A Message from the President/Secretary
Jim
Chryst
December 2017
December 2016 I want to wish each of you and your families and wonderful Holiday Season, a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.
President's Message Jim Chryst
May 29, 2014 Sam: Please post this pic of Hollyfield. His daughter contacted me and she lives in San Diego, along with Hollyfield's wife. I am going to invite them to the Hawaiian night during the reunion.
Have a great day
Jim Chryst CAPTAIN ERNEST E. HOLLYFIELD, JR., USN December 25, 2013 A very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays to all in the USS PROVIDENCE Association. My best wishes for a healthy New Year as well.
The PROVIDENCE Association continues to grow each year, with your strong effort, as you have contacted "olde" shipmates, and encouraged them to participate in our website and reunions. Our upcoming reunion, set for San Diego, October 8-12 should be another great time to share with old and new shipmates. The next newsletter in February will have additional info regarding the reunion.
Additionally, we have installed a memorial display with PROVIDENCE memorabilia, on board the heavy cruiser USS SALEM CA 139, in Quincy, Mass. The other display is on board the USS LITTLE ROCK CLG-4, at the Buffalo Naval Park. I am always looking for additional items for these displays, so contact me if you have something you wish to donate.
Fair winds and following seas. Semper Fi.
-- Have a great day
Jim Chryst 34 Snyder Hollow Rd, New Providence, Pa. 17560 717-284-6996 or my cell 973-222-5499
May 27, 2013 As we observe the opening of summer, please take a few moments to reflect upon all the fallen heros, who did not have the privilege of future summers and life with a loving family. We have so much to cherish---FREEDOM. Jim Chryst == -2012 VETERAN"S DAY to all of us. I personally really never considered the word sacrifice for my Naval service. I considered it a duty to Country. "A veteran is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America"
July 26, 2012 2012 REUNION RECAP WASHINGTON, D.C.
MAY 4 Friday Early ship's company meeting. At the conclusion of the meeting, Jim Cozine, on behalf of the PROVIDENCE Association< presented a plaque to Jim Chryst, with the following inscription "Jim Chryst is recognized as a "Fighting Devil" (Providence call sign). He is awarded this commendation made by our sanction for his distinguished service to his shipmates. For resolute and tireless leadership as President and Secretary of the USS PROVIDENCE Association for the past 10 years: for hosting our 04 Buffalo, 09 Providence, RI and this Washington, D.C. reunion; for searching out memorabilia and putting together our ship's display case aboard the museum ship USS LITTLE ROCK; for his editorship and publication of the semiannual newsletters; and for being an excellent ambassador to the namesake USS PROVIDENCE SSN-719 and other Navy and Veterans Groups on our behalf." MAY 5 Saturday Brief tour of Arlington National Cemetery and viewing of the Changing of the Guard. Next on the addenda was a tour of Fort Myer (Home of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) followed by lunch at the Officer's Club. After lunch Plankholders from CL-82 and CLG-6 placed a wreath at the IWO JIMA Memorial. During the evening photos were taken for the "Cruise Book", followed by our reunion banquet. Keynote speaker was Casey Coane, RADM (ret). Afterward we auctioned about 40 + items that were donated by shipmates. May 23, 2012 MEMORIAL DAY IS A SPECIAL DAY TO REMEMBER OUR FALLEN HEROS MEMORIAL DAY - May 28, 2012 "For those who have fought for it, Freedom has a taste that the protected will never know". On the real Memorial Day, May 30, I will recite the "Old Glory" flag memorial on the occasion of honoring Civil War Veterans at the Lancaster Cemetary, Lancaster, Pa. This wonderful, and moving memorial, is on our website and was read at our Reunion Memorial Service, on May 3rd on board the USS BARRY, at the Washington, D.C. Navy Base. Last year I received the following comments from a long time friend. I hope everyone will embrace the thought and pray for our fallen comrades. --- "Happy early Memorial Day my good fellow veteran Jim Chryst. Least we never forget why we served, and those who served before us, with us, and after us that weren't able to share the joys and blessings of coming home to their loved ones to build a nation such as ours. May we always remember with compassion, love and respect our fallen brethren who gave their all so the rest of us could carry the torch of peace in their absence. Bless you for being one who cares. Your friend Randy" --- "There can be no greater good than the quest for peace, and no finer purpose than the preservation of freedom" RONALD REAGAN. Each Sailor and Marine who served on board the USS PROVIDENCE has helped preserve that freedom, and a GRATEFUL NATION THANKS YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE UNITED STATES AND THE UNITED STATES SHIP PROVIDENCE. FOR THOSE SAILORS AND MARINES STILL "ON STATION" USS HOUSTON (CA-30) Lost 2 March 1942 at Sunda Straits USS ASTORIA (CA-34) Lost 9 August 1942 at Savo Island USS QUINCY (CA)-39 Lost 9 August 1942 at Savo Island USS VINCENNES (CA-44) Lost 9 August 1942 at Savo Island USS ATLANTA (CL-15) Lost 13 November 1942 at Guadalcanal USS JUNEAU (CL-52) Lost 13 November 1942 at Guadalcanal (5 Sullivan Brothers) USS NORTHAMPTON (CA-26) Lost 30 November 1942 at Tassafaronga USS CHICAGO (CA-29) Lost 30 January 1943 at Salomon Islands USS HELENA CL-50) Lost 6 July 1943 at Kula Gulf USS INDIANAPOLIS (CA-35) Lost 29 July 1945 in Philippine Sea. HAVE A GREAT MEMORIAL DAY. JIM CHRYST --- 11-11-11
I wish I could express my thoughts as well about something I loved -- and hated sometimes.
05-21-11 MEMORIAL DAY 2011 FREEDOM TO DO WHAT WE WANT TO DO. Another definition of freedom is - the state of being at liberty, rather than in confinement. We owe a debt of gratitude to all our departed service personnel, who have given us our way of life, and we need to pray for our present servicemen and women as they serve us, and we continue this bastion of freedom known as the United States of America. Every peace loving person on this earth wants what we have every day, and it is up to us to honor the men and women who fought for this great country. On Monday, May 30th I will recite the "Old Glory" flag memorial from our website. The reading will take place on the occasion of honoring Civil War Veterans at the Lancaster Cemetery, Lancaster, Pa. Additionally, on Monday, May 30th, Dwight Troutman, YN-2, CLG-6, 66-69, will make a donation from the USS PROVIDENCE ASSOCIATION to the Freedom Park, Omaha, Nebraska. Dwight recently visited Freedom Park and discovered the PROVIDENCE anchor on display. I received the following message from a very good friend, which sums things up quite well: "Happy early Memorial Day my good fellow veteran Jim Chryst. Least we never forget why we served, and those who served before us, with us, and after us that weren't able to share the joys and blessings of coming home to their loved ones to build a nation such as ours. May we always remember with compassion, love and respect our fallen brethren who gave their all so the rest of us could carry the torch of peace in their absence. Bless you for being one who cares. Your friend Randy" Jim Chryst
11-11-10 HAPPY VETERAN"S DAY to all of us. This was taken from the Navy Times "On this special day we pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of the men and women who, in defense of our freedom, have bravely worn the uniform of the United States. We remember these heroes for their valor and dedication. Today, their selfless sacrifices continue to inspire us as we work to pursue integrity in our lives and communities." I really never considered the word sacrifice for my Naval service. I considered it a duty to Country. Again, the words of John F. Kennedy ring clear. " "And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: "I served in the United States Navy" Have a Happy Veteran's day and Semper Fi. Jim Chryst 01-20-2010 Shipmates: President John F. Kennedy, August 1, 1963 "And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: "I served in the United States Navy" Jim Nov. 11, 2009 Shipmates: Best wishes and prayers to you and your family, as we honor all veterans on November 11th. Without your sacrifice and the committment of our current servicemen and women, we would not enjoy our freedoms and our way of life. All our freedoms are provided, courtesy of the veteran, not a politician or some one else who wants to take credit for something they didn't do. For us, everyday is Veteran's Day. Please take a few moments on Wednesday to reflect upon our wonderful lives, and how we got to this point in history -- and say a prayer for our men and women in the service. During this past year, I have worn my Providence hat 2 days each week, and during that time, at least a dozen people thanked my for my service. It's nice to be recognized, but more importantly, American citizens are more compassionate toward veterans and realize what each of us has sacrificed for this great country. God Bless America and our Veterans Jim Chryst Ship's Secretary. May 21, 2009 FREEDOM – FREEDOM – FREEDOM – FREEDOM – FREEDOM On the real Memorial Day – March 30, Saturday, take a moment to say thank you to all our past, and present service personnel. Additionally, we ask that you pray for the souls of our departed comrades, who will not be with us this Memorial Day. FAIR WINDS AND SMOOTH SEAS Jim Chryst
Dec. 25, 2008 Christmas Message to the crewmembers of the USS PROVIDENCE. What a wonderful time of the year, for spreading charity and goodwill. The excitement and anticipation of the season make us all children again, no matter what age we are now. As each year passes, we reflect upon what we have experienced during that time and hopefully have learned how to be a better person, to serve and love our family, fellow citizens and shipmates. In November my wife and I took a cruise to Australia and New Zealand. One of the scheduled events was a Veteran's meeting and acknowledgement. There were 12 U.S. Veterans in attendence. Each Vet introducted themselves, name, branch of service, where served, etc. One Australian women, in her mid 80's, explained that her husband was a Veteran of WW II, who had recently passed away, but she thought it her duty to "personally thank all Americans for saving Australia during WW II" She further commented, "the Japanese would surely have invaded Australia if not for the timely arrival of the Americans, and my country would not be what it is today, so I say THANK YOU TO ALL AMERICANS" Gives you goose bumps, when you hear it from a truly appreciative person. So, as we join family and friends this Hanukkah, Christmas, or Quanza, be blessed that we live and protect the United States of America, the most cherished country. Also, please pray for our fallen veterans, and our, soon-to-be veterans currently serving in our military, Have a wonderful Holiday Season. Smooth seas and following winds. Nov. 27, 2008 Thanksgiving Message to the crewmembers of the USS PROVIDENCE. Hopefully you will spend this Thanksgiving with your family, and count the many blessings which were bestowed upon you during this past year. Even the darkest moments, have a silver lining of a blessing. As you sit around the Thanksgiving feast, please pray for our fallen veterans, and our, soon-to-be veterans currently serving in our military, Have a wonderful day, and weekend. Smooth seas and following winds.
Nov. 11, 2008
HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY - 2008 Greetings, on the first Holiday of the summer season. Hopefully, you will have the opportunity to spend quality time with your family this weekend and reflect upon all the things dear to us, and for the freedoms we enjoy each day. Something not to be taken lightly, as there was a terrible price to pay. We know that Freedom is not free, so please set aside a few moments on Monday to pray for our fallen countrymen and women, who have paid the supreme price to provide us with what we have this fine day and every day. Have a great Memorial Day. Fair winds. Jim Chryst.
President’s Message – December 17, 2007 Hopefully, by now, most of the Christmas and gift shopping is complete, and you are ready to have a wonderful, family Holiday Season. There are many things to be thankful for during this festive time of the year, and I would ask you to pray for those less fortunate, our wounded service men and women, our combat troops which are on duty around the clock to protect us, and reflect upon how lucky we are to live in the good ole U.S. of A. Most of all, I appreciate the relationships we share as shipmates of the USS PROVIDENCE. I look forward to a great year of planning the next reunion in Providence, RI, and getting our memorial displays in place. Look for our first Providence Newsletter, which will be published in early January. There are good articles and information, and we appreciate any comments you have regarding the content. God’s speed for a wonderful Christmas, and whatever Holiday you celebrate during this time of the year. Jim Chryst President, USS PROVIDENCE Association
Nov. 11, 2007 HAPPY VETERAN’S day to all. I want to wish every shipmate and their families, a very happy Veteran’s Day on November 11, 2007. Without your sacrifice, and the sacrifice of current and previous veterans, we would not enjoy our current freedoms and our way of life. Set aside a few moments on Sunday to reflect upon our wonderful lives, and how we got to this point in history, and say a prayer for our boys and girls overseas, as well as those in the U. S of A. God Bless America Jim Chryst
July 28, 2007 Shipmates: The Covington Reunion is almost upon us, with only a few more weeks to go. If you already haven’t done so, please take a few minutes to make your reservations for this outstanding event. Bill and Beverly McCubbin have worked very hard and really have an outstanding time planned for us. I would also ask that you bring any and all memorabilia with you to share with your shipmates. In addition, I will accept donations of your memorabilia, to be used in the USS PROVIDENCE display case on the USS LITTLE ROCK (CLG-4). This has been slow, but the Buffalo Naval Park will provide us space for a display case, and I want to put our best foot forward with great PROVIDENCE items. I am also working with the USS SALEM (CA-139) organization to obtain space in their Cruiser Memorial Room, so we will need a number of quality items. Please call your shipmates to make sure they are registered, so we can get a great turnout. Admiral Kenneth Haynes (former CO of the USS PROVIDENCE during the Vietnam War), will be the guest speaker at the banquet. Give some consideration, as to where you may want to have the next few reunions. In an earlier message, I suggested: Bremerton/Everett That’s all for now. See you in Covington. Jim Chryst
May 25, 2007 President’s Newsletter: HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY TO ALL: We should take a few moments of silence at noon on Monday, to remember our fallen countrymen and women, who have paid the supreme price to provide us with what we have this fine day – FREEDOM - Not to be taken lightly, as there was a terrible price to pay. If you are aware of any shipments who have passed since the last reunion, please notify me, or Bill McCubbin, or Sam Villa. KENTUCKY REUNION - Bill and Beverly McCubbin are working diligently to make certain we have a great reunion. Check the website, and please register early, so they can avoid a last minute crush of scheduling. I just returned from a banquet of the Cruiser Sailor Reunion, in Valley Forge, PA, and ran into Vic and Clair Muzio. They are in good health and look forward to the upcoming visit to Kentucky. Frank Carlson, a PROVIDENCE Plankowner from 1945 contacted me regarding a potential memorial display on the USS SALEM, which is in the Fore River Shipyard, in Quincy, Mass, where the PROVIDENCE was built. He worked on the SALEM for 10 years, as an electrician. I will visit the ship in July to determine the potential for a display on that heavy cruiser. I addition, I will visit the LITTLE ROCK, in Buffalo, to work the final details of the PROVIDENCE display in the Cruiser Room of that ship. I had numerous discussions with Pam Rector, and she is in the process of packing Dick’s memorabilia for shipment to me. So far there are 4 boxes and a few more to pack. These are important items to recover. I am sure that many of you have memorabilia that should be shared with your shipmates, so bring them to Kentucky, and we can all enjoy the PROVIDENCE. God’s speed and fair winds. Jim Chryst
April 11, 2007 Members of the USS PROVIDENCE Association I wanted to take this opportunity to thank the Executive Board for asking me to temporarily, step into the President’s position, left vacant by the untimely passing of our shipmate, Dick Rector. I just returned from Kentucky after a meeting with Bill and Beverly McCubbin, and Ray Lape concerning the upcoming reunion in Covington. We also met with the Northern Kentucky Convention Association. Bill and Beverly have planned for an outstanding time for our reunion, and I encourage you to make your reservations now. As we approach this reunion, a number of issues need to be addressed at the Ship’s Company Meeting; Bill and Beverly have worked very hard to ensure a great reunion, so, I encourage you to attend to Covington reunion to renew old friendships, and start new ones. The keynote speaker is Admiral Kenneth Haynes (Ret), former Commanding Officer of CLG-6. If you have any questions, or comments, please don’t hesitate to send me an email at jchryst@earthlink.net or phone my home at 973-729-6899. Shipmates forever. Jim Chryst |