August 2003 Issue of our

Topics covered in this Newsletter.
Click on below titles to go to that section of this newsletter

• Reunion information
• USS Salem Work Party  Sept 6 - Sept 13, 2003
• USS Newport News Work Party April 29 - May 2, 2004
• New "USS Newport News Calendar"   Looking for researchers to help!
• Newsletter General Information
• Previous Newsletters   Read past Newsletters

USS Newport News Reunion

USS Salem Work Party Sponsored by the United States Naval & Shipbuilding Museum

** Note from Chuck Zendner - Understanding the two different types of “Work Parties”. To avoid confusion on the subject of “Work Parties on the USS Salem”, I want to make sure everyone understands that there are TWO different Organizations who put on these work parties.

1. United States Naval Shipbuilding Museum Work Parties
These work parties are organized and sponsored by the staff of the USS Salem (United States Naval Shipbuilding Museum). Those attending are normally local volunteers and USS Newport News shipmates that live in the Quincy MA. area.

2. USS Newport News Work Parties.
These are work parties are organized and sponsored but the “USS Newport News Museum and Memorial Foundation”. This are like “Mini-reunions” for the USS Newport News Shipmates. Shipmates from all over the country fly in to spend a few days working together on the USS Salem, working in our USS Newport News Museum, trading sea-stories and have a VERY great time.

The only reason I am mentioning this is because we don't want someone flying out from Montana thinking this is going to be a "USS Newport News Work Party with about 100 of his fellow shipmates, when normally there are only USS Newport News shipmates who live in the North Eastern States that show up for the "USS Salem Sponsored work parties".

This article is about the next “United States Naval Shipbuilding Museum Work Party” from 09/06/2003 to 09/13/2003. The next article is about the next “USS Newport News Work Party” which will be happening on April 29, 2004 to May 2, 2004

United States Naval Shipbuilding Museum Work Party

The USS Salem organizers are planning another large workparty for the USS Salem. The dates we have tentatively selected are on Sept 6, 2003 thru Sept 13th, 2003.

This is an important work party. Much of the USS Salem’s income comes from their “Overnight Program” where Boy Scouts and other groups spend the weekend on the ship. In the political warfare that is going on Between the United States Naval Shipbuilding Museum (USS Salem) and a few evil local politicians, the Overnight Program was put to a halt.

The evil politicians who put a halt to the “Overnight Program” not only cuts out a large amount of income for the USS Salem, but also keeps our shipmates from being allowed to sleep on the ship during our work parties. We have had a major breakthrough with the Quincy Politicians towards restoring the Overnight Program. But first, there needs to be a lot of work done to the sleeping compartments before the USS Salem can allow overnight sleeping aboard again.

People going to this workparty can sleep on the USS Salem during this work party, but No Visitors will be allowed to sleep on the ship during this work party. Sorry Guys, No exceptions to this rule. If you bring your wife, you will need to get a hotel room instead of staying on the ship.

If you would like to join the USS Salem Work Party of Sept 6, 2003 thru Sept 13th, 2003, please contact USS Salem Contact - Bill Anderson at Billandca139@aol.com

S-O-S                Save Our Ship!

The MWRA which owns the land and water rights where the USS Salem is berthed, has decided not to renew the ship's 10-year lease. This puts the Salem's original home in jeopardy, please voice your support and help preserve a piece of our history. Every letter that someone writes to the politicians involved helps. For Names and Addresses to write a letter in support of The USS SALEM, Go to 
http://www.uss-salem.org/help_support.htm

USS Newport News Work Party Sponsored by the USS Newport News Association

USS Newport News Work Party

FROM: Al Siegel

Hope all of you are enjoying your summer. Just adds to the remarkable time we have already had this year. Our reunion and museum/memorial dedication were simply awesome events.

Now it is time to continue our efforts to maintain and repair the USS Salem, and the museum and memorial to our USS Newport News.

Over the 4 day period of April 29, 2004 to May 2, 2004, we will be holding a large workparty on board the USS Salem. These work parties have always been a great time for the participants, and this one should be the best ever.

I have already received indication from over 70 shipmates that they have plans to attend the workparty and we haven't even formally announced it yet!! Liberty call will be a sight to see, when all of us hit the beach and locate the nearest "watering hole"

The workparty itself will be devoted to specific areas of the ship. Many gunners and boatswains mates have complained about the condition of the 3" mounts and want to get them squared away. With that in mind, we have plans to take on 2 - 4 of the starboard mounts, chip, de-rust, paint, lubricate and secure. In addition, we need to repair mount 51, locate and seal the leaks and clean out the mount and the handling room. Turret 2 will continue to need upkeep, although Joe Shea and Al Babson are staying on top of immediate needs. The museum will have a "dedication" section built out, and we are in the planning stages of bringing in to the museum a large-scale model of the Newport News. All in all it should be a fun and productive time.

We have already purchased needle guns, protective gear, paint and most of the supplies we need. All you should do is bring your work clothes, gloves and some "bar cash".

All that you need to do at this point is block out the dates - all or some. I will also be speaking to the Marriott to try and obtain a very good rate for those of you that rather stay there instead of sleeping on the USS Salem.

For now, enjoy your summer, but plan on joining us the end of next April. If you haven't made a workparty before - don't miss it. I am not sure how many large ones we will have in the future.

All the best.

Al Siegel ETR2
OE Division 1967-1970
Museum President

USS Newport News Calendar We need a researcher for this project.

USS Newport News Calendar

We are creating a "USS Newport News Calendar" to be available to all shipmate from the ship's store. This will be a full size, wall hanging calendar. It will have pictures of our ship on the Top Flap page. On the Bottom Flap (Day / Date Section) we want to have any date that is important to the history of the USS Newport News marked with their Importance that day to the USS NN History.

Do you have any dates you think should be added to this list?

Do you know any of the dates that are marked with a questions mark?

Do you have some time to do some research? 
If you would like to spend some time researching important historical dates for our ship, contact me at at  **  and I will give you a bunch of leads. I know where to look, we just need someone to dedicate some hours reading History Logs of our Ship.

Below is a list of dates that I have collected so far. Some will go on the Calendar if we can find the specific dates. The below items marked in red are dates that I need more information on (More exact date if possible). We also need to find “Begin Date” and the "Returned date" for each cruises our ship made.

If you know any dates that should be added to the list, please let me know by sending an email to at  **

To see what Dates we have collected so far, go to
http://www.uss-newport-news.com/calendar.html

Links to the USS Newport News Web Site.