Monthly NewsletterInto Our Second Century · Organized 1899 · Boston, Massachusetts

Board of GovernorsPresident ...............................................................................................................CDR Robert J. Zemaitis, USNR (Ret)Vice President .......................................................................................................CAPT Robert D. Holland, USN (Ret)Secretary ................................................................................................................CAPT Jules B. Selden, USMC (Ret)Treasurer ..............................................................................................................CAPT Randall D. Preston, USN (Ret)Member-at-Large .............................................................................................MAJ Richard D. Brown, USMCR (Ret)Active Services Liaison................................................................................................CDR David J. Palazzetti, USCGImmediate Past President ........................................................................................... CDR Colby Rottler, USNR (Ret)Wine Steward .......................................................................................................CDR Charles W. Collins, USNR (Ret)Chaplain ...............................................................................................................CAPT George A. Ripsom, USNR (Ret)Assistant Secretary .......................................................................................CAPT Mary Jo Majors, NC, USNR (Ret)Assistant Treasurer ............................................................................................... COL Charles L. Hyland, USAF (Ret)Historian ......................................................................................................................... LCDR John H. Lok, USNR (Ret)Newsletter Editor ................................................................................................LCDR David W. Graham, USNR (Ret)

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THE WARDROOM CLUB Monthly NewsletterInto Our Second Century · Organized 1899 · Boston, Massachusetts

Board of GovernorsPresident ...................................................................................................................CAPT Michael E. Field, USN (Ret)Vice President ............................................................................................................... CDR Colby Rottler, USNR (Ret)Secretary ........................................................................................................................COL Joseph F. Collins, USMCR Treasurer ......................................................................................................................CAPT Paul P. Daley, USNR (Ret)Member-at-Large .................................................................................................CDR Robert J. Zemaitis, USNR (Ret)Active Services Liaison.........................................................................................................CAPT Scott Keene, USCGImmediate Past President ............................................................... CAPT James L. McGuinness Jr., USMCR (Ret)Wine Steward .......................................................................................................CDR Charles W. Collins, USNR (Ret)Chaplain ...............................................................................................................CAPT George A. Ripsom, USNR (Ret)Assistant Secretary ..............................................................................................CAPT Robert D. Holland, USN (Ret)Assistant Treasurer .........................................................................................LCDR Stephen T. Witowski, USN (Ret)Historian ......................................................................................................................... LCDR John H. Lok, USNR (Ret)Newsletter Editor ................................................................................................LCDR David W. Graham, USNR (Ret)

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OCTOBER 2011 NEWSLETTER

MEETING DATE: WEDNESDAY – 19 October 2011

LOCATION: Coast Guard Integrated Support Center 427 Commercial Street Boston, MA – The “All Hands” Club

TIME: Social Hour from 1800 Dinner at 1900

PRICE: Members, Guests and Prospective Members of the Class of 2012 - $45.00 Walk-ins - $50.00

SPEAKER: Rear Admiral Richard P. Breckenridge

Deputy Director, Submarine Warfare Division (N87B)

ENTRÉE: Roast Beef – Family Style

MESSAGES FROM THE PRESIDENT

Friends, a lot of water has been flowing under the keel since last we met in May. As you can see from the masthead, our good friend, CAPT Mike Husak, USCG, has moved on and in his place as our Active Services Liaison, I’m pleased to welcome CDR David J. Palazzetti, USCG, who has recently come aboard as Mike’s replacement. With that, we’d like to offer a hearty “hail” to David and an equally hearty “farewell” to Mike. While on the subject of our masthead, we have some major changes to our Board of Governors for the 2011-12 season. I am hopeful that the full Board will all be present at the head table when we meet for our coming October meeting. However, I shall call your attention to the new board members, who are:

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Treasurer - CAPT Randall D. Preston, USN (Ret) Member-at-Large – CAPT Richard D. Brown, USMCR (Ret) Assistant Secretary – CAPT Mary Jo Majors, NC, USNR (Ret) Assistant Treasurer – COL Charles L. Hyland, USAF (Ret) We welcome these new “recruits” to the Board of Governors, who have each already proven themselves to be hard-working members of the Wardroom Club. They will join the Board’s “old-timers” who will remain with us for the coming season. As you will see in our “Taps” column below, we have lost a significant number of members since May. While this is the “life cycle” that we must constantly face, it is not an easy thing to endure so many losses within a short period of only five months. For our first meeting of the new season on which we are about to enter, the Board is pleased to bring you RADM Richard P. Breckenridge, USN, who is a native of Marshfield, Massachusetts. It is anticipated that ADM Breckenridge will be bringing us an update to the Submarine Warfare program. His bio is inserted with this edition of your October newsletter. While the Board is building an impressive array of guest speakers for the coming season, we do have a gap or two in the scheduled speaker program. Therefore, if you have anyone who you believe might have a presentation that will be of interest to the club membership, please do not hesitate to contact me at the earliest possible moment - - - We’ll try to accommodate the potential speaker within the schedule for 2011-2012.

Robert J. Zemaitis, President 101 Pleasant Street

Leicester, MA 01524-1417 E-Mail: rzemaitis@msn.com

508/892-3055

NOTES FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT

THE NOMINATION PROCESS FOR PROSPECTIVE NEW MEMBERS: I am again pleased to report that the Wardroom Club website continues to present a full description of the required process for nominating prospective members to the club. For a quick review, the first chore in making a nomination is to become familiar with Article V of the Wardroom Club By-Laws regarding eligibility for the various classes of membership. For the sponsor's information, a candidate will be eligible for Regular Membership if he or she has, at some time in their life, “been entitled to wardroom privileges in the United States Navy, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Merchant Marine or any foreign navy by virtue of being a commissioned officer in either the United States Navy, Marine Corps or the Coast Guard - - - or one who has been a licensed officer in the United States Merchant Marine.” Candidates who do not meet any of these requirements must be nominated for a limited number of Associate Member slots. (Active Service membership, which is unlimited, is controlled by the Active Service Liaison on the Board of Governors, CDR David Palazzetti, USCG. Please send your e-mail message traffic to: David.J.Palazzetti@uscg.mil) Please also note that the Associate Membership is very much limited and currently, that limit has presently been reached. This means that for the time being,

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incoming applications in the Associate Member category will be placed on a temporary wait-list, where the names will remain on a first come – first serve basis, in the order with which the applications will have been received. Sponsors proposing members in the Associate Member category will be notified by the V.P. when an opening becomes available for their candidate. Nominations for the Regular and Associate Membership within the Class of 2012 must be received by the Vice President prior to December 31, 2011. There will be no exceptions to this deadline. The required forms and instructions can be downloaded from www.wardroomclub.org. Again, please note that applications for Active Duty Members must be submitted through CDR David Palazzetti, USCG, at any time throughout the club season. I thought you might be interested in knowing that much of my time this past summer has been focused on the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, which resulted in significant damage to the Fukushima Diiachi Nuclear Power Facility. This has required my firm’s expertise and as a result, my time has largely been spent in Japan, these past several months. So while you were enjoying another great New England summer, I was still being treated to earthquake aftershocks in Japan. As a result, I can assure you that I look forward to joining each of you this coming October meeting.

Robert D. Holland, Vice-President 8 Raymond Avenue

Shrewsbury, MA 01545 E-Mail: archerfish@aol.com Home Phone: 508/842-0575 Cell Phone: 901/240-3008

Daytime Phone: 617/589-1256

CLUB NOTES

NOTABLE OCTOBER DATES AND EVENTS – (By Past President CAPT Harry H. Weinberg, SC, USN - Ret)

For those of us in the Boston area as well as in the Maritime Services, we celebrate two significant birthdays. First, on 13 October there is the Birthday of the American Navy. Secondly, on 21 October we celebrate the launching of USS Constitution. The beginning of our Navy as a defender of the Republic can be traced to the infamous “XYZ Affair” which had lead to the Quasi War with France in 1797. If there was any doubt about the need for a Navy, this incident removed it all. Our next Naval war to follow began with the refusal to the United States to pay tribute to the Sultan of Tripoli and his Barbary Pirates. This standoff reached the boiling point with Tripoli’s capturing the USS Philadelphia in 1803. To see a great exhibit on the Barbary Pirates War with Tripoli visit the USS Constitution Museum in the Boston Naval Shipyard. October is also the month when German submarines sunk the US destroyer Reuben James off the coast of Iceland in 1941, which was just prior to the start of hostilities in December 1941. The folk song Reuben James by Woody Guthrie captures the tragedy and became a rallying call for Americans (Note – See lyrics below). October also saw the War on Terror vividly brought home to us with the attack on USS COLE in 2000.

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Each month reminds us all of the history of this Nation and the role our Maritime Forces have played in it. Year Day Notable October Event 1775 13 Birthday of US Navy. 1776 11 Battle of Valcour Island, Lake Champlain. 1797 04 The “XYZ Affair” sets stage for America’s Quasi War with France. 1797 21 Frigate USS Constitution launched at Boston. 1803 31 Tripoli seizes the USS Philadelphia. 1844 10 Fort Severn Naval School (later the Naval Academy) opens in Annapolis. 1864 27 LT Cushing’s raid destroys the ironclad CSS Albermarle. 1898 08 US Marine Battalion takes 11 casualties in driving Filipino rebels from Novaleta. 1900 12 The USS Holland , Navy’s first submarine commissioned. Our VP gets recognized. 1914 01 Panama Canal opens. 1922 17 LCDR Virgil Griffin performs first takeoff from a US carrier, the USS Langley. 1936 25 Hitler and Mussolini announce Rome – Berlin axis. 1940 31 Battle of Britain ends. Luftwaffe fails. It was Britain’s finest hour. 1941 31 Prior to US entry into WWII, German U-552 sinks USS Reuben James. 1942 09 First schools open for WAVES (YN, SK, RM ratings). 1942 22 Battle commences for Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. See book “Neptune’s Inferno”. 1944 20 US returns to Philippines through invasion. 1944 24 The Battle of Leyte Gulf begins. 1962 22 President Kennedy orders naval blockade of Cuba. 1983 23 220 Marines, 18 Sailors and 3 soldiers killed in attack on Marine Headquarters barracks

in Beirut 1983 27 US begins invasion of Grenada in Caribbean. 2000 12 The attack on USS Cole kills 17 sailors and wounds another 36. 2001 07 Operation Enduring Freedom begins in Afghanistan.

The Sinking Of the Reuben James Words and Music by Woody Guthrie - 1942

Have you heard of a ship called the good Reuben James Manned by hard fighting men both of honor and fame?

She flew the Stars and Stripes of the land of the free But tonight she's in her grave at the bottom of the sea.

Tell me what were their names, tell me what were their names, Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James?

What were their names, tell me, what were their names? Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James

Well, a hundred men went down in that dark watery grave When that good ship went down only forty-four were saved.

'Twas the last day of October we saved the forty-four From the cold ocean waters and the cold icy shore.

It was there in the dark of that uncertain night That we watched for the U-boats and waited for a fight. Then a whine and a rock and a great explosion roared

And they laid the Reuben James on that cold ocean floor.

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Now tonight there are lights in our country so bright In the farms and in the cities they're telling of the fight.

And now our mighty battleships will steam the bounding main And remember the name of that good Reuben James.

FROM YOUR NEWSLETTER EDITOR – As most of you know, we publish this newsletter on a monthly basis each season between October and May. With it, 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 the last Friday of the month preceding the next issue. Contacting me is fairly easy; I can be reached at my e-mail address or by calling me. Both methods are listed below. One way or the other, I am certain we can make it work.

David W. Graham, Newsletter Editor

E-Mail: dwg@shore.net IPhone: 617/335-2198 (with voice-mail)

Notable Members Attend Tailhook ‘11

During the recent Naval Aviation Centennial celebration at Tailhook '11 in Reno, Sen. John McCain, whose father, VADM John S. McCain, Jr., USN, was a guest speaker at the Wardroom Club of many years ago, said in his opening remarks, “There are many people here tonight who rank among the true heroes of Naval Aviation, including George Walsh, Tom Hudner and ADM Tom Heyward. I thank you for

your service to our country and your leadership in the wonderful profession we all cherish.” Of course, Sen. McCain was referring to our very own Tom Hudner, among the others who were there. In addition to Tom, Tailhook ’11 was attended by Wardroom Club members Mike Field and Peter

Cole. A day never passes when we fail to be extremely proud of our Medal of Honor recipients. From the 2012 Nominating Committee Immediate Past President Colby Rottler, who is chairing the 2012 Nominating Committee, is soliciting names of club members who may be willing to serve on the Board of Governors for the 2012-2013 season. There is no better way of getting to know how the club “ticks” than to have served as a member of this Board. Interested parties are encouraged to contact Colby at the earliest possible convenience. Here is Colby’s contact information:

Colby Rottler, President P.O. Box 1775

Mattapoisett, MA 02739 508/828-8092

E-Mail: Hcrottler@comcast.net

Mike Field & Tom Hudner at “Tailhook 11”

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TAPS Never an easy or pleasant piece of the newsletter for your editor to undertake, this one has been made even more unpleasant due to the relatively large number, since last we met.

• 12 April 2011 – LCDR Paul W. St. George, USNR (Ret.). Age 90. Late word had been received in July of Paul’s passing. At one time, Paul was a “club regular” who could almost always be counted upon to attend almost every meeting during the club’s many seasons.

• 5 June 2011 – CAPT Eugene S. McSweeney, USNR (Ret.). Age 87. Gene was another “club regular” who always seemed to show up for club dinner-meetings. Fair weather or foul, Gene was always there. Gene became a staunch supporter of the Wardroom Club, dating from the time he first joined in February 1971.

• 13 July 2011 – LT Warren Matthew “Matt” Dillon, USNR. Age 78. Matt came from a long line of Dillon Wardroom Club members. His father, LT Schyuler Dillon, Sr., who served in the dual-role of Secretary for both the Wardroom Club and the Boston Yacht Club during the height of the 1930s depression, was instrumental in getting the Club situated into “new” quarters at the BYC located on Boston’s Rowes Wharf. Immediately following WW-II, Schyuler, Jr. became a member under his father’s sponsorship. Then, who could ever forget Schyuler, Junior’s middle brother, “The Major” Bill Dillon!!! Following Bill’s passing, Matt became a member of the club and almost instantly assumed the task of being Charlie Collins’ assistant back in the days when “our own bar” was flourishing. Unfortunately, Matt’s passing brings to a close what was favorably known as the club’s “Dillon Dynasty”.

• 2 August 2011 – MAJ Robert H. Kurtz, USAF (Ret). Age 86. Bob Kurtz became an Associate member back in April 1977, when he was sponsored by his father-in-law, the late CAPT Stuart DeForest, USNR (Ret). As with Stu, Bob quickly came to love the Wardroom Club and its rich traditions. In addition to his WW-II service, Bob was an early pilot on the Berlin Airlift beginning in July of 1948.

• 14 August 2011 – CAPT Alan S. Hodges, USNR (Ret). Age 87. Alan’s naval experiences began as a Signalman on a small Navy ship in the Pacific during WW-II. During club meetings, Alan would occasionally be invited to tell of his long bright days on the ship’s signal bridge - - - which in later years, resulted in the gradual loss of sight on one eye. WRC member Bill Glass was fortunate to have visited Alan only the day before his passing.

All will be dearly missed by their Wardroom Club shipmates.

“Sunset and the evening star and one clear call for me! And may there be no moaning of the bar, when I put out to sea, but such a tide as moving seems asleep, too full for sound and foam, when that which drew from out the boundless deep turns again home. Twilight and evening bell, and after that, the dark! And may there be no sadness of farewell, when I embark; for though from out our bourne of Time and Place, the flood may bear me far, I hope to see my Pilot face-to-face, when I have crossed the bar.”

ALFRED LORD TENNYSON

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Harvard Navy ROTC Returns CAPT Paul E. Mawn USNR (Ret), the Chairman of the Advocates for Harvard ROTC, met with General David Petraeus, United States Army, along with CAPT Tom Hudner, USN (Ret), at the recent commissioning ceremony at Harvard University for Navy & Marine Corp ROTC midshipmen, who were graduating from Harvard University. General Petraeus, who previously was the US Central Commander for the Middle East and served as the Allied Battlefield Commander for Afghanistan, was appointed Director of the CIA on 6 September. Active at Hanscom Field From our newly appointed Assistant Treasurer, COL Chuck Hyland, comes word that past member of the Board of Governors and frequent “Sea Stories” contributor, CATP Don Hussmann, USNR (Ret) is a racquetball “swinger”, having participated this summer representing Hanscom Field in the 2011 National Senior Games that are held every two years in Houston, TX. If you’ve never been there, you can imagine what the weather is like in Houston during the mid-summer when Don was there! Don returned to Hanscom having won two silver medals for Racquetball and Table Tennis. Well done, Don! A New Generation Just as we were all thinking that we were remaining 39 years of age, comes word that 2nd LT Brian Michaud, USA has been sent to Iraq for a tour of duty that will keep him there until at least December and maybe beyond the projected pull-out date. Beginning when he was a high school Junior ROTC cadet, Brian made occasional visits to the Club with his father, Past President CAPT Gig Michaud, USNR (Ret). Our best wishes are extended to Brian during his tour of duty. The American Red Cross Speaking of our younger generation serving overseas, our newly appointed Assistant Secretary, CAPT Mary Jo Majors, NC, USNR (Ret) is actively involved with the American Red Cross and the organization’s effort at producing emergency communications for families in need of establishing contact with members of our armed services who are serving on active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. As Mary Jo has stated, “U.S. military personnel and their families can remain confident that the red Cross will be there to keep them connected when there is a crisis at home. For those in need, a call to the Red Cross at 877/272-7337 will get the ball lolling when the need arises.” Good work, Mary Jo!

MEMORIES FROM THE CLUB HISTORIAN Prior to the 1978 - 1979 Wardroom Club year, the Second Ladies Night was held at the Charlestown Naval Officer’s Club, along with a visit and tour on board the USS CONSTITUTION. This occurred prior to the evening’s cocktails and dinner. I have copied below the notice and invitation for this event, as the history contribution for this month. 92 officers and their guest toured the CONSTITUTION, and another 20 joined the tour group for dinner. Here it is:

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THE WARDROOM CLUB SECOND LADIES’ NIGHT ON THE USS CONSTITUTION (1X-21)

Wednesday Evening, 17 September 1969 Three years have passed since our memorable first ladies’ aboard the USS Massachusetts in Fall River.

It has been customary for the officers of this Club to make the annual cruise on the USS

Constitution each spring, (this custom ended many years ago) and we would like to share a tour of this historical ship with the rest of our members and their ladies. We have therefore arranged with

the Commodore of the First Naval District, Rear Admiral Joseph C. Wylie, USN, through our Navy Board Member, Captain Frederick Simonet, USNR, for permission to visit ADM Wylie’s flagship on

the evening of September 17, 1969.

The Captain of the USS Constitution, Commander Hugh Moore, USN, has arranged to provide us with a conducted tour of the ship beginning at 18:45 to be followed by the ceremony of “Evening

Colors” at 19:47.

We have also reserved space at the Charlestown Naval Yard Officers’ Club, which is adjacent to the USS Constitution, for cocktails and dinner. Please indicate on the enclosed whether you will attend

along with your number of guests and whether you would prefer a complete chicken, a lobster dinner or a roast beef dinner, at the cost of $4 each, including gratuities. (You will be on your own

during the cocktail hour).

This occasion will be a fine way to launch our club year. The officers and directors do hope this will be another memorable occasion in the history of the club, for our members and their ladies.

My goodness – how those prices have changed!!!

John H. Lok – Club Historian E-Mail: loksnet@verizon.net

Phone Number: 508/525-7605 (Cell)

NOTES FROM THE CLUB SECRETARY Much of what I have to offer for the coming season, will be repeat information. It is brought forth as a reminder for your edification and convenience.

First, please allow me to welcome all of you back to the club for another season, whether you visit the club in-person or via the medium of our monthly newsletter.

Next, please allow me to offer you an on-going reminder that security at the Coast Guard Base remains in a heightened state, much as before. Upon your arrival at the Base, whether on foot or by automobile, members and guests of members attending monthly meetings of the Club must first be prepared to show a valid photo ID to the security folks at the gate-house.

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Moving on, your dinner reply card is enclosed within this newsletter. Please note that the card must be sent to me in the enclosed pre-addressed envelope. Accordingly, you must also enclose your dinner check and add a stamp to your reply envelope. If you are planning to attend the upcoming meeting, I ask that you mail me the card with the requested information, prior to Thursday, 15 October. This will facilitate our providing the caterer with an accurate number of dinner requests. I’d also like to once again offer the ongoing reminders to all attending Wardroom Club members:

1. If you are planning to attend a meeting as a passenger in a car pool, you are asked to indicate on your reply card in whose car you will be riding. This saves a call or two if we can reach the duty-driver first, on weather-related cancellations.

2. if you are planning to invite a guest to the upcoming meeting of the club, you must list his/her rank, service, full name and the telephone number. The number will only be used in the event the meeting location must suddenly be changed or if we are faced with an unfavorable weather forecast immediately prior to the upcoming meeting.

3. Any member who brings a guest must be responsible for paying said guest’s reservation. If there is to be any reimbursement involved, it shall occur between the member and the guest, not the Club. A guest should not have to pay at the door.

4. Please also remember that the Club by-laws require that for a guest to attend a meeting of the Wardroom Club, said guest must first and foremost be eligible for future membership. Therefore, as stated in Item 2 above, the guest’s rank and service must be indicated along with his/her name.

5. In the interest of providing our caterer with an accurate count and therefore being financially efficient with your Club’s money, I ask that you submit your reply card to me in a timely manner (see above), in the event you are planning to attend the meeting. Receiving the card a day or so following a meeting does nothing for our accuracy, and will cost you an additional $5.00 as a Walk-In, in which case you will not permit to be seated until those who responded in advance are seated (see Item 12 below).

6. If you are late in replying, please leave me a voice message or send an e-mail to let me know that you will be attending. Then, please bring your check to the meeting.

7. Please correct the data on the front of your monthly response card or e-mail me at seldenj@yahoo.com with any updates (including e-mail accounts, phone numbers, promotions, etc).

8. Regarding nametags, you undoubtedly know who you are - but there happen to be other club members who do not know your name. Therefore, I ask you to pick up a nametag as you enter for the evening and to wear it. Then, at the end of the evening please remember to return the plastic cases for the tag if you no longer need it or routinely fail to remember to bring the nametag(s) you already have at home. Please make note to return extras you currently hold hostage at home. These items are expensive.

9. Ties ($25), Hats ($20) and Burgees ($25) are available at the door.

10. This is most important - Please remember to sign-in as soon as you arrive so we can ensure an accurate actual meal count. Another reason for signing-in is a common practice for many other members to use the sheets as a convenient method to note that you may already have arrived.

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11. October begins a new season for vouchers. Those that were issued during last season have expired as of this past May meeting. No vouchers were permitted to carryover to the October or any subsequent meeting.

12. Walk-ins shall not be permitted to be seated for dinner until such time as those who had earlier made dinner reservations will have taken their place at the tables. The necessary arrangements will then be made for the newly required extra seating. We ask all walk-ins to abide by this procedure.

Again, welcome back to another club season!

Jules B. Selden, Secretary

23 Hemlock Drive Norwell, MA 02061

E-Mail: seldenj@yahoo.com Cell Phone: 617/645-4197

Daytime Phone: 781/987-1219