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

HAZELWOOD CAP

HAZELWOOD CAP

 

 

The caps are made in the USA and one size fits all. It is embroidered with USS Hazelwood, DD 531 and has a silhouette of a Fletcher Class Destroyer on it. I have 2 other caps from this manufacturer and the quality is excellent. One size fits all.

The cost is $10.00 each if you pick it up at the reunion. The cost of the cap will be added to your Reunion Reservation Form if you let me know you want one.

If you are not going to the reunion I will have to ship it to you. Shipping costs are $5.00. You can mail a check to me for $15.00 payable to Jim Julian-Reunion, 318 Salt Creek Dr., North Port, FL 34287. It will be mailed to you shortly after the reunion.

Whether you are going to the Reunion or not, caps must be ordered by March 10, 2013 to have them in time for the reunion.



HAZELWOOD SHIRTS

USS HAZELWOOD EMBROIDERED

MEN’S GOLF SHIRT

 

The shirt is a very dark blue, short sleeve, cotton golf shirt with a collar. It is embroidered with “USS Hazelwood, DD 531” and has a Fletcher Class Destroyer silhouette. The pictured shirt was made by another manufacturer but is very similar to the one you will be getting.

They come in Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large, 2Xl and 3XL. The cost is $25.00 each if you pick it up at the reunion. The cost of the shirt will be added to your Reunion Reservation Form if you let me know you want one.

If you are not going to the reunion I will have to ship it to you. Shipping costs are $5.00. You can mail a check to me for $30.00 payable to Jim Julian-Reunion, 318 Salt Creek Dr., North Port, FL 34287. It will be mailed to you shortly after the reunion.

Whether you are going to the Reunion or not, shirts must be ordered by March 10, 2013 to have them in time for the reunion

Update & More Taps

TAPS: I just recently received word that Charles Stark from Munising, MI passed away in June of 2011. He served on the Hazelwood in 1955-56. I also got an email informing me that August Spalek passed away on December 7, 2012 at the age of 80 years. He was shown as a BM3 during the World Cruise and his nickname was Hollywood.
UPDATE: As of this date I, have 31 Shipmates that have indicated they are coming to the reunion or are interested or planning to. If you are planning to attend you can make your hotel reservations now. I called in several weeks ago and made  mine!!
Just call 800-967-9033 and let them know the dates you plan on being at the hotel. Of course the hotel is the RADISSON HOTEL PROVIDENCE AIRPORT. The $79.00 per night rate is lowest we have seen in several reunions. I can assure you it is a good looking hotel as we visited it earlier this year.
They provide free shuttle service to and from the airport.
I hope to see many of you at the reunion.

Smooth sailing and Happy New Year, Jim Julian

Reunion Update and Taps

On December 10 I mailed postcards and emailed  shipmates the notice of the upcoming reunion in April 2013 in Newport RI area. The announcement is also posted on this blog dated December 9.
I have been getting responses and at this time I have received notice that 10 shipmates are planning to attend and 15 are still not sure. That is  total of 25 at this date.
When I make notification of a reunion I get address changes as well as notices that shipmates that have passed on. I have received 2 Taps notices so far this month.
William Vogt passed away on May 17, 2012 . Bill served on the Hazelwood in 1960-63 as an ET in  the Operations department.
Laddie Novak passed away almost 3 years ago on December 24, 2009. Laddie served on the Hazelwood in 1945 and was a deck hand.

2013 REUNION INFORMATION

For your information, I have sent the following email to my email list and I have sent a postcard with the same information to shipmates without an email address. Jim Julian

 

Fellow Hazelwood shipmate,

The RADISSON HOTEL PROVIDENCE AIRPORT has been confirmed as our reunion site. The dates are April 27-29, 2013. The room rates at the hotel will $79.00 or $99.00 for an executive suite plus taxes. These rates area available from April 24 – April 30. You must refer to HAZELWOOD REUNION to get these rates. Call (800) 967-9033 for a reservation.

FRI APR 26 – Bull Sessions all day for those arriving today or earlier.

SAT APR 27 – Naval Sub Base Tour, New London, CT & Mystic, CT. - $25 pp

SUN APR 28 – Battleship Cove Tour and Luncheon, Fall River, MA- $57 w/deli lunch & $61 w/Buffet

MON APR 29 – Newport city and Naval Base tour & Luncheon.- $54 pp

MON APR 29, EVENING – Banquet at Radisson Hotel – Chicken, $33 – Fish, $34 – Prime Rib, $38

Please send me an email letting me know your plans. In other words answer one of the questions below.

( ) I am planning to attend. There will be __________ in my group.

( ) I am not sure yet. Keep me on future mailings.

( ) I know I cannot make the 2013 reunion. Keep me informed of future reunions. No more

mailings will be made to me about the 2013 reunion.

There will be a $30.00 reservation fee for the reunion. This covers the cost of mailings, hospitality room, and refreshments in the hospitality room. If you plan to attend, you can mail a check to Jim Julian, 318 Salt Creek Drive, North Port, FL, 34287 or it will be added to your reservation costs. The fee is fully refundable if you do not attend.

A complete reservation form will be sent in January to those planning to attend. Caps and shirts will be available for purchase. Updated prices are being checked on.

Smooth sailing, Jim Julian