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-USS LOWNDES INFORMATION SHEET NUMBER ONE- i September 11, 1088 |
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Hello Crewmen USS LOWNDES, I hope you have
recieved the materials on the
Lowndes and her disposal. It was a surprizing fact she lasted so
long,I have tried to do further research on her in the hope of
getting possibly some artifact off her,maybe the bell,but will
have to wait till next month to do more hunting, telephone bill will
excede the limit. I contacted
Commander Perdues son Saturday, September 10th, he
lives in San Diego,California. He stated his father Commander
Perdue died in 1.075, he had retired from the Navy in I960,and settled
in San Diego to be a Grandfather and assist with raising of the
Grandchildren. He stated,he had other ships and was Commander
of a Hospital ship during the Korean War. He himself now is a
Grandfather and now knows wha^his father went through the later
stages. Commander Perdue had two children Charles and a
nj^rfrrr,Commander Perdues Grandson is also a Flight Deck Officer. I also spoke with
Colonel Scales the Marine CO who was in
charge of the Marines on the Lowndes who made the IWO JIMA landing,he
lives in Martinsville,Virginia. He spoke highly of the
Lowndes,Commander,Crewmen,who assisted them in making it somewhat easier for
them ,to face what was ahead of them. He stated, the Lowndes had the
best cook and food of any other ship he had been on, he often ate in the cabin
of Commander Perdue(he asisste |
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me in securing
Commander Perdues home. Colonel Scales is retired and enjoying the
goodlife. I have hope that
other crewmen of the Lowndes can be
reached and given information that we might have, also the possibility
of several get togethers,although I am only related to former
personnel I feel priviledge to help you fellas, and do bird dogging
for you. I have many photos coming and will be glad to share them
with you when they come in. If you have any information on other
crewmen,please share it with me,so I can con tact them,even if it
was during WIT, if yon have any photos of yourself,ship or
crew Jet me know or just write and let me know what you did aboard
and whats happened to you since the War. , I know you are proud of what you did and the possibility
may exi&t> a old friend may emerge,help me out if you can!
Sorry,for poor typing,but Majored in Agriculture not typing. Will
close for now,hope you and family Well, Best Wishes,Proud To
Serve You, Dan Wisdom,Associate
Member USS LOWNDES, APA 154 P3 Although Lowndes has been scrapped maybe bell might exsist? |
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Will send further
information sheets concerning USS LOWNDES as they develop. |
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pace 1 |
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USS LOWNDES APA 1^4 Informati on Sheet No. 2 |
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Enclosed you will
find listing of a]] crewmembers who have been contacted to
date,the number is slowly growing. T wish I could do better job at
locating,but I just don t have enough time to spend on it. I have alot of
material and materials coming and photo s which some of you
maybe interested in seeing,! will be glad to send Xerox copies
of any,I will work anyway you wish on any materials. My problem is that
its getting to where I can t remember who s got what are what I
have previously sent,so if you reouest anything give me an idea of
what I have previously sent. I will try to make listing of
materials somet:me in near future. Some of you are
sending me money for postage it is very appreciated, si nee
postage is expensve,but I do not remi ire any, any money sent me
will be put in a fund USS LOWNDES Association with 2-3
crewmembers controlling account,really do not wish to get involved with any
money,but if you do send me any at present time, I will either
forward it to crewmember to put in account or start small account,for
future useage at reunion,or some type of Lowndes publication. I am very excited
at the response that has been coming in, reguards to the Lowndes. It is my hope that a reunion of you fellows could come about. I am in frenuent
contact with Richard Jones,Gene Engles, who will be helping
with details for Reunion, we need your help |
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also, if any of you
have any ideas please respond,we need help in securing more
crewmembers. We also need to know if you would come if one was
centrally located and what time of year would be the best for you,although
please understand we will have to choose whats best for the majority.
Well anyway this all maybe a little to premature,as of yet,but please
respond,your input is important. I wish I had more
information to send,at present. I am sure all USS LOWNDES Crewmembers wish Mrs. Herbert D.
Lemley,Dermott,Ark. a get well wish,she is in the hospital. Glad to hear Arvi1
Sefers is doing better with his hip. Many Thanks, to William Thomas Jr. who send me many photo s of the Lowndes crew and ship s activities. Will close for
now,Hope everyone is well and in Good Spirits. Your Friend (/fa Dan Wisdom For USS Lowndes
Members/Crew/ Mari nes |
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USS LOWNDES-A PA 154 |
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NEWSLETTER #3 |
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Dear USS LOWNDES CREWMEMBERS, Many new
Crewmembers have been located,as you can tell from additional Roster
pages (You should have 9 total pages now) many names come in
everyday. At present 50
Crewmembers have been located,if each of the 50 would locate 1
person we would have 100. Make use of local
paper and put an ad in it about forthcoming reunion,possibly
others could be located. I hope everyone
understands it is very difficult for me to make plans for
future reunion,si nee I was only related to former Crewmember, I don t
want to step on toes,possibly one of you fella s would like to head
the Reunion part,if you do please contact me and let me know of your
desires,it definitely will not bother me, other wise I will go
ahead and set date and place by mid January,because I wish to have it by
November 1989. Again,I have been in contact with over 50 people who have expressed an
enthusiastic and supportive interest in having a reunion. I am sure those who
have wives,girlfriends etc will want to come and meet,visit,and
en.joy a get-together. THERE IS ENOUGH INTEREST,SO LET S DO IT,r..YOU
DESERVE IT,BEEN LONG IN COMING! |
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Hopefully,by end January I will have more information
regarding |
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reunion
date,place,hotel requirements,registration fee,airport information,car
rentals,hopeful reunion activities and miscellaneous material* This is a
Tremendous
Job for me or whoever is Chairman, many mistakes will
occur,so don t get upset they are trying. If you have suggest!ns
give them,we need them. The format will always be flexible,so if you
have an idea,a change or whatever,let*s run it up the flagpole and
see if anyone salutes. I look forward to
meeting the many friends that I have been in contact with during
this venture* On behalf of USS LOWNDES Ship/Crew and Myself I hope Each one of you have THE BEST HOLIDAY SEASON YOU HAVE
EVER HAD* |
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With Kindest Regards and BEST WISHES |
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Sincerely, |
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Dan Wisdom,USS
LOWNDES Associate Member-APA
154-Rctm ion |
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PS A friend has access in acquiring total Lowndes Roster
during WW II,hopefully we will be able to
enclose you a copy sometime in future. MERRY
CHRISTMAS DJW |
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PAGE 1 |
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A PA 154 |
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1-15-80 |
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USS LOWNDES NEWSLETTER NUMBER 4 |
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HELLO CREWMEMBERS, Well another Christmas and New Year has come and pone and I hope all of you
had a Great Holiday Season! Many new Lowndes Crewmembers have been located in the past 4 weeks and
names just keep coming in. We must try and locate as many fella s as
we can so they can be informed of the Reunion events, coming up, AND NOW SHIPMATES
SHOWTIME **** **^****** ^* ^*************** The 1st Lowndes Reunion will be held in St. Louis,Missouri the latter part of
June ( date will be officially set soon,since we are checking into
Hotel accomidations) the biggest problem we are facing now is that
we need to know if you will attend(with wife, children,grandchildren^on close as possible). This would
give us an idea,for hotel
accomidations,so we can bargain with them. The hotel will send
out pre registration cards and will require a deposit,so your
room will be held,they will explain when they write you. We will also have to
charge a fee to take care of expenses such as Banquet
meal,meeting room,etc,also small registration fee. I know the above
seems like alot of expense,but planners are trying their best to give
you the Best Reunion possible at Lowest possible cost. Newsletter No.
5 will tell you of complete cost above,other than Hotel I am trying to draw
you an outline of some of the expenses, so it will give you an idea of the cost,pl ace,and
possible date,so |
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a commitement can be
made by you if your going to attend. I must know if your going
to attend or at least very probable,as soon as possible. I then
will forward to Earl Robertson and Gene Engles who are working on the above. I know money is in
short supply these days,but alot can be prepaid,monthly or
whatever,but don t let the 1st USS LOWNDES Reunion slip by, St. Louis Convention
and Visitors Commission is offeri ng their services to us and they have many exciting ideas,a
Reunion is being planned that you will not forget,we want this to be
a family event,bring children,grandkids and show them off. St. Louis is
centrally located that is why it was selected there will be some travelling for some,but make it a
vacation and enjoy the view. Newsletter No.5 will also contain brochures of
St. Louis and the many exciting things to do. Remember the USS LOWNDES contained the BEST FELLA S in the US NAVY think how much brighter St. Louis will become
when all you fella s arrive. I am also sending
this newsletter to deceased Crewmembers family as well and extending to them a personnel
invitation to attend, we would like for your attendance to be made. Everyone please
write let me know if you can possibly attend, so we will have a
figure to work from. I know this newsletter hasn t contained enough information,but newsletter No 5 should
have all |
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complete details and hopefully will
be out to you by end of February |
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USS LOWNDES (APA
154) |
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NEWSLETTER NUMBER 5 |
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Dear Crewmembers and
Friends, I must apologize for the delay in sending this
newsletter, but much has been
happening and it is a slow process to work out all the details to
putting on a reuni on,but the reunion committee has completed the
task at hand,and I might add did a excellent Job so at the present
time all engines are ahead full. The USS LOWNDES
reunion is scheduled for June 23,24,25 1989 at the Breckenridge
Lambert Hotel,St. Louis,Missouri. This is one of the
nicest hotels in St. Louis,with excellent facilities
pools,restaurant,pub lounge and all support services. Their guest services
office knows we are coming and will arrange tours,transportation,etc. Ladies,don t feel
left out,while your husbands in a meeting there will be a tour bus
that will take you around St. Louis for a small fee, or go swimming
or sauna or as some of us fellas,just don t like to think about,go
shopping. So there is more than just something for everybody,and
between coffee breaks,there is something to see and do. If I sound like I m
pushing hard -I am!!! We want You to come to this Reunion of the Best Fella s that Sailed the
Seas! Below is a tentative
schedule of some of the activities that will take place.
Remember tentative schedule and may change as we progress,correct schedules will be mailed or picked up at
the hospita lity room at the reunion. |
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LOWNDES NEWSLETTER NUMBER 5 |
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Reunion Schedule Tenative to be changed or modified as we progress# June 23rd Registration at the Lowndes desk,we have a hospitality room Friday
'afternoon and evening,so pick up your name tag and register and
meet everyone. June 24th~~Registration.Organizational meetings,group photographs, roll call,discuss
future plans,swap stories,histories etc,and prepare data
for booklet. A reunion booklet will be prepared by a
local photo shop. Banquet in
Evening(Time to be set) This is a catered dinner with a Lowndes
program. June 25th--Sunday
morning breakfast with memorial service. COSTS------- THE MOMENT OF TRUTH Rooms -All rooms are
delux,prices start at 45<OO single,50.00 double and 52.50 for single
suite. Registrations must be made by the individual(s). Rooms
will be held without prepayment as long notification is made
by enclosed card or telephone,there will be tax charge on
rooms. Registration Fee 25.00 per person-~And
I hate to mention that the registration fee is
most important,and is required by no later than May 23rd,this
is for banquet meal and Sunday breakfast. We will assume that
number attending will be amount enclosed. Please send all
registration fees to Earl Robertson,1520 E. Obear,St
Louis,Missouri 63107 telephone 314-534-4470. |
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Please send just
postcard and state if you are coming and possible how many to me as
soon as possible. Earl Robertson has
just had bypass heart surgery and should just be home by the
time you read this letter, his wife stated surgery went well, Drop him
a get well wish. Bud Kautz is doing a
excellent job on the Roster and helping to keep me
straight,and finding new members,also to all the Crewmembers who are sending
material and photo s to be used at Reuni on,Many Thanks, To those who have
sent stamp money as well,since postage as gotten quite higher since I
started. Enclosed is
additional listing to Roster not for sure if you have the new fella s
names. Will have complete Ships History pages 1-16 or 17 and Old
ships Roster as soon as it comes from Washington, will share with you
.if you request it or can be secured at Reunion. Will close for
now,Will see you soon in No. 5,Hope everyone well. A Friend of USS
LOWNDES APA 154 BEST WISHES djw Dan Wisdom PS If I ask for any money for Reunion expense I will give
you Crewmembei who will be in charge of such,please don t forward to me. |
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THANKS DJW |
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LOWNDES NEWSLETTER NUMBER 5 Make checks out to
Earl Robertson -Put note bottom check for Lowndes registration fee Miscellaneous
Information--Enclosed is information
from Delta Airlines which might
save you some money if you fly,be sure to use reference number E
18047- Some Fella s have
mentioned RV s--RV s are premitted on hotel premises,no charge,no
hookups though. RV hookups parking at 9n0 N. Jefferson and 7474
St. Charles Rock RD..Look at enclosed map to check location. 24 hr. shuttle free
transportation from airport,telephone or call board near baggage pickup. ' I know there will be
things left out of this newsletter,by all means check with me
or^reunion planners Earl Robertson,Gene Engles,Bud Kautz if you should have
any questions concerning above. Many thanks to above fella s for all
there hard work in getting this thing off the ground. I fully realize that
many of you may live on a budget like me, but by all means
don t miss out on the first Lowndes reunion,
Yes, in some ways it
sounds expensive,but don t be one of those fellas who say I should have
gone. We want to see you there and give you a good handshake and become
acquainted again,so you have changed a bit,more fella s will know you
than you think,so come out and join the BEST GROUP OF SAILORS IN THE NAVY. There will be some special surprises |
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APA 154 NEWSLETTER NUMBER, 5 |
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That you will not
want to miss! In closing this has
not been a easy task for me,although I have enjoyed it greatly
and have made many new friends,who I will cherish always* I will try
and send short reminder out before reunion, I will try my best to
keep searching for the rest of the Lowndes Crew, and with your help
maybe all can be located* In words of Mrs Leo Pothast,Recalling
the memories of those days will certainly bring back to life the
ship and her famous captain. Hope to see you in St, Louis*------- ---------------- |
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REMAIN ALWAYS A
FRIEND, Dan Wisdom |
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PS Enclosed are new fellas just
located. |
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page 1 |
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USS LOWNDES A PA 154 |
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MAY 1989 |
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SPECIAL EDITION |
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Crewmembers the time
for the 1st Lowndes Reunion is drawing near (June 23,24,25)
I hope that all of you are planning on attending Remember Earl
Robertson needs your registration fee,as soon as possible,so he can
make arrangements. I have talked with
Bud Kautz and he has an exciting schedule plan- ned for everyone. He
and Earl have relayed there will be a large number attending,so
don t stay at home watching TV Join in on the fun. Enclosed is an
updated Roster,Bud has put together for us,many new names have been
added,since the last Roster was sent. Several crewmembers
have asked about a Reunion Booklet or information they have recieved,
Yes, a booklet will be prepared cost will be $10.00 per booklet,if you
cannot attend make sure you send a photo to them anyway,so you can be
included. Bring all your
shipboard material,since everyone will enjoy seeing things from those
days. Remember,as the
cartoon at the bottom page states, ".just no use there all in St. LouisJ So don t head for that LCVP OR LCM or
back to the ship, set your course for
St. Louis and Hoop it Up,We want you there to renew old frienships and recall things from those days,this may
be a chance of a lifetime. Will
close hope to SEE YOU IN ST.LOUIS,KEEP WELL. USS LOWNDES *ST.
LOUIS Your Friend, Dan Wisdom |
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■ GO |
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Well,Its no use
going back again, THEY ALL WENT OVER
THE HILL TO ST. LOUIS |