The Seaweed

USS Champlin DD-601  

Fall 2001

Champlin References

Books:

Hitler's U-boat War, The Hunted 1942-1945, Clay Blair, Random House, pg. 56.

Janes Fighting Ships of World War II, published 2001 by Random House Group, Ltd., Pg. 282

Operation Dragoon, William B. Breuer, Jove Books, Pg. 214.

The Two Ocean War, Adm. Samuel E. Morison, Little, Brown & Co., pg. 362.

The Battle of the Atlantic 1939-1943, Volume I, Samuel E. Morison, Little, Brown & Co., pages 357 and 358

U-Boats Destroyed, Paul Kemp, Arms & Armor, pgs. 107, 181.

United States Destroyer Operations in World War II, Theodore Roscoe, (1953) Naval Institute Press, pgs. 282, 302, 320, 321, 335, 375, 379 and 545. World War II Encyclopedia

Magazines:

Sea Classics, Challenge Publications, Vol. 32 #9, March 1999, "Red Anzio" by Irwin J. Kappes

Internet:

http://uboat.net/boats/u130.htm
(U-130)

http://uboat.net/boats/u856.htm
(U-856)

http://www.usschamplin.com
(USS Champlin DD-601)

http://www.destroyers.org
(Tin Can Sailors Web Site)

Champlin Ship's Stores

Wonder where you can get a USS Champlin hat, sweatshirt, T-shirt, jacket or whatever? Here's where and how much:

Baseball style cap, specify either navy blue with white lettering or white with navy blue lettering, "USS Champlin DD-601": $10.00 including shipping. Also, 3" diameter cloth emblems (patches), navy blue and gold; (can be sewn on ties, jackets, caps, etc.): $3.00 including shipping. In stock. Order from Norman Prewitt, 2049 East Ridge Drive, Excelsio Springs, MO 64024-2869, (816) 630-7272

Sweatshirts, T-shirts and light-weight jacket with a large action picture of the USS Champlin DD-601 at sea imprinted in navy blue. Sweatshirts: $15.00; T-shirts - $7.50 and Jackets - $19.00. In stock. Order from Robert E. McAfee, 817 Winters Street, West Palm Beach, FL 33405-4545 - (561) 586-8389

CHANGING BERTHS

Gustin, William SM3c,change area code from (716) to (585).

Palen, Edward Y1c, change e-mail address to read: tarbox@localnet.com

REUNION 2001

Norm Prewitt, Secretary/Treasurer has already mailed the official Minutes of the Annual Meeting of September 15, 2001. In addition, Ted Johnson has submitted an article describing the event. We know those able to attend included Charlie and Wanda Connors, Lou Gilbert, Ted Johnson and his wife, Hal and Becky Medvedeff, Tom and Honey Morton, Norm and Phyllis Prewitt, and Larry and Margaret Suter. It is believed that Max and Wynelle Carpenter made it part of the way before an injury to Wynelle made attendance impossible.

Honey Morton writes, "Reunion 2001 went on as scheduled for the few who had already arrived on Sunday and Monday. We certainly missed all who were scheduled to come but were very thankful to learn that everyone was safe. The Gray Line Tour Bus Company was absolutely terrific. They informed us they would be available as scheduled even if only two people could go on a trip. We were unable to go to the Air Force Academy as it was closed to the public. They sent a big bus for nine people. The second day, a sixteen seat van. The drivers/guides were friendly and informative.

"Our driver took us on a tour to see a memorial park in Denver which featured a statue for each branch of the service. Lou Gilbert led us in prayer for all deceased shipmates. Lunch at the Garden of the Gods was topped off with a sheet cake decorated with the USS Champlin DD601 written on it.

"The next day we took the cog rail up to Pike's Peak and it was an awesome ride. . .we had a fantastic view.

"The Saturday night banquet was attended by sixteen people (five shipmates and spouses plus six guests. The hotel was very accommodating and were gracious enough to refund all monies.

Larry Suter also wrote his President's Report, highlighting the events of the reunion.

However, there needs to be recognition of the efforts of Honey Morton, Tom Morton, Larry and Margaret Suter, who were serving as co-chairs of the reunion. The success of Reunion 2001 can not be measured by its attendance. There is the same amount of effort expended by reunion leaders whether the crowd is fifteen or seventy. There was an enormous amount of additional effort required to revise Plan B to Plan C, D, E, F and G to accommodate the changes necessitated by the collateral effect of September 11th. And the leaders worked tirelessly to make those adjustments. I think Ted Johnson's thoughtful letter probably says it best. He and his wife were attending a Champlin Reunion for the first time, and he wrote, "I was welcomed as a shipmate."

Honey, Tom, Larry and Margaret. . .no finer tribute to your efforts can be made than the words of Ted Johnson. We all owe you a big thanks and the Navy congratulatory "Well Done" is yours!

Gone. . .Too Soon

Brady, Robert Oliver d. 7/15/2000
Faaland, Halvdan G. K. d. 12/2000
Ezzo, Joseph Richard d. 2/9/2000
Feeney, James Francis d. 9/27/2000
Glass, Norman Robert d. 09/06/2001
Higgins, Donald George d. 10/6/2001
Perrott, John James II d. 1/3/2000
Powell, Burgess Eugene d. 4/14/2001
Rodriguez, Lupe Ozuna d. 2/16/2001
Ropog, James S. d. 12/18/2000
Stein, Otto (n) d. January 2001