USS Lowndes APA-154

Newsletter

AUGUST 1998

BUD KAUTZ CC&BW

Partial info here... There appears to be about 4 pages missing from my copy of this newsletter.

MRS. FLORENCE RICHARDS - Nebraska City, NE - Thanks for the News
Letter of the ones who write to you. Am still here in my own home.
David Brinkman sent me the tape of the 1996 reunion at Myrtle Beach,
S.C. I called his mother, Roberta during Christmas, so nice to talk
to her. My son, Keith and his wife, Lorraine are coming for a visit
in May. Enclosed check to be used where ever it is needed.

DALLAS STRATTON - Belleview, FL - We forgot to send you a picture
of myself and Henry McNamee taken last February. Also a picture of
the entrance of Lake Suzy. We enjoyed a visit of our grand son and
his wife from Columbia, S.C. and enjoyed our little 8 month old great
grand son. Trust all is well with you. We're ready to go to Iowa
in May for a few weeks.

FRANK JUDNITSCH - Park Rapids, MN - The News Letter reminded me to
send in my 1998 dues. Really enjoy reading it. Glad all that went
to the Florida reunion had a good time. We had a mild winter in
northern Minnesota, not much snow. We are getting along so-so. Had
to visit the doctor a lot this past winter, Dora had a major operation
March 3rd, aneurism repaired, gall bladder and kidney removed. When
she recovers from all this, will go back in for part of a liver
removed. I have to go in for gallstones when she gets well. I stay
busy, now that I am *Chief Cook & Bottle Washer. We hope to have
a nice summer. Will not be able to attend the reunion, but hope a
lot of you will, good luck and health to all.

Editor note: Haven't heard that *expression in a long time.

MR. GEORGE WEICK - Wilton Manors, FL - Received the Lowndes News
Letter today and read it from stem to stern with the map and Stan
Dunn's letter concerning the reunion in Hawaii. All who can attend
will enjoy being there and walking along the beach - it brings back
fond memories and a mind's eye view of Diamond Head. Enjoyed the
"How the War Was Won" stories. Did you know that there is a hotel
built entirely of ice and snow in the arctic - 31,000 tons, no air
conditioning and temperature reaches -34° below. In spring it melts
and runs into a river. (Source - Christian Monitor.)

JOHN DYER - Jupiter, FL - Hope this finds everybody in good health.
Lebby is having a lot of trouble with cholesterol, in the 350's
and the medicine the doctor prescribed she can't take. I'm doing
fine. The weather has been good most of the time. "El Nino" has given
us lots of rain, north of us lots of damaging storms. We both enjoyed
the last News Letter. I am enclosing the cover from a magazine we
take, has a photo from McHenry County, IL. We will return to Indiana
2nd week in June. I took an IQ test and the results were negative.
He who laughs last thinks slowest.

LAVADA BOYER - Cool, CA - Thank you for accepting me as an honorary
member of the U.S.S. Lowndes reunion group. I will be attending the
reunion in Honolulu, Hawaii. Looking forward to meeting all of you.
See you then.

You feel like the night after, and you haven't been anywhere.

ED. KING - Cool, CA - I will be attending the reunion in Honolulu,
Hawaii. Received the News Letter and group photographs taken in West
Palm Beach, Florida. Thank you. When we get to Hawaii, I'll try to
put the names with the picture. Looking forward to seeing all of
you in Hawaii.

Of the native birds, the nene (pronounced "nay-nay"), or Hawaiian
goose is the official state bird. The hibiscus is the state flower.

BILL TAYLOR - Elizabethtown - PA- Bud, spoke to Cliff Schaffer
recently and he told me about your sojourn in the hospital, hope
you're mended by now. (Yep, just about back to normal.) You wanted
to know our wedding anniversary date which is June 24 1950. That
means that Amelia will be celebrating the best deal she has made
this far in her life. Our 3^ year old grand daughter is well aware
of the good fortune her grandma has had. She points to a picture
she has seen of us and pointed to Amelia and said "This is my grandma,
she's married." Then pointing to me she said "And this is my grandpa,
he's the Prince." That's PRINCE. What can I say? When you have it
flaunt it.

Bud, you said you are reaching the bottom of the barrel for items
to put into the News Letters. The above should confirm it.

Note to Bill: "The gleam in your eye is from the sun hitting your
bifocals and you burn the midnight oil until 9:00 PM.

FRANK MILLER - Kearns, UT - Just a short note to say "Hello". The
other night Frances and I went to a senior citizen center for a dinner
and dance. Had a real good time, but the day after we are nursing
our aching bones. Hope to see everyone soon. "Bald men always come
out on top."

We got word that Ed. McKellar (Cribbage champ) who lives 25 miles
from Honolulu had a hip replaced, hope to see him at the reunion.

JACK HOVEY - Pasadena, CA - Have had two weeks of radiation shots.
Doubt that we'll make the reunion in Hawaii. Good luck Jack.

DEAN FEARING - Staples, MN - Sure would like to go to the big island,
but I won't fly, just can't get used to it, chicken I guess. Hope
all have a good time. Keep the News Letters coming.

AGNES BENS IE - Parma, OH - Spent January, February and ^ of March
in Florida. Then went on a 16 day cruise through the Panama Canal
- GREAT!! Spent Easter week in Myrtle Beach and back just in time
to do the yard work! Ugh! Am enclosing several photographs that Ed
had. Maybe we can see who they belong to and give 'em to those guys.
Won't be able to attend the reunion this year in Hawaii.

Did you know that there are 70,000 nails in the average house?

E. MAX COLE - New York, NY - Hope to walk among the palm trees at
Waikiki without being hit on the head by a falling coconut. Will
be nice to see the aging shipmates and their Lovelies without
crossing my eyes. Speaking of eyes, my sight has been failing so
badly I couldn't tell a 20mm anti-aircraft gun from a bosun's mate
(they both make a lot of noise). Still, I can get around fairly
well, but be sure to get close and call out your name!
Will be nice to (almost) see them, as they missed the West Palm
Beach celebration. Still care about vessels afloat. Took a cruise
from Ft. Lauderdale to Manaus, Brazil up the Amazon this past
January. That 1,000 mile trip up the river was a treat. There were
several movie stars aboard to entertain. Which reminds me: in the
last News Letter it was mentioned those amateur movie people from
the Lowndes - Don Macpherson and Edgar Hinton when the real star
was me: Max Cole, of radio, TV, movies and high-class carnivals.
I was one of the 10 in 20th Century Fox's "Ten Gentlemen from West
Point" and an Army fighter pilot (who unfortunately was shot down)
in Paramount's "Wake Island." So...you guys and gals take it easy
'til we gather again to tell on each other under the spreading palms.

Ed's Note: Failed to mention in the last News Letter that Lt. Hinton
married Hal Roach's Daughter.

BERNARD TRACY - Campbell, OH - I would like to attend the reunion
in Hawaii but due to my allergies which are really bad this past
year I can't go. I've been doctoring for over a year and the latest
blood test shows they went up instead of down. Taking more tests
and need stronger medication.

JIM DAVENPORT - San Antonio, TX - "Remembering Okinawa" We loaded
on troops (part of the 2nd Marine Division) at Saipan around March
6, 1945 for the invasion of Okinawa. We left Saipan on March 25th
and arrived there April 1st with our boats loaded with Marines and
the Beach Party. Made a simulated landing on the east side of the
island to confuse the Japs while the real assault was made on the
west side of the island. One ship in our convoy was hit by a suicide
plane and was heavily damaged. The same procedure was followed the
next day with our convoy making simulated landings again on the
east side of the island. In the evening of the second day we left
Okinawa and layed about 300 miles off the island for 9 days, most
of the time in the China Sea. It was at this time that we went
through a typhoon - which was something to remember! Heavy equipment
was breaking loose down in the holds and working parties were sent
below to secure the equipment. It was dangerous work. April 13th
we were back at Okinawa and unloaded about half of our troops but
left the cargo aboard. After unloading the troops at Saipan we
reloaded them on April 27th to take them back to Okinawa but the
orders were canceled and on the 29th we unloaded them again with
all of their cargo. On June 4th we left all of the war behind and
sailed for the Solomon and New Hebrides Islands. Enroute we crossed
The Equator and most of us (polywogs) were initiated into King
Neptune's realm and became Shellbacks. Had a lot of fun for a change.
I am pretty sure of all these dates because I kept a sort of diary
in my Blue Jacket manual.

How is it possible to have a civil war?

JOHN VERNALE - Farmington, MA - Sally had another kidney operation
four months ago. She feels wonderful as of now but in May or June
we have to set up another series of tests and probably another
operation. We won't be able to make the Hawaii reunion, regretfully.
Sally would love to see Hawaii. Wish all everyone the best and enjoy
the reunion.

CLARK 0. MARTIN - Richmond, VA - I've just mailed my card to Stan
Dunn indicating that I will attend the Hawaii reunion alone. Now
I'll go check to see if I have enough frequent flyer miles to get
me to and from Honolulu. Best regards.

RICHARD JONES - Independence, KS - No, we won't be making the Hawaii
reunion, we're taking a year off. Hope everybody has a good time.
Thanks for everything.

BILL RAMSEY - McMinneville, OR - Won't be able to make the Hawaii
reunion, not that it wouldn't be a great idea. My problem is that
since January I have been battling a melanoma and while surgery has
apparently been successful I will be spending the rest of the year
on immune therapy. This has thrown several blocks into plans for
the year but I guess we will cope. Best of luck for a successful
meeting.

J. C. HOLDERMAN - Roscoe, TX - Sorry to be so slow getting this to
you, but it seems like the time just flies by and we haven't
accomplished much. I joined the Navy 24 July, 1942. I went home
on leave before going to sea and married Doris June 3rd, 1944.
Returned to Seattle and a week later boarded the USS Lowndes at
Astoria, OR in June 1944. I was made and called "Tex, The Mailman".
I recall going into Mauri, Hawaii to take and pick up mail and was
left there when a Marine took my boat to where they were making
practice landings in preparation for the invasion of Iwo Jima and
Okinawa. I had to spend the night on the island until they came back
the next day to pick me up. Boy, did that p--- me off. We then went
to the Pacific theater for 13 years before I was to see Doris again.
I was given leave when we docked in San Francisco for one week and
I had just returned to San Francisco when the war ended. The USS
Lowndes returned to sea for occupational duty to Japan. I was
discharged on 5 January, 1946 at Norman, Texas after 3 years and
7 months in the Navy. Doris and I know we have missed all the reunions
so far but circumstances beyond our control kept us from attending
them. We had really planned on making the one in San Antonio, TX,
but Doris was hospitalized with compressed discs in her back and
a week later fell and broke her left ankle, then 3 days later broke
out with shingles, so this past year we have been pretty well confined
at home. Hopefully we will be able to attend one before all have
passed on. We do enjoy the updates and quotations from different
ones and it was good to talk to you. Bud. We will keep in touch as
soon as we move to the Retirement Community in Stephenville, Texas.

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT - "Those who have enjoyed such privileges as
i/e enjoy, forget in time that men have died to win them."

8/98-9

********************** HOW THE WAR WAS WON **********************

BUD KAUTZ - (Cont'd) Part 2 "NINE DAYS IN THE PACIFIC"

Sept 20, 1943 - Managed to save the bucket of water from yesterday
and felt a little cleaner. No GQ today. Small stores arrived today
and the order I put in for size 8E turned out to be 8F, they'll do.
Beggars can't be choosers out here. In Buna now after a successful
trip to Finschhafen last night. Movie tonight "It Happened in
Flatbush". GQ half way through but was a false alarm.

Sept 21, 1943 - Standing by in Buna. Got underway this morning at
1300 had a GQ, false alarm, again at 1530. As if that wasn't enough,
another at 1700, no false alarm this time. Attacked by medium bombers
at Huon Gulf, New Guinea. The were spotted by lookouts and we were
firing before all stations were manned. The planes flew overhead
but nothing came of it. Tomorrow promises to be a busy day.

Sept 22, 1943 - GQ at 0230 and lasted 'til 1545 but plenty happened
during that time. We were acting as radar guard again approximately
40 miles off Finschhafen Any planes coming from New Britain or Wewak
would be picked up by us. In fact, planes were picked up as they
left the ground 113 miles away, our radar crew and equipment were
the best. This kinda put us where the action is. Chow was passed
around to the stations at 0800. Boiled eggs, bread and butter. After
8 hours in the fire room it tasted real good. Went topside for some
drinking water and just as I started down the hatch I saw a Jap recon
plane with 2 P38's hot on his tail. I'm glad I took my time, he turned
out to be no match for our guys and quicker than I can write this,
he was on a one way trip to the briny After he had fallen several
thousand feet trailing smoke he burst into flames and exploded. Seeing
the pieces drift downward and into the ocean was, to me a beautiful
sight. Him or us. It was him. Several times dive bombers attacked
us and were repulsed by the combined efforts of our 5 inchers and
the P47's & P38's. 1 plane came right at our bow but No. 1 5" took
care of him. A twin engine bomber was shot down and we took 2 Jap
prisoners. A 3rd one tried to get the boys in our whale boat but
he didn't have a chance, our guys finished him. 1 of the Japs
attempted to drown himself, our bowhook changed his mind with a blow
to the head, he wound up with a fractured skull. He had a broken
leg but they are so small that an arm splint was used on his leg.
The bomber didn't sink very quickly so we were able to get the bomb
sight, machine gun & log to turn over to intelligence. The Japs were
put into sick bay with guards posted. Some of the crew wished they'd
try something, sure wouldn't have got very far. During the attack
3 torpedoes were fired at us - missed. We picked up their life raft
which was rubberized and colored red and later when I had time I
made a small purse (macrame) for Jean and used part of the raft
material for the liner.

Note: The above account of my experience in the Navy took place
aboard a destroyer - U.S.S. Reid DD 369. It was under attack by 5
Kamikaze planes and sunk in approximately 2 minutes in Suragio Straits
in the battle of the Philippines on December 11, 19444. 103 men were
lost and 150 survivors including 28 injured were picked up by LSM's
and LCI's of the resupply echlon.

OK shipmates: Don Macpherson and I have started the ball rolling,
now let's hear from the rest of you.

DAVID & JOANNE LONG - Genesoo, NY - "Our journey to France" in May & June of 1997.
5/27/97 - Arrived at Kennedy airport to learn that our flight to France was 2
hours late. Met our guide at the airport & visited the famous flower market in Nice.
Then to Monaco & the casino at Monte Carlo. After a long drive we arrived at our
hotel in Erejus. We had a grand view from our room of the harbor full of beautiful
boats.

5/28/97 - Drove through the most luxurious Riviera Resort. Roans at hotel on
the beach go for $1,000 a night! Visited the Chateau Grimaldi (ancestors of the
Monaco Grinaldis). Walked through the Picasso museum, .quite a place. Continued on
to Cagnes, set in a hilly landscape to St. Paul de Venoo. "This picturesque little
town has retained its medieval character with its well preserved walls & a 13th
century Gothic Church." A visit to the Chapel du Rosaire with frescos by Matisse
covering the walls. He built this chapel & designed the stained glass windows using
just three colors- yellow, blue & green. Toured a perfume factory. How they processed
the flowers was really interesting. Jasmine flowers were put on a tray of beef &
pork fat. New petals were added every day. The fat extracts the essential oil -of
the jasmine, which are distilled into perfume. At Vallauris, we learned how clay
was mined & processed until it was free of impurities & made ready for production
of ceramics. It was a beautiful drive through the Esterel Mountains back to Erejus.

5/30/97 - Drove to St. Tcopez, a haunt of artists & jet setters. Continued on
via the Maures Mts. & Draguignan to the Grand Canyon. On to Le Thoronet to see the
11th Century Ci st-ercri an Abbey where the monks wanted to be isolated from the world.
The church was "bare bones" architecture-no statues or adornment of any kind.
Needless to say the monks didn't attract any new members & their Order sort of
fizzled out & the church was sold. Our guide faced the wall up front while we sat
in the back of the church. The acoustics were such that it took 14 seconds to bounce
off the barrel ceiling & reach our ears. On to Marsielle to spend the night.

5/31/97 - We used an electric apparatus in the dining room to boil our own eggs.
Today, 2 min. Tomorrow we'll try 3 min. Ferry boat to islands in harbor. Chateau
d' is famous for association with Alexander Dumas' Count of Monte Cristo. The city
of Morsel is built on 1,000 hills. In a fenced in triangle was a WW II United States
tank! It was stuck there & the city left it where it was—good reminder! Marseille
is a pretty city. Magnificent fountains & flowers.. Lots of statues commemorating
some war.

6/1/97 - Pouring rain. Visited the interesting studio of Cezzane. Rain screwed
up our schedule. Lunch on the road. On to the city of Narbonne. Very good dinner
at Nbvotel Quarter Plaisance—quiche, pork, potatoes, creamed cauliflower & salad
with fruit & nutmeg ice-cream.

6/2/97 - Still in Narbonne. Spent 2 hours at the Cistercian Abbey of Fontfroide.
The Abbey is a 13th century Romanesque Church with the finest cloister in southern
France. Rockerfeller purchased part of this complex & shipped it to New York. Now
it's "The Cloisters" on the Hudson River! Even tho this religious order was not
supposed to have any decorations, there were some beautiful stained glass windows.
We continued on to Carassone in the foothills of Pyrenees, a complete example of
a medieval fortified town—preserved intact. Last stop of the day was the Caves
du Sieur d* Argues Winery - a place where wine is stored. The German Army used this
town as their headquarters during WW 2.

6/3/97 - Spectacular trip through the Pyrees mountains. Zillions of hairpin turns
& switchbacks. Outstanding scenery. Lunch & shopping in Andorra. Tax free town.
Overnight in Hotel Carlit in Font Roneu.

6/4/97 - Traveled to Mont-Luis, then to Perpignan—Citadel & Royal castle in
the old town. The drive out of the pyranees was a bit hairy, we were almost hit
by a gasoline truck on a winding road.

6/5/97 - Left Narbonne & drove to Roquefort (cheese of the same name made here).
Toured the caves where the cheese is stored. Drove through Millau & La Courvertoiade
to Montpellier.

6/6/97 - Full day of leisure in Montpellier. We were supposed to meet the mayor,
but he couldn't make it.

6/7-97 - Early start to Aries, one of the greatest tourist center in France.
Open-air market where you can buy almost anything. The walled city is impressive.

More to come.

8/98-11 (missing page before this)

When house sitting for our son in Fort Wayne we had Jim and Maggie
Frieden over for a cook out - steaks no less. They both were in
fine spirits and looked very good. They were the first members
of the reunion group that had an opportunity to see the photo alburr
of the West Palm Beach, Florida reunion. Doubts were expressed
regarding their plans to make it to Honolulu this year because
of Jim's work schedule. I must apologize for the late mailing of
this News Letter. Time has been at a premium plus a cruise (ship
and land) to Alaska interfered with my schedule. And besides!

Just received the following letter from a Marine who was on the
Lowndes during the Okinawa campaign.

BILL FLETCHER - Angleton, TX - "Now hear this!" I was a member
of the Second Marine Division aboard your ship for 42 days in March
and April of 1945. I have read of previous get-togethers of your
group in the Leatherneck magazine and should have written long
ago. Do you remember the black unit aboard the Lowndes who provided
the entertainment on one occasion? I wouldn't have remembered that
except I read it in my diary. One of the numbers they sang was
"Stalin Wasn't Stalling." Still another remembrance of them was
that they were members of an amphibious unit and were unloaded
from the ship onto Okinawa on April 13 (Friday). A buddy of mine
and I were lowered into the amphib to help the two black crewmen
stash their gear on their "Duk"(SP). Does anyone remember the air
raid alert that sounded at dusk of that day? We were in this small
craft at the time and had to shove off and away from the ship
because you guys were manning the fire hoses. Then active smudge
pots were put out to hide the ships from Jap planes. These guys
couldn't find their way back to the ship when the alert was over
- and by this time it was dark. We loaded up several 20's and 40's
(and spotlights) before finally going ashore. We got no help froir
anyone that night and stayed in a cave. We had no weapons, no food
and didn't know where the battle front was. Next morning we found
a Marine Sergeant who took us to a large lean-to tent where we
walked through, passed an old man in his underwear, sitting on
a cat and putting on his socks. At the back of that tent was a
2nd Lieutenant whom we quickly saluted. The sergeant told him of
our plight and his response was to put us back on the amphib and
take us back to the ship. As we passed the old man (now putting
on his pants) he must have been 45 years old. Said "Sergeant!!"
"Yes sir!!" 'Put these men under arrest until they are back on
their ship." On the jeep my buddy asked the Sgt. who was that old
man? Sgt's reply - "That old man is General Geiger (6th Marine
Division." We did board around 9:00 PM and the ships screws started
turning 15 minutes later - going back to Saipan. There are questions
I've had for over 53 years about this incident. Is there anyone
in the communications division or anyone else who have any
recollections of this event? It would be interesting to hear fron
any of the Lowndes crewmen regarding this period aboard ship. After
returning to Saipan my 8th regiment again boarded LST's (not very
comfortable) and made the last island assault of the Pacific war
(Iheya Shima) no resistance - then helped secure Okinawa near June
21, 1945. Would enjoy hearing from anyone in the group. If there
is another reunion stateside I'd like to drop in.

My address is: 909 Chevy Chase - Angleton, Texas - 77515

Ed. Note: Stan Dunn has informed me that on page 8 of the January News Letter the
baker that received a commendation for his successful attempt to rid the flour
of Weavels" was Maurice D. Lazenby (OCS(AA)(T). Can anyone define that rating?

ATTENTION ALL SHIPMATES!!

It is extremely difficult to find copy for the News Letter if you don't write
to me. Tell me what's new in your world.

We are still missing MANY biography data sheets. Please, fellows.
Also looking for tales of feelings and experiences of the invasion of Okinawa for
another booklet. Similar to the one of Iwo Jima.

Have a good start from Joel Rodriquez, Ed. King, Elliott Pilchard & Jim Davenport.

How about it?

An American Flag has been sent to Stan Dunn. It was flown over the Capital in
Washington, DC on February 19, 1998.

STATUS of the NAVY as of June 1998:

Personnel-Active Duty 380,778
Officers: 55,533
Enlisted: 322,290
Midshipmen: 2,955
Ready Reserve Force: 214,011

Ships: 339
Aircraft 4,666
Deployed 103
Underway 186
Exercises:

Carriers/Airwings at sea: 11

THE HONOLULU ADVERTISER June 19, 1998 / HONOLULU STAR-BULLETIN June 17, 1998

The OSS Missouri left Bremerton's Puget Sound Navy Shipyard on May 23 - on May 26
it traveled up the Columbia River to Astoria, Or. The Missouri was coaxed out of the
Astoria, OR port on June 3 by harbor tugs. as it began its final voyage on the high
seas - the tow to Honolulu and its museum berth at Pearl Harbor. The USS Missouri
has 844 doors and before it could hook up for its journey to Hawaii a crew of eight
had to close every one of them. For preservation purposes, every door, hatch had been
opened. They had to be closed to make the ship watertight for the 2,300 mile journey.
The Missouri is to be restored into an interactive museum in Pearl Harbor. Near the
DSS Arizona memorial. The battleship was tied to the Sea Victory tugboat with a
chain-and-wire towline 4,415 feet long and weighing 81,258 pounds. 30 flooding alarms
were installed. The 887 foot ship trailed about a 3 mile behind the 400 ft. Sea
Victory.

BB-63 THE MIGHTY MO

1941 Launched at New Yok Navy Yard.

1944 Officially commissioned.

1945 Assigned to Task Gr. 58 in support of Okinawa campaign.

1945 Hit by kamikaze plane during Okinawa campaign.

1945 Site of Japan;s surrender marking end of World War 11.

1953 Participated in Korean War.

1955 Decommissioned.

1986 Recommissioned.

1991 Participated in Operation Desert Storm.

1992 Decommissioned for second time.

1998 Enroute final journey to Pearl Harbor.

Thanks to Ed. Mdtellar for the Hawaii newspapers containing the above information
regarding the United States last battleship and enclosed headlines.