Jan. 2005-1

U.S.S. LOWNDES - APA 154

January 2005 Newsletter

Wm. “Bud” Kautz- CCBW, 34782 Hiawatha Trail, McHenry, IL 60051 - (815)344-6326

e mail REDLABELBUDDHA@ aol. Com

Mark your calendars for the 2005 reunion to be held in the Chicago area

September 15 thru September 18, 2005

At the Hilton Garden Hotel Inn Oakbrook Terrace

In ** Oakbrook, Illinois.

See enclosed hotel brochure

and reservation sheet for prices and

information regarding reservation deadline.

Rate is $79.00 for 3 days before and 3 days after

Be sure to mention USS Lowndes Reunion.

Check in: 3:00 PM Check out: 12:00 PM

Covered parking available

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The following shipmates, spouses & guest were in attendance at the reunion in

Branson, Missouri

David, Odess & Jeremy Brinkman

Max Cole

Louis & Pama Danek *

Mary & Mark Gebhart

John & Marilyn Hess

Jeffrey & Cindy Hess *

Don Henderson *

Mike & Pam Hennessey

Alonzo & Oniece Hodgson

Bud & Jean Kautz

Ed. King & Lavada Boyer

David & Susan LaBay *

* 1^st timers

Jesse & Brett LaBay *

David & Joanne Long

Jim & Debby Meehan

Don & Shirley Lorenzi

Leo & Margaret O’Brien

Warren & Albena Proctor

Arthur & Marjorie Rauseo

Earl & Frances Robertson

Dallas & Lorene Stratton

Bill & Amelia Taylor

Jan & Perry Trober

John Vemale

Put your thinking caps on, Jan is considering having another Lowndes "Giveaway” after the

banquet. Please help her with items for the event. A schedule of activities will be sent as soon as it is

available. There will be many attractions to visit. There will be a complimentary shuttle within 5 miles.

Illinois was organized as a territory Feb. 3,1808 and admitted to the union Dec. 3, 1808 as the

21st state. Nicknamed the Prairie State. Known as the Lincoln state though Abe Lincoln was born in

Kentucky and became the sixteenth president of the United States. Many notables were natives of

Illinois, Jack Benny, Black Hawk, Edgar Rice Bourroughs, Walt Disney, Benny Goodman and Ernest

Hemmingway to mention a few. Many attractions include the Art Institute, Field Museum, Museum of

Science and Industry and the Mellennium Park.

“Oakbrook is a suburb of Chicago that is the home for the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago

Bears. Yes, I know, we didn't do so well in 2004 but we still have hopes.

Jan. 2005-2

E.& F. Robertson

The year 2004 has fast come to an end.

Where did the time go? Time flies when you’re

having fun, shopping, doctors and

pharmacies—like we need that kind of fun. In

April we went to Oklahoma City for the USS

Oklahoma ship reunion. Earl was stationed at

Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 assigned to that

ship. Luckily, luckily he had a broken wrist and

was in the hospital on that fateful day. He

witnessed much of the bombing of the harbor

that day. His records, of course went down with

the ship which was capsized. His name is

listed as missing in action on at least one

memorial, but correctly on other memorials.

Jan and Perry chauffeured and we plan to

return in ’05 to visit places we missed. In June

we went to Earl’s 50^th yr. alumni reunion. Very

few of his class were there. Attending the

Lowndes reunion in Branson we toured the

campus of the College of the Ozarks, a

gigantic marvelous place where the students

pay no tuition but work so many hours to keep

the school going. No city smog to mar the

church or other buildings. It was great being in

Branson and hoping to make the next one in

Chicago. Had a lot of car trouble coming home

and thanks to Mary and Mark for receiving our

call for help. A kind person used his cell phone

to call Mary. Had the car towed back to

Springfield, MO for repairs. It was in the shop

twice, but we finally made it home. Such is the

saga of the Robertson’s. (See May 2002-8)

for more on Earl.

Ed note: I’m familiar with Spring field. In

1941 5 of us fellows reached that city only to

have a rear spring on my ’36 Olds break. Lucky

tho, found a junk yard that only had a ’34 Olds

spring. Bought it, (3/4” short). Months later the

other one snapped so I replaced it with another

’34, kinda evened it out.

Lois Chappell

Just a few lines to tell you how much we

missed the reunions and all the fun we had.

Howard is doing so much better with new

medication and seems to be content there in

the nursing home. His health has stabilized. I

read the letters to him when we receive them.

Our son Don has been in contact with David

Brinkman via the computer. He found the web

site for the Lowndes and is so excited, he

spends hours reading about it and has down

loaded many pages, pictures and info for

Howard. David sent a Lowndes history

calendar. Howard has me read from it and he

remembers many details about it. Enclosed

dues and look forward to hearing from all of

you.

Just in case you slide over the roster

list here is Howard’s address: 34065 Route 18,

Wampum, PA. Take a few minutes to bring him

up to date re your activities.

Marty Fife

My mother, June Zinkgraf enjoys the

U.S.S. Lowndes newsletters. Please continue

to include her in your mailings. She instructed

me to enclose a check for the dues. I hope it

helps. New address is: 5500 W. 9^th #105,

Amarillo, TX 79106.

Yes, Marty, with the ever increasing cost

of printing and postage it will help. Thank you.

Leo O’Brien

Now that the World's Series and

playoffs have ended I have no excuse but to

write. First off we were happy with the results

and the Red Sox Nation is relieved of the

“Curse.” Margaret and I enjoyed Branson very

much all of the shows were excellent. We were

both impressed with the College of the Ozarks

and the fact that the students did not pay

tuition but worked their way through. The

Museum on campus had something of every

phase of life, very impressive. And the

Veteran’s Museum with those 50 life size

bronze soldiers marching was breath taking.

With all there was to see and do we still missed

our friends, Clark and Dottie and the Richard

brothers and of course, Howard and Louis

Chappell. We also missed Margaret McGrody

and were sorry to hear of the loss of Jim

Chilcote, her brother-in-law. David Brinkman

outdid himself with videos and tapes of the

U.S.S. Bayfield.

Jan.2005-3

Shirley Wetzell

Leo O’Brien (cont’d)

My brother-in-law was with the Marines at

Korea and was transported there aboard the

U.S.S. Bayfield. I have yet to show that

segment of the tape to him. ** Max Cole gave

us a little excitement along with his friend, Don.

We have since heard that they are well and

have returned safely to New York. Mary and

Jan did a marvelous job; the hotel

accommodations were excellent with the

restaurants and pubs on the premises plus the

veteran’s memorabilia and pictures down stair.

As usual we enjoyed the banquet and give

away. Thanks to their husbands, Mark and

Perry, the men behind two nice women.

Thanks to John Vernale, we had an

experienced chauffer to get to the shows and

to Springfield. He also arranged to make

reservations to the Shoji Tabuchi violin show,

which was an extremely enjoyable show, with

the polytechnic displays and fine music. John

was able to change his flight and as a result

got home a few hours early. Getting through

the winter and look forward to the reunion

in Chicago in ’05.

**Ed. Note: I phoned Max Oct. 7^th. He

sounded very upbeat, reported he stayed in the

hospital until Oct. 5^th when he and his

companion, Don, finally flew back to New York.

On the way to Branson he spent 2-3 days in

Springfield visiting a college classmate, who

was on Corregidor and captured and spent 3

years in a concentration camp. Dropped from

200 lbs. to 90 lbs. He related many horror

stories while a prisoner. Max’s last words to

me, “See you next year.”

Larry Holderman

My father, J. Charles Holderman was a

mailman on the U.S.S. Lowndes. I would like to

know if anyone on the ship might have some

pictures of my father that could be e mailed to

Me - larryholderman@our-town.com

Chuck Rodger

My grandpa, L. B. Rodgers served on the

USS Lowndes, 1944-1945, we both would love

to receive the newsletters.

Just wanted to let you know that my

parents, Sterling L. and Velma Hornsby,

celebrated their 60^th wedding anniversary on

Oct. 7, 2004. They were married in Long

Beach while the Lowndes was moored there.

Billy Biggers, my father’s good friend was the

best man. Because they didn’t have a real

wedding ceremony we gave them a big party,

complete with a wedding cake. I finally found

the answer to the whereabouts on Billy

Biggers. When I found out his middle name

was -Wilson- I checked the Social Security

Death Index. Billy died in Alabama on May 29,

1997.

Ed. Note: The above party noted by

Shirley was exactly the same thing that

occurred for Jean and me in Feb. 1994. Our

kids did the same for us for our 50^th.

Nancy Gatewood

I have procrastinated enough. Please

accept my donation to help with cost of mailing.

I really enjoy reading all the news. The

“Lowndes” has a neat web-site. I really enjoy it.

Our sons (4) have reached the age where they

are interested in the history of World War II.

Our younger son, Todd has been in contact

with some of you, Jack and I married in 1946

after the Lowndes decommissioning. Like lots

of the service men we had to get jobs and

struggle for years. So busy - and Jack never

lived near any of his service friends and never

talked about it. I know there has been a lot of

work put into the web-sites. Keep up the good

work, it is wonderful! Jack still works. We have

been blessed with good health. Five years ago

Todd set me up to take a class for Dummies (I

did) It’s great. Being a sewer I now have

sewing, embroidering machines all connected

to the computer. Never too old to learn.

Ed. Note: And I thought I was doing fine

just learning how to turn the damn thing on and

off.

It takes 600 grapes to make 1 bottle of

wine.

Jan. 2005-4

Thomas Baker

I was on board the Lowndes when it was

commissioned, I made warrant while on board

and did not leave until after Iwo Jima and

Okinawa.

David Brinkman

Odess and I are building a new home. It’s

on the main river going into Columbia, SC

about 1 mile from downtown on a location

where Sherman crossed the Broad River on

the way to burning Columbia, it turns out that

this lot was a dump during the civil war and we

had to clear out tons of old bricks and wood

before excavation could begin. The

neighboring homes were 160 and 150 Castle

Road. The county investigated and informed us

that the correct address of our lot would really

be “Postal Address 154” or “PA 154” Castle

Road. Now is that a coincidence or what??

Ed. David will inform us when the new

address will take effect. Couldn’t happen to a

nicer family.

W. & J. Richards

All was going well until August when Wally

developed a superficial thrombo-phlebitis in his

lower left leg in July. Dr. prescribed antibiotics

and bextra for 2 weeks and warm moist packs.

Shortly after he was diagnosed with a bladder

infection, so again a round of antibiotics. We

thought he had this under control so we went

to Madison, Wl for his army reunion. On the

second day he ran a fever and felt lousy, went

to Emergi-care where he was told he had

prostaitis. A week later he had surgery. Jackie

is good and back to work. Wally’s Mother was

104 October 29^th. We believe she will outlive all

of us.

Ed. You two take care so we can see you

Bill Taylor

It was good to see all at the reunion in

Branson. Amelia and I enjoyed the reunion in

Branson. Amelia and I enjoyed the reunion

activities and we certainly appreciated all the

work Mary Gebhart and Jan Trober did to

make it a successful and fun filled event. The

tour of the College of the Ozarks mill a^nd

Ralph Foster Museum was great. It certainly

gives one an appreciation for the many

advances that have been made in our lifetime-

We enjoyed the Jim Stafford show very much.

All activities were good and everything was

well planned. Thanks to Earl and Frances for

having two great daughters.

Ed. Note: Bill sent several newspaper

articles regarding the closing of the

Indianapolis Athletic Club. We had our

fourteenth reunion at this club in 2002 hosted

by Walt and Jackie Umbarger assisted very

ably by Marty and Rowana.

D. & S. Lorenzi

As we have become accustomed to, the

reunion went well, the Saturday dinner felt like

Xmas with all those gifts. Again, many thanks

to the young girls for all their efforts to make us

old geezers feel important. After Branson

Shirley and I spent 4 days in Chicago and 4

days visiting relatives near Pittsburg, PA.

Overall we traveled thru 10 states and drove

4800 miles. Not bad for someone who is about

to celebrate his 80^th birthday. Thanks, Bud, for

the effort over the years to keep the APA 154

memory alive.

Art Wilson

I was a member of the amphibious group and

on boat #9. I still think of my buddy, Harley

Hughes as you recall he was in the beach

party. We became close friends. As I wrote

before he left his shipmates July 20, 2000. Will

try to e mail more often as the old pump is

doing better after 5 bypasses and 60% still

going. Hope all have a good 2005.

David Brinkman has created two web sites

that will make interesting reading:

http://www. usslowndes.net/Lowndes/decklog/dindex htm

http./www. usslowndes. net/Lowndes/wardiary

Jan. 2005-5

E. Max Cole

Want to set down my adventures of last

October at the Lowndes reunion. It was great

to arrive in Springfield and Branson—

Springfield being my home town. It would take

a couple of police dogs to find any friends or

relatives in the area these days. I did contact

Pat Turner, the mother of the movie star

Kathleen Turner and we visited an old college

buddy of mine in a rest home. I can remember

when he didn’t rest so much. My friend Don

Henderson acted as my driver and aid. All the

sea dogs at the pizza party will remember him.

Happy I got to visit the Ralph Foster Museum,

noting how much it has grown. My sister

worked for Ralph Foster for 30 years. Also saw

the first nights theater event. Next day I was

taken with the ailment that sent me to the

Branson hospital. It had to do with prostate and

heart. It sure slowed me down. Then Don fell

on his face in front of the hotel. Had 2 black

eyes, looking like a 2^nd-rate boxer who lost. I

was stuck by how friendly everyone was at the

hospital and just about where ever we were in

Branson and Springfield. Even the food was

good. We got accommodations at a friendly but

drooping motel exactly like Tony Perkins motel

in Hitchcock's movie, murder wasn’t on the bill,

but the coffee was pretty bad. I sure hope to

attend the next reunion in 2005. In closing I

want to express my thanks to the kindness of

the Lowndes seamen and lovelies, and for the

gifts, the flag draped 3-D Patriotic scroll, and

the CD & DVD of the Lowndes given by David

Brinkman. I even take a bow to Bud with his

loyalty and energy for us guys. I hope all mates

and other mates enjoy a great 2005.

Rueben Johnson

I enlisted in the Navy December 8, 1941

at the recruiting office in Minneapolis,

Minnesota and reported to Great Lakes Naval

Station. After two weeks 6 of us were

transferred to the Naval Air Station in Seattle,

WA Short boot camp. This was a 3 day train

trip, everybody traveled by train then. At

Seattle NAS worked with radar needs on the

PBYs. Was sent to Alaska. A naval air facility

was being set up near the northern entrance to

the inland passage with appropriate defense

from the air and sea. Got the place organized

with a galley, bunkhouse and docks set up.

Dammed a mountain stream and piped it in for

our water supply. A real “Hilton” of our day. By

this time the Japanese had occupied U. S.

island in the Aluetian chain and who knew what

they had in mind to do next so it was urgent to

take precautions to do what could be done with

what we had at hand. On a sea worthy craft up

past Kodiak Island, Anchorage, etc. Very cold

windy conditions. The spray from the waves

over the bow froze and would build up to the

point we would have to chip it off so it didn’t

weigh us down. Suffice it to say the Japanese

didn’t get reinforcements and supplies. It

ended in suicide for this entire force. Went

home on leave and met a very neat gal. Later

in 1944 got another leave and I just happened

to have a diamond ring in my jumper so quite

appropriately I gave it to Dorothy, she is the

neat gal I mentioned before. We married on

June 21, 1944. Boarded the Lowndes October

14, 1944 as a CM3c. My shipmates know the

rest of the story as we were in it together.

This is a condensed version of the entire

story sent to me. Will have more in a later

newsletter.

2004 Give-a-way

Mary Gebhart & Jan Trober

Jan. 2005-6

Now that I have a captive audience,

read of our experiences at the Branson

reunion. Jean and I arrived one day early and

in the early PM visited the pub in the hotel.

However we found that the O’Briens, Rauseos,

Longs and John Vernale beat us there. After

imbibing of the sugar builder uppers it was

decide to take in a show. Thanks to John he

got on the land line and reserved tickets for the

little group for the Shoji Tabuchi violin show.

David long had already arrange for tickets for

him and Joanne. Jean and I owe a thank you

to David “No crap” Long as he offered to drive

us to the theater. John chauffered the rest of

the couples. It was an extremely enjoyable

show, polytechnics and stage effects were

spectacular. While on the subject of shows.

The whole reunion group attended the Jim

Stafford show. We all were instructed to remain

in our seats after the performance. Then we

were taken to the first rows and Jim was

seated in our midst for a photo taken by an

assistant. Below is an attempt to reproduce the

photo in this newsletter as it was e mailed to

me post haste.

A trip to Ripleys Believe it or Not!

Proved to be a very interesting display of

artifacts of unusual items. Especially

interesting to Arthur and Marjorie was watching

coins spin around a large bowl and

disappearing from sight. Roy Rogers-Dale

Evans Museum and Happy Trails Theater was

a place to sit and relax before continuing to

the Ralph Foster Museum. The group did quite

a lot of walking, how much can this group ⁰

recycled teen-agers endure? On to another

Point of interest the college of the Ozarks. The

grounds were immaculate and maintaine

entirely by the students. In return they paid no

tuition. We saw a grist mill reminiscent of olden

times. Had lunch at the restaurant on the

premises

COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS

"Mat 'MMLS

POINT LOOKOUT. MO. 65726

Incorporated In 1906 as The School of the Ozarks

The Fruit Cake Jelly Kitchen was another stop

to favor those who have a sweet tooth and

want to replenish their cravings.

We visited the Veterans Memorial

Museum where there was the world’s largest

Bronze Memorial Sculpture seventy feet long

and weighing fifteen tons consisting of fifty life

size soldiers storming a beach. Each figure

was modeled after an actual combat veteran,

one from each of the states. The walls were

covered with the names of the men and

women who gave their lives to defend

freedoms in the many conflicts of the 20^th

century. Over 500,000 names were inscribed

To say the least it was awe inspiring.