February 2022 monthly report by Charles M. Brecheisen

 Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your report for February 2022.

REUNION:  As previously announced by the reunion chairman Bruce Davis, "This years reunion will be held at the Microtel Hotel in Uncasville, CT near Mystic Seaport from 5 September to 9 September 2022.  Set aside those dates and let's go have a good time.  More to follow as I put the rest together.  Signed, Bruce."

FINANCIAL:  The beginning and ending cash balance if $194.77, no changes.  Beginning and ending savings balance of $2886.37 with no changes.  Beginning and ending Reunion Committee balance is $670.31 with no changes.  Sum total of $3751.45.  

All for now.  For info and questions, please contact me at [cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us]

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

Navy ship site — Good Altair article.

 Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is a neat Navy Ship site where crews can add their names to ships lists.  This is courtesy of Shipmate Ivan Samuels.  Thanks Ivan!!  There are quite a few shipmates listed from the Altair of which I have no record of 11 of them.  Wow, are my records that bad!  I guess so..........

https://www.hullnumber.com/

Click on "Other Commands" and then "Auxiliaries" and that will take you a page to find AKS-32 info. 

January 2022 monthly report by Charles Brecheisen

 Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your report for January 2022.

WOW!  Is it really 2022?  Where did 2021 and all the previous years get to?  I guess I blinked.

FINANCIAL:  Beginning and ending cash balance $194.77, no changes.  Beginning and ending savings balance of $2,886.37 with no changes.   Beginning and ending Reunion Committee balance $670.31 with no changes.  Sum total of $3,751.45.

SHIPMATE:  It's always nice to hear from old shipmates and Shipmate Tom Planes, MM2, 1960-63 would like to hear from some of his shipmates that remember him.  Tom's home number is 770-307-1747 and his cell number is 678-201-5105.  Tom's wife Sandi will return your call if you leave a message.  Please give Tom a call and make his day brighter!!  This info came from Shipmate Joe Basso.  

All for now with sleet, freezing rain and ice forming the trees and roads all around East Texas.

For additional info please contact me at "cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us"

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

December 2021 monthly report by Charles Brecheisen

 Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your monthly report for December 2021.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2022!!!

ANOTHER YEAR?  Hard to believe, where did last year go to?  Seemed like I just blinked and it just zipped right on by. 

FINANCIAL:  Beginning and ending cash-on-hand $194.77 with no income or expenses; beginning and ending savings balance $2,886.37 with no income or expenses; Reunion Committee beginning and ending balance $670.31 with no income or expenses.  Totaling $3,751.45.  

All for now.  Let 's all have a Safe, Happy, Healthy and a Prosperous 2022!!!

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

November 2021 monthly report by Charles Brecheisen

 Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your monthly report for November 2021.

SHIPMATES REPORTING NO MONTHLY REPORT:  I had two shipmates email me that they have not received the monthly report in many months.  I show mailing to the correct email address and resent a test message requesting they respond to that email.  No response from them.  Then I snail mailed a copy of my email.  Still no response.  I requested info from my "fastmail" group.  They claim that, in most cases a person's SPAM control may be set too high and the emails are sent to the junk mail box.  I always check my trash bin daily.  If this doesn't work, then I am stumped.

FINANCIAL:  The beginning and ending cash-on-hand is $194.77; no income or expenses.  The beginning and ending savings balance is $2,886.37 with no income or expenses.  The beginning and ending Reunion Committee balance is $670.31 with no income or expenses.  Total balances of $3,751.45.  

INTERESTING NON-COMPUTER SHIPMATE FACTS:  Not too many years ago, we had a snail mail list of about 142 Altair shipmates.  In the past several years the list dropped to about 120 shipmates.  Last year, we only had 96 shipmates receiving reunion information via snail mail.  Kinda scary!!

I want to wish all our Shipmates and families and friends to have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HANUKKAH AND HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE NEW YEARS AND LOOK FORWARD TO A BETTER 2022!! 

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

October 2021 monthly report by Charles Brecheisen

 Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your monthly report for October 2021.

REUNION:  A great reunion was had by all!!  Photos are up at http://altair.smugmug.com

SHIPMATE:  Shipmate Harold Dillingham, HM3 1962-1963 is wishing to chat with any shipmates that remember him from this time aboard.  He can be reached at 502-533-5486.  

FINANCIAL:  I have all the expenses from the reunion last month and have decided just to include the info in this months October report.  My cash-on-hand beginning and end is $194.77 with no income or expenses.  The beginning savings balance was $10,486.37 with no income and expenses of:  $100.00 expense coverage to Jim Braydon; $2,500.00 to three different Service Foundations (see below) leaving a balance of $2,886.37.  The beginning Reunion Committee beginning balance was $1,000.00 which incurred several reunion expenses of $329.69 leaving a balance of $670.31 which will remain with the reunion chairman for upcoming reunion expenses.  Total Altair cash balance of $3751.45. 

ALTAIR DONATIONS:  In a great move, it was decided to make several donations to several worthwhile charities.  The charities were asked to provide operating expenses, etc.  Selected were the Gary Sinise Foundation, Navy-Marine Relief Society and Tunnels to Towers Foundation.  $2500 was sent to each one.  WHAT A GREAT WAY TO GO, GUYS!!!!!  Sure makes me feel proud.........

All for now.......(hope I got all my figures correct in the financial!!)  For any additional info or questions, please contact me at "cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us" 

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

July 2021 monthly report by Charles Brecheisen

 Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your report for July 2021.

REUNION:  The Altair reunion is getting closer!!  If you need additional information, please contact Reunion Chairman Bruce Davis at "bandedavis [at] bellsouth.net" or Tel: 407-380-1700 or cell 321-278-8068.

FINANCIAL:  The beginning cash-on-hand was $208.72 with no income and an expense of $13.95 for Domain Renewal leaving a balance $194.77.  The beginning and ending of the Altair savings is $10,486.37; and, the Reunion Committee beginning and end balance is $1,000.00. (No income or expenses to either) Total balance of $11,681.14.

WW2 HISTORY:  Shipmate Doug Justice, MA3, 1964 has authored several books on WW2 history.  For additional information, please contact Doug at "dougusnret [at] hotmail.com"

All for now.  For questions or information please contact me at "cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us"

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

.

June 2021 monthly report by Charles Brecheisen

Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your monthly report for June 2021.

REUNION:  The reunion at Pigeon Forge, TN set up has been completed and all information and forms has been issued.  For additional information, please contact Reunion Chairman Bruce Davis at "bandedavis [at] bellsouth.net; or 407-380-1700 or cell 321-278-8068.  Great job Bruce!!

FINANCIAL: The beginning cash-on-hand was $277.90 with no income and expenses for postage and printing of $69.18 leaving a balance of $208.72.  The beginning and ending balance of Savings is $101,486.37 with no income or expenses.  The beginning and ending balance of the Reunion Committee is $1,000.00 with no income or expenses. Totaling $11,695.09.

SHIPMATE STATUS:  The following shipmates have passed:

    Blanco, Alfred, PN2 1954-1955 (family said passed in 1999 creates some confusion)
    Dachtler, John, FN 1958-1960, Passed 2021
    Williams, Kell C., LTJG 1967-1969 (Unable to locate; consider MIA)
    Baker, Perry, EMP3 1953-1955, passed 2019
    Carter, Albert G., SH2 1953-1955, passed 2019
    Helman, Daniel C., SK3 1962-1964, passed 2020. 

All for now.  Hopefully ALL shipmates and families had a great and safe July 4th!!

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

May 2021 monthly report by Charles Brecheisen

Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your monthly report for May 2021.

REUNION:  Bruce Davis, reunion chairman, reports that the final activities setup is just about complete and we should have all information confirmed within a week.  I will sent this info via email to the crew.  I am working on getting info to the non-computer users via snail mail.

FINANCIAL:  The beginning and ending cash-on-hand balance is $277.90 with no income or expenses.   The beginning and ending savings balance is $10,486.37 with no income or expenses.  The Reunion Committee balance is $1,000.00 with no income or expenses.  Total balance $11,764.27.

NOTE:  Several Altair crew members have reported receiving emails from other crew members just asking for a reply. This includes myself and a couple of the emails to were not from crew members.  Somehow, the Altair mailing list has been breached.  I believe this is called "phishing" and can be dangerous to your computer.  I have not opened any of these emails and will not  open them.  PLEASE, when  forwarding any emails, PLEASE delete any other email addresses that are  contained in the body of the email.  The emails in the body of the info can be stolen and sold on the open market.  Special software searches for these email addresses.  Does anyone wonder why sometimes they get jibberish or advertising emails?  It's just like phone SPAM.

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

Best Regards to All...........Charles 

April 2021 monthly report by Charles Brecheisen

 Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your monthly report for April 2021.

It's hard for me to believe that it's already May!!!!  Where has the year gone?

FINANCIAL:  The beginning and ending Cash-On-Hand is $277.90 with no income or expenses.  The beginning and ending Savings balance is $10,486.37 with no income or expenses.  The beginning and ending Reunion expenses is $1,000.00 with no income or expense.  Totaling $11,764.27.

REUNION:  Reunion Chairman Bruce Davis reports the following:  "If the masks come off and social distancing is no longer required the reunion will take place in Pigeon Forge, TN from September 20th to September 24th.  The Clarion Inn 124 Waldens Main Street is where we will stay.  More to come by June 1st."

Let's all hope the masks can come off and COVID is reduced to almost zero and we can have our reunion!

Be Safe and Stay Safe!!!!!!!!

Not much more........All for now.  For comments or info, please contact me at "cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us"

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

March 2021 monthly report by Charles Brecheisen

 Greeting Altair Shipmates.  Here is your monthly report for March 2021.

FINANCIAL:  The beginning cash-on-hand was $288.90 with a stamp expense of $11.00 leaving a balance of $277.90. The beginning savings account was $11486.37 and of this figure, $1000.00 was transferred to a new "Reunion Committee" account under Bruce Davis leaving a balance of $10,486.37.  The new "Reunion Committee" account shows a balance of $1,000.00.  The combined total is $11,764.27.

REUNION:  Reunion Chairman Bruce Davis is currently getting the reunion information available, and will be sent out to all the shipmates when complete.

NEW SHIPMATES:  Please welcome aboard the following new shipmates:

    Hoagland, Nicholas G., FA 1969; resides in Corpus Christi, TX

    Ryniak, Robert S., MR3 1969; resides in Frasier, MI

SHIPMATES PASSING:  The following shipmates have passed:

    Ferrell, Bill, LT, 1961-1963; passed June 30, 2019

    Hutter, William R. QMSN, 1955-1956; passed Dec. 27, 2020.  Mrs. Barb Hutter wishes to continue to receive the Altair Monthly Reports and would like to attend an Altair reunion.  

MISC. NOTES:  We did another snail mailing to quite a few shipmates whose email addresses were always rejected and found several that had changed email or had moved.  So, they are back on the Altair shipmate list.  We still wound up with several shipmates that cannot be traced down trying multiple info date.  It's always a challenge keeping a current updated membership list.

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

Stay Safe!!

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

January 2021 monthly report by Charles Brecheisen

 Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your report for January 2021.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  Let's all have a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous Year!

First of all, be safe and stay safe.  Vaccines are on the way!

FINANCIAL:  No change ifrom year-ending balances.  Cash-on-hand $323.85 no change; Altair Savings $11,486.37, no change for a total of $11,810.22.

REUNION:   Reunion Chairman Bruce Davis is working on an Altair reunion for this year.  More info to come and I will keep you posted.  

For comments and questions please contact me at "cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us"

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

Replenishment at Sea: USS Momsen & USNS Carl Brashea

 This kinda reminds me of my "Deck Apeing" days aboard the Altair!!

Of interest—-not much has changed.

 https://youtu.be/QGmVxklOrPg

December 2020 monthly report by Charles Brecheisen

 Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your report for December 2020.

HAPPY NEW YEAR.  Let's all have a happy, healthy and prosperous 2021!

FINANCIAL:  The beginning cash-on-hand was $303.85 with anonymous income of $20.00 and no expenses leaving a balance of $323.85.  The beginning and ending Altair Savings  is $11,486.37.  Total of $11,810.22.

As usual, not much news.  Except the Virus seems to be mutating into a newer and more deadly virus.  Please all heed the warnings, wear a mask and keep a distance from others.  Meds are slowly getting around the country.

For comments and information, please contact me at "cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us"

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

November 2020 monthly report by Charles Brecheisen

 Greetings Altair Shipmate.  Here is your report for November 2020.

COVID VIRUS:  Comes and goes a bit and getting some worse.  We all need to stay aware, stay safe and stay alive!!!

FINANCIAL:  The beginning and ending cash-in-hand is $303.85 with no income or expenses.  The Altair savings account beginning and ending balance is $11,486.37 with no income or expenses.  Totals $11,790.22.  

SIDE NOTE:  As Popeye, the Sailor man would say, "I yam still here!"  Barely.  I was involved in a wreck last April and was totalled.  Fortunately, injuries non-major!!  What is ironic is that I was hit by a Wood County Texas Deputy Sheriff TRAINEE with his instructor in the other seat.   Case settled about 6 weeks ago.  Fortunately, we voted out the sheriff and his family out of the department.  So, I yam still here!!  I keep reminding myself of the old song "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" and I don't.

SIDE NOTE #2:  This an interesting Wikipedia article about Admiral Richard G. Colbert.  He was the skipper when I was aboard 59-61.  The article is interesting at Admiral Colbert was quite famous in the Naval War College, etc.  It's quite a worthwhile read and mentions the USS Altair.  Click below:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_G._Colbert

All for now.  I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a Happy Healthy and Hale 2021!

Comments and questions to "cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us"

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

September 2020 monthly report by Charles Brecheisen

 Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your report for September 2020.

And, as usual, nothing shipboard to report.

FINANCIAL:  Cash-on-hand $303.85 with no income or expenses.  Savings $11,486.37 with no income or expenses; totalling $11,790.22.  

Be safe and stay healthy and this all shall pass!!!

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

August 2020 monthly report by Charles Brecheisen

 Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your monthly report for August 2020.

NEWS:  Lots of news out there in this ole world.  How much of it is newsworthy?  Pertaining to the Altair Shipmates group?  Unfortunately, not much.  Same here with the few trips to the store and the doctors, of course.  Statistics are still questionable.  News.................If I can find a place, maybe I will go and get a haircut!! ha. (That's a joke!)

FINANCIAL:  Again this month, no changes.  Beginning and ending cash-on-hand $303.83  Beginning and ending Altair savings $11,486.37 for a grant total of $11,790.22.  

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

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

PS: Stay Healthy!!

July 2020 monthly report by Charles Brecheisen

 Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your monthly report for July 2020.

NEWS:  Again, no news from this end of the world.  Here at Holly Lake, we are still basically home bound except for the occasional trip to the grocery store.  Rules were relaxed and then re-enforced.  Statistics are questionable to say the least for the time being...........

FINANCIAL:  No changes.  Beginning and ending cash-on-hand $303.85.  Savings beginning and ending $11,486.37. Total $11,790.22.  

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

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

May 2020 monthly report by Charles Brecheisen

 Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your report for May 2020.

CORONAVIRUS:  My opinion is to stay hunkered down.  Lots of opinions are to resume normalcy.  Use your own judgment but please don't take any unnecessary chances!

IN OTHER SITUATIONS:  PLEASE STAY HUNKERED DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FINANCIAL:  No change from last month; cash-on-hand $303.85;  Savings $11,486.37; total $11,790.22.  No income or expenses.

NEW SHIPMATE:  Please welcome aboard shipmate Eddie L. Green, SH2, 1968.  Shipmate Green resides in Ocoee, FL.  If any shipmate remembers him, please contact him at "cobramustang [at] ag.com"  WELCOME ABOARD!!

For comments or questions, please contact me at "cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us"

Best Regards to All and BE SAFE!     Charles

Dan Douglas

 Link to Hampton Roads Navel Museum article:

http://hamptonroadsnavalmuseum.blogspot.com/2020/05/saving-venezuela-and-other-rescues.html