MOORE MEMORIES
USS BELL
ASSOCIATION (DD587)
JANUARY, 2006
IN THIS ISSUE:
REUNION INFORMATION
MAILBAG
MISCELLANEOUS
Hello Shipmates, Family Members and Friends of the USS BELL.
Well, we are flying into another year and I am trying to figure out
just what I do with my time. I think I am busy 24/7 but can’t seem to see
any progress. I think the possibility exists that I am a wee bit older and
just don’t move quite as fast. Well, so much for that. I do hope
that you all had a wonderful Christmas Season and made lots a great New Years
resolutions.
REUNION INFORMATION
Our reunion in Washington DC
was a memorial occasion. Our hotel accommodations were very nice and how
exciting to see all the attendees upon arrival. A welcome reception was
held in the Hospitality Room. We toured the District of Columbia on our first day.
We viewed from the bus the US Capitol, Library of Congress, Supreme Court
Building, White House, Federal
Triangle, Embassy Row, and visited the Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam, Korean and Marine Corps (Iwo Jima) Memorials. We then went to Arlington Cemetery and saw the Changing of the
Guard. It is so impressive and no matter how many times you see it, it
always makes you so proud. On Friday, we went to the US Navy Memorial to
hold our Memorial Service. The Navy Memorial is on Pennsylvania Avenue and
the weather though a little warm, gave us a beautiful blue sky under which to
gather and remember those who are no longer with us. The Color Guard
presented the Colors after which Gina Daniels sang the Star Spangled Banner.
Then the colors posted at the Lone Sailor statue. Shipmate and Pastor
Jimmy Faith offered the invocation and message after which Richard Daniels
spoke. Cathy Neilson and Sherry Chapman, daughters of Jimmy and Louise
Faith, read the names of the deceased. Maurice Moe was the bell ringer.
Tom Guiterrez and Jon Diulus, Honorary Shipmate, accompanied the host to place a
wreath at the Lone Sailor Statue. After placing the wreath, Taps was
played and the Colors were retired. After the ceremony, we all went inside
the Navy
Museum and watched the
movie “At Sea” after which we went down to the Wharf and enjoyed a large seafood
buffet. I think everyone was well stuffed when we left the restaurant.
A brief business meeting was held on Saturday morning to welcome all shipmates,
family members and friends. Shipmates attending were Mike DiVeronica, Al
Lewis, Tom Gutierrez, Maurice Moe, Jack Forester, Arthur (Pat) Arbogast, Richard
Daniels, Mario Capitanio, William Cavanaugh, Ralph Marino, Ed Flowers, Jimmy
Faith, and Bennie Green. After the business meeting, we had our great
auction. I must say the auctions have become so much fun and has also been
a huge boost to our treasury. Saturday afternoon, the shipmates met to
decide on the location for the 2006 reunion. Arthur & Dolores Arbogast
asked to host the reunion in Indianapolis and the
shipmates voted to do so. The Farewell Banquet was Saturday night and brought
to a close a great 2005 visit for us all. I always bring home such
wonderful memories from the reunions and always look forward to the next.
Indianapolis, Indiana for 2006.
The 2006 reunion will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The dates are as follows: Arrival 9/6/06 – Departure 9/10/06. The
reunion will be held at The Marten House Hotel & Lilly Conference Center.
Room rates are $89.00 plus tax for either single or double rooms. The
hotel does have handicap accessible rooms. Please call direct to hotel to
make your reservations. The phone number for reservations is
1-800-736-5634. The rooms are being held in the USS Bell Association name
and will be held until August 18, 2006, after which any rooms not requested by
that date will be released back to the hotel. There is public
transportation available and the hotel is working with one of the transportation
groups to get us a reduced rate to and from the airport. It is about a
20-25 minute ride from the airport to The Marten House Hotel.
The Marten House Hotel & Lilly
Conference
Center
is located on the campus of St.
Vincent Hospital
and is a full service hotel and offers 163 deluxe guest rooms with personal
attention to all the guests. The restaurant offers buffets Monday – Friday
for breakfast and lunch, with a complete lunch and dinner menu available every
day. Room service is also available. The lounge offers a casual
atmosphere where you can unwind and relax. Mark you calendar today.
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MAILBAG
…..Hi Ann and the USS BELL People – Thanks for the very nice card.
I hope the reunion went well. Hope to see pictures soon. Didn’t get
to see you when you were out at Aurora. I had another thing going on
that day. My health is ok but can not walk very far or fast. Hope to
hear about the next reunion. I am enclosing my dues. How is your new
house going? My email address is jimhumbert@earthlink.net or Humbert@aps.anl.gov. Either one will work.
We haven’t had much rain this summer. Crops have died in this area.
You can put what you want of this letter in the next newsletter. Again, Hi
to USS Bell People! Love to all,
…..Jim Humbert, 1810 Marywood
Avenue, Aurora,
IL. 60505
…..Dear Family, Friends, Shipmates & Brothers – Here it is nearing
the end of yet another year. I want to wish each and every one of you a
Happy Holiday season and give you an update on
things in my life. Christmas 2004 was a wonderful event when two of my
three daughters and their families were able to be here in Arizona with me. Kathleen’s family was
unable to make it for the holidays because they were snowed in their home in the
great snow storm of 2004. Having the grandchildren here was a treat and
celebrating the holiday with a house full of fun and laughter always creates
happy memories for me. Kathleen and Tracy were able to make the trip home
in May for my granddaughter Lauren’s 1st Communion. We had a
big Italian dinner to commemorate the occasion. I made a trip in June to
visit Tina in Dallas.
Thomas and Danielle are growing up so fast and they are doing great in their
selected activities. Thomas is now taking karate lessons (Tai Kwon Do) and
just loves their summer swimming lessons. In late September I was able to
make a trip to Washington
DC with my daughter Tina to attend
the USS Bell Reunion. We had a nice time there at the reunion and were
fortunate to be able to reconnect with my sister-in-law Marian and my god-son
Francis when they came to see us in DC. I was also able to make a short
side trip to see my police partner Walter Kelly and spent time with him and his
wife Irene. It was a wonderful trip and not one that I will not soon
forget. On both my airplane trips across the country this year, I spent
hours looking at the clouds, not conversing with passengers sitting along side
of me. It reminded me of my trip to Nashville two years ago and the chance
encounter with a nice lady named Jean. We talked the entire trip and have
kept in contact. People aren’t as friendly anymore. December 7th,
marks the 65th anniversary of the attack on
Pearl Harbor. I had planned on attending the ceremonies in Hawaii on December 6th,
but since I have already traveled so much this year I will not go. The
activity schedule is packed full with travel and I feel I would not be able to
give it my all at this time. The holidays this year will once again center
around my home and family. I spent Thanksgiving with Adelaide and her family
and Christmas also. Tina will celebrate the holidays in Texas with her family. Kathleen just
moved to Chicago
this week and will be spending this holiday season getting setup in their new
place. Now I have to get to work on making reservations to Chicago in the spring to
see Kathleen. I want to wish everyone a happy and prosperous New Year
filled with many happy moments and days. Love to all.
…..Ralph Marino, 3889 Paseo De Cardo,
Sierra Vista, AZ
85650
…..Thank you for the newsletters. We enjoy them very much.
Because of health problems, we no longer are able to attend the reunions. I’ve
been trying to contact Charles Bothe but haven’t been able to find him.
The last time we visited on the phone he was about to move from
Florida to Ohio, but I haven’t heard anything since.
I was wondering if you have any information about him or a recent address.
I sure would appreciate being able to contact him or his wife, Kitty.
We’ll be sending our membership check soon. Thanks for all your work with
the USS BELL Association.
…..Clifford Wallace – cwallace@ties2.net
…..I am writing you to find any kind of information on my dad who
served on the Bell
during WWII. I know he was aboard on the 9th of December 1943
as I have his shellback papers on my wall, dated 9 December 1943. His name
is William Dewey Spickler SC/1. I also have a picture of the Bell on my wall that
belonged to him. Any information will be greatly appreciated. He
also served on the USS Walker DD517. Hi service no. was 193-68-55.
Thank you.
…..Jerry Spickler, EN3 USS Current ARS22 – 1960-1963
NOTE: If anyone remembers Mr. Spickler or has any information
on him, please contact Jerry Spickler at brickletter@aol.com
or send the information to me and I will pass it on.
NOTE: Clifford & Marlys Wallace did some searching for Charles &
Kitty Bothe and sent the following to me.
…..Charles J. Bothe, Sr. beloved husband of Kathryn E. Bothe (nee
Gibbons), loving father of Charles J. Jr., Mark A. and James C., devoted
grandfather of Tori, Denise, Brent James, Scott, Carly, Laura, Kaitlin and Max
and dear brother of Ruth Crotty died Monday, October 11, 2004 in Brandon,
Florida at age 85. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, October 19, 2004 at
7:00 P.M. at Sacred
Heart Church,
162 Siebenthaler Avenue,
Reading, Ohio.
At the request of the family, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Rita
School for the Deaf or Sacred Heart
Memorial Fund.
…..A second obituary read Kathryn E. Bothe, resident of Mercy
Franciscan Terrace passed Sunday, August 7, 2005. Age 92. Funeral at
Sacred Heart Church on August 11, 2005. In lieu
of flowers, memorials may be made to Mercy Franciscan Fund % Palates care at
Mercy Franciscan Terrace, 100
Compton Road, Cincinnati, OH 45215.
…..Returned Mail – Mail was returned from Evan & Remilda Reams, Sr.
If anyone knows of a change of address for this shipmate, please let me know.
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MISCELLANEOUS
I may have printed this before but I read it quite often and thought
you might like to also.
…..When you see the Stars and Stripes displayed, son, stand up and
take off your hat. Somebody may titter. It is in the blood of some
to deride all expression of noble sentiment. You may blaspheme in the
street and stagger drunken in public places, and the bystanders will not pay
much attention to you; but if you should get down on your knees and pray to
Almighty God, or if you should stand bareheaded while a company of old soldiers
marches by with flags to the breeze, some people will think you are showing off.
But don’t you mind! When Old Glory comes along, salute, and let them think what
they please! When you hear the band play “The Star-Spangled Banner” while
you are in a restaurant or hotel dining room, get up even if you rise along;
stand there and don’t be ashamed of it, either! For of all the signs and
symbols since the world began there is none other so full of meaning as the flag
of this country. That piece of red, white and blue bunting means five
thousand year of struggle upward. It is the full grown flower of ages of
fighting for liberty. It is the century plant of human hope in bloom.
Your flag stands for humanity, for an equal opportunity to all the sons of men.
Of course, we haven’t arrived yet at that goal; there are many injustices yet
among us, many senseless and cruel customs of the past still clinging to us, but
the only hope of righting the wrongs of men lies in the feeling produced in our
bosoms by the sight of that flag. Other flags mean a glorious past, this
flag a glorious future. It is not so much the flag of our fathers as it is
the flag of our children, and of all children’s children yet unborn. It is
the flag of tomorrow. It is the signal of the “Good Time Coming.” It
is not the flag of your king – it the flag of yourself and of all your
neighbors. Don’t be ashamed when your throat chokes and the tears come, as
you see it flying from the masts of our ships on all the seas or floating from
every flagstaff of the Republic. You will never have a worthier emotion.
Reverence it as you would reverence the signature of the Deity. Listen,
son! The band is playing the nation anthem – “The Star Spangled Banner!”
They have let loose Old Glory yonder. Stand up-and others will stand with
you.
This tribute to the flag is offered to the country in appeal to all
men and women of all races, colors and tongues that they may come to understand
that our flag is the symbol of liberty and learn to love it. Alvin M.
Owsley, Past National Commander, The American Legion.
I recently attended a Military Reunion Planners Conference and met a
Mr. Earl J. Lee. Mr. Lee is an Operation Sandstone/Cancer Survivor and has
worked diligently for a “Radiation Exposure Compensation Act”. He has
gotten the attention of several Congressmen and House Bill 4183/4184 will
hopefully be passed in order for the very few surviving veterans and widows and
orphans. I will print a portion of his document for you, but you should
write to you Congressmen and women and ask them to vote for this bill.
Here is a bit of the information.
…..Documented proof exists of deliberate cover up by Top Government
Officials, Top Brass and the VA, their falsification of records, outright lies
about Ship’s histories and directed denial of medical care by the VA for service
connected cancers caused by radiation exposure and plutonium ingestion.
Most of the Vets involved in the Atomic Bomb tests died a pitifully slow and
painful death before they were 45. The came home, were discharged, got a
decent job, bought a used car, married, had a few kids and bought a home.
Then they developed the cancers. In those days, most men didn’t have
medical insurance coverage. The costs ran them broke and they died for
lack of proper care. Worst of all, they died knowing they had left their
families destitute. THAT HAS CHANGED. Thanks to the efforts of National
Association of Atomic Veterans )NAAV), National Association of Radiation
Survivors )NARS) in 1997, the law firm of Shaw Pittman discovered the secret
warehouse of the specially created Atomic Medical Records Division. These
secret medical files proved that the DOD and VA knew full well what the hazards
and long term health consequences were from exposure to radiation and plutonium
ingestion. (See Shaw Pittman law suit filed in Washington D.C. Federal
Court October 29, 2002). In 1990, Congress passed a revised Radiation
Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) as a very belated attempt to rectify the
injustice and anguish caused by the VA’s refusal to give the Atomic Veterans the
medical coverage they deserved. Unfortunately, it is the best kept secrets
in the nation. Absolutely no effort has been expended by anyone in the
government to locate and inform the widows and orphans of their rights under
this law. RECA is a $75,000.00 award available for all survivors OR THEIR
HEIRS to compensate for the VA’s refusal to give medical coverage to the Vets of
our Nuke Test programs. This coverage begins with the first A-Bomb at
White Sands, NM in 1945 through the end of the tests in
Nevada and the Marshall Islands in 1964. The
U.S.C. 38 CFR, Section 3.309 is the process under which anyone faced with this
situation is covered. If you should want more information on this subject
you can write the Radiation Exposure Compensation Program, U.S. Department of
Justice, Civil Division, P. O. Box 146, Ben Franklin Station, Washington, DC
20044-0146 or you can order by phone at 1-800-729-7327. Ask for the
“RADIATION EXPOSURE COMPENSATION PROGRAM, ONSITE PARTICIPANT CLAIM FORM.” If you
file any RECA related claim with the VA, they will attempt to file you under
section 3.31 and you will loose! Make them file you under Section 3.309.
IT IS CRITICAL. Cancers covered under RECA include Leukemia, but not
chronic lymphocytic leukemia, multiple myeloma, lymphomas other than Hodgkin’s
disease, bronchiolo alveolar (lung) carcinoma, primary cancers of the thyroid,
female breast, esophagus, liver, bladder, colon, stomach, pharynx, small
intestine, pancreas, male breast, bile ducts, gall bladder, salivary gland,
brain, ovary. These cancers must have developed 5+ years after exposure.
Remember, this could be worth $75,000 to you.
…..Note: “It is the AMVETS dream that we
can prevent the Veterans of the Gulf Wars from being given the same shabby
treatment given to the Veterans of our Atomic Weapons Test Programs. The
Veterans and the spouses of the Balkan, Kuwait,
Afghanistan
and Iraq Campaigns are strongly encouraged to join the AMVETS Organization.
Of the 3 major Veteran’s Service Organizations, AMVETS is the only one striving
to insure that Legislation if Passed by Congress to prevent a recurrence of this
injustice. These Veterans must be given life long medical care to offset
the debilitating cancers that occur in later life, as well as other diseases yet
unknown, caused by exposure to the debilitating health hazards created by our
use of Depleted Uranium ammunitions in these Campaigns.”
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