Please help pass the word! Our web page address is:
www.usshelena.org

USS HELENA ORGANIZATION 582 W. CLARK ST UPLAND, CA 91784-1966

(909) 949-6559

Bob Kern, President Matt Slovensky, VP East Lou Bacca, VP West Paul Weisenberger, VP CL50

Bill Bunker, Past President & Senior Advisor Dick Renbarger, MAA Dave Brouchoud, Web Page Mgr.

NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 06

MESSAGE FROM THE BRIDGE OF THE USS HELENA ORGANIZATION:

My wife and I want to wish all of you and your loved ones a very Happy and Healthy New Year.

I want to encourge all of you who have not already done so, send to me, as soon as possible, your choice of where you would like to have our next reunion in 2007.

Planning and organizing a reunion takes a lot of time and effort. There are many things for us to consider, such as price of accommodations, location, facilities, etc. In order for all of us to be pleased with the reunion, it takes your reply to me.

Remember, if you want to continue to receive the Newsleter, please be sure to pay your dues.

Thank You, Bob Kern (President)

BILL BUNKER RESIGNS AS HEAD OF THE USS HELENA ORGANIZATION:

After more than forty years, Bill Bunker has resigned as the head of the USS Helena Organization. Taking over as President is long time member Bob Kern. The rest of the team stays the same, and below are the officers:

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President Vice President West Senior Advisor Ships Store

Bob Kern 582 Clark St. Upland, CA 91784-6559 Phone 909-949-6559 Lou Bacca 6822 Silver Beach Cir Hunting Beach, CA 92648 Phone 714-960-1231 Bill Bunker 596A West Huntington Dr Arcadia, CA 91007 Phone 626-446-7361 Lou Bacca

Vice President East Vice President CL50 Master At Arms

Matt Slovensky 703 Pueblo Trail Forestdale Birmingham, AL 96214 Phone 205-798-2522 Paul Weisenberger 7112 Wellesly Westminister, CA 92683 Phone 714-902-2813 Dick Renbarger 11805 Westwind Dr Fort Wayne, IN 46845-1337 Phone 260-637-4418

Inquires to officers send to address to Bob Kern, President.

TAPS

We all bow our heads for our shipmates that have gone to the Heavens above . . . .

SHIP'S STORE:

Blue baseball cap with silhouette ship (CL50 or CA75): Supply of large CA75 jacket patch "Proud and Fearless" USS Helena Organization decal USS Helena license plate frames 1 for $10.00....2 each for CA75 photo pix of ship

$15.00 15.00 2.00 15.00 15.00

Order Ship's stores items from Lou Bacca at 6822 Silverbeach Cir., Huntington Beach, CA 92648.
Make checks payable to USS Helena Organization.

PROUDLY WEAR YOUR HAT TO TELL ALL SHIPMATES...........

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NEW MEMBERS:
(To protect individual privacy, addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses are not included.
To obtain this information, please contact our president or secretary.)

BARGE, Richard E. F Div FCSN 45-46 FOLLA, Debra Daughter of Ray Dietz CA75 FORT, Gerald K (Connie) Reinstated as Life Member

KING, Aubrey G. (Darlene) CA75 F Div FTA2 MOSSER, Harold L. CA75 E & B Div BT3 56-59

SAWYER, James E TREVINO, Julian (Ginny) CA75 N Div QM3 FREEDLE, Jimmy CA75

CHANGES FOR MUSTER BOOK:
(To protect individual privacy, addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses are not included.
To obtain this information, please contact our president or secretary.)

SCHMIDT, Ronald D. AHRENS, Henry A (Hank) NESLAND, Vern HOVATTER Edward A AYCOCK, Carlton K

WALKER, Donald W. GARRET, Joseph C WEAVER, Lee H Spelling name: PETSANIS, Spiros FRANCIS, Irv C

WHITE, Monroe T DUMAR, Stephen RENBARGER, Richard HUGHES, Glenn O WILSON, Benjamin C

SPECIAL NOTES: Be sure to call for one of your buddies. Calls mean so much for your old shipmates..(Buddies should call soon)

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CRUISE BOOKS?

Aileen Kern (wife of President of our USS Helena Organization) sent an email to Dave Brouchoud thinking about getting 1951 cruise book printed and selling it for the cost of the printing at the next reunion.

Dave sends: Thank you for your kind words. Great idea, to have a cruise book re-printed. Wonder what something like that would cost? I'd think a survey might be needed in advance, to confirm the number of folks interested. If successful, perhaps all the cruise books might be done the same way.

We have plenty of time before the next reunion. Could the newsletter be used to ask members if they are interested? And how many? Meantime, I will ask around our area for fees for re-prints. We will keep you posted. Signed by Dave B.

Shipmates can send in informatio to Bob Kern to see if any are interested for a cruise book and year...

LETTER TO BILL BUNKER:

I was on Jake Jacoby's 40mm and passed out candy and cigars when we went to the Canal.When they posted my third class gunners mate rating. I ended up on Villa with Chew Beard when we got sunk. I started with Chew's rubber raft but went out to help a couple of guys and never found that raft. Joe Morra and I started to swim to Villa. I don't think Morra made it, never saw him again.

I went to the hospital for a tune up last year. The old girl says, Are you still driving (83). I said yep, three cars, two motorcycles and a sail boat in Michigan but I had to sell my airplane because I couldn't pass the physical. Darn...s/s Carl D. Ruley, CL50, GM1.

AN ENSIGNS EFFICIENCY:

A young ensign had nearly completed his first overseas tour of sea duty when he was given an opportunity to display his ability at getting the ship underway. With a stream of crisp commands, he had the decks buzzing with men. The ship steamed out of the channel and soon the port was far behind. The ensigns efficiency had been remarkable. In fact, the deck was abuzz with talk that he had set a new record for getting a destroyer underway. The ensign glowed at his accomplishment and was not at all surprised when another seaman approched him with a radio message, and he was even more surprised when he read: "My personal congratulations upon completing your underway preparation exercise according to the book and with amazing speed. In your haste, however, you have overlooked one of the unwritten rules---"Make Sure The Captain Is Aboard Before Getting Underway." This was sent in from Lynn Dreezen.

REUNION??? All of you shipmates should be thinking about the 2007 reunion. You should send in your request for a city for the next one. Just send in your city and your name. These should be sent to President Bob Kern so he can get help for arrangements for the banquets and rooms.

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PRESIDENT RECEIVED LETTER

I am interested in any information you might have on the USS Helena CL-50. I had an uncle that was lost at sea when the ship was sunk. His name was Estell Miller, I don't know what part of the ship he worked. I am looking for any pictures of the crew or any links on the internet to check out. Have had no help from the Navy department or my congressman, Would appreciate any information you can send me. Thank You. James L. Fockler, 3217 S. W. 8th St., Bluesprings, MO 64015.

EDITOR NOTE: I hope you shipmates of the CL50 could make contact with the nephew of one of your crew members.

CDR Kenneth Ruecker (retired) letter:

In the early days (1950) of the Korean “police action.” The fleet was without the Service Force, necessitating returning to Sasebo, Japan to fuel, rearm, and reprovision. The only fuel barge did not have high capacity pumps and the smoking lamp was out more than 48 hours except in a steaming fire room. On one such “pit stop”, an Australian destroyer, HMAS Bataan, the Tangtse River gunboat HMAS Ladybird and USS Bataan (CVL-29) were in port.

During WWII in the Mediterranean, a British destroyer wardroom officer requested and received an autographed photograph of swimming movie star, Ester Williams. The Brit officers were known to imbibe in strong drink. A custom developed in which other ships' officers would steal the photo from the wardroom.

I was standing the mid-watch on the signal bridge of the USS Helena (CA-75), and was instructed to keep a constant watch on the Aussie destroyer. I'd heard earlier in the day that our Admiral had returned the courtesy call of HMAS Bataan's C.O. As he (the U.S. Admiral) left, he grabbed the Ester Williams photo and ran to his barge, whose coxswain had been instructed to shove off at high speed immediately as he jumped aboard.

We had fire hoses with full pressure at the nozzle in order to repel attempts by the Aussies to forcefully board. I'd reported to the OOD that a boat had left the HMAS Bataan, but had disappeared under our bow. As the boat reappeared our Supply Officer called for permission to come aboard, which was denied since the OOD was instructed that no boat from the Aussie was to come along side. However, the boat did come alongside the lower platform of the accommodation ladder.

A big red-bearded Lieutenant started up the ladder. The Boatswain's Mate and the Messenger opened up with high pressure hose. The stream struck the officer on the head, the shoulder and chest. He still fought his way up the ladder! Our Exec, Comdr, James Odgers (later Vice Admiral) having heard the commotion came on deck without a shirt. The BM dropped the hose, and he and the Exec wrestled the Aussie to the deck. The Captain, George C. Towner (later Vice Admiral) came on deck and told the combatants “No closed fists!” During this time the fire hose was spewing several inches of water between the Exec's cabin and the quad 40 mm mount.

While this was going on, I heard a sound on the forward side of the signal bridge. I grabbed a plastic pneumatic tube and went forward. There, was a thoroughly soaked Aussie Ensign. Not knowing what to expect, I yelled at him, “What the hell are you doing here?” He replied “Don't hit me, Yank!” He told me he'd gotten off onto the mooring buoy, scrambled up the chain, went to the first level, climbed up to the top of Mount 51 and then on to the signal bridge.

Meantime, things had settled down on the quarterdeck. I'd hustled the sopping wet Ensign down to the main deck. The Exec's undershirt was completely torn off except for the narrow band around his neck. The fire hose was finally off. I told the OOD to send the boat coxswain up to the signal bridge for a hot coffee. He told me the story of the Ester Williams photo. Our Supply officer was permitted to come back aboard.

The rules of this “game” were that the American Admiral had “legally” obtained the photo, and that the C.O. of the HMAS Bataan, the last possessor of the photo, on behalf of Her Majesty's Royal Navy would enclose an official document certifying to that fact.

Commander Ruecker was a Quartermaster First Class aboard the USS Helena (CA-75) during this incident.

REMEMBER, WEAR YOUR CAPS, MORE SHIPMATES WILL FIND OUR ORGANIZATION

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TAPS AGAIN STORY:

Shipmate says it should be printed again. TAPS, if any of you have ever been to a military funeral in which taps were played; this brings out a new meaning of it. Here is something every American should know.

Until I read this, I didn't know, but I checked it out and its true:

We in the United States have all heard the haunting song, "Taps". It's the song that gives us that lump in our throats and usually tears in our eyes. But do you know the story behind the song? If not, I think you will be interested to find out its humble beginnings. Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe was with his men near Harrison' Landing in Virginia. The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land.

During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moan of a soldier who lay mortally wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back for medical attention.Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward his encampment. When the captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead.

The captain lit a lantern. Suddenly, he caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the dim light, he saw the face of the soldier. It was his own son. The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out. Without telling his father, he enlisted in the Confederate Army.

The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his superiors to give his son a full military burial despite his enemy status.

His request was partially granted. The captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for the son at the funeral. That request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate. Out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him only one musician.

The captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of his dead son's uniform.

This wish was granted. This music was the haunting melody we now know as "Taps" that is used at all military funerals was born.

To hear a short midi file of Taps, turn on your speakers and click HERE.

The words are:

Day is done... Gone the sun. From the lakes. From the hills. From the sky. All is well. Safely rest. God is nigh. Fading light. Dims the sight. And a star. Gems in sky. Gleaming bright. From afar. Drawing nigh. Falls the night. Thanks and praise. For our days. Neath the sun. Neath the stars. Neath the sky. As we go. This we know. God is nigh.

I. too, have felt the chills while listening to "taps" but I have never seen all the words to the song until now. I didn't even know there was more then one verse. I also never knew the story behind the song and I didn't know if you had either so I thought I'd pass it along. I now have an even deeper respect for the song than I did before. Remember those Lost and Harmed While Serving Their Country. And also those presemtly serving in the Armed Forces.

BE SURE TO SEND IN YOUR REQUEST FOR A CITY FOR THE REUNION FOR 2007

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