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It's hard to believe that this issue of the "Sierran" is number 79. This represents some twenty years of publication for our association. With your continued interest this newsletter will, hopefully, continue for a long time to come. LATE DUES For those members who are somewhat behind in dues, please note the address label. If it reads LP05 or LP06, this indicates the year your last dues were paid. It is only a reminder. OUR SECRETARY, DAN ROMANDO (DPR: Since this is about the writer I hope you won't mind if it's written in the third person.) Dan was born January 7, 1933 in New Brighton, Staten Island, NY. His father owed a restaurant which, during the Depression, was a definite advantage. He graduated from St. Peter's Boys High School, also in Staten Island, and went on to Manhattan College, in the Bronx. He says 1955 was a memorable year; graduated college earning a BBA in June, married the girl next door, Janice Dowd in September and getting drafted in the Navy in November. After boot camp in Bainbridge, MD Dan reported aboard SIERRA. He was assigned to Engineering (Ship's Company) in the log room. He worked under Rod Sears, MM3, who was the log room yeoman. His CO was LTJG William Farrington. By this time Dan the log room yeoman with Bart Dicarlo (56-57 M Div, MM3) as his assistant. His wife Janice came to Norfolk where they set up housekeeping in Benmoreell. Not too long after a daughter was born. After being separated from the Navy, Dan and family returned to Staten Island. He got a job at the Boston Insurance Company as a trainee ocean marine cargo claims adjuster. For the next forty years he worked in this profession, moving in a number of cities, before retiring in 1988 as a VP for AIG Technical Services in charge of the Oil Rig Claims Division. Dan joined the association in 1991. He was elected governor and served for eight years. After a brief respite he was elected secretary in 2003. Dan moved from Toms River, NJ, where he lived for thirty-two years, to Whiting, NJ in 2005. He is a church usher at the 6:45 am Mass, plays in a senior slow pitch softball league, golfs, paints miniature soldiers and landscapes, among other things. Dan and Janice have four daughters and one son as well as twelve grandchildren all spread out from New Jersey to Georgia. WELCOME ABOARD
SICK BAY All our very best to George Cale, 49-53, 1 & 2 Div, BM2, who has heart trouble. He has a pacemaker and is recovering. He and Betty are moving from their farm to a cottage, which may be associated with assisted living. CREW'S NEWS From Warren Sheppard, 49-53, O Div, RD2, "...I'm sending my dues past and present. I guess put the old $20 in the pot. With its guns the SIERRA felt like a fighting ship of the U.S.N. When it was decommissioned I thought I was on a freighter." Short note from Mike Hoffman, 66-67, R-5, FTG3, "Sorry for being late; keep the newsletter coming." Another note from Thomas Weaver, 90-91, CO, Capt., "I hope I got the dues correctly this time. I have not attended a reunion in some time and need to change this in the near future." We got this from Ed Spille, 59-60, A&T Div, SRCE, "Enclosed is $40 towards my dues (Does this extend my membership? For how long?) I served 1959-60 as a Division Chief and also had the privilege to serve as T Division Chief staying with my division ashore at different European/Med ports. Regards to any of my crews that are still around. Love to hear from them. PS, what's LP05 mean?" (DPR: Ed you are up to date as of 2007; as I mentioned above LP and the year means last year you were paid. If you have a chance, come to the reunion and see some of your old gang is there.) This from Rick Donahue, 73-75, R-3, EM2, "This check should help catch me up for some back payments. I love getting the newsletter and hope that my wife and I can make next year's reunion. Please note our new address. After 29 years with the Madison Heights Fire Depart. I retired in June. By the way we moved up north and I started working as Chief for the Bangor Township Fire Depart. Two days of retirement was all I could take." Frank Savino received this from Len Deloplaine's (44-46, 6 Div, ETM1), daughter, Marilyn Delopaine Manning, "It has taken me 11 years since my father's death to realize that he would have wanted me to continue to send dues to an association that he was very much involved in. I am sorry that it took me so long. Enclosed you will find a check for this year and the past four. Thank you for continuing to send the newsletters! My mother is in an assisted care facility and does not read much but I read them cover-to-cover. My father always looked forward to the reunions and I hope some day to join you at one." Cas Golosinski, 58-61, 1st Div, PO2, writes, "Enclosed you will find my check of $20 to cover my dues for year 2008. I received the October 2007 issue of the SIERRAN newsletter and enjoyed it much. You men are doing a fine job for the rest of us, please keep it up. Hope your holidays are healthy, happy and very enjoyable." This from Louis Bozzuto, 52-55, R-5, FF3, who writes, "Enclosed please find my dues check for $20. Marie and I have been fighting health problems. In fact she is now in a wheel chair. We are sorry that we are unable to travel. Old age is not as good as I thought, although I've prepared for the worst. We have had lots of fun here in Las Vegas and spent plenty of time traveling. Anyway say hi to Dale Weed, 52-54, R Div, DNSA, and others in the carpentry shop and fifth division ship fitter shop. Had a nice conversation with Perez, 52-55, 5th Div, FP2, from the pipe shop and very sad to hear so many of my shipmates have passed away. I guess we all reach that part of our life. Once again say hi to all and God bless each of you. Bill Judge, 53-55, Guard, SN, writes, "I'm sorry I couldn't go to the reunion. I have been in the hospital 4 1/2 months. I had open-heart surgery for the second time. The first time lasted 12 years. This time I hope it lasts longer. Say hi to my buddy Ray Couch in North Carolina. $20 for my dues. (DPR: Bill I hope you are on the road to recovery. I sent a newsletter and application to Ray Couch, but he never responded.) Frank received this from Ed Burris, 75-82, E Div, EM3, "Just a quick note with my dues to tell you how much Nancy and I enjoyed our first reunion and look forward to attending more. We met many new people and met with Malcolm Jones, 81-84, A Div, MMC, who I served with aboard SIERRA. We look forward to next year. Until then we wish all a great Thanksgiving, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. God Bless." Old buddy Dick Erbe, 56-57, R Div, YN3, writes, "Please pardon me for being so late this year but it has been a struggle. Sometime soon I hope to attend one of your reunions and meet all of you. I sure do enjoy Danny's newsletter, Merry Christmas." Frank received this from Gerry Pagett, 49-52, 3rd Div, EM3, "Thanks Frank for all your work keeping the Association going." Keith Jones, 74-77, Deck, BM2, says, "Frank, I hope this note finds you well. I understand that the 2008 reunion is in Portsmouth, VA. I intend to see you and the others, then. I've got lots of stories to tell. Enclosed are my 08 dues." Frank Savino got this one from Jack Alvaro, 61-62, 2nd Div, SN, "Enclosed is a check for $20 to cover my 2008 dues. The new SIERRA website is great. I look forward to seeing more photos of our beloved USS SIERRA in the future. Also, I have one suggestion, and that is to include your address on the website for those of us who misplace our printed newsletters. I finally found an old copy with your address on it. Thanks and Happy New Year." (DPR: Rick Keough, 68-70, R-3, EM3, is our webmaster please note. For those interested the web site is www.uss-sierra-vets.org ) Mike Hoffman, 66-67, R-5, FTG3, writes, "Just a short note to mark the passing of one of our shipmates, Timothy Johnson, FTG3, (1966-1968), who died on October 23, 2007 in Carlton, MO. He was not a member of our association but he was a good sailor and a valued crewmember. There is a pretty good chance that I will be attending the 2008 reunion in Portsmouth and am looking forward to it." Joan Burlew sent us a note, "It is with a heavy heart that I must write and tell you that your shipmate John Burlew (59-62, 1st Op, SN) died on January 29th. The family would like to endorse this check to the USS SIERRA Veterans Association in his memory. He really loved the reunions and was proud of his Navy service. There was an honor guard at the church, taps was played and the flag presented to me. Please thank the association for all the good memories they create with the newsletter and the reunions." Frank Savino sent this email, "Just received a card and news clip saying that Anton Kozel (Tony), 45-55, 7, 4, & 5 Div, MRC, turned 90 on January 22, 2008 and is doing well. His Niece, Mrs. Tomlin, sent this to me because Tony has a hard time writing. I know that there are many of our member shipmates that he touched at one time or another." (DPR: We all want to wish you a happy birthday, Tony. This brings up a point we again would like to mention is that when a member turns 80 years old he receives a Life Member certificate and has a choice of paying or not paying dues. The point is YOU HAVE TO LET US KNOW. Contact any of the officers or governors in this regard.) Frank received this from Jack Reardon's (43-46, 6 Div, ETM2) widow, Rose, "Sorry to be so late in sending in my dues. It is nice to see the Association flourishing with a lot of new members. Keep up the interesting newsletters which is the only link those of us who can't make reunions." From Charles Salter, 63-64, R Div, MM1, "Please find enclosed dues for the next two years. Someday, if I ever get my sweet young wife to retire, we're going to get to a reunion. I am looking for USS SIERRA vets in the Omaha, NE area from all eras. My phone number is (see hard copy). This is from Arnold Court (new member) 56-59, 4th Div, MR2, "Thanks so much for the USS SIERRA Veterans Association application. Was great to hear of such an organization. I will certainly try to make the 2008 reunion. A little of what I have done over the past 50 years. Went into the Navy reserves after active service, but got caught up in the reserve reduction in the 70"s. Transferred into the Army reserves and finished my 20 years of service there. Spent my working years in manufacturing and retired from Eaton Corporation in 1996. Have started a small business and still keeping active every day. Overall enjoying retirement and keeping healthy."
A LITTLE LIGHT HUMOR? Juan came up to the Mexican border on his bicycle. He had two large bags over his shoulders. The guard stopped him and said, "What's in the bags?" "Sand" , answered Juan. The guard said, "We'll just see about that. Get off the bike." The guard took the bags and ripped them apart. Then he emptied them out, but found nothing in them but sand. He detained Juan overnight and had the sand analyzed, only to discover that there was nothing but pure sand in the bags. The guard released Juan, put the sand into new bags, hefted them onto the man's shoulders, and let him cross the border. A week later, the same thing happened. The guard asked, "What have you got?" "Sand," said Juan. The guard went through his thorough examination again and discovered that the bags contained nothing but sand. He gave the sand back to Juan, and Juan crossed the border. The same sequence of events was repeated every day for three years. Finally, Juan didn't show up one day and the guard met him some time later in a cantina in Mexico. "Hey, buddy," said the guard. "I know you were smuggling. It's driving me crazy. It's all I think about. I can't sleep. Just between you and me, what were you really smuggling?" Juan sipped his beer and said, "Bicycles." (DPR: From the Maritime Advocate Online) FUTURE REUNIONS As you know this year's reunion will be held in Portsmouth, VA, from October 2-5, 2008 at the Holiday Inn Olde Towne Portsmouth. The election of officers and governors will take place, as usual. Should any member wish to put their name in as an officer or governor, please contact Bill Dutton, 45-52, 7th Div, MMR2, who is our Nominating Chairman. You can write to Bill at PO Box 350, Bath ME 04530 or call him at 207-443-2090. We especially would like to hear from our younger members. Next year we are getting set up for Branson, MO and for 2010 we are making serious inquires for having our reunion in Ocean City, NJ. (DPR: A note of thanks to Steve Hovan, 44-45, G Div, GM2, for his help in putting out our reunion notices in publications such as FRA, Military Officer, Shift Colors, and many more. Steve you have been a great help.) TAPS
Respectively Submitted By DUES $20 * NEWS * DUES $20 * NEWS * DUES $20 * NEWS * DUES $20 * NEWS * DUES $20 * NEWS * DUES $20 * NEWS
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