MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
March 2008
  I want to thank the membership for voting in a great slate of officers and directors for 2008-2009. We will be working closely with each other on Association matters, serving in your best interests. Forthcoming reunions in San Antonio and New London are shaping up nicely with some exciting events planned.
  There will soon be a LEYTE display at the National Aviation Museum in Pensacola and we plan to add LEYTE memorabilia to the small display aboard the Yorktown in Charleston.
  The membership also approved the purchase of 200 gold-plated coins to commemorate the 50th anniversary of our ship’s decommissioning with ‘1959-2009’. These 1 ½ inch coins will be encased in a plastic box to preserve their luster and beauty. They will be available at San Antonio and New London at a cost of $7.50 each.
  Since we only hold reunions one time per year, there is the possibility that members at large do not have an opportunity to present questions or suggestions. So, if you have a matter that you would like addressed, call or write me and I will see that your thought is presented to the Board of Directors. Even if they cannot act upon your idea, at least it will be written into the board meeting minutes for possible future action. My email address is: dlkersten2@verizon.net and my phone number is 412-367-4725. If you want to drop a line by snail mail, my address is: 8229 East Van Buren Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15237.
  The Association had a limited number of the 2007 Cleveland Reunion Photo Books printed in the same format as before using the photographs taken there. It turned out great. Those who want one should send a check for the bargain price including postage and handling of $18.00, payable to USS LEYTE Association, to me and I will get a copy out to you.
  You will find attached the information and reservation form prepared by our Military Reunion Planners especially for the LEYTE 2008 San Antonio reunion. Send in your 2008 dues if an annual member using the separate form in this news letter. If your status is in doubt then refer to the mailing label. You still must make your reservations directly with the hotel that was selected because it met our requirements including cost. Not to worry as all events are centralized so there are no long bus trips. We have made a special effort to get the information out early so you can make reservations as soon as possible. They must be in by 22 August 2008 in order to get the hotel rates and avoid paying the late reservation fee. We are expecting a great time in this outstanding reunion city and want all shipmates to support our efforts to maintain the LEYTE Association as a leader among the carrier groups in attendance.
  We are offering a beautiful raffle prize of an Oil Painting entitled “evening Colors” showing our flag being lowered aft on the flight deck during the Jamestown Review for President Eisenhower. A total of 119 ships participated in this historic occasion.
  I look forward to serving you and the Association for the next two years. May great fortune and good health be with you as we sail along life’s seaways and byways toward new and exciting destinies. /s/ Don Kersten

OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN ON 2008 AND 2009 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

· President:  Donald L. Kersten
· Pres-Elect: Casimer G. Kropkowski
· 1st Vice-Pres: Leon Q. Neimeyer
· 2nd Vice-Pres Charles H. Hill
· Secretary: John E. Mitchell
· Treasurer: Angelo R. Masi
· Fin. Secty:  William McQueary
· Asst. Secty: Robert K. Hartman
· Chaplain: Edward Price
· CMAA:     Le Grande Van Wagenen 
· Founding President: C. Farnsworth
· First Past Pres: Richard S. Bolin
· Air Group:  Garvin Kram
· Audit:  Frank Koeller, Jr.
· Historian:  Harvey Israel 
· Hospitality:  Frank Zygmont
· Newsletter:  Kenneth McLaurin
· Nominating:  John E. Mitchell
· Publicity:  Floyd Hale
· Registration:  John Woods
· Ship's Store:  Robert C Thomson

               MAIL BAG
  Arnold Abens wrote in to say that he hadn’t received his LEYTE News and provided his new address. (Ed. Last NL was June 07).
  John Woods sent in Robert Mayrose’s new address.
  Thomas Zirbes sent in generous memorials to the LEYTE  Association Memorial fund on behalf of shipmate Clarence (Gene) Zirbes who passed just before our Cleveland reunion. (Our President acknowledged the passing of this special LEYTE booster with a letter and small souvenir)
  Rachel Wise sent a note with tears in her eyes to notify us of the passing of Keith and to say that he was proud to have served in LEYTE and enjoyed all the reunions.
  Ed Simpson wrote in to tell us of the passing of Thomas Peters who many may remember from flight deck operations.
 From Van Wagenen the many emails on new shipmates and also notification of the passing of Henry Kingsburg familiar to those on the reunion circuit.
  Dean Burgess sent an email with photos of nuke carriers in the Pacific and some air operations.  If you would like to see it you can contact the editor at kmclaurin3@cox.net or newsletter@ussleytecv32.com . Angelo Masi received a copy and showed the pictures to one of his golfing buddies was a Commander in the Chilean Navy who as a Midshipman went aboard the LEYTE during shakedown visit to Chile.  Dean also sent in a copy of the February 1949 issue of Radio & Television News magazine showing “Television Stands Watch for U.S. Navy” and the big ‘32’ for the LEYTE the first Navy ship to provide live television air operations coverage for New York, in 1948. Many of you probably remember the evolution.
  Frank Koeller sent in a letter received from Pat Ensor who had read his article looking for the LEYTE ships bell. Was asking if anyone remembered her Eddie (Mousie or Bill) Ensor who served in LEYTE.. She said it was a good time in their lives and that maybe someday she will meet some of his shipmates. Let the editor know if you recognize or know the name. Wonder if he was any relation to James Ensor from Landisville, PA that is listed in our roster?
  From the Sea Line of the Phil Sea an announcement of a mini east coast reunion at the Crown Plaza Inn in Fort Myers, FL 10 through 14 April 2008.
  Phone call from Jack Lewis, Log Room, to notify passing of James Chamberlin
  John Ryan sent in LEYTE items from an old scrap book he came across so that we can screen them for need.  One a photo of four handsome sailors listed as Nice, France September 30, 1949. Also, Naval Aviation News cover with the photo of LEYTE in Sasebo harbor with full deck load and crewmen  spelling out LEYTE across forward end of the flight deck.
  Information from George Van Valen in the Reunion Network magazine.
  Note from Ken Hilleman giving us his new address and said that the good Lord is punishing him by keeping him around.
  Diana Hoffman sent in a gift membership for her father Willard E Baker. Her family were able to get some LEYTE items for his 75th birthday surprise that he readily related to. He is looking forward to San Antonio. Great family!!! Thanks go to our own Van Wagenen who provided the information.

                AS I REMEMBER THE DAY
By William J. Ballantine
  In October 1953 I was part of a detachment of Marines assigned to duty on the aircraft carrier USS LEYTE. The ship was docked in Boston Harbor undergoing modifications some in the area of the ship’s catapult system below deck. Both navy personnel and Civilians were working closely together in an important project that would tremendously modernize this vintage World War Two fighting ship.
  A little after 3 o’clock on the afternoon of the 16th, I was making my way topside from the Marines living quarters below deck, when a massive explosion rocked the ship sending flames and smoke throughout a large part of the lower decks. I wouldn’t know until much later, that a spark from an acetylene torch had ignited a quantity of hydraulic fluid in the port catapult machinery room. Smaller explosions followed as the fire spread to other storage containers.
  My first thought was that the ship’s Brig was between where I was and the explosion. I knew that there would be al few people in that area since manning the Brig was part of the Marine detachment’s duties, and I was familiar with the operation. Smoke was beginning to spread throughout the passageways and compartments, and breathing was becoming difficult. Oxygen Breathing Apparatus, OBA for short, were stored in some, but not all, sections of the ship. I knew I was going to need one so I headed to the hanger deck that was close by, found an OBA, put it on and headed towards the Brig. It only took me seconds to realize the mask was not working, as my eyes began to smart and I was having trouble breathing.
  I returned to the Hanger deck, got a new apparatus, and started forward again. I could breathe now, but visibility was limited to two or three feet. Adding to the problem, the burning hydraulic fluid was giving off a gas that was worse than the smoke.
  I soon lost track of where I was, and descending one more ladder, I realized I had missed my initial destination and found myself on the deck below the Brig, in the area of the Warrant Officer’s Mess. I found a sailor overcome with smoke and managed to half-carry, half-drag him up to a safe area where he could breathe. Again, I returned below decks looking for the Brig. This time I found it, and also found fellow Marine Corporal Moore and two sailors. They had covered themselves with towels and blankets soaked with water and were close to becoming unconscious and asphyxiated.
  By now you couldn’t touch the bulkheads because of the heat from the fires, and even with thick-soled boots the heat from the red hot decks was burning our feet. Two sailors wearing OBA’s arrived on the scene, and between the three of us we were able to push, shove and drag the three semi-conscious men up several ladders to safety. All of this happened in a 10 to 15 minute period.
  Some of the memories from that day almost 50 years ago are dimmed by time, but one memory that is still very vivid in my mind, is the scene I found on deck. Not realizing the trauma they would cause me later, I took photos of stretchers containing some of the bodies of the 37 men killed that day, many burned beyond recognition. Two days later, after realizing that looking at these pictures was making me physically ill, I threw them away. Today, I find that remembering that horrible experience still causes upsetting emotions.
  I take some solace that maybe because of what I was able to do in that first 20 minutes of that terrible tragedy, the body count wasn’t higher.
Editor: For his actions that day Corporal Ballantine USMC received a Letter of Commendation from Commander Air Force, Atlantic Fleet. The Citation reads in part – “For outstanding courage and performance beyond the call of duty ….. Fully aware of the danger involved, but without regard for his personal safety, Ballantine voluntarily entered the critically dangerous area ….. By his prompt and courageous action, he aided materially in saving the lives of these four men. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
 
           MEMORIES ABOARD THE LEADING LEYTE
By Leon Neimeyer
  I left boot camp at the U S Naval Training Center in Newport, RI in March of 1951. I requested to be on the LEYTE because my older brother, Ernest, was serving in her at the time (he was a WWII vet who joined the Naval Reserve after his discharge). He was recalled to duty, making the LEYTE Korean War trip and the ’51 shake-down cruise to Guantanamo. We were together at Gitmo. He was a 2nd Class Electricians Mate and I was a Seaman Recruit in S-2 Division as a cook. I had prior experience as a 2nd Cook at a local Country Club.
  During the ’51 cruise my battle station was on the 5”38 gun mounts aft of the superstructure. The LEYTE was a good feeder. The S-2 Division had good cooks and bakers. A notable one was Don Sothern, the ships best boxer. He invited my wife and I to sit with him and his wife at the Norfolk reunion in 1993, which was the first LEYTE  reunion I attended.
  I wasn’t happy as a cook, as lour schedule at that time was 24 on and 24 off. Every day at 12 noon, you were either going on duty or getting off duty. Getting a weekend off wasn’t easy, especially for a Seaman Recruit. I was fortunate, a Seaman from the First Division wanted to transfer to S-2 Division and I agreed to switch with him. I feel lucky and never regretted the switch!
  On route to the Med, I was moved from the 1st Division to the 3rd Division living compartments. Both on the Foc’sle. After a few days at sea Anthony ‘Tony’ Kania told me I was the Coxswain of #3 Motor Launch. I never ran a boat in my life. The boat was chocked and parked aft on the Hanger deck, the rest of the trip was spent boat sanding, painting and studying rules of the road, etc.
  There are two incidents in my few years as a Boat Coxswain that stand out. The first was when we were anchored a few miles out in LaSpezia, Italy. The LEYTE couldn’t get dockside due to the shallow water and also due to the sunken ships blocking the entrance to the port. The word was that in WWII, the Germans scuttled the ships so that the allies couldn’t use the harbor to bring supplies and troops into the important seaport.
  It was late in the evening after taps. I was awakened and told to get my crew together and bring my boat around to the gangway and report to the Officer of the Deck. My usual crew at that time was Seaman Romain Willier, Stern Hook, and Thorsen, Bow Hook, and Edward Besz of ‘A’ Division, Engineer.
  Our instructions were to go to the repair ship, tied up at the pier, and pick up an oxygen cylinder. Sick Bay was out, or nearly out of oxygen and it was important they have this ASAP. The OOD said they would keep a search light on us continuously. It was a dark stormy night and the water was rough with a lot of ground swells.
  As we approached the repair ship we could see they were ready for us, as the oxygen tank was hanging just off the ships deck. We eased closer to the tank. Due to the storm, our boat was bobbing up and down from 4 to 5 feet. Thankfully, the repair ships winch operator was great, as we reached the high point of a swell, he lowered the cylinder on to our bow, and in a second or two Thorsen (the Bow Hook), unsecured the line on the cylinder. With a wave to the crewman of the repair ship, we were on ;our way back to the LEYTE.,  following her beaming light. We were cold and wet and fortunate to have completed a successful trip!
  The second memorable experience took place at the Boston Navy Yard prior to the explosion. The Navy Yard had turned over a new 40’ Motor Launch to the LEYTE. I was told to get my crew together and meet at the pier where the boat was located. An officer from the LEYTE was at the boat and said we would be taking the boat out for a test run before accepting it from the Navy Yard.
  The Motor Launch was tied up at the dock aft of the LEYTE. We all boarded and took off along side of the LEYTE and swinging a wide arc in front of the LEYTE  about 300 feet forward of the bow. We turned a few circles and just maneuvered around aimlessly when a huge sled was catapulted off of the LEYTE flight deck. It was coming directly at us and luckily, it fell short of us by just 50 – 100 feet. We got hit with some ;of the huge splash made by the sled. The sled was made of huge square logs bound together and mounted on four auto-type wheels and used to test the catapult.
  It didn’t take long for the Officer on our boat to order us back to the gangway. I never heard what transpired after that, but I imagine someone on the deck got quite an ‘earful’. It was just another incident that fortunately turned out well.

            SHIP’S STORE

Logo Items
- Cap – 1 sz –Navy Full Cotton  $10.00
- Cap – 1 sz –Navy Mesh Back  $10.00
- Cap – 1 sz –Red – Marine Det.  $10.00
- Pens with logo on side(2 for $5)  $  3.00
- License Plate Frames   $13.00
- License Plates - LEYTE   $11.00
- Leyte Hat Pins    $  5.00
- Leyte Patch    $  7.00
- Magnets – round or square  $  1.00
- Bumper Stickers   $  1.00
- LEYTE Video    $17.00
 Shakedown Cruise Aug-Sep 46
 Air Group Three Oct 50-Sep 51
 Korea Film Collection 50 – 51
 Last Cruise 57 – 59
 A Film Collection
Coming Soon – Ship’s Store is in the process of restocking and more items will be available at the reunion. Soon there will be coffee mugs, mouse pads, denim shirts and fleece jackets. Send requests to Bob Thomson, 4112 Buena Vista Drive South, Ellenton, FL 34222. Phone 941-722-0010 or email rthomson@tampabay.rr.com . Make Check to cover the merchandise plus 12%, minimum of $1.25, for shipping and handling made payable to USS LEYTE CV-32 Association.

          Amendment to the Articles of Association
  The following new Article was approved for addition at the Membership meeting in Cleveland in October 2007.

Article X.    Executive Committee
    The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors is to conduct business of the Association between meetings and shall make a report of its activities to the Board of Directors at the next regularly scheduled meeting. The members of the Executive Committee shall consist of the President, President Elect, Secretary, Treasurer and not more than two Ex-Officio members from the Board of Directors appointed by the President for each meeting. Duties of the members are the same as specified under ‘Duties of Officers’ and as prescribed by the President for Ex-Officio members.
(Articles following this one are to be renumbered)
 
ADM Roughhead new CNO Priorities for FY08
By Zachary Peterson, Navy Times
  My priorities have been and will remain.
*Current Readiness. Maintaining our war fighting readiness will ensure we are an agile, capable, and ready force.
*A Navy for tomorrow. Technology and new approaches are advancing rapidly. Our ships, submarines, aircraft, weapons, and networks must out pace potential adversaries.
*People. Our people are the foundation for all we do.
  These are my priorities, but we have a unique historical, organizational, and operational relationship with the U.S. Marine Corps. Our forces train, deploy, and fight together. I am committed to the Navy and Marine Corps partnership.
 
 

           TAPS

John J Aulik 9/07
William J Ballantine 4/06
Richard G Bordner 1/08
James L Chamberlain 3/08
George W Echols 8/07
Robert H Ellis 4/71
Harry L Kingsburg 2/08
Thomas J Peters 2/08
Charles F Ramm 4/07
L Keith Wise 3/07
Clarence E Zirbes 9/07

           Our Legacy

  The modern U.S. Navy traces it’s origins to the Continental Navy, a small, commerce-raiding force founded on 13 October 1775, during the American Revolution. Following the Treaty of Versailles (1783) the new Republic sold off it’s small but expensive fleet and was without a Naval battle force until the end of the decade. At that time, confrontations with North African pirates threatened American interests abroad and spurred Congress and the Administration to change their policy toward one of Naval engagement.
  In 1798, recognizing the need to defend the maritime lines of commerce upon which the nation depended, the framers of the Constitution empowered Congress ‘to provide and maintain a Navy’.  Legislators appropriated funds for the construction, fitting-out and manning of six frigates: Constitution, President and United States of 44 guns; and Congress, Constellation and Chesapeake of 36 guns.
  With the launch of the first of these ships in 1797 , the U.S. Navy was born and Department of the Navy in April 1798.
 
 
 

* * * * * USS LEYTE (CV-32) ASSOCIATION RENEWAL/APPLICATION * * * * *
I Mbr#____apply to renew (__) or for membership (__) in the USS LEYTE (CV-32) Association and forward
 in consideration a gift of $ 10.00. Life membership (__) 59 years or less = $150; 60-69= $100; 70 up = $50.

Name: ______________________________(          ) Wife's Name: ____________     ** 2008 DUES**
  Info Change(__)   first/mi/last  nickname
Address:____________________________ City:_________________ State:____ Zip:_______ + ____
Phone: Home (____)____-______  e-mail Address  ___________________________________
Crewmember: From ___-___ to ___-___ Division(s):__________ Rank/Rate:______
          mo  yr        mo  yr
Mil. Retired? No___ Yes___  If yes, Rank/Rate _______USN/US__
Return Form to: William I. McQueary, 14519 WCR 16, Ft. Lupton, CO 80621
Please make checks payable to USS LEYTE CV-32 ASSOCIATION
* * * * A Non-Profit Organization of former crew members * * * *

---------------------- To Get a copy of the 2008 ReUnion Schedual and Reservation Form, click on this line.


---------------------- Note:  There is an attachment that goes with this newsletter providing information on the USS LEYTE 2008 reunion in San Antonio, TX October 1st through 5th, 2008.  If you would like a copy please contact the Editor of the LEYTE NEWS at 813 Saint James Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23455-6119, 757-497-7188, kmclaurin3@cox.net .

                                                                                        Presented as Recieved  03/17/2008  02:22DST