USS BELL
ASSOCIATION (DD587)
NOVEMBER, 2007
IN THIS ISSUE:
Ø MAILBAG
Ø REMINDER
The San Antonio reunion was another wonderful time together. It’s always so much fun to see each one as
they arrive and start the gathering with a lot of smiles and hugs. The hospitality room starts to come to life
with stories and laughter. Laughter is
truly the best medicine. We found San
Antonio to be a friendly city and we learned a lot of history about the
area.
On Thursday, we took a tour of downtown San Antonio. We stopped for a visit at the Mission San
Jose which is know as the “Queen of the Missions” and is a lasting symbol
throughout the centuries for a mission frontier in Texas. We visited the San Fernando Cathedral which
has been the Spiritual Center of San Antonio for over 200 years. It was a beautiful place. We stopped for a visit at the famous Alamo,
the Shrine of Texas Liberty and the most photographed facade in Texas. Our tour
guide was Mrs. Docia Schultz Williams.
She is a historian, writer and lecturer and knows so much about the
history of San Antonio and the surrounding area. She has written several books about Texas and
if you’re looking for something to read pick up one of her books and I think it
will prove to be a very interesting history lesson. In the late afternoon, we took a barge ride
on the river.
On Friday, we went to Fredericksburg for a visit to the Admiral
Nimitz Museum. Our tour guide was again
Mrs. Williams. We traveled through what
is referred to as “Hill Country”. The
town of Fredericksburg is a quaint little town with some of the stores that
will take you back to the past such as a real old 5 & 10 cent store. We had lunch in a café on Main Street. The Nimitz Museum was very interesting and took
you through so much of the Pacific battles with so many facts and interesting
sights, readings and films.
Saturday morning we met for a memorial service and a remembrance of
those shipmates that are no longer with us.
Shipmate and Pastor Jimmy Faith conducted the service and Maurice Moe
honored the shipmates no longer with us and a special remembrance of those
shipmates that passed away since the last reunion which included Robert (Bob)
DeWolf, Bennie Green and Randall (
Shipmates and family members attending the reunion were Al &
Pauline Lewis,
Saturday afternoon the shipmates met for a business meeting and to
select the city for the 2008 reunion.
The city chosen for 2008 is San Francisco. They worked overtime and selected the city
for the 2009 reunion and it will be in Naperville, Illinois. Stay tuned – more to come.
MAILBAG
…..I came across the U.S.S. Bell website and after getting some
direction from my mom, she told me that my grandfather Elmer Williams was
onboard the U.S.S. Bell. I have his
service years as November 24, 1942 through January 13, 1946. If anyone has any information on my
grandfather, please fill me in. I am 29
years old and I was an active duty sailor from 1998-2002 and am currently
serving in the reserves in Arizona.
Please respond. Thank you. Chris
Esperti
NOTE: If anyone has any
information on Mr. Elmer Williams, please contact Chris through his email
address at esperti33@yahoo.com
or send it to me and I will get it to him.
…..My name is Mike Green. I
am the son of Bennie Green and I have sad news for you. My dad passed away June 2, 2007. He died from complications of a stroke he
suffered December 30, 2006. He survived
for six months and 3 days before he had multiple organ failures. He was a great Dad and a great Man. He was my Hero and having served over 20
years in the Military myself, it wan an honor to be the Son of a WWII Veteran. I too, started out in the Navy and ended my
career in the Army. I salute all that
served on the USS Bell. You all have my
greatest admiration and respect. May God
be with all of you.
.....Michael D. Green, 407-857-3960 –
mgreen@mbmfoodservice.com
…..My father served on the USS BELL when it patrolled the
Atlantic. I get your mailings and enjoy
them very much. My fathers name was
Angelo Antonelli.
…..Michael
Antonelli – MIKEA50@verizon.net – 215-269-4747
…..It would be nice to go to one of your reunions with my father
Roland Buerkle, but he doesn’t like to travel much anymore now that his wife’s
gone. But he has told me some stories of
his navy days that I have been recording for the rest of our family. Anyway, here’s a couple pictures. One of him and his friend Eddie Collins and
the other one is similar to one already on the web site. I asked my dad if he recognized any of them
and he didn’t. I’ll also attach a third
photo of some posing Japanese soldiers.
My dad must have gotten it as a souvenir somewhere, but he doesn’t
remember where. I wish I could have
found out what island it was taken on.
Anyway, you may not know wheat to do with it but is seemed like an
interesting souvenir nevertheless. Maybe
you could ask the members at the reunion if they remember where they got some
Japanese souvenirs and if they still have any.
Take care.
…..Clayton
Buerkle – cbuerkle@comcast.net
…..I just recently found out that my uncle, Alphones Boiarski may
have been a member of the USS Bell crew.
I would like to confirm this before I do more research and present my
findings to my Aunt, cousins and his grandchildren. As you all know, veterans of WWII did not
discuss their experiences openly. My
uncle as well as father and his other brothers rarely opened up about the
war. Any help would be deeply
appreciated. Thank you.
..David
Boiarski – david.boiarski@aleris.com
or leftyb4@netzero.net
…..I feel sure that someone in Bennie Green’s family will contact
you soon (if they haven’t already), but Bennie passed away June 2, 2007 in
Laurel, MD. We will be having his
graveside service tomorrow (Friday) in Guthrie, Oklahoma. He is survived by his sons Charles and
Michael, Brother Joe, Sister Lorene Watts, four grandchildren and two
great-grandchildren. Just thought you
should know. I didn’t know Bennie
personally, but deeply appreciate the patriotism and service of everyone who
served on the USS Bell. Thank you! I enjoyed visiting your website.
………Pastor David
Nolen, First Southern Baptist Church, Guthrie, Oklahoma
…..I am writing to you for information about my Dad, James Kenneth
MacDonald, Seaman Second Class, who served aboard the USS BELL from March 4,
1941 to May 29, 1943, during which time he was injured during battle and
returned to US Navy Hospital in Charleston, SC on May 29, 1943. He was a gunner’s
mate. I believe he was 16 or 17 when he
enlisted. He fibbed about his age as I
hear a lot of young men did during that time.
His injury to his leg was severe enough to suggest amputation, but he
endured a year long hospital stay and retained his leg. Sadly he passed away in 1983 at the age of
57. My Dad never talked about the war,
like a lot of men, and now I am trying to gather information for my children
and myself about that time in my Dads life.
I came across his discharge papers and his service records in my Mom’s
papers. If you can direct me to anyone
who might remember my Dad, I would greatly appreciate any help you can
provide.
…..Respectfully, Donna MacDonald Lubas
– lubasdo@comcast.net
…..Thank you again for another year of preserving Navy memories for
us. Enclosed is my check for more of the
same. Your April issue was a real
thriller reading about Ken & Lucy Lamb.
Our last contact was 20 years ago at the California reunion. Ed could not eat and had trouble
swallowing. They took us under their
wings and made our trip a pleasure. We
returned home to find out Ed had cancer of the throat. It was a hard battle of radiation, having to
lose all his teeth, then 60 hyperbaric treatments. The hardest for Ed was when he lost his voice
through surgery. Cancer won out and Ed
died 2 years later on 10/20/89. Doug
& Terry Wetherby drove down from Minnesota to be with me then. Some more great Navy folks!!! I had the chance to be with them last fall at
a cousin’s home and we had a lively time playing Polish Poker. I’m 88 now, doing great but know I’ll never
make another reunion. I’ll cherish the
memories. I’ve applied twice for Ed’s
service medals. Years have gone by and
no reply? Is there an easy way? Wishing you my best.
…..Fran
Vershowski, N9169 Hickory Street, E. Troy, WI 53120
…..My heart is heavy today as I write this. No words can tell you how much you and the
members of the USS BELL meant to Bob and also me. We so wanted to make the last three reunions. Bob suffered so the last few months, but now
is without pain. But he left me with an
empty heart. He had a full life and a
wonderful send-off with military honors and a packed church. The USS BELL’s flowers were beautiful. Thank every one of you for us. God Bless.
…..Lucia (Tootie)
DeWolf & Family – 7788 Rufus Road, Port Byron, NY 13140.
Robert F. DeWolf – May 7, 1925 – April 28, 2007.
Randall & Marianne Clark –
Donald L. Nash, 80, of Mansfield, OH died January 27, 2003 at
Mifflin Care Center after a brief illness.
Mr. Nash was born September 11, 1922 in Chicago, IL. He was an area resident the past 32
years. Until his retirement, he was employed
as an attorney with the State of Ohio.
He received his undergraduate degree from Ohio Northern University and
earned a Juris Doctorate from the Warren G. Harding Law School at Ohio Northern
University in 1951. He attended St.
Timothy Lutheran Church and was a member of the Sons of Herman and V.F.W. Post
9943. Donald served with the U.S. Navy
during WWII aboard the USS Bell. He is
survived by his wife Peggy Jean, son K.C. Nash, two daughters and
sons-in-laws. Funeral with military
rites
I am still waiting for some of your favorite recipes for the BELL
Cookbook. I can’t publish a cookbook
without recipes. So, when you are
looking around for something to do, pull out the old tablet and write down some
for me.
On June 25, 1950 the
Korean War began as a civil war when North Korea attacked South Korea competing
for control of the Korean Peninsula, which had originally been divided by the
post-World Was II Soviet and American occupation zones. The war lasted from 1950-1953. South Korea was supported by the United
Nations forces, primarily the United
States, with some other nations contributing personnel as well. The main support for North Korea was China,
with limited assistance from Soviet combat advisors, pilots and weapons.
The invasion of South Korea came as a surprise to the United States
and the other western powers. Contacted
only hours after the invasion, President Truman was convinced the initial
stages of World War III had begun. On June 25, 1950, the United Nations
immediately drafted UNSC Resolution 82, which let to direct action by the
United States and other U.N. members. The
new Truman Doctrine advocated the opposition of Communism wherever it tried to
expand. President Truman was under domestic
pressure for being too soft on Communism.
After the lessons of Munich in 1038, the U.S. believed that appearing
aggressive states would only encourage further expansion.
Some Key Dates:
- July 5 – The American
combat unit Task Force Smith, part of the U.S. Army’s 24th
Infantry Division based in Japan engaged in its first clash with North
Korea.
- Battle of Pusan
Perimeter – American air power arrived in large numbers, engaging in
ground support actions, targeting North Korean forces. Naval air power also attacked
transportation points. By late
August, America had over 500 medium
tanks in the Pusan perimeter. As a
result, North Korea lost half its invading force.
- Sept. 15 – General
MacArthur activated the X Corps under General Edward Almond (comprising 70,000 troops of the 1st
Marine Division and the Army’s 7th Infantry Division and
augmented by 8,600 Korean troops) and ordered them to land at Inchon in
Operation Chromite.
- March 7, 1951 – the
Eighth Army pushed forward, in Operation Ripper, and on the 14th
expelled the North Korean and Chinese troops from Seoul.
The later years of the war involved little territory change,
large-scale bombing of the north and its population, and lengthy peace
negotiations, which began on July 10, 1951, at Kaesong. Even during the peace negotiations, combat
continued. A cease-fire was established on July 27, 1953.
Results:
- The Korean War was the
first armed confrontation of the Cold War.
- The war led to a
strengthening of alliances in the Western bloc and the splitting of
Communist China from the Soviet bloc.
- The Korean War also
saw the beginning of racial integration efforts in the U.S. military
service.
- It is reported that
approximately 480,000 U.S. troupes fought in the Korean War, with 36,940
killed, 103,000 wounded, 8,142 MIA and 3,746 POW. China lost 114,000 troops and North
Korea 215,000.
On July 27, 1995, the Korean
War Veterans Memorial was built in Washington, D.C. and was dedicated to
the Veterans of the war. The Korea
Defense Service Medal is a special decoration authorized for U.S. service
members who served a tour of duty in Korea.
Let’s send our prayers to all
who sacrificed, both past and present, living and deceased.
Do you remember these?
AIRDALES – U.S. Navy slang for flight deck crews on aircraft
carriers.
BAR – Browning Automatic Rifle, a gas operated weapon firing
350-550 rounds per minute. Used by the
U.S. Army, Navy & Marines.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!
