Jan. 2009-1

JANUARY 2009 NEWSLETTER

Editor: Wm. "Bud" Kautz-CCBW, 34782 Hiawatha Trail-McHenry, IL 60051-(815)344-6326

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The following Reunion members were in attendance at the San Francisco Reunion:

Shen Adams & Mary Vergin

Ann & Kelli Brewster

David, Odess & Jeremy Brinkman

Ashlee Brown & Mike Johnson

John, Lebby & Mike Dyer

Joe & Loreta Freitas

Vernon & Beverly Freitas

Stuart & Allie Hyde I

Robin & Randall Kerr

Don & Shirley Lorenzi

Jo McCarthy & Sam Petruzelli

Leo & Margaret O’Brien

Dee Rodgers & Jill Cummings

Ina Mae, Charles & Iris Ross

Roger, Lee Solley & Cathy Brown

John & Bridgett Solley

Bill & Amelia Taylor

John Vernale & Mary Fuggetta

Sorry to report that your editor, Bud & Jean unfortunately were unable to attend

due to health problems. Since our reunions were started in St. Louis, MO in 1989 .

This is the first one that we have missed attending.

The 2009 reunion will be at the Milwaukee Marriott West in Waukesha, Wl.

Which is in the proximity of Milwaukee, Wl. Area.

Sept. 17^th thru Sept. 20^th.

Details regarding the itinerary will be in a future newsletter

When the reunion organizer has finalized them.

Please fill out and return the enclosed stamped and addressed post card as promptly as possible.

We need an approximate count of attendees to make this a successful reunion.

The General Mitchell International Airport services the Milwaukee area.

A big thank you to Pam Hennessey for providing the souvenir pens commemorating the 2008

reunion in San Francisco. She even saved one for her old man though he wasn’t in attendance.

See? Clout does help.

Milwaukee, thought to be “Good Land” or “Rich Land” in the Menominee &

Potawotomi Indian language and established in 1846. More trivia about Wisconsin, it

is considered the beer capital of the world where many breweries were brought into

being, such as Leinenkuel, Miller, Pabst, Calumet and the Huber. Huber brewed

Chicago’s favorite German-style lager for the Berghoff Restaurant located in the

“Windy City.” Also noted for the Green Bay Packers football team that played in the

Super Bowl game years ago and because the weather was so cold it became known

as the “Ice Bowl” and that led to the scheduling of the Super Bowl games in either

warmer climates or domed stadiums. Incidentally The Green Bay Packers won the

Super Bowl that year. The Harley Davidson Motor Co, originally began the

manufacturing of the motorcycles in Milwaukee. The state flower is Papilionacea ( Viola

to those not versed in floriculture).

Jan. 2009-2

"Thanks for the souvenir pens, Pam.

Leo O'Brien

Bud, we all missed you in San

Francisco and hope that you are managing

with your physical ailments. Fortunately you

have a good caretaker, “Jean.” The Whitcomb

Hotel was right on Market St. It was very

convenient to the BART and street cars and

busses. Seniors paid 50 cents. Stuart Hyde

arranged for a nice hospitality room and

provided a convenient continental breakfast

of cereal, bananas, coffee and sweet rolls.

John Vernale and the Solley family were a big

help. On Saturday we went on a bus tour up

to the Golden Gate Park. There were some

spectacular views looking down on the city

and the bay. In the afternoon we took a boat

cruise and because it was Fleet Week there

must have been a million people down on the

Embarcadero all with the same idea. When

we finally got on our boat and put out on the

bay the Blue Angels put on another show,

only more spectacular. My heart was in my

mouth as these super jets roared across the

bay from different directions not too far above

the Golden Gate Bridge and shift belly to belly

as they passed each other. And it was

interesting to go under the bridge and turn

around and come back in. Earlier we had

gone over the bridge and back again on our

bus tour. While on the harbor cruise we saw

the liberty ship, Jeremiah O’Brien out in the

bay. There were more people on the main

deck then when the USS Lowndes was fully

loaded and ready for combat. The O’Brien

was similar to the Lowndes but was not

outfitted for the landing craft. We were treated

with some vocal entertainment by 5 lovely

ladies dressed in Navy attire and they sang

some song as from the ‘40s and ‘50s. It was a

nice touch. We missed Earl and Frances

Robertson and of course Jan and Angela and

Dave and Joanne Long. Margaret and I

visited Arthur Rauseo in Haverhill Crossing

Assisted Living and found him in good health

and spirits. Arthur is in a first class home and

seems to be happy there even though his

memory is slipping. Send him a card.

“Some of you may remember when we

were in the San Diego reunion while in the

docks the O’Brien was tied up very near us

and Margaret is correct, it looked very much

like the Lowndes.

Sharon Rauseo Widmann

I hope this finds you both in good

health. Here is an update on my Dad. He is no

longer living in Georgetown. We have moved

him to a beautiful assisted living facility in

Haverhill called Haverhill Crossings. They

have memory impaired unit there which is

where my Dad lives. He has a one bedroom

apartment and care 24/7. It had become very

unsafe for him to be by himself even for short

periods of time. I just wanted to let you to be

aware of where my Dad was and hoping you

could inform the rest of the Lowndes crew that

he kept in touch with. He can be reached at

Haverhill Crossings (978)556-1600 by asking

for an aide in the Harbor program and then

asking for him. They are very good at getting

him on the phone, but at this point it is getting

harder for him to have a phone conversation. I

had turned off my moms computer in the

spring and there has been something wrong

with the phone lines in the house. The house

has been on the market and my brother and I

had been working on it all summer. Neither of

them ever threw anything out! I found cards

that I sent in high school, which was a VERY

LONG time ago. Also found hundreds of

pictures from all the reunions. They always

had such a good time with all of you. Please

feel free to email or call me. I will keep you

updated on my Dad.

Arthur Rauseo

c/o Haverhill Crossings

254 Amesbury Rd.

Haverhill, MA 01830

“<Email, srauseo@>usa.net>

“My phone No.(303)428-7284. My brother,

Jim can be reached at (978)353-7724.”

Jan. 2009-3

Bill Taylor

John & Lebby Dyer

Greetings to all as Amelia and I continue

to reflect on the good time we had in San

Francisco. Our trip home went well. We left

SFO late because the Blue Angels also left

Sunday at noon. Southwest did not seem to be

in the mood to compete with them for runway

rights. Despite the delay in San Francisco the

lost time was made up and we arrived in

Baltimore before our scheduled time. Stuart,

Amelia and I want to commend you for making

the kind of decisions you made relative to

planning the reunion. Fleet week was what we

needed to give us the feeling that we had when

the fleet was in during the war, and during the

war we never saw San Francisco when the

fleet was not in. The planned activities worked

out well and I particularly appreciated the bus

trip over the Golden Gate bridge and the boat

ride under the bridge. As you pointed out 63

years have gone by since our return to the US

on the Lowndes. Your management efforts to

keep the cost in range for us in an expensive

city is appreciated. That includes the hospitality

room breakfasts which not only kept costs

down, they were a point of assembly before the

day’s activities began and I feel the idea is one

worth using in the future. Being entertained by

the Blue Stars of the USS Hornet during and

after dinner pretty much made complete a

reunion that will be remembered for a long time

by all who attended. The list of good

restaurants you gave worked out well for us.

We used only one, The Blue Muse which was

within walking distance for us. Save and

Odess, thank you for your presence and many

contributions which help make our reunions

memorable events. Bud, get well. Keep your

activities within the bounds your doctor and

your wife set. Best wishes.

“Yes, Bill ril do my best to listen and

abide by Jean and the many doctors I have to

listen to. I say many because that’s what is.

Jean and I are very sorry to have missed

attending this one, it’s the first we have not

been with the reunion members. ”

There is a full report from Stuart

regarding the successful reunion on following

oaoes of this newsletter.

\Ne lost one of our small bags as luggage

was transferred from a cab to the car our son,

Mike, had ordered to take us to the airport. In

doing so they must have left it in the cab. The

reunion was great. Stuart did a great job. I have

never seen so many people and cars in one

place as the day we went to the harbor. Bud,

we missed you and all your input. We were

pretty tired due to the 3 hour difference and the

long plane ride.

Craig A. Gieseke

This is to advise you that my father-in-

law, Jack M. Lotsey, has been diagnosed with

cancer of the stomach and esophagus. The

diagnoses were just made on Friday, October

10^th, during the 20^th reunion of the USS

Lowndes crew in San Francisco. He had

wanted to attend this year’s reunion, but was

unable to due to health reasons. My son-in-law,

Clifford Dillard a Navy Chief stationed at NAS

Mayport, had planned to attend with him. Jack

served aboard the USS Lowndes during the

battle of Iwo Jima; he was part of the medical

detachment assigned to the ship. Jack and his

wife, Margaret of 58 years, live in Jacksonville,

FL. Jack is 92 and will be 93 on January 1,

2009, God willing.

“Jack boarded the Lowndes on Dec,. 23,

1944 and left on Oct. 24, 1945. Craig, I

received your e mail too late to notify his former

shipmates at the reunion. Jack had sent me a

humorous story used in the Jan. 2008

newsletter. Our prayers go out to Jack. He

mentioned in an e mail that he was looking

forward to attending the SF reunion. ”

David Brinkman

Took the red -eye home and was able to check

in at work, do the cub scouts and started

downloading the video and pictures to my PC. I

will start sending out some pictures to the

others. Stuart, you did a great job on the 20^th

reunion. We really enjoyed it and it was very

memorable. With all those wonderful San

Francisco sites and “diverse” things that we

experienced. I have a feeling that this will be

one of those life events that Jeremy will always

remember.

Jan. 2009-4

Brinkman (con’t)

We missed you, Bud, even Jeremy

seconded my comment saying, “There is

something missing in this reunion “...also

Jeremy is used to having a surprise “gift” at the

banquet...and asked why he isn’t getting any

this time. I simply explained to him that it’s

because Ms Jan isn’t there to “bring them” and

no traditional afghan for door prizes either.

Please don’t get disappointed if the photos

don’t come up good...because we didn’t get a

good focus and set up. We missed you for that

too. Overall we had a great time in San

Francisco. We have heard more war stories

from each of the sailors: Hyde, O’Brien,

Vernale, Lorenzi, Dyer, Taylor, Solley and

Adams memory of his late father. It was

another successful reunion event. We

alsoenjoyed the free continental breakfast we

had for four consecutive days at the hospitality

room, courtesy of Stuart and the Lowndes. San

Francisco was a blast! The hospitality room

was really nice with an incredible view of the

beautiful City Hall The Blue Angels flying over

the city were an amazing sight and sound. You

can see photos

Ann Brewster

Thank you for putting dad’s (James V.

Ross) obit in your newsletter. Mom is still trying

to figure out how you knew. We (Mom, myself

& my daughter) considered coming to the 2008

reunion. My brother, Charles Ross qnd his

wife, Iris of Germany did too. Dad was always

talking about the things that you have done for

the reunions, etc. so I would like to say Thank

You.

“As you all know they all did attend the

San Francisco reunion. What you may not

know is that I had USS Lowndes hats for one

of the early reunions and Charles, Sr.

purchased one, gave it to Charles, Jr. who

wore it on each of his missions during the Gulf

War in the early 1990’5. “

John Vernale

seeing everyone. I have to say Stuart did

a great job. San Francisco is really congested

with people and cars. We went to City Hall, 4

blocks away. It was a beautiful building, gold

dome and beautiful rotunda. We were

surprised to see two men and two women

lined up to get married, it’s legal in San

Francisco. There were quite a few couples.

We rode on the trolleys, it was 50 cents for

seniors, they give a stub, which is good for

the return trip. Leo and I checked the hotel

restaurant. A bowl of oatmeal was $7.00 and

two eggs $9.00. Stuart set up a continental

breakfast for us the first day. I went out and

bought more cereal, bananas, pastries and

coffe. We had that for breakfast the rest of

the week. That bottle of scotch Bud donated

wasn’t touched for 3 days. We went to see

the Blue Angels on Friday, a sunny day, not a

cloud in the sky and the temperature was 72

degrees in the city. We were at the bay, Bud,

with the wind coming in from the bay , we all

froze. I wish I had a camera, we all hugged

each other it was so cold with the sun

shining, I’m sure some of the guys haven’t

embraced their wives in a long time. It really

was a sight. Some of us arrived on Tuesday

or Thursday. A bus arrived with 35 men,

young and old all dressed in Black Leather,

they all had pierced ears, nose and nipples. I

have to say they were all respectful. I will be

leaving for Florida in Nov.9th and returning

April 12^th.

Robin Kerr

Thanks to David Brinkman I was able

to secure my Dad’s Navy records. I found out

that he served on board the Lowndes for

eight months and participated in the Iwo Jima

and Okinawa campaigns. He also served for

9 months on the U.S.S. Preserver, for 6

months on the U.S.S. Nauset, and for 17

months on the U.S.S. Falcon.

“Robin, I hope that while you were at

the San Francisco reunion you were able to

get some answers regarding your Dad’s

service while aboard the Lowndes.”

As for San Francisco, it was areat

Jan. 2009-5

Stuart Hyde (s f Host)

Greetings! The USS Lowndes Reunion

in San Francisco ended Oct. last night - Oct.

11^th With a banquet attended by 44 members

of the Lowndes family, And entertained by the

Singing Blue Stars of the USS Hornet, who

serenaded us with such songs as “iM’ll ne

Seeing You,” and “Bei Mir Bis Du Schoen,”

“Sentimental Journey,” and ending with “ I Left

My Heart in San Francisco.” The group began

each day with a continental breakfast in the

Hospitality Suite. Friday featured a viewing of

propeller aerorplanes rehearsing acrobatics for

their part in the Fleet Week performances of

the Blue Angels and the Canadian Flying

Team, the Snowbirds. Saturday began (after

breakfast) with a 3-1/2 hour bus tour of the

City, including a drive across the Golden Gate

Bridge, and viewings of the Palace of fine Arts

(the only remaining building from the 1915

Panama-Pacific International Exposition), The

Palace of the Legion of Honor (an accurate

replica of the Paris original, a panoramic view

of the City and Bay Area from top Twin Peaks,

Chinatown, North Beach, the Ferry Building,

and ending at Fisherman’s Wharf. Most of us

went aboard a sightseeing boat, which went

under the Golden Gate Bridge at exactly 0300

hours, sixty-three years after the Lowndes was

approaching San Francisco on a voyage from

Saipan carrying 12 Naval Officers, 72 Army

Officers, 57 Marine enlisted men, and 1,475

Navy enlisted men. (Alas, at 2000 on October

13, 1945, our destination was changed to

Seattle! Unlucky 13^th for more than 1500

passenfers, and around 550 men of the

Lowndes.) During our boat tour we had close

up views of all sides of Alcatraz, and watched

(and HEARD) the Blue Angels performing their

routines above and on all sides of us.

“How many of the Reunion group

remembers the pools that we bet on as to the

exact time we would pass under the Bridge?). I

donated money to that pool, but never won

anything. Guess I never picked 0300. Another

bit of trivia, Jim Frieden spent a very short time

behind bars at Alcatraz while on a tour years

ago. As I receive more information from Stuart

regarding the reunion I will pass it along if not

in this one, but in future issues. "

“When the Lowndes continued on to

Seattle I (Bud) had my 44 points and left the

Lowndes headed for Great Lakes Training

Station for the three days it took to give me my

honorable discharge from the Navy on Oct. 27,

1945."

Don & Shirley Lorenzi

The hotel was grand as was the service.

We enjoyed the visit very much - on a scale of

0 to 10 we give it an 8. The neighborhood was

a surprise and interesting as were the black

leather male guests at the time. (I guess we

have lived a sheltered life.) We , however

came home with fond memories of the hotel

and San Francisco. Hope to visit again soon.

Lois Chappell

Just a line to let all know I’m well and

enjoying my winter here in Florida. We are

having our winter now, 40 degrees over night

and 75 degrees in the daytime but we are

suffering through it as we soak up the sun and

play a little golf, and try to keep up with all the

parties and dances. My home is in a

community of people my age. I just want to say

thanks for sending me the newsletters. It’s

good to hear from everybody. I am well, but

have been quite busy. Have sold my house, it

only took 4 days so I had to start packing.

What a job getting rid of 60 years of (stuff). I

bought a nice trailer in my brother-in-law’s

camp ground by a lake for the summer and a

double-wide in Florida for the winter. I don’t

want my children to feel obligated to help me,

so while I have my health I decided to make

the move. I have another brother and son in

Florida where I live, so I won’t be alone. I hope

all is well with everybody. I think of all the great

times we have enjoyed together, but life

changes. Have a great time at your reunions

and maybe I’ll be able to attend one in the

future.

“Wish you the best in your new home. “

Lois, you really know how to hurt us

Northerners. Here is Lois’ new address:

595 Fairway Court

Plant City, FL 33565

Jan. 2009-6

Joyce Dubois

We love getting the Lowndes

newsletters and we miss going to the yearly

reunions. Frank has had a TID, but continues

to slowly improve. Hope all is well and happy

with all.

Frances Robertson

After living on the same street for 58

years and in the same house for 37 years, we

accumulated a lot of stuff. It was very difficult to

move, but we put some stuff in storage, took

some things with us, & donated a great deal to

the needy. The girls were concerned about me

living alone, so Ruth built a room onto her

place just for us. Earl went into the hospital in

late August. He had a strep infection that

settled around the knee replacements he had

done many years ago. He had several

surgeries and went into rehab. After a month

stay in two hospitals, he definitely wanted to

come home. Released from the hospital, he did

his IV therapy & ended up in the hospital. They

said he has pneumonia and congestive heart

failure & an infection in his blood. While on a

routine visit to see him, he decided to walk out.

Said he had enough of doctors & hospitals,

poking and probing. Then the fun really began.

Had to get oxygen into Ruth’s home & set up

another round of IV therapy. Thank God for

Ruth’s ingenuity. He is doing great & looks

good. Ruth & Jan have found all new doctors

for us & they are only 15-20 minutes away. So

far & both of us are doing well. We live in the

county now instead of the city. Note our new

address & phone No.

4848 Babiak Rd.

French Village, MO 63036

(573)358-7175

Jackie Umbarger

This has been a rather stressful year

due to Wally’s health problems. We have had

numerous lab tests, x-rays, ultra sounds, 2

colonoscopies to rule out our allergies, bowel,

Krohns & cancer of which he had none of the

problems mentioned. They finally put him on

Questran which heloed but still has a oroblem

now & then. We had planned a trip

“Railroading in the Rockies” but cancelled

due to his health. In July we vacationed at

my niece’s cabin in Estes Park, Colorado.

Friends of ours love Colorado and offered to

drive us in their van for the opportunity to go

and share expenses. Sure enjoyed having

someone else do the driving. In September,

we went to Topeka for Wally’s Army reunion.

We are at the age that every year we lose

one or so of the group, so our number is

dwindling. We plan to go to Jefferson City,

MO. To attend our grandson’s graduation

from the State Patrol Academy on Dec.

19^th.We are thankful for another year and the

many blessings we have received from the

LORD, family and friends.

“Did you know that the San Francisco

Cable car is the only moving National

Memorial?"

Reta & Joe Freitas

We did enjoy what we were able to

see of the air show, we did not get to see all

of it. We decided not to go on the bay cruise.

We also had a good dinner.

“Sorry about the refund, sometimes

these things just don’t work out to our

satisfaction although David Brinkman did his

best about getting a refund."

They say it’s creamed chipped beef on

toast. But you know what Lowndes crew

members call it.