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The Magoffin Messenger
A newsletter of the USS Magoffin (APA-199)
Veterans Association
Issue 69 Spring 2019
Association Officers 1.800.621.5950 President Jim Earven Vice President Mike Stein Treasurer Joe Beninato Secretary Emmon Rogers Director Bill Berglin Director Mac Christy Director Carl Jennings Director Tom Haglage Director Skip Wellman Master-at-Arms L. G. Duncan Historian/Webmaster Terry Little Chaplin Dick Phillips Newsletter Editor Emmon Rogers The Magoffin Messenger Is normally a quarterly publication for and by the members of the USS Magoffin Assn. This Newsletter as well as a wealth of other USS Magoffin info is at www.ussmagoffin.org and on Facebook Mail address changes to Emmon Rogers, Secretary 739 Crabtree Crossing Pkwy Cary, NC 27513-3479
SPECIAL EDITION This is a special edition of the Messenger that hopes to bring our mem-bers up to date about what has been happening. Since the last edition was published, there have been a couple of events, The San Diego Re-union and the New Orleans Get Together. This edition will concern itself mainly with these occasions.
Hopefully the Messenger will resume putting out regular quarterly edi-tions in the future.
Terry Little
Historian/Webmaster
San Diego Reunion In May of 2018 the association held its last reunion in San Diego, Cali-
fornia. Thanks to Mike and Doris Stein for once again arranging a
wonderful time with fun times, a great cruise, good food and lots of
fellowship. For a complete run down of what happened in San Diego,
go to page #2.
New Orleans Get Together In April of this year, a group of Magoffin Shipmates got together to vis-
it the World War Two Museum in New Orleans. They went on Monday
Morning, April 1st which was the 74th anniversary of the invasion of
Okinawa and the Magoffin’s first battle encounter. For a run down of
what happened in New Orleans, go to page #3
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The San Diego Reunion
Everyone checked in to the Holiday Inn, Bay-
side on May 9th, 2018. The hospitality room was
quickly set up with drinks, snacks, the raffle, and
memorabilia. Folks got settled and registered.
On Thursday the 10, the ladies went off on a
tour of the Whaley House, a historic mansion while
the crew held their meeting. During the meeting lit
was decided that this would be the last official reun-
ion. Any future gatherings would have to be low key
and not have official votes or decisions. (see the
complete minutes of the meeting ) After the
meeting the crew met up with the ladies for lunch at
Casa Guadalajara, a quaint Mexican restaurant.
After lunch we returned to the hotel for R&R until
16:30 hours when we boarded buses to go to
Mount Solidad Veterans Memorial Cross. The crew
was able to see the USS Magoffin memorial plaque
that was placed there after the 2006 reunion. The
next thing on the agenda was a surprise cruise and
dinner aboard the USS Hornblower , a cruise boat
that featured a cruise , an excellent dinner and a fun
D.J. This wonderful event was paid for by the associ-
ation.
On Friday , the 11th buses headed to the USS
Mdiway where folks foured the ship and museum
and saw the famous kissing sailor statue. After the
tour everyone was on their own.
Saturday we went to Balboa Park and visited
the Air Museum and the car museum. Beautiful
place with lots going on. That night was had the last
banquet and enjoyed dinner , the raffle winners and
took some group photos. Sunday was going home
day. It was all time well spent.
To see photos from this reunion and others,
go to WWW.USSMAGOFFIN.ORG. There is also good
Magoffin information on Facebook. USSMagoffin
(APA-199) Veterans Association
The NOLA Get Together
As was discussed in San Diego, there weren’t
going to be any more formal reunions but the oppor-
tunity existed to have an informal get together. In
January of this year, I decided that I wanted to take
my wife to New Orleans to see the completed Pacific
War exhibit and the Magoffin model. We had been to
the museum twice before but first time they didn’t
have the model yet and the second time it wasn't on
display yet.
I sent a note to those members that I had
email contact information for and said that April 1st
would be a good time to stop at the museum since it
would be the 74th anniversary of the Okinawa inva-
sion which is where the Magoffin earned her first
battle star. I said that Judi and I would be staying at
the Queen and Crescent hotel because we had been
there before and had enjoyed it. We said that if any-
one wanted to join us, they should make there own
arrangements and plan on meeting at the museum on
April 1st.
By middle of March I had heard from 7 or 8
crew that they were coming, some with family and
some without. But by the time April 1st arrived there
were 12 crew and 9 family standing in the lobby
waiting for us to get the group tickets. We started
the day by posing for photos at the LCVP that sits in
the lobby of main building. Then we went up to
where the Magoffin model is on display and took
some more photos. While we were there, a photo
journalist who worked for the museum took photos
of the group, the ship, my hat and my shirt all of
which he posted on the WW-II Museum facebook
page. After the photos were done, everyone went off
and visited the museum at their own pace and in
their own way. That evening we all tried to go to din-
ner together but had a difficult time finding a place
that would accommodate all of us with in a reasona-
ble time. Continued on Page #5
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Minutes of the USS Magoffin Veteran's Association Crew Meeting
Twentieth Reunion, May 10, 2018, San Diego, California
The crew meeting was opened at 0955 with an invocation by President James Earven followed by the Pledge
of Allegiance.
Call to Order. The meeting was formally called to order by the President, James Earven at 1003. A quorum
was declared present. The minutes of the October 13, 2016 Branson, Missouri crew meeting, which were pre-
pared by Acting Secretary Thomas Haglage were read by Secretary Emmon Rogers. It was moved and se-
conded that the minutes be accepted. The motion was passed unanimously. The president called for old busi-
ness; there was none remaining from the Branson meeting.
Recognition of First Time Attendees. President Earven recognized the following crew members who were at-
tending a Magoffin reunion for the first time: Ron Bjork, Edward Bryant, Jay Cooperson, Sheldon Jones and
Larry Woolace.
Financial Report. Treasurer Joe Beninato presented the year-to-date (as of May 8, 2018) bank reconciliation
report. The General Fund balance was $13,005.80 and the Welfare Fund was $1,500.00. He noted that there
were additional reunion related disbursements to be made that would lower the General Fund balance.
Vice President Michael Stein read the names of crew members deceased since the last crew meeting. A list is
attached to these minutes.
Director Thomas Haglage provided an endowment report of the USS Magoffin Veterans Memorial Scholar-
ship fund, which totaled $64,993.94 as of June 30, 2017. He encouraged shipmates to continue contributing to
the fund at the Morehead State University Foundation, Inc.
New Business. President Earven thanked webmaster Terry Little, who has been doing a great job maintaining
the USS Magoffin website since 2002. There was a discussion concerning reimbursement of Terry for his out-
of-pocket expenses for maintaining and operating the website. It was moved and seconded that the association
reimburse Webmaster Terry Little for the expenses that he has incurred in the past and for future expenses as
they occur, subject to approval by the President and Treasurer. The motion was passed unanimously. The ex-
penses are about $125 per year for internet related expenses plus $15 per year for the domain name fee.
Future activities of the Magoffin Association. A discussion of the future activities of the association ensued,
since this reunion is the last official, organized formal reunion. President Earven thanked the crew members
for their excellent turnout at this reunion. He also noted that crew members could get together informally in
smaller groups in central locations, without tours or planned events and activities. New Orleans was men-
tioned as a possible location since the World War II museum is located there, and the model of the Magoffin
has been exhibited in the museum since the Mobile reunion. Also, going to Washington, D.C. to dedicate the
plaque at the Navy Memorial might be another possibility. It was suggested that input be gathered from the
membership on the future activities of the association, and the disposition of funds and memorabilia, and that
actions be approved by mail vote of the officers and directors of the association. Funds could go to the scholar-
ship fund and memorabilia could be donated to the Magoffin County Historical Society or Magoffin County
High School.
Proposals from other reunion groups for mergers were briefly discussed and it was decided we would not
merge with any other associations or group.
Director Skip Wellman volunteered to put together a Facebook Page. Information will be published in future
newsletters.
President Earven announced the Magoffin plaque at the Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial will be dedicated
later in the afternoon. Continued on page #4
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Minutes of the San Diego Meeting continued
The crew thanked and applauded Vice President Michael Stein and his wife, Doris for their fine planning and
organizing of this final reunion. President Earven thanked the officers and directors for their continued sup-
port and efforts for the association.
There was no further old or new business, and it was moved and seconded that the meeting be adjourned. The
motion was passed and the meeting was adjourned at 1059.
Respecfully submitted: Emmon Rogers, Secretary
USS MAGOFFIN VETERAN'S ASSOCIATION
BANK RECONCILIATION
Year-to-Date December 31, 2018
BEGINNING BANK BALANCE 01/01/2018 $ 13,202.12
CASH RECEIPTS 2018
Dues $ 560.00
Reunion 7,529.12
Scholarship Fund 1,199.00
Donations 968.00
Total Receipts 10,256.12
CHECK DISBURSEMENTS 2018
Postage -
Deposit Stamp & Checks -
Telephone (800) (27.74)
Website (2,160.00)
Reunion Expenses (12,231.07)
Morehead State Transfer (1,900.00)
Newsletter (104.45)
Checks & Deposit Tickets -
Total Disbursements (16,423.26)
ENDING BANK BALANCE 12/31/2018 $ 7,034.98
(Ending Balance Broken Down as Follows)
Education Fund Beginning 01/01/18 $ -
Reunion Raffle 1,200.00
Donations 700.00
Transferred to Moorehead State (1,900.00)
Education Ending Balance 12/31/2018 -
General Fund Ending Balance 12/31/2018 $ 7,034.98
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NOLA Get Together Continued
We finally went to the Marriott where we a nice meal and were able to sit together. After that ,
there were no more “Let’s all eat as a group” events. Most folk stayed until Wednesday morning with most
touring the city and/or taking tour bus trips. New Orleans is a city with a long and interesting history and it
takes a while to absorb it all. Of course many of the folks joined in the conversations in the Bar aatthe Q&C.
One subject that came up was the possibility of another get together in Kentucky and visiting the Salyersville
Historical Society. They have a lot of Magoffin memorabilia and we need to see if they are willing to become
the repository for much of what the association still has. I am sure that you will all hear more about this in
the future.
There are a lot of photos from this trip at www.ussmagoffin.org and on the Magoffin facebook page.
If you are Facebook, go to USS Magoffin (APA-199) Veterans Association we will get you in.
A couple of personal notes; as always it was great seeing old shipmates even if they were aboard at a
different time. Over the years judi and I have built some real friendships with folks we have met through the
association. New Orleans is a town that likes veterans. Twice we had strangers pick up our considerable bar
tabs at the Q&C and I can’t tell you the number of times folks on the street or in the shops thanked us for
our service.
One last thing, one of our own, Ray Cheely , is not doing well and is in a long term care facility. He
and his family would appreciate a card or letter of encouragement. Ray Cheely, 312 Lauretta, Blue Grass,
Iowa, 52726-9790
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