Who came to Gettysburg
Rapson, James & Geri
Beyer, Gil & Sherry Casamento
Kovite, Jeffery & Dianne
Siciliano, Sandra & Ralph
Hanner, Jim & Jan
Whitaker, Albert & DiBisceglie, Judy
Frazer, John & Janet
Stancil, Frank & Judy
Dowling, Lee & Jo
Montgomery, Carl & Dolores
Baniak, Edward
Caulk, Eldon & Frances
Gage, James
Gary G. Clemson & Rick Clemson
Huber, Richard & Barbara
Carbaugh, Francis & Shirley
Pettingill, Dick & Chris
East, Leland H. & Michelle
Degnan, John & Providence (Provi)
Sutchko, Gregory & Janice
Gilbert, Steve
Taylor, William H.
Altero, Lawrence & Lynn
Crone, Paul D. & Dixon, Barbara
Kraynak, Stephen & Stempien, Melody
Gates Jr., William R. & Mary Jane
Shirker, Newpher (Son-inLaw)
Shirker, Carol (Daughter)
Warren, Kenneth C. & Mary J.
Oldham, Terry R. & Nancy Day Storch
Annunziata, Frank & Goodman, Jill
Bothun, Bary
Logan, RADM, A. Scott
Taylor, David S. & Abby
Petro, Michael
Pray, Edward & Shirley
O'Donnell, William (Skip)
Cucinella, Dennis (Cooch)
Miller, Carl B.
Fisher, Audrey (Widow of Raymond)
Kovite, Gavin & Molly
Brotschul, Peter
Lorzing, Charles & Louanne
Milligan, Donald & Joan
Hodulik, George
Hodulik, Gerard (Son)
Hodulik, Mike (Son)
Hodulik, Dave (Son)
Dozie, Pam (Daughter)
Wagner, Merle & Jennifer
Schaffer, William
Smoot, David & Jeanne
Seely, Todd & April (Schmeiske) Seely
Dad - Louis Schmeiske
Hall, Victoria (widow of Dennis)
GETTYSBURG REUNION RECAP
James Rapson, Reunion Host
The 15th Bi-Annual Reunion in
Gettysburg, PA is now in the history
books. From all reports from the
attendees, a great time was had by
all with old friends being met again,
new friends made and the stories
maybe just a bit more embellished
than at the previous Reunions.
Geri and I would like to send a
special thank you to all that lent a
helping hand at the Reunion and
especially Shirley and Frank
Carbaugh, Jan and Jim Hanner
and Ed Baniak. When they say
that many hands make light work,
the response from these folks was
overwhelming. There was never a
time as your Reunion Host that Geri
or I had to do more than suggest that
something needed to be done and it
was taken care of immediately. A
“Bravo Zulu” to you for all of your
assistance.
I would also like to welcome
aboard Pete Brotschul as our new
2nd Vice-President for the
Association. Pete has jumped in the
waters full force with the life ring of
his fellow Officers who will assist him on the learning curve of
what it means to lead such a fine
organization as the Shipmates of the USS Fiske. I know that
every Officer who
has served the Association can say that he or she is proud to
serve again. We
do this not for ourselves, but rather for ALL of our Shipmates
who served
aboard from 1945 to 1980.
We were honored to have two Plank Owners, Bill Gates and George
Hodulik, with us as we honored them with a certificate of
appreciation, and I
know that they enjoyed themselves along with their families.
Everyone had a great time exploring Gettysburg and partaking of
the guided
tour on Friday of the Battlefields. The history of the events
that took place here
have a greater meaning when you see them personally. Now we rest
for a short
period while shipmate Dick Pettingill does the necessary
research for the
selected location
of the next Reunion
– voted to be held
(somewhere near
Annapolis) in the
Chesapeake area
in September 2017.
I have never been
there so I am
looking forward
to exploring a
new city,
especially one
with such a long
standing Navy
history. For
now, may you
have fair winds
and following seas in
all of your travels.
Reunion Recap, continued from page 1
- James
What we did
Jeff Kovite,
Association Secretary
Shipmates,
What a great
time we had at
Gettysburg! Never
thought I’d be
standing on the
Little Round Top or
the field where
General Pickett
made his charge.
Can’t wait for 2017
in the Annapolis/
Chesapeake Bay
area, as our new
reunion host, Dick Pettingill and his
wife, Chris, have graciously offered to
research and assist with the planning
of this bi-annual event.
At the business meeting on
Saturday, the membership reprised the
elected Officers as follows:
Elected for third terms - Gilbert E.
Beyer, President; James R. Rapson,
Treasurer, and myself, Jeffrey F.
Kovite, as Secretary.
Sandra E. Siciliano was elected to
1st Vice President, and we welcomed
Peter X (?). Brotschul as our new 2nd
Vice President.
All Appointments agreed to
continue their service to the
Association: John B. Degnan, Masterat-
Arms; W. Frank Stancil, Chaplain,
Steve Gilbert, Webmaster, and Sandra
Siciliano, Newsletter Editor and Ship
Storekeeper.
The Association voted to send $250
to the Tin Can Sailors organization;
and the book exchange in the
Hospitality Room was happily received
by members who were able to swap
books, or just take a book of interest
home.
In a poignant ceremony, I read the
list of those who had passed since the
last reunion in Charleston, 2013.
Master-At-Arms, John
Degnan, struck the ship's bell after
each name, and the Membership
received a printed folder entitled
"Sailing the Eternal Seas" that
listed the names of all those we have
on record who passed before us.
We also recognized two of our
plank holders, Bill Gates, and George
Hodulik who were presented with
Certificates of Appreciation from the
Membership. Both Bill and George
were accompanied by very proud
family members.
At the business meeting, I was
pleased to report that earlier this year
I sent a letter to the Stamp Advisory
Committee of the US Post Office
asking it to issue a stamp with the
image of the USS Fiske on it.
The request has apparently
passed the first review and we are
now waiting for a second review, and
then approval by the Postmaster
General. This may take some time,
but I will let you all know when it is
official and you can go to your local
post office and buy your Fiske
forever stamp.
For now, I wish you fair winds
and calm seas - Jeff
