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U.S.S. LOWNDES - APA
154 Wm. ”Bud” Kautz - Editor , 34782 Hiawatha Trail, McHenry,
IL,60050 - (815)344-6326 |
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March 2000 News Letter Set aside the
following dates for our Twelfth Annual Reunion in Las Vegas: October 17-18-19-20, 2000 See page 3/00-3 of
this news letter for comments by Joel Rodriquez regarding Bally’s. Bob Mulvihill set it up
similar to the last reunion in Washington, D.C. - Room, 3 buffet breakfasts,
bus for day tour, hospitality
room for the price of $295. per person, This will include transportation to
and from airport, hotel, 3
nights at the hotel, reunion dinner and a show at Bally's. This is just the
starting point and tentative plans
could be changed. We have to start somewhere. |
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We have received
contributions to the Lowndes Reunion Group for 2000 from the following members: |
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Agnes Bensie Edward Benson LaVada Boyer James Bussard Howard Chappell Mitchell Chasteen Harry Contreras Frank DuBois John Dyer Virginia Duncan Joe Erlandson |
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John Fiske J. C. Holderman Sterling Hornsby John Jurica Edward King John Lackey David Long Clark Martin Bill Markus Frank Miller Warren Proctor |
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Earl Robertson Bill Robinson Joel Rodriquez Marlene Rezza
Schadler Dallas Stratton Bill Thomas Bernard Tracz Walter Umbarger John Vemale Robert Wurth |
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Thanks to Leia
Kindle we have located another long lost shipmate of the Lowndes: Kasmar Feist - 424 Garcia NE - Albuqueque, NM - 87123 -
(505)296-3491 The above makes a
total of 38 states in the union that we have been in contact with members of the
Lowndes Reunion Group |
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We interrupt this
news letter with the announcement that Bill & Sheri have presented Jean and I with a grandson - William Michael on
February 22, 2000. We now have 5 grand daughters and 3 grand sons. |
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Bud Kautz’ lovely
daughter, Pamela and her Husband Michael Hennessey want to thank the crew of the U.S.S. Lowndes for allowing us to be part
of your wonderful reunion in Washington, D.C. Everyone treated us great and made Pam and I feel
very welcome. Your news letter editor has asked if we would contribute an article for an upcoming
issue concerning the reunion. Well considering Stephen King, John Grisham, Tom Brokaw, plus
Click & Clack have contributed to the news letter, naturally we were quite flattered by the
request. So as they say on Saturday Night Live, "This is our story and we're sticking to it!"
Although the reunion dinner at Hogate's, overlooking the Potomac river had been the crowning event of the week's
festivities on Saturday night. Pam and I had decided to stay on a few more days, until the
following Wednesday actually. We are from Madison, WI, and through the governor's office (Madison
is the capital of Wisconsin) were able to get tickets for a VIP tour of the White House. Our
tickets were for Tuesday morning at 8:45 AM. This ticket allowed us to enter through a restricted
entrance. The tour is conducted by members of the Secret Service. Our tour group was comprised of
twenty five persons. You are feeling a bit of awe when you enter as this is a National Treasure of
historical significance. It was built to be a home for our first president, George Washington, however
he never lived in it as it wasn't completed during his term in office. Most of the rooms
are designated by colors. Not unlike your own homes, for example, the Red room, the Gold room, the
Green room, etc. The following rooms are what we saw on the tour: The Library Room was a
laundry area originally until 1902 when Theodore Roosevelt had a renovation and it became a
gentlemen's ante-room. In 1935 it was remodeled as a library. Which meant no more card playing,
tale swapping, cigar smoking "Good old boy's" room. The Vermeil Room, also called the Gold
Room, serves as a display room and is used for formal occasions and as a ladies sitting room. There
are portraits of six First Ladies in this room, including Eleanor Roosevelt, Lady Bird Johnson,
Jacqueline Kennedy and Nancy Reagan. The China room is where almost every past president is
represented by state or family china or glassware. This room was redecorated in 1970 and it
retained it's red color determined by the portrait of Mrs. Calvin Coolidge. The china is displayed
in glass cases cut into the walls. The Blue Room, which serves as a reception room for visiting
diplomats, acquired it’s blue color during the administration of Martin Van Buren in 1837. This room was
refurbished by the Clintons and an original sofa that had been part of the furniture, but
discarded by a previous First Lady, was located in Pontiac, Michigan in the break room of the General
Motors plant in Pontiac. It was restored and returned to the Blue Room. The Map Room, which was used
by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to follow the course of W.W.II, now serves as a private
meeting room for the President or the First Lady. On one wall hangs a rare 1755 French version of a
map charted by a Colonial surveyor, Peter Jefferson (Thomas Jefferson's Father). The East Room,
also the "Public Audience Room," has little furniture and is traditionally used for large gatherings
like after dinner entertainments, concerts, press conferences and bill signing ceremonies. There have
been seven presidents who have lain in state in this room, including John F. Kennedy in November
1963. The State Dining Room which can seat as many as 140 guests became the official dining
area during Andrew Jackson's administration. It is a very ornate room which is modeled
after a neoclassical English house of the 18th century. The entire tour took about one hour to
complete. It was extremely interesting and very enjoyable to view
this historic house of the good old US of A. Now, "The Reg" says
"If there is interest another
article could be done!" Everyone take care. Enjoyed being with you in
D.C. Note: Mike (Reggie
as he is known by his Cheesehead friends) is a member of the elite security force that carefully watches over the Governor of
Wisconsin, both at the Capital and at the Mansion. He also
has been knowti to hoist a few with the 'guv after a bit jogging around town. |
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Due to health reasons, on December 10th of last year we
moved to Good Tree Retirement Community. On July 13, 1999 (My birthday) we sold our home in
Roscoe, Texas and are living in a patio home (1300 sq. ft.) where all the maintenance including yard and
landscaping is taken care of. Everything is so convenient, doctors, bank, grocery stores and of course Walmart. A
nurse on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week and can be at our house in four minutes. We love it here,
even though we miss our friends in the Roscoe area. We had lived there 47 years. Another reason for the move was
to be near our son and family. We were visiting our daughter in Hampton, VA at the time of the reunion and
planned to go to D.C. but Doris was put to bed for two days with severe back pain. Did get to visit the
Norfolk Navy Yard and saw lots of ships in port until Flayed hit and then again after the storm when they
returned to port. Would like to see my former shipmates. My new address and is 2100 Good Tree - Stephenville, TX -
76401 - (254)918-6095. Mary and I really enjoyed the great reunion in
Washington, D.C. This was our fifth visit to D,C. Last October I took a group of people to Las Vegas. We went to
see the newest casino on the strip, it is called "Paris in Las Vegas" It’s really something to
see, just like Paris, France, inside and outside. It is connected to the first class casino called "Bally's". {This
is the casino that Bob Mulvihill is looking into for our reunion in 2000). I'm sure that
whoever attends will enjoy it. I am sorry that Ed. King and I lost the spot
of being the youngest in our
group. Missed seeing all of you in D.C., but will be in Las
Vegas. (God willing). I have been keeping busy in '98 and '99, went on a 16
day cruise though the Panama Canal, spent ten weeks each year in Florida,
three weeks in California and one
Las Vegas. Also I took charge of my 50th class reunion. It was great. Took a
class in computer at our
community college. My son , Bill, Said there is no way I'm going to Las Vegas
without him. On April 1 1945 during the
"Demonstration"" landing on the southeast coast of Okinawa -
next to the Lowndes the Hinsdale
(APA 120) was hit on the starboard side by a Kamikaze inflicting heavy
damage, killing 63 crew
members and Marines of the 2nd Division. The Hinsdale was beached and the
Marines were placed aboard an LST
returning to Saipan. After repairs at Guam the Hinsdale returned to the east
coast of the United States via the
Panama Canal. This information was given to me by a crew member and a Marine. Vada and I had a great time in Washington, D.C. and it
was good to see all the old shipmates again and meet with their
family members. Sorry we didn't get to the reunion on time, but the weather
wouldn't allow it. Another incident
comes to mind. How did I get a hole in my boat at the line of departure? The
only way I could figure was the
weather was windy, cold and wet. The ship was rolling at anchor. Marines, sea
sick even before they were
loaded on the LCVPs. I remember when we were lifted from the cradle on No.4
hatch, port side, one of the
rigging lines had too much slack and hit the cradle. Oh well! Who knows after
55 years? 'til the next reunion. |
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General Custer was the first to
wear an arrow shirt. |
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Shirley and I really
enjoyed our trip to D.C. For me it was great to see everyone. The three of us (Eileen, Shirley and
I) had fun rooming together. 1 know the other two gals complained about my
snoring, but I can’t hear
myself when I'm asleep and I’m sure the other two think the same when they're
asleep. We enjoyed the tours and
by the end of the night we were ready for bed. Our bus driver did a great job
with that huge bus. Also our
tour guide did a fine job. Having my daughter work out the pattern for the
Las Vegas reunion. I'm staying
with her in Casa Grande, AZ for the winter. Went to Niagara Falls for two
weeks over Thanksgiving then
home to get ready for Arizona and visit mom who turned 100 on the 10th. of
December. Had a party for her
at the home. Will leave Arizona and be home in PA April 30th. In September Wally
and I took off on a two week trip to Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon,
California, Nevada and Utah to visit relatives. On October 30th. Had a big
99th. birthday party for
Wally’s mother (Florence Richards) in Nebraska City. Keith and Lorraine sure
enjoyed the reunion with the
group! We did too in Texas in '95. Maybe we can all make it to Las Vegas Next
year. Thanks for the
pictures. We had a great time in Washington, D.C.!! Looking forward to the
reunion in 2000. We enjoyed the reunion in D.C. Bob Mulvihill did a good
job. Hope to see everyone in Las Vegas. We trust you had
another great reunion, which is as it should be. We were with you all in
spirit anyway. The best in the new
millennium! Bud, it isn't everyone that we have sent greetings to for 54
years. (Gee! Has been that long?) First off, the group
photographs were fine, everyone was in the open and looking happy to be
there. (Yes, last year there
were a few individuals that didn't heed , "If you can't see me I can't
see you). Frances had cataract eye surgery
after we returned from Washington, so far, the right eye. The other one will
be done in 7 or 8 months down the
line. As of now, everything is under control. Robbie says he
always gives 100% at work: 12% on Monday 20% on
Thursday 23% On Tuesday 5% on
Friday 40% on Wednesday (This guy walks
into the psychiatrist's office wearing only shorts made of saran wrap. The psychiatrist says,
" Well, I can see you're nuts.") |
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Our family is
growing, son Matt was married on October 2, 1999. Wish everybody a Super Y2K. Congratulations! Congratulations are
also in order for Dave and Modesta Brinkman on the birth of their son Jeremy Jacob Brinkman, 91b.
6 oz. on August 3, 1999. (Gee, Roberta, that makes you a grandmother, enjoy.) Joe and Reta Freitas became great grand parents in 1999. (Joe, the walnuts
you sent to Jean and I were put to good use. They made my chocolate banana
split taste even better then normal. Have you ever chopped them up and used 'em, in
an omelet? (terrific!) Some facts about our western neighbor. The site of our next
reunion is Las Vegas ( "The Meadows" in Spanish) was first
settled by the Mormons in 1855. In
1864 the U.S. Army established Fort Baker. In 1867 Las Vegas left the Arizona Territory and joined
Nevada. The town was established in 1905. It's growth really started in 1931
when the Nevada legislature
legalized gambling. It was after World War II when large hotels along the
brand new "Strip” was
developed. There are 50 wedding chapels in the city and it is the Marriage
Capital of America. There are no city or
state income taxes. Popular nearby tourist attractions are Hoover Dam and
Lake Mead (The largest
man-made lake in the U.S.), Lake Mojave,
Red Rock Canyon, and the Death Valley National Monument. Sagebrush
is the state flower, precious gemstone "Virgin Valley Black Fire
Opal." Bud, a while back you wrote and asked me about the 1917
Maxwell I had. It wasn't a big car like the one you described, it
was about the same size and looked like the steel Model T Ford touring.
Steel, meaning the radiator shell
was steel, it was painted black to match the fenders. The Maxwell I had was a
four cylinder job with floor
mounted shift lever between the front passengers. It was painted a light
cream color and had natural light oak
spokes and wheels. Jerry and I belonged to the Antique Automobile Club or
Horseflies carriage Club. There
were annual antique tours in different cities. It's funny how things work out
- we hosted the 7th tour of that
organization too. Like the Lowndes crew, the members were from all walks of
life - lawyers, business
owners, you name it, but we had one thing in common - we all loved old cars
and the entire families
participated and dressed accordingly, from the turn of the century to the
flapper era in the twenties. I'm trying
to catalog three of the reunions and misplaced about half of them. At this
age life stays interesting - you're
always hunting something. What Mike left out
was their scavenger hunts in the antique cars. Wearing dusters and hand
operating the wind shield
wipers by hand in the rain. Re your last comment, Mike, "People with
well organized desks andfiles will
never feel the elation offinding something that they felt had been lost
forever. Things we were forced to do as kids: Go to bed early - Now
we can hardly stay awake to watch the late news. Stop running in the
house -Now we run o treadmills inside the house for exercise. Eat all your food,
"Don't you know there are starving children? Now we're dieting 'cuz we
ate too much. |
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Dear Bud &
Shipmates: I write to you all
today with a heavy heart. As you know, my health has been bad for some
while. I spent some time off and on in the hospital since our reunion in Myrtle Beach, SC.
Well on Thanksgiving day, That which you never want to hear, finally came to pass.
I was diagnosed with terminal cancer. It seems to be a fast moving type that has
completely engulfed my body. I have a few months at best. I wish to thank all of you that sent
Evelyn and myself Christmas cards and most welcome notes. We thought we would make
Las Vegas but that is no longer in my future. The comradeship, friendship, love and
caring that you wonderful people bestowed on us during the three reunions, San Diego,
San Antonio and Myrtle Beach will be remembered as some of the most cherished days
of our lives. I have been dealt a bad hand from a cold deck, but folks, I will play
every card I have in my hand. I could continue to write for hours about the years that have
passed when we were all young and ready to give everything we had to give for our
country, but you all know we did our part and more. Like it is said, some of the stories you
hear makes you think, were we all really in the same war we thought we were? But I will tell you this, we surely were there,
everyone of us. I will soon see many of our shipmates that have left us, so don’t feel
sorry for me. I have been blessed my whole life with a wonderful lady, children,
grandchildren and great grandchildren, and above all, the classiest people that walk this earth.
I love you all. Evelyn will let you know when the Man upstairs decides to take me home.
God bless you all. Your shipmate Jack
Good by R. E. Shy PS: My special thanks
to the greatest crew, Carmel Fesi and Leo O’Brien to name a couple. I received this
communique from Jack (Hovey) Weatherbie shortly after |
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Christmas 1999. |
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Just a note to let
you know about the Dyer family. The year 1999 was not a good year for us. In
May Lebby developed a
facial nerve pain called Trigeminal Neuralgia. We tried all medications all
summer but that did not help. In
August Lebby had Radio Frequency surgery to relieve the pain. This left the
right side of her face numb. In
July tore a cartilage and had microscopic surgery. Also in July I found out
that I had Cardiac Myopathy. Due
to all our problems we returned to Florida on September 7th. Lebby still
walks to the ocean every day,
but I can't make it that far so 1 ride my bike. Other members of our family
have had problems too. We all
are looking forward to a better year in 2000. (Many of you may remember that John and Lebby hosted a
very successful U.S.S. Lowndes ninth reunion in West
Palm Beach, Florida. We wish the Dyer family well.) I've kept myself
pretty busy preparing for the holidays last year. Have made pecan pies for my
family and friends. For
Thanksgiving and Christmas I made 75 pies, also 600 bon bons for the kids.
One year I made 1500 bon bons,
but cut down lately. Made over 200 pounds of peanut brittle, it's very easy
in the microwave. (Hey John, how about catering our next reunion in Las
Vegas?) Don was looking
forward to the reunion in Washington, D.C. He loved being with all of you and
going over the war one more
time. We planned to go to New Zealand and try to find his "Mr. Robert's
ship" the "Kopara".
Thank you for sharing your lives with us the past several years. It meant a
lot to both of us. Thanks for the news
letters, please keep me informed. Enclosed dues for 2000. Jackie and I have
really enjoyed attending U.S.S. Lowndes reunions. My congratulations to all
the hosts and hostesses for a
great time. Bob Mulvihill did a fine job too. We missed San Diego and Hawaii
for different reasons,
and we plan on attending Las Vegas this year. Thanks for the hotel
room refund for the night we missed and a lot of other things that were done
for our benefit. Thanks
also for the pictures. The one of the Moores was really good. Their daughter
wanted one so they had another
one made. (If anyone wants a copy of other photos, just let me
know. Numbers are on the back.) I (Warren) will try to get something written and send it
to you. (You're on record
now Warren.) (Yesterday is
history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is present that's why they call it a
gift.) |
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Made a New Year's resolution to drink as much as I can,
eat as much as I can and sleep until the sun shines up my
posterior. Frances asked "What kind of a resolution is that?" I
told her one that I can keep. (Gee, Frank, now you tell me, I've been making all the
wrong ones all my life.) Is now 79 years of age, feeling pretty good and still
able to play golf (not very well - nor able to compete with Jack
Nicklaus or Arnold Palmer, but it keeps me going!) Joyce and I are still able
to square and round dance
(Round dancing is the art of dancing figures cued by an instructor.) I very
fondly remember my years in the Navy.
Wish I could have stayed 20 years, but my parents needed my help around the homestead that they
weren't able to take care of. As in French "Chest La Vi" - Such is
life. Joyce and I are attending a Spanish
class and find it very interesting. We are not very good as we and our
classmates stumble thru the class - you
should hear our translation, but keep your ears plugged. Hope all
members of the Lowndes are alive and
well. (Joyce served in the Navy and she and Frank were dance
instructors at one point of their lives.) So glad you met my son Keith and Lorraine at the reunion.
I have a nice family, only wish I could see them more often.
Maybe I will live to see the year 2000. Mike Michalski called me one evening. (As of this writing Mrs. Richards made 2000, God bless
her.) Always appreciate the news about our crew members of the
Lowndes. Feeling pretty good. Still taking three treatments a
week. (I talked to Howard a couple of weeks ago and he and Lois
always sound so cheerful. Wish some of it would rub off them
and onto me. They are such a great couple.) Received the latest news letter and we sure enjoyed
reading it. Sure wish we could have been in Washington, D.C. This
has been one busy summer with Jim and the grain. Started July 4th with wheat,
then Soya beans, then com.
The farmers were crying because of low yields but Jim says they came out
pretty good, the com was so
dry they didn't have to pay to have it dried. He was busy in December
shipping it out by truck and train.
We have been in fairly good health this past year. Have two new great
grandbabies, that makes five. Sure hope
we can get to the next ship's reunion. |
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(Note: Have just been informed
that Jim spent 2 minutes in solitary confinement at Alcatraz.) |
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I was with the 24th
Replacement draft which boarded the U.S.S. Lowndes - APA 154 on December 31, 1944 at Maui, Hawaii.
From Maui we went up to Pearl Harbor for a few days and then went to the
Marshall Islands. We got there
during the night and when I went topside in the morning and looked across the
water I swear I never saw so
many ships. From there were went to Saipan and there were maneuvers to
practice for the landings on Iwo
Jima. I believe when we were a day or two From Iwo there was a general
quarters, "This is no drill."
Many of us wondered if we would be swimming whether we wanted to or not. On
the morning of the landings we were
treated to steak and eggs, which is normal* in the Marine Corps, before an
invasion. I believe it was four
or five other Marines and myself who were picked to go ashore and unload 55
gallon barrels of gas. We
got to the beach around 0900 and got all the barrels unloaded when the
landing craft got swamped. We were on
the beach for quite awhile before we saw a landing craft from APA 154 and
made a beeline for it so to
be able to get back to the ship. The boatswain thought at first that we were
deserters. If I recall they would not
let us back on the ship until the next day or so. When we got back on the
ship all of the replacements had
already gone ashore. We went ashore the next day and joined up with C Company
First Battalion, 23 Marines
, Fourth Division and went into action the next day. We left Iwo on March 16
and went back to Maui and
started to prepare for the invasion of Japan. Thankfully the atom bomb came
along and a year later I
went home. This is what I remember after 55 years. At the time I was only 18
years old. I was put on mess duty
for 30 days from the day we boarded the ship and at the end of 30 days I told
our officer I would stay
on mess duty until we got to our destination. It was a way of killing time
and I didn't mind it a bit. The
Fourth Marine Division has had a reunion every year since 1948. Our reunion
this year will be held in
Washington, D.C. I don't recall Col. Shelton Scales. Enclosing a check for
dues. f* That's also a
normal procedure in the Navy too. Had it happen a few times.) |
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1 have no idea that
I will ever get to attend a Lowndes reunion. Since my George is no longer
here. He sure planned to
attend and was hoping there would be one closer. As he was a cattleman and
that sure took up his time. Our son
is continuing to follow in his dad's footsteps. I was looking through some
USS Lowndes papers that 1 had
received and found a little book George brought back with names and addresses
of the guys that were on the
ship with their personal signatures. |
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(Following is the
list of names that Leia sent, I have tried to contact them, but if anyone in
our reunion group has been in
contact with any of them, please let me know.) |
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Ray LeClaire Brown Wm. Wallace Caldwell Dale Dee Conover Albert Earnest Casimer Feist James Warren Flud Robert Keith Foy William W. George, Jr. Damen Wilbur Johnson |
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MoMM2c MoMM2c S2c S2c S2c S2c S2c Lt. Comm. |
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Robert E. Lange |
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Leonard Roy LeMaitie |
S2c |
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Garnett Reese |
S2c |
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Delphis Harold Ricks |
Sic |
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Charles Curtis Sampson |
S2c |
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William L. Shupe |
Sic |
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Freddie Leon Stone |
Sic |
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Clifton W. Taylor |
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(The addresses from Leia are
over 50 years old, but you never can tell. Some people never move.) |
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Commander Perdue To
Assume New Command Commander Charles H.
Perdue, 44, of 3120 Goldsmith St., San Diego, has been detached from duty as Assistant Personnel Officer,
Eleventh Naval District, to assume command of a new attack transport, it was announced today.
Commander Perdue, who has resided in San Diego since 1926, has been on duty at District
Headquarters for the last 10 months, having reported here in February 1941, from the Fifteenth Naval
District, Canal Zone. A native of Macon, Georgia, he was graduated from the Naval Academy
in 1921. After a tour of duty aboard battleships he resigned from the Navy to enter
private business and joined the Naval Reserves. He served as commanding officer of the Second
Division, U. S. Naval Reserve, in San Diego for 10 years. Called back to duty in May 1940.
Commander Perdue was ordered to the Fifteenth Naval District, where he served successfully as
Commander, Inshore Patrol, Atlantic, and Commanding Officer, Section Base, Cristobal; Convoy
and Routing Officer; and Assistant Chief of Staff for Readiness, Panama Sea Frontier. Capt. Perdue returned
home from leave and reassignment after commanding the attack transport U. S. S. Lowndes for 16 months in the
Pacific. Capt. Perdue placed the Lowndes in commission in September, 1944, after serving 19 months
as assistant personnel officer of the 11th Naval District. Capt. Perdue traveled 61,000
nautical miles aboard the Lowndes. His ship took part in the original assault landings at I wo Jima
and Okinawa, and carried initial occupation troops to Aomori, Japan, from the Philippines in
September, 1945. (The above was published in the San Diego Union. A copy
of the article was furnished by Connie (Mike) Michalski.) I know it's about time that I write, but in the winter we
Italians hibernate. Hope everybody is in good health, warm and cozy. As for Sally
and I, we're OK. Still visiting the same doctors. In our spare time we visit with our two year old
grandson, he really lights up our life. Last week, we were in bed and I asked Sally for some sex,
she said "No." I asked her if that was her final answer, she said "Yes." I said I
would like to call a friend. I'm now sleeping in another bedroom. Hope to see
you in Las Vegas. |