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The Newsletter of the
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December 1, 1999
Vol. I., No. 2
Editor: David B. Malone
The second reason that the newsletter is a bit late was because it had to wait on a lot of information regarding our upcoming reunion. This is critical because the reunion is not all that far off. I wanted to collect all the information and get it out there so that people would have as much time as possible to get time off work, plan vacation time, or whatever would be needed to get to the reunion.
The reunion will be held June 1-4, 2000 at the Holiday Inn Select in Timonium, MD, which is just outside Baltimore. One of our members was kind enough to visit the hotel and he gave it a favorable review. It appeared that they had everything that we needed, so the decision was made for Baltimore. There is more in the newsletter about why this site was chosen, but it is my fondest hope that as many of us as possible will be able to attend. It will be an important one for the association because this is where we will have the opportunity to organize ourselves. There will be a meeting of the membership to do this. Furthermore, we can all start laying the groundwork for our reunion in 2002, which I would like to see come off as a huge success as it will be in our former home port and it will be the ship's 40th birthday.
This news letter also has information on the membership, a couple of reprints from the last newsletter, including a listing of websites to visit and an info request from the Charles F. Adams Class Association, an article on a Buchanan jacket that can be purchased, a sea story of the quarter, and a letter from my partner in crime, Dino Myers.
Accompanying the newsletter is a form. If you are going to the reunion, please fill out the form and return it to Dick Zimmerman as soon as possible along with a check for your mess bill. It will be crucial for us to keep track of who is going to the reunion, and also to keep track of information for the banquet.
Enjoy the newsletter and I hope to see you in June!
The Editor
Buchanan and the men I served with have always been part of me. My experiences while aboard played a big part in what I am today. I was on Buchanan over 4 years, reporting aboard at age 20 and leaving at 25. I served on the crews of 5 of the 19 commanding officers. While aboard we were shot at, shot back, got hit , got even, was made mod squad, ended mod squad, and received the Arleigh Burke Fleet trophy and numerous awards for excellence in all fields and much more.
I wish to thank Rob Browning and Al Ursich for information and pictures on Decommission Ceremony . Also, Dick Zimmerman for going to the Navy archives and getting copies of ship's histories, and Marc Falkenham, Dave Malone and all the others who have sent me information.
Keeping up with all the new people contacting us has consumed much of the time that I have available for this project. As we get ground work completed and the winter months arrive, I should have more time to add information to the web site. If anyone who has website experience or typing skills would like to help with the site, please contact me.
The two projects I want to work on are
Here's to all the Good Times, Bad Times and all those Other Times we all remember
while aboard.
Dino
After doing a little thinking on the matter, and some investigation, the site that was chosen by myself, Rob Browning, and Dino Myers was Baltimore, MD. The dates chosen for the reunion are Thursday, June 1 through Sunday morning, June 4.
We chose Baltimore for several reasons. First of all, Baltimore is a good sized city with lots of attractions, including an aquarium and a world class waterfront. At the same time, it's not New York or Boston where the prices for anything seem to be through the roof. The naval themes are present in Baltimore, including USS Constellation, Fort McHenry (Hey, it got bombarded by naval ships! OK...I admit that one's a bit of a stretch, but it's a neat place!) and the Naval Academy is not very far away. Also, the ship's namesake, Franklin Buchanan, was a Baltimore native. It seemed fitting that Baltimore would be a good choice for our first reunion.
To save a little money, our hotel will be a little ways out of the city. It will be the Holiday Inn Select in Timonium, MD., just outside Baltimore. The city is easily reached by light rail service just a quarter mile away from the hotel.
The hotel is holding aside a block of 40 rooms for us for our three nights, being Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The cost for a room is $78.00 per night, plus tax which I understand is 13%. These rooms are to be reserved and paid for individually. The hotel must receive your reservation by May 1. After that date, the unreserved rooms will be returned to the hotel inventory and will be available to the general public. Remember...you must reserve your room by May 1. We will also have a banquet on Friday night, June 2, and a departure breakfast on Sunday, June 4. The price for the banquet is $25.00 per person ($12.50 for those under 12) and the breakfast is $12.00 per person ($6.00 for those under 12). This would be a total of $37.00 per adult and $18.50 per child under 12 years of age, inclusive of tax and gratuity (see the separate article on dinner selections). The hotel requires that we pay for this with a single check from the association. As such, we have taken this opportunity to establish a treasury with Dick Zimmerman who is acting temporarily as a treasurer until elections can be held. Each member will send a check for their mess bill to Dick and he will pay the hotel at the time of the reunion with a check from the Association's treasury. The final date to get your check to Dick is also May 1. You will also be required to send Dick a returns form. The returns form will indicate how many adults and children will be in your party, your dinner choices for each, and your estimated arrival of arrival. To obtain a copy of the retuns form, e-mail Dave Malone and he will send you a copy. We plan to do some explorations of the city. There are no scheduled tours. Transportation and any other expenditures will be on a personal level. We can explore the city as one large group, or we can split into several groups and head in different directions. The choice will be yours on this. It was decided that all Buchanan sailors would be invited to this first reunion. We want everyone who has not joined to have the opportunity to come to the reunion, see some of their shipmates, see what the organization is about, and perhaps have the opportunity to join there. However, there will be an important meeting of the membership on Saturday morning, and attendance at this meeting is restricted to Buchanan Association members only. So, you need to do two things to attend the reunion
1. Call the hotel {(410) 252- 7373}and reserve and pay for your room or rooms. Each room is $78.00 a night plus tax.
Dick Zimmerman Do all of the above before May 1 to ensure your place at the reunion in Baltimore!
Holiday Inn Select, Timonium, MD June 1 through June 4, 2000
Tossed Garden Salad ENTREES Roast Top Sirloin of Beef with Burgundy Mushroom Sauce OR Grilled Herbed Breast of Chicken with Butter Sauce (Choose one) Entree will include Chef's Signature Vegetable and Potato/or Rice Warm Crusty French Rolls and Butter Coffee and Tea KID'S MENU (12 or under) Fried Chicken and French Fries DESSERT Sinful Chocolate Cake Price: $25.00 per person Inclusive, except where noted. Kid's menu: $12.50 per person. BREAKFAST BUFFET MENU ALL AMERICAN BREAKFAST Orange and Tomato Juice Fluffy Scrambled Eggs and Country Sausage Links Assorted Dry Cereals and Seasoned Breakfast Potatoes Breakfast Bakery Basket Coffee and Tea The buffets above are priced as $12.00 per person Inclusive. $6.00 for children under 12. Price includes private room, all taxes and gratuities. (Note: If we have less than 30 at the breakfast, it will be plated rather than a buffet)
Do you belong to the Buchanan Association? You think that you are a member. After all, you're getting the newsletter, aren't you? And your name is right there on the list of crew members on the association's website. So, you must be a member of the Buchanan Association, right? Well, maybe you are a member, and then maybe your not. The fact is that the association is very young right now. We were formed only in late June, so we're in the process of getting organized. All of you have been contacted by the association, and you know of our existence. Or maybe word reached you about us through word of mouth? Perhaps you found us and made contact? Which ever way, the association knows about you and where you are located. The Buchanan Association has listed the e-mail addresses of every known Buchanan sailor on it's website. This was done not only for association members, but for every man jack who served in Buchanan. It was done so that all may stay in touch with former shipmates simply by booting up the computer and logging on to the website. But having your name listed on the website doesn't necessarily mean that you've taken the necessary steps to join the Buchanan Association. Likewise, you are receiving the newsletter, including the one you're reading right now. Again, receiving the newsletter doesn't mean you've become a member of the association. Right now most members in the Buchanan Association have internet access, and it's cheap to send the newsletter via e-mail. It costs us nothing to extend a newsletter to non association members, and so we do so as a courtesy. However, we are beginning to pick up members who do not have access to cyberspace. As this trend continues, the newsletter will more than likely switch to a more conventional format that goes out via US Mail. This will more than likely coincide with the establishment of a yearly dues. The dues will fund the cost of printing the newsletter and for postage, among other things. At that point, unless you are a member of the association, there is every likelihood that you will cease to receive the newsletter, which means you will eventually fall out of touch with the association. Don't be one of those who fall through the cracks. Joining the association is so easy, and will only take a few moments of your time. In order to join the USS Buchanan (DDG-14) Association, e-mail Dean Myers (the quickest and easiest way) or write him and give him the following.
Dino's snail mail address is:
Only time can tell us where this association will go. Only time...and you as a member. But first, you need to be a member, and the association will need good members to succeed. If you aren't a member already, take a few moments and send Dino the above information. If you know someone out there who you served with, do him a favor and make sure he knows about us. Give him the info he needs to get in touch with us.
The cost is $34.00, plus $3.50 shipping and handling. For an additional $5.00 you can have your jacket personalized by having your name or your nickname embroidered on the right breast. They come in sizes S, M, L, XL, 2X, and 3X. As a bonus, for each jacket sold the USS Buchanan Association's treasury will receive 12% of the sale. If interested in purchasing a jacket, e-mail Dave Malone for an order form. Once ordered, allow 4 to 6 weeks for delivery.
The following are new members of the USS Buchanan (DDG-14) Association who have joined us since our last newsletter was published. I'm sure that you will join me in welcoming them all aboard. Randy Andrew , GMC (SW) , 1990-91 Gene Borg , LT ( jg) , 1967-68 Thomas Dowe , HTC Brian Fox , BT3 , 1967-68 John Freeman , MM3 , 1981-83 Phillip Gaida , OS1 , 1981-84 John Howard , LT. , 1972-74 Michael King , MM1 (SW) , 1983-86 Jeff Martin , STG2 , 1982-86 Edward Moore , LT. CDR. (XO) ,1979-81 Bob Neuman , MM , 1980-85 Pat Sena , LT. , 1980-81 John Thompson ,STG2 , 1976-80 Al Ursich , FCC (SW) , 1987-91 Ed Zeranski , ETR , 1967-68
Quick Thinking Under Pressure Less than 2 hours before the very last Live Missile Firing Exercises that USS Buchanan participated in, the Launcher blew a Hydraulic line. The Tartar Launcher Hydraulic Rain Forrest was a little more active that day. The Buchanan was heading south in single file line with some Heavy Hitters in the Missile World, all five ships running at 5 knots. Second from the end, we were keeping our station in the rising morning sun of the So Cal Missile Range. Moments earlier we were in the process of bringing up the T SAM Blue Birds to do pre fire checks when a hydraulic line blew deep in the rain forest. The replacement part was obtained from the Duty SK in Supply and installed in record time. Next thing, refill the hydraulic tanks... The 55 Gal drum was moved in position... A few strokes on the pump, and the vital fluid was flowing... then without warning..... a sound so horrible, heard by all...... and felt all the way down in the pit of the stomach... The "sucking sound", reverberating, of a empty 55 Gal drum of MIL-F-17111, hydraulic fluid... the life blood of the launcher. You could see the horror in everyone's eyes... So close... yet so far.... what could we do... that was the last drum. Then from deep in the rain forest I hear... "Hey Chief.... I got an idea....". Now, I can't remember who it was, but some day I will, and I won't take any credit for this as I was only a spectator that day. Again we hear...... "Hey Chief.... can we "STEAL" some hydraulic fluid from the ASROC launcher?" What a novel idea! The permission was obtained in record time from the CO.... we were just starting our pre fire aircraft tracking runs at the time. The CO had not informed Beaver or the lead ship, Alpha Whisky, of our equipment problem. Hoping the guys could pull through the minor setback and do like all sailors do in a crunch.... pull it off. Three plastic buckets were obtained, plastic bag liners, a hex wrench of appropriate size and, off we went..... It was interesting that he knew the correct....size of the hex wrench to take.... The Electrical Tag Out of the ASROC Launcher was run and tags applied. The Gunners mate slid on the amidships deck right under the launcher. The hex key removed the plug, bucket in hand, "like a thief in the night" I watched as the ASROC Launcher tank was drained of the life giving fluid. The half full buckets were quickly carried to the Tartar launcher where a funnel and filter were ready and waiting. In a matter of 15 minutes the launcher was ready. Up came the T Sam Blue Birds, the required electrical checks supervised by Senior Chief Torres, a real gunner. Checks Completed, the word was passed, "Clear the weather decks for Live Missile Firing". We got the shot off and recorded a skin to skin hit. What a way to end a proud ship's career.... The Gunners, Fire Control team, and CIC tracking party all pulled together to pull it off. In retrospect, there was not a man aboard the Buchanan that did not have a hand in making the Missile Shot possible. From the firemen watching the boiler, the MM's keeping the required 5 knots of ship's forward motion, The IC and EM's keeping the 400 cycle power and gyros running. The A Gang keeping the Chill Water running and cooling the Klystron CWI Radar Transmitter that the missile used for a rear reference to guide the missile to that skin to skin hit. Not wanting to forget all the support from the PN's, DK's, SH's and the SK's.... That repair part was found in record time... a detail tracking system that when called upon to perform... DID. Then there is the leadership from the top on down. This was "ONE TIME" when it all worked... Just imagine in your mind for one minute if ANY one link that I mentioned, and MANY more that I DID NOT mention, had failed that day... A Gyro Repeater... a misplaced Hydraulic spare part, and the outcome would have been different. And last but not least... the "Can Do" attitude of the US Navy and the Buchanan Sailor. The Author, Fire Control Chief, FCC(SW) Al Ursich, 1987-Decom, currently works for Sony Electronics in San Diego in the Calibration Lab. About 40 percent of the equipment maintenance personnel at Sony are former Navy. Sony Management, again a high percentage of military supervisors and managers ,had years earlier discovered the Military Equipment Maintenance training to be a VERY valuable quality to look for in a new hire. Sony has 17 divisions and 4000 people in San Diego. The Largest division makes 5 sizes of picture tubes or
CRT's in a 24 hour a day operation, 7 days a week.
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