Monday, December 14, 2015

A Relative of Fr. O'Callahan

This was posted in our guestbook... If anyone can suggest ways to invite Richard and other connections to Fr. O'Callahan and Veterans of USS Franklin to our reunion this year (Oct 5-10 2016) let us know. ---

Date:  12/14/2015, 7:34 pm, GMT +5
Name:  Richard Yoshida
Number:  150
Just found this site. Joe O'Callahan was my uncle through marriage. His brother John was married to my father's sister Anne. I remember meeting Joe when I was quite young. He came to Montreal to visit our side of the family. It's a bit ironic that Joe's sister in law was half Japanese. My grandfather was born in Japan somewhere around 1880 and emigrated to Canada in 1896 then moved east and married an Irish girl in New Jersey. Their daughter Anne was an American and lived in Boston after marrying John. My dad was born in Toronto as was the 3rd child Rosemary.
2 years ago I visited the USS Yorktown in Charleston where I found the terrific memorial to the USS Franklin. I also remember that my aunt Rosemary attended the christening of the O'Callahan at the invitation of the USN.
Best wishes to all who served aboard.

Monday, November 23, 2015

Google Calendar

Google Calendar



CALENDAR for 2016 reunion.   October 6-10. Pensacola.

Details will develop in the next few months of 2015. Hotel, tours, activities.  Pensacola is known as the Cradle of Naval Aviation and Pensacola Naval Air Station ...and the AMAZING, Naval Air Museum. In addition the beaches and deep sea fishing and seafood are FIRST CLASS treasures.  History in Pensacola encompasses Native Americans, Spanish, French, British, American, and Confederate history. It is known as the city of FIVE FLAGS. Transportation will be planned in a way to allow some tours within 70 miles of Pensacola, including Mobile, Alabama.  Mobile is home of AUSTEL that is building some of the new stealthy tri-hull destroyers! Depending on attendance, we may select to stay in beach cabins on Pensacola NAS - within a few hundred yards of the Blue Angel's Hangar.  Or we may base a few people there with RV's and the Cabins to maintain an ON BASE cookout/dinner location on the bay a couple of nights. Or - we may use a hotel in town or a selection of condos near or on the beach -- all depending on the deal ew arrange.  We may also invite some other "TIN CAN" sailor's ships to join us for tours or hotels to get better rates on tours and transportation. At this point, suggestions are welcomed.  IT IS NOW NOVEMBER 2015. Vic is about to light the afterburner.
For questions and suggestions please use comments below or email  me - vic@buzzcreek.com .

Monday, May 25, 2015

Thursday, April 09, 2015

NAVY BLUE - the song

From friend, Larry Cutrone - this message: Friends, Back in 1964 my dear friend Diane Renay had this huge monster hit " Navy Blue "! You can see Diane performing that song and others as she performs at the Veterans of Foreign Wars 2003 National Convention. She was gracious enough to send this rare video performance for the whole word to enjoy! I think you'll agree this song is just as relevant today as it was back then!

Murmansk Run - A Sailor

Learning about the "old days" of escort duty with the convoys in the North Atlantic. The Anti Aircraft protection noted near the end of this video is a classic. And the "rain" from the crows nest on a clear day is so ... believable. Maybe becuase it is all true. Ivo Duvall has written several books. Some are available on Amazon.com. ALL are very entertaining and instructive. His boyhood experiences growing up in Alaska are a treasure every Alaska lover will want to share. A BOY IN ALASKA click to find on Amazon.com TALL TALES - Alaska Style

AO Exposure - Shipmate finds results

NOV 2014 Recent AO Status approved for one shipmate.This is a critical event. John Hunter of Missouri invites you to contact him for some of the information that helped him get this VA status. John was on the THIRD deployment to Vietnam in '72-3. John Hunter opie1954@centurylink.ne

Sunday, January 04, 2015