Wednesday, November 10, 2010

October 2010 by Charles Brecheisen

ALTAIR REUNION: Glowing reports coming from the reunion attendees. I am sorry I missed it, but could not be helped.

REUNION PHOTOGRAPHS: Dick Braun has uploaded all the available reunion photographs which you can view at http://altair.smugmug.com/ Thanks for a great job Dick! And, thanks to the photographers!

ALTAIR SHIPMATE: Please welcome new shipmate Paul D. Benton, 1959-1960 SHSN. Paul and wife Spring live in Marshfield, MA
WELCOME ABOARD PAUL!

PROMOTIONS: Air Force Major Andrew J. Hoke, son of shipmate Cliff Hoke (MM2 1955-1958)was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in a ceremony at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center 29 September 2010.
Congratulations to both! Lt. Col. Hoke has quite an Air Force biography and deserves special kudos!!

ALTAIR FINANCIAL: The beginning on hand cash balance was $1103.13 with income of $40.00 and no expenses leaving a balance of $1143.13. The beginning savings account balance was $3835.54 with income of $4.83 leaving a balance of $3840.37. The total cash on hand and savings balance is $4983.50. Reunion income and expenses will be posted in the December financial report.

That's all for now.

Victory Ships

Greetings Altair Crew.

As most of you know, the USS Altair was first the SS Aberdeen Victory and took part in the invasion of Okinawa during WW2.

Our photo guru Dick Braun has uploaded a 30 minute professional TV film about the SS Red Oak Victory, which is currently being restored. Altair deck personnel will enjoy seeing all the work needed on deck. Below deck personnel (Snipes) will enjoy the work and scenes in the engine room.

Also great scenes of the Kaiser Shipyards where most of the Victory Ships were built, some in just days! The Red Oak Victory was saved from scrapping. Some of the original workers on the Red Oak Victory are on board and were interviewed.

Dick uploaded the film to the Altair photograph site. Please visit http://altair.smugmug.com and go to the bottom of the page and click
on the "Video Gallery" and this will take you to the movie page.
Click on the Red Oak Victory pic and sit back and enjoy the memories of the Altair. It sure brought back memories some of my deck ape days, mess cooking and FINALLY Lt. Furey let me go up to the radio room after I applied for a Captain's Mast.

Best regards, Charles