Send an email to the webmaster, to get items posted here.
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From: "Gay, Rickey J Mr CTR USA TRADOC" <[email protected]>
Date: December 22, 2008 10:46:31 AM EST
To: <[email protected]>Subject: "Pappy"
Sir—Just an update. I wish to thank all of the Renshaw family for their thoughts and prayers on behalf of dad’s family. Dad passed peacefully from Kidney failure. He had struggled some in the last days but was kept comfortable. He always had all of his shipmates in mind and cherished the camaraderie of all of you. Dad’s service was small and simple. He did receive full military honors as was his wish. Thanks to all for the beautiful flowers. Mom has received several notes and is appreciative of how all of you reach out to your shipmates and their families. I want to say thanks to all hoping each of you have a very Merry Christmas and Joyful New Year. I’m sorry we have lost or misplaced a lot of addresses and didn’t get cards in the mail but we are thinking of you all. Please stay in touch when you can.
With my deepest respect,Sincerely,
Rickey J. Gay
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From: Richie <[email protected]>
Date: October 31, 2008 12:40:49 PM EDT
To: [email protected]
Subject: USS RenshawHello. My name is Richie and my grandfather served on this ship. We found 2 pictures that were pencil drawings of the ship, with my grandfathers name on it. My grandfather passed away in May of 1985. I noticed you have a deceased member list. Could you please post his name. I am not sure when he served. Maybe you will have that information. Thank you. His name is
John Warren Arnold. Have a nice weekend.
Richie[Webmaster note: Shipmate John Warren Arnold is listed on the Muster List of the Crew dated 14 February 1943. His name has now been entered to our honored list of departed shipmates.]
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Note from Webmaster 27 October 2008
We received word this week that our shipmate and friend, J.C. "Pappy" Gay, has passed away. We don't have a lot of details as of today, but we will post additional info when we have it. "Pappy" was a Gunner's Mate on the Renshaw in the late 50's - early 60's time frame. Picture above is "Pappy" Gay, GM2, on the USS Renshaw. He attended a number of our reunions, especially in North and South Carolina. He will be missed and our sympathy goes out to the family.
Glenn Barbee
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From Webmaster - September, 2008
We have received correspondence from Loretta Parmer, sister-in-law of late shipmate Bill Wimberly. Bill was a torpedoman on the Renshaw. He passed away in 2003. Loretta had a Renshaw scrapbook which belonged to Bill and she wanted to pass it on to an appropriate permanent home. She has kindly sent the scrapbook to me to pass on to our historian, Don McCurry. The book contains some photos of Bill and the Renshaw, plus some other shots taken during his Navy career. I'm posting a few of the photos here and we will plan to have the scrapbook available for shipmates to view at the next reunion.
We are deeply grateful to Loretta for thinking of us and for providing this historical package to our group.
Glenn Barbee
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From: "Dick Wenzel" <[email protected]>
Date: September 8, 2008 10:54:23 AM EDT
To: "Glenn Barbee" <[email protected]>
Subject: REUNION, 2008PROVIDENCE, RI, A GREAT LOCATION FOR ANOTHER GREAT REUNION. ALTHOUGH ATTENDANCE FELL OFF, I'M SURE EVERYBODY HAD A TERRIFIC TIME. TO THE COMMITTEE, THANKS, FOR ANOTHER JOB WELL DONE!!
SHIPMATE, DICK WENZEL
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From: "Gay, Rickey J Mr CTR USA TRADOC" <[email protected]>
Date: August 11, 2008 4:08:11 PM EDT
To: "GBarbee" <[email protected]>, "JerryVandenberg" <[email protected]>Subject: J.C. "Pappy" Gay
Dad is critically ill and in the Memphis VA, 1032 Jefferson Ave., Memphis, TN 38104. He is in room 522 bed 1. He will be moved to a nursing home as soon as they can find a place for him. He is still lucid and knows that the inevitable is coming soon. Unfortunately, he can’t communicate and can’t take calls.
He wanted all you guys to know he is thinking about you and wishes each of you the very best.
I can be contacted at my office 0730-1630 CST at 913-684-8334.
If you can please pass this info on to as many of the shipmates as you can.
Thanks
Rickey J. Gay
“ Pappy’s” Son---------
From: [email protected]
Date: August 3, 2008 8:09:13 PM EDT
To: [email protected]
Subject: VariousI served onboard the Renshaw from August 1950 until February 1952 as Second Division Officer and Fire Contol Officer. I had hoped to make the upcoming reunion but am currently undergoing chemo so I don't know yet whether I can make it. In any event I came across the attached photo take during the Christmas season of 1950 while we were tied up alongside in Pearl. Thought I would share it with you.
Robert J. Schuster
Captain USN (ret)
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From: Donald Jacobson <[email protected]>
Date: June 2, 2008 7:44:32 PM EDT
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Website updateMy name is Don Jacobson and my father, Donald S. Jacobson, served aboard the Renshaw during the end of WWII (1945-1946). I believe he joined the crew after the torpedo hit and was aboard during decommissioning in SC in 1946. He died on August 7, 1986.
I visited your website a couple of years ago and returned tonight to find it much improved. Congratulations on a job well done.
I have attached two pictures: one of my dad (probably before he joined the crew) and one of the Renshaw and the Missouri when Truman reviewed the fleet.
I have his service record (but can't find it right now), some of his letters home while on board, another picture of the Renshaw reviewing the fleet (aerial shot which is also MIA), and a copy of the Life Magazine which featured Truman reviewing the fleet. As I locate things, I can scan them and send them on if you wish.
My father talked little of his time on board so I would be interested in hearing from anyone who was there with him.
My email is [email protected].
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From: <[email protected]>
Date: May 21, 2008 12:25:42 PM EDT
To: [email protected]
Subject: Fwd: USS RENSHAW off VIETNAM 1968Hi Glenn-
I received the attached photo of Renshaw off the Vietnam coast in 1968 from David Sutherland who was aboard HMAS Hobart. I thanked him for his kindness and would like to post it to the web site for all to see. I'll work on a glossy for the reunion.
Retirement has been busy and Jan and I are almost moved in. We have another flight back to NH in a couple of weeks to supervise the pick up of my antique car and remaining "stuff." The WX here in central Missouri has been beautiful and the garden is in!
Take care.
Don and JanFrom: "da.si.sutherland" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: USS RENSHAW off VIETNAM 1968
Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 08:00:00 +1000Don,
I have taken the liberty of forwarding the attached photo,
that I took, to you - my emails to the RENSHAW appeared to have bounced.
Perhaps you can pass it on to the RENSHAW site
or print it and display it at your Reunion in August.Best Wishes
David Sutherland
HMAS HOBART
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From: "john wevers" <[email protected]>
Date: May 20, 2008 6:07:09 AM EDT
To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
Subject: Paul ThorkelsenI am sorry to announce to everyone that my uncle Paul Thorkelsen who was on the WWII crew has passed away as of May 18th, 2008. He has been in poor health for just under a year and in December of 2007 moved back to Long Island to live with my family. He was very excited to learn of the 2008 reunion which is just a stone's throw across the Long Island sound from where we live.
He has regaled us with many stories of his time with his Renshaw family. Seemingly every event in life could be traced back to some experience while on the Renshaw. He talked often of his shipmates, his officiers and his twin 40's!
Sincerely,
Linda Wevers--------
From: "Sherrie Pellegrini" <[email protected]>
Date: April 18, 2008 1:43:00 PM EDT
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: Lou Pellegrini
Dear Renshaw Friends,
As some of you may have already heard, my father Lou Pellegrini passed away on Wednesday, April 16th. My Dad served aboard the Renshaw during World War II and was one of the men injured during the infamous torpedo attack, for which he received a Purple Heart. He was very proud of his time served aboard the Renshaw and cherished his time with his shipmates. He had made many friends over the years with other men who served aboard The Renshaw. My Mom and Dad always looked forward to their annual trip to the Renshaw reunions. My brother and sisters were so proud of his exploits and would always listen intently when he broke out with one of his famous war stories. Ten of us were lucky enough to have attended the last reunion in Las Vegas and had the time of our lives.
It was right after that trip that my Dad was diagnosed with stomach cancer. He remained his normal strong self during all the chemotherapy treatments and aside from losing a little hair, you wouldn’t have even known he was sick. He was brave and fought to the very end but his body just didn’t have the strength to recover from Wednesday’s surgery.
If you were lucky enough to have called him a friend, you probably are feeling the same intense sadness that I and my family are feeling right now. Just know that he absolutely adored his Renshaw friends and I personally would like to thank those of you who called him in the days leading up to his surgery. I happened to witness a couple of the calls and seeing my Dad’s face light up while on the phone gave me a lasting memory.
Please keep my family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
Sincerely,
Mark Pellegrini
----------From: [email protected]
Date: March 26, 2008 12:30:27 PM EDT
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Edmund ZielinskiGood afternoon Glenn. Carol Lee McDonough here and I hope this finds you and everyone who reads this, well and happy. I'm sure you all had a good time in Vegas but unfortunately for us, circumstances did not allow us to attend but we are looking forward to Rhode Island. Last Friday, I received an e-mail from [email protected] who is the son of Edmund Zielinski. Seems someone had pulled up the information from Bulletin Notes of the past, gave it to him and he came across my request re: info on Uncle Carol. Mike wrote me and I immediately wrote to this Edmund. On Monday, after the holiday, I received a call from him and we had a lovely 45 minute conversation regarding my uncle. He had many good things to say regarding Uncle Carol and made me feel very proud. I sure he kept the bad things, if there were any, to himself. He was very nice to talk to and made me laugh at some of the tales. I tried to talk him into the Rhode Island reunion but it seems he may not attend. This bulletin board is proving to be most helpful to shipmates getting in touch with one another.........keep up the wonderful work. Thanks for all you do
Sincerely, Carol Lee McDonough
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Webmaster Note
12 February 2008
We're sad to report that Captain Lodwick H. Alford (USN, Ret.) passed away on 19 December 2007. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. Capt. Alford was commanding officer of the Renshaw 1952-54. He attended several of our reunions and many of us got to know him through those meetings. He will be missed and our sympathy goes out to the family.
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From: "Dick Wenzel" <[email protected]>
Date: February 12, 2008 4:31:45 PM EST
To: "Glenn Barbee" <[email protected]>
Cc: "sheldon preville" <[email protected]>
Subject: BEVERIDGEHI GUYS - HOPE YOU AND YOURS ALL WELL, WE ARE STILL TAKING UP SPACE HERE IN S.C.! I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THERE ARE STILL RENSHAW MEN OUT THERE WAITING TO BE DISCOVERED- FRANK BEVEREDGE- WHO HAS JUST SURFACED. ALSO PAUL THORKELSON. THEY NEVER TELL TOO MUCH ABOUT THEMSELVES, LIKE ,WHERE THEY BEEN FOR 60 YEARS,OR HOW DID THEY ALL OF A SUDDEN FIND OUT ABOUT THE EXISTING RENSHAW DOINGS? I KNEW THORKELSON SLIGHTLY, HE WAS A SNIPE, AS WAS BEVERIDGE. I SPENT MOST OF MY WORKING TIMES, GQ,SPECIAL SEA DETAIL WATCHES ETC. ON OR NEAR THE BRIDGE, THESE GUYS MOSTLY WERE DOWN BELOW. REALLY, A MILLION MILES AWAY. AS FOR FRANK B. I CHECKED THE SHIPS ORIGINAL CREW ROSTER AND INDEED HE WAS A PLANK OWNER. I ALSO TOOK A LOOK AT THE PICTURE OF THE WWII GUYS AT REUNION 2007. DICK POST, A SHIPFITTER AND BILL HOGAN, SHIPS COOK ARE THE TWO MOST LIKELY TO REMEMBER BEVERIDGE. I RECOGNIZE HIM ONLY FROM HEARING HIS NAME BEING CALLED OVER THE SHIPS SPEAKER. I DID KNOW A NUMBER OF SNIPES QUITE WELL INC. A NUMBER OF WATER TENDERS. THE WEATHER HERE IN M.B. IS COOOOLD, I HATE IT, MAKES ME LONG FOR THOSE SUN DRENCHED DAYS IN THE SOLOMONS!!!
STAY WELL, SHIPMATE DICK.
NICE POEM SHELDON, BROUGHT TEARS
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From: "Jim Giddings" <[email protected]>
Date: February 11, 2008 10:19:35 AM EST
To: "Barbee, Glenn" <[email protected]>
Subject: New ship mate to our listI received a call from Frank Beveridge today. His service dates were March 1942 to November 1945. He was a "Water Tender second Class" (WT2). He is 85 years old and plans to attend the reunion in Providence. Maybe some of the world war II guys will remember him.
Would you please add him to our crew list.
Thanks
Jim Giddings[Webmaster note: Frank does not have a computer. Contact me for his telephone number and address.]
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5 Feb 2008
Shipmate Sheldon Preville sent us a copy of this back before our Las Vegas Reunion. He just reminded the webmaster that it had not yet been posted. We'll take care of that right now. This piece is called "I was a sailor once," and you can find it on many ship websites. I've seen it attributed to various senior officers, but most often it is simply posted as "Author Unknown." That is what we will use here. Thanks Sheldon for sending it and for keeping me straight on getting it posted.
I liked standing on the bridge wing at sunrise with salt spray in my face and clean ocean winds whipping in from the four quarters of the globe - - the destroyer beneath me feeling like a living thing as her engines drove her swiftly through the sea.
I liked the sounds of the Navy - the piercing trill of the boatswain's pipe, the syncopated clangor of the ship's bell on the quarterdeck, the harsh squawk of the 1MC, and the strong language and laughter of sailors at work.
I liked Navy vessels - nervous darting destroyers, plodding fleet auxiliaries and amphibs, sleek submarines and steady solid aircraft carriers.
I liked the proud names of Navy ships: Midway, Lexington, Saratoga, Shangri-La, Coral Sea, Antietam, Valley Forge - - memorials of great battles won and tribulations overcome.
I liked the lean angular names of Navy "tin-cans" and escorts - - Adams, Barney, Dahlgren, Mullinix, McCloy, Damato, Leftwich, Mills - - mementos of heroes who went before us. And the others - - San Jose, San Diego, Los Angeles, St. Paul, Chicago - - named for our cities.
I liked the tempo of a Navy band blaring through the topside speakers as we pulled away from the oiler after refueling at sea.
I liked liberty call and the spicy scent of a foreign port.
I even liked the never ending paperwork and all hands working parties as my ship filled herself with the multitude of supplies, both mundane and to cut ties to the land and carry out her mission anywhere on the globe where there was water to float her.
I liked sailors, officers and enlisted men from all parts of the land, farms of the Midwest, small towns of New England, from the cities, the mountains and the prairies, from all walks of life. I trusted and depended on them as they trusted and depended on me - for professional competence, for comradeship, for strength and courage. In a word, they were "shipmates"; then and forever.
I liked the surge of adventure in my heart, when the word was passed: "Now set the special sea and anchor detail - all hands to quarters for leaving port," and I liked the infectious thrill of sighting home again, with the waving hands of welcome from family and friends waiting pierside. The work was hard and dangerous; the going rough at times; the parting from loved ones painful, but the companionship of robust Navy laughter, the "all for one and one for all" philosophy of the sea was ever present.
I liked the serenity of the sea after a day of hard ship's work, as flying fish flitted across the wave tops and sunset gave way to night.
I liked the feel of the Navy in darkness - the masthead and range lights, the red and green navigation lights and stern light, the pulsating phosphorescence of radar repeaters - they cut through the dusk and joined with the mirror of stars overhead. And I liked drifting off to sleep lulled by the myriad noises large and small that told me that my ship was alive and well, and that my shipmates on watch would keep me safe.
I liked quiet mid-watches with the aroma of strong coffee - the lifeblood of the Navy permeating everywhere.
And I liked hectic watches when the exacting minuet of haze-gray shapes racing at flank speed kept all hands on a razor edge of alertness.
I liked the sudden electricity of "General quarters, general quarters, all hands man your battle stations," followed by the hurried clamor of running feet on ladders and the resounding thump of watertight doors as the ship transformed herself in a few brief seconds from a peaceful workplace to a weapon of war -- ready for anything.
And I liked the sight of space-age equipment manned by youngsters clad in dungarees and sound-powered phones that their grandfathers would still recognize.
I liked the traditions of the Navy and the men and women who made them.
I liked the proud names of Navy heroes: Halsey, Nimitz, Perry, Farragut, John Paul Jones and Burke. A sailor could find much in the Navy: comrades-in-arms, pride in self and country, mastery of the seaman's trade. An adolescent could find adulthood.
In years to come, when sailors are home from the sea, they will still remember with fondness and respect the ocean in all its moods ñ the impossible shimmering mirror calm and the storm-tossed green water surging over the bow. And then there will come again a faint whiff of stack gas, a faint echo of engine and rudder orders, a vision of the bright bunting of signal flags snapping at the yardarm, a refrain of hearty laughter in the wardroom and chief's quarters and mess decks.
Gone ashore for good they will grow wistful about their Navy days, when the seas belonged to them and a new port of call was ever over the horizon.
Remembering this, they will stand taller and say, "I WAS A SAILOR ONCE."
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From: P J Thorkelsen <[email protected]>
Date: January 22, 2008 9:02:48 AM EST
To: [email protected]
Subject: RenshawHi Glenn - My name is Paul Thorkelsen. I was on the Renshaw 42 - 45. Can you add me to your list? I am currently living with my niece and her family here in Riverhead, NY on Long Island.
You do a great job with the website. Thanks again - Paul
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From: [email protected]
Date: January 5, 2008 10:31:09 PM EST
To: [email protected]
Subject: please add my nameHi Glen,
My name is Victor M. Davila Jr. and I served on the USS Renshaw from Jan. 1968 to Sept. of 1969. Today I found your web page and I was very happy to see some of my shipmates names on the email list, I even send an email already to one of my shipmates.
I would like to know where Roy Meyer BM3, Roth BM3, Jim McDaniels from New York, Geno Esposito from New Jersey, Bruce Shwarts from New York it would be great to add my name to the list and keep me informed of their reunions.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Happy New Year
Victor M Davila jr.-------
To all Renshaw shipmates:
Happy New Year 2008. With this, we start our info notes file for the new year. Let us hear from you. We don't have means for you to post your note here directly, so just send it to me in an email and I'll put it up.
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