2022 REUNION for IRISH SONG - Houston in SEPT

 USS O’CALLAHAN Reunion PLANNING and REGISTRATION

………….. 2022 --  Sept 25-29 -- Houston TX

………….. IN association with The National Association of Destroyer Veterans

……………………”TIN CAN SAILORS”  -- DD/DE/FF/DDG/DLG/DEG/FFG/ and support vessels are all open to membership.

….

ADDITIONAL INFO ON USS FRANKLIN Reunion in Fredericksburg TX is located at END of this post.

This reunion is separate from USS O'Callahan but we are invited from our heritage......

CALL IN OR EMAIL your contact information to TIN CAN SAILORS  -- ASAP.

This helps to set up the count and services . Earlier is better. THIS IS ALL you have to do to start the ball rolling so you can register by mailing in the forms for registration.

EMAIL your request for a packet to:

Annmarie@destroyers.org 

Include your name - number in party - address - email - phone# and ship association (USS O’Callahan)

or call the TCS office at (508) 677-0515.

All the information below will be included in your packet. This information is here for those who wish to book the hotel ahead of time - before the packet arrives.  

BELOW is HOTEL REGISTRATION information. 

This is separate from the request for the event registration

Through the National Destroyer Association. TCS.

See USSOCALLAHAN.org  for news links - other information

Many tin-can groups are now using TCS as the umbrella reunion group. It works well because the numbers provide the logistics to provide top notch tours and speakers. All the ships typically have their own meeting rooms - while main events are hosted in a ballroom for all the groups. It is easy to remain with your own shipmates throughout at group tables or in our own meeting or hospitality suites.

A HUGE PLUS for the organization is that the burden of the setup - the registration- the banking - the insurance -the tours and more are ALL handled by TCS staff -far less costly and stressful to our own organizations. 

SEE THE HOTEL information below. This is a copy from the recent TCS news magazine which you would all enjoy by becoming a member of TCS (national Destroyer Veteran’s ) TCS has reached out to DE’s, Frigates, Tenders, Oilers and more.  If they served alongside us -- we see them as our compatriots and encourage them to join us under the TCS umbrella. The annual membership is a small fee and the news magazine is chock FULL of fascinating history and current Navy news.

IRISH SONG ASSOCIATION (USS O'Callahan) will join with the TIN CAN SAILORS in 2022 for a SEPTEMBER 23-29  reunion in HOUSTON, TX.    Register soon. 

IN FOLLOWING YEARS - We will continue to look for options to get closer to or on the West Coast.  Our cost and headaches of planning, funding and executing a reunion is massively cut down by doing our gathering under the umbrella of the Destroyer Sailors Association of Tin Can Sailors.   They have the staff and ability to plan for a very nice venue with superb programs. Ships that join in have their own meeting rooms and only meet with the larger association for most meals and keynote events.  Usually one or two meals are planned outside the group for our own special ceremony and camaraderie. 

Here is the notice in the TIN CAN SAILOR  4th QTR 2021 - News for 2022  USE THIS INFORMATION TO Register at the HOTEL.  

To REGISTER FOR THE EVENT -- Call or email as noted here

You can send in the requests for information packets any time.  Email them to Annmarie@destroyers.org or call the office at (508) 677-0515.  (this information repeated and print friendly AT THIS LINK.

July 19-22 2022 USS Franklin Reunion information at the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg TX information is available now: https://ussfranklin.org/2022/04/19/2022-spring-newsletter-and-reunion-announcement/

The reunion is open to USS Franklin Veterans, Family, and Friends and we will continue the tradition of opening the reunion to crew members (and their families) of the USS O’Callahan FF-1051 and USS Gary FFG-51 as well as other ships involved in the USS Franklin legacy. If you or your family are in contact with any crew members from these ships, be sure to mention the reunion, this is a great way for these veterans to connect!

Darren Hamm

hammd78@gmail.com

262-305-6979 

This is an option for any of our O'Callahan shipmates and family.

At the USS FRANKLIN reunion (photos) in June 2021, Sam Rhodes, who was a young sailor in the crew - related his experience after the bombing of the ship in April - off the coast of Japan. Over 800 sailors died. Sam was a "snipe" rating (the engine crew) He carried a rating of "Watertender" which was critical to running the oil fired boilers on most combatant ships of the day.  (PODCAST AT END - listen - for other stories too, including the way a zippo lighter saved the entire ship from a second attack)

 Sam's story (in the audio interview here) tells of the burning ship and the leadership of Chaplain Joseph O'Callahan to clear the decks and care for wounded. Much live ordnance from the ships' own planes and stocks to be loaded was rolling around the deck. Some was "cooking off" in the fires. The bombs HAD to be taken off by rolling over the side - through burning decks. 

Chaplain O'Callahan (A Lt. Commander) encouraged the young men to keep rolling the bombs - even though their hands were burning. After the last bomb as over the side, he left them for a few minutes and returned with whiskey from the Sick Bay. Only the Sick Bay on a US Navy ship has alcohol and it is for medicinal use. 

The boys were all encouraged by the chaplain to take some for their pain and exhaustion. It is for this reason - with respect for appropriate drinking - the shipmates of USS

O'CALLAHAN (DE/FF 1051) have modified our "IRISH BLESSING" to include (if appropriate) following the prayer for those in need (veterans, active or others who need a prayer) a shot of whiskey may be consumed. 

This, in the locality of an Irish Pub - and in honor of Fr. O'Callahan's Irish heritage - adds an extra dose of Irish Blessings to the person who says the prayer while their hand is placed on the seal of the ship. The seal includes the cross of the Chaplain's Christian faith. 

 It became a tradition among veteran shipmates of USS O'Callahan (in service from 1968-1998) to offer an Irish Blessing - sometimes with a Card showing the seal and the ship. More about the O'Callahan, the USS Gary and USS Franklin is found at their respective websites. Sam Rhodes (USS O'Callahan and USS Gary are the two honored with Medals of Honor for actions that day.)

Joan Smith - O'Callahan Connection

Capt. Jack Smith's first wife was Joan Merriam Smith. Capt Smith has been recorded and you can learn more about her in those videos .   He was remarried when he came to USS O'Callahan (1971-72)  .  Joan died in an airplane crash along with the grandmother of the woman who wrote this book.  Trixie was supposed to finish the book on Joan's around the world flight very soon.  The manuscript lay in a trunk over 50 years.

https://fateonafoldedwing.com/the-book/

BLOG POST WITH MORE about JACK SMITH and JOAN
http://incountry.blogspot.com/2018/08/my-navy-co-jack-smith-visit.html

USS FRANKLIN -- Reunion in Nashville (we are guests)

Here is a link to the USS Franklin Spring 2019 Newsletter.   https://mailchi.mp/9c209e65c9fc/fall-2018-uss-franklin-museum-association-newsletter-3008037?fbclid=IwAR1YZACpbDrsy_xJmRiHXyhKdQERfAuN18P9rFTf7H1BFw5xXhrSWyeLqEs 

The registration for the USS Franklin reunion is located here:

https://ussfranklin310144520.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/uss-franklin-reunion-2019-registration.pdf 

2019 REUNION and Gathering

PLAN AND REGISTER 2019

2019 REUNION and 

Special gathering with USS Franklin

NEWS

NEWSLETTER-

The Boston Reunion and the year Prior in 2017 at Philadelphia were superb reunions. Photos and notes are links in the website or on Facebook. 

Military Chaplains receive our Challenge Coin

Irish Blessings are always in demand.   These chaplains are part of a fine tradition in our military.  

Dobson receives coin

Matt Dobson is an Army Reserve Chaplain who is also a minister and counselor at prisons. He is also a marathon champion runner and coach.  His annual "Coon Hill 5K" run raises local funds to help maintain and repair damages to our local (to Vic Campbell) heritage cemetery.   We know his coin will get a lot of activity as he takes time to pray with and for veterans and others that need a little grace.

Kissinger reflecting on the coin

Col. H. Philip Kissinger (PhD) is a veteran of Vietnam and a regular counselor and visitor to support Veterans in the VA homes.  He was involved in heavy combat with his unit in Vietnam and has many memories that are difficult himself.  In his mission to visit with veterans in the homes in PA and NJ, he has many opportunities to bring out our challenge coin in a prayer for peace and grace. 

His nephew is a friend from association with the USS Houston survivors organization. Sean Frey made a scale model of that ship from scratch.   Resources about the USS Houston.

He has become a regular assistant to his uncle in visits to the VA homes. Here is another recipient of our coin. 

Promoting the Irish Blessings

blow up to read the card

Last year one of the volunteers at the Tin Can Sailor (Destroyer Veterans) annual meeting (and our own Irish Song Reunion), Paula Botelho, became enamored with the story of Fr. O'Callahan and the USS Franklin and our association.  She has since become an ambassador of the IRISH BLESSING in MA and RI where she volunteers with community service projects.  Often she will tell the story of Fr. O'Callahan and give out some facsimiles of our ship's seal with the instructions to say a prayer for a veteran and receive an Irish Blessing in return. 




This week I received in the mail some cookies and a shamrock dish towel from Paula in gratitude for her new-found enjoyment of passing along the story and the blessings.   Well, blessings must revolve so, I am sending her some of our prints and more sticky seals to share with special people.   At this year's reunion in Boston, I hope she and others from the DESVETS organization (big write-up on us last year) are able to share in the transfer of the seal for the next host pub. (Boston is HQ for DESVETS).

I think she meant for all of us to enjoy the cookies - so I will let you all know how they taste!  "Really good" ...  so .... that is something you can enjoy --- my report.   THANK YOU, PAULA ! 

prints and coins available from our ship's store - at ussocallahan.org .

(shown are the 11x14 prints and post cards)

KEY LINKS From our HOME PAGE

NEWSLETTER- Boston Reunion Info and more     to help you PLAN AHEAD for the JULY 11-15 BOSTON 50th ANNIVERSARY Gathering. The newsletter will be mailed to those who do not use internet resources. UPDATES to the newsletter will be found at the NEWS link on our main page.

It was a fun and productive reunion in Valley Forge. There will be news and photos from that and more in upcoming NEWS..

FEATURED IN TIN CAN SAILOR MAGAZINE 

2017  SHIP's STORE - memberships

The Poker Chip Challenge Coins -----

(these are in the ship's store)

Member Dues

FACEBOOK

DIscussions

An Irish Blessing - our ship's seal is now finding its way into use as a talisman to encourage a prayer for a veteran - and with it the gift of an "IRISH BLESSING" by association with Fr. O'Callahan. 

PRINTS AVAILABLE - DE and FF and Cross Section

2017- REUNION - REPORT from VALLEY FORGE

2016-REUNION REPORT from PENSACOLA

SHIP's STORE ITEMS FOR SALE

Bill Raymond manages the ship's store.  We want to let you know there are plenty of great items in there. We talked about selling outside the organization since it is a fund raiser after all.

There may be an appeal for some of our items on EBAY. But if placed on ebay - THOSE prices will be set at least fifty percent more than they are for a  shipmates.  

HERE ARE ITEMS FOR SALE NOW

Add an extra $5 to cover shipping and more if you'd like to add to the ship's funds. (or extend your membership)
Send your check made out to William Raymond.
Include clearly printed Name and Address for shipment to you. Include your email in case of questions or if stock is out.

William Raymond -

4706 Poppywood Cr.  

Killeen, TX 76542

wraymond@hot.rr.com

If it works better for you, Vic can bill you from his account by paypal. Money collected that way is forwarded to Bill who is the treasurer.

At one point had several arrangements so that if you purchase a certain amount it will include your membership paid up for the next "x" period. Like for  $200 order you would get 5 years paid up membership as well ( a bonus)  .  Ask Bill. wraymond@hot.rr.com

AN IRISH BLESSING

Share the Blessing

learn more at ussocallahan.org

This was prepared for us by our shipmate Richard Settle