Keep the Sailors, Soldiers and Marines in the Mid-East and Around the World in Your Prayers... American and Allied Soldiers, Sailors and Merchant Mariners
Continue to Place Their Lives on the Line for You and Yours. Bravo Zulu, Operation Iraqi Freedom !!
THE PASSING OF A SHIPMATE
April 10- It is with a sad heart that I send word that our brother Frank Aulenta has passed on. He died this morning around 1:00 am. He was surrounded with his family and children and went very peacefully after awakening and saying his good byes. The funeral is scheduled for next Friday with a military salute. His sister will send me the details
and I will forward them. The brothers are arranging to send condolences and if any of you want to share just let us know. His wife's name is Darleen if you want to send a card and his address is:
Frank Aulenta
55 West Delaware Pl. #913
Chicago Illinois 60610
He will surely be missed and loved. We brothers believe that he is in a better place and most likely scheming with Rick Ragle to keep God on his toes. Only as they could do.
Take Care my Brothers and I will keep you posted!
Steven Temple
CHANGES AT THE TOP:
The RAINIER REUNION ASSOCIATION has a new SKIPPER AND "ERUPTION" EDITOR!!!
BILL WELCH (who doesn't look at all like Captain McMallister of "The Simpsons") now has the two jobs. Former Semi-Skipper Gene Chambers has just advised us of the change, and assures us he will help out any way he can.
Gene will keep up the mailing list along with Bill. The next newsletter
will be out the last of November with all the info, as well as a reminder
for all to pay up membership dues for 2009.
Gene reported that everyone had a great time at the Coker Tire Co. at the
reunion in Chattanooga. "The Wrecker Museum, with old to new wreckers was mighty good, too," reports Gene. "They asked which came first- the Car or the Wrecker?" (Gene's still mulling that one over.)
"The food was mighty good. Just a very good time had by all."
Gene also reported that "it looks good for the 2009 reunion to be
in San Diego... So i think we need to start planning for it."
Gene bids us all "Fair Winds and Following Seas."
NEW RAINIER ACTION VIDEOS ON LINE !!
We have finally mastered the art of putting up videos of Rainier action in the Tonkin Gulf on-line, thanks to Vidilife.com, our video host.
Check the link under the "Underway Replenishment" section on the
main page for ELEVEN(!)different videos. Click HERE for a sample. This clip shows "At Sea- The View from the Bridge- 1968" Let us know what you think. If you have some DVDs of Rainier action, you'd like to see on this site, let the webmaster know.
NEW AMAZON.COM BOOK STORE AVAILABLE
Check out our new Amazon.Com book store. Lots of interesting Naval-oriented books, videos and music. Every purchase helps to support this web site !
NEW SHIP'S PATCH GRAPHICS TO DOWNLOAD
George Crofton, USAF of GoldenWebPage has made us some really beautiful graphic versions of the "Crossed-Bombs" ship's patch. Look for them under the list of patches on the main page and check out the great flag background patch George also sent along- George's Award to the Website is on the Awards Page. Thanks, George.
NEW ! NAVAL TERMINOLOGY TEST
How many of these Naval Terms do you remember? Are there more?
If youre not familiar with "Second Life," it's a virtual reality world
on the net, where the vast resident-created landscape is populated by over 60,000 users at any one time. You have your own "avatar", an animated figure that
you can use to explore the place and meet interesting people from all over
the world.
One of the interesting parts of it is "Patriot Island" where there is a large compound laid out for veterans of all services and well over 700 members of the military veterans group. There are interesting discussions and activities as well as access to the DAV, American Legion, VFW and the Vietnam and Iraq/Afghanistan Veterans organizations. Feel free to visit at Second Life - and the best part is - it's all free. If you drop in at Patriot Island, I'll buy you a San Miguel. The amazing media and graphic technology will blow your mind.
The Webmaster at the Veteran's Center, Patriot Island,Second Life
E-MAIL DIRECTORY
The Email Directory of former Rainier Sailors (and a few family members) is being expanded daily as more and more shipmates are located. To See who's included so far, CLICK HERE. Contributions and Corrections will be Appreciated.
CAPS AND T-SHIRTS FOR ALL
- Gene Chambers has a load of Rainier ball caps- Get yours NOW for the 2009 Reuniuon.
Joe Appelt (bfajpa@boernenet,com) has a few T-Shirts left- not all sizes available. $10 or so, depending on your girth, plus $3 shipping and handling. Check the main page for details on how to order.
For other Rainier logo stuff try...Naval Shopping.Com More expensive than Gene and Joe, but some cool stuff. Cafe ress also has some Rainier gear. Google them.
SEA STORIES
Contributions of photos, stories and memorabilia are always welcome. Get out those word processors (or typewriters for you WW2 guys)and write us about any of these subjects, or whatever else you want to talk about.
Your webmaster read that 3,000 (!) World War Two veterans die each month. Their personal stories and the history of that time are dying with them, and ought to be preserved for upcoming generations. This is one place to do it. Write it all down. YOU may not think your particular story is very important, but someone, sometime, somewhere will be glad you did. If for no other reason, write it all down for your own family. Then- send a copy to us. Your story might make the next edition of the book "We Deliver-You Fire" Do you want some ideas as to how to write your story? Check this website of the Memories of Destroyermen in WW II for some pointers. Just think what your memoirs would be worth to your great-grandchildren ! Send a copy to us.
Try these themes:
1. The most "unforgettable" character or event.
2. The "Tonkin Gulf Incident".
3. Most memorable liberty or liberty port.
4. First day aboard.
5. Last day aboard.
6. Holidays at sea: barbecues in cluster bomb canisters, ships band, Christmas overseas, etc..
7. What I Did the Day the War Ended...(Whichever War YOU Were In).
8. How the Ship's Bell Got Its Crack.
9. The most "colorful" watering hole in Asia.
10."Close calls" while working, in combat, on "Shore Patrol" or on liberty. Send in all those photos and stories ... This is the place to make them all live forever. Send to "wfreeman555@hotmail.com" You'll be glad you did.
Keep the Sailors, Soldiers and Marines in the Mid-East
The RAINIER REUNION ASSOCIATION has a new SKIPPER AND "ERUPTION" EDITOR!!!
We have finally mastered the art of putting up videos of Rainier action in the
George Crofton, USAF of GoldenWebPage has made us some really beautiful graphic
How many of these Naval Terms do you remember?
The Email Directory of former Rainier Sailors (and a few family members) is being expanded daily as more and more shipmates are located.
