MOORE MEMORIES

USS BELL ASSOCIATION (DD587)

MARCH, 2000

Hello Everyone. Well here we are in the year 2000! I hope everyone had a nice holiday season and a blessed New Year. Thanks to those of you who sent me such nice greetings. Spring is already here in Atlanta. Beautiful weather that makes you want to plant those flowers but you are just a little bit afraid of a few more cold days.

Cruise News …

Final arrangements have been made for our cruise. I am enclosing a complete package with details for your information. We will be cruising the Eastern Caribbean on board the Carnival Triumph. The Triumph was put into service in October, 1999, and is the largest in the Carnival fleet. Our travel arrangements have been made with Travelfaire, a travel agency with twenty-six years experience in the travel/cruise industry. The cruise will depart from Miami on October 28, 2000, and return to Miami on November 4, 2000.

PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP is required. The acceptable items of proof are: passport or an original birth certificate with raised imprint. If you use your birth certificate you must also have a photo ID.

Thirty (30) cabins have been reserved. Deposit is due April 3, 2000. It will be on a first come first served basis. The travel agent will arrange flights for those who do not want to make their own. You must contact the travel agency for that and it will provide the most direct and most reasonable flights for you. If you would like to arrive in Miami a day or two before the cruise, Mike DiVeronica will make arrangements for you at the Roney Plaza Hotel. His son is manager there and the rate will be very good. Contact me for the number.

The Carnival Triumph is equipped for those who need handicap facilities. The ship has elevators, handrails, and all needed facilities. Just let the travel agency know what you need when you send in your registrations. I hope many of you will be able to take advantage of this trip. I am sure the cruise will be enjoyable and the cruise line is excited to entertain the USS Bell Association. FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE WELCOME!

Mailbag …

…Ann, we were sure excited with your newsletter. Nita and I are still talking about our trip to Myrtle Beach and the friends we hope we made. The old mind didn’t remember a lot of the fine people there. The cruise sounds great and Boston also sounds like a winner. I had a year of typing in high school and am having fun trying to get my fingers and brain together. Keep me up to speed.

…Bob & Nita Turner

…To inform you that Richard K. Gage passed away June 21, 1998.

…Mary Frances Gage

…You asked about William Walkinshaw in your last newsletter. Bill passed away in 1997. That was the last Christmas card I sent to him. The girls sent me a note saying Bill had passed away. I have a new address -- just the house number changed. I still have my townhouse but I bought a duplex on the same street.

…Maxine Larvick

…I should have written you sooner but seems like time flies by so fast now. We haven’t been able to make the reunions lately but hope to make the next one. Our health has been up and down but we are still hanging in there. We so enjoy the newsletters and roster on where everyone is and how they are all doing. We hopefully will be going to Hawaii this year and take in the Navy memorial in Pearl Harbor as the Missouri Battleship is now there also. We will be celebrating our 50^th wedding anniversary. Enclosed is a check for our dues. Thanks again for all your work in getting these newsletters out. I know everyone appreciates what you are doing.

…Byron and Betty Haskins

…I am enclosing a check for dues in the association and I would appreciate a cap if such is available. I’m sorry I couldn’t get to the reunion, but my partner was having health problems and we were afraid of the hurricanes about that time. I’m glad the reunion was a success. I was on the Bell and even though I didn’t get to stay on her when I made Chief, I enjoyed the time I was on her. We spent some time in the E. T. during the war years trying to get the Bismark. Probably a good thing we didn’t find it. After we returned to the states for some alterations we returned to the South Pacific. I was transferred back to the states and more or less lost contact with the Bell. Of all the vessels I served on I enjoyed the Bell the most. There has been a lot of water under the keel of this old sailor since those days and I’d do it again if I could. But I don’t think they’d want an 81 year old at this time. Have a smooth sea and a good wind at your back.

…George J. Eldridge, HTC USN (Ret)

…We sorely missed the last few reunions. We could not attend due to health and distance. We appreciate the newsletters. Happy Holidays to all.

…Russ & Ann Haberle

…We had a wonderful time at the reunion.

… Mario & Marian Capitanio

…Just a few lines to wish you the best for the New Year. We had a good time in Myrtle Beach and are looking forward to the Cruise Reunion. Come April 8^th, I will be married. The next day, I will leave for my honeymoon in Turkey and Greece.

…Tom Gutierrez

…To you, Ann, and all the Bell reunion friends and shipmates. I love you and the Lord Jesus loves you. I was sorry I couldn’t make the reunion. Will try to do better next time. My wife Mavis and I will keep you in our prayers. Hope to hear from you and the next plans soon.

…Harold & Mavis Hughes

…Thank you for the pictures. Am glad to hear you will be continuing your job. You keep us together. Sorry I missed the reunion. I fractured my knee and still cannot walk. Hope to make the next one. Have a great year.

…Jean Edge

…Thank your for sending the latest newsletter and the roster of the Bell. After reviewing the roster, I’m afraid that I recognize more names on the list of deceased members than on the active roster. Time has flown. It is nice to know that there is still an organized association of Bell alumni. Enclosed is a check for my dues. Has the association developed a baseball cap with USS Bell DD587 on the front? Would make an interesting souvenir. Best wishes to you.

…William D. Meyer

…I don’t know if you remember me or not, but I wanted to thank you for sending me the information on the Bell. I was in touch with you last year about my grandfather Mack Hayes. I have been pretty busy this last year taking care of my brother (who recently passed away) and just now getting back with my life. Your Bell newsletter has brought me a lot of joy reading about the bell and her shipmates. I never served on the Bell, but many a day I grew up hearing stories of her exploits fighting in the Pacific. You’ve heard of other famous ships in the history of the USN. In our family it was the Bell. It took an old country boy out of the hills of Kentucky and brought him back home. The stories made me want to grow up and serve under the Navy when my time came. I pulled R&R from the war (Viet Nam) in some of the places she fought to free. But that’s another story. For I too, have sat on the fantail of a tin can and felt the tropical breeze, watching the wake with a sky full of stars, my shipmates, and oh yes, a cigarette. Please send me information on joining the Bell Association.

…Michael Roach

…We are interested in going on the cruise and look forward to seeing you, too.

…Bill & Peg Cavanaugh

… We really appreciate getting the Bell newsletter. Alex is going through radiation treatments for lung cancer and now we are waiting to see what the result is going to be. Regards to everyone.

…Marian Burchardt

…Phone Call - I spoke with Kenneth Olson a while back. He is recovering from a stroke but still has that spark of humor. When I answered the phone he said “This is Mrs. Olson’s favorite son, Kenneth.” He also took a spill in the year but blamed that on the poor little dog. He is recovering quite well and we wish him the best as he gets stronger.

…Phone Call – Randy and Marianne Clark called to say they are the proud grandparents of Claire Isabella. She is the adopted baby daughter of their son and daughter-in-law. They have now joined the computer world and have an email address. They made it to Myrtle Beach for the reunion.

Mail was returned from Jean McWilliams, Michael and Helen Friedman, and Mrs. Edward (Lucille) Brown.

CAPS-CAPS-CAPS

We now have USS Bell Association caps available. They are $5 plus $1.50 postage. I will be glad to mail one to those interested. Let me know.

Well, I hope I haven’t forgotten anything about the cruise, but if I have, there will be reminders sent out a little bit later. That’s all for now. Hope to hear from you all soon.

REMEMBER TO WATCH A SUNRISE AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR AND NEVER REFUSE HOMEMADE BROWNIES!