Pictures contributed by Harry Ishmael, BT3 - 1971-74

#1 Smoking black as usual	ACU2

USS Arizona is deteriorating.

"Collapse is inevitable but by all indications, it is not imminent. It could be decades," said Matthew Russell, an underwater archaeologist who is heading the six-member team.

Preliminary data indicates the ship suffered more damage when it was bombed than was previously thought. But despite the damage, the wreckage is holding up well and corrosion is slower than expected, he said.

The team's findings will give officials of the National Park Service, which operates the memorial, the information they need "to make decisions about when and if to intervene in the Arizona's natural deterioration," Russell said.

The surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and other military bases on Oahu lasted two hours. Twenty-one ships were sunk or heavily damaged, and 320 aircraft were damaged or destroyed. In all, 2,390 people were killed and 1,178 wounded.

Russell said the fact the battleship is a war grave is never far from the divers' minds.

"The galley area is in the midship. There are bowls, a cooking pot. The leather sole of someone's boot. It isn't easy to look at those things," Russell said. "It's not like any other place on earth. It's sacred."

US Navy submarine after hitting Japanese fishing vessel Photo contributed by Harry T. Andersen, BTC

  ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD, AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM. 

       In 2003 as Hurricane Isabelle was approaching   Washington,  DC, our US Senate/House took 2 days off with anticipation of the storm. On the ABC evening news, it was  reported that because of the dangers from the hurricane, the military  members assigned the duty of guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier were given permission to suspend the assignment. They respectfully declined the offer, "No way, Sir!"  Soaked to the skin, marching in the pelting  rain of a tropical storm, they said that guarding the Tomb was not just an assignment, it was the highest honor that can be afforded to a serviceperson. The tomb has been patrolled continuously, 24/7, since 1930.

Shipmates Who Live in the State of
Arkansas

LSD's Currently Still in Service
USS Tortuga (LSD46)

USS TORTUGA is the sixth Dock Landing Ship in the WHIDBEY ISLAND class and the third ship in that class built by Avondale in New Orleans.

Atlantic Ocean (Nov. 3, 2005) – The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), foreground, sails alongside the Military Sealift Command (MSC) fast combat support ship USNS Artic (T-AOE 8) as it conducts an underway replenishment with USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Truman and Eisenhower are currently underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting ammunition offloads and underway replenishments. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Kristopher Wilson

Source:  All Hands January 1958

Located this Pay Chart in All Hands, March 1955.  Does bring back old memories.

USS Plymouth Rock Photos

Photo Contributed by Ron Bonacci, MM2	Photo Contributed by James Ziemba, HM2
Photo Contributed by Gerald Holden, YN2

HOW TO SIMULATE SHIPBOARD LIFE:   SUGGESTIONS FOR THE EX-SAILOR WHO MISSES THE GOOD OLD DAYS

1.  While showering, turn off water while soaping
2.  Put lube oil in your humidifier, and turn it on high.
3.  On TV watch only old movies in the middle of the night, have your family vote on the movie to watch, then show a different one.
4.  (mandatory for Snipes)  Leave the lawnmower running in the living room for 24 hours.
5.  Have the paperboy give you a haircut.
6.  Once a week, blow compressed air up your chimney, watch the soot land on your neighbors car, laugh when he curses you.
7.  Wake up at midnight, have peanut butter on stale bread.
8.  Make up your family menu a month in advance without regard for the inventory of food on hand.
9.  Use 17 scoops of coffee for 8 cups of water, let it sit for 6 hours with the grounds still in the pot, then drink it.
10.  Invite at least 85 people you don't like to stay for two months.
11.  Install a fluorescent light under your coffee table, then lie under it and read a book.
12.  When baking a cake, prop up one end of the pan, then level it out with icing.
                Contributed by Harry T. Andersen, BTC

2006 (6th) Reunion of the USS Plymouth Rock Association

The 2006 reunion will be held at Foxwoods Resort Casino,  Mashantucket, CT, on September 27-October 1, 2006.  Reunion Chairman for this event are:  (all questions regarding the reunion should be addressed to either George or Shorty). 

We apologize for the change from Mohegan Sun to Foxwoods, as a result of reservation difficulties.  I am sure that Foxwoods will live up to your expectations.     

    As you approach and catch that first glimpse of Foxwoods' towers rising majestically from the Connecticut woods, you know immediately that you are entering a very special place. It is a world far from daily cares, yet getting here is surprisingly easy.
    Once Foxwoods has dazzled you with its many gaming, dining, and entertainment pleasures, you may appreciate a chance to relax. Here you can unwind on the back nine, bask in a Jacuzzi, or retire to your luxuriously appointed room for a quiet moment to admire the breathtaking views of our beautiful Connecticut woods.
    Accommodations at the resort total more than 1,400 guest rooms and suites.  Stay at the AAA Four Diamond Grand Pequot Tower, the Great Cedar Hotel, or the Two Trees Inn. And of course, Foxwoods offers first-class shopping on premises to satisfy your needs.  The Grand Pequot is truly the jewel in Foxwoods' crown. From its breathtaking lobby and the spectacular Stargazer Bar to more than 800 amenity-rich rooms and suites, the Grand Pequot Tower is a wonder to behold. Enjoy the convenience of complimentary valet parking, 24-hour room service, and access to a comprehensive business center. Treat yourself to a relaxing session in the Grand Salon & Spa, world-class shopping, and the ultimate in gourmet and casual dining.
    Don't miss a chance to refresh at our Grand Spa and Salon, which offers diverse beauty treatments and exercise facilities, or simply lounge about our spacious indoor pools, one at each hotel. If you prefer outdoor exercise, consider hitting the links at Foxwoods Golf and Country Club, a championship course located just minutes away.

To access the Foxwood Resorts website click here.

Printable Registration Form  (file is in .PDF format)

Navy Trivia

Forecastle
    1) The appropriate pronunciation for this word is "fo'ksul". The forecastle is the forward part of the main deck. It derives its name from the days of Viking galleys when wooden castles were built on the forward and after parts the main deck from which archers and other fighting men could shoot arrows and throw spears, rocks, etc.
    2) English in origin.   From "Fore-Castle".  In the very early days of sail, warships actually had castle-like structures fore and aft for combat
Hashmarks
   Chevrons or stripes worn on the sleeve to signify years of service.  In the Navy, each stipe signifies 4 years.
Irish Pennant
    1) Any dangling or loose thread on a uniform, or lines left adrift or dangling from the upper works or rigging of the ship.
    2)  "Irish pennants" &  "Dutch pennants" are both 'untidy ropes hanging from aloft', according to Granville's Dictionary of Sailor's Slang.