six Real Brothers Show.

 

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Ÿ         Complimentary breakfast 7:00 to 10:00 am.

Ÿ         Golf outing or shopping shuttle. (Golf is paid on your own).

Ÿ         3:00 pm - Memorial Service for our fallen shipmates.

Ÿ         4:00 pm - Dinner, show and cruise on Table Rock Lake aboard the showboat Branson Belle.

 

Friday, September 24, 2010

Ÿ         Complimentary breakfast 7:00 to 10:00 am.

Ÿ         Members, spouses and guests meeting at 10:00 am in our hospitality room.

Ÿ         Free day

Ÿ         6:30 pm - Group photo.

Ÿ         7:00 pm - Evening banquet at hotel with entertainment.

 

 

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Ÿ         Complimentary breakfast 7:00 to 10:00 am.

Ÿ         Farewell until the next reunion.

 

Everything in the above-mentioned itinerary (except the golf outing and hotel) is included in the total package price of $245.00 per person.  Lodging has been negotiated at $99.00 per room per night including tax, with a deluxe breakfast each morning and the use of a hospitality room.  This is a great deal, folks!

 

Membership

 

At our meeting in Green Bay, members agreed to keep membership dues at $15 per year.  The dues are used to help defray the costs associated with the website, the reunions and the newsletters.  They also help with equipment rental at reunions, such as wheelchairs and projectors.

 

We greatly appreciated the donated items at our Green Bay raffle and welcome anyone to make or donate items for the next reunion.

 

Membership dues can be sent to: John Jones at 5112 No. 145th Street, Omaha, NE, 68116.  Please make your checks payable to John Jones, and not the USS Southerland.

 

 

TREASURER’S REPORT

Submitted by John Jones

 

Our funds currently stand at $4,277.21.  Anyone desiring a more thorough treasury report can contact me directly.

 

WEBSITE

 

A lot of work has gone into our website over the past year, thanks to John Jones, who took over the responsibilities of webmaster.  If you have not already done so, send John a profile of your service time.  He will add yours to the new area on the site that he’s been creating.  Information he needs is as follows:

 

Ÿ         Name

Ÿ         Dates of service

Ÿ         Dates served on the Southerland

Ÿ         Other duty stations

Ÿ         City and state where you currently reside

Ÿ         E-mail address

Ÿ         Remarks

 

You are also welcome to include other personal information, such as a digital photo of you and your spouse, your old Navy picture, your spouse’s name, your birth date, marriage date, other duty stations and hobbies.

 

In Memoriam

 

Ÿ         William Ira Ward, ET2 1957-1961, passed September 10, 2008

Ÿ         Wallace Roe, 1955, passed January 16, 2008

Ÿ         Clarence Paterson, 1944-1945 FC1, passed June 8, 2008

Ÿ         Frederick P. Smith, service dates unknown, passed December 2007.

Ÿ         J. Ray Hunter, Plank Owner, passed November 8, 2008.

Ÿ         James M. Ahrens, BMC, passed October 7, 2005

Ÿ         Lawrence G. Reid, 1944-1945 CMDR, passed December 2008.

Ÿ         William Jorgensen, 1952-1953 EM3, passed February 2009.

Ÿ         Homer Earl Conrad, Captain 1950-1952, passed December 11, 2007.

Ÿ         William Lee Hough, CDR (Captain) 1963-1964, passed January 4, 1999.

 

SHIP STORE

 

Shipmate Jim Kumbalek is in charge of hats, ship’s emblems and shirts bearing the USS Southerland DD/DDR 743 logo.  He can work directly with anyone interested in purchasing these items.  Contact him at 920-684-8976.

 

 

 

Ship History

                        Submitted by George J. Chambers

SCPO, USN Retired

 

To all Plank Owners, George has asked that you contact him if you have additonal stories for the revised edition of his book.  You all have very valuable information about our ship, which should be preserved for all time.

 

First Allied Man-of-War into Tokyo Bay

The Story of USS Southerland DD/DDR/DD 743

(1944-1997)

 

USS Southerland, a long hull Gearing-Class fleet destroyer, was commissioned in December 1944.  Before deploying to the Pacific Theater in the Spring of 1945, she was converted to a radar picket destroyer mounting special radar and other electronic gear. She participated in the final 3rd Fleet strikes against the Japanese homeland and was given the honor of leading the parade of allied warships into Tokyo Bay in August 1945. Southerland was also the last WWII warship to haul down her ensign.

 

For more information and to purchase my book please contact me.  I have included a form that you may fill out and send to me and I will send you a copy of the book.  Thank all of you in advance.

 

First Allied Man-of-War into Tokyo Bay

The Story of USS Southerland, DD/DDR/DD 743

(1944-1997)

 

$28.00 including postage (prepaid)

 

Name:________________________________________________

 

Mailing Address:________________________________________

 

                            ________________________________________

 

                            ________________________________________

                             (city)                                       (state)        (zip code)

 

E-mail:________________________________________________

 

Make check payable to:

George J. Chambers

                   14161 Elystan Circle

Westminister, CA 92683-4823

 

 

ROSTER

 

Stand Shirey continues to keep our shipmates’ roster up to date.  Contact him with changes at (410) 822-6805, e-mail stan43@goeaston.net.

 

USS Southerland Registration Form

September 21-25, 2010

Name:_________________________Spouse/Guest:________________________

Address:___________________________City:_______________Zip:__________

Phone:_____________________Email:___________________________________

Please register me for the following

Host Hotel: The Grand Plaza Hotel

Arrival Date:________________Departure Date:_______________________

______Smoking _______Non Smoking ______Handicap Accessible

Special Requests and/or Additional Guests_______________________________

Reunion Rate: $99.00 per room per night including tax, breakfast and hospitality room (rate good 3 nights prior and 3 nights after the reunion, based on hotel availability)

______# of rooms _______# of nights

Lodging Total: $___________

Reunion Activity Package: $245.00 per person

______# of activity packages @ $245.00 per person........$________________

TOTAL DUE: $_____________

A 50% deposit is required by July 21, 2010 with final payment due by August 21, 2010. There will be a 10% cancellation fee if reservation is cancelled by September 14, 2010.

No refunds can be made after September 14, 2010

 INTEREST FREE PAYMENT PLANS ARE AVAILABLE.

 Cancellations must be made by phone and authorized by a representative of Gatherings Plus. All refunds will be processed within 30 days of cancellation.

Questions?? Call us at 417-338-4048 or email pamb@gatheringsplus.com

Register by phone or mail:

GATHERINGS PLUS, P. O. Box 1023, Branson West, Mo. 65737

417-338-4048