August 2017 by Charles M Brecheisen

Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your monthly report for August 2017.

HURRICANES:  Wow!  There are 3 active hurricanes right now.  Plus the one that tore out and flooded the Texas Gulf Coast.  Our thoughts andcprayers go out to the to the all people residing in the paths.

FIREFOX:  For some reason, my Firefox log in account has become squirreled and I have been trying to fix the problem for the past several days.  Even after a couple of resets it still does not even halfway work.  Thank goodness I have been able to transfer most all of the info to Microsoft Edge.  Any other recommendations?

REUNION:  The reunion is just a few weeks away.  We will be keeping an eye on the possible Irma storm hit moving up the east coast.  If you need additional info, please contact Shipmate Dick Stader at 262-654-9202 or "dickandterry5 [at] sbcglobal.net"

FINANCIAL:  Current cash-on-hand $500.80 and savings of $8,545.32 for a total of $9,046.12.  No income or expenses.

All for now.  Any comments or questions please use "cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us"

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

July 2017 by Charles M Brecheisen

Greeting Altair Shipmates.  Here is your monthly report for July.

Is it August already!!!  We are expecting rain for the next 7-8-9 days. This is August?

REUNION:  If you plan to attend the next Altair reunion in Myrtle Beach, SC, you better get your reservations in.  (October 11 - 15)  If you need the application and reservation form, let me know and I can send via uSoft Word or PDF or snail mail. 
If you need additional info, please contact Shipmate Dick Stader at 262-654-9202 or via email at "dickandterry5 [at] sbcglobal.net"

SHIPMATE:  Please welcome aboard Shipmate Bernard "Bernie" Shaw, FTG3, 1962-1962. Bernie resides in Bluffton, SC.  WELCOME ABOARD!!

FINANCIAL:  Current cash-on-hand $500.80 and savings of $8,545.32 for a total of $9,046.12. No income or expenses.

All for now.  Any comments or questions please use "cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us"

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

June 2017 by Charles M. Brecheisen

Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your monthly report for June 2017.

I hope all shipmates and families had a great and safe July 4th!

It's crazy here in East Texas..........raining every day and it's JULY!

FINANCIAL:  No change from last month with no income or expenses.  Total cash-on-hand $500.80 and savings of $8,545.32 totaling $9,046.12.

REUNION:  If you have any questions or comments about the next reunion, please contact Dick Stader at "dickandterry5 [at] sbcglobal.net"; or telephone 262-654-9202 or cell 262-220-5292.  

All for now.  Any questions and comments please use "cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us"

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

May 2017 by Charles M. Brecheisen

Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your monthly report for May 2017.

Late spring and early summer in East Texas has been nice and cool with
lots of rain.  I have a huge toadstool farm here!

REUNION:  If you are planning to attending the Altair Reunion in Myrtle Beach, October 11-15, and have not registered yet.......Please do so as soon as you can.  It is very important!!

SHIPMATES PASSING:  The following Altair shipmates have passed:

• Henderson, Edgar L, RD2, 1958-1961.  I remember serving with Shipmate Henderson very well.  The family can be reached at 4275 N. Hinkle Road, Bloomington, IN 47408-9362; 812-336-4584 Passed April 7, 2017. 
• Deffler, Ronald C., BTFN, 1952; Passed Feb. 25, 2017.  The family can be reached at: 911 Reeves Road, Monterey, TN 38574-7318; 931-839-3661 

I have sent condolence cards to both families from all the Altair Shipmates.

FINANCIAL:  The beginning and ending cash on hand balance is $500.80.  The beginning and ending savings balance is $8545.32. The total cash balance is $9046.12.  There was no income or expenses.

SHIPMATE:  Shipmate Dan Douglas was contacted by Shipmate Eugene Dutriel, SK1, 1958-1960 asking about the Altair reunion.  We are trying to track down an mailing address for Shipmate Dutriel as he is interested in attending the reunion.  He lives in Raleigh, NC.  More to follow.

All for now.  If you have any comments or questions please use "cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us" to contact me.

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

Reunion update and information from Shipmate Dick Stader Please heed!

The upcoming Altair reunion to be held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina from October 11 - October 15 2017, with hotel reservations due at the Courtyard by Marriott Barefoot Landing,1000 Commons Blvd. Myrtle Beach, SC 29572 no later than 23 September 2017, and please mention the USS Altair Reunion Group code "ANRG" to receive the negotiated room rate of $94.00 per day including breakfast each day. These rates apply  Sunday 9 Oct. through Monday 16 Oct 2017 if so desired.  

All the rest of the monies for the Hospitality room, Alabama Theater and the Banquet  Dinner are to be sent to me (Dick Stader) with a check made out to USS Altair AKS 32 on or before 31 July 2017 so I can get them deposited in our account prior to the reunion so I have the working capital for this reunion before I leave for the reunion. 

Any questions any one may have regarding this please call me at home at (262-654-9202) or my cell at(262-220-6292). For all of your info the following have said the are coming for reunion, Chuck & Faye Reggo, Dick & Terry Stader, Dan & Elaine Douglas, Richie & Angie Reisse, George and Corabell O'Brien, Jack & Judy White, Lyn Fenwick, Molly Hoke ?, Bruce & Eddie Davis, Harold & Janell Newman, Martin & Dorothy Summan, Jim & Diane Brayden, Roe Karstetter, C.O.Lee?. So the rest of you that are thinking about the reunion, get off your duff and make a positive commitment to a good time with the rest of us.   

Your Faithful Shipmate.  Dick Stader

April 2017 by Charles M. Brecheisen

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

ALTAIR REUNION:  To all hands........please get on board and get your reservations ASAP!  Please let me know if you need any additional information.

FINANCES:  The beginning and ending cash-on-hand balance is $500.80. The beginning and ending Altair savings balance is $8,545.32.  No income or expenses leaving a total balance of $9,046.12.  

That's not much news!  All for now......

Please contact (cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us) for any comments, news or questions.

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

http://www.ussaltair-aks32.org
http://aks32.blogspot.com
http://altair.smugmug.com (Altair photographs)

March 2017 by Charles M. Brecheisen

Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your report for March.

MILITARY EXCHANGES:  Shipmate Joe Basso sent me information from "The American Legion Magazine" March 2017 with the following information:  "Any honorably discharged veteran will be allowed to shop online for discounted military exchange products starting Nov. 11, Veterans Day, under a policy change announced by the Department of Defense.  As many as 16 million veterans stand to benefit."  That is great news!  Hopefully, they will have their software running by that date!

ALTAIR SHIPMATES:  Please welcome aboard shipmate Daniel C. Helman, SK3, 1962-1964.  Shipmate Helman resides in New Kensington, PA.  WELCOME ABOARD!  (No email)

Shipmate David R. Karlen, YN2  1962-1965 was located in Tucson, AZ but did not want to be added to the Altair list.

ALTAIR PHOTOGRAPHS:  Shipmate Stephen Woody found many rolls of Kodachrome 25 film that he took from Aug. 1963 to July 1964 and had them converted over to two CDs.  The photography was beautiful after all these years.  Shipmate DIck Braun has uploaded both CDs to the Altair photo website "http://altair.smugmug.com" in the 1963-1964 gallery.  Thanks to both Shipmates Woody and Braun!

FINANCIAL:  The beginning and ending balance of cash-on-hand is $500.80; the beginning and ending savings balance is $8545.32 giving a total cash balance of $9046.12.  No income or expenses.

All for now.  Please direct any questions or comments to "cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us"

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

http://www.ussaltair-aks32.org
http://altair.smugmug.com
http://aks32.blogspot.com

February 2017 by Charles M. Brecheisen

Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your monthly report for February.

ALTAIR REUNION:  The next Altair reunion information has been snail mailed to 128 of our non-computer shipmates with 12 returns due to bad addresses.  Hopefully, I tracked down new addresses and re-mailed with several returns I cannot track down.  We have emailed the info update for the Myrtle Beach, SC reunion October 11-15, 2017.  If any shipmate needs a repeat, please let me know and I can either email or snail mail.

SHIPMATE:  Please welcome aboard RM3 Donald R. Birk, 1959-1960.  Shipmate Birk resides in Columbia, PA.  We served together for 2 years and ran enjoyed the radio room.  No email.

Also please welcome aboard BM3 Wendell E. Devane, 1960-1961.  Shipmate Devane resides in Grandy, NC and has no email.

SHIPMATES PASSING:  Thanks to this info from Shipmate Bruce Davis.

    Anspach, Robert R.  SN, 1960-1961; passed in August of 1995
    Brock, Arthur S.  SK3, 1960-1961; passed 1985
    Badders, Jerry L. SA 1961; passed 2003

FINANCIAL: The beginning cash-on-hand was $827.00 with expenses of $326.20 leaving a balance $500.80.  The  beginning and ending savings balance is $8,545.32 with a total balance of $9,046.12. 

Website: Our current Altair web provider is retiring and closing his InterBax business.  We owed him for the last year plus keeping our Altair web site name which totaled $164.00.  It was $20 to keep this Altair email name with 'fastmail'.  Our new ISP (web site provider) is "GreenGeeks" and we got a bargain 3 year cost of $142.20.  Plus InterBax handled the website transfer which was great and saved lots of headaches.

If you need any additional information or have comments, please us cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us

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

    http://www.ussaltair-aks32.org
    http://aks32.blogspot.com
    http://altair.smugmug.com (photographs)

January 2017 by Charles M. Brecheisen

Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your monthly report for January 2017.

FINANCIAL:  The beginning cash-on-hand balance was $962.75 with expenses of $135.75 leaving a balance of $827.00.  Expenses consisted of postage, ink, envelops, etc. for printing and snail mailing to 135 shipmates without computers.
Altair savings account is $8,545.32 giving a total balance of $9,372.32.  Dues have been suspended UFN.  I have returned any monies received for 2017 dues.

COMPUTER:  My email service, Fastmail, has changed servers and updated their email software.  Therefore, I will be entering an entire new Altaircrew email list this month.  (They really screwed up my email lists!!)

NEW SHIPMATE:  Please welcome aboard Richard Conrad, EN3, 1956-58.
Shipmate Conrad resides No. Saint Cloud, MN.  WELCOME ABOARD!

SHIPMATES PASSING:  There following Shipmates have passed:

    Nimmo, Stephen B. CS3, 1963-1966; passed 1/1/2017; no email
    Prows, James H. SN, 1957; passed Feb. 2016; no email
    Rousseau, Gerard, FN, 1952; passed April 2016; no email
    Buchman, Paul N. ENS 1953-1954; passed 2010. (I have no record of him)
    (I can supply home addresses if you wish to contact the families)

That's all for now.  If you need more information or for any comments, please contact me at "cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us"

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

USS Altair AKS-32 2017 Reunion

Dick Stader and I, Dan Douglas, have been working on the reunion for several months and this is what we have come up with.

We are going to Myrtle Beach South Carolina. October 11th to the 15th. The hotel will honor the rate for those that wish to stay longer or arrive earlier. We went there in 2008 and stayed at the Marriott Courtyard in North Myrtle beach. We have made arraignments to go there again this year.  The price is $94 /room including breakfast. The room rate includes a private breakfast buffet for 2 people per room served daily in the Commons Room.  Breakfast includes: scrambled eggs, chef’s choice of sausage or bacon, breakfast potatoes, fresh cut fruit, yogurt and granola, breakfast breads, orange juice, milk and coffee service.

We will be arriving on Wednesday the 11th and check out on the 15th.  On Thursday October 12th, we are planning to go to the Alabama Theater. Prior to the show we will be going to the buffet dinner at Captain Bennett's Seafood & Country Buffet ($19.50 per adult including tax and gratuity). Then on to the show.

Package rate per person would be to add the restaurant charge and the ticket for the show:-- $51.50
Depending on what sort of response we get for this reunion, will decide on whether we get a bus to transport us or we may have to car pool it. Everything is very close to the hotel, so this shouldn’t be an inconvenience.

We are planning to have an auction as we have done in the past, so please be sure to bring items that we can auction off on Friday.  The Barefoot Landing Shopping area is walking distance to the hotel (.4 of a mile) and there are a number of stores and attractions to keep you busy. Located along the Intracoastal Waterway, Barefoot Landing is a shopper’s paradise with unique retail stores, a variety of restaurants and entertainment venues. With winding paths along the waterway and around the lake visitors can enjoy the breeze as they wind in and out of over 100 stores and 25 restaurants.
Read more at http://www.myrtlebeach.com/shopping/barefoot-landing/#vqvOHExPg6E2yCvi.99
For those interested, The USS North Carolina is about an hour car ride north of the hotel.

We will have our farewell dinner at the California Dreaming Restaurant that is located in
the same area as the hotel. The menu will be a choice of Beef, Chicken, Fish or a
Dinner salad for those that would prefer a vegetarian dinner. The charge is $19/ person.  There is a $25 charge per person for the hospitality room.  We will need a commitment by August 1st to hold the reservations.  The hotel reservations are made individually. When you call be sure to let them know you are with the USS Altair reunion to get the rate that was quoted.

Courtyard by Marriott Barefoot Landing
1000 Commons Blvd.
Myrtle Beach, SC 29572
phone 843.417-1103 fax 843.361.1729
sales@myrtlebeachcourtyard.com

We will make the reservations to the show and restaurant once we have a head count.  Payment for the show, dinner and hospitality room should be made to Dick Stader as he is the treasurer for the Altair. You will also have to decide what dinner selection you want for our farewell dinner.
Our contact information is:

Dan Douglas
535 Main Street, New Canaan, CT 06840
203-219-7509 Cell

Richard (Dick) Stader
1511 84th street, Kenosha, WI 53143
262-220-5292 Cell or 262-914-6204 Cell

Dues suspended

Greetings Altair Shipmates.

The Altair Board has suspended the collection of dues!  If you have sent in dues, or they are on the way, I will return them to you.

Information will be forthcoming shortly about the next Altair reunion which will be held in Myrtle Beach on or about the 11th through the 15 of October. 

Please do not reply to this email.  Please use cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us for any comments or questions.

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

December 2016 by Charles M. Brecheisen

Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your monthly report for December 2016.

Happy New Year to All!  I hope all the shipmates and families had a great Christmas season and have a healthy 2017.  I and my computer have been a bit ill the past several weeks, but doing fine now.

FINANCIAL:  No income and no expenses in December.  The cash-on-hand is $962.75 and the savings is $8,545.32 for a total of $9,508.07.

DUES:  It's that time of the year again.  Dues are only $10 payable in cash.  Checks MUST be made out to me or the bank will not cash them anymore.
Pay to: Charles M. Brecheisen
           248 Drifting Cloud
           Holly Lake Ranch, TX  75765-6321

The Altair web site is:  www.ussaltair-aks32.org
The Altair photograph site is altair.smugmug.com  (this is a great site!!!
The Altair Blog/chat site is http://aks32.blogspot.com

Please do not reply to this email.  For info or comments us cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us

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

Additional Altair musings by Tommy Lee

Subject: Re: Altair email-Altair Musings
Date: Sun, 4 Dec 2016 17:37:38 -0500

Shipmates:

I was on the port side of the boat deck painting the overhead while underway.  Commander Woodard came by and spotted the paint on my shoes and called me to attention.  He instructed me to remove my shoes and throw them overboard, which I did without hesitation.  I would have probably jumped overboard had he ordered me to do so.  In my mind, he was the Vince Lombardi of the fleet.

I cannot imagine Commander Woodard surrendering the Altair to a bunch of rag tag pirates or the recent swift boat incident with the Iranians where the crew were taken prisoners without a fight.  I personally blame this on Obama and the cowardly administration we have today.

What has happened to the navy we were in?  We were not on a battleship or Carrier.  We were on a cargo ship with only 40 mm's and a few small arms. However, the leadership and the men under them, would have stood tall and never given in to the boarding of our ship or small boats to the likes of the Iranians or anyone else.  Not a day goes by that I do not think of my shipmates and Commander Woodard.

AS Vince Lombardi would have said, "WHAT IN THE HELL IS GOING ON OUT THERE" 

Tommy Lee BMSN, USS Altair AKS32 1961-1964

Altair musings by Terry F Chatfield

Subject: Your Altair update email

Date: Sun, 4 Dec 2016 00:41:43 +0000 (UTC)

While I was the Deck YN I worked for Lt Furey and CWO Downs. Then when I was transferred to the Personnel Office I worked for Chief Guthrie. Of course we all remember XO CDR Woodward. One amusing incident about CDR Woodward - myself and another Personnelman was at the ladder leading from the main deck (inside the house) to the 2nd Deck our area of responsibility. We were discussing about painting the area, comment was made as to what color the XO wanted the area painted and from the 2nd deck came "I don't care what color you paint it as long as it comes out white" of course this was the XO.

  Terry F Chatfield,  PN1, USN(Ret).

November 2016 by Charles Brecheisen

Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your monthly report for November 2016.

FINANCIAL:  The beginning cash-on-hand balance was $912.75 with income of $50.00 and no expenses bringing the total to $962.75.  The beginning and ending balance of the savings account is $8545.32 bringing the overall balance of $9508.07.

SHIPMATES PASSING:  Shipmate LTJG Fred Keefer reports the following Altair Shipmates passing:

    FUREY, Francis D, LCDR 1959-1961, passed 10 April 1976
    GUTHRIE, Gordon L, YNC, 1960-1963, passed 14 April 2011
    NIENAST, Vernon W, SKC, 1960-1962, passed 19 March 2011
    WOODWARD, Lamar Lee, CDR, 1960-1962, passed 28 November 2010
    DOWNS, Charles Leslie, CW02, 1959-1961, passed 20 April 1999
    GOODSON, Raymond Thomas, CW02, 1960-1962, passed 16 February 1988
    PEARCE, Travis Dean, CT3, 1960-1961, passed 18 September 1997

NOTE:  Shipmate Pearce did not have a Altair billet number and was with RPMIO (Registered Publications Mobile Issuing Office)  The rate of CT3 is "Cryptologic Technician 3rd Class)

    Thank you Mr. Keefer for all the information!

NOTE 2:  I really remember Lt. Furey while I was a deck ape.  He was a "Mustang" and really knew his "stuff".  Tough, but fair.

NOTE 3: I also really remember the Exec. Officer, CDR Woodward.  He was well liked!

All for now.  Please us cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us for any questions of information.

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

October 2016 by Charles Brecheisen

Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your monthly report for October 2016.

VOTE!!

FINANCIAL:   Same as last month.  Beginning and ending cash-on-hand of $912.75. Savings balance $8,545.32.  No income nor expenses for a total of $9,458.07.

ARCHIVES:  The new web site for the National Archives is www.archives.com

ALTAIR RECORDS:  I still have 13 microfilm ships records that I used in tracking down Altair shipmates.  I used a printing microfilm reel reading machine and printed out the various forms from the Altair.  Each film contains MANY ships and as I recall they were all service or supply ships.  AOs, AKs,  AEs, etc.  I still have reels for 1952, 1954, 1955-1956, 1957, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1969.  The reels for 1958, 1960, 1961 are missing and were never returned by the shipmates that took them at the first reunion in Branson, MO.  If you would like for me to send you a reel, please let me know and I will get it on the way.

All for now.  Please use cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us for comments or additional info.

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

Shipmate passing by Charles Brecheisen

From: James Desantis
To: cmbaltairaks32(@)fastmail.us
Subject: Gary Jenkins SKSN
Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2016 22:29:50 -0400

Charles,

I signed onto Gary Jenkins facebook page to wish him Happy Birthday today and found out he passed away in April of this year. I do not know how he died and do not know any of his relatives. He was aboard the Altair from 1966 to 1968, assigned to #2 hold with me.

Jim DeSantis SK3 1967 to 1968


      ----------REMEMBER----------
When forwarding,PLEASE REMOVE
  ALL email addresses and use BCC!

September 2016 by Charles Brecheisen

Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your report for September 2016.

It's October already!!!!  Don't forget to vote!!!

FINANCIAL:  The beginning and ending balance of the cash-on-hand is $912.75.  The beginning and ending balance of the savings account is $8,545.32 for a grand total of $9,458.07.  There were no expenses nor income.

BARCELONA:  The following headline came from a foxnews.com  article:  "BARCELONA CITY OFFICIALS CALL FOR REMOVAL OF OPPRESSIVE CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS STATUE." The article was published on September 30, 2016  Coming home to Barcelona, I always looked forward to seeing the statue.  How depressing this is. Another P.C. hit.

All for now.  For comments or questions, please use cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.com

Best Wishes to All..........Charles

2017 reunion at Myrtle Beach by Dick Stader

All Hands USS Altair AKS 32
From MMCM Dick Stader
Subj: 2017 Altair Reunion

Charles could you please send this letter out to all hands about our up coming plans for the reunion that Dan Douglas and I are trying to put together for next year 2017.

Dan Douglas and I are planing a reunion in 2017 at Myrtle Beach, S.C. For late September early October as soon as we can get all the information and plans made with Pam Brown of Gatherings Plus who we have worked with before and who we trust with doing a good job for us again.We picked Myrtle Beach because it is a good spot for a reunion with lots to do and see and because no one else seems to want to do any of the work involved with planning and setting it up and because we can't have it in everyone's back yard as some folks would it to be.We will be sending out all of the information and specifics just as soon as we get them ironed out with Pam Brown, so until then sit tight and wait for Dan and I to do our thing.  

Fair Winds and Following Seas to all our Shipmates out there.      Dick Stader

August 2016 by Charles Brecheisen

Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your monthly report for August
2016.

First of All:  Hail Houston Cougars, hail yes!
                  Hail Oklahoma Sooners, Hail NO!!!!
                  (Sorry about that!)

It's September and football season is here!  Yea!

FINANCIAL:  The beginning cash-on-hand balance was $892.75 with $20.00 income and no expenses leaving a balance of $912.75.  The Altair savings beginning and end is $8,545.32 totaling $9,458.07.

REUNION:  We are still looking for shipmates input as to where to hold our next reunion!

If you anticipate moving or changing email addresses, ,please keep me posted as we don't want to lose contact with any shipmate.

All for now.  Please use (cmbaltairals32 [at] fastmail.us) for any questions or comments.

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