The following comments have
been made by the crew members of the various ships taking part in, 1) the Solant
Amity Cruise, 2) the search for and capture of the Santa Maria, 3) Marines who
may have sailed with the ships listed below during their stint with the infantry
between 1959 to 1963 AND 4) "Visitors" fortunate enough to have stumbled
upon our site and have something to say.
USS.BOXER LPH-4
USS
CHEWAUCAN AOG 50 OPERATION SOLANT AMITY II
USS DAMATO DD-871
SANTA MARIA INCIDENT
[ The U.S.S. Damato (DD-871) was named for Corporal
Anthony Peter Damato, USMC. Corporal Damato was killed in action 19 February
1944 at Eniwetok, when he threw himself on a hand grenade to save the lives
of his companions. He was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of
Honor for this heroic self-sacrifice.
The ship was built at Bethlehem Steel Corporation’s Staten Island shipyard,
and was sponsored by Mrs. A. P. Damato. DD-871 was commissioned on 27 April
1946, with Commander I. S. Preseler in command. ]
DICK MASON [ MasonRICH871@aol.com ]: Thank you very much, you did
an old tin can sailors heart good. The info on the Santa Maria was great and
will be passed around the Damato website for a long time I am sure. I will
get some input from the guys on the Damato with me at the time we were in
Recife and chased the dam thing around. Most of the guys remember the House
on Stilts to be sure but will get more info for you. Thanks again Dick
JIM CARTEN [ jcarten@globetrotter.net ]: I was there. The picture
you might have seen of the Santa Maria was the one I took.. Did sixteen trips
to the Carib ( Gitmo was a must!). Was there in '59 when they shut down the
perimeter, was also at the Bay of Pigs, and got off the Damato right after
the Santa Maria thing.
USS DONNER LSD-20
OPERATION SOLANT AMITY III
Vic Di Chiro [ vicj1942@sbcglobal.net ] Hello Site Webmaster, I was
in B-Division and just to let you know the Donner visited Simonstown, Port
Elizabeth, Capetown, South Africa. We also visited Monrovia, Presidents Bay,
Liberia. Port of Spain Trinadad. We were supposed to go to Rio, but got in
the way of a hurricane. Well thats about it for now.
USS FORREST SHERMAN DD-931
OPERATION SOLANT AMITY III
USS FREMONT APA-44
USS GEARING DD-710
OPERATION SOLANT AMITY 1 & Billeting vessle for 3nd PLATOON,
G-2-6, during theSANTA MARIA INCIDENT
ARNOLD A. ANGER [rbinhood0063@aol.com]: Like yourself, I can say that
many things that happened to me while on board the Gearing are still with
me today. The gun mount where the picture was taken from was the gun mount
that was mine. She was called Mt 42, a twin barrel 40mm, I took care of her
for almost 2 1/2 years and she was fine when I left the ship. One day when
shooting, we did such a good job of shooting that the skipper fought for an
" E " for the side of the mount but to no avail. No 40mm ever got an " E "
before so they turned him down as well. The only part of the target sleeve
that was left was the ring itself and two feet of the sleeve. I had a good
crew on that mount and and I kept her operating in peek condition. Your trip
sounded great to me , hope that your memories are as fond as mine are, she
was a good ship to say the least. I am glad that you had a good time on her
and helped to keep her sailing into the wind. Thanks for being a part of the
Gearing crew. [Arnold A. Anger, Gunners Mate 3 Class]
BOB BATTIATO [rbattiat@comcast.net]: I served as a Machist
Mate on the Gearing when you marines were on board. I worked in the forward
engine room and can remember pulling liberty with you guys in a little village
in Bathurst, Gambia and while tied up to three more destroyers dockside in
Recife, Brazil. I'm that Italian guy from N.J.and my picture can be found
in the cruise book. What a great cruise and great time.
PERRY BENSON [bensops@mail.bay.k12.fl.us]: The experience
with the Gearing Marines was a good one. I think it demonstrated the traditional
closeness we often heard of, but perhaps not often saw, between the Navy and
the Marine Corps.
After service on the Gearing, I left to attend Submarine School and subsequent
submarines service for about ten years. I then transferred into the ordnance
logistics business, eventually commanding a Weapons Station ... with assigned
Marine Barracks. I ended my military service doing four years as the CO of
the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center.
Anyway, I'm sure glad to hear from the sailors and marines of the USS Gearing
from a time so very long ago. Time and good fortune has been kind to me.
The Gearing was a wonderful learning experience for me. Folks like Chief Norfolk,
BM1 "Soupy" Campbell and all the rest that molded, trained and corrected
me. In this process Marines have always contributed.
[Editor's note: A more complete history of the
former "Ensign" and later to retire as Captain Benson can be found
in an extensive article written in the December '04 issue of the Post
Solant Amity found at http://solantamity.com/Media/Documents/PostSolantAmityV2I4_4thEdition_Dec04.pdf
and I would urge you to take a "look see."
It was Captain Benson's son, Bill, a former Marine Sergeant that nearly thirty
years after his father's stint on the Gearing served in a Weapon's Platoon
of the same infantry battalion as the Gearing Marines. He'd found our website,
the Acrobat files of the Solant Cruise and pictures of his father. Bill wrote
to us in November of '04 to provide an update on his dad. That information
and a really nice story, written by Bill, was published in the March '05 issue
of Post Solant Amity that helps put into perspective the life, times
and importance of peace time service.]
GEORGE BITSOLI, [GBitsoli@cox.net]: CROSS TRAINED and NEARLY FISH BAIT.
While aboard the Gearing, we Marines all had the opportunity for a bit of
cross training with the Navy folks. We were assigned roles according to the
compartment in which we bunked. If with the Deck Force, you stood watches
on the helm. With Enginemen, watches were done boilerside. As I crashed with
Sonar and Fire Direction elements, I stood sonar watch…with the best of them
Remember that 0300: "General quarters, general quarters! All hands, man your
battle… blah, blah, blah?" Yep, that was me. I was the one monitoring the
Sonar Stack the night we encountered the unidentified Soviet sub.
I'd been turning the dials required for a normal search pattern when, for
me, it became panic city. The "ping" gave way to an "echo" CONTACT response.
I quickly moved out of the way and let the "knew-what-he-was-doing" sonarman
fly into action and advise the bridge; which brought on the "general quarters!"
and the scrambling of a rudely awakened ship's complement to stations.
I remember, as well, how the next day everyone onboard was after my butt!
"Next time, ping 180 degrees in the other direction [thus ignoring the receipt]
when making ANY contact OR ELSE," the less than well intentioned crew
admonished. "No more middle of the night GQ stuff or you're instant shark
food!" Geeez, I guess some folks, even then, weren't able to take a joke,
huh? [G. Bitsoli, former Cpl/USMC].
JOHN DANIEL [ jdaniel999@aol.com]: Luxury liner Santa Maria
stolen by Portuguese rebels was first intercepted by the destroyer USS Gearing
and brought to a halt... We had a Rear Admiral aboard ship and established
communications with a Captain Galvao on board the Santa Maria to determine
if the hijacking was an act of revolution or piracy on the high seas. Captain
Galvao and his rebels sought asylum in Brazil and were escorted to port by
the USS Gearing.
USS Gearing also carried Marines into the Congo for use by the UN if necessary.
Initially, we were part of Eisenhower's People-to- People program to visit
various countries along the western coast of Africa from Dakar, Republic de
Senegal to Capetown, South Africa. I was a member of the crew as an Electronic
Technician and maintained communications aboard the USS Gearing during that
time period.
VICTOR FREDDA [ Victor.Fredda@cdicorp.com ]: Nice job on the page.
I've read it before but haven't had a chance to write. I was the gun Boss
on the Gearing at that time and was the guy that called you all out to pull
the idiot reporters off the life line so we could get the other fool out of
the water.
I really enjoyed having you marines on board, especially to help in standing
watches. We were a bit short handed then.
I think I saw a copy of an excerpt from the deck log with Sam MacMurray's
signature but I was wondering if there were any other deck logs available.
Does anyone know? I spent a lot of time on the bridge during that operation
and it would be interesting to read what I had written when I was 24 year
old. It was kind of a choppy day when we dispatched Admiral Smith to the liner
and we almost dumped him and the motor-whaleboat into the Atlantic. I also
remember scaring the devil out of Lieut. Thompson while going into Abidjan
one evening, when Captain Tingle told me to go in at full speed. I'm confident,
however, that neither of those circumstances will be found in those logs.
Vic Fredda (Ex-Lieut.,USN)
JOHN MILLER [ mulch@tds.net]: I have just been looking over your web-site
solantamity.com WOW! Nice job. I was a Second Class Radioman aboard the Gearing
1959-1961 and remember the cruise like it was yesterday. I was going to offer
the use of my Solant-Amity cruise book, but seems like you already have one.
I have been in e-mail contact with former Marine Trevor Davies a number of
times, going back and forth over times we spent aboard the Gearing. At the
time, I also got to know L/Cpl Peyton pretty well. Would you happen to know
his address? Lance Corporal Peyton worked with us in the Radio Central.
We swabbies enjoyed having you guys onboard. Great experience for both the
Navy and the Marines. I did visit the web site and I am impressed. It was
very well done. I have already passed the info about the website onto Chuck
Adamo and Clarence Hudgins, two of the guys that were on the Gearing when
we were. They were both radiomen. If I can be of any assistance, I'm only
a "click" away.
EDWARD SHEA [edshea@sageauthoring.com]: Those weeks on the Gearing
were for this Marine among the best of my four years in the service. Never
did get to like the coffee on the bridge, but the Solant experience has been
this long remembered. And, I'm proud to say, it's likely that few Marines
such as myself have EVER handled the helm of a destroyer! It was an outstanding
experience. [ Ed Shea, former Pfc/USMC ]
USS
GRAHAM COUNTY LST-1176 OPERATION SOLANT AMITY 1
& CONGO EVACUATION EFFORT [ Try this really good LST-1176
WEBSITE,
as well. ]
WAYNE HALLORAN [ WayneAye75@aol.com ]: The other
day I got an email from George Bitsoli who I don't know from a hole in the
wall, It was the subject of the email that caught my eye "SOLANT AMITY 1"
I was a 17 year old sailor on the USS Graham County LST1176 (1960/1964) so
of course I opened it. As I was looking in amazement at all you have on the
site I came across the picture on the far left in the second row showing a
bunch of guys on deck watching one of the guys kissing the belly of the big
black guy in the middle. Well, I think I'm the guy in the middle of the picture
just to the right (his right) of the guy in the pink outfit with the yellow
hat. After that shock I continued to look through your site & came across
your biography & low & behold I see you are my "brother." I just retired from
the FDNY after 30 years (1969/1999) as a Bronx firefighter, all my time in
Eng75. I'm sure the more we talk there will be people we both know & knew
since 9/11. I'm just amazed at the coincidence.
| Here's a photo of Wayne Halloran, Jack Oaks along
with his wife Carolyn, and Fred Hessling at an October 2002 reunion. Click
on the image to see a larger version. |
|
Shipmates & Marines:
This is my email address list of guys with which I served on the the USS Graham
County LST 1176.
I was onboard from 1960 to 1964 I was 17 years old & was separated form
the ship in Spain just before I turned 21.
I know I will see a few of you at the October '06 St. Louis reunion &
we will have our usual good time, hope next year all of us can make it wherever
it is, TIME IS RUNNING SHORT. Remember "we really do have fun"-----------Wayne
Dave Copperwheat------------------Craddc@aol.com
Clive Demmons---------------------CJDemmons@Juno.com
Wayne Halloran---------------------Wayneaye75@aol.com
Fred Hessling------------------------F.Hessling@Netzero.net
Jack Oaks---------------------------JLOaks@Comcast.net
Roy Perdue--------------------------LST1176USN@aol.com
Lloyd Sollars-------------------------PBJiles@aol.com
Chet Travis---------------------------M441@Worldnet.att.net
Rich Vaughan------------------------BoopBoop93@yahoo.com
JACK L. OAKS [ jloaks@weir.net ]: This is the picture of the Congo
river I was telling you about. [ Now on the website ] The land in the
center and right center is an island, on the right side of the island you
can barely make out a house sitting on top of the island.
There was one unpleasant thing I do remember about the cruise. It was the
local police coming aboard in Cape Town, South Africa and telling every one
at Quarters the penalty for mixing of blacks and whites on shore...... So
much of a fine, so many days in jail and 60 lashes! I thought I was in the
wrong century!!! Yet it was 1961 not 1861. This guy was strutting back and
forth with his swagger stick tucked under his arm like he owned The ''76'.......
I also remember the destroyer taking off for Brazil while we were steaming
off the coast of Africa..... She made a turn for the west that would have
made anybody proud. You could almost see her fantail squat and then she was
gone . If I remember any more incidents I will let you know ....... Thanks
for the opportunity .....
USS HERMITAGE
LSD-34 OPERATION SOLANT AMITY I - CONGO
FAMINE RELIEF & EVACUATION EFFORT
[Home of President Andrew Jackson, the home of "Old
Hickory" is located twelve miles from Nashville, Tennessee. The Hermitage
was built in 1819. The USS Hermitage was commissioned on December 14, 1956.
Decommissioned October 2, 1989/ Stricken: January 24, 2001. Transferred to
Brazil: November 28, 1989 by lease/ Name in Brazilian service: Ceara/ Purchased
by Brazil: January 24, 2001/ Fate: still active in Brazilian Navy.]
CHARLIE LA MARR [clamarr@md.metrocast.net]:
On the Solant Amity cruise, I was a GySgt and maintenance chief of the H-34
helicopters with HMR 264 Sub Unit One, on the Hermitage.
I've some very fond memories of that great cruise and, in addition to IT
being such a success, many success stories came of it.
My maintenance officer, Lt. Ross Plasterer, was a struggling lieutenant
just trying to stay in the Corps at the time. He went on to be the Presidential
pilot in HMX-1 at Quantico and retired as a Major General.
Our CO, Maj Dock Pegues, held the permanent rank of MSgt and had gone through
flight school in WWII as a corporal!. Sadly, I've lost track of him
over the years. The only one I still correspond with is, then
SSgt Loy, who retired as a WO and lives in Nevada.
I ended my career, 1943-1946, 1948-1968, at Pax. When there, I was
maintenance chief of the rotary wing division of Naval Air Test Center.
I headed up the test program for the CH-53A helicopter. After
retirement I went back to Southern California and wrote maintenance technical
manuals at Lockheed for 22 years. I wrote manuals on several
different aircraft ending with 11-years on the F-117A Stealth Fighter when
it highly classified. After retirement from Lockheed I came back here because
we have family here and my military benefits.
At the VFW and the Moose we Marines tell the sailors and civilians that
the reason we come to the club is the give it some class.
From time - to - time I can give you some of the tales of the USS Hermitage,
if you wish. I too, was on the Boxer along with several other
carriers and LSD's. When in helicopters you are with the grunts. I
served in fighter and transport squadrons but helo's is my first love.
I would have it no other way.
I checked your web site and read about Ron Smith. I occasionally listen
to him on WBAL Baltimore radio. I agree with most of his commentary. I live
in Southern Maryland, nine miles from the Naval Air Warfare Center at NAS
Patuxent River. I retired from there in 1968 with the rank of MSgt.
I then worked 22 years for Lockheed as a technical writer retiring in 1990.
Keeping up a large house and an acre of grass and flowers keeps me occupied.
However I have been a volunteer for the Maryland State Police, criminal
investigations for 13 years. No pay but interesting work. I
work about six - eight hours a week.
The web sites are great. I checked the Hermitage site and could only
recognize myself in the group photo. I do have many pictures but they are
the 35MM slides. I don't have a projector right now. Haven't looked at the
slides for years. I will be more than happy to go through them and see if
I can come up with some interesting ones for you. They are not doing
any good in my store room.
I apologize for not contacting you sooner. Briefly, a lot has happened
in the last year and I am trying to get caught up. My wife of 47 years passed
away in 2001. Then, in February 2002, I met a widow through her daughter.
This Saturday (02/08/03) we are getting married. I know I am robbing the
cradle as I am 76 and she is 65. Semper Fi.
[This editor and the
members of 3rd Platoon, G/2/6 wish for you and your new wife the very
best of good fortune. Yours has been and remains an exemplary life.
Oooorah, Gunny!]
More on the USS Heritage's Solant Amity I involvment can be found at
http://johnover4.tripod.com/lsd34/lsd34main.html
, though you might come to believe there were only sailors on the ship.
BUCK FLETCHER [buckf@shentel.net]: Now a retired USMC Staff Sergeant
and living in Winchester, VA, I was on the USS Hermitage in 1963, during
SoLant III, and served with Second Force Recon . I just read the website
about the Congo crisis and recalled that UDT21 was also on the Hermitage
at the time.
I'd like to hear from anyone that was on the Hermitage during SoLant Amity
III episode, so we might catch up on old times. SF from Winchester,VA.
BARRY JAMES "FRENCHY" FOURNIER [ BJF075@aol.com ]: Now
living in Michigan, I was a QM2 aboard the Mattabesset from the the summer
of 1961 till I got out in September of 1963. All the crew knew me as Frenchy.
New to this interent stuff, I would like to know if their is a way to get
a list of locations where some of the guys are. If any members of the crew
find this notice, drop me an email: "Frenchy," former QM2, Golden
Shellback
USS NESPELEN
AOG-55 OPERATION SOLANT AMITY 1 & Billeting
vessle for 2nd PLATOON, G-2-6, during the SANTA
MARIA INCIDENT
For more information on the Gas n' Go Fleet's
connection with the Solant Amity Cruises, read the summary found at:
http://aog.ussnoxubee.com/solant_amity.html
DICK J. LANDRY [rlandry@get2golf.com]: Wow, it's amazing to finally
locate someone who can confirm that 2nd Platoon, G/2/6, did in fact live
aboard an AOG for about three or four weeks during the Solant Amity I cruise.
I never wrote down or documented any of the stuff I did during that time.
Too busy with chicken-shit I guess. It was, however, a rare experience.
The Nespelen's Captain, in order I think, to relieve our boredom and keep
the Marines and Sailors from each others throats, had Marines trained in
various jobs on the ship. I got really lucky as I got to be a helmsman.
I can still remember the "sign in" routine when reporting to the
OD on the bridge for a watch at the helm. It went something like this: "Sir,
Private Landry, requesting permission to take the helm. Steering course
160 degrees, turning 1400 revolutions on the right screw, 1250 revolutions
on the left screw, Sir." It was a real blast; but it wasn't easy to stay
on course and you could always tell when a Marine was steering the ship
because the ship's wake looked like a big zig zag line.
And, the Navy food was great!
I'll go through my old stuff to see if I can find some pictures. Crossing
the Equator was a blast too. I remember it was 95 degrees at 6:00 AM! I've
got some pictures of the shellback initiations, boxing smokers etc. Do you
know the date we crossed and do you have any idea where a guy can get a
Shellback Certificate? If I come up with any good stuff I'll get it to you
on a CD or email attachment.
After Solant Amity, I made a Med Cruise with the 8th Marines, on the USS
Boxer, probably in 1962. Any contacts you know of for that one?
Damn, are the Marines doing a great job in Iraq or what? Our troops are
so professional and dedicated. I couldn't be prouder as a former US Marine.
March 1959 - April 1963 were four of the best years of my life, though I
didn't know it then!
Thanks again and Semper Fi. Former L/Cpl. R. J. (Dick) Landry USMC
GEORGE BITSOLI, [GBitsoli@cox.net]: During the Santa Maria incident
the tanker ship's role, to the best of my recollection, was just trying
to "keep up".
After running search patterns off of the West African coast, we steamed
full throttle back across the Atlantic to a point near Recife Brazil where
the pirated ship had been sighted. I was told we were making speeds of around
34.5 knots,. The Gearing sailors advised me that the ship was spec'd to
do 35 knots when new. ["Oooops, Nespelen, ....where are you ?"]
However, at some point, we all got together, refueled, took the Admiral...making
the Gearing the Flag Ship...embassy officials and world wide news organization
representative aboard and took off to make initial contact with the Santa
Maria.
With the Admiral aboard, we Marines, instead of our enjoying our wash and
wear uniform environment, now had to get back to the Spit and Polish routine
(very rude) of an Admiral's Marine Guard Detachment role, while simultaneously
making plans how to board and retake the Santa Maria if needed.
As an aside, I never fully trusted news reporters since that incident, after
hearing one describe our encounter into his portable tape recorder by saying
that "a naval and Marine entourage forcefully subdued" the Santa Maria after
a "chase on the High Seas"....and "doing 80 knots" in the process!!!
Whoa! Where were the swashbuckling Errol Flynn, Robert Taylor and still
more buccaneer Hollywood types? The press was clearly in need of a "
reality check, pleeezzze!"
When the incident was successfully concluded, and after some fin-again-liberty
in Recife, it was back across the Atlantic to resume our Solant Amity Operations
in various West African ports, with demonstration amphibious landings and
the like.
And, through it all, there when needed was the Nespelen, doing its duty
and understandably struggling keep up ["Nespelen, time for Liberty
Call....where are you ?"]
USS NEW DD 818
OPERATION SOLANT AMITY II
USS SEAWOLF SSN-575
OPERATION SOLANT AMITY 1 & SANTA MARIA INCIDENT
[On January 25th, 1961 SEAWOLF was ordered to find
and track the Portuguese Passenger Liner SANTA MARIA, which pirates had seized
two days earlier. The submarine contacted the liner off the coast of Brazil
on February 1st. After the SANTA MARIA surrendered, the SEAWOLF returned to
San Juan and continued East Coast operations.]
USS SPIEGEL GROVE LSD-32 OPERATION SOLANT AMITY II & IV PLUS KUWAIT CRISIS RESPONSE
KEVIN FLATLEY [flatley_k@mediasoft.net ]: Semper Fi Brother! HooRah!
I will add the link & I appreciate the info! I, too, am a former Marine -
73/75, but served aboard the Spiegel Grove as an Operations Specialist (Radarman)
from 80-83.... I would be honored if your permitted me to list you on our
contact page http://www.kevinflatley.com/1sd_contact.htm under the embarked
Marines section. ....Also, we have a reunion association that you are greatly
invited to join - please drop our secretary Chuck Siedshlag an email at 1sd32@frontiernet.com
and tell him I sent you! Our reunion in 2003 is in Key Largo, where the ship
is 'homeported' now! As for Solant Amity IV - I don't know of that one, but
that's not to say that therewasn't one. The Solant Amity's went down a little
bit before I was able to enlist! :) I look forward to hearing back from you
Marine!
Best regards, Kevin Flatley (Kevin) PFC - USMC (M60) 1973-1975 OS2 aboard
1980-1983 USS Spiegel Grove (LSD-32) Association President/Historian
USS SUFFOLK COUNTY
LST-1173 OPERATION SOLANT AMITY III [ Captain
John J. Piatek Commanding ]
USS
YORK COUNTY LST-1175 OPERATION SOLANT AMITY II
USS VAN
VOORHIS DE-1028 OPERATION SOLANT AMITY IV
USS VOGELGESANG
DD-862 OPERATION SOLANT AMITY 1 & Billeting
vessle for 1st PLATOON, G-2-6, during the SANTA
MARIA INCIDENT
JACK RIDDELL [jriddell@spawar.navy.mil]: Oh yes - I do remember Recife.
Who'd have guessed. I looked at the web site and it does stir up some great
memories of an amazing cruise. I will check to see if I have anything in my
records about SolantAmity. For the most part, however, I have pretty clear
recollections of that cruise. The incident with the Santa Maria was
only part of the story.
I also remember with disbelief the time we pulled into Capetown and
they split the crew between Caucasians and non-Caucasians and local police
gave separate lectures to each group about the accepted customs under Aparthied.
When we were in Dakar, I met a couple of French guys who were there
for Christmas from Gambia. We became friends while drinking at a local bar
and he invited me and a friend to a hotel restaurant for a big meal. It was
pretty great. But that wasn't the end of the story. When the Vogelgesang dropped
anchor at Bathurst, a large yacht pulled alongside. You guessed it - the French
guys. Turns out they were in charge of a big road building project in Gambia
and had been living there for over a year. The Captain, impressed that I had
such "influential" friends, granted me dungaree liberty. They took me on an
all-day trip into the country to show off their road project. Along the way,
I was introduced to all the village Head Men, each of which offered me gifts.
At one stop, I was given the hand of a young African girl and told she was
mine to take. Of course, I was in a state of panic because didn't know how
to handle this situation. The French guys were cracking up as they witnessed
my distress. Finally, an interpreter explained that the Navy did not allow
such "gifts" and I made a hasty exit from the scene. Later that day, we reached
the end of the road and there were two very large, air conditioned trailers.
They had a large generator going full steam to supply the power. Inside, they
again treated me to a gourmet meal prepared by a French chef who was permanently
on the site. Leave it to the French to take care of the food at any cost!
And of course, they had some great wines there too.
Happiest of Holiday greetings, Jack Riddell, [CWO - USN, Reired]
NORMAN LOWRANCE [NLowrance@msn.com ]: I was aboard the Vogie (USS
Vogelgesang DD862) during this cruise. I think that we were in Abidjan when
we got word that the Santa Maria had been hijacked on the open seas. It was
hijacked by someone named Galvao. We made contact with the ship and escorted
it into Recife, Brazil if my memory is correct. [ After so many years ago
come the senior moments. Ha!!)
I know that some Marines and Navy guys married girls from Cape town....
I'm sending a few pictures of the Vogelgesang. [ Now on the website ]
A few of the pictures were made after the ship came out of the navy dry docks
after under going Fram conversions. The Vogelgesang now belongs to the Mexican
navy. If you look closely at the pictures you can see that a couple of 5"
gun mounts were removed and the bridge super structure has been altered. The
pictures with the two gun mounts on the bow is the way the Vogie looked in
1960.
RON KELLAR [ RBKellar@aol.com ]:I was very happy to hear from you.
Yes, there were Marines on our ship too...and a great bunch of guys they were!
One, who was assigned to stand a signal watch with us Signalmen was nicknamed
Policabio. Not sure about the spelling. I have his real name in an address
book but I do not have his address. Those were great times. I also have 8mm
movies I transferred to VHS tape of our Shellback initiation when we crossed
the equator. Sorry, I do not have any of the Marines who were on board for
that short period of time. I will check the Web site. Best to you... Ron Kellar,
SM2.
[More from Ron, 21 Jun 04] Ed, I cannot thank you enough for the information
you are providing. I was on the Vogelgesang DD862 and our ship did not make
a Cruise Book. Boy, was I pleased to see you put the entire Gearing DD710
Cruise Book on your web site. I printed all 76 pages and have them in a notebook.
I knew some of the Gearing guys, and where they went, we went, and what they
did, we did so it is almost as if their Cruise Book is my Cruise Book. Through
your information I am now trying to get in touch with some old friends. One
of whom is Balboza in Brooklyn, NY. He was one of the Marines aboard the Vogie.
You have produced a great, great memory lane. As an aside, I noticed that
one of the email addresses you send info to is: WayneAve75@aol.com. Wayne
Ave. is less than a mile from me and it is just off Highway 75 here in Kenova,
WV, my present hometown. Well, thanks again and keep up the great work. You
get a "Bravo Zulu". Signal flag code for "Job well done!"
Ron Kellar SM2.
USS WILSON DD-847
SANTA MARIA INCIDENT
[ Ship was named after Robert Lee Wilson, who was
Born 24 May, 1921, in Centralia, Illinois and enlisted in the Marines in Chicago
on 9 September 1941. After training at San Diego, California, he joined The
men of the 1st Marine Division on 7 to 9 August 1942 in Landing Assaults against
a number of strongly defended positions on Tulagi, Gavatu, Tanaambogo, Florida,
Guadalcanal and British Soloman Island. His division completely routed out
all enemy forces and seized a most valuable base and airfield. Wilson shared
in the Presidential Unit Citation awarded the 1st Marine Division, Reinforced
for actions on Guadalcanal, and in a Presidential Unit Citation awarded the
2nd Marine Division, Reinforced for the seizure and occupation of the Japanese-held
Atoll of Tarawa, Gilbert Island, 20 to 24 November 1944. Pfc Robert Lee Wilson
was mortally wounded in action while taking party in the capture and occupation
of the Marianas Islands. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond
the call of duty while serving with the 2nd Battalion 6th Marine Division
during action against enemy Japanese forces on Tinian on 3 August 1944, while
advancing toward enemy troops, Private First Class Wilson threw himself on
an enemy grenade sacrificing himself to save a group of companions.]
ROBERT SARGENT [ emmgin@adelphia.net ]: I served aboard the RL Wilson
when the Santa Maria was hijacked and we chased it around the Atlantic and
ended up in Recife Brazil. I read your notation about the Santa Maria. and
it brought back so many memories.
BILL MASSINGAL [ BHLM1@aol.com ]: I was checking out your web link
on the USS Wilson website and write to tell you I was on the Wilson when we
chased the Santa Maria and I have to tell , WE HAD SOME REALLY GOOD TIMES.
GEROLD R. RICKS [ DD847@webtv.net ]: Ed, This is one fantastic site
on that particular ( Santa Maria ) incident. I put the link on the Robert
L Wilson History page, please leave me a message in the guest book. I was
a lifer and retired Navy, so check out my personal site also. God Bless all
the Marines I knew and worked with in the Navy. GGRicks
NEPTUNE
AIRCRAFT OF VW-4
Bender, Doug [benderd@nventure.com]: Happy to hear from you
in reference to the Santa Maria incident. I was assigned to Crew 2 with Lt.
Lincoln as my Meteorology Officer. We left Rosy for Trinidad and then flew
a search mission and landed in Belem,Brazil.
The next day we flew a search mission and found the ship and circled it for
a period of time and then proceeded to Recife where we were met by a armed
guard and they seized our a/c.We then spent the next several days in Recife
until the incident was over.
The photo that you see in the VW-4 web site was taken by one of our photographers
in the squadron and since we all chummed around I was fortunate to receive
it. I do have some other pictures somewhere in my archives and hope to find
them and will see if I can send you some-God willing- you know many moves
and 30 plus years. Good luck on your endeavour- Doug Bender
VISITORS
PATRICK JOHNSON [ bootstrap23@mac.com ]: I've just spent the last
hour and a half looking through your website. The incident with the Santa
Maria was an event to write home about. Most people just don't know about
the many, many times the US is called upon to help out in situations around
the world. It's "Help us Uncle Sam!" when they're in trouble and "I hate the
US!" when they don't need you. Thank goodness for the Marines and the Navy
that takes them where they need to go. Pat Johnston
Jim McDonald [ gunrmac@hotmail.com ]:
I'm an old 1st MarDiv Marine who got around a bit. Ist Landing Support Company,
1st Pioneer Battalion, Marine Air Det USS Princeton LPH5 (1st MAW), MABS 47,
4th AW, 3rd ANGLICO, 4th MarDiv, "C", "Det B", and H&S
Btrys of 4th LAAM Bn, 4th MAW. all between 1958 and 1998.
I think your website is great and I'm always glad to meet another Marine.
Attached is the near 1Mb Iwo Jima Power Point presentation you requested.
I received no verbage with the photo's but it gives you a pretty good idea
of what the terrain was like for the Marines who fought and died there. Though
it seems to have a great deal more vegetation than was the case in 1945.
One of my former CO's (retired last December as an O-6 in Marine Corps Systems
Command) was on the tour with John Bradley's son when they installed a plaque
on the island. He also brought back some of the volcanic ash/sand and I have
a tiny bit of that as well.
I'm hoping to get there with Military Tours before my ability to travel is
gone
Semper Fi, Jim McDonald, CWO4 USMCR Retired, Newark, CA
"That [state] which separates its scholars from its warriors will have
its thinking done by cowards, and its fighting by fools." Thucydides,
'The Peloponnesian Wars'
If you've any questions
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Return to Home
page, meet the 3rd Platoon or view
the Biographies of those contacted thusfar from the 3rd
Platoon, 1st, 2nd and Weapons
. See Solant Amity Cruise or Santa
Maria incident related photos. To see service and cruise related Anecdotes...both
literal and photographic, a tribute to Marines on the Hermitage.
Or, perhaps you would just like to see some recent [ 6Apr02 ] photos of the
Corps' Parris Island Training Center
or our Links & Things page.
