Welcome to the USS Plymouth Rock Newsletter

Fifteenth  Edition:  The USS Plymouth Rock Newsletter is a publication issued every four months by the USS Plymouth Rock Ships Association.  If you would like to contribute an article, a piece of Navy or Plymouth Rock history, photo, memory or anything that might be of interest to you or other shipmates, you can sent it as an e-mail to:

Bill Provencal, Association  Secretary at:
billinp@metrocast.net

or regular mail at:
Bill Provencal
37 South Main Street
Pittsfield, NH   03263

If you change address or e-mail address be sure to let me (Bill Provencal) know so we can update our Crews List.   My e-mail is billinp@metrocast.net  Our ships website is found at www.ussplymouthrock.com

DECEASED LIST
If anyone knows of a former shipmate that should be included on this list, or on the Memorial Page in the website, please contact Bill Provencal, 37 South Main Street, Pittsfield, NH 03263 or via e-mail to:  billinp@metrocast.net

Contributed by Bob Dollins,QM2,  USS Barnstable County LST-1197

Thank You's

We would like to thank the following shipmates/friends for providing pictures, information and articles to the website, the Ships Association and newsletter.

Paid Association Members for 2004-2006
As of December 16, 2006 we now have 156 paid members

2007-2008 Dues

Paul Mohawk reports that the 2007-2008 dues are now due and a letter has been sent out reminding current shipmates.  The response to the dues letter has been great and we have received dues from many of you out there.  Thank you for helping your Ships Association continue to provide you with this Newsletter, a Website, and general costs in running the Association.

For decades after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, survivors returned to retell their stories and recite their mantra: "Remember Pearl Harbor."

Now the people who survived the surprise attack that killed more than 2,400 people and led to America's entry into World War II are in their 80s or older. Dying or too frail to travel, they say this week's reunion will be their last official gathering at the sacred site.

Great Sea Story

The Navy used to require officers to foot their total moving expenses out of pocket and file for reimbursement at their new duty station and they might be reimbursed several months later.  In August of 1870, LCDR J. P. Fyffe had orders to be CO of a frigate out of San Francisco.  His current duty station was in New London, Connecticut.  He did not think it right that his moving expenses should be out of pocket.

The following is what happened. LCDR Fyffe sent a message to the Secretary of the Navy requesting that the Navy either lay out the money or supply him with railroad tickets or transportation via naval vessel.

The reply came from the Chief of Bureau of Navigation:

To:  Lieutenant Commander J. P. Fyffe
In reply to your letter of the 18th:  Your request is contrary to Navy regulations.  Carry out your orders.

The orders also stated:  While carrying out these orders,  you will keep the Bureau informed of your whereabouts.  There was nothing which stated when he was supposed to arrive in San Francisco or by what means.

LCDR Fyffe donned his best uniform and strapped his sword to his small travel kit.  At sunrise on the 25th, he walked out of New London and headed westward for San Francisco. By sundown he reached East Haddam where he sent the following telegram to the Chief:

25 August - Compliance orders number 1998.  LCDR Fyffe en route New London to San Franciscon on foot.  This telegram to keep Bureau informed my whereabouts.  Made good 22 miles this date.  Spending evening in hayloft in Mount Parnassus.  Very respectfully, Fyffe.

Every evening for the next few days he sent a telegram.

26 August - En route on foot.  Made good 31 miles this date.  By gracious consent, Mayor of Bristol, am spending night Mayor's stables.  Have noticed he has hybrid mules specially bred for tropics.  Suggest Navy investigate.

27 August - En route on foot.  Made good only 1 1/2 miles this date. Rained all day.  Staying overnight at Litchfield with my father's friend, General Holmes. I find standard boot worn by naval officer inadequate for prolonged walking. Suggest Surgeon General investigate.

28 August - Spending night Lakeville.  Lovely country.  Expect to buy home here as soon as I get reimbursed travel voucher submitted by me to Navy three years ago.  Tomorrow I enter New York State.

29 August - En route on foot.  Made 28 miles this date despite badly worn boots.  People not familiar Navy uniforms this area.  Great crowd walked part way with me.  I sang them sea chanties.  Populace thinks it a great sign of democracy for commanding officer of his ship to walk 3000 miles to new station.  Police Chief, Hudson, New York has given me best cell in jail for overnight.

30 August - Enroute on foot. Arrived Albany.  Request Recruiting Officer be authorized issue me new shoes.  Boots fell apart noon today.  Entered Albany barefooted.  Will remain Seward Hotel two days awaiting answer.  Earning my keep as bartender.  Local rum far superior than that served in Navy.  Am sending sample.  Very respectfully, Fyffe.

31 August - Fyffe received the following message:

I strike my colors.  Secretary of the Navy authorized Recruiting Officer, Albany issue you boots and provide quickest transportation from Albany to San Francisco.  Even Chief of Bureau Navigation can laugh when outsmarted!

Contributed by Pete Gregory, ET3

The First Reunion!

Do you remember the first USS Plymouth Rock reunion?  It was held in Great Lakes, Illinois on September 25, 26 and 27, 1996.  This reunion was organized by Harry Andersen, BTC .  Activities  on the 26th included a guided bus tour to Chicago, a visit to the Sears Tower, a mini cruise of 1 ½ hours on Lake Michigan and a visit to remodeled "Old Navy Pier" on Lake Michigan.  On the 27th a trip was arranged to the Great Lakes Recruit Training Command to a Recruit Graduation Ceremony.  A final Banquet was held at the "Port-O-Call"  Here the Plans were made to start the tradition of reunions every two years.

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First Reunion Group Picture, September 27, 1996

Since that time we have had five additional reunions and are now beginning plans for our 2008 reunion to be held in St. Louis, MO.  Now is the time to begin making your plans for attending this reunion. 

BTC Harry Andersen making a point to BM3 Shorty Cyr

USS Plymouth Rock Ships Association Reunion 2006

Well our 6th reunion has come and gone and with it are the great memories of seeing old shipmates.  We had 26 shipmates  along with many wives attending this reunion at Mystic. CT.  Although this was one of the lower attended reunions, I believe all who attended had a good time participating in the events planned for us by Coordinator, Shorty Cyr. 

    At our Business Meeting, it was voted to retain all present officers for the years 2007-2008. 
    It was also voted to have the reunion in St. Louis, MO during the fall of 2008.  We will have more information on St. Louis as time passes.  The reunion coordinators for this reunion are Rich Mathis, who did a great job for us at the Branson, MO reunion and David Dortch.  Rich can be reached at rmathis98@yahoo.com and Dave can be reached at tazrhondave@yahoo.com .  Rich wanted me to ask if there is something that you  would like to see or do in St. Louis, to be sure and let him or Dave know.   No firm date has been set for the reunion, will keep you informed when more information becomes available. 
    It was also voted at the Business Meeting to increase dues, the increase not to take effect until 2008.

Ships Historian, Harry Andersen has requested that if anyone would like to donate pictures from the reunion for the scrapbook, he would like to receive them. 

During our four days at Mystic, we toured Torrington Vineyards, visited Olde Mystic Seaport, Mystic Aquarium, visited the US Coast Guard Academy and the submarine museum at New London Submarine Base. 

The vines at Torrington Vineyards	Wine tasting at Torrington Vineyards
A three master at Olde Mystic Seaport	Japanese Mini Sub, New London Sub Base
James Freeman, Shorty Cyr and Roger Lamay	Guest Speaker at Reunion

An Amphibious Assault Vessel prepares to enter the well deck of the Amphibious Assault Ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD7) during training in the Atlantic Ocean

Photo by AN Andrew Winkler
All Hands, October 2006

Navy Trivia

Midrats
    Food served at midnight for ongoing watchstanders, although the oncoming watch section commonly does not get up early enough to partake. Offgoing section gets the remnants, if any. Usually a combination of leftovers, plus something new to round out the service

Monkey Fist
    1) The complex knot surrounding (sometimes taking the place of) the weight on the end of a heaving line.

    2) A rounded knob at the end of a light throwing line which the Boatswain's Mates (or other linehandlers) would use to heave the first line across to another ship or pier. The Monkey's Fist had a lead weight in the center to give it extra momentum when the bosun's mate aimed it at some unwary seaman in the target area.

Pea Coat
    1) Sailors who have to endure pea-soup weather often don their pea coats, but the coat's name isn't derived from the weather. The heavy topcoat worn in cold, miserable weather by seafaring men was once tailored from pilot cloth — a heavy, course, stout kind of twilled blue cloth with the nap on one side. The cloth was sometimes called P-cloth for the initial letter of "pilot" and the garment made from it was called a p-jacket — later, a pea coat. The term has been used since 1723 to denote coats made from that cloth.

    2) The word peacoat (the usual form, though pea coat is also common) refers to a short double-breasted coat made of heavy, coarse wool, that was originally worn by sailors. The word is a classic example of a folk etymology.
    The original form was pea jacket, referring to the same garment. In both cases, the word pea does not represent our pea 'round green edible legume'. Rather it is ultimately from a Dutch or Frisian word that referred to a type of coarse cloth. A pea jacket was just a jacket made of pea.
    In English, pea, found in various spellings, is recorded as far back as the fifteenth century and in compounds in the fourteenth. Its ultimate history is obscure. It is unclear whether pea jacket is an English coinage based on pea and jacket, or if it is a borrowing of a Dutch or Frisian word such as pijekkat in the same sense. But the modern spelling with pea, and the general belief that it has something to do with the legume, is what gives it its folk etymological flavor.
    Pea jacket is first recorded in the early eighteenth century; peacoat in the late eighteenth.

Ships Store Items

The following items are offered for sale through the Ships Store.  All orders are handled through Shorty Cyr, 119 Pinecrest Drive, Waterbury, CT   06708, Phone #203-753-6220, e-mail at:  shortybm3@yahoo.com  All orders must be accompanied by a check.  Checks must be made out to the USS Plymouth Rock Association.

Plymouth Rock Mug.  Price is $8.00 + $4.80 shipping and handling.
Bumper Stickers.  Price is $2.00 + $.40 shipping and handling.
Ships Patch.  Price is $8.00 + $.75 shipping and handling.
Plymouth Rock Cap.  Price is $8.00 + $.75 shipping and handling.
Personalized Commemorative Plaques.  Price is dependent on size, 7x9 is $15.00 + $5.00 shipping, 8 x 10 is $20.00 + $5.00 shipping.

The Navy's  new littoral combat ship PCU Freedom (LCS1) makes a spectacular side launch during her christening.  Displacing 3,300 tons and with a capability of speeds of more than 40 knots, Freedom is designed with operational flexibility to execute focused missions such as mine warfare, anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare and humanitarian relief.  Source:  All Hands, December 2006