Ray Heinrich , GM1, 42-45 letter

I received the following letter from Raymond Heinrich today and I am sure he will  not mind my posting it here.
Roseland, NE
Feb 11,2013

Dear Jim,
I am finally getting around to answer your invitation to the Hazelwood reunion of 2013 in Newport, RI. I wanted to say, yes, we would be there with bells on, but there are obstacles that need consideration. Both of us (my wife and I) have some health problems which dictate everyday activity. Secondly, we do not travel alone any more so we rely on the children and they have jobs that do not lend to "days off"at that time of year. If there are any changes I will call and let you know.
However, I would appreciate It very much if you would keep me on the  mailing list, as well as other men who have served in the 40's. We were a close knit group and like to keep up on the happenings of  our  fellow shipmates. After boot camp and Gunnery School, I was assigned to the Hazelwood. I was on board when the ship was commissioned and still on board when she was decommissioned. Also Chet Locke and I were responsible for the very first reunion.
Sincerely, I thank you for your consideration and input to keep the reunion going.
/signed/ GM1, Raymond Heinrich, 42-45, Age 93+

TAPS

I received the following email recently:

Dear Jim it is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that mm3 William E. Means has lost his battle with cancer and passed away Jan.15th 2013.He will be missed by everyone. Yours truly Veronica Means his wife

William was a MM3 and served in 1962. I expressed our condolences to Veronica for her loss.

I also received a phone call yesterday from the widow of Steven Marzika, Sr..  He served on the Hazelwood in 1951-55 in the Engineering Department. He passed away June 12, 2012. I expressed our condolences to her.

 

2013 REUNION SCHEDULE

USS HAZELWOOD REUNION

Warwick (Newport), RI

Thursday, April 25, 2013
You are welcome to arrive this day so you can be at the hotel for an early start in the morning.  Hospitality Room may be open in the evening.
Friday, April 26, 2013 – ARRIVAL DAY
9 AM - 10 PM – Registration at the Hospitality Room
·         Individual photos of shipmates will be taken during arrival.
·         Coffee, Rolls, Snacks, Soft Drinks, Beer and Wine available.
·         Bull Session and Sea Stories.
·         Lunch and dinner on your own
Saturday, April 27, 2013
8 AM – 9 AM - Registration, Coffee and Rolls in Hospitality Room
9 AM – Coast Guard Academy, Nautilus Museum Tour and free time in Myst
9 AM –??? Hospitality Room, open, if a volunteer is available
Dinner on your own
Sunday, April 28, 2013
8 AM – 10 AM Hospitality Room Open
10 AM -   Battleship Cove Tour
10 AM –??? Hospitality Room, open, if a volunteer is available
Monday, April 29, 2013
8AM – 9 AM - Hospitality Room Open
9 AM - Newport, RI and Naval Base Tour
5 PM – 7 PM Hot & Cold Hors d’oeuvres & Cash bar open
5 PM – 6:30 PM Group Photo and couple photos if you wish.
7 PM – 8:30 PM Banquet
After Dinner - Hospitality Room Open

REUNUION REGISTRATION FORM

If  you have trouble reading this form send me an email and I will send it to you via email. Jim julian  dd531reunion@earthlink.net

2013 HAZELWOOD REUNION

Reservation Form

Shipmate: ____________________________                   Tel: _____________________________

 Rate/Rank: ___________________ Year(s) Served: ____________________

Name(s) as you wish them to appear on your name tag(s). PLEASE PRINT:
Examples:        Jim Julian                    58-60               LTJG           OPS
                         Carol Julian                   Spouse                                                 
                                           
NAME                        YRS                RATE/RANK           DEPT

1. _________________________  ________      _______________      _________

2. _________________________  ________      _______________      _________

3. _________________________  ________      _______________      _________

HOTEL RESERVATIONS: The reunion will be held at the Radisson Hotel Providence Airport. YOU MUST MAKE YOUR OWN HOTEL RESERVATIONS.  Call 1-800-967-9033 and be sure to tell them you are with the Hazelwood Reunion. The room rate will be $79 per night plus tax or $99.00 for an Executive Suite. The hotel has free shuttle service to and from the Providence airport.

 SELECT OPTIONS FROM THE LIST BELOW AND SEND A CHECK FOR THE TOTAL

1. HAZELWOOD Cap. One size fits all. Made in USA      Qty: ______    x $10.00 =       $ _________
2. MEN’S HAZELWOOD SHIRT. Made in USA

            Select Size:  S    M     L    XL   2X   3X                     Qty: ______   x $25.00 =       $ _________

3. Bus Tour USCG Academy-New London –Tips included.

Tour is on Saturday, April 27, 2013, 9 AM - 3 PM                Qty: ______    x $25.00 =       $ _________

4. Bus Tour Battleship Cove – Fall River – Tips Included
Tour is on Sunday, April 28, 2013 10 AM – 4 PM 

                                    With Buffet Lunch ……..                  Qty: ______    x $61.00 =       $ _________

                        OR      With Deli Lunch ……….                   Qty: ______    x $57.00 =       $ _________  

5. Bus Tour Newport & lunch at Naval Base Officer’s Club
Tour is Monday, April 29, 2013 9 AM - 4 PM                       Qty: ______    x $54.00 =       $ _________
6. Banquet (Monday, April, 29, 2013) Tip & Tax included
A. Roast Prime Rib of beef w/sides and dessert.               Qty: ______    x $38.00 =       $ _________
B.  New England Baked Cod w/sides and dessert.           Qty: ______    x $34.00 =       $ _________
C.  Chicken Marsala w/sides and dessert                          Qty: ______    x $33.00 =       $ _________
5. Registration Fee. Covers hospitality room, refreshments, mailing costs and other
necessary costs.  IF YOU HAVE ALREADY PAID DO NOT PAY AGAIN                                                                                                                             $     30.00

                                                            TOTAL AMOUNT DUE     $ __________
Make your check payable to JIM JULIAN - REUNION   
and mail it to:                                                                         
Jim Julian                                          Questions? – Call:  Tel: 941-276-1217 (cell)                       
318 Salt Creek Dr.
North Port, FL 34287
                                                           
PLEASE RETURN AS SOON AS YOU ARE ABLE, BUT NO LATER THAN MARCH 15, 2011

 

REUNION TOUR SKED & MENU

Conway Tours will provide the following tour and transportation services for the USS Hazelwood DD 531:

Saturday, April 27. 2013
Coast Guard Academy, Nautilus Museum and free time in Mystic, CT
One 55-passenger motorcoach will arrive at the Radisson Airport in Warwick, RI at 8:45 am. At 9:00 am the motorcoach will depart and travel to the Coast Guard Academy, New London. Passengers will get a windshield tour. Once tour is done at the Academy, passengers will be taken to the USS Nautilus Museum for free time to explore. At approximately 12:00 pm the motorcoach will bring group to Mystic for free time to shop and have lunch on their own. A 3:00 pm departure from Mystic is planned.
Rate based on 35 passengers $25.00 per person
Rate includes round trip motorcoach to all sites and driver gratuity.

Sunday, April 28. 2013
Battleship Cove

One 55-passenger motorcoach will arrive at the Radisson Airport in Warwick, RI at 9:45 am. At 10:00 am the motorcoaches will depart for Battleship Cove. Lunch is included today on the ship. A departure is scheduled for 3:00pm back to the hotel. Rate based on 35 passengers $61.00 per person Battleship Buffet Rate based on 35 passengers $57.00 per person Deli Lunch
Rate includes round trip motorcoach, admission into Battleship Cove, lunch and driver gratuity. You will need to choose which lunch you want.
Battleship Buffet: Fresh Fruit Salad with Sherbet or Family style Minestrone Soup (Seasonal) Sliced turkey sandwich, roast beef sandwich, tuna salad sandwich. Sweet and Sour Kielbasa with peppers and onions. Pasta with marinara sauce, Boston baked beans, chunky potato salad, relish tray, potato chips, frosted cake and choice of beverage.
Deli lunch: choice of above fruit or soup, roasted turkey sandwich with lettuce and tomato. Chunky potato salad, dill pickle, chips, frosted cake and beverage.

 Monday, April 29. 2013

Newport, RI
One 55-passenger motorcoach will arrive at the Radisson Airport in Warwick, RI at 8:45 am. At 9:00 am the motorcoach will depart for Newport, RI. A Conway Tour escort, Ernie Pina will give a 90 minute narrated tour of Newport. After tour, head over to the Officer's Club on the Newport Navy Base for lunch. At 1:30 pm a windshield tour of the Navy Base is included. Once the tour of the base is done passengers will either go to the pier or Dewey Field for a Memorial Service. Pier will be based on security clearance. If passengers have extra time they can go over to the museum at no cost. A departure from the Navy Base is scheduled for 4:00 pm.
Rate based on 35 passengers $54.00 per person
Rate includes round trip motorcoach, narrated driving tour, and lunch at Officer's Club, windshield tour of Navy Base, Memorial Service, and driver and guide gratuity

 BANQUET MENU

Appetizer -         Minestrone Soup
Salad -                  Tossed Garden Salad
Entrée – CHOOSE ONE – New England Baked Cod with Traditional Crumbs and Lemon  Butter

Grilled Boneless Breast of Chicken with Marsala Sauce

Prime Roast Rib of Beef, au jus

Potatoes –          Oven Roasted Potatoes

Vegetables -      Seasonable Vegetable Medley
Dessert -              Vanilla Ice Cream with Raspberry Sauce

Interesting phone conversation

One of the mailings I sent out came back and I called to get get a corrected address. I expected to speak to a shipmate but I found I was talking to a step-son of Calvin Coolidge Johnson. Calvin served on the Hazelwood during WW2 and was a survivor of the Kamikaze hit. He was either a deck hand or gunners mate. Calvin also served on at least 2 other ships and had service in the Med and at D-Day and also was awarded a number of battle ribbons.
Calvin is now in a care facility in Jacksonville, FL and is not remembering things as clearly as he had in the past. Clyde, his step-son has been working for a long time trying to get more information about Calvin's service on the Hazelwood and the other ships.
If any of those who served in WW2 recall Calvin or has any information about his service, please contact me and I will put you in touch with his step-son.

Interesting Email & Taps

I got this email this evening and I want to share it with all shippmartes. If any of those who served with Stanley Znoj, Please let me know and I will let his son know.

Hi,
I'm Al Znoj and my dad served aboard the USS Hazelwood. He was assigned during the construction, fitting out, commissioning and  deployment, so I guess he would have been a plank holder.He was a SF1 aged 31 years old in 1943, so would have been one of the old guys. Don't know if any of the attendees at the reunion will remember
him or not. He never once mentioned anything about his tour of duty on the Hazelwood, nor anything in letters or pictures. He died in 1964 at age 52 so we didn't have a chance to really sit and shoot the breeze about his naval career.

I was aboard the Hazelwood in mid 1943. Don't know if it was a family day or post commissioning or what. The only thing I remember about the visit was that the ship was huge and grey all over and having dinner in the PO mess I tasted real butter for the first time. Back then civilians had margarine that you had to mix with an orange power to make it look like butter (didn't taste anything like real butter). But I was only 4 years old at the time - funny what little kids remember.

Won't be attending the reunion, but please post my note, just in case any of the attendees remember my dad.

Thanks, Al Znoj

PS: Sir, realized that I had omitted my dad's name.
It was STANLEY EDWARD ZNOJ. He was about 5-8/5-9, maybe 145/150 pounds then.

thanks, Al Znoj