2013 REUNION SCHEDULE

Richard Ernst has completed the basic planning for the coming reunion in the Newport area. Here is the schedule as it now stands. Of course there may be some small changes as the reunion gets closer.

A mailing will be made in the future with reservations forms and full information when we get a little closer to the reunion date.

Saturday, April 27. 2013
Naval Sub-base, Nautilus Museum and free time In Mystic, CT

The tour bus will depart the Radisson Airport Hotel in Warwick, RI at 9:00 am and travel to the Naval Submarine Base, New London, CT. Passengers will get a windshield tour of the base. After the tour, Passengers will be taken to the USS Nautilus Museum for free time to explore. At noon the bus will bring the group to Mystic CT for free time to shop and have lunch on their own. A 3:00 pm departure is planned.
Cost is estimated to be $25.00 per person and includes roud trip bus and driver gratuity.

Sunday. April 28. 2013
Battleship Cove

The bus will depart the Radisson Airport Hotel in Warwick, RI at 10 am for Battleship Cove, Fall River, MA and return at 3:00 pm. Lunch is included at Battleship Cove. You can chose the Battleship Buffet or a lighter deli lunch.
Cost is estimated to be $61.00 for the Battleship Buffet or $57.00 for the deli lunch. The rate includes bus transportation, admission into Battleship Cove, lunch and driver gratuity. 

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Monday. April 29. 2013
Newport, RI

                      The bus will depart the Radisson Airport Hotel in Warwick RI at 9:00 am for Newport RI. The bus tour escort, Ernie Pina, will give a 90 minute narrated tour of Newport. Upon completion of the tour we will go to the Officer's Club on the Newport Navy Base for lunch. After lunch there will be a windshield tour of the base. Upon completion of the tour we nwill go to the pier or Dewey Field for a Memorial Service. If time is available a free tour of the museum is available. Departure from the base is scheduled for 4:00 PM.
Cost is estimated to be $54.00 per person and includes the Newport tour, lunch, Navy Base tour, driver and guide gratuity.

Banquet
Radisson Airport Hotel

The banquet will be held this evening. Details will follow.

Re: Who Was Commanding at Okinowa

Today I received the following email from Murray Palladino.

"Dear Jim,

It was my understanding that Cmdr Douw was still in command on the 29th of

April 1945. I don't recall hearing of any change in command. Being in the radio group I would think we would have received some notification. I do remember hearing that Cmdr Douw was to be relieved,

Murray Palladino RMC 3rd

1943--1946"

I recall seeing a list of those KIA at Okinawa  in one of the booklets from a past reunion. We have quite a bit of memorabilia and I have not yet had time to search through all of it.  When and if I find the list I will post it on the blog.

REMINDER: The 2013 reunion will be in the Newport area April 27-29. More info will follow as it develops.

HOW TO MAKE A COMMENT ON A POST

This information was posted previously, but I feel it is worthwhile to have it posted again for your information. When making a post if  you leave your email address within your post I can reply directly to  you if you have a question.
1. Click on "Comments" at the bottom of the Post you wish to comment on. If there is already a comment there, you can read it and there will be a block where you can make a comment if you wish.
2. Write your comment in the block provided.
3. Click on the "v" next to "Comment as:"
4. Click on "Name/URL"

NOTE: It is possible to comment anonymously but it is preferred you leave your name. If you want to comment anonymously (No Name shown), click on Anonymous.

5. Type in your name in the "Name" block.
6. DO NOT ENTER ANYTHING in the "URL" block.
7. Click "Continue" - Your name will show up without the "()" following it when the comment is published.
8. Click either POST or PREVIEW
9. Provide the code provided and your Comment will be posted.

 Don't forget to look at the comments when you are reading down through the Blog. You will find they may be interesting and may even be asking a question that you can answer .... with a comment.

PS: If you wish to contact me directly rather than leaving a comment you may do so by emailing me (Jim Julian) at dd531reunion@earthlink.net

Who was commanding at the Kamikaze Attack?

The following comment was left on the Hazelwood history posting of August 6, 2009.

“Don May 4, 2012 8:38 PM

I was reading the history of the Hazelwood and was wondering why Cmdr. V.P. Douw is listed as the commanding officer when according to official records my uncle, LtCmdr. Walter A. Hering took command on January 24, 1945 of the USS Hazelwood. LtCmdr. Hering was killed aboard the Hazelwood by enemy air attack on April 29, 1945”

It was my understanding that when the attack occurred, that the commanding officer and a relieving commanding officer were killed. All records that I recall indicate that the captain was V. P. Douw. I am sure there are some records in the boxes that I have that may confirm this but I have not had time to dig them out as yet.

I did call Otis Wolfe and spoke to him about this and he felt sure that Douw was the commanding officer. He had no recollection of a new commanding officer being on board ready to take command. It is quite possible that the records referred to by ”Don”, may have stated that Hering was assigned to take command but it was never completed. In wartime it sometimes took a long time to get to a station, especially a naval war vessel in the Pacific.  

If any other shipmates have information on this, please post it or email me at dd531reunion@earthlink.net. I will then post it.

Smooth sailing, Jim Julian

Updated Hotel Information

I have called the Radisson's toll free number and have confirmed they have the "USS Hazelwood Reunion" rates correctly listed as $79.00 for a standard room and $99.00 for suite. These rates are good from April 24 - April 30.  Here is the hotel contact information as published on their web site:

Radisson Hotel Providence Airport

2081 Post Road, Warwick, Rhode Island 02886, USA

Reservations: +1 (800) 967-9033 US/Canada Toll-free

Telephone: +1 (401) 739-3000

Richard Ernst is now working on the finer details of the reunion and more will be posted as we have it available.  We hope to see many of our shipmates at this reunion.

Smooth Sailing, Jim Julian

CORRECTIONS TO RADISSON INFORMATION

Shipmates: I know it is early to make reservations but just in case you are going to call the hotel, use the  following number to reach the operator and the reservations desk.  (401) 739-3000

A toll free number is also available but they do not have the special rates in the system yet. I will post that information when is verified the rates are in the 800 number system.

If you wish to view the hotel's web site and see the amenities available you can go directly to their site by clicking this link.  http://www.radisson.com/warwick-hotel-ri-02886/riproair

Smooth sailing, Jim Julian

2013 REUNION INFORMATION

Hazelwood Shipmates:


The 2013 reunion will be held at the Radisson Hotel, Providence Airport, 2081 Post Road, Warwick, RI, 401-598-2100,(radisson.com/warwick). Room rates from April 24 to April 30 are $79.00 per night and $99.00 for an executive suite. When making your reservations you MUST refer to “The Hazelwood Reunion” to get these rates. There is shuttle service from the airport to and from the hotel plus shuttle service to local restaurants that are not within walking distance, but there many that can be reached on foot.

Reunion activities are still in the planning stages and are expected to be held on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, April 27 through April 29, 2013. More information will be posted and mailed to those without computer capabilities on a regular basis to keep everyone updated.

We will use Conway Tours for transportation and CPO Ernie Pina (ret) has agreed to be a guide. He has many contacts in the city Newport and on the Naval base. (He was a destroyer sailor stationed in Newport). Dinner will probably be on Monday at the hotel after returning from the base with Memorial and lunch on the base at the Officers Club if possible. Ernie feels that he may be able to arrange the Memorial with active duty chiefs being the color guard. More to follow!!

If  you have any questions you may email Richard Ernst at rfernst@xrin.com or Jim Julian at dd531reunion@earthlink.net  You may also call Jim Julian on his Cell Phone at 941-276-1217. Richard is doing all of the groundwork and planning in the Newport area and Jim is going to be handling mailings and taking reservations.

We hope to see all of you in Newport in 2013