More Interesting Mail

In the previous post you saw an email I received. I just received a reply to my request for some additional information and I think the reply is just as interesting so here it is. I have deleted some personal contact information to for privacy concerns.
Coleen's dad is James McMahon, CPO

Hi Jim,

He served on the Hazelwood for 5 years, starting in 1959. My sister and I have great memories of visiting the ship, especially when it was “parked” 3 ships out and we had to cross 3 to get to it. How my mom managed 4 of us little kids on the ships is beyond me! There are a few names that stick in our minds to this very day – Ensign Harwood, Mr. Creek, and a sailor named Julian. We always thought that was his first name, but interesting that it’s your last!! My dad was in 35 years, and on a lot of ships, but we always considered the Hazelwood as “his” ship, our favorite. He was Chief Petty Officer, and I know was a navigator at one time, but he was so many things, not sure if that was his duty on the Hazelwood. I have a bell from the Hazelwood’s lifeboat mounted outside the door of my house – from when it was scrapped, I think!

 My dad’s email is *********@charter.net. Telephone is 413-***-****. Hopefully, his computer will be back up soon.

It’s great to be reminded of the “old days”!
Colleen

I plan on calling Chief McMahon one of these days just to reminisce and encourage him to attend the reunion!!

Smooth sailing, Jim Julian

Interesting Email

Shipmates, I received this email recently and thought you would find it as interesting as I did. We do have a James McMahon in our mailing list but I am not sure if he is Colleen's father. I have written to her to get more information though. I will post more information as I receive it.

Sir,

 I was doing a search on the USS Hazelwood today, and came upon a website that had the statement “run up the Roadrunner flag” under the ship’s name. So I did a search on USS Hazelwood Roadrunner flag, and up came the picture of Captain Lilly’s birthday party with the Roadrunner flag. My dad made that flag!! I remember from when I was a kid. We 4 children were always so excited when the Hazelwood was in port and we could go on it. I remember watching movies in the chief’s quarters. It was a wonderful time for us. My dad happed to call me this afternoon, and I asked him why he made the flag, and he said “Captain Lilly wanted it”. When I asked why the Roadrunner, he said “because we were fast.” Your website has brought back a lot of great memories. My dad’s computer is down right now, but when it’s back up, I will make sure he checks it out!

Colleen McCartney

 (Chief McMahon’s daughter)

Smooth sailing, Jim Julian

Passing of Hank Miscowicz

I received an Email from Jen Poyer, The granddaughter of Hank Miscowicz indorming me of his passing on July 1, 2012.  Hank served on the Hazewlwood during WW2. The following is the notice posted by the funeral home.

Henry E. "Hank" Miskowicz
Born: 1923 Died: 2012

Henry E. “Hank” Miskowicz. Age 89. U.S. Navy Veteran W.W. II. Beloved husband of the late Mary Anna nee Zielinski. Loving father of Gerry Miskowicz, Margie (Tom) Poyer and Cathy (John) Carroll. Proud grandfather of Jenny, Tommy, Lisa, Amy, Scotty and Robby. Dear brother of the late Edward “Flash” Miskowicz, Leonard Miskowicz, Raymond Miskowicz and Evelyn Trojonowski. Funeral Friday 9:30 A.M. from The Brady-Gill Funeral Home 16600 S. Oak Park Ave. Tinley Park, IL to St. George Church. Mass 10 A.M. Interment Holy Cross Cemetery. Visitation Thursday 3-9 P.M. 708-614-9900 or www.bradygill.com

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. 

.

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