USS Lowndes APA-154

Newsletter

MAY 1993

BUD KAUTZ

(2)

LYMAN "PAPPY" NEDEAU - Baldwin, MI - Long time no see, but it looks
like we might get together, (good Lord willing). Read in the VFW
magazine that there just might be a ship reunion. (Hey! Lym, we are
working on our 5th USS Lowndes Annual Reunion). Sounds wonderful
to me and only hope I can make it, for some unknown reason I believe
I may have missed reading about it if there was one before. I still
live in Michigan but spend about 6 months each winter in Florida.
Normally leave Michigan around the 1st of October and return about
the 1st of May. Please send all information that is available, you
can rest assured that I will be there if at all possible. Needless
to say, we don't buy green bananas anymore. Will send more information
when I return to Michigan. In answer to your question - where is Lake
Suzy? Have just spent the greater part of an hour talking to 5 people
at the main post office in Naples. Finally found out it's probably
in the Lakeland area. (How about specifics, McNamee?)

PAUL "PB" LINEBACK- Mount Airy, NC - Most treasured moments of my
life were aboard old APA154. Vivid memories include the slow trek from
Pearl to Florida Island where we dropped off 3000 buckets on the beach,
the day we crossed the International Date Line, the day we diverted
5 gall-ons of shrimp from officers mess to CPO locker and invited XO
6 Capt. Perdue to our shrimp fest at 0230 underway to Saipan. A great
moment we all remember for sure was being downwind of the USS Logan
in Saipan Harbor after she had been rammed and all the food had spoiled.
And of course our 2 beers and bologna sandwich and the ball games while
at Garripan Landing in Saipan. Then our 0230 steak dinner the morning
we arrived off Iwo Jima, then the wait, the exercises the practices
for the Okinawa campaign. Then the war was over and I received orders
to open Nav Sep Ctr, Minneapolis, MN. The Lowndes had a great crew,
and standing tall were Bob Hazelett, Jim Chilcote & Stan Dunn & myself
all spear headed by Ens, Leon Fougnies. It was great having an
administrative crew like those listed above.

________________________________ "Fueling at Sea" was

ELLIOTT T. PILCHARD

Oxnard, CA

a very special job of mine. I especially liked it 'cause
I was in control..the Capt. or exec. would never tell me
what to do. The tanker would set her course and do her
best to maintain it. I didn't look at the compass at all,
but would closely watch the bow of the tanker - when she
started to swing to port - I would put on a little left
rudder and the same when she would swing to starboard. .. I
had to maintain the same distance between our two ships
very exact so we wouldn't separate the fuel lines or ram
each other. It was our job to follow him...it's all up
to the helmsman. The same applies to transferring a man
between ships at sea in Breeches bouy. Remember how we
used to press our Blues and Whites? Fold ' em real nice
and put them under our mattress and sleep on them. It worked
out pretty well at that.

Breeches buoy

FRANKLIN T. JUDNITSCH - Park Rapids, MN - What I remember are just
a few bits and pieces, but what I remember, we were in port and the
evaporator room was shut down. Repairs were being made on the ship
and someone had opened a sea valve and didn't close it so sea water
flooded the room under the floor grates. It wasn't noticed until the
water reached the floor grates. The room had to be pumped out and all
electric motors removed, washed out with carbon tetrachloride, then
put together and tested, then reinstalled. Seems to me that there were
18 motors. Harley Workman may recall more to add to this. What port
we were in and who else was involved in this.

(3)

AGNES BENSIE- Parma, OH - Report on Lowndes Lovelies raffle (Aussie
hat full of money), returns coming in but still short of expectations.
Only 37% response. Still time to get your tickets in.

By * the way - Cliff Schaffer still has some souvenir USS Lowndes cups
and they will be available at the Boston reunion. Ditto on cookbooks.

MAY BIRTHDAYS --------- JUNE BIRTHDAYS

Fred Brinkman --------- John Jurica ----- Dean & Mary Fearing - May
Dean Fearing ---------- Arthur Rauseo --- Cliff & Mary Schaffer - June
Franklin Judnitsch ---- Robert Warnberg - John & Sally Vernale - June
----------------------- John Vernale ---- David & Joanne Long - July

The* John Morrissey's Celebrated 61 years of wedded bliss last March.

FRANKLIN JUDNITSCH - Park Rapids, MN - Dora and I won't be able to
attend the reunion in Boston this year, Dora had what they call a silent
heart attack and had very high blood pressure, it is under control
now. While in Salt Lake City last summer we had the opportunity to
visit with Harley Workman, after these many years had difficulty
remembering him. We wish you all a good time.

CONNIE MICHALSKI - Austin, TX - Introduction of a new line i-n our
catalog will prevent us from attending the reunion in Boston. Working
out plans for the 1995 reunion in Texas, details will follow in the
future News Letters. - -. .

DALLAS STRATTON- Belleview, FL - Lorene and I will celebrate our 50th
wedding anniversary on August 4th and plan a trip to Alaska so doubt
if we'll make it to Boston.

LORENE - Dallas keeps busy playing softball and deer hunting, so far
he has gotten 3 in Georgia, 1 in South Carolina and 1 in Pennsylvania.

AL RESETAR- Mount Pleasant, MI - Sorry, Jane and I will not be coming
to Boston this year. ,1 have had 2 complete knee replacements. Keep
us informed about next year.

WALT KARSON- Elk River, MN - I know I won't be able to make the reunion
in Boston this year. Sure would like to see that town. After boot camp
at Great Lakes I was shipped to Boston . I don't recall how long I
was there, but I got around a little while there. One place I remember
very well was "Locke Ober" a grand eating place and - - - . Had a
few happy hours there. At times talked to crewmen coming in from the
Atlantic convoy runs. First taste of what the Navy was all about. Maybe
the place is still there.

JOEL RODRIQUEZ - Hidalgo, TX - Working on a possible reunion in Texas
for 1994 If unable to attend Boston will send information to be
discussed at business meeting.

LEO O'BRIEN - Baldwin, MA - Another mode of transportation to Boston worth looking
into is Amtrack arrives at south station. Not too far from the hotel. A pleasant
way to travel.

(4)

THE FOLLOWING SHIPMATES AND THEIR LADIES HAVE TENTATIVELY INDICATE
THAT THEY PLAN TO ATTEND THE BOSTON REUNION:

Ed & Agnes Bensie
Fred & Roberta Brinkman
Sally Cary & John (Son)
Howard & Lois Chappell
James Chilcote
Frank Dubois
Stanley Dunn
John & Lebby Dyer
Bud & Jean Kautz
Don & Shirley Lorenzi
Clark & Eve Martin
Henry & Dolores McNamee
Leo & Margaret O'Brien
Charles & Carole Robins
Art & Marjorie Rauseo
Cliff & Mary Schaffer
Bill & Amelia Taylor
George & Glenda Tuppan
Walt & Jackie Umbarger
John & Sally Vernale
Frank & Alice Wanits

Leo is getting a little nervous so please, any others planning to
attend, let the poor guy know as soon as possible. Tomorrow would be
fine. We don't want Margaret to have a basket case on her hands.

Located Ernest Scott - See enclosed roster lists for additional
changes. If there are any errors please let me (Bud) know.

The Bowman/Richards Memorial committee are working on a combination
reunion and dedication service in Texas sometime in 1995. As plans
are formulated they will be noted in future News Letters. Have contacted
Mrs. Richards (Norman's Mother), she informs us that she has doubts
about attending the dedication, but time will tell.

Leo also reports that Joseph's Aquarium on the waterfront has fine
lobster dinners - before 5PM $11.95 - after 5PM $13.95. How many people
in our group were aware that Wheel of Fortune was filmed in Boston
during the month of May and the cast stayed at the Park Plaza?

This little item should make Texans happy: McDonald's restaurant serve
the equivalent of 2,250 head of cattle to hamburger-hungry customers.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT - MAY 20, 1993

Balance December 31, 1992 $1720.98
Income

Contributions - 12/31/92 - 5/20/93 $35.00
Interest 13.13
Bowman/Richards Memorial Fund 110.00
Cookbooks 15.00

$173.13
$1893.52

Expenses

Printing

$90.55
68.40
8.73

Postage

Printing supplies

$167.68

Savings account balance - May 20, 1993 $1725.84

The above statement does not take- into account the expenses of printing
and mailing the June issue of this News Letter. It can be determined
that contributions have declined drastically in the past year.