USS LOWNDES APA-154

Vol.2 No.1 ---------------- FEBRUARY 1991 ------------------- BUD KAUTZ, EDITOR

USS LOWNDES APA 154
Wm. "Bud" Kdutz
34782 Hiawatha Trail
McHcnry, 1L 60050

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The 3rd "ANNUAL USS LOWNDES - APA 154 REUNION" is scheduled for
June 20th through June 23rd, 1991 at Don Hall's Guesthouse in Fort Wayne,
IN. (See enclosed map). Rates are as follows:

Thursday June 20th - $51.00

Friday & Saturday - $99.00 (Including champagne and $20.00 chit for
to be used toward beverage or dinner at hotel) Total cost for three nights
is $ 150.00. Registration fee of $30.00 per person which includes Friday
evening banquet and Sunday brunch. Please send fee to Jim Frieden -
P.O. Box 307 - Silver Lake, IN 46982 - 219-353-2425. Jim and Maggie
will be hosting our reunion this year.

Check in is 12:OOPM Check out is 1:OOPM

A tour to the Auburn/Cord/Duesnberg Museum Is being set up, a schedule
of events will be available at the registration desk.

The Smith Field airport is approximately 15 miles from Don Hall's and a
shuttle bus may be available(call 219-489-7067). When making reservations
for hotel rooms please use enclosed card or call 1-800-348-1999.

Northwest Airlines is again offering a 40% discount on full coach fares
and 5% on Super Savers. Call 1-800-328-1111 giving Code No. 08196,

Hey! We have a stalwart crew member (C.C. Michalski) standing in the
wings ready to host the 1994 event. Atta boy Connie. Now, how about
volunteers for "92 and "93?

LOOKING FOR A LARGER TURNOUT IN FORT WAYNE THIS YEAR.

You know you're get'ting old when you sit
in a rocking chair and can't get it going.

CHANGES ON THE ROSTER

BobHail ---------------------- HowardChappell --------------- FrankMiller -SSM(L)2c
5214 84th St. -------------- RD 2 - Box 2507 -------------- Robert Warnburg-RM 3c
Lubbock, TX 79424 ------ JohnVernale -------------------- Jim Frieden -RM2c
806-794-4365 -------------- 203-677-0049 ------------------ Jim DavenPort -s 1C

JOINING THE RANKS OF RETIREES

Ed. King - January 1991 -------------------- Frank Miller - October 1990

ANNIVERSARIES

Ed. & Mary McKellar - 55th in 1990

Howard & Lois ChappeII - 44th in 1991 (2nd honey moon on Mackinac Island)

Jim & Maggie Frieden -41st in 1990

The Frank Millers -40th in 1990

Wonder how it feels to whisper sweet nothings into a hearing aid.

NICE PEOPLE DEPT.

Howard and Lois Chappell adopted three needy families for Thanksgiving
and two more for Christmas.

Agnes Bensie. LOWNDES LOVLIES CEO, suggests "Light a fire"
under the LL's for the auction next June. Also mentions that the
male members should not be excluded from making or donating
items to the fund raiser. C'mon people.

Yes Robbie, that 1973 photo was taken in St. Louis. We've matured
haven' t we ?

Not - Please send registration fee to Jim by June 1st.

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Dan Wisdom just doesn't know when to quit.
He is now helping the USS Mountrail (an APA)
with their reunion this year. By the way,
Bill Thomas served on both the Lowndes and
the Mountrail.

Yours truly received an unexpected and
pleasant surprise during the Christmas holidays
An anchor inscribed "USS LOWNDES" with a
bell attached to it.

The return address on the package?

S . C l a u s
Polar Bear Ave.
North Pole, Texas

Another unsolved mystery?

Clark Martin sent me a copy of the magazine
Sea Power. Article on the right appeared in
the Mail Call section.

SEA BAY POWER / NOVEMBER 1990
Farewell to the LPAs

It may be of interest to your readers
that the last APA (amphibious person-
nel transport), or LPA. as they were
laiei- reclassified, has made her final
voyage. The USS Mountrail (APA-213)
has Just been lowed to India, where she
will be scrapped.

Mv father-in-law, an old APA man
and coxswain, served on the USS
Lowndes (APA-154) as she sailed the Pa-
cific on shakedown cruises and training
exercises and made beach landings at
Iwo Jima and Okinawa. I have witnessed
the pride of his fellow crewmembers at
many reunions in having served on the
Lowndes. and can't help but feel a little
sadness that the end of an era has come.

We must give a farewell salute to the
Mountrail, a vessel that played an im-
portant role in preserving our liberty
throughout World War II and the Kore-
an Conflict. Well done!

Dan Wisdom
Terrell, Texas

SICK BAY REPORT

Dean Fearing, after leaving Duluth last September on the way to Texas
suffered heart problems and had a coronary angioplasfy upon returning
to Staples, MN. Maybe a bit of Andre champagne can fix him up.

Bill Taylor had a heart attack on November 30th and is undergoing
therapy ( cardiac rehab program).

Lebby Dyer broke her right arm and hand last November 12th while
wintering in Florida. John swears he didn't do it.

Mary McKellar (Aloha Pumehana) had quite a rough time with chest
surgery this past year but is back to her committee work, allowing Ed.'
to spend some time on the golf course. Hope he does better than me.

Harry Ruether had hernia operation November 19th.

Dave Frederick, in November had cardoverson( electric shock to the
heart to restore rythm).

Joe Young had a bout with the big C but is feeling much better
after undergoing treatment.

Sally Vernale is doing fine as are all the above mentioned.
We certainly wish them continued good health.

"We've checked your body parts and
none of them are worth
transplanting."

AT MY AGE I OFTEN
WONDER WHY PEOPLE
DON'T USE THIS
SIZE TYPE

'Bates
"As you know, medical costs have skyrocketed — that'll be fifty cents."

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Anyone desiring a terrific walnut cooky recipe contact Loreti Freitas.

Which brings to mind - it has been suggested that we attempt to have a
USS Lowndes cookbook, bring your favorite recipes to Fort Wayne. If
unable to attend the reunion, please send them to Jean Kautz. This
applies to both ladies and men.

A HUNTIN" WE WILL GO

Dallas Strait on bagged an 8 point deer in Georgia

John Jurica bagged a 7 pointer
Howard Chappell has not reported in yet.

By the way, on Dave Frederick's bicycle journey
(California to Virginia, 3300 miles) he ruined
only one tire and still has the others. He camped
out 30 of the 47 nights on the road.

Do we have some well versed soul out there in
our ranks who can help set up a tax exempt
account for us? Both federal and state.

The question of who was the youngest crew member serving aboard the
Lowndes has finally been resolved.

Joel Rodriquez - Born October 1927
And the winner - Joel Ed. King - Born August 1927

Now-a-days when I go into a tavern they check my pulse, not my lD.
JUST IN CASE YOU'VE FORGOTTEN

MoMM - Motor Machinists Mate -------------------------- SSM(L) - Ship Serviceman (Laundry)

WT - Water Tender ----------------------------------------------SSMB - Ship Serviceman (Barber)

FC -FireControl --------------------------------------------------- QM -Quartermaster

MM - Machinists Mate ---------------------------------------- SM - Signalman

RM - Radio Man ------------------------------------------------- Y - Yeoman

PhM -PharmacistMate ---------------------------------------- F -Fireman(Striker)

EM - Electrician Mate ----------------------------------------- SF - Ship Fitter

CM - Carpenters Mate ----------------------------------------- PCO - ?

APC - Pay Clerk ------------------------------------------------- BM - Bosun Mate

(Not what you think)

Received a call from Sue O'Nea! informing us that AIex Richard O'Neal
passed away in 1984 after open heart surgery.

Condolences to Jim Chilcote on the loss of his wife (Annis) August 1990.

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

As 1990 ends and 1991 begins, we take a moment tosit back and reflect
on the value of old associations and friendships: we are thankful.

With each passing year, the realization becomes clearer and clearer that
if we didn't have those relationships, our doors would probably be closed.

It's folks like you that make it all worthwhile; you make us what we are today.
May this New Year be prosperous for you.

** PHOTO SESSION FRIDAY (Tentative)