 Deaths reported in 2005
Dick A. Hawkins, DK3: Aboard 1965-1966 on Nov. 29, 2005
John F. Bigos, SK2: Aboard 1942-44 on September 7, 1992
Robert K. "Bob" Fahrner, QMCS: Aboard 12/47-06/49 on April 28, 2005
John R. Fittzaland, MM1: Aboard 1963-65 on November 22, 1984
Jack B. Graves, Sr., CS3: Aboard 1951-52 on August 15, 2004
James M. Gray, SN: Aboard 1963-65 on January 3, 2001
James W. Hearon, Sr., SN: Aboard 1957 on July 1, 1996
Gentry L. Hall, MM3: Aboard 1944-45 in March 1972.
Tommy I. Lucas, HTCS: Aboard 1952-54 on August 6, 2004
Thomas W. Kosiba, S2c: Aboard 1943-46 on March 5, 2005
Dan F. Lowrimore, SN: Aboard 1953-54 on December 15, 2002
Carl E. Mueller, EMPC: Aboard 1953 on March 16, 1996
Michael J. Ottarson, BM3: Aboard 1965-68 in 1968.
Lewis M. Peoples, SN: Aboard 1968-69 on November 25, 2003.
Roger M. Ratekin, FT3: Aboard 1951-54 on January 4, 2005
Miles D. Remly, F1c: Aboard 1942 on December 13, 2001
Harold E. Trisko, S1: Aboard 1946 on September 1, 1998
Ralph F. Zammuto, S1c: Aboard 1943-44 on January 21, 1992
Reunion News
Oct 7 - 112 will attend reunion
 Reserved rooms must be paid with credit card for the first night. If you have not done this, please do so now.
Tour choices for Friday, October 7 are in Members Only. 18 have signed up for the Hoover Dam tour; 4 for the Neon Lights Tour. Tours will run as scheduled.
Voting for the 2006 reunion city by all past reunion attendees is from August 19 - September 26 in Members Only. Reunion attendees may vote now or at the reunion. The entire membership will vote early next year to select the city among four finalists.
So far, one or more votes have been cast for Annapolis, Atlantic City, Boston, Branson, Denver, Las Vegas, Laughlin, Myrtle Beach, New Orleans, Orlando, Phoenix, St. Louis, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington DC. Either Sep or Oct is fine with most members and weekdays are preferred for better motel rates.
Show ticket information has been submitted by Lee Bostic and is on the 2005 Reunion Information page.
Reunion Shirt News
Aug 11 - From Gary Schlagel, "the first major change in 5 reunions, this years shirts are going to be gold with black lettering etc. The price will remain the same. On the back this year we will add China between WWII and Korea. I would appreciate as many pre reunion orders as possible as I will not be bringing as many to the reunion as in previous years." See 2004 Reunion Tee Shirt for an example. To pre-order a shirt(s), email Gary."
Bud Bessey Unable To Attend Reunion
Aug 6 - Bud Bessey, Association vice-president and ship's store manager, will not be able to attend this year's reunion due to personal
reasons. Jim Shurmack will take orders at the reunion for Bud, in addition to his normal position of videographer/photographer and volunteering as silent auction manager. 
Here Is The Banquet Buffet Winner...
Jul 31 - Chuck Wagon Buffet; tossed salad with condiments and dressings; potato salad; southwestern coleslaw; cucumber red onion salad; Southern fried chicken; spare ribs; sliced smoke brisket; corn on the cob; baked beans; fresh mashed potatoes and gravy on the side; bread pudding with caramel sauce; cherry pie. Voting ended July 31 at midnight.
LOW score wins!: Chuck Wagon, 140; Bonanza, 148.5; Italian Grande, 194; Hawaiian Luau, 197.5.
2006 Reunion City Voting
Jul 10 - The Board of Directors voted, without dissent, to allow shipmates who have previously attended a reunion to submit up to four
cities in which they would be 75% likely to attend a 2006 reunion in any part of the country. Their votes will be combined with
shipmates at the 2005 reunion and the entire membership will vote on the top four cities early next year.
Jim Shurmack Will Run Silent Auction
Jul 1 - Jim Shurmack has volunteered to serve as Silent Auction manager at the reunion. 
Jun 30 - John and Sandie Hollowood will serve as the reunion coordinators in the hospitality suite replacing Les and Nan Blake. The Blakes had to bow out due to personal reasons. Voting for the banquet dinner buffet will be done through the month of July in Members Only. The dinner will be buffet style due to better value. The 2005 Reunion Information page in Members Only has the toll-free number and other information required to make hotel reservations at Sam's Town Hotel and Gambling Hall and Arizona Charlie's Boulder, which is a nearby hotel, for 10 rooms should we fill Sam's or attendees want to save a few dollars. These are at a slightly lower rate. Las Vegas hotel rates are still rising. Silent Auction: The first item is described and it is a beauty! The Association will provide some items for bidding and shipmates are welcome to donate items. Contact Dick to discuss what you have. 
Additional Asbestos Information On History Page
May 25 - Submitted by Les Blake, Kennebec Chief Engineer from 4/67 to 6/70, in May 2005
I was looking through the building specifications book for Kennebec and think the following information should be disseminated.
The original specifications called for the use of asbestos to insulate from heat on all boilers, steam lines generators, steam operated pumps, evaporators, and Ebony asbestos switchboards.
This means that anyone who was in the engineering department probably was exposed. Electricians, shipfitters and auxiliary personnel may not be aware of exposure.
People aboard during the early years probably had a greater risk of exposure. As time went by efforts were made to reduce the amount of asbestos used through out the fleet.
Mesothelioma Com (It lists many of the common names of products we used and didn't know contained asbestos.)
Asbestosis Screenings May Be Necessary
May 16 - Walt Norkus reminds everyone who was exposed to asbestos to get a checkup. There is a small section on the History page with a form for obtaining a FREE Mesothelioma Web information packet. See the link Bill Yancey submitted.
Roxanne Cheney Update
May 9 - Ron Cheney emailed "Roxanne is done with radiation and is doing good. We are going to the veterans golden age games from 5-19 to 5-27 in Oklahoma City, OK. Will let you know how I've done when we get back."
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Reunion Update
Apr 30 - The hotel selection process was slowed as The Gold Coast Hotel and Casino has no meeting space for our reunion and the Las Vegas and Visitors Authority did not receive the information I submitted through their Website. Damn computers! That information has now been given to them verbally and the ball is once again rolling. Probable attendance is now at 145, including 80 shipmates, 61 wives and 4 guests. In totally unrelated news, San Remo Hotel and Casino was sold and will be remodeled and renamed Hooters Casino Hotel by February 2006. Save the spotted owls!
Andy Lockerbie Surgery Update
Apr 8 - Received from his wife, Donna, "THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU ALL - SO MUCH - FOR YOUR PRAYERS!!!
Andy is home and doing pretty well. He is a little tired, but who wouldn't
be after being in a Hospital. The beds are not comfortable, the food is
terrible and the coffee is horrible. The surgery went well. The defibrillator is
working appropriately and the Doctor was wonderful. He even told me that he
was giving me a remote, so that when Andy gets cranky, I hit the reverse button
and he will turn his attitude around. LOL!!"
Andy Lockerbie Surgery Scheduled for April 7
Apr 5 - From Donna, Andy's husband writes, "Andy is having surgery on April 7th,
at Pomona Valley Hospital, to install a defibrillator. This is a request for prayer for Andy, his Surgeons and for me.
The surgery is scheduled for 10:00am. He has to be there at 7:30am and will be kept overnight
to be sure everything is working right. A defibrillator, if you don't know, is a small machine inserted in his
chest that would zap him for heart irregularities. This is similar to the
external paddles used if someone's heart stops or they have an irregular heart
beat. This is technically a few steps up from his pacemaker, which will be
replaced with this. During the surgery, after the defibrillator is installed, his
heart is stopped to be sure the instrument is working. That is the scary part.
Andy has had 2 open heart surgeries over the past 20 years and the surgeons
say there can not be a 3rd one. He will be off work for 2 weeks, at least -
not allowed to raise his arm.
You are all such prayer warriors and we truly believe strongly in the
power of prayer. Andy is content with his relationship with God and we have all
the documents in place for both of us. Please pray for his well being, wisdom
for the Surgeons and peace for me, as I wait for him to come out of surgery."
Roxanne Cheney Post-Cancer Surgery Progress Reported
Mar 17 - Ron Cheney advised his wife, Roxanne, "is going thru radiation at this time and has 27 more times to go. Things seem to be going ok. She is a little burnt from the radiation and a little sore but that is expected."
Las Vegas Wins Easily In Voting For 2005 Reunion City
Mar 16 - The city that hosted our first reunion will also host our fifth as 48 shipmates (plus 33 wives) voted for Las Vegas.
DC Area was next with 25 votes (plus 19 wives and 1 guest). Seattle was third with 21 votes (plus 16 wives and 2 guests). Branson was last with 15 votes (plus 12 wives and 2 guests).
Home Page Now Has Photo Slideshow
Mar 8 - Sometimes I add photos to the site and nobody knows about it. Some of the newest and more interesting photos are
now part of a slideshow presentation on the Home page. Click on the photo if you wish to go to the relevant page for that photo.
Reunion City Voting Extended
Mar 2 - On-line voting to select the 2005 reunion city has been extended through midnight March 15 because emails sent to many shipmates regarding the voting were not received due to unknown reasons. 
Kennebec Casino Opens February 5 in Members Only
October 6-8, 2005 Reunion City Ballot Results
Feb 1 - Are shown in the banner at the top of the page.
Deaths Reported in January 2005
John F. Bigos, SK2: Aboard 1942-44 in September 7, 1992
Roger M. Ratekin, FT3: Aboard 1951-54 on January 4, 2005
Miles D. Remly, F1c: Aboard 1942 on December 13, 2001
Harold E. Trisko, S1: Aboard 1946 on September 1, 1998
Ralph F. Zammuto, S1c: Aboard 1943-44 on January 21, 1992
October 2005 Reunion City Ballot Opens a Few Hours Early
Jan 31 - Members Only may vote for one or more cities of four semi-finalists selected at the 2004 reunion. Look for the "Vote Now" sign on Members Only. The rules are clearly posted on the ballot.
Roxanne Cheney Cancer Surgery Report Is Good
Jan 30 - Shipmate Ron Cheney reports Roxanne had her surgery and the pathology report came back with no cancer but she still has to do 6 weeks of radiation. He isn't sure when it will start but will find that out on the 2nd of February. That's great news!
Paul Sawyer (Aboard 1967-68) Announces His Engagement
Jan 29 - He and longtime girlfriend, Sandy, were engaged this past New Year's Eve and will tie the (square) knot on May 20. Congratulations!
Members Only Bulletin Board/Message Board/Forum Is Here
Jan 29 - Call it whatever you want but you are now able to register, read and post messages to other members. Different categories have been set up and more will be added as necessary. There is a thorough instruction page you may link to which will allow you to be comfortable with registering, etc. Think of it as a guestbook only a lot more versatile.
USS KENNEBEC Shoulder Patch Wanted
Jan 13 - Do you remember those blue shoulder patches with the name of the ship in white? Terry Gann runs the Website for the USS Maury (AGS-16) http://www.ussmauryags16.org and would like one for his collection. His email address is on the front page of their Website.
August 27, 2005 Cruise Aboard SS Jeremiah O’Brien in San Francisco.
Jan 13 - Vern Bouwman emailed, "See the Kawishiwi Reunion page at http://www.usskawishiwi.org/Reunion/2005/ " This is for fleet tanker sailors.
Shipmates' Video Clips Added Back To Members Only
Jan 5 - More server space has been added and 2-5 minutes clips of all shipmate's videos have been added back or will be shortly.
Roxanne Cheney Scheduled For Cancer Surgery January 5
Jan 2 - Shipmate Ron Cheney, BM3: Aboard 1963-67 reports his wife will have breast cancer surgery. We wish them the best.
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