USS McMorris (DE1036)

Volume 1, Issue 10 (June 1999)

Inside This Issue:

Welcome Aboard!

The NEW Newsletter

Nostalgia

Reunion News

Business Items

"Netting" New Arrivals

Web Site News

MAGNUS

Vision and Mission

Kudos

8 O'clock Reports

Closing Remarks

(*Indicates Plank Owner)

Is your old shipmate’s name missing? Are they deceased? Either way they were crew and we’d like them listed here or in Taps. Post via E-mail or snail mail in Navigational Aides. (Or you could actually use the phone.)

In this edition we’ll introduce our newest editors / contributors to the newsletter. After twisting their arms and threatening to pull liberty cards, they graciously accepted the challenge of adding their special skills to help make this the best newsletter that we can publish.

First, welcome again, one of the most dedicated individuals I know. He has willingly given of his time and efforts to help make our reunion group the most informed and entertained by electronic means, our Website editor: Scott Vliek. Scott heads our E-Mail /Website section of the newsletter and keeps you up to date on those happenings. (Ed Note: HEY! It is Great Site, Get Thee There!)

Many have already had a taste of this next person’s writing talents (See the Unofficial Newsletter of Sept-4-7 1997), and some actually had the pleasure (?) of knowing this “wild & crazy” guy. He has asked for forgiveness, forbearance for former frivolity and fribble, but finally resolved that it was easier to get pardons than permission so he has already started editing MY writing!

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Anyway, help welcome our “special interest editor”: Royal Magnus. Royal, supposedly, will bring some fresh material of general and special interest to all of us. This section is in the infancy/growing stage, but I know you will enjoy what comes out of it.

These gentlemen are the next generation of dedicated McMorris crew members who are ready and able to bring a quality to our group that everyone of you deserve, and I know many of you appreciate.

One of the new looks to this newsletter is our Logo depicting the McMorris underway, with the reunion slogan: Cruise Into the Millennium With McMorris, wrapped around it.

The logo is the result of Scott's talent and reflects the mission of our reunion in the year 2000.

The “Theme” for our next reunion in San Diego was inspired at a dinner discussion Michele and I had with Carol and Ken Small a few months back. We were at a restaurant in Philly and out of something Carol said came the slogan. (Thanks Carol, and thanks for helping Michele)

Skip

Recently I had a chance to visit America's Finest City, San Diego, for reunion business. While there I had an opportunity to visit the NTC (Naval Training Center). As a young lad I went to boot camp just adjacent to the Center. While walking around the compound of my old barracks and looking around at all the old abandoned buildings (many slated for the wrecking ball), I had a chance to reflect on what has happened to me and to the world in the last thirty years.

As we get closer to the turn of the century, it is a special time in our lives, and gives us a chance to “Celebrate” with the crew and family members of the Mighty Mac all of the many “good” things that passed before us, as well as what lies ahead of us in the future; to “Cruise Into The Millennium With McMorris!”

Scott will help to navigate you through the Website so you don’t miss all of the great things to see. I suggest you just spend the time to take it all in. It is worth the time and effort.

My goal , my challenge to you - is to help us to locate at least 200 crew members by the end of this calendar year 1999. There are many ways for you to help increase our number - just dig down in your old duffle bags, haul out the phone books and letters. Help us reunite with old buddies.

Reunion editor: Skip Reynolds
srey51@gmail.com

Postscript writer: Royal Magnus
rsmagnus@aol.com
Fax: (619) 278-8656

Snailmail:
Skip Reynolds
1020 Pross Road
Lansdale, PA 19446
Tel: (267)664-0536

We had 33 shipmates and 65 total people attend Charleston, SC. I'd love to see each and everyone of you in San Diego. Tough, but not impossible- let's just try to double our numbers from Charleston, SC which would put us in the 60 plus range for shipmates alone. There is power in massed action and the fun is magnified by the sea-stories you haven't heard from shipmates you never knew, but they sailed the same iron you did and that makes them mates. Just talk to anyone who attended Charleston. We will Cruise Into the Millennium in San Diego for sure! Please join us.

Hotel arrangements have been finalized. The beautiful Hanalei Hotel in “Hotel Circle”, Mission Valley, has been chosen to host our reunion. Reunion events are being planned now and I am excited to tell you we have some “special” events lined up that is sure to please you and provide a lasting memory.

It may seem unusual to request commitments for the reunion over a year in advance. It is important that you understand the critical nature of hotel convention booking. We are a smaller group trying to command the same options as a large group. If we want the best prices we need to guarantee a certain block of rooms. Thus, with San Diego hotels blocking convention reservations a year in advance, now IS the time to tell us you are serious about attending!

YES, I’m going to be There; (Save a Party Hat)

I’m doing/trying my best to be there;

NO. I'm unable to get to the Reunion this year; (Maybe next Millennium)

[Preliminary Registration Form]

Thanks, in advance, for your cooperation.

(Just a note) The Hanalei Hotel was chosen over many other good choices primarily because of hotel staff like Tim Earp (Sales Manager), and their willingness to help make our reunion a great experience.)

The Hanalei also reflects the flavors of San Diego (for those of you who were on the Mac in San Diego), and reminds you of the Polynesian Culture of those who served in Hawaii. So ... something for everybody!

The Saturday evening function will be a special “surprise” that is not the traditional Dinner/Dance type activity. I won’t spill the beans now, because it is not finalized. More about the reunion in upcoming newsletters (AND the Website!). You will be kept well informed, and given plenty of time to plan, and what needs to be done.

Stay tuned.

Skip

I will be back to close out. Let’s take a peek at what Scott Vliek has for us, and then on to our own resident Doctor Strange Love — Royal Magnus.

Later!

Skip

A new page that was added in February, is “Lost and Found.” If there is somebody that you are looking for submit the name to me (greywarrior@geocities.com) or Skip (srey51@gmail.com) and I will add it to the list. Maybe someone else that sees it will remember some details about them that will help us locate them. Please limit submissions to two or three names at a time. If you see a name on the list and you can supply some information about him, use the “Locator” submission form available on the page or through the site's menu. Also, the “Found” part of the page is a listing of the names of our recently located shipmates.

Some of the decisions that went into the design of our site were forced by the fact that people with different computers and software, and varying computer skill levels would access it. I've tried to make the pages fit a computer using a 640 by 480 pixel display resolution without having to scroll side to side to see the entire page. For most of the pages this has worked, but a couple still require some jogging left and right. The web site is best viewed at a setting of 800 by 600 pixels or higher. If you have a 15 inch or larger monitor this is a comfortable setting even for those of us whose eyes are getting weaker. The picture pages load slowly because of the trade off between fast loading and good picture quality. I chose picture quality because I believe that our audience, you, would be interested enough to wait for the pictures to load. As more people get faster access this will no longer be an issue. In the meantime, I promise the pictures ARE worth the wait.

Be sure to check out these pages: “Lost and Found” (mentioned above); “Reunion List” (see who we have located already); “Ship's Company Email List” (a quick way to contact our “connected” members); “Pictures” (some very nice contributions from several people)

If you haven’t been on the inside track you might not know that Skip has been doing all this work essentially solo as a labor of love, Free! He has taken the ball and run with it. A polite round of applause is in order. Now he has shanghaied me to help with the scutt work and I accept, type (and review) all content recommendations. Just fax them to (619) 278-8656 or e-mail rsmagnus@aol.com.

I’d like to include your story or maybe just make up something if you don’t write. Speak loudly into the microphone please.

See you at the Reunion!

I also want to give thanks to an outsider, Jim Plough of the Walter B. Cobb APD-106 whom I met recently at a military reunion planners conference in VA Beach for giving me vital information on finding shipmates and was directly responsible for locating Leonard Lamb. Thanks Jim, for being a new friend to McMorris.

In today’s world of disassociated peoples we are UNIQUE. We are fortunate to know the real meaning of “shipmate.” This place, this ship, this USS McMorris was the experience that brought us all together once and this Millennium celebration does it again.

See You!

Skip

Site Selected: Hanalei Hotel

100’s missing muster! Search Party Being Organized

Rooms NOT Committed

Auxiliary Events NOT booked

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