Well, shipmates, another year comes to an end, and with it comes another newsletter. All in all, we've had a great year in the Buchanan Association. We've had our first reunion, and we've pulled ourselves together into a real organization, with officers appointed and goals set. Things are looking good, with old shipmates continuing to find us and join us, and with future reunions in the planning. We've accomplished a great deal in the past year, and we look forward to an even more productive year in 2001

.

In this issue we have a few goodies for your Christmas stocking. We have a new web site to announce, with a more professional sounding url. We have one or two other surprises to announce, and we have some new items in the Ship's Store to let you know about too. And, of course, you'll find some of the regular columns, including the Sea Story of the Quarter, as well as the second half of an article about Navy uniforms

.

We're publishing the usual list of new members who have joined us since the last issue came out. Also published is a list of all members of the Buchanan Association. This is a list of all of those who have paid

their dues for the year. Again, please don't be misled. Seeing your name on the crews list on the web site does not mean that you are a member. All that list means is that we have been in contact with you. It means that either you have gotten into contact with us, or we have found you. Your name is on the crews list to let your shipmates know that the association knows of your whereabouts. If you have e-mail, we post that so your shipmates can easily get in touch with you. The bottom line is that the list does not mean that you are a member.

For those who receive the newsletter via e-mail, you will more than likely continue to receive it. It costs us nothing to send it. But, if you are receiving it via the US Mail, this will be your last issue. Joining is very easy. Just fill out the application which you will find on our web site, and send it to our treasurer (his address is on the form) with your dues. For added ease, an application will be going out with this newsletter.

In closing, I don't think I could possibly put this newsletter out without a mention of the bombing of the USS Cole. I'm sure that I speak for everyone when I say that our prayers and thoughts go out to those who lost loved ones aboard the Cole, and that we pray for the speedy recovering of those who were wounded. The bombing of the USS Cole serves to remind us that even though the United States is not at war, nor involved in a military action, our nation still has many enemies in the world that we must be on an ever vigilant guard against.

I would like to wish a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to one and all, and may the coming year bring all of you peace and prosperity.

As eluded to in the opening letter, we do, indeed, have a brand spankin new web site. Normally, it would probably be a while yet before we could afford a professional web site, which we would have pay dearly for. But, as it turned out, we had a fair wind to sail our course through cyberspace. This past fall we received a new member by the name of Michael Heffernan. 

Michael and I had served together and knew each other a bit (see the thank you column). One day Michael e-mailed me. "Hey", he wrote. "I noticed that the web site is on a free server and that it has all of those gaudy

looking advertisement banners all over it." Michael went on to explain that he now owned an ISP (for the uninitiated; an Internet Service Provider, which is a local company that connects your computer to the internet. Sort of like a local telephone company for computers) and I can give you all the space you would ever need for a web site, and I'm willing to do it for free." It didn't take long for us to say, "YES!". Not only did he offer unlimited space, but he took the necessary steps to lease our domain name for us from the Department of Commerce (that's the web site domain fee charge that you'll see in the Treasurer's Report), and helped Dino to convert the old web site data over to the new one.

Dino will continue as the association's webmaster, but thanks to Michael, we now have a free web site with no advertisements, and with a professional sounding url. So, shipmates, you can now find our new web site at:

Well, shipmates. Don't ever think we don't have any politics or politicians in the Buchanan Association. Randy Voepel, former RDSN has notified me that he has been elected Mayor of Santee, CA, population 59,817. So, I guess that's a rung up the ladder from the rank he had when he wore Navy blue. Congrats to Randy! His words say it all; "Ain't America Great? A former RDSN running a city…sheesh!!!"

Mini Reunion

June 13-17, 2001

Pensacola, FL

Contact: Jim Wallace

Phone: (850) 838-1623 (use authorization number 13

when asked for it)

National Reunion

February 21-24, 2002

San Diego, CA

Contact: Rob Browning

Phone: (408) 377-5099

e-mail: STG1Navy@aol.com

Our event planner for this reunion will be ML&RS. All members will be receiving a questionnaire from them in the mail shortly. Please fill it out and return it to them promptly.

Boyd, Dave                 BT2             69 - 71

Claveria, Cesar          MS3            74 - 77

deSomov, Serge        EN1             81 - 84

Dowdle, Charles         BT3             67 - 69

Gant, Charles              PC1            68 - 69

Gardella, Paul             LT                78 - 82

Heffernan, Michael     FTM3/1       67-9/77-8

Hlavin, Bill                    LTJG           89 - 91

Horsley, Chris             MR2             76 - 77

Howard, John              LTJG           72 - 74

Huntington, Ed             SA              1/66-3/66

Jennings, Gary            RM1             64 - 66

Kirkpatrick, Randy      FTM1           67 - 71

Kupec, Cole                LT                 87 - 90

Layman, Douglas       ET3               84 - 87

Manis, Frank              OS3               78 - 80

McGilvra, John           ETR2             74 - 77

McMillian, Ronald      RD2               71 - 75

Nepper, Jerry             ETN2             70 - 72

Rudisill, Terry             OSC               69 - 72

Sample, Eric              ETN3             67 - 68

Schaefer, Larry          FTM2             69 - 73

Schmitz, Alan             ET2(SW)       84 - 88

Tollefson, Tom           EM3               71 - 72

Turner, Daryl Jack     OS2               71 - 74

Walton, Larry             MM3               62 - 65

Wigent, David           STG2              61 - 65

Wihera, Victor           RD2                64 - 65

Williams, Thomas     LCDR             87 - 89

Witzel, Jahn               STG2              61 - 65

Balance: 7 September $779.79

Dues $224.00

Ship's Store sales 153.00

Ship's Store expenses -78.50

Website domain fee -35.00

Balance: 1 December $1043.29

Please locate your name to insure that you are an association member in good standing.

Andrew, Randy

Baile, Bruce N

Barnett, Roger

Borg, Gene

Boyd, Dave

Browning, Rob

Casmier, David

Chancellor, Odis

Claveria, Cesar

Dowdle, Charles

Dowe, Tom

Falade, Mark

Falkenhan, Marc

Gant, Charles

Gardella, Paul

Giardina, Joe

Glidewell, Mel

Hart, Eddie

Heffernan, Michael

Hlavin, Bill

Holden, J. Wayne

Holian, Francis

Horsley, Chris

Howard, John

Huntington, Ed

Jennings, Gary

Kern, Tom

King, Michael

Kirkpatrick, Randy

Kitchen, Tony

Kohnke, Herb

Koon, Jeffery

Kupec, Cole

Layman, Douglas

Lyon, David

Mackin, Jere

Malone, Dave

Manis, Frank

McClane, Jim

McGilvra, John

McMillian, Ronald

Myers, Dean

Nepper, Jerry

Nightingale, Tim

Osburn, Kenneth

Parks, Bill

Perkins, George

Poplin, David

Robbins, Rich

Roche, Jim

Rudisill, Terry

Sample, Eric

Schaefer, Larry

Schmitz, Alan

Smeltzer, Stephen

Stanina, Jerry

Taylor, James

Tollefson, Tom

Turner, Daryl J.

Turpin, Tom

Ursich, Al

Wallace, Jim

Walton, Larry

Wigent, David

Wihera, Victor

Williams, Thomas

Witzel, Jahn

Zimmermann, Dick

The first part of this article appeared in the September newsletter. This is the second half, as promised. How much of this stuff did you know?

WHITE HAT:

in 1852 a white cover was added to the soft visorless blue hat. In 1866 a white sennet straw hat was authorized as an additional item. During the 1880's the white "sailors hat" appeared as a low rolled brim high-domed

item made of wedge shaped pieces of canvas to replace the straw hat. The canvas was eventually replaced by cotton as a cheaper more comfortable material. Many complaints on the quality and construction led to modifications ending in the currently used white hat.

OFFICERS STARS:

were first approved on line officers uniforms on 28 January 1864. All regulations since 1873 have specified that one ray would point downward toward the gold stripe on the sleeve. The reason for this is unknown.

CPO STARS:

were introduced with the creation of SCPO and MCPO. The reasoning for stars pointed one ray down is unknown, however, indications point to following the line officers standard.

JUMPER FLAPS:

the collar originated as a protective cover for the jacket to protect it from the grease or powder normally worn by seamen to hold hair in place.

STRIPES AND STARS ON JUMPER UNIFORMS:

on 18 January 1876, Rear Admiral Stephen B. Luce recommended a collar with stars and stripes as a substitute for the plain collar used on the frocks of seamen. Three stripes on the collar was proposed for all grades, with the stripes on the cuffs to indicated grade. One stripe for E-1, etc.

DISTINGUISHING MARKS/RATING BADGES:

In 1841, insignia called "distinguishing marks" were first prescribed as part of the official uniform. An eagle and anchor emblem, forerunner of the rating badge, was the first distinguishing mark. In 1886 rating badges were established, and some 15 specialty marks were also provided to cover the various ratings. On 1 April 1893, petty officers were reclassified and the rating of chief petty officer was established. Until 1949 rating badges

were worn on the right or left sleeve, depending on whether the person concerned was on the starboard or port watch. Since February 1948, all distinguishing marks have been worn on the left sleeve between the

shoulder and elbow.

RIGHT ARM RATES:

established in 1841 and disestablished 2 April 1949, originally signified men of the Seaman branch. During WWII these rates included Boatswains Mate, Turret Captain, Signalman, Gunners Mate, Fire Controlman,

Quartermaster, Mineman, and Torpedomans Mate. Other ratings wore rates on the left sleeve.

FLAT HATS:

first authorized in 1852 the flat hat was eliminated on 1April 1963 due to non-available materials. The original hats had unit names on the front, however, unit names were taken off in January 1941.

the black neckerchief or bandanna first appeared as early as the 16th century and was utilized as a sweat band and collar closure. Black was the predominant color as it was practical and did not readily show dirt. There is no truth to the myth that the black neckerchief was designed as a sign of mourning for Admiral Nelsons death.

there is no historical significance to the knot other that it being a knot widely used by sailors which presents a uniform appearance.

in 1901 regulations authorized the first use of denim jumpers and trousers, and the 1913 regulations originally permitted the dungaree outfit to be used by both officers and enlisted with the hat of the day.

the first enlisted women's uniform was comprised of a single breasted coat, blue in winter and white in summer, long gull bottomed skirts and a straight-brimmed sailor hat, blue felt in winter and white straw in summer, black shoes and stockings.

established in 1960 to recognize the responsibilities placed on those officers of the Navy who are in command, or who have successfully commanded, ships and aircraft squadrons of the fleet. The component parts, a commission pennant, an anchor, and the line star, were determined to be ideally suited for a design which would be symbolic in the ready identification of those officers who have attained the highly coveted and

responsible title of Commanding Officer of our commissioned units at sea.

in SEP 1917 the "Forrestry" Green uniform of the U.S. Marine Corps was authorized for aviation officers as a winter working uniform. The earliest use of the uniform by enlisted men came in 1941 when chief petty officers designated as Naval Aviation Pilots were authorized to wear the uniform. In NOV 1985 Aviation Working Greens were authorized for wear by women in the aviation community.

a small diameter cord, approximately 12 inches, used to tie laundry to a clothes line. The early Navy clothes pin. Issued in recruit training until 1973.

gray uniforms in the same style as khaki were first introduced on 16 April 1943 as an officers uniform. On 3 June 1943 the uniform was extended to include Chief Petty Officers. On 31 March 1944 cooks and stewards

were permitted to wear the gray uniform. The Navy abolished use of "grays" on 15 October 1949.

a hat worn by officers with ceremonial uniforms commonly refereed to as a "fore and aft" hat. During the 1700's the hat was worn parallel to the shoulders, but in the 1800's was modified to be worn with the points to the front and back. Wearing of the Cocked Hat was discontinued on 12 October 1940.

a protective cover worn by women over the combination cap to provide cold weather protection. Sometimes refereed to as the "Lawrence of Arabia hat" because it fell to shoulder length in the manner of a hood. A rain hood was also issued to provide rain protection. Discontinued in 1981.

a short saber with a cut and thrust blade and a large hand guard. Issued to enlisted men as a sidearm and maintained in ships armories until the beginning of WWII. The weapons was officially declared obsolete in 1949. The Cutlass was considered an organizational issue item, but was never considered to be a part of the enlisted uniform.

EAGLE ON CROWS/DEVICES:

for many years the U.S. specified modified forms of the Napoleonic Eagle in the devices and insignia used to distinguish the various ranks and ratings of enlisted men and officers. This eagle was usually cast, stamped or embroidered facing left and the same practice was used by the Navy. Why the Napoleonic eagle faced left is unknown. In 1941 the Navy changed the eagles facing direction to follow the Heraldic rules which faces the right toward the wearers sword arm. This rule continues to apply and the eagle now faces to the front or the wearers right.

SHIP'S STORE

The Ship's Store is doing well, as evident in the Treasurer's Report. We have a few new items on the shelves these days.

Buchanan Coffee mugs:     Price: Varies

These are identical to the ones we used to be able to buy in the real Ship's Store. They are identical to a mug that Rob Browning still has in his possession from his time aboard Buchanan. You can have either an image

of the ship or the ship's crest on the front of the mug, and for an additional charge you can have your rate/rank and name put on the back side. Rather than ordering through the Ship's Store, we have elected to sacrifice our profit and have members order directly from the manufacturer. The price varies, depending on what you want on your mug.

Order from: Military Art. http://www.milart.com

Phone number: 1-800-445-6847

T-Shirts

Price: $12.00 + $2.75 S&H

A new T-shirt is being sold by Mary K. Woodruff of KT Creations. It's a white T-Shirt with the following words on the front in blue letters.

Any man who may be asked what he did to make his life worthwhile....... Can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction,

"I SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY". JFK, 1963

Sizes: S - M - L - XL - 2XL

Order from: Mary K. Woodruff

KT Creations

749 Head of the Bay Road

Suite 12C

Buzzards Bay, MA 02532

The ordering process is essentially the same idea as ordering the coffee mugs. You order directly from the source. The only difference here is that Mary gives the association 12% of every sale. I bought one of these

T-Shirts, and I can attest to the quality of the shirt as well as the speedy delivery. I received my shirt about a week after I put my check in the mail.

Cruise books on CD

Price: $12.00 + $3.00 S&H

The following WestPac Cruise books are available in CD-ROM format.

1965, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973-74, 1977, 1979, 1984-85.

(1981-82 should be available in the near future)

SOME THANK YOU NOTES

I'd like to take some time and thank some individuals who have really helped us in this organization. First of all, I'd like to thank Marc Falkenhan. It was Mark who donated his time to type all of those annual histories that

we have all been enjoying on the web site. It was very tedious work, and it took a lot of time out of Marc's busy schedule to do it. Thanks, Mark!

I'd like to thank Rob Browning for volunteering to be the Ship's Store operator, and taking the time and effort to get it up and running. The Ship's Store is important for two reasons. It's getting in to everyone's hands the

items that they wish they still had which they had purchased in Buchanan's Ship's Store. Equally important is the fact that it is providing our treasury with another income; an income that might just come in handy for us one day. I suspect that Rob's wife Marian is helping out a bit with his efforts, and so I would also like to thank her too. Thanks, Rob and Marian!

And, while we're on the subject of money, I'd like to thank Dick Zimmermann for his fine efforts in keeping track of accounts. Dick has done a wonderful job as treasurer, updating the association officers at least once a month with treasury reports, and submitting one for every newsletter. It's a critical job, especially when you consider that he's handling everyone's dues.

I would like to thank Tim Nightingale for all of that beautiful work he has been doing on our Ship's Store web page and on the Photo Gallery. He has done some wonderful work. Part of my job in the National Park Service is working as the webmaster on my park's web site. I'd give my eye teeth for one tenth of the skill that Tim is exhibiting on the two web pages he's taking care of for us.

And to conclude, I'd like to thank new member Michael Heffernan for a wonderful service he has extended to the association. As I mentioned earlier, Michael and I served together aboard Buchanan. We also share a

love for history. We were in the same duty section and occasionally ended up together on the in-port watch bill on the quarterdeck, where we spent endless hours discussing the finer points of American History. As a result of the free server space that he has donated to the association, and his work in helping us get our domain, the Buchanan Association now has a professional web site with a recognizable domain, with no advertising

banners.

To all of the above, BZ and Thank You!

AN INTERESTING WEB SITE

OK, now this is a great web site! Take a look at http://www.hazegray.org It has lots of good info on present and past ships of the US Navy, as well as other Navies. For all of you Historian/Private Investigator types out there, there's a great web page with a contest where they will post an obscure photo of a Navy ship, possibly in a state of disrepair (read; last legs before the bone yard). The contest? Name that ship! It's a lot tougher than you think (you didn't really think they'd leave the hull numbers on, now did you?). The site claims that all photos can be identified with a bit of research, and that nothing has to be guessed at. I'm telling you! It's not as easy as it looks, guys. I could spend hours on this site.

This poem comes to us from Bill Johnson.

The Old Man and the Sailor

He was old and worn and a bit forlorn,

as he ambled through the park,

He spoke to me and I could see

that his eyes had lost their spark.

His gait was slow and his voice was low,

as he asked to sit with me,

And I answered him with a friendly grin,

The sitting here is free.

He gave a smile and we talked a while

and his voice was rather weak,

But his mind was strong and it wasn't long

until he began to speak,

Of yesteryears and I saw the tears

as the memories flooded through,

For he spoke of times and other climes

as old men often do.

He smiled at me and I could see

as he glanced at my Navy blues,

That he'd earned his keep on the briny deep

and paid his share of dues.

I asked if he would share with me

some memoir's from his career,

He said he might if the price was right,

and the price was a can of beer!

I've shipped on subs and oily tubs,

on battleships and cruisers,

Ten thousand mates and I can state

not one of them was losers.

LSTs on foreign seas,

from Tarawa to Leyte,

You name it, lad, I've been there,

from Alaska down to Haiti.

Liberty ships of paper clips,

balsa wood and glue,

I saw one break apart one time

and lose her gallant crew.

Marine Corps I took ashore

on Tarawa and Truk.

Oh what the Hell, for quite a spell,

I've had my share of luck.

One thing more he said, before I move along,

There ain't no air that's quite as fair,

as the pipe of the boatswain's song.

And the place to be is on the sea

riding a fair sea swell,

With mates like you in Navy blue,

who'll follow you straight through Hell.

So here's to you and your Navy crew

who take our ships to sea,

You've fought and died and never cried

throughout our history.

You're heroes all and ten feet tall

and your spirits never lag,

You're the nations best and you never rest.

in defense of our country's flag!

He rose to leave and I believe

that he seemed to move much faster,

His eyes agleam like a laser beam

and his skin was alabaster,

He glowed at first then soon dispersed

in a cloud of misty cotton,

A dream at most, perhaps a ghost,

but not to be forgotten.

US NAVY MEMORIAL FOUNDATION Washington, D.C., December 4, 2000 ---

Did you serve? The United States Navy Memorial Foundation in Washington, DC has established the "Navy Log" in an effort to honor all naval veterans that have served our country. The Navy Log includes Navy,

Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Merchant Mariners.

The Navy Log has thus far collected the names, service information and photographs of over a quarter of a million service personnel. All enrollments form a part of America's enduring naval heritage, a permanent and publicly accessible video register available for reviewing at the Naval Heritage Center next to the Navy memorial on Pennsylvania Avenue, midway between the White house and the Capitol, or on the Memorial's Internet web site:     http://www.lonesailor.org.

For information, please write to:

U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation,

Attn: Navy Log, (Dept R)

701 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 123,

Washington, DC

20004-2608 or call 1-800-821-8892 ext. 730.

Media Contact: David J. Michael, NCCM, USN, (Ret.)

Director, Navy Log http://www.lonesailor.org/

SEA STORY OF THE QUARTER

This sea story was contributed by Michael Heffernan, who was aboard Buchanan during Operation Sea Dragon in 1968. In May of 1968 we were sent in to destroy a "WBLIC" repair facility in North Vietnam. "WBLIC" stood for Water Borne Logistic Craft (barges mostly) that carried supplies south and where power by Tug's.

Before going in toward the target, They split the lookout crew in half. One half was put in the barbet below the Mk 68 Gun Fire Control Director. This was a precautionary measure, and this was the only mission they ever did that, so don't tell me that we did not expect counter battery. The officers knew what was coming.

The layout in front of us was a coastal plain to the left with distant hills. Sand dunes at the edge of the coastal plain where it met the water. Just to the south of our position, was the entrance to a river which went north behind the sand dunes. North of us was a peninsula with a high hill on it. I can only assume that the river opened up into a basin where the repair facility was, behind the hills on that peninsula. We were told that we were going to use Super-Elevation mode to lob the shells up and over the hill to hit the boat yard.

I was the port TDT operator (on the side towards the beach). I could see everything that was going on and was involved in a lot of it. As we went in at about a 45 degree angle to the sandy plains on the left, the MK68 GFC director was given a reference point to keep on. This point was further out on the shore of the peninsula ahead of us. By referencing the range and bearing from the reference point to us, we knew where we were, Exactly to the foot. And since the target area was fixed in reference to the reference point, the fire control solution could be made.

I believe MT51 fired 3 or 4 rounds in shore bombardment mode using super-elevation mode, not sure and really wasn't paying much attention to it. What I was paying attention to was a shack located 2/3 of the way up the hillside. After just finishing some of the most intense school (32 weeks "A" school, 26 weeks "C" school). for radar and electromagnetic stuff like antennas and wave guide, I recognized this shack had a lot of antennas on it. My guess was a spotter shack. The only question was what was he spotting for, just an air raid warning, or gun fire control? I got Weapons Control on the circuit and reported my findings about the shacks presence and the communications antennas brisling from it. Weapons Control (Lt. Feodor?) told me to assign MT 51, I flipped the switch on the MK79 Control Unit which connected MT51 to my TDT. Weapons Control asked if they saw the target and they respond positively. They were instructed to go into local and take the shack under fire. As this occurred, the ship turned about 45 degrees to put us parallel with the beach, head towards the land mass ahead of us at about 5 knots. This allowed MT52 to come around and fire toward the boat yard. I don't believe she got any rounds off that I can remember, before MT51 started firing.

I was at my binoculars watching the fall of shot around the shack, never saw it get hit. About the time the 3rd or 4th round hit around the shack, all hell must have broken loose. I heard someone say counter-battery and took my eyes away from the TDT. Then I saw a splash off the Starboard bow (between us and open water). Then the mast above me was hit, and the shrapnel of the 3" projectile and the antenna came raining down on us. You could see the pieces bouncing off your helmet and flack jacket. About that time one of the lookouts broke out of MK68 Director barbet and got a cut across the palm of his hand from debris from the an/sps37 radar antenna (later the Doctor came up and said it was not "serious" enough to report for a Purple Heart). About that time I got back on the TDT, swung it around toward the beach and started looking for the counter-battery flashes. At the same time the ship kicked it in the ass and turned away from the land to head out to open sea. The ship was zig-zagging allot. as we went out I heard people yelling my name and looked up from my binoculars. Everyone but me had taken cover behind the director barbet at the urging of ENS. Lund (I think that was his name). When I realized I was the only one standing out in the open and I was being ordered to take cover, I started to move towards them. Never took my phones off, and when the cord snapped at me when I reached the end of it's length, it also snapped me back to reality. The drill for counter-battery was not to hide behind the barbet, but to find the flashes and kill the counter-battery. I called for FTM3 Stone to re-man his TDT and look on his side for the flashes, With the two of us on station, the Lookouts re-manned there station and they found the counter-battery. It was found by the Starboard side, not my side. MT52, where Cage was the mount captain (called him that because he was from Louisiana), started firing in local at rapid continuous. He didn't stop firing until the shells were falling in the water off the beach as we had run out of gun range of the target.

As for FTM3/2 Ken George's report of TDT operator yelling about the guns shooting at us, that had to be Stone on the Starboard side, We were on different phone circuits and I never saw a flash. As the ship turned out to sea and did it's Zigzag routine, the superstructure was between me and the guns, I never saw them.

Back to the Catalogue Page