U.S.S. LOWNDES - APA 154

Newsletter
Bud Kautz

March 1993

(2)

REPORT ON THE BENSIE'S TOUR OF AUSTRALIA

(1) Now for fun! We left for "Down Under" on Aug. 12th. Took 28 hours total before
we arrived in Caims (pronounced Cannes). Weather tropical 80's. Spent 4 days there.
Had an opportunity to see the Aborigines, took the special railway up to & visited
a butterfly sanctuary where we saw royal blue butterflies, saw the marble mines,
shopped, I cuddled a live Koala Bear. Also went to Great Barrier Reef.

(2) Went to Sidney where we spent 4 days. Weather sunny & in 60's. Saw the famous
Opera House, cruised Sidney Harbor, visited Canberra, the capital & saw kangaroos
in the wild.

(3) Weather mixed & in the 50's. Melbourne for 3 days, toured the city. Saw the
famous fairy penguins come out of the ocean at dusk by the thousands.

(4) Weather rainy & in high 40's & 50's. Flew to Aukland, New Zealand for 4 days.
Went to Rototuna, saw a lot of air geysers, visited a Kiwi farm & had a steak
barbecue, went to a sheep ranch & saw them shear sheep, watched a sheep dog do his
thing.

I'm sure I've forgotten many things about the trip, it was positively wonderful.
We'd like to go back in a couple of years & visit the other side of Australia. The
people were the friendliest we have ever met & the huge buffets we had were
delicious. Thank goodness for cam-corders! i It took us 42 hours, with delays, before
arriving home. Our plane almost ditched in Lake Erie on our last lap from Chicago
so we had to return to Chi. & get another plane. All in all the trip wasn't as
exhausting as we expected.

John Jurica - Got a 4 point buck last year, do you suppose between
he and Dallas Stratton they could furnish venison steak at the next
reunion? Can't count on Cliff Schaffer- He watched a 10 point buck
roam the fields behind his house all fall and was ready for him come
huntin' season - BUT - no luck, that's when the buck got smart and
disappeared. Too bad Cliff, you could have help from John & Dallas.
He also reports talking to Erie Niemi and being informed that all
going as it has he may attend the Boston reunion. Cliff still has
souvenir cups available as I have cookbooks.

Thanks to Connie & Jerry Michalski for the photo of
the Bowman/Richards Memorial Plaque that has been
placed on the w< 11 of the Admiral Nimitz Museum in
Fredericksburg, Texas awaiting the dedication ceremony.
Dan Wisdom has offered to donate the pennant that
flew over the Lowndes, it will be incorporated in
the dedication. Date has not been determined at this
writing. There will be notification in a future News
Letter.

Any one having group photos of the Lowndes Lovelies & Uglies and need
cap:ions. Please let me know and I'll send one to you.

Frank Wanits - It appears we missed a nice reunion in Harrisburg,
but it looks as if the way is clear to go to the next one. We moved
into our new home December 1991 and did some work on it the 1st 7
months of '92 & finally received our Certificate of Occupancy.

WARREN PROCTOR - Was good to receive all the information. Really enjoy
it. Wish I could make one of the reunions. I was in the amphibious
group in charge of 1 of the LCMs. There were 2, Ricks was in charge
of the other. We hauled all of the supplies and men on R & R, what
little we had. The News Letters bring back a lot of memories. 75 years
old last November, retired and enjoying life.

(3)

By this time, the raffle books have been
mailed to all the Lowndes shipmates on our
mailing list. Let's all get behind this
Lowndes Lovelies endeavor and make it a
success. Agnes Bensie (probably had some
help from her shipmate, Ed) has worked her
tail off on this venture. We won't let you
down Agnes. So com'on fellows, get those
stubs and checks in the mail.

Listen- You can"t learn when you're talking.

George Tuppan - Most citizens know something about the Pacific island,
Iwo Jima, but few know are aware that it has risen 25 feet since 1945
and has been pushing up about a foot a year lately. It sits atop an
old volcano that hasn't shivered in 2,500 years, but it could blow
again according to watchers who make a study of these conditions.

I appreciate all the news items received from shipmates. Keep it coming,
it is welcome and will be used.

What did the ocean say to the ship?

Nothing it just waved.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT - DEC. 31, 1992

Balance July 31, 1992 $2070.98

Income

Contributions - Aug.- Dec. 1992 $100.00
Interest ------------------------ 28.88
Bowman/Richards Memorial Fund --- 30.00
Cookbooks ----------------------- 56.00
Autobiographies ------------------ 6.00 -------------- $220.88

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ $2291.86

Expenses

Printing $243.52

Postage 197.82

Ship Photos 7.50

Printing supplies 31.27

Raffle Tickets & Prizes 91.46 $571.57

Another error - Aug. 15 WD .10

Savings Account Balance - Dec. 31, 1992 $1720.39

Number of contributors July thru Dec. (13— less than 10% of Shipmates).
This figure includes sale of cookbooks, souvenir cups & memorials.

*******

After a $6,000,000.00 study, government experts determined that the
cities with the largest population, are those with the most people.

TAPS

Day is done, gone the sun Thanks and praise for our days
from the lake, from the hill 'neath the sun, "neath the stars.
from the sky. 'neath the sky.
All i:5 well, safely rest. God is nigh. As we go, this we know. God is nigh.

GENE ENGLE (SHELBYVILLE, MO)

Gene died on January 4, 1993. He was born August 26, 1925. Served as
mayor of Shelbyville, MO for 26 years. Joined the Navy May 1943 and
was discharged in April 1946. Married Virgie November 1947. (Virgie's
hobby is writing poetry, she composed the poem for our first reunion
book in St. Louis). Gene had just returned from a visit with his family
when he suffered a massive heart attack.

As a civilian he owned and operated several automobile agencies in
Shelbyville and Macon, MO. Survived by his wife, 2 children and 2
grandchildren.

BILLY H. PIERCY (LUBBOCK, TX)

Billy passed away January 1993. He graduated from Texas Tech University
and was a member of Delta Sigma Pi fraternity. Married Jackie October
1949. He was a 32nd degree Mason, Shriner & past president of the
Lubbock Soil and Water Conservation District, where he was the 1979
Outstanding Conservation Farmer of the Year. He also held a private
pilot's license. Survivors include his wife, 2 sons, 2 daughters and
5 grandchildren. The family suggests memorials sent to American Cancer
Society or Hospice of Lubbock.

ROY D. COLLINS (NAMPA, ID)
Roy passed away on November 28, 1992. No information available.

SAMUEL KRAUSE - Dan Wisdom talked to Sam's son (David) and was informed
that Sam passed away some time ago. He was a member of the amphibious
group aboard the Lowndes. No other information available.

WESLEY E. FOLLETT (OCONTO, WI) - Fred Brinkman has received the
following information from Joanne M. Derry, daughter of Wesley. The
first part of May our dad went to Milwaukee Veteran's Hospital. My
sister, Nancy and I stayed with him for the 2 weeks he was there. He
went through so many hard tests, even after knowing it was cancer.
My brother Wes, Nancy and I took care of dad at his house up until
the last 17 hours of his life. Dad died at 6:50 on August 20th in the
Marinette Bay Area Hospital. Wes was a PhM in the Beach Party.

DOROTHY HALING - Sorry I haven't written sooner, but was in the hospital
and didn't do much. Have had real bad weather here in Pueblo, CO
lately. Had a nice card from Bud & Jean. Also enjoy receiving the News
Letters. You will never know how much it has meant to know about Don
and I can't thank you enough. (Note: Dorothy always had doubts about
the circumstances surrounding her brother's (Don Bowman) death on Iwo
Jima.)

(5)

CHANGES & ADDITIONS TO ROSTER
We have recently located shipmates, sometimes in a very odd way.

Jim Davenport - I spent 10 days in the hospital (double hernia). Got
to talking to the fellow sharing my room about the Navy and he asked
Tie what ship I served on, when I told him the USS LOWNDES - APA 154
tie had an odd Look on his face, that was the ship he was on, in the
boat gang. Richard C. Garza. Small world, eh what?

Richard C. Garza S1c: P. 0. Box 521, Somerset, TX 78069, (512)429-3557

Lyman W. Nedeau CMM: R. R. 2 Box 2587,Baldwin, MI 49304, (616)745-3874; Oct. to May
Winter Address: 20 Oregon Trail, Naples, FL 33962,(813)793-1218

David Krause(Sam's son): 3816 Cherry Brook Dr., Randallstown, MD 21133, (616)745-3874

Shipmates & Spouses with intentions of attending the 5th USS Lowndes Reunion;

Stanley Dunn has the honor of being the first one to
register with Leo and the Park Plaza hotel.

Fred & Roberta Brinkman

Art & Marjorie Rauseo
Sally Cary & Son Robert

Cliff & Mary Schaffer
ztuak naeJ & duB

Bill & Amelia Taylor
Henry & Dolores McNamee

Geo. & Glenda Tuppan i*"
Connie & Jerry Michalski

John & Sally Vernale
Leo & Margaret O'Brien

Anyone out there in these United States planning on making the long
trek to Boston, please notify Leo by sending a letter, post card or
a short note wrapped around a rock and heaved through his second floor
bedroom window. It will help the committee formulate plans for a
pleasant and enjoyable visit.

Enjoyable visit? Yes, Jean & I had one with Fred & Roberta Brinkman
at Myrtle Beach, SC. Fred & Roberta helped us celebrate our (?)
anniversary the latter part of February. John & Sally Vernale were
scheduled to meet with us but Sally had surgery in February and their
plans had to be changed. Last report from John is that Sally is coming
along just fine. John thought he had a patsy lined up for golf. Boy!
He doesn't know how lucky I was that he didn't show up.

This weekend was afforded us through the generosity of Fred. A donation
will be made to the Bowman/Richards Memorial Fund.

I wonder if the O'Breins know that the name of Boston originally was Trimountane?

(6)

THE FOLLOWING REPRODUCTION OF AN ARTICLE PRECEEDING OUR HARRISBURG REUNION APPEARING IN THE INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL, LANCASTER, PA WILL BRING NON-ATTENDEES UP TO DATE ON THE BEGINNING OF OUR REUNIONS & A BIT OF HISTORY OF THE USS LOWNDES - APA 154 DURING THE INVASION OF IWO JIMA

JUNE 18, 1992

LANCASTER COUNTY CITY/WEST ZONE NEWS

INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL, LANCASTER, PA.

E-town man steers reunion for WWII crew of Navy transport

Iwo Jima, Okinawa
battle tales recalled

Susan Grubb Roof
Intelligencer Journal Correspondent

Navy veteran William Taylor
recalled seeing bursts of flames
and feeling concern for Ameri-
can soldiers taking Iwo Jima and
Okinawa from the Japanese dur-
ing World War II.

Now a resident of Elizabeth-
town. Taylor. 69, will host the

crew with ties to the USS
Lowndes (APA 154), an attack
transport ship that carried
troops into battle during World
War II.

Tayior said he expects more
than 50 of his former mates to at-
tend the crew's fourth annual re-
union. a four-day event starting
at the Harrisburg Marriot on
Thursday, June 25.

While aboard the Lowndes,
Taylor worked in the engine
room as a machinist mate second
class. He served in the Navy

from March 1943 to March 1945.
He moved to Lancaster County in
1964 when he was employed as a
manufacturing engineer at the
AMP plant in Elizabethtown.

Recalling his view of World
War II, Taylor said, "I saw flame
throwers throwing flames into
caves where the Japanese were
holed up. You couldn't see the
men. but saw the puffs of flame
and knew what was going on. You
also wondered about the men you
had on board just 24 hours ago —
whether they were making it or
not."

Taylor said he felt relatively
safe on the ship, even with kami-
kazes overhead, because he felt
the planes would go after tankers
rather than a ship that already
had discharged its troops.

Before battle, he said, he re-
membered some troops gam-
bling for high stakes, others in
Bible study groups — and loners.
"The ship crew pretty much re-
spected these guy's privacy. You
didn't poke your nose in on
them," he said.

Manned by a crew of 600, the
Lowndes could transport at least
1.400 troops and their equipment.
During her service, the ship re-
ceived two battle stars and sailed
from Sept. 14, 1944, to April 17,
1946. It was sold in Spain for
scrap on Jan.16,1984.

Next year's reunion will be
held in the Boston area. Past
reunions were held in St. Louis,
Mo.; Duluth, Minn.; and Fort
Wayne,Ind.

Prior to the first reunion in
1989, Taylor had seen only two of
his former crew members in
more than 40 years.

"The thing that was really sur-
prising and amusing was people-
that I remembered vividly did

not even remember me, and peo-
ple I didn't remember would
come up and talk about what a
good time we had,"Taylor said.

After talking with each other,
Taylor and other crewmembers
gradually recalled each other
and the times on ship. Taylor's
wife, Amelia, added that the
women who were married at the
time enjoyed sharing stories
about how they coped when their
men were in the service. (The
Taylors were not married at the
time.)

Taylor gave credit for starting
the reunions to honorary crew-
member Dan Wisdom, of Terrell,
Texas, a son-in-law of the late
Gordon Russell Holley, of Jeffer-
son, Texas.

Holley, who was a coxswain
and drove a landing craft, fre-
quently talked to Wisdom about
his times on board and how proud
he was of the ship and crew and

their war record. Holley had a fatal heart attack in 1984.

"He had been telling me all
these stories about the landings
he made on Iwo Jima and Oki-
nawa and how bad they were,"
Wisdom said. "I didn't really pay
much attention when he was
alive, but later got interested and
wondered if any of these fellows
were still alive. I originally didn't
have any idea of a reunion. I just
wanted to get in touch with some
of these guys who knew my
father-in-law, learn a little about
the ship and find out what hap-
pened to the ship."

Wisdom said he thinks ships
like the USS Lowndes no longer
exist. "Those fellows that were
on that ship are a special breed,
an elite group. I've really enjoy-
ed doing this and have made a lot
of good friends through these fel-
lows."

Just received word from
Agnes Bensie with the
latest on the Lowndes
Lovelies raffle, there
have been 49 responses.
Only 113 more to be heard
from. Seems to be going
very well, thanks to
the Bensie's efforts.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

*MARCH*

John- Morrissey's

*APRIL*

Frank & Alice Wanits
Connie & Jerry Michalski

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

*MARCH*

Bill Robinson
Dallas Stratton

*APRIL*

Jim Bussard
John Dyer
Bob Henkels
Dave Long
Chuck Munson
George Tuppan