USS MILLS GAZETTE JUNE 2019
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USS MILLS
GAZETTE
JUNE 2019
2019 REUNION November 7 thru the 11, Holiday Inn Resort on the gulf. Address -
1299 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE. Fort Walton
2019. Holiday Inn Resort on the gulf.
Beach Fl. 32548. November 7 thru the 11,
As you know, we are going to FT WALTON
2019.
BEACH this year. The hotel is a beautiful
There are two rates for 2019. Standard
brand-new facility with lots of amenities,
rooms are $115.40 inclusive. Beachfront
including
rooms are as follows; 2 queen beds or a
24-hour fitness center
king are $135.96. Reservation number is
gulf front pool with cascading waterfall and
850-301-9000. Call the hotel and ask for
lazy river
Brittany Patterson in group sales. Give her
on-site restaurant, riptides grill, serving
your information and she will make your
breakfast, lunch and dinner
reservation. Brittany works Tuesday thru
video game arcade
Saturday. If she is not immediately
indoor bar
available, leave your name, telephone
giant outdoor tiki bar
number and mention the USS MILLS block.
walkover from pool deck to beach
She will return your call ASAP and make
beach chairs available for a fee (march-sept)
the reservation. Venues for 2019 are
sundry and gift shop
$280.00 per couple including Meals,
free parking
venues and all expenses.
free fast wi-fi
As well as the following accessible
amenities …
accessible parking in front of the building
accessible wheelchair routes to all
amenities
accessible front desk
accessible lobby restroom
accessible chair lift for pool
accessible bar
All you have to do is show up.
THOUGHTS live another 40+ years! We have never had any
experience with “open air birds”. Itchy is a
“Yes is Better than No.” Citroen Cockatoo and Dina is a Rose-Breasted
Cockatoo. They came to us months apart and
Getting older is a good thing – much better than from different homes that could no longer keep
the alternative! With age comes wisdom them. It took some education and adjustment,
(sometimes) – that knowledge we gain from but Gigi and I feel so blessed to have our
making mistakes earlier in life or better yet – expanded family. In the past 90 days, we also
learning from others! I am certain that every said “Yes” to housing a young 28 year old
one of us has stories we can tell about the woman, who was working part time for our
“wisdom that we have gained” the hard way. church, but came upon circumstances wherein
she needed temporary housing. Again, we said
Happiness and wisdom can also come from
yes and it was another good decision and
opportunities to serve. We are often prone to
experience. She is now on her way to another
shy away from these “opportunities” because
chapter in her life and we pray that all will go
they may be intimidating, too time consuming,
well with her.
out of our wheel-house or maybe just plain too
much work. I am writing to encourage you to So it is easy especially as we get older to just say
embrace these opportunities when they come “No”, stay in our “comfort zone” and turn down
along. They can be so rewarding and life- opportunities to serve others. I encourage you
changing in a positive way. For me, my first to enrich your life, embrace these opportunities
“opportunity” came in “A” School, following and just say “YES”!.
boot camp. I was approached by a salty, first-
class boatswain mate who asked me if I wanted I am reminded of a verse from Jeremiah, one of
my hitch to be “good times” or “bad times”? I the Prophets from the Old Testament:
replied “good times” of course, to which he
responded: “then volunteer for everything”. I Jeremiah 29 11-13: For I know the plans I have
did and I never regretted the advice. In fact, for you, declares the LORD, plans for
that’s how I had the good fortune of meeting welfare[a] and not for evil, to give you a future
and getting to know you guys - I volunteered for and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and
“Operation Deep Freeze”! Not that long ago, I come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You
was asked by my fellow shipmates on the USS will seek me and find me, when you seek
Hugh Purvis to be the “chaplain” for their me with all your heart.
reunion organization. While I have been a
God bless,
worship leader for our church for over a
BRIAN GOODE
decade, I found the request to be intimidating.
However, after some discussion with my pastor,
I accepted the assignment and it has been an
enriching experience. A few years past, my wife,
Gigi, and I have become “foster parents” or
shelter home to two parrots, Itchy and Dina –
they are both about 19 years old and will likely
WEDDING GARY’S CORNER
Judy Duran and Bill Hardy June 15, 2019 As I listened and watched TV, saw e-
mails, photos etc about "Our greatest
generation" and their actions at D Day, I
think about the bonds those servicemen
had! They loved The United States of
America and their buddies! We are all
special to each other because of our service
together on the USS Mills and our bonding
after we served. People that don't serve just
don't understand this friendship and bond.
As we age, I believe it gets stronger!
Watching old World War II and D-Day
films and events it helps me understand the
SICKBAY bonds and bravery the "Greatest Generation"
Felicia Roberts-DeRocher achieved. Those servicemen and women
If everyone could keep my dad Edwin Griffith faced overwhelming odds at D-Day, on air
and my mom Patty Griffith in their prayers. My attacks and other "against all odds" events
dad started having seizures Friday evening. My and yet they fought and won. Listened to a
mom's in hospital by his side while doctors are Medal of Honor presentation today and this
doing what they can. Thank you. Staff Sergeant killed the enemy to save his
Please keep praying hard for Ed Griffith. He is in ICU platoon.....i.e his friends! He had
at a hospital in Charleston as Doctors attempt to find unbelievable courage because he loved his
medicine combination to stop a 6 day long series of friends and country! This is why he did the
seizures. near impossible....saved his platoon
members and ravaged the enemy!
MILLS Family - Please keep John Martin in prayer for
This is the friendship that we developed
healing. He is suffering from Lymphoma, Parkinson's
on board a ship named the USS Mills! We
and is hospitalized while recovering from a recent had several heroes that we looked up to on
fall at the funeral of his sister. John served on MILLS the ship! The first one I think of is "Mother:
for about 3 years and was with us on DFII 66/67. He i.e Joel Hagan. He was a leader that was the
was a cook. head of the pack. He was respected and
Please keep Jean and Dennis Loof in prayer. Dennis looked up to by all.
is scheduled for invasive internal surgery on April My around -about statement is hey folks
30th. Jean has undergone the first of 5 years of we aren't getting any younger! Don't let the
periodic MRI'S to head off brain cancer should it bond go away by not attending the reunion at
show signs of returning. Please keep them in mind Fort Waldon Beach,Florida November 7 to
11.....I hope this is not my last reunion, but that
and in your prayers as time passes.
information is way above my pay grade!
Please pray for John Reed who has Parkinson’s Hope to see you all soon
Gary Bridgford and family
SHIPMATES AND FAMILY MEMBERS THAT Stephen Kovac to USS Mills DE-DER 383 Family
HAVE MADE THEIR FINAL VOYAGE To all my Shipmates and families, thank you for
your prayers for my Wife's brother Bob Haff ,
his wife Melissa and Lee and the family, he has
passed on peacefully 9pm Ctrl time April 5th. We
MYRON DRINKWATER WAS INTERRED IN know that he is at peace in Heaven with our
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETARY Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and now with
family and friends and waiting for us when God
calls us home one day with open arms, and
every tear shall be dried and we to will dwell in
the house of the Lord forever. God has given us
this special gift of Salvation but also has given
us this special gift of Life here and now and
wants us all to live life and do the best we can
and enjoy it. One day when the Good Lord calls
us my shipmates, we will meet again in Heaven
the Lord will be waiting for us to muster on the
Quarter deck. I'm sorry but i cannot say more
my emotions are kicking in. God Bless you All.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson:
"Crossing the Bar"
Birth Date: 01/01/1938
Death Date: 03/26/2018 "Twilight and evening bell,
Interment Date: 09/05/2018
And after that the dark!
Branch of Service: US NAVY
Section: 57 And may there be no sadness of
Grave: 1147 farewell,
When I embark;
George W Shetterly II. left this message on the
For though from out our bourne of
ships Guest Book. Time and Place
Margaret Shetterly wife of George Shetterly who The flood may bear me far,
was a plank owner on the USS Mills passed I hope to see my Pilot face to face
away from natural causes on March 22, 2019.
She goes on to be with George Shetterly who When I have crossed the bar."
has been sailing Heaven's seas since
September 22,, 1990 Thanks to all of his
shipmates.
BIRTHDAYS
JUNE Peggy Marlow, Diane Sonefeld , Claude
Scarbrough, Bev Haizel,
JULY Gary Hlavka, Ginny Halvka, Brian Goode,
Paula Link, Bobby Herren, Nancy Tomes, Cathy
Kofke
AUGUST Lynn Hagan Gentry, Judy Duran,
Loertta Johnson Ranck, Felder Frederick, Bob
Stafford
Summer Bolognese
1 lb. thin spaghetti ANNIVERSARIES
Kosher salt JUNE Claude & Debbie Scarbrough
1
⁄4 cup olive oil Gary & Ginny Hlavka
1 lb. ground beef JULY Joyce & Felder Fredrick
2 tsp. chile flakes, or 3 red Thai chiles, minced AUGUST Bob & Robin Stafford, Bobby and Mary
2 tbsp. minced thyme Lou Herren, Bob & Lynn Gentry, Harold & Judy
3 garlic cloves Dyer, Jim & Nancy Tomes, Bob & Mary Ann
2 tbsp. tomato paste Foust
2 tsp. granulated sugar
Freshly ground black pepper DUES
1
⁄2 cup dry white wine Dues remain $20.00 a year.
2 tbsp. red wine vinegar
1 lemon, zested and juiced FACEBOOK
1 lb. mixed cherry tomatoes As of this writing, we have 182 family members
1
⁄2 cup Ligurian or kalamata olives Bon Gaboury monitors it closely and keeps our
Torn basil leaves, for garnish site safe.
Grated parmesan cheese, to serve
THERE WILL NOT BE A SILENT AUCTION THIS
Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. YEAR.
Cook pasta until al dente, about 7 minutes.
Drain pasta, reserving ½ cup water; toss pasta
with 3 tablespoons oil and keep warm. The late Tommy Nichols
Meanwhile, heat remaining oil in a 12-inch Founder and Skipper forever
skillet over medium-high; cook beef, chile, Reunion Planner: Ben Laurens
thyme, and garlic until beef is browned, about 5 192 Hwy 70 East Bette,
minutes. Add tomato paste, sugar, salt, and Beaufort, NC 28516 Ph 252-504-
pepper and cook 2 minutes more. Add wine and 3733 nriver@ec.rr.com
cook until it has almost evaporated, about 2 Admin Secretary: Pat Bridgford
minutes. Add in pasta, vinegar, and lemon zest 14321 S Locust St, Olathe, Ks
and juice and toss to combine. Add in reserved 66062 Ph. 913-707-8266
pasta water, tomatoes, and olives and cook 2 pat.ussmills@gmail.com
minutes more. Chaplain Gary Hlavka 1688
West Center Rd, Kingsley MI
Transfer to a serving platter and serve with basil
49649 Ph 231-263-3369
leaves and parmesan cheese.
garhis383@yahoo.com
NAME______________
ADDRESS___________
__________________
PHONE_____________
NAME______________
ADDRESS___________
__________________
Ben has commissioned 6 bottles of PHONE_____________
Woodford reserve again this year. I don’t
have a pic of this year’s bottle yet, so I
used an old one.
NAME______________
Alan Izatt is creating 2 ADDRESS___________
original painting for the __________________
PHONE_____________
raffle as well.
We will ship to the winner at
NAME______________ no extra cost to you if not
ADDRESS___________ attending the reunion.
__________________
PHONE_____________ $5.00 each or 5/$20.
Please mail to:
Gary Bridgford
NAME______________ 14321 s Locust St
ADDRESS___________ Olathe, Ks 66062
__________________
PHONE_____________ tickets will be available at the
reunion
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