USS O'Callahan - Recently Updated Pages

USS O'Callahan Website - IRISH SONG - DE/FF 1051

mp170081 — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:22:11 CST

DE-1051 / FF-1051 The warship USS O'Callahan was in the US Navy Fleet from 1968 to 1993. This site is a home for those who served in the "IRISH SONG".

See Reunion Planning Here
August 2010
See REUNION PLANNING NEWS for 2010

NZKI

Who We Are

LINKS

Our Photos

Our Videos

Guestbook say hello DISCUSSION (google groups)

Military.com Ship's Chronology (pdf file, new & improved)

the BLOG Sea Stories & more Facts & INFO
Chaplain's Page Shipmate Registry

We are looking for additional info for the chronology, especially from the late 70's & 80's. If you have details to add, click on members, then mp170081 & Send Message. (If not a member post a note in the Guestbook)
Tell me what you have & we'll take it from there.

Our Photos

mp170081 — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:18:57 CST

Our photo scrapbook! <-- <-- photos & documents here!!

Click for the picasa google scrapbook.

BOSTON REUNION PICTURES
More Boston Pictures from Bill Raymond
HERE ARE THE PICTURES FROM THE BOSTON REUNION. Please go through them and add commentary with names and thoughts to some of the pictures and people you recognize from the reunion. In all things went well in Boston. The location was a reasonable cost and close to what we needed. In the album you'll find some photos and VIDEO of Andy Anderson. In the video he is explaining to a house painter how to paint properly - the navy way. What a great assortment of people there are among our O'Callahan crew. Those who shot photos are encouraged to contact Vic for access username and passwords to the picasaweb albums. You can easily upload your photos to the site for everyone to enjoy. They are also easy to download. Regrettably, the CD's I made had a glitch and will not work. If you NEED a CD of the photos contact me and I will make one and send it to you in the mail. (VIC EMAIL)

Saturday night and Sunday Morning we taped audio and video of a touching and emotional interview with Andy Anderson about his eyewitness experience of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. His family lived 2 houses from the gate at Pearl. His dad - a 20 year navy veteran in 1941 - rushed to his ship in the harbor (he and his ship survived). I'll soon upload the audio for that interview. It is the perspective of a 10 year old boy -- witnessing one of the most historic events of the 20th century.

See you at the slop chute on the Old Whangpoo.
(A common parting phrase among the sailors of the old Asiatic Fleet).

Special Photo Collection of Richard Settle
USS O'Callahan and more.

The picasa scrapbook is set up to allow volunteers to add photos for all to see.
Ask vic@buzzcreek.com for instructions. You'll need to download picasa for your
desktop to use it to manage the online albums but others who are viewing need no
special software to view the albums.

If you don't want to upload yourself you can always send photos attached to email to vic@buzzcreek.com with notes about what you want to have for captions - etc.

See also: Our Videos | Stuff We Like

Reunion News

me3tv — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:35:49 CDT

2010 PLANNING NOW --- Early AUGUST - 2010 in NASHVILLE. 2010 - USS O"CALLAHAN REUNION in NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE . The dates are August 4,5,6,7,8, leaving on the 8th which is a Sunday. ( Wednesday through Saturday - Sunday Checkout). This will be a little longer than previous reunions because there is a lot to do and see. The rates are about $ 85 per night including taxes and the location is excellent. Best Western Suites - 201 Music City Circle, Nashville, TN 37214-1220 Reservations at this price by July 1, 2010 Call 888-994-9940 The room includes continental breakfast daily 0630 - 0930 Airport Shuttle is $15 R/T from airport 0800-2000 M-F - call 888-994-9940 Hospitality Room will be open from Wednesday thru Saturday. Drinks and snacks provided by the association. Membership dues for USS O'Callahan Association is $40 every TWO YEARS. Usually members elect to pay the dues at the reunion but feel free to send them in to Joe by mail. Joe Allen also requests prompt return of the postcard confirmations of attendance so he can plan the banquet head count. Or - Email him here: rascal68@centurytel.net Joseph H. Allen - Treasurer and Secretary of the USS O'Callahan Association. If you want to make a longer vacation - come two days ahead of the reunior and/or stay two days after - the rates are the same. The Normal rate is $120 / night plus tax. Near Opryland Hotel, Grand Ole Opry and many other local sites. The hotel is situated a few miles away from the Nashville airport.	Some Special Things to See and Do in Nashville THE HERMITAGE Andrew Jackson's Home Civil War Battlefields ... Nashville (end of the Confederacy) Franklin (The Battle of the Generals) Murphreesboro (Stones River - Begins the big push South to Georgia)

2010 PLANNING NOW --- Early AUGUST - 2010 in NASHVILLE.

2010 - USS O"CALLAHAN REUNION in NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE .

The dates are August 4,5,6,7,8, leaving on the 8th which is a Sunday.
( Wednesday through Saturday - Sunday Checkout).
This will be a little longer than previous reunions because there is a lot to do and see.
The rates are about $ 85 per night including taxes and the location is excellent.
Best Western Suites - 201 Music City Circle, Nashville, TN 37214-1220
Reservations at this price by July 1, 2010
Call 888-994-9940
The room includes continental breakfast daily 0630 - 0930
Airport Shuttle is $15 R/T from airport 0800-2000 M-F - call 888-994-9940
Hospitality Room will be open from Wednesday thru Saturday. Drinks and snacks provided by the association.

Membership dues for USS O'Callahan Association is $40 every TWO YEARS. Usually members elect to pay the dues at the reunion but feel free to send them in to Joe by mail. Joe Allen also requests prompt return of the postcard confirmations of attendance so he can plan the banquet head count.

Or - Email him here: rascal68@centurytel.net
Joseph H. Allen - Treasurer and Secretary of the USS O'Callahan Association.

If you want to make a longer vacation - come two days ahead of the reunior and/or stay two days after - the rates are the same. The Normal rate is $120 / night plus tax.

Near Opryland Hotel, Grand Ole Opry and many other local sites.
The hotel is situated a few miles away from the Nashville airport. Some Special Things to See and Do in Nashville

THE HERMITAGE
Andrew Jackson's Home

Civil War Battlefields
...
Nashville
(end of the Confederacy)

Franklin
(The Battle of the Generals)

Murphreesboro
(Stones River - Begins the big push South to Georgia)

************ *************** ************************* **************** ******************** ****************

2008 - HIGHLINE NEWS - The Reunion NEWSLETTER from Boston. (PDF).

Be SURE to check the BLOG for AUDIO INTERVIEWS from the reunion.
Some of these stories are classics. One of our crew was a 10 year old witness to Pearl Harbor only 3 houses from the main gate. His dad was serving in a ship in the harbor at the time -- in his 20th year of Naval Service. A story about the MAST from the Constitution is below.

ALL DONE FOR 2008 ---
The Members voted to pursue Nashville for 2010. See more discussion in the HIGHLINE link above.

BIG AND WONDERFUL REVIEWS on the LOBSTER RISOTO at the Bistro.
Steak was great too!!

THE STORY OF THE MAST FROM THE CONSTITUTION

Some of us discovered the Navy was THROWING AWAY the old masts from the Constitution that had laid out for many years on the yard for display. I think NEW "old masts" are about to be available since new masts were being installed. Since they were just tossing out the old masts - estimated to be the ones in place from about 1870 - 1930 (maybe) some of us took parts of the masts as keepsakes. They were dumpster bound - it was quite an opportunity. Seems the Navy cannot SELL government property like that and is bound to destroy it. What a waste! They could sell pieces like that on Ebay and raise TONS of dollars for "Wounded Warriors" or some other good cause.

Vic Campbell took one of the larger pieces he took from the old mast and had it put in a shadow box as a gift to his brother, Jim Campbell whose retirement ceremony from the Navy Reserves was in early August in PENSACOLA. Vic spoke at the ceremony and made reference to the mast in his talk -- and related the service of the mast to the service of career sailors. Jim started as an E3 corpsman in 1967 and retired as a Captain (0-6) not a hundred yards from where he and Vic sold watermelons to the sailors at NAS Pensacola in the early '60s. It turns out the Constitution was refitted in about 1870 at PENSACOLA and the MAST we took wood from in BOSTON was likely from local virgin pines nearby. It was refitted there because the LIVE OAK preserves near Pensacola provided a stash of wood to refit the ship. THAT LIVE OAK wood was not used up and reserves of wood were kept in a holding pond for the future. When the airfield called Chevalier Field at NAS Pensacola
was being built (maybe in the 1930's or 40's) the wood was rediscovered in the same location but the pond was filled in or silted in by then. It was rediscovered as construction equipment was digging there. THAT WOOD was shipped to BOSTON for future live oak repairs to the Constitution and is what they are probably using for this refit. The MASTS this time though are from Canada SPRUCE. Several people provided the information here -- some confirming what others told me. So -- the story of the wood is probably close to accurate though the exact dates are not clear to me.

A copy of Vic's speech at his brother's retirement is HERE . (reference to the mast fragments we took from Boston).

CREW ROSTER UPDATE ... PLEASE PRINT FOR CLARITY
PRINTABLE FORM HERE

Are you ATTENDING THE 2010 REUNION? yes / no
IF YES—please include Banquet Reservation and Dues Fees

First Name:
Last Name:

Spouse Name:

Your former rate or rank:

Active Duty Address:

Current Mailing Address:

Home Phone:
Cell Phone:

Plank Owner? YES / NO (circle one)
Retired Military? YES / NO (circle one)
Can we share this information with shipmates? YES / NO

Dues are $20 per year and we have a reunion every two years. (raised to $20 by members at this meeting. Costs require it or the admin staff ends up out of pocket too much to bear. $20 was determined to be a very reasonable figure and we will all try to provide more info by the web and newsletters - using sources and help from all the membership who can support the effort.

The next is an undetermined date in the SUMMER of 2010.

Wait to make your commitments until we have specifics closer to the date.

Send dues to:

JOE ALLEN
6007 N. Greenvale Drive
Milton, WI 53563

Make the check out to JOSEPH H. ALLEN
In the notation space for your check note: "The Irish Song Association"
Questions? Email Joe Allen ..jha218@centurytel.net

LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION

me3tv — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:25:46 CDT

Guestbook
Wikipedia Entry on USS O'Callahan
NavSource.org - Picture Archives and MORE
View the USS O'Callahan (DE 1051), DANFS
USNI - Photo archives
USS O'Callahan at Military.com
USS O'Callahan NEWS
US Navy.COM- USS O'Callahan
Nav Source
Tin Can Sailor Registry
Gunfire Support -Recorded missions from Vietnam '72-'73 -- (1) (2) (3) (4) These are audio recordings of actual gunfire support missions as well some period radio broadcasts from the Armed Forces Network. Considerable Secret Protocol was breeched to bring you these amazing audio files.
Shopping - Navy Specialites - A nice gift site.

See also: Our Photos | Our Videos

USS Franklin

me3tv — Mon, 25 May 2009 09:59:23 CDT

Our Shipmate - Joe Allen, Found this story about the man in costume in This picture. Every Thursday, Richard Don Simms picks up 4 doz. fried pies from Mindy Lu's and 4doz. cinnamon rolls from Ginger Brown's Old Tyme Restaurant . He then takes them to the USO/ DFW Airport. The soldiers love them. What an honor to play banjo for the troops . . (note edited from a message received from - Richard Don Simms, From Ft. Worth,Texas) . Oh! The owners donate the sweets. Richard Simm's father died in the bomb attack on the USS Franklin in March of 1945. Father O'Callahan (USS O'Callahan) was awarded the medal of honor for his efforts on that day and his story is told in this website by Bob Blanchard, a survivor. Richard is also featured at SUPPORT OUR TROOPS. Visit the site. It is worth it. This is a great story about the little things Mr. Simms does to cheer up the troops in today's generation of heroes. (A letter to Mrs. Simms - view here) text : Dear Mrs. Simms, I have sent you via Navy Draft a longer but general letter. I wish here to express by personal sympathy at the loss of your husband. May God ease your sorrow. Joseph T. O'Callahan ... ... See the beautiful resolution prepared and presented to the Simm's from The Texas Senate. Mr. Brimer was beaten in the last election after 20 yrs. in Austin. He authored this Resolution for my Dad. A great Senator. RDS
You MUST see this photo of Richard as a little boy with his dad. Photo 2 blog entry on Richard Simms Photo 3 The Ship that Wouldn't Die Photo 4 Last Letter Home to Parents. Franklin is headed West. Photo 5 We Regret to Inform You .. The unwanted telegram. Photo 6 From Dad - Enjoy First Day of School, Don. The ship was attacked on March 19,1945.The telegram arrived April 5,1945. The story of the loss of DAD was printed in the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram May 19,1945 (with picture) RDS (click on the picture for a full size copy of the letter) Richard's Dad died in the bomb attack on USS Franklin in 1945. We Regret to Inform You .. The unwanted telegram One of Tammy Swofford's websites tells of the day that Mom and I received the telegram. We received it April 5,1945. " Big Ben,with Santa Fe,steamed slowly into Pearl Harbor on April 3rd,1945. In the words of one of the men,'On March 3rd we had sailed from Pearl- so clean, so proud, and in such fighting trim. On April 3rd we were returning , in such a wrecked condition that it was almost unbelievable.' " That quote is from Big Ben THE FLAT TOP / The Story of the U.S.S. Franklin/ Albert Love Enterprises USS O'Callahan was named for Fr. O'Callahan, who was one of two medal of honor recipients from the USS Franklin. The Story of the Photograph (Fr. O'Callahan) Told HERE in VIdeo. More Photos ( Don and his Mom and a Letter from Dad) (A picture of Don with his Dad in Sailor suits) (Letter from CNO, 2008)
April 30,2002 Tarrant County College and I got these three Franklin Veterans to speak about their time on board the SHIP. I also was on stage. 300 students were in awe. From left,Mr. Frank Turner,Coxswain Vi-Div.,RDS, George Black,RM3/c K-Div.,trapped with Dad. Dad opened hatch allowing Mr. Black and 11 others to go free. Mr. Gayle Bowen,Coxswain,5th Div, who was sitting with Dad peeling potatoes for noon meal when bombs hit. Mr. Bowen was trapped with 300 who were set free by Don Gary. Nov. 6,2006 Grapevine High School honored Dad by placing a stone in his memory in their Veterans Garden of Memories. I was there to cut the ribbon. GHS honors vets each Veterans Day. RDS To Contact Don Richard Don Simms 4212 Normandy Road Ft. Worth, Texas 76103 Phone 817- Banjo Player Pianist Comedian
A message in 2008 from Don to his Dad: Dad, You said it all in that letter. I had you as a Dad for only 7 years and 7 months but you were the best Dad in the world. I did my best to take care of Mom. Dad,We got a big vote coming up. I'm concerned. ...................... Don,You got to vote the right way. FREEDOM IS NOT FREE. Love ya,BOY.

News and Discussion

me3tv — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 08:51:41 CDT

The HIGHLINE NEWSLETTER for Mid-2008 - Reunion News.

Here is a nifty shot of O'Callahan after transfer to Pakistan !

Be sure check the Blog for news too. Audio histories recorded at the reunion are also in the BLOG. They are worth your time to listen.

Joe Allen Found an excellent story about the man in costume in This picture. Every Thursday, Richard Simms picks up 4 doz. fried pies from Mindy Lu's and 4doz. cinnamon rolls from Ginger Brown's Old Tyme Restaurant . He then takes them to the USO/ DFW Airport. The soldiers love them. What an honor to play banjo for the troops . . (note edited from a message received from - Richard Don Simms, From Ft. Worth,Texas) . Oh! The owners donate the sweets.

Richard Simm's father died in the bomb attack on the USS Franklin in March of 1945. Father O'Callahan (USS O'Callahan) was awarded the medal of honor for his efforts on that day and his story is told in this website by Bob Blanchard, a survivor. Richard is also featured at SUPPORT OUR TROOPS. Visit the site. It is worth it.

This is a great story about the little things Mr. Simms does to cheer up the troops in today's generation of heroes. (A letter to Mrs. Simms - view here) text : Dear Mrs. Simms,
I have sent you via Navy Draft a longer but general letter. I wish here to express by personal sympathy at the loss of your husband. May God ease your sorrow. Joseph T. O'Callahan ... ...

You MUST see this photo of Richard as a little boy with his dad.
Here is another blog entry on Richard Simms

Facts & info

mp170081 — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:03:47 CDT

Commanding Officers:
13 July 1968 - 12 December 1969 Cmdr. Robert L. Brown
12 December 1969 - 13 May 1971 Cmdr. John Alfred Coiner
13 May 1971 - 21 July 1972 Cmdr. Marvin Gilford Smith Jr.
21 July 1972 - 18 January 1974 Cmdr. William Carl Dunham
18 January 1974 - 06 October 1975 Cmdr. Fred Wilkin Bailey
06 October 1975 - 11 October 1977 Cmdr. Clarence E. McRight Jr.
11 October 1977 - 19 October 1979 Cmdr. Joseph Charles Strasser
19 October 1979 - 10 October 1981 Cmdr. Robert Terrell Bunnell
10 October 1981 - 15 July 1983 Cmdr. Frederick M. Frick
15 July 1983 - 16 August 1985 Cmdr. Mark Chester Skoog
16 August 1985 - 15 August 1987 Cmdr. Leslie Wilsdon Hewett
15 August 1987 - 20 December 1988 Cmdr. Gary Werner Schnurrpusch

XO's
LCDR William J Bredbeck
LCDR Barry J Byrne
LCDR Peter S Roder
LCDR John Heidt
..
..
.. anyone have names & dates???
..
LCDR Paul Viscovich
LCDR John P Wallace

Class: Garcia (As Built) FY / SCB No.: 61-63/199A
Displacement: 2620 tons (std), 3400 tons (full)
Armament: 2 - 5"/38 Mk 30 Guns (2x1) (350 rounds), 1 ASROC Mk16 (16 missiles), 6 - 12.75" (324mm) Mk 32 torpedo tubes (2x3) / Mk 46 torpedos (18)
Machinery: 2 FW 1200-psi boilers; 1 Westinghouse geared turbine; 35,000 shp; 1 shaft
Speed: 27 knots Range: 4,000 nm @ 20 knots

Length: 414.4 feet (126.3 meters)

Beam: 44.3 feet (13.5 meters)

Draft: 25.9 feet (7.9 meters)

Crew: 16 officers / 234 enlisted
Radars: AN/SPS-10 (surface), AN/SPS-40 (air)
Sonar: AN/SQS-26BX
Gun Fire Control: MK56 GFCS
Aircraft: one SH-2F (LAMPS I) helicopter

Operational and Building Data:
Laid down by Defoe Shipbuilding, Bay City MI on 19 February 1964
Launched 20 October 1965, Commissioned 13 July 1968 at Boston MA
Reclassified Frigate (FF 1051) on 30 June 1975
Decommissioned 20 December 1988 at San Diego CA, Stricken 14 November 1993

Fate: Leased to Pakistan 8 February 1989, renamed PNS Aslat (F-267),
Returned to the US 11 December 1993 at Singapore,
Sold 29 March 1994 to Trusha Investments Pte. Ltd. c/o Jacques Pierot, Jr. & Sons Inc., NYC, NY for $602,100

Prayer Page

mp170081 — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 12:33:57 CST

Prayer Page:

According to God's word, we are to

"Encourage one another daily..." Hebrews 3:13
This is a new feature, for us to be able to communicate with each other about our prayer concerns. Pray for all of our shipmates that are experiencing financial difficulties in these hard times! Pray for all the service personnel returning from deployment and having a difficult time adjusting to life back home.

Chaplain Rev. Dr. Joe Cusack (PJ)

P.S.
This prayer page is meant to be wide open, for all prayer concerns of any kind. If you have a prayer you would like to share please take a few moments to post it. I will be visiting this page often and will pray for all concerns posted. PJ

Our Videos

RichZ — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 16:41:30 CST

See Reunion Video interviews below - Audio files linked off News Page and THE BLOG.

See also: Our Photos | Links | Who We Are

Fr. O'Callahan - "The Photo"	Description
	Bob Blanchard of USS Franklin explains the photo in which he is being comforted by Fr. O'Callahan. This is a story about the namesake of our ship as well as the USS Gary ... and of course the events aboard USS Franklin in battle. MORE at THIS BLOG

Murmansk Run
	Learning about the "old days" of escort duty with the convoys in the North Atlantic. The Anti Aircraft protection noted near the end of this video is a classic. And the "rain" from the crows nest on a clear day is so ... believable. Maybe becuase it is all true.

VIDEOS FROM THE REUNION (on picasaweb)

Andy Anderson Tells about the Mail Buoy - Korean War Service

Andy Anderson tells a Boston housepainter how to paint the NAVY WAY.
The Gun Drill for the USS Constitution - demonstration exhibit.
Andy Tells Frank McCormick of Boston about USS O'Callahan (and more)
NAVY BLUE - the song From friend, Larry Cutrone - this message: Friends, Back in 1964 my dear friend Diane Renay had this huge monster hit " Navy Blue "! You can see Diane performing that song and others as she performs at the Veterans of Foreign Wars 2003 National Convention. She was gracious enough to send this rare video performance for the whole word to enjoy! I think you'll agree this song is just as relevant today as it was back then! www.youtube.com/valleyvideo or www.wjrztv.blogspot.com	MORE RECORDINGS were made in audio as Andy told several stories, including being present when Pearl Harbor was attacked in 1941 (he was age 10). These recordings are on the blog.

Join The Association

me3tv — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 08:35:07 CST

PRINT THIS PAGE AND FILL IN - the MAIL TO JOE with Check for dues. Thanks!

First Name:
Last Name:

Spouse Name:

Your former rate or rank:

Active Duty Address:

Current Mailing Address:

Home Phone:
Cell Phone:

Plank Owner? YES / NO (circle one)
Retired Military? YES / NO (circle one)
Can we share this information with shipmates? YES / NO

Dues are $20 per year and we have a reunion every two years. (raised to $20 by members at this meeting. Costs require it or the admin staff ends up out of pocket too much to bear. $20 was determined to be a very reasonable figure and we will all try to provide more info by the web and newsletters - using sources and help from all the membership who can support the effort.

The next is an undetermined date in the SUMMER of 2010.

Send dues to:

JOE ALLEN
6007 N. Greenvale Drive
Milton, WI 53563

Make the check out to JOSEPH H. ALLEN
In the notation space for your check note: "The Irish Song Association"
For tax reasons under our account the checks need to be made out to Joe.
Questions? Email Joe Allen ..jha218@centurytel.net

PRINT THIS PAGE AND FILL IN - the MAIL TO JOE with Check for dues. Thanks!

Historical Documents

me3tv — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:47:18 CDT

More of these are at the picasa album

Crew Connections

me3tv — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:19:14 CDT

Johnny Walker (former crew) MY SPACE WEBSITE. He has a country band and has a photo of the ship on his myspace site.

Vic Campbell (Comm O - '71-3) - Wrote a book with some O'Callahan stories in it. Free to read on Google Books. Buzz Creek - his website.

Who We Are

mp170081 — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:44:47 CDT

The USS O'Callahan - Irish Song Association serves to allow a point of contact for all who served in her and their families. Destroyer Escort / Fast Frigate-Garcia Class

Association Newsletter

LATEST NEWS

The latest news is now a blog.
Click the above news link for the latest information.
You can send email to request blog news additions!

See Contact Page - Info Request Form

DISCUSSION PAGE - Google Groups

See also: Our Videos | Our Photos | Stuff We Like

CONTACT US

me3tv — Mon, 19 May 2008 06:06:35 CDT

Please make contact with the organization with the form HERE.
include your service dates with USS O'Callahan, rank, rate, division or other helpful information.

For more information contact:
Joseph Allen