USS BELL ASSOCIATION (DD587)
DECEMBER, 2000
AT LAST A WEB SITE!
For all of you that have access to
the Internet, you can view the web site of the USS Bell by going to
www.ussbelldd587.org. You can get the latest in news and also see
pictures from the days on the
Really wish everyone could have made the
cruise. We had a wonderful time. The weather was nice and only a tiny bit
of rough water. The ship was so big
that it was hard to notice. The
highlight of the cruise was while we were docked in
Mail has been returned from Joseph & Frances
Sandoval and Jean McWilliams.
Anyone knowing their whereabouts please let me know.
We have found some new shipmates! Gordon Seneff and Howard Sheffer. Welcome aboard!
Ed Glenn sent me an old reel of microfilm and
I took it to a microfilm company to see if they could improve the images. It was very difficult to read in some
places. They were able to clear it
up a little and transferred the information to a diskette. I have gone through all of the
information and pulled off all that was legible.
I am now trying to locate the names on the Internet. If I find any names that resemble the
names I am looking for I will send out flyers to those people to see if they are
the missing shipmate or any member of their family.
Hopefully we can locate even more. I will list the names in the next
newsletter.
….. I am researching information on the USS Bell. My Father-in-law Howard Sheffer was a
gunner’s mate on this destroyer and I wish to gather as much information as
possible to surprise him with the memories.
I contacted Mr. Mario Capitanio and he said there was a recent
…..Joe Linkiewicz
…..Thanks for sending the info on
the
…..Gordon Seneff
…..Hi shipmates of the USS BELL
DD587. Bill Hurley Soundman 2/c
here. Sorry I have not written
sooner, procrastination at its highest.
It all seems like a short time ago to me.
I did my boot camp at Great Lakes, Ill., in 42.
From there to Charleston, SC for sonar school. Assigned to the Bell early 43 and
decommissioned her in 46. My battle
station was No#1 5in. gun mount as a trainer.
I remember Jack Haley, Bob Moore and some of the others in our group. It has been a long time. I got married in 1965 and I guess I
waited a long time, but it was worth it.
I have a lovely wife. Her name is
Mary Ann. I have two children, a girl and a boy and
this year I became a Grandfather for the 1st time at 74. We have a Rose Garden that keeps us busy.
We have about 300 roses and we show them.
We won Best of Show two years ago. I
am still employed with General Motors, but will probably be retiring soon.
Had a heart attack in 1989.
Almost did not make it. It was
close. Mary Ann’s health is fair. Her knees are bad and being a diabetic
does not help. Have a wonderful time
on your cruise. I wish we could make
it with you, but not this year.
Enclosed is a check for my dues and a cap.
I will wear it with pride. Thanks
again for the memories. Keep it
coming and may God bless all of you for a job well done.
Bye for now, your shipmate.
…..Bill Hurley
…..Many thanks to you for editing
the newsletter. We really appreciate
the work and time you put into putting in out and keeping us all informed of the
goings on with the USS Bell crew and events.
You do a great job. We have
missed the last several reunions, so that makes the newsletter all the more
enjoyable. Enclosed is a check for
the dues and I would also like a cap.
Many thanks.
…..Cliff Wallace
…..Yesterday, I received the Moore
Memories. I look forward to
receiving it. I don’t think I ever
have told you my wife is on oxygen 24 hours a day and our travel is very
limited. When I put this last copy of Moore
Memories in my folder I came across a letter I received from Wally. I know you would enjoy reading it. I have underlined SAILING NEWS. It was a newsletter that Ben Lipkin and I
put out. I sure would like to read
one now. It would bring memories. I have a change of address. 698 S. Deer Creek Lane, Sierra Vista, AZ
85635. Tel. 520-417-2666. E-mail address
dd197@earthlink.com. Enclosed is a check for dues and a cap.
…..Ralph Marino
(I really enjoyed the letter from
Mr. Moore. If I have room in this
newsletter I will print it. If not,
I will get it in the next one.
Thanks.)
…..It was so nice to talk with you.
I really enjoyed it. We’ll be looking forward to meeting you
hopefully in the near future. Maybe
next year we can come to the reunion.
Here is some dues money and please send two caps.
God bless you and yours.
…..Jim & Lou Faith
…..Received your recent letter and
brought to mind the paying of dues.
Sorry I am slow. Do wish we
could join all on the cruise as we have never been in the Caribbean, only off
the coast of California. Greetings
to all. We are well but moving so much slower. Russ plays golf once a week and delivers
meals to the shut-ins in our building.
Also cook dinner once a month for our Bingo night here in our condo
(about 40 dinners). Keeps us busy
along with time spent with our two beloved granddaughters. Life has been good to us and we
appreciate it. Would like to take a
trip to Chicago to see our friends and family this year but in cool weather. Will see what is in store for us. Happy sailing to all.
…..Russell & Ann Haberle
…..Best wishes for a great reunion.
…..Graham Thorpe
…..I feel like I’m answering the
letter of a dear friend. That’s how
you make me feel when I get “Moore Memories’!
You make them so warm, so personal and although I can’t make the
reunions, I almost feel I’ve been there.
The memories of the ones we did attend sustain me. Been without Ed (SKI) for 11 years now
and his memory lives on in our 2 children, 9 grandchildren and almost 14 great
grandchildren. At 81, I’m enjoying
good health and a wonderful companion.
I spread joy as “Storyteller” for 2 senior groups. By the way, I’d appreciate receiving any
stories or jokes to share with them.
As I say to my Seniors – “Keep Smiling”.
…..Fran Vershowske
…..Enclosed is a check for
membership dues. We appreciate all
your efforts to keep the shipmates together in these later years. We were unable to make the cruise that
you organized, however, we did fly to St. Paul, Minn. And had a great evening
with Doug & Terri Wetherby and had a great dinner in a German restaurant nearby.
The next morning we invited them to visit us on the American Queen, a steam
paddle boat that travels up and down the Miss. River.
We sailed from St. Paul to St. Louis, a seven-day trip and it was really great! The scenery on that part of the river is
beautiful. This was out second trip
on this boat. A year earlier, we
sailed from Memphis to New Orleans.
We really recommend these trips on the River!
I’m sure all the shipmates remember Doug & Terri’s great efforts as secretary of
the Association and their hosting a reunion in St. Paul a number of years ago.
We send our best wishes to all!
…..Gordon & Mary Jane Schley
…..Enclosed please find check for
dues and a cap. Sorry we have not
been able to attend any reunions but hopefully in the future things will work
out. I served aboard the USS Bell
from 1943 to 1946 after enlisting in the Navy at age of 17. After my discharge I joined the Naval
Reserve in Pittsburgh and was called in to serve for 13 months aboard the USS
MARKAB AD21 during the Korean crisis.
My wife & I are retired and live in rural central Pennsylvania, about 1 ½ hours
from Penn State. Out family includes
4 children, 10 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Appreciate the newsletter!
…..Bob Ludwig
…..Many thanks indeed for sending
me the cap which will make quite a splash at our next Services Golf Day. I am sure that the reunion will go well. It sounds extremely good fun, but
unfortunately we will be in Australia until February of next year, having just
returned from Europe. We will of
course be enjoying (we hope) our skiing holiday in Squaw Valley in California
where we have been skiing for nearly thirty years and certainly hope to continue
to ski for the next four years because at 85 years they pay me $5 a day to ski! I certainly don’t want to miss that! Again, best wishes to all hands and happy
reunions. Kindest regards.
…..Graham Thorpe
Richard and Barbara Daniels will
host our next reunion. Here are the
plans to date. The reunion will be
held in Newport, Rhode Island at the Best Western Mainstay Inn. Arrival date will be October 16, 2001 and
departure date will be October 20, 2001.
There will be a Welcome Buffet on arrival day at the Mainstay. The Banquet will be on October 19, 2001
at the Newport Naval Base Officers’ Club.
Tentative plans are to hold the Memorial Service aboard the USS
Massachusetts, Battleship Cove, Fall River.
Also plans for a tour of Providence and Jamestown and tour of Newport
Mansions. Friday will be a free day
to do as you wish. There is
excellent transportation to Newport (50 cents) and to Providence about $2.00. The phone number for the Best Western
Mainstay Inn is toll free 1-877-545-5550.
Be sure when you call to mention USS BELL reunion October 16-19. Confirmation agreement of the hotel
should be received by the time you get this newsletter.
Anyone wishing to go early and/or stay late will be able to do so. Rates will be averaged or adjusted. There really is a lot to see and do there
with something for everyone – antiques, discount shops and tons of history.
There are special activities that hopefully will continue into October 2001.
These plans will be firmed up within the next few weeks and I will send
out a flyer with all information.
This will be a beautiful time of the year in New England. I hope lots of you can and will be able
to attend.
Here is the letter from Wally Moore
to Ralph Marino.
Hi Sailor! Great to find you. Thanks for writing. Did you know that there is a USS Bell
reunion association and that we have had two reunions?
One in 1979 in Warren, Ohio and the second one in 1981 in Sarasota, FL,
and our next reunion will be in Tulsa, Okla. October 19-21 in 1983, every two
years. Our roster of officers and
crew now number about 130. We have
been having a great time and hope you will be with us in 1983. I have been acting chairman for the last
four years with Gordon Schley (Soundman) later Capt. USN Ret. Acting as Secy.
Treas. I came aboard in Boston 1943
and left the same time you did in January 1946.
I was a QM 3/c when Capt. Gabbert came aboard, a seaman under Capt.
Petross in #5 handling room. I was a
curly headed, long nose, skinny kid of 18.
Drew cartoons for the “Sailing News”, painted the little Bell on the
bridge and played the drums in the jazz band.
I was the Quartermaster of the Watch during GQ. Some of the men attending the reunions
you will remember are: Al (Skinhead)
Anundson (Chief MM), Alex Burchardt WT, Mario (Cappy) Capitanio MM, Joe Conrow
WT, Radar Colbert Fireman, Kenny Gowan Chief MM, Bennie Green MM, Al Hammer
Chief MN, Isadore Kleiner Chief Boilertender, Harold Hughes WT, Al Lewis
Shipfitter, Chief Kenny Olson Pharmacist Mate, Red Reames Master at Arms, Capt
Shupper, George Shoemaker, Wayne Clark Shipfitter & mailman, Mike DiVeronica
Seaman, Bob DeWolf Seaman, George DeMars Elec. Mate, Ens. Clark Officer, Marty
Corbell Officer (gunnery), Rex Gilliam Officer (gunnery), Fred Kniehl Yeoman,
Maurice Moe QM, Harry Ottey Fire Control, Bill Roborecki Torp, Sanders brothers
Bill and Glen cooks, Bill Tindall & Roy Tower Signalmen.
I could go on and on. We will send you a complete roster of the
association. Now please as soon as
possible send me the addresses of Lt. Kent Ellis, Herbert S. Grabiner, Benjamin
Lipkin and Edward V. English. I
shall forward your letter to Gordy Schley (Secy. Treas) who will put you on the
roster and bring you up to date. The
name of the game is to keep in touch and being aboard the USS Bell reunion
association is the way to go.
Certainly wonderful to hear from you.
Hope to hear from you soon with the new addresses.
Best of luck. God be with
you. Your friend and shipmate, Wally Moore, QM
USS Bell DD587.
Continued from last newsletter –
More destroyers sunk during World War II
DeHAVEN (DD-469) – Bombed and sunk
off Guadalcanal, 1st February 1943.
Loss of 167 of crew and wounded 78.
DREXLER (DD-741) – Hit by 1
Kamikaze planes off Okinawa and sunk, 28th May 1945. Loss of 158 of crew and wounded 52. Sank less than 1 minute.
DUNCAN (DD-485) – Sunk by gunfire
during Battle of Savo Island 12th October 1942. 48 killed.
EDSALL (DD-219) – Sunk by Japanese
warships south of Java, 1st March 1942.
GLENNON (DD-620) – Sunk by mine and
shore batteries off Normandy, 10th June 1944. Loss of 25 of crew and
wounded 38. Sank at 2145.
GWIN (DD-433) – Torpedoed and sunk
by Japanese destroyers during Battle of Kolombangara, 13th July 1943.
Loss of 61 of crew.
HALLIGAN (DD-584) – Sunk by mine
off Okinawa, 26th March 1945.
Loss of 150 of crew. Hulk was
washed ashore.
HAMMANN (DD-412) – Torpedoed and
sunk by Japanese submarine I-168 following Battle of Midway, 6th June
1942. Loss of 80 of crew.
HENLEY (DD-391) – Torpedoed and
sunk by Japanese submarine RO-108 off Finschafen, New Guinea, 3rd
October 1943. Loss of 15 of crew. Sank at 1829.
HOEL (DD-533) – Sunk by Japanese
warships off Samar, Battle of Leyte Gulf, 25th October 1944. Loss of 253 of crew. Rolled over at 0855 and sank.
HULL (DD-3500) – Foundered in
typhoon off Luzon, 18th December 1944. 62 survivors. 1100 were locked in irons.
INGRAHAM (DD-444) – Sunk in
collision with oiler Chemung in fog off Nova Scotia, 22nd August
1942.
JACOB JONES (DD-130) – Torpedoed
and sunk by German submarine U-578 off Cape May, NJ, 28th February
1942. 11 survivors.
JARVIS (DD-393) – Sunk by Japanese
aircraft off Guadalcanal, 9th August 1942. Sank with all hands, sank at 1300. 241 killed and 6 wounded.
JOHNSTON (DD-557) – Sunk by
Japanese warships off Samar, Battle of Leyte Gulf, 25th October 1942.
Loss of 186 men, 92 were alive in the water but were never found.
To be continued…
WISHING EVERYONE A VERY WONDERFUL HOLIDAY
SEASON AND A NEW YEAR FILLED WITH LOTS OF GOOD THINGS. AND REMEMBER –“NEVER
WASTE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TELL SOMEONE YOU LOVE THEM!”