The Navy Nuclear Weapons Bulletin is produced by the Association’s Board of Directors and is distributed free to NNWA members. Edited by: Dave Cobb

Shipmates and Ladies,

Normally at this time I would be promoting the upcoming reunion. However, that will not be the case this time. As you all know by now, with deep regrets, I had to cancel the Nashville reunion this year because of the devastating flood that they experienced this past April. Many of the locations that had been on our list to visit have been completely destroyed, severely damaged or the condition is unknown. We had information that it was going to take at least six months for some of the venues to come back on line. However, seeing what other localities, that have experienced events of this nature, six months is just wishful thinking for the most part. We also had some concern about exposing the attendees to unhealthy conditions such as molds and possible diseases. Not having a host on scene complicated our decision process and we had to make the cancellation decision based on the best information that was available. Information on the condition of the Nashville infrastructure was not and still not available at this time. We needed to know what was available now so contracts could be negotiated and signed and the information with the cost on each event could be provided to you in a timely fashion so you could decide what events you wanted to attend. Also, what played on my mind was the longer we waited more members would possibly obligate themselves to a cost which could not be refunded. For those of you who have already made reservations for Nashville, please insure that you cancel your reservations before the cutoff date of 31 August so you will not incur any fees. You should receive a ‘cancellation notice/number’, please keep this in your records for future reference if needed. I know many of you are wondering why we just didn’t go somewhere else. Well, I contemplated doing just that but, time was not on our side. Even if we had started the day the decision was made to cancel the reunion there just was not sufficient time to put together a reunion of the caliber that we are accustom to and get the information to you so you could make your plans. I hope all of you understand how hard it was for me to make this decision but this is what you pay me to do.

We will continue our normal reunion schedule with Albuquerque, NM next year hosted by John O’malia and Rapid City, SD in 2012 hosted by Bill Beard and his “A” school classmates. The 2013 reunion will be held in the Eastern Region. Nashville will be considered along with any other locations that are suggested by any member.

Even though we cancelled this year’s reunion, the Association must complete certain business matters to be in compliance with the Bylaws. Delaware corporation law authorizes the Board to conduct meetings electronically which we do on a normal basis and will continue to do until our next business meeting. Business matters such as; nominations and election of Directors, amendment of Bylaws and other old/ new business, which requires membership approval will be conducted by U.S. Mail. The Board will be developing the necessary information and ballot(s) to be mailed to each member in good standing to accomplish the required business matters. Your patience and participation are solicited while we proceed to conduct the Association’s business until our next reunion. In this bulletin you will find a call for nominations to fill five positions on the Board of Directors. I would suggest that those desiring to serve let it be known to me or Chuck Weber, the Nomination and Election Committee Chairman.

Jim Hambley

Well another six months has flown by and as usually I want to get on my favorite subject “MEMBERSHIP”. We all know that we are a last man standing club, i.e., we will all die out some day. With that in mind we want the organization to continue as long as possible so people will know of our participation in the Nuclear Weapons Program. Now how do we do that? We have to recruit more people. How do we do that? The Historian has asked everyone to search in the old files to see if they have any copies of orders with other individual’s names on them. If you can get this information we can then try to find people and inform them of us and who knows maybe we can hook you up with an old shipmate. In some cases if you look at cruise books and have a full name, not an initial for the first name and if you can remember what state they come from we may be able to track them down that way. Most people in the US never move more than 50 miles from where they grew up, so the more information you can provide the easier it is to find them. Sorry I didn’t get to meet all of you new members in Nashville this year, but I will see you in the home of our program “Albuquerque” next year.

Larry J. Sneide
Vice President

Secretary Report

Hello Shipmates. It is hard to believe that we will not be seeing each other in person this year. So I hope that we will see each other in Albuquerque. The work of the organization must go on however. Several things that are done at the annual Business Meeting need to be accomplished. We, as a Board, will keep you informed on each requirement that needs to be accomplished. The Board works hard for you, now we must ask your assistance in mailing in responses to such items as Elections, By-Law changes and anything else you would have normally brought up/voted on at the business meeting in Nashville. I hope to see a lot of new members in Albuquerque in 2011.

Dave Cobb
Secretary

 

 Treasurer Report

First let me welcome our new and reinstated members who have joined our organization since the last news letter.

We now have 655 members listed on the membership roster. 437 Members in good standing 42 life Members (spouses of deceased members) 176 past members (members that have not paid their dues in the past three years) one Honorary member (NAAV). If you know the Status of any of these Past Members, Telephone #, Mailing or E-Mail addresses, please inform any member of the board. Past members will not receive newsletters or reunion information until dues are brought up to date. This is an effective policy due to the cost of mailing newsletters and reunion information. If you are unsure that your dues are up to date and receive your newsletters by mail, the date on the upper right corner of the mailing label shows the month and year to which your dues are paid. If you receive your newsletter electronically and wish to know your dues date log onto our website (navynucweps.com). The dues date will be listed in the dues date column on the right of your name on the membership roster. Some of our members find it convenient to pay several years in advance. This can save you postage and the members of the board lots of time. Membership Dues notices are being sent out to members who dues are in the arrears, if you receive a notice in error, Go ahead and send me more money.

The current membership roster in posted on our website. Member not on line may request a hard copy of the roster by calling or writing Frank M. Kelly, 1087 frank Kelly Road, Society Hill, SC 29593 PH# 843-378-4026. For our Survival it is imperative that we keep our roster and dues up to date. Please review the roster and notify the Treasurer or any member of the board of any changes to your current Status.

Financial Report
We have $14329.98 on deposit with Wells Fargo and no outstanding Debt.

Frank M. Kelly,
Treasurer and Keeper of the Roster.

It was just three years ago that the often debated existence of the “Q” clearance was positively put to rest with the donation of Lt. Lindberg’s historical documents by a friend of the NNWA, Paul Roales.  The August 1948 record proved that Lt. Lindberg was granted a “Q” clearance by Headquarters, Sandia Base Albuquerque, NM. 

Now a second myth has been put to rest!  My reading of many documents, articles, books, and histories on the Navy nuclear weapons program and many conversations with first generation nuclear weapons men had led me and, I think I can safely say, many of my peers to believe that inductees into the early program were selected exclusively from the ranks of officers, warrant officers, and senior petty officers with only a few lower ranked, but certainly rated, petty officers thrown into the mix.  Perhaps I never thought to ask the question; perhaps no one thought enough of it to bring it up.  None-the-less, I believed it was a common knowledge that non-rated was not selected for nuclear weapons duties until many years into the program.  NOT SO!!!  This month I thoroughly enjoyed two lengthy phone conversations with one of our newest NNWA shipmates, Fred Wacha.  Mr. Wacha first joined the Navy in June 1946 and was ordered aboard USS Schmidt (APD-76) where, as a  Fireman, he struck for the Water Tender rate.  He was discharged in March 1948, reenlisted a year later, and immediately received orders to Albuquerque to join Navy Special Weapons Unit 1233.  Mr. Wacha deployed with this team to USS Midway, USS Coral Sea, and USS Franklin D. Roosevelt.  He was discharged for the second time in March 1953, still a Fireman.  He said it was difficult to advance because there was no opportunity to train in his rate. 

Fred was kind enough to contribute to the NNWA memorabilia collection his written history, graduation certificate from “The Assemblyman Course” at Sandia Base and three photographs of the 1233^rd.  The oldest photo, dated November, 1949 is of a signal flag-draped auditorium with a five-piece band in the background.  About 100 very attractive, very happy young men and women in civilian clothes are together in an informal pose at a unit party.  Only four people are identified in this picture; a man named “Rice”, Capt. Oscar Dreier (unit CO), Fred Wacha lighting a cigar (despite very large signs admonishing the contrary) and Ed Doss, our recently designated “Grey Dragon”.  Second is a hangar deck photo of 29 men in dress blues; officers and chiefs in blue combination caps, enlisted in white hats.  At least two and possibly three non-rated men can be seen with this group.  There are no names associated with this photo.  The third picture was taken on the flight deck of USS Midway in February 1951.  There are 32 men assembled in two ranks; officers and chiefs in the rear, first class and below in the foreground.  They are also in dress blues with officers and chiefs wearing dark hats, first class and below wearing flat hats.  Mr. Wacha identifies the following in this photo; CPO Stanley Eliott, Lt. Jack Hayes, (officer) U. Settle, Lt. Phillips, CPO Ashland, CPO Manuel Cuellar, CPO Monze, CPO Walton, PO1 Gustavson, (rank?) Nick Padilla, (rank?) Britain, (rank?) Reid, FN Fred Wacha, PO1 Tatum, PO1 Elm, PO3 Wilson, PO1 Mallory, SN or FN Pendergast. 

This is a wonderful collection!  Thank you Fred.  With one sweep you have identified more men of the early Special Weapons Units than we have ever had the privilege of knowing.  And you’ve exploded the persistent myth; there were no non-rated men in the SWU’s.

Shipmates, remember to write your histories.  If you don’t your special weapons experiences will be lost forever.  You’ll enjoy it and so will your kids and grand kids. And please send us a copy.  Also remember to send photos or copies of photos of SWU’s and W Divisions with as many names as possible identified.  Group orders and roster lists from your memories are a big help in identifying the men and woman of the Navy Nuclear Weapons Program.

Mike Snyder, NNWA Historian

 

NNWA Service Officer Report

May, 2010

Fellow Dragon Keepers,

Abstract:    Since its incorporation in 2002 the Association has evolved in the handling of membership dues, delinquencies, renewals and reinstatement fees.  After lengthy discussions since 2006, and subsequent decisions, the Board of Directors proposes the following change to the Bylaws:

To rewrite Bylaws, Article VI, Section 8 to clarify Dues and Delinquencies policy.

WHEREAS, the membership of Navy Nuclear Weapons Association desires to clarify the Membership Dues and Delinquencies policy of the Association, and

WHEREAS, such change need be effected in the Bylaws of the Association, and

WHEREAS, the Bylaws requires amendment per its Article VII, therefore

BE IT PROPOSED to the membership of Navy Nuclear Weapons Association in its annual meeting in October, 2010 that the following Bylaws change be adopted:

Article VI, SECTION 8 is rewritten in its entirety to read:

ARTICLE VI

SECTION 8   DUES AND DELINQUENCIES. Dues shall be determined by the Board and paid annually by Regular Members. If a Regular Member’s dues are not paid by that Member’s dues/membership anniversary date each year, the member will be dropped from membership.  Reinstatement fees and dues in arrears policy shall be determined by the Board.

End of proposal.

FURTHER, per Article VII, announcement of this proposal shall be published in the Association’s Bulletin not later than 90 days prior to its submission to the membership for vote on its 2010 ballot.

Respectfully submitted:

For:   Bylaws Committee, Navy Nuclear Weapons Association

By:    ________//S//______________                                               Date:  April 8, 2010

Chuck Weber.

Chairman

There continues to be an increase in the number of  hits to our website.  Our average number of hits per day, over the last seven years, is 35.7.  I think that this is a respectable number for a site that is specialized as ours.  I hope that when you view the web site that you have a good trip down Memory Lane and remember fondly those “Good Old Days” of our youth.

If you have any suggestions for our web site, please pass them on.  And keep the stuff coming.  We welcome photos of patches, cruise books for W-Divisions and other memorabilia.

If you have physical items you wish to contribute, check with Mike Snyder, our erstwhile Historian.

Ray C. Margeson

The Chaplain’s Corner

This is the first ‘Chaplain’s Corner’ column for the NNWA newsletter. I’m not a writer, just an ordinary seaman like most of you, so just a little advanced warning.

Our Association By-Laws describes the duties of the Chaplain:

Those of you who have attended reunions have seen me and previous Chaplains saying prayers at the business meetings and the reunion banquets and conducting the Two Bell Ceremony. I consider it an honor to serve on the board of directors and as Chaplain for the NNWA. The Two Bell Ceremony is a sad duty to perform, but when done with reverence, as ours is, it brings honor to those who have passed and becomes a memorial to their service to our country and our families.

The NNWA is always looking to add new members. We should be also trying to keep up with the members we have and those on our roster who we haven’t been in contact with lately. If you know of a member who is running into hard times or may be having health issues, please let the Board or me know about them. We can contact that member and let them know that they are not forgotten.

The 2010 Reunion has been cancelled because of the flood in Nashville. The Supreme Commander’s list for the Two Bell Ceremony will be published in our next newsletter along with the words that the Chaplain reads during the ceremony.

Lonnie Cucinitti

NNWA Chaplain