Reunion update by Dick Stader

To all USS Altair AKS 32 Shipmates. I along with all other board members and our reunion chairman Richie Reiss are asking all of you out there to give some serious thought to coming to this years reunion and to DO IT NOW so Richie can get all the planning finished and insure that we have a really good turn out in Vegas and enjoy the comradeship of all our shipmates as we have in past years. We really do have an excellent time at our reunion and everyone goes home with lots of good memories and perhaps even a few NEW SEA STORIES.Shipmates we need your help on this as of this date 4 Aug. we only have 22 people(not Shipmates) signed up and we need more than that to get out best deals at the hotel/casino and to make it a successful reunion and times a wasting. Remember that as chairman Richie has put in lots of time and energy to get this reunion going is doing a great job for us so lets show him that we call fill all the rooms this year and really have one of the best reunions of our reunion history. I and all the board members are counting on all of you out there to get this reunion Underway. Thanks to all Dick Stader MMCM USN Ret. PS Don't forget to bring an AUCTION Item

--

July 2014 by Charles Brecheisen

Good grief.........it's AUGUST already!

NEW SHIPMATE:  Please welcome Harold R. Newman, SA, 1967-1968 aboard.   Shipmate Newman resides in Centreville, Mississippi.  WELCOME ABOARD!

FINANCIAL:  The beginning cash-on-hand was $791.81 with dues income of $20.00 and no expenses leaving a balance of $811.81.  The beginning and ending Altair Savings balance is $6599.61 leaving a total Altair cash balance of $7411.42.  

REUNION:  PLEASE, if you plan to attend the Altair Las Vegas reunion PLEASE make your hotel reservations!  If you need any additional information, please contact Richie Reiss at rjr940 [at] aol.com or phone 702-407-0626.  

As usual, please do NOT respond to this email.  For comments, etc. please use cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us

Best Regards To All...........Charles

2014 Reunion Chairman Richie Reiss

Attention all shipmates:  theres only 13 more weeks until our reunion begins.  I know it seems like a long time, but the days are closing fast.  A lot of time is needed for the planning and booking of events. 


As of today I've only received 4 application forms in the mail and only nine rooms have been reserved at Arizona Charlies.  PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE send in your forms and book your rooms the number for Arizona Charlies is 1-800-342-2695 reference C-AKS32.  The rates are $44.80 w/tax and the dates cover Oct. 12 thru 16.  Looking forward to see all of you in
October.  

Best Regards, Richie   RJR940 [at] aol.com  1-702-407-0626

June 2014 by Charles Brecheisen

Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your monthly report for June 2014.

I hope every Shipmate and their family had a safe and happy Fourth of July!

FINANCIAL:  The beginning and ending cash-on-hand is $791.81.  The beginning and ending Altair Savings is $6599.61 for an overall cash balance of $7391.42.  No income nor any expenses.

SOCIAL MEDIA:  I must make a comment or two about the Internets' social media, i.e. Facebook.  Due to an unfortunate situation here at Holly Lake Ranch, I was forced to join a group of residents who are in conflict with our Board of Directors.  The Holly Lake Ranch BOD seems to have the attitude that they are there "of the few, by the few and for the few."  So, we, a majority of the residents, have a Facebook group fighting them.  As soon as this battle is either over or lost, I will get the heck out of Facebook.  I know there are quite a few shipmates who are wondering why I do not respond............but I won't and will be quitting Facebook soon as soon as I can.

REUNION:  PLEASE, if you plan to attend the reunion in Las Vegas this year, PLEASE make your reservations!  For questions or additional information, please contact Richie Reiss at rjr940 [at] aol.com or phone 702-407-0626.

SHIPMATE PASSING:  I was notified that Frank R. Higgins, FN, 1953-1956 had passed away in 2010.  Our condolences to the Higgins family

SHIPMATES:  Please welcome aboard John E. Proch, YN1, 1961 - 1962.  Shipmate Proch resides in North Fort Myers, FL.  Also, please welcome aboard Roger L. Pauls, SA, 1961 - 1963; Shipmate Pauls resides in Sun City, AZ.

All for now.  For any comments or questions, please contact me at cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us

Best Wishes To All............Charles

May 2014 by Charles Brecheisen

Greetings Altair Crew.  Here is your monthly report for May 2014.

FINANCIAL:  The beginning cash-on-hand was $771.81 with $20.00 income from dues and no expenses leaving a balance of $791.81.  The beginning and ending Altair savings account is $6,599.61.  The total Altair cash-on-hand is $7,391.42.  

SHIPMATES:  I had an email from MCPO George Wall who had two bothers that served on the Altair.  Edgar Waller, Jr. (deceased in 2000) was an EN3 1959-1960.  His brother Earl Waller was a FA aboard the Altair in 1960 and is in poor health.  I am trying to track down Earl's address and info.

D-DAY:  Tomorrow is June 6th.  Seventy years ago, over 9000 American soldiers died on the French beachs.  We should all say a prayer for those who gave their lives.

REUNION:  Richie Riess still needs for all that will be attending, or think they will be attending the reunion in Las Vegas to make their hotel reservation NOW!  Please!  (Note to Richie:  I will too)  If you need any additional info about the reunion, please contact Richie and rjr940 [at] aol.com or 702-407-0626.

Please do not respond to this email; for questions or additional info please use cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us

Best Regards To All...........Charles


-- 
 Charles M. Brecheisen
 cmbussaltairaks32@fastmail.us

April 2014 by Charles M. Brecheisen

Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your report for April 2014.

FINANCIAL:  The beginning cash-on-hand balance was $898.46 with no income and $126.65 in expenses leaving a balance of $771.81.  The expense was for the Altair web site yearly fee.  The beginning and ending Altair savings account balance is $6599.61.  The total Altair cash-on-hand balance is $7371.42.

SHIPMATES:  Please........Please........if  you move, or change your email address, please notify me, the website......anyone!  There are over 100 shipmates that have moved, deceased, or just don't care about the Altair/Shipmates anymore,  that I have lost track of.  I have eliminated the Altair Website emailing list as it does not give a return on bad addresses.  I will spend the month of May trying to track down any lost "Shipmates" before eliminating them from the current list.  But, they will always remain on another up-to-date reference list.

REUNION:  Richie Reiss, the Chairman for the upcoming Altair Reunion in Las Vegas requests that if you plan to attend the reunion, to please notify him ASAP.  You do NOT have to send your money now.  Richie just needs a head count.  Richie can be reached at rjr940 [at] aol.com or via telephone 702-407-0626.

Does anyone know who or how to contact the government about getting earned but never received medals?  Like from the Korean or Viet Nam Wars.  Please send me an email with any info.

All for now.........please do not reply to this email.  For comments or additional info please email me at cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us

Best Wishes To All..........Charles

March 2014 by Charles M. Brecheisen

Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your monthly report for March 2014.

SUMMER:  Summer has already arrived here in east Texas as I have already picked of more than 9 attached ticks.  Too many deer.

ALTAIR SHIPMATE PASSING:  I had forgotten that Dave Poland had passed away and send their family reunion information.  My sincerest apologies. James J. Condict, SK2, 1953-1955, passed away on an unknown date.  Our sincerest condolences to the Condict family.

FINANCIAL:  The beginning March balance was $868.46 with income of $30.00 in dues and no expenses leaving a balance of $898.46.  The beginning and ending savings account is $6599.61.  The total Altair account is $7498.07.

REUNION:  I know there is lots of time before the next Altair reunion........but, not one shipmate has signed up yet!  Yes, it's early.......but......  Come on guys, get your info to Richie.  PLEASE do not wait until the last minute.  Richie Reiss can be reached at RJR940 [at] aol.com or mailed at 2649 Hour Glass Drive, Henderson, NV 89052.  

Please DO NOT respond to this email.  Comments and questions should be sent to cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us

Best Regards To All.......Charles

February 2014 by Charles Brecheisen

Greetings Altair Crew.  Here is your monthly report for February 2014.

I am again using the new Altair Emailing address as the old one no longer worked.  The old email list was about 350 shipmates with another 140 shipmates getting snail mail.  Of the 350 Emailable shipmates, about 110 addresses were kicked back to me as bad or non deliverable.  I snail mailed the undeliverable email addresses asking for a new Email address or snail mail address and have received about 10 responses and will try and track down the others using the Internet and phone calls.

FINANCIAL:  The beginning February Cash-in-hand balance was $1040.00 with income of $10 and expenses of $181.54 leaving a balance of $868.46.  Expenses were postage, envelopes, printing and labels.  The beginning and ending savings balance $6559.61 with no changes.  The total Altair cash is $7468.07.  

NEW SHIPMATE:  Please welcome aboard Shipmate Raymond C. Fogle, FN, 1962-1964.  Shipmate Fogle resides in Henderson, NV.  WELCOME ABOARD!

SHIPMATES PASSING:  I am sorry to report the following Altair shipmates passing:
    Morganelli, Arthur W., SA; 1961-1663
    Hill, Richard E.  LT; 1966-1968
    Latorra, Donald, SK1; 1956-1959
    Noonan, Tom, MA1; 1960-1962
    Rust, Jere, SK3; 1963-1965

If any shipmate need reunion material and forms, please send me an email at cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us

As usual, please DO NOT reply to this email.  For comments and questions, please use cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us

Stay Warm!!

Best Regards To All...............Charles

January 2014 by Charles Brecheisen

Greetings Altair Crew.  Here is your monthly report for January 2014.

FINANCIAL:  The beginning cash-on-hand balance was $840.00 with $200.00 income from dues and no expenses giving a balance of $1,040.00.  The beginning balance in the checking account was $6,599.61 with no income or any expenses leaving a balance of $6,599.61.  Total Altair cash balance is $7,639.61.

NEW SHIPMATES:  Please welcome aboard the following new shipmates:

     Thomas Retzlaff, RD3, 1960-1962, Webster, NY
     Ernesto M. Ledesma, SK4, 1961-1962, Eagle, ID
     Joseph R. Crayford, FA(BT), 1960-1962, Sylvania, OH

     WELCOME ABOARD!

SHIPMATES LOCATION:  I have always found it interesting where all the Altair shipmates are now living.  I show a total of 494 active shipmates of which only 343 have email.  My state list shows 492 as a couple of shipmates do not want to be located.  FYI, here is the state list:

AL-4, AR-2, AZ-7, CA-22, CO-3, CT-12, DC-1, DE-2, FL-50, GA-14, IA-4,     ID-1, IL-15, IN-13, KS-2, KY-1, LA-3, MA-14, MD-13, ME-4, MI-16, MN-4, MO-4, MS-7, MT-1, NC-16, ND-1, NE-2, NH-8, NJ-17, NV-6, NY-32, OH-22, OK-2, OR-3, PA-48, PR-1, RI-1, SC-9, TN-14, TX-16, UT-2, VA-45, WA-8, WI-13, WV-6 and one shipmate in New Zealand.

REUNION:  Work is progressing on the next Altair reunion in Las Vegas.  A down payment has been made and all info will be forwarded when available.

All for now.  As usual please do NOT reply to this email as it will be automatically deleted.  Please use cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us for any questions or comments.

Best Regards To All......Charles

Altair Microfilm Reels

Greetings Altair Shipmates.

When the Altair web site was started about 13-14 years ago, we needed to track down Altair Shipmates for each year.  From the National Archives and Records Administration I purchased ship records for each year the Altair was registered as a Navy ship.  The records were kept on a Microfilm reel and seem to include many other supply ships, AKs,  
AOs, AEs, etc.  The records mainly included daily/weekly and monthly lists of all the current aboard shipmates.  From these microfilm lists, I was able to generate, for each year, all the names/ranks/etc. of the crew.  Then, I searched for each shipmates addresses in the country and sent them form letters.  We still have almost 500 current shipmates!!!!!!!!

I still have the following years available if you would like me to send you the microfilm.  Luckily, I found a PRINTING MICROFILM READER at a local hospital library and was able to print out hundreds of sheets of names.

The available years are:  1952, 1954, 1955-1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1969.  You will note that 1960 and 1961 are missing.  Those years were taken by shipmates at the Branson Reunion and never returned.  YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE TOO........PLEASE LET ME KNOW AS OTHER SHIPMATES MAY WANT THOSE YEARS!!  Thanks!!!

I will send you a year, but you must promise to forward it to another shipmate or return it to me when finished.  These records sure make for interesting reading and bring up lots of memories.

Please DO NOT reply to this email as it will be automatically deleted.  
 Contact me at cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us

Best Regards To All.........Charles

December 2013 by Charles Brecheisen

Greetings Altair Crew.  Here is your monthly report for December 2013.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  Let's all have a Happy and a very Healthy 2014.

FINANCIAL: The beginning December cash-in-hand balance was $807.00 with dues income of $130.00 and expenses of $97.00 leaving a balance of $840.00.  The expense was a multi-year access to military shipmates.  It has already paid off as Shipmate Davis has already located two new shipmates (see below).  The beginning Altair "Savings"  account was $7,137.61 with no income and expenses of $538.00 leaving a balance of $6,599.61.  The expenses were $238.00 refund to Charles Brecheisen (Could not attend reunion) and a $300.00 down payment for our Las Vegas reunion in 2014.  More details to follow when available.  Total Altair cash is $7,439.61.

NEW SHIPMATES:  Please welcome aboard Morris Ray Anderson, SN, 1959-1961; and, Joseph P. Caravello, RDSN, 1961-1962.  Shipmate Caravello resides in Saint Joseph, Michigan.

REMINDER:  Dues for 2014 are only $10 (Ten Bucks)......a heckuva deal!  Please make checks out only to Charles M. Brecheisen, 248 Drifting Cloud, Holly Lake Ranch,  TX  75765.  Checks NOT made out to Charles M. Brecheisen will be returned as my bank refuses to cash checks made out the the Altair, etc.

All for now.  Please do not reply to this email as it will be automatically deleted.  Any comments or questions should be directed to cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us

Best Regards To All..........Charles

Balance of account from Dick

Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is the Altair savings account update from Dick Stader.

"After being lax in sending out this balance now ,because I have some extra time on my hands (if you can believe that). As of right now we have $7137.61 in our checking account here in SNOWEY KENOSHA, and that  in part is why I have not had a lot of spare time lately as the snow has been coming to us here in southeast Wisconsin. Also I have had some taken up with reunion planning and as soon as I get the new contract which Lori from Arizona Charlies told me today she is sending me soon, I will get that out to all of you for finial approval. 

All of you take care and have a Merry Christmas nad a Very Happy and Healthy New Year.  Dick"

November (partial) 2013 by Charles Brecheisen

Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is a partial monthly report for November 2013.

SHIPMATE PASSING:  George O. Fowler was aboard the Altair 1960 to 1962 as a SFM3 and retired a SFMC.  Shipmate Fowler passed away in 2006.  I do not have any other information on Shipmate Fowler.

FINANCIAL:  The beginning November cash-in-hand was $807.00 with no "official" income nor expenses.  (Counting the change and a couple of dollar bills increased previous total by $7.01)  I still do not have a final accounting of the Altair savings account and I will email any updates to the financial statement.

REUNION:  Final negotiations are underway with a facility in Las Vegas for the Altair 2014 reunion.

DUES:  Dues are due!  Altair dues are still the best bargain of the century and still only $10 a year.  Again, checks MUST be made out to me and NOT the Altair/club/organization/etc.  Checks not made out to me will be returned to the sender as my bank now refuses to cash them if they are not made out to me.

  Please send to:

     Charles M. Brecheisen
     248 Drifting Cloud
     Holly Lake Ranch,  TX  75765

(Joe.....I still have your check and am waiting for others)

To ALL, I hope you have a Happy Holiday Season, a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah.  And, a very safe and healthy 2014 New Years.

Best Regards To All.......Charles

October 2013 by Charles Brecheisen

Greetings Altair Crew.  This is a very short monthly report for October.  We are waiting on the final bank and reunion statements before making a financial report.  As soon as the figures are available, I will make a report.  Here is a statement from Shipmate Dick Stader:

"First of all I want to let all of you know about Richies  fall from grace,well not exactly from grace but from a golf course yesterday I think while trying to save a bad shot or whatever, in any case he took a header and shattered his right shoulder and is going to spend thanksgiving in the hospital, so keep he and Angie in your thoughts and prayers.  Now for the real reason of this e-mail is that I have finally went over all the paper work from the reunion in New Orleans  and have this to report, that we started out with a check book balance of $6794.18, and now have a balance of  $ 7000 and change so if my figures are correct and the bank statement I am waiting on agrees my balance ,then we netted $250 and change. I will confirm that in the next few days but I am pretty sure my figures are correct, so New Orleans was not as bad (money wise) as we expected. If you want to put an e-mail out to all hands to that effect Charles, feel free to do so, or wait a few till I get the bank statement to confirm, whatever you feel is right. In case you don"t respond to this e-mail have a happy  
Thanksgiving and eats lots of turkey and watch lots of football.     
Dick"

Shipmate Passing:  Shipmate Lt. Joe T. Reeves passed away April 28, 2013.  As I recall, Shipmate Reeves was a helio pilot aboard in 1964.   Condolences can be sent to his son, Bruce Reeves at bruce [at] bmmr.net.

I hope all Altair Shipmates and their families have a great and very THANKFUL Thanksgiving.

Please use cmbmaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us for comments or questions.

Best Regards To All.....Charles

2014 Reunion Planning

Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here  is preliminary information about  the Altair reunion that will be held in 2014.

The site selected is Las Vegas, Nevada.  Shipmate Richard Reiss, who was elected to the Altair Board, will be the reunion chairman as he resides in Henderson, NV.  The reunion date is to be determined, but will be approximately the same time of the year as this years reunion.

It is requested that all shipmates that wish to attend the Las Vegas reunion contact shipmate Reiss with such information which will be used to make the necessary arrangements.

Information on the 2013 New Orleans reunion with be forthcoming.

Shipmate Reiss can be reached at:

     Richard Reiss
     2649 Hourglass Dr.
     Henderson,  NV  89052-2868
     702-407-0626
     rjr940 [at] aol.com

September 2013 by Charles Brecheisen

First of all, my most humble apologies for having to cancel going to the Altair Reunion in New Orleans.  I had an undetermined medical problem which unfortunately, I still have.

I do not have a report from the reunion attendees; and, as soon as I get any info, I will forward to all.

My old Dell laptop finally and totally crashed.  That is what I get for getting on an unsecured site while I was in Kansas and checking email.  I must have down loaded some really bad "stuff."  Fortunately, I have everything backed up on flash drives and am slowly bringing this new computer up to date.

FINANCIAL:  The beginning September balance was $896.31 with no income and $46.00 expenses for a roll of stamps leaving a cash-on-hand balance of $850.31.  The beginning and ending Altair savings account was $6,797.18 bringing the total cash to $7,644.49.

NEW SHIPMATE:  Please welcome aboard new Altair Shipmate Donnell A. (Whitey) Hamilton.  Whitey was a SN 1960-1962 and resides in Ochachobee, FL.  Whitey does NOT have a computer (there is a smart shipmate).

As usual please DO NOT reply to this email as it will be automatically deleted.  Please use cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us.

Best Regards To All..........Charles

August 2013 by Charles Brecheisen

Sorry for the delay and lack of response for the past several weeks.  My email address got "stolen" and apparently I was sending out SPAM to the world.  Fastmail, which is now run by Opera, shut down my email site until I cleaned the malware out.  My computer was almost trashed from the malware/virus and still is not "right."  In and out of the shop twice and has still major problems which I am working around.  I think a new computer is in the works.

FINANCIAL:  The previous cash-on-hand was $726.31 with $170.00 DUES income and no expenses leaving a balance of $896.31.  The beginning and ending savings balance is $6794.18.  Total Altair balance is  $7690.49.

REUNION:  The New Orleans Altair reunion September 23-26th.  See Ya There!

June/July 2013 reports by Charles Brecheisen

Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your monthly report for June & July 2013.

APOLOGIES:  My apologizes for missing your June report, but my little brother was seriously ill late in June and passed away July 2.  I spend most of my time in Kansas City, KS tending to his business.

New Shipmate: Please welcome aboard new Shipmate Gary L. Jenkins.  Shipmate Jenkins  
served aboard the Altair as a SKSN, 1966-1968 and resides in Mesquite, NV.  and can be reached at oldfartfromida1 [at] yahoo.com.  WELCOME ABOARD!

 FINANCIAL - JUNE:  The beginning cash-on-hand balance was $812.91 with dues income of $10.00 and no expenses leaving a balance of $822.91.   The beginning and ending savings balance is $6794.18; total cash balance is $7617.09.

FINANCIAL - JULY:  The beginning cash-on-hand balance was $822.91 with income of $30.00 in dues and $126.60 in expenses leaving a balance of $726.31.  The expense was paying for our web site space for another year.  The beginning and ending saving account balance is $6794.18.  The total Altair cash is $7520.49.

REUNION:  Shipmates signing up for the Altair reunion in New Orleans has been a bit disappointing!!  Come on guys...........get with it!!!   Reunion Chairman Hoke has done an outstanding job getting the Altair reunion set up at Harrahs Hotel and Casino.  IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO GET SIGNED UP!

Memo from Dick Stader

Greetings Altair Crew.  Here is a memo from Shipmate Dick Stader:

"Shipmates:  I want to address an important issue regarding our upcoming reunion in New Orleans; and, that is the poor showing for the reunion.  Cliff Hoke has spent a great deal of time and effort on the reunion and as of right now we only have maybe 32 sign ups and that's  
not a very good showing.  We have an obligation to the casino to spend $4000 on food including our banquet and at this point I am not sure we are going to meet that figure.  I know that Cliff has made two trips to New Orleans to get the reunion set up and for all his work, I just think its a poor showing, and brings to mind the question 'Are we going to have any more reunions' if we cannot get the interest going to come to them.  I know when we are there the board is going to discuss this issue at length.  Think about it shipmates, it's still  
not too late to sign up for New Orleans.

Respectfully Yours,  Dick Stader"

Come on Shipmates........get signed up!!!!

Message regarding the upcoming reunion from Master Chief Richard W. Stader

Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is a message from Master Chief Richard W. Stader:

    "To All Altair Shipmates:

    I send out this note to all hands regarding the upcoming reunion in New Orleans because it is time (in my opinion) to "step up to the plate" and decide if you are coming or not; and, to then get the necessary paper work to Cliff Hoke so he can then make the final arrangements with the hotel and with the WWII museum so that this reunion happens like it has been planned.

    We have a very good reunion planned and I am sure we are all going to enjoy it to the max.  But, we need to know WHO IS COMING!

    Cliff has done an outstanding job putting this reunion together and has taken two trips to New Orleans to insure that it goes on without any hitches.  So, let's get on the ball and let him know if you are going to attend.

    Thank you!  And, I look forward to seeing you in New Orleans in September.

                                Master Chief Richard W. Stader"

Reunion chairman Clifton Hoke can be reached at:

    257 Pecan Creek Drive
    Madison,  MS  39110-8717
    C: 601-946-2144  H: 601-853-4741  FAX: 601-853-4702


Come on guys.......get with it and get signed up for New Orleans!!

Best Regards To All.......Charles