1 1923—OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE USS COLORADO ALUMNI ASSOC.—-1947 Frank Weber-Editor, Steven Leek-Assistant. April 2018 New USS Colorado Joins the Fleet With the Assistance of BB-45 Veterans With the Luck ‘o the Irish, a new submarine with the name USS Colorado joined the fleet on a chilly St. Patrick’s Day under the watchful eye of six USS Colorado battleship sailors. Shown above during sea trials, the new USS Colorado is a Virginia Class attack submarine with the most advanced weapons and electronic detection systems of any vessel in the US Navy. The USS Colorado alumni association has played a significant role in the new USS Colorado since the very beginning. Ken Jones represented the old USS Colorado at the capitol in Denver during the naming ceremony as far back as June, 2012. Since then, BB- 45 sailors have been an important part of the USS Colorado Commissioning Committee’s plans to launch the new boat. In December, 2016, nine BB-45 sailors attended the submarine’s Christening which took place in Groton, Connecticut. During that event, Ken pre- sented a challenge to the sub on behalf of the battle- ship’s crew, including the instruction to “Give ‘em Hell!” After Christening, our members helped the com- missioning committee with fundraising activities, donating several teakwood pens and planks of USS Colorado teakwood towards a fundraising auction. Ken again went to Colorado state for a panel discus- sion, and the alumni association donated the money to create the new ship’s bell. We also acquired a supply of USS Colorado teakwood from the Univer- sity of Washington (see page 5) to go on the deck in the control room of the new sub. We’ve been busy! When the big day came, six BB-45 sailors were able to attend the commissioning ceremony, includ- ing Wayne Kizer, Jack Paris, Davey Jones, Char- lie Ripper, and Randall Toop. Ken Jones again played an important role during the ceremony, rep- resenting the battleship crew and handing over the ceremonial navy spyglass to the submarine’s first officer of the watch...passing down as well the proud legacy and bond between the sailors of one USS Colorado and the next. See page 6 for pictures from the commissioning ceremony. A Word from Frank Weber Dear Shipmates, families, and friends, It has been a pleasure to serve as the editor for the USS Colorado Lookout for these last several years since the loss of our beloved shipmate and former editor, Les Pierce, and his wife Mary Jo. This edition of the USS Colorado Lookout, as you know, will be our final edition in accordance with the in- formation that we reported in earlier Lookouts. Serving our shipmates as the president of the USS Colorado Alumni Association, as well as the editor of the Lookout, has been a great privilege. Mae and I wish each and every one of you Fair Winds and Following Seas. Don’t forget to stay in touch! Thank you, Frank Weber (editor) Photo Credit: US Navy
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1923—OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE USS COLORADO ALUMNI ASSOC.—-1947
Frank Weber-Editor, Steven Leek-Assistant.
April 2018
New USS Colorado Joins the Fleet With the Assistance
of BB-45 Veterans
With the Luck ‘o the Irish, a new submarine with the name USS Colorado joined the fleet on a chilly St. Patrick’s Day under the watchful eye of six USS Colorado battleship sailors. Shown above during sea trials, the new USS Colorado is a Virginia Class attack submarine with the most advanced weapons and electronic detection systems of any vessel in the US Navy. The USS Colorado alumni association has played a significant role in the new USS Colorado since the very beginning. Ken Jones represented the old USS Colorado at the capitol in Denver during the naming ceremony as far back as June, 2012. Since then, BB-45 sailors have been an important part of the USS Colorado Commissioning Committee’s plans to launch the new boat. In December, 2016, nine BB-45 sailors attended the submarine’s Christening which took place in Groton, Connecticut. During that event, Ken pre-sented a challenge to the sub on behalf of the battle-ship’s crew, including the instruction to “Give ‘em Hell!”
After Christening, our members helped the com-missioning committee with fundraising activities, donating several teakwood pens and planks of USS Colorado teakwood towards a fundraising auction. Ken again went to Colorado state for a panel discus-sion, and the alumni association donated the money to create the new ship’s bell. We also acquired a supply of USS Colorado teakwood from the Univer-sity of Washington (see page 5) to go on the deck in the control room of the new sub. We’ve been busy! When the big day came, six BB-45 sailors were able to attend the commissioning ceremony, includ-ing Wayne Kizer, Jack Paris, Davey Jones, Char-lie Ripper, and Randall Toop. Ken Jones again played an important role during the ceremony, rep-resenting the battleship crew and handing over the ceremonial navy spyglass to the submarine’s first officer of the watch...passing down as well the proud legacy and bond between the sailors of one USS Colorado and the next. See page 6 for pictures from the commissioning ceremony.
A Word from Frank Weber
Dear Shipmates, families, and friends, It has been a pleasure to serve as the editor for the USS Colorado Lookout for these last several years since the loss of our beloved shipmate and former editor, Les Pierce, and his wife Mary Jo. This edition of the USS Colorado Lookout, as you know, will be our final edition in accordance with the in-formation that we reported in earlier Lookouts. Serving our shipmates as the president of the USS Colorado Alumni Association, as well as the editor of the Lookout, has been a great privilege. Mae and I wish each and every one of you Fair Winds and Following Seas. Don’t forget to stay in touch! Thank you,
Norma Pratt 1322 Autumn Wind Ct. Apt.439 Mineola TX 75770-0049 Toye Holland 308 Grove Circle Waco TX 76712-6474 Earl De Bord 6102 Lucky John Rd #B Paradise CA 95969-3278
Herman “Bud” Willnow 396 Forevergreen Rd. North Liberty IA 52317 Marcy Lubbe 4615 Deerwood Ln N Minneapolis MN 55442 Gary Kuhar 715 Fort Ebey Rd. Coupeville WA 98239 Donald Lee 201 Alex Ave. Red Oak IA 51566 712-623-6005
Death of Shipmates
George Freeman Div E
Howard Ehle Div 7
Richard Glasheen Div M
Ray Hall Div 7
Alexander Dunham DivE
Richard Reeves Div 4L
Shipmates Wives
Melba Jenkins
Aggie Miller
Donation
Petrina Ciolino $100.00
(In memory of Joseph Div E )
As we think about years gone by, it is ap-propriate to remember those individ-uals who have
had such a great role in our Alumni Assoc. Individuals such as Chris Barker, Andy Andresen, Les Pierce, Frank Weber and Buddy Ratliff who all served in roles of leadership. The many national reunions that we enjoyed so much were the result of their hard work. Our experiences while serving aboard BB-45 coupled together with those national reunions created a bond of brotherhood that is hard to explain to others.
As the years have rolled by, so many have gone on to their final reward that we discon-tinued those reunions. As we think on these things it cre-ates a strong desire to come together once again to remi-nisce about those good old days. Some of us still meet on Memorial Day in Freder-icksburg and afterwards go across the street, eat together and catch up on things before heading home. You are all welcome to attend!
Our THANKS to Steven Leek for being such a help to all of the BB-45 men who at-tended the Christening and Commissioning Ceremonies and for keeping us informed by way of the LOOKOUT.
(The “Boys on the Boat”-circa 1945 Courtesy Phyllis Meece)
I was able to get on the USS Colorado. Jack and I had a room in Seattle for three months. It was $27 a month, twin bed, chest of drawers, chair and a sink. Fourteen shared the bathroom. I got a job in a dime store...Loved it! I miss my Jack so much! We were married 68 years. We met when I was 14 and he was 15. We married in Nov. 1945. Jack got a leave home-I had eleven days to get a wedding together. I still have my wedding gown on a model, it’s now 71 years old. I have Jack’s uniform too. My father was a photographer, we had five bridesmaids and we borrowed dresses for them. I bought the only wedding dress I could find since they’d used all the material making parachutes. I turned 91 on February 7th. I loved the reunions.
Phyllis
(The “Boys” visiting the state capital in Denver, 2007 Courtesy Phyllis Meece)
Donna Kelley My daddy was John R. Wilson, from Tool, Tex-as. He died in April, 2016. My son Brandon and I started attending ship reunions in Charleston, S.C. in 2002. We went to Philadelphia in 2005, Colo-rado Springs in 2007, San Antonio in 2009 and Atlanta in 2012. Brandon went to New Orleans in 2015. The reunions were always well planned and lots of fun. Daddy loved going to the reun-ions and seeing all of his shipmates. We would try to talk him into going to some of the side events that were planned, but he was quite con-
tent to stay in the hospitality suite and visit with his buddies. On the morning of 9/11, he called to see if I knew what was going on. He said, “I’m not sure who is attacking us, but I think me and my guys from the USS Colorado could take them!” I am sorry the reunions, along with the newsletter are ending. I guess all good things must come to an end. Thank you for all of your hard work. Please publish my information below in case any-body would like to contact me: Donna Wilson-Kelley 360 Wildwood Dr. Farmerville, LA 71241 (h) (318) 368-8618 (c) (318) 245-5083
Dennis Shell We come from a large Navy fami-ly. When Pearl Harbor was at-tacked the men in our family Roy & Robert Shell, Uncle Vince Chase, Uncle Norm Schlitz & family pal Bill Dourghty enlist-
ed in the Navy at the down-town Los Ange-
les recruiting office. All attended Boot Camp at the Naval Training Center San Diego & all where assigned to the same barracks company 42- 513. After graduation from NTC San Diego Roy Shell was assigned to the USS Colorado, brother Rob-ert to a Cruiser, Uncle Vince Aviation M/M on PBY Black Cats Pacific,, Bill to a tin can, and Uncle Norm to a Gun Crew/Signalman in the Atlantic. Roy reported to the Colorado and settled in . His battle station was the powder magazine of 16" turret #2. In later months he was assigned to the 40mm gun tub above the 16" gun turret #3. Dur-ing his time on the Colorado he qualified as a Ma-chinist Mate and was promoted to Petty Officer. He then joined the black gang of the Main En-gines. Dad loved his time in the Navy. So much so that after the surrender of Japan he entered the Na-
Photo: S. Leek
Photo: S. Leek
Memories of Past Times
Photo: Dennis Shell
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Photo courtesy Electric Boat
Photo courtesy Electric Boat
Photo courtesy Electric Boat Photo courtesy Electric Boat
Photo courtesy Electric Boat
vy Reserve and later was activated for the Korean War. Many a holiday was spent with all speaking of their time in the Navy during WWII. Occasional-ly a Navy foot locker would be opened over beers. Oh the treasures they hold! Dad returned to Los Angeles and got hired at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard where he worked as an engine machin-ist . He retired from the shipyard in early 1990's. Dad Passed in February of 2007. He and our fam-ily were honored by a Navy color guard for the Greatest Generation. He has a head marker of his beloved ship USS Colorado.
Dennis Shell
Charlotte Dean
(Ben and Charlotte Dean, Norfolk 1995 -Courtesy Charlotte Dean)
I remember how overwhelmed we were that Memo-rial Day weekend in 1993 to just happen to drive through Fredericksburg on the way to see family in California. There, across from the Nimitz Museum, was the welcoming banner: “USS Colorado Alumni Associa-tion.” I began to cry and Ben was astonished! It had been nearly 50 years since seeing another shipmate. Christine and Joe Ware got us signed up and we were once again part of the family. It was as if a late-in-life gift had been dropped in our laps. Ben always felt we had been led there.
In 1994, we were moving from Florida to North Caro-lina to spend our retirement years. So, our first nation-al reunion was in 1995 in Norfolk. Ben and I were able to take part in eleven wonderful national gatherings after that. As for the exceptional people we met along the way and the friendships that were formed, there are no words to express my gratitude to every one of you for these remembrances:
I will remember Andy and Joyce. Their unwavering dedication on behalf of all shipmates kept things hum-ming along. After we lost Andy, Joyce continued help-ing.
I will remember Tula and Leon and how they got the whole Shook family involved, so that our Association never wanted for anything. And for Tula’s midnight brainstorm for thinking of Steven as someone to carry on publishing The Lookout, the important link for us
all. Also, I will remember Leon’s infectious laugh that kept us all smiling.
I will remember Ken and Dorothy for their touching memorial services to honor shipmates who were gone from us. The services were always beautifully crafted with dignity and reverence. Their son in law Steve even created a video which is treasured.
I will remember Les and Mary Jo and all they did to keep us connected with The Lookout...I don’t know how they did it all those years.
I will remember Frank and Mae, not only for Frank’s leadership as president for such a long time, but for making sure The Lookout continued with Steven’s tal-ents.
I will Remember Charlie Ripper, Carol, and Rick for all they did to further the Association. At one reunion, Charlie even brought his collection of vintage navy uni-forms and set up a display for all of us to enjoy. In the 1940’s, Charlie and Ben were “going-ashore-on-liberty-buddies.” Whenever we checked into a reunion hotel, Ben would right away ask, “Has Charlie Ripper checked in yet?” It was so vital that they spend time together again.
Ben was proud of his service aboard the battleship and for its crew that did its part to help save the world. In an issue of The Lookout was the statement: “Stand Tall! We Did Good.”
In peacetime, Ben never forgot his navy days, and once told a doctor after I had surgery on my right hip for a cancerous tumor, and he had surgery for a left hip replacement: “Charlotte limps starboard and I limp port.”
My beloved husband became a victim of Alzheimer’s and yet one day he turned to me and said, “They’re sending my ship back to the Philippines.” And so, the things that mean so much to us are always stored somewhere in our minds.
I was fortunate to be able to attend the christening ceremony in December 2016 of the nuclear submarine. It was heartwarming to hear the tributes given to the BB-45 men, and emotional as they then presented the submarine crew members with writing pens beautiful-ly crafted from the teakwood decks of the battleship.
There are so many memories that will remain with me forever, but I think that what I will most remember is the job and renewed friendships that being a part of the USS Colorado Alumni Association meant to Ben. I will remember how we always closed each gathering by singing, “Til We Meet Again.”
Thank you everyone. “Memories are the albums that hold yesterday’s treasures.” With deepest appreciation and a grateful heart ‘til we meet again.
Charlotte
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It bears repeating: for a ship which was decommis-sioned 70 years ago and scrapped almost 60 years ago, there sure have been a lot of events lately relat-ing to our favorite battleship, USS Colorado. Here is a rundown on some of the goings-on since the last Lookout:
University of Washington Teakwood Passing Ceremony
In January, 2018, the University of Washington in Seattle held a special ceremo-ny transferring a por-tion of it’s USS Colora-do teakwood which will be used to create a small teakwood deck for the USS Colorado Submarine’s control room. During the cer-
emony, two USS Colorado sailors represented the ship, Frank Weber and Jack Paris (pictured above). After several speeches, a single plank of the teak was passed from a dean of the university to a navy veter-an university student. The plank was then passed on to the two BB-45 veterans, who completed the trans-fer by handing it to a representative of the USS Colo-rado commissioning committee.
DiShawnn Newell, a student and navy veteran, hands the teakwood to USS Colorado sailor Jack Paris. Behind the
pair, USS Colorado teakwood panels cover the entire wall (Photos courtesy UW)
The teak also came with a certificate from the Uni-versity verifying its authenticity. The bulk of the wood was sent to Colorado state where it will be made into the decking platform and installed at a later date.
Jack, accompanied by his wife Jean and son Jay, came all the way from Southern California for the event, and Frank drove up from Oregon. Dedicated shipmates, for sure!
University of Colorado Welcomes New USS Colorado Items, Honors
Veterans at Football Game
On Veteran’s Day, 2017, Ken and Dorothy Jones and frequent fliers Jack and Jean Paris helped the University of Colorado dedicate several new USS Col-orado items into the university collection in the Vet-eran’s Lounge within the student union. Among the new items on display, which were all donated by members of the alumni association, were the sewing machine from the ship’s cobbler’s shop, the massive ship’s foghorn, and a “Cracker Jack” uniform previ-ously worn by the former editor of the Lookout, Les Pierce. The USS Colorado’s longtime cobbler was Elton Clem, and his daughter Melinda was in attend-ance with several members of her family. Special display cases were created for each of the items, which will be on display in the university’s central hub for decades to come. Much appreciation to Nor-ris Hermsmeyer for acting as the go between from the association and the university. After the dedication, the Jones’s and Paris’s were invited to attend the CU versus USC football game, where the two former USS Colorado sailors received a standing ovation as their pictures were displayed on the jumbotron (See below). It was extremely moving.
Photo
USS Colorado Events
UW Daily
UW Daily
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Photo courtesy John and Sara Wegman
Pho
to Photo courtesy John and Sara Wegman
Photo courtesy John and Sara Wegman Photo
USS Colorado Joins the Fleet! (Photos courtesy Dan Puleio– NTAG Rocky Mountain Public Affairs)
Ken Jones presents a plaque to the USS Colo-
rado’s CO with his “pledge” engraved onto it.
The plaque will be displayed aboard the sub.
USS Colorado veterans present the submarine’s
skipper with the new ship’s bell funded by the as-
sociation and created by sculptor George Lundeen.
USS Colorado veterans are introduced
at the Chairman’s Reception: (L-R:
Wayne Kizer, Jack Paris, Davey Jones,
Charlie Ripper, Ken Jones)
Norris Hermsmeyer, the association’s “Go To
Guy” in Colorado, before the new USS Colorado
submarine during the commissioning ceremony.
Following navy tradition, BB-45 veteran
Ken Jones passes the ceremonial spyglass
to SSN-788’s oncoming officer of the
watch, cementing a permanent connec-
tion between the two warships.
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A Word from Steve
That’s me, a long time ago...like a lot of people of my generation, I joined the navy because I was extremely proud of my grand-father Elmer Hitch-cock’s service in
World War II aboard USS Colorado. About six years ago, after Les and Mary Jo passed away, out of the blue I received a call from alumni associa-tion president Frank Weber asking me to take over the Lookout. I have to be honest; I didn’t want to do it, but Frank implied that it was either me or nobody and without the Lookout as the pri-mary connection between the USS Colorado veter-ans, it was likely that the association would cease to exist like so many other WWII ship associations have done.
Some of you already know this, but I have a lit-tle secret: in doing research on him after he passed away, I learned that my grandpa went AWOL from the USS Colorado as the ship departed San Francisco for the Marianas Campaign. With this little piece of family guilt firmly embedded in my mind, I told Frank Weber that I would take over publishing the Lookout, “At least for a little while.”
That “little while” has turned into six years and that decision to take over the USS Colorado Look-out has turned out to be one the most rewarding things I’ve ever done and one of the most out-standing decisions of my life. As one of the public contact points for the association, I can’t begin to relate how many people I’ve been in touch with whose relative served on the ship, and more inter-estingly, people whose relatives said they served on the ship, but actually didn’t .
In addition to the Lookout, I also helped organize our decommissioning reunion and several events over the years relating to our ship’s teakwood decking. I continue to maintain a display case in the SeaTac USO which stands upon USS Colorado teakwood and I’ve worked with the University of Colorado to display some incredible items from our ship in their Veteran’s Lounge. More recent-ly, I’ve been dealing with the new submarine USS Colorado (SSN-788). When I learned that a new
USS Colorado was going to be built, I contacted the shipyard to see if they’d be interested in having our BB-45 guys play a role in Christening and Commissioning SSN-788. Would they ever!
I couldn’t be more proud of those World War II veterans who represented the entire battleship crew as the submarine was being built, fitted out and launched. Our guys were treated by the ship-yard and the navy like the heroes that they are. How exciting after all these years to know that they are not forgotten, and the sub’s crew adopted them as friends and shipmates. As long as the sub-marine sails the depths, our ship’s bell and chal-lenge plaque with the mantra “Give ‘em Hell!” will adorn the USS Colorado’s quarterdeck.
To be honest, I’m not sure where we go from here. None of us is getting any younger, and trav-elling becomes harder and harder for everybody. Still, Charlie Ripper’s daughter Carol wanted me to remind folks that every year at the National Mu-seum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas, they have a Memorial Day ceremony that was started by USS Colorado Alumni Association mem-bers and has since become a huge annual event. Many of our members still go every year, and meet afterwards to have lunch and catch up.
I want to express my sincere gratitude to every-body I’ve met in the past six years, but especially our USS Colorado veterans and wives. Originally, I thought taking over the Lookout was going to be a monumental chore, but instead it’s become one of the highlights of my life. My girls too: they’ve grown up with the USS Colorado, and they under-stand so much more about history now. Sydney played Auld Lang Syne during the decommission-ing ceremony; and she and Emma—aka “The Yeo-men”—have helped with printing, folding, label-ing, and stamping every single mailing that we’ve put out. They also help with the USO display case.
This will be the final Lookout that we plan on publishing. I say “plan on” because with this ship you just never know. When Frank asked me to take over the newsletter, I didn’t want to because I hadn’t been a USS Colorado crewmember, but now I feel like one of the veterans. I only hope in some small way that my service to the sailors of the USS Colorado paid off a few of the debts my grandfa-ther incurred when he left the ship back in 1944. Fair winds and following Seas to each of you…
