THE WARDROOM CLUB
Monthly Newsletter
Into Our Second Century · Organized 1899 · Boston, Massachusetts
www.wardroomclub.org
Board of
Board
of Governors
Governors
President ...................................................................................................................CAPT
Michael
E. Field,
USN(Ret)
(Ret)
President������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
CAPT Jules
B. Selden,
USMC
VicePresident��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
President ...............................................................................................................
CDR Colby
Rottler, USNR
(Ret)
Vice
CAPT Randall
D. Preston,
USN (Ret)
Secretary ........................................................................................................................COL
Collins,
USMCR
Secretary������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������CAPT
Mary JoJoseph
Majors,F.NC,
USNR
(Ret)
Treasurer ......................................................................................................................CAPT
PaulMockler,
P. Daley,USCG
USNR(Ret)
(Ret)
Treasurer������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������CAPT
Richard
Member-at-Large
.................................................................................................CDR RobertDavid
J. Zemaitis,
USNR(RET)
(Ret)
Assistant
Treasurer�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������COL
Wall, USMC
Member-at-Large
���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������MAJ Richard D. Brown,
(Ret)
Active Services Liaison.........................................................................................................CAPT
ScottUSMCR
Keene, USCG
Active
Service
Liaison���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
Timothy J.Jr.,
Heitsch,
USCG
Immediate
Past
President ............................................................... CAPT James CAPT
L. McGuinness
USMCR
(Ret)
Immediate
Past.......................................................................................................CDR
President����������������������������������������������������������������������������CAPTCharles
Robert W.
D. Holland,
USN (Ret)
Wine Steward
Collins, USNR
(Ret)
Wine
Steward����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������Reid
Chaplain
...............................................................................................................CAPT George A. Ripsom, USNROlsin
(Ret)
Chaplain����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������COL
W.D.Steiner,
USAR
Assistant Secretary ..............................................................................................CAPT John
Robert
Holland,
USN(Ret)
(Ret)
Assistant
Myles J.T.McCabe,
USNR
AssistantSecretary��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������CDR
Treasurer .........................................................................................LCDR Stephen
Witowski,
USN(Ret)
(Ret)
Assistant Treasurer��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������COL Charles L. Hyland, USAF (Ret)
Historian ......................................................................................................................... LCDR John H. Lok, USNR (Ret)
Historian������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� LCDR John H. Lok, USNR (Ret)
Newsletter Editor ................................................................................................LCDR David W. Graham, USNR (Ret)
Newsletter Editor��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� LCDR David W. Graham, USNR (Ret)
FEBRUARY 2015 NEWSLETTER
MEETING DATE: WEDNESDAY – 18 February 2015
(Please note: Third Wednesday of the month)
LOCATION: : Coast Guard Base Boston
427 Commercial Street Boston, MA – The Function Hall
TIME: Social Hour from 1800
Dinner at 1900
PRICE: Members, Guests and Prospective Members of the
Class of 2015 - $45.00
Walk-ins - $50.00
SPEAKER: CAPT C. Andrew McCawley, USN (Ret)
President and CEO - New England Center for Homeless Veterans
ENTRÉE: ITALIAN NIGHT by Talk-of-the-Town Caterers
MESSAGES FROM THE PRESIDENT
I first want to thank our Vice-President, Randy Preston for rather suddenly having to take over in January,
at a time when I was down for an ailment that took me into a brief stay with my physician during our
meeting. I guess you can say that is why they invented Vice-Presidents!
It was reported to me that for January, we had 131 members, including 23 “Blue Suits” represented by our
friends at the United States Coast Guard. This is a rather impressive number, given a cold New England
winter evening! Not too long ago, we’d marvel at having numbers in the high two-digits. I especially want
to thank Rear Admiral Linda L. Fagan, USCG - Commander, First Coast Guard District – Boston, for
being with us in January for our traditional Coast Guard Night at the Wardroom Club. Additional reports
coming to me were strongly enforcing how enlightening her presentation was in bring us up-to-date in the
world of today’s Coast Guard. Again, thank you, Admiral Fagan.
This month, we will be hearing from CAPT Andy McCawley on the plight of the homeless veteran and the
truly remarkable work of Andy and his staff at the New England Center for Homeless Veterans, on behalf
of the men and women who have given so much of themselves for our nation.
1
Lastly, a word on the 2015 Wardroom Club dues. Simply put, if you haven’t submitted your dues for this
year, I shall make a fervent plea for you to do so. We don’t want to lose any member if it can be avoided.
Jules B. Selden, President
23 Hemlock Drive
Norwell, MA 02161
E-Mail: [email protected]
Home Phone: 781/987-1219
Daytime Phone: 617/645-4197
NOTES FROM THE VICE-PRESIDENT
Once again, the deadline for membership in the class of 2015 has been extended from December 31st to
March 18th. Wednesday, March 18th happens to be the date of our final meeting before the New Member
Reception and the April subsequent vote of the club members for those seeking membership in the
Wardroom Club via the class of 2015. This change is intended to ease the burden for prospective members
to achieve the required attendance at two regular club meetings and for sponsors to assemble complete
membership application packages. This change is fully compatible with the club’s By-Laws. The 18th of
March, however, is a hard deadline. Applications that are not complete by that date will be carried over to
the class of 2016.
The applications and the status of those applications for the class of 2015 that I currently hold are:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
CDR Dan Crouch, USN (Ret) – Application complete
LCDR Brian Doherty, USNR – Application complete
LCDR Robert Downing USNR (Ret) – Missing BOG introduction**
LCDR Peter Eschauzier USNR (Ret) – Application complete
CDR Jeffery King, USNR (Ret) – Missing BOG introduction**
LTC Fred Maguire, USA (Ret) – Application complete
COL Joseph Moynihan USAF (Ret) – Missing BOG introduction**
Major (Select) Michael Petit, USMCR – Application complete
LT Larry Post, USCG – Missing attendance and BOG introduction**
CDR Luke Reid, USCG (Ret) – Application complete
ENS James “Mic” Byrne, USN – Active Service
Our VP presenting the Paul Revere bowl to
RDML Fagan. Photo credit – John Cahill
** Sponsors, please note -
A full description of the required process for nominating prospective members to the club can be found on
2
the Club website (www.wardroomclub.org). The number of applications for regular membership that can
be approved is unlimited. This is also true for the number of Active Service members.
Active Service membership is managed by the Active Service Liaison on the Board of Governors, CAPT
Timothy J. Heitsch, USCG. For the Active Service category, please e-mail applications to CAPT Heitsch
at [email protected]. Note, applications for Active Service Members can submitted at any time
throughout the club season. Active Service membership is approved by the Board at regular monthly
meetings of the Board of Governors.
Meanwhile, as Associate Membership remains extremely limited. There are currently no open positions
for Associate Membership and applications are being held by me. They will be acted on, on a first-come,
first-serve basis, when open positions are available. Sponsors proposing members in the Associate Member
category will be notified when an opening becomes available for their candidate.
Please send all Regular and Associate Member applications to:
Randall D. Preston
126 George Hill Road
Grafton, MA 01519-1416
E-Mail: [email protected]
A NOTE FROM THE CLUB TREASURER
I am pleased to be able to report to you that we now have an Assistant Treasurer to fill the position held
by the late Chuck Hyland! He is COL Dave Wall, USMC. Because the dues process for 2015 is now largely
behind us, most of Dave’s duties will be held for the 2016 dues process. Meanwhile, Dave will be backing
me up with a learning-curve during the remainder of this season.
THE WARDROOM CLUB DUES PROCESS FOR 2015 is now history - LAST CALL was in January. For
those who haven’t paid their 2015 dues, this will likely be your final edition of our newsletter, as we will be
removing your name from the Wardroom club roster. Once again, we sincerely hope that this final step will
not be necessary!!!. If you are a Regular or an Associate member and have yet to pay your 2015 dues - - PLEASE DO TAKE NOTICE!!! Meanwhile if you have lost your dues invoice, please contact me at once!
We do not want to lose anyone through a lack of due diligence to the dues process!!! A word to the wise - - -
CAPT Rick Mockler, USCG (Ret)
40 Holland Road
Melrose, MA 02176
E-Mail: [email protected]
781/665-8560
CLUB NOTES
NOTABLE FEBRUARY DATES AND EVENTS – (A series that is contributed monthly by Past President
CAPT Harry H. Weinberg, SC, USN - Ret)
The genesis of the Wardroom Club can be traced to the sinking of the USS Maine in Havana
Harbor on 15 February 1898. This act led to the Spanish-American War that brought the founders
3
of the Wardroom Club together into the Naval Service as part of the Massachusetts Naval Militia.
Following the war, these web-footed militia men who trained aboard the USS Minnesota located
in Boston Harbor started up a dining club ashore that became The Wardroom Club. By the way,
Minnesota’s ship wheel and binnacles are owned by the Wardroom Club and are on permanent loan
to MIT’s Navy ROTC where they are on display in their office.
The USS Minnesota was a survivor of the CSS Virginia’s (formerly USS Merrimack) attack on the
Union’s fleet at anchor in Hampton Roads during the United States Civil War. Only the emergence of
the USS Monitor saved the day for the Union. One can say The Wardroom Club has a seven degree
of separation with the Civil War and President Abraham Lincoln who authorized the building of
Monitor. 12 February is also Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.
Speaking of birthdays, 23 February is also the 220th birthday of the Navy Supply Corps. Happy
Birthday Chops!
One of the most recognized events in the rich history of the Marine Corps occurred on 23 February
1945 when five Marines and a Navy Hospital Corpsman raised the American flag on Mount Suribachi
at Iwo Jima. This flag-raising was captured for eternity by New York Times’ photographer Joe
Rosenthal. It became the model for the Marine Corps Memorial in Arlington, VA. (Editor’s note:
See the 70th anniversary photo at the end of this article)
And lest we forget, 22 February is the birthday of our first President, George Washington.
February is the shortest month, but it is rich in historical events.
Year Date Event
1778 14
John Paul Jones in Ranger receives first salute to US flag by a
European country at Quilberon, France.
1779 04
John Paul Jones takes command of Bon Homme Richard.
1795 23
Navy Supply Corps Birthday.
180007 USS Essex becomes first navy ship to cross Equator.
1801 03
Peace treaty ending undeclared naval war with France approved.
180416 USS Intrepid (Stephen Decatur) burns captured USS Philadelphia
at Tripoli.
181516 USS Constitution captures British ship Susannah after War of
1812 ended ala General Jackson in New Orleans.
1846 18
Terms “Port” and Starboard” established by General Order.
1856 15
USS Supply commanded by LT David Porter loads 21 camels
intended for experimental use in the American desert. And you
thought camels in the United States was a joke.
1862 06
Union gunboats capture Fort Henry, Tennessee River. Riverine
warfare 100 years before it became Riverine warfare.
1864 17
Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley sinks USS Housatonic.
189815 Battleship Maine blows up in Havana Harbor.
1909 22
Great White Fleet returns from around the world cruise to
Hampton Roads, VA
1922 06
World powers sign Washington Naval Treaty limiting armament.
1933 25
USS Ranger commissioned; first aircraft carrier.
1942 17
First Seabees arrive on Bora Bora.
1942 20
LT Butch O’Hare flying from USS Lexington downs 5 enemy
planes; earns MOH. O’Hare Field in Chicago named for him.
1943 02
Germans surrender at Stalingrad.
1943 09
Organized Japanese resistance on Guadalcanal ends.
1945 04
Yalta Conference. Stalin agrees to declare war on Japan.
1945 19
D-Day. Marines land on Iwo Jima.
1945 23
Five Marines and Navy hospital corpsman raise flag on Iwo Jima.
4
1945 23
1955 01
1962 20
1971 05
1972 22
1991 28
Prisoners at Los Banos internment camp in Philippines liberated.
Operation Deep Freeze established.
LtCol. John Glenn becomes first American to orbit Earth.
CAPT Alan Shepherd lands on moon. He becomes first person to
hit a golf ball on the moon.
LTJG Barbara Ann Allen becomes first female Naval aviator.
Desert Storm ends.
Feb. 23, 1945: U.S. Marines of the 28th Regiment, 5th Division, raise the American flag atop Mt. Suribachi,
Iwo Jima. Strategically located only 660 miles from Tokyo, the Pacific island became the site of one of the
bloodiest, most famous battles of World War II against Japan. (AP Photo/Joe Rosenthal)
FROM YOUR NEWSLETTER EDITOR –
This is sort of a continuing article within your monthly newsletter, as we announce that the date of the
coming meeting is always up front. Generally, they are held on the third Wednesday of each month.
Also within each edition, we offer you the opportunity to contribute to this, your newsletter. To do so, you
are not required to be a “wordsmith” - - - Just send us whatever you may have and we’ll find a way to work
it into the next issue, or the issue of your desire. Submission deadlines are normally on the last Tuesday of
the month preceding the next month’s meeting. Contacting me is fairly easy; I can either be reached at my
e-mail address or you may call me on my IPhone. Both methods are listed below. One way or the other, I
am certain we can make whatever you may have, work very well.
David W. Graham, Newsletter Editor
E-Mail: [email protected]
IPhone: 617/335-2198 (with voice-mail)
5
BELATED TAPS – Quite by accident through the recently published obituary of his wife Ann, have we
learn of the passing a few years ago of one of our former club secretaries, CAPT Bob Leverone. In full
retirement, Bob and Ann had moved to Vero Beach, Florida. If memory serves your editor correctly (it
doesn’t always), Bob Leverone was the club’s secretary during the 1990s. However, we do know that Bob
was last listed in our club roster of 2004. If you are aware of a more accurate time-frame for Bob’s service
to the club, please contact your newsletter editor and we’ll be happy to publish a correct time when Bob
served as our secretary.
PLEASE WELCOME OUR NEW WINE STEWARD –
Last month’s “Help Wanted Ad” in the January newsletter seeking a Wine Steward has paid-off! Happily,
Associate Member Reid Oslin has volunteered to fill this all-important position within the Wardroom
Club. BRAVO/ZULU, Reid!!! Reid’s task these days requires him to be in close coordination with the Base
Functions Room management, Kevin DeBoth. Suggestions for our new Wine Steward may be brought inperson to Reid Oslin or he may be contacted at [email protected]. Welcome aboard, Reid!
FROM THE 2015 NOMINATING COMMITTEE Now that we are firmly into 2015, this year’s Nominating Committee will begin soliciting names of club
members who may be willing to serve on the Board of Governors during the next season. There can be
no better way of getting to “know how the club ticks”, than to serve as a member of the Board. Interested
parties are encouraged to contact our club secretary at the earliest possible convenience.
You are encouraged to contact our Club Secretary if you have an interest in serving on the upcoming
Nominating Committee.
MEMORIES FROM THE CLUB HISTORIAN
From Past President, Paul Keane, the Wardroom Archives of our 1993 Ladies Night held at HAFB Officers’
Club reveal an interesting photo and a brief article.
Captains George Ripsom and Don Husmann co-chaired the event which attracted over 200 attendees.
Special guests of honor were Mrs. Thomas Hudner and Mrs. George Street, whose husbands are Medal of
Honor recipients and Wardroom club members.
The 66th Arleigh Burke Class Guided Missile Destroyer (DDG116), currently under construction in Bath,
Maine, will be named the Thomas J. Hudner Jr. in recognition of his heroic action during the Korean
conflict.
6
In this now nearly 22-year old photo, we have
from left to right, Captain and Mrs. Tom
Hudner, Captain and Mrs. George Street, and
Captain and Mrs. Paul Keane, then Wardroom
Club President.
Ladies Nights have now been part of our annual
December Spouses Night, which continue to be
a big success at the Wardroom Club.
John H. Lok – Club Historian
E-Mail: [email protected]
Phone Number: 508/525-7605 (Cell)
NOTES FROM THE CLUB SECRETARY
Happy Valentine’s Day and Mardi Gras month greetings to everyone! I do hope this note finds you happy
and healthy and doing well despite this cold New England winter weather!
The January meeting went very, very well and it was absolutely wonderful to have so many USCG active
duty officers from the USCG commands in Boston attend and participate in the WRC annual tribute to
the Coast Guard! I extend a special thank you to one of our active service members, CAPT Verne Gifford,
USCG, Chief of Staff for District One, who coordinated the communication with the commands and me to
register our special guests. I think that all who were there enjoyed the delicious meal, the conversations, the
networking, the camaraderie, and some excellent mentoring that was shared amongst the officers from all
the military service members of the WRC.
I remind you to please send your meeting response card and check for the February meeting to me in the
enclosed pre-addressed envelope as soon as possible and to contact me by telephone or e-mail if you have
any questions about the meeting and/or need to tell me that your response will be delayed, last minute, or
if you will be coming and plan to pay at the door. This will keep to a minimum the number of “Walk-In”
attendees. We are always happy to see you there and have you join us!
Special note regarding this month’s menu: “Ash Wednesday” is also on February18th this year and in
respect to our members who want to abstain from eating meat on that day, I am arranging with the caterer
for our annual Italian night dinner to offer a selection of delicious meatless Italian entrees and a side of a
meat selection to accommodate everyone’s choice. I am sure the meal will be outstanding!
The security guards, as usual, at the Coast Guard Base will be provided a complete list of ALL Wardroom
Club members and guests for your arrival at the Base parking lot. Members and guests will be required to
show a valid photo ID at the gate-house prior to entrance onto the base parking lot.
I look forward to seeing you this month! Take care and be well!
Mary Jo Majors, Secretary
30 Dudley Street
North Cambridge, MA 02140
E-Mail: [email protected]
Cell Phone: 617-285-2571
7
8