THE SIERRAN NEWSLETTER


ISSUE #83                                                                                                                       FEBRUARY 2009
 

      This is the first time we are using a reunion coordinator for our Branson, MO reunion on September 17-20, 2009, it's Pam Brown of Gatherings Plus. As such we are issuing the newsletter a little earlier than usual. To register we must contact Ms Brown directly. DO NOT REGISTER WITH OUR TREASURER, FRANK SAVINO. The plan of the Day, Reservation and Registration forms for the Grand Plaza Hotel and reunion activities on the following pages. Please note if you want to pay by credit card, there is a 3% fee. You might not want to see all or some of the shows, again contact Ms Brown for a reduction in the Registration cost.

          Our reunion has it's own web site: www.reunionproregistration.com/usssierra.htm check it out!

Links to:  Attendees   Itinerary    Travel Information    Registration Form

   Our banquet will be a sit down dinner, which comprises Prime Rib or Parmesan Chicken, Baked Potatoes and Vegetables as well as our SIERRA Cake.
   Entertainment: An area tour then aboard the Showboat Branson Belle for a two hour cruise on Table Rock Lake which includes a memorial service, a three course meal and a variety show.
   Hamner Barber Variety Show - The Hamners are famous for their magical exotic bird act and illusions.
Also the comedy of ventriloquist, Jim Barber.
   Yakov Smirnoff Show - The internationally famous Russian comedian. After which there is lunch at McFarlin's.
   Pierce Arrow Show - Vocal and comedy group who features country, gospel and patriotic songs.
   During our banquet The American Kids, ages 8 to 18, will perform.

 

OUR VICE PRESIDENT, HERB PRICE

     Herb was born on September2, 1934 in Barton, NY. He graduated from Owego Free Academy in Owego, NY and thereafter joined the Navy in December 1953. Boot camp was at Bainbridge, MD and later went to patternmaker's school in San Diego, CA. Before reporting to SIERRA he married Anne Mohlar in New York. Herb reported to the ship in Norfolk, VA in May 1954. The Price's set up housekeeping in Norfolk. While there two daughters were born, Darlene and Debbie. Herb attained the rank of Patternmaker Second Class before he was separated from the Navy in October 1957. Returning to New York Herb worked for Ingersoll Rand as a draftsman from 1957 to 1960. He then was employed by IBM in Owego, NY. He worked for IBM at night but was a substitute mailman out of Spencer, NY during the day. After retiring from IBM as Manager of Quality Control Engineering he became a permanent mail carrier. Not only that Herb was mayor of Spencer for seventeen years. Herb joined our association in the early 1990's. He was voted as governor at our 18th reunion in S. Portland, ME in September 2005 and vice president last year in Portsmouth, VA. Besides Darlene and Debbie there is Diane, Dawn, Donald and Denise, all born after the Navy. The Price's have eight grandchildren (one grandson and seven granddaughters) as well as one great granddaughter. Herb and Anne love to travel and have a winter home in Zephyrhills, FL. He loves to boat and tool around in his four wheel ATV. He is active in the American Legion and was Commander of the local Post for two years and Country Commander for one year.

 

LATE DUES

     Merely as a reminder, if your envelope address label notes LP06 or LP07 this indicates the year your last dues were paid.

 

 WELCOME ABOARD

James L. McCalla Live Oak, TX 59-63 R-2 Division ML2  
Robert Vatore Matawan, NJ 57-59 Deck Div. SN  

 

TREASURER'S REPORT

    Due to tight space requirements we can't present the full report. Year 2008 started out with a bank balance of $18,353.52 and at yearend it stood at $18,074.58. Not bad! Should any member wish to receive the complete report please contact Frank Savino at his address and telephone number listed in the heading of the newsletter or email him at fs13034@aol.com.

      Some corrections: Last newsletter we gave the wrong years and rate for Everett Shepherd. It should have read, 59-64 and SFM2. Also, and this is important, the new SIERRA web site is www.uss-sierra-vets.org .

 


E-MAIL LIST

Philip Clemens 52-56 4th Div MR1   phlclm@aol.com
George Diver 57-59 R Div PH2   brsfan1@comcast.net
James L. McCalla 59-63 R-2 Div ML2   mlcjmc@att.net
Joseph N. Rich 52-56 2nd Div GM3   jnrich@cox.net
William L. Silvers 78-84 Repair MRC   wsilvers@bellsouth.net
Arthur L. Smith 71-74 Deck BM3   vfwreb@aol.com
Robert Vatore 57-59 Deck SN   lurob@optonline.net

   

LIFE MEMBER'S CORNER

This is a new feature suggested by Frank Savino, which I think we should use.

Larry Appel 46-47 F Div FC3 Larry had his hip replaced
V. O. Barnard, Jr 45-46 Flag RM3 V. O. would like to hear from
   any RM's years 45-46
Avery Boose 46-47 E Div EM3 Avery had a knee replacement
Jack Richison 44-45 ORD FC2 Jack had heart by-pass as well as kidney failure and
is on dialysis three times a week

(DPR: As a reminder please let any of the officers or governors know when you turn 80 years old so that a Life Member Certificate can be issued.)

 

SICK BAY

    Besides our Life Member's health problems noted above we are advised Frank Savino (53-57, 4th Div, MR2) was in the hospital in December with congestive heart failure.

             (DPR: We all wish our shipmates a speedy recovery.)

 

CREW'S NEWS

   From Joe Strecker (68-70, R-1 Div, MR3), "My wife and I have been to all of the (Branson) shows that are scheduled for our entertainment and that they are top notch shows. We will gladly go to them again and again. The shows change a little every year so you don't really see the same thing twice. The shows are like a good movie, every time you go, you see or hear something new or different. With this kind of entertainment I think that the 2009 reunion will be close to the top for overall for the Sierra reunion."

    Robert Beard (45-50, S1/c) writes, "Haven't been to a reunion for some time and am sorry to say we won't be there (Portsmouth, VA) again this year. I met an old shipmate a while back. Don't know if you have him on your roster or not. His name is Rex C. Hanes... Kansas City, KS... He also had two brothers aboard the SIERRA, Miles Hanes and Richard. Both brothers passed away the last couple of years. Oh yes, I passed the old 80-year mark this past March. My mind tells me no, but my body doesn't deny it. Good luck and good health to all."

   Bob Morales and I got this from Joe Gombocz (70-74, 2nd Div, SN), ".... Have had a busy few days here recovering from an incredible weekend. Jane and I had the very best time possible. A lot of walking and standing for my back, but I will live. We did go on Sunday to see the Nauticus Museum, and the battleship WISCONSIN (just awesome), so we didn't leave Portsmouth until almost 2:30. That was just amazing, my first visit to a battleship... The reunion was just perfect, too bad I missed so many of them. It was so much fun sitting and talking to all the great veterans, and their spouses. Jane and I want to thank you, and all of your staff for putting together a perfect weekend. The tours, the hospitality room, the dinner and, of course, the weather were just perfect. Job well done!!!"
(DPR: Appreciate your kind words Joe. And thanks for the great photos. Our members should check them out on the SIERRA website.)

    This from Barbara Hill, (Charles, 46-47, Canv, S1/c), This is to inform you that my husband, Charles "Chuck" Hill has has passed away on September 30, 2008. He had been in failing health for quite awhile and was the reason we weren't able to make the reunions, but he was so looking forward to the one in Branson next year thinking he might be able to since it was so close to us. Chuck was a Life Member as of this year (2008). May I continue getting the newsletter? I wish you and the Sierra Vets Assoc. the very best and may you continue to be the great group you are." (Thank you so much for your comments. You will continue receiving the newsletter.)


TAPS

Raymond Bennington Cliffwood Beach, NJ 58-60 R-4 SFP3 Died January 18, 2009
Lawrence Collingsworth Somerville, TX 45-49 M MM3 Passed on January 29, 2009
Leonard Dunston
(non-member)
  1951     Died June 11, 2008

 

Respectively Submitted By
Daniel P. Romando
Secretary

DUES $20 * NEWS * DUES $20 * NEWS * DUES $20 * NEWS * DUES $20 * NEWS * DUES $20 * NEWS * DUES $20 * NEWS

 

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