USS Providence Association

Newsletter (Volume 2, Issue 1, January 2009)

Hello Shipmates!  Egad, isn't that an awful picture of me?  I look like I've had a couple too many of something to drink, don't I?  The really bad news is that Sam Villa said this is the best picture he had!  Oh me, oh my!

I do have some very interesting news.  I recently got an email from Chief Jeffery Leith, the Chief of Boat for the USS Providence (SSN-719).  The boat is currently deployed somewhere in WestPac (Western Pacific for those of you who are not savvy to the Navy lingo).  He said that he intends to be at our reunion next April / May, so plan to be there.  He said he has some interesting times to share with us.

I am currently working on some USS Providence calendars for 2009.  Those that we made for 2008 went over big, and we expect to sell more next year.  Order your calendar for next year in the form on the last page, and don't forget your dues for 2009. 

We currently have 3600+ names on our roster.  Several of us have been busy talking to people in our locality to get addresses, and I'm still working to get the addresses entered and/or updated.  I hope I have it done by the time I get this mailed.

In our last newsletter, I asked if anyone wanted to submit a possible logo for our organization.  Dean McMillan was the only one that submitted a drawing.  Dean is the gentleman that does the caricatures at the reunions.  He still has some final changes to do to the logo, and I'll have it for the next newsletter.  If you are interested in Dean's website, it is www.boutface.net.  He prefers caricatures, but he's very talented in all forms of artwork and teaches art at a high school in the Kansas City area.

If you have a computer with internet access, you ought to check out the video from Nate Jaeger that Sam Villa mentions below.  I've seen it, and it's really something.  If I'm not mistaken, the opening scenes look like they were taken in Yokosuka harbor. 

Well, as my grandson text messages to me, TTFN.  For those of you who are not initiated into text messaging, TTFN is "Ta Ta For Now."  (Being a grandpa is such an adventure!)

Jack Reighley - Secretary / jack.reighley@gmail.com
401 NW Springwood Dr. Blue Springs, MO 64015 – Tel: (816) 228-5885

Message from your Webmaster:

George “Nate” Jaeger shares Video from 45 years ago aboard Providence.  This 13 minute clip can be seen on the menu page of the Providence website www.ussprovidence.org

George “Nate” Jaeger was a Marine that proudly served aboard Providence in 1963.  He participated in the 50-mile hike around the ship and also made the transformation from Pollywog to Shellback during that time.  Since then, “Nate” has distinguished himself as an actor and musician.  Nate is a Member of The Screen Actor's Guild (SAG) since 1974, The American Federation of Television Actors (AFTRA), The Actor's Equity Association (AEA) and The American Federation of Musicians.  Enjoy the Providence Video and be sure to check out Nate’s website.  http://www.natejaeger.com/home.html

I would also like to thank you for your membership.  You have made it possible for the Providence Website to be expanded to accommodate the two cruise books.

Sam Villa -- Webmaster / sam@star77.com
PO Box 161182, San Diego, CA 92176 – Tel: (619) 446-8462

EMAIL MESSAGE OF THE QUARTER

Your first newsletter brought many delightful memories of my life on board the USS PROVIDENCE, just as it did to Eugene Rogers.  I also boarded the ship in the Philadelphia shipyards.  How I remember the trolley rides to the center of the city and drinking coffee and eating donuts at the Salvation Army's trailer on the sidewalk of the City's Municipal Building.

Of course, there was also sadness, like when one of our planes, practicing message dropping, got caught in a tail wind and rolled over one side of our gun mounts to port side and landed into the sea upside down.  Only the pontoon was visible.  I assume that the pilot fell out of the cockpit and drifted into the deep.  At any rate, I saw a CBM strip his clothes and dive into the water.  He reached the plane quickly since it was not far from the ship.  The gallant swimmer made about four submersions before the starboard side whaler rounded the bow and aided in the fatal, unsuccessful rescue.  If I recall, the CBM was the caretaker of Nip and Tuck.  We were 1 day from Norfolk, after returning from the Med.  We also buried two sailors at sea, who perished while cleaning fuel tanks that fueled our planes.  Incidentally, after message dropping exercises, the planes were to proceed to Norfolk, since the USS PROVIDENCE was to dock there the following day.

I also recall the sinking of one 40-foot launch of ours, which sank while returning from Hartford, Conn., about 0045 hours, in the darkness at our mooring site.  About 16 sailors, returning from liberty, went down with the launch.  By luck, we all donned life jackets previously.  We paddled about 60 yards to our rescue ship, the USS VULCAN (AR-5), who did not know that we were coming.  We made it to the platform of the Jacobs ladder and when we paraded up and onto the ship's deck, the OD sounded general quarters.  When sanity was restored to the ship, the whole mooring area was alive with blinking signal lights between the VULCAN and PROVIDENCE.  The message that was given to the 16, wet, freezing ducks was "We'll get them in the morning.”  In the morning, our salted clothes were dry, but we walked like Frankenstein.

Your newsletter triggered this recollection.  Incidentally, I still cherish the photo of our ship, which is super.  I won it at one of the reunions, and lost my chit, but it was redeemed anyway.  If I recall, I couldn't get any paint, chipper or brush without a damn chit.

Andy Unger.
1550 Spring Run Road Ext.
Coraopolis, Pa.  15108

“From the Bridge”

USS PROVIDENCE (CL-82) SAILS AGAIN.

Mark you calendars for April 29 to May 3, 2009, for the upcoming Providence, Rhode Island reunion.  The Plan of the Day + Much reunion info at: http://www.ussprovidence.org/reunion-2009.html

There are a number of details to be completed, however the basic plan is in place.  The cost, on a per night basis, is $103 per night, at the Sheraton Providence Airport Hotel, 1850 Post Road, Warwick, Rhode Island 02886.  Phone 401-738-4000.  When making your reservation, be sure to inform them you are with the USS PROVIDENCE ASSOCIATION.  The hotel has free parking, and is located 1 minute from the Warwick Airport.  Free airport shuttle is available anytime.    

Recently I took the opportunity to visit one of our shipmates, Jim Martell, who has been working on a 6-foot model of the CL-82.  It's a radio-controlled ship, which is used at various events in Pennsylvania.  The model is exceptional, and will be at our Providence reunion.  See photo below. 

I encourage you to continue contacting AWOL shipmates, so we may have a grand reunion, and increase our membership.  Kudos to Jim Cozine, who has worked tirelessly to track down many missing members.  Each of us is duty bound to contact at least two shipmates, who we served with, so many more shipmates can share the PROVIDENCE tradition.

Many more details and the enrollment form for the reunion will be in the next newsletter in January.

Thanks again for your support, Smooth Sailing.

Jim Chryst
President
USS Providence Association

The Bosons’ Corner…Bill McCubbin

There are many sayings used today that had their origin from the “salty talk” used in the days of wooden ships and iron men.  Here are a few of the sayings shared by Jim Hammond, US Navy Retired.
Mind Your Ps and Qs – In the past, when sailors were paid and went ashore for liberty, the tavern keepers knew how much they were paid.  They’d keep tally of a sailor’s beer consumption by marking up ‘P’ for pints and ‘Q’ for quarts, then settling up with the sailor at the end of the evening.  If a sailor failed to ‘mind his Ps and Qs,’ he’d come up short (or perhaps be cut off by the bartender).
Let the Cat Out of the Bag – Originally, this term simply meant to remove the cat (cat o’nine tails) from its baize bag, generally preliminary to administering punishment.  The term’s meaning today is to reveal a secret.
Jury Rig – a temporary or makeshift fix.

Jarhead – GRUNT or Marine.  Reportedly, it refers to the "high and tight" haircut favored by many Marines.  It looked as if someone put a bowl on the victim’s head and cut or shaved off all the hair that protruded.
Holystone – An abrasive stone, used with water (and, originally, sand), to scrub a ship’s wooden decks.  The name stems from the size and shape of the stones, which closely resembled bibles.  Generally used by fitting a wooden stick into a socket in the top surface of the stone.  Before the advent of the stick, the man using the stone would kneel as if in prayer, aiding in the development of the nickname.
Navy Trivia:
Boatswain's Pipe:  No self-respecting boatswain's mate would dare admit he couldn't blow his pipe in a manner above reproach.  This pipe, which is the emblem of the boatswain and his mates, has an ancient and interesting history.  On the ancient row-galleys, the boatswain used his pipe to call the stroke.  Later because its shrill tune could be heard above most of the activity on board, it was used to signal various happenings such as knock-off and the boarding of officials.  So essential was this signaling device to the well-being of the ship that it became a badge of office and honor in the British and American Navy of the sailing ships.

Obituary –
Robert T. Gray, Navigator on USS Providence (CL-82) passed away on Oct. 10, 2008.  Bob Gray was the gentleman that gave the invocation at the Covington, KY reunion in 2006.  Please send condolences to
Mrs. Robert T. Gray
4188 Glen Haven Dr.
Concord, NC 28027

UPDATED MEMBERSHIP LIST BELOW……WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

Please contact me for any corrections to
this list.....sam@star77.com