September 1st, 2019
Midrats - Spring 2020
Bits and Pieces
Bill Lack (Vice President/Mid-Rats Editor)
Welcome to the Spring Mid-Rats of 2020.
Shipmates, these are scary times, so much is unknown. We don’t know how long this pandemic will last, or what our country will look like when we come out on the other side.
In times of uncertainty, I always believe that it's best to think “bigger than yourself”, that as we persevere through these difficult times, that this will serve us best, as individuals, as a community, and as a country.
Take care of each other. Be Strong. Be Safe. Be Well.
You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
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The 2020 reunion is currently scheduled to be held in San Diego. The hosts of this year’s reunion, President Brad Senter and retired Captain Steve Medina, have been working with Ray Casey at Military Reunion Planners to make plans for this fall’s scheduled reunion.
Due to the uncertainties created by the coronavirus, the board is considering canceling this year’s reunion out of concern for the health and safety of our members and their families. The board will make the decision by late April or early May. We will announce any decision via a “flash”edition of Mid-Rats and posting the news on social media.
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The Executive Board reminds you that email is the fastest and most efficient way the Association has of communicating with our members, so it’s vitally important that you keep your email address up to date with Association Secretary, Ed McCready <emc0853@yahoo.com>.
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A few personal thoughts about the Charleston Reunion.
First, thanks to Ed McCready for hosting the reunion. A big “hand salute” to Association member, Bill Roten and his son, Chief Brian Roten for their hard work in getting permission and then transporting the Saratoga stern plate to the reunion hotel in Charleston. The picture that Michael Richardson took of the group in front of the stern plate was absolutely phenomenal (and now proudly decorates the wall of my office).
I also wanted to thank Fran Gower and Nancy Hill for their hard work EVERY YEAR on the silent auction and the raffle.
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Once again, I want to ask for suggestions from our members. Please let me know how I can make Mid-Rats more interesting and something that you look forward to reading.
If you have any ideas, thoughts, or suggestions, please send them to me at Saratogamidrats@gmail.com.
Thanks, and hope to see you in San Diego!!
Be safe and be well!
Secretary Message
Ed McCready (Secretary)
Error on January Newsletter Envelope
Within the recent January newsletter, I noted the envelope should have an indication as to the last time your dues were paid or if you were an honorary member or a life member. UNFORTUNATELY, the printer did not follow through on this agreed to plan and failed to print the membership status on any envelope. This was disappointing in that I specifically indicated it would be there – which it wasn’t.
It is my plan to once more ask the printer to provide the membership status on the June newsletter – I will ask them on numerous occasions to ensure this happens correctly and will trust them to fulfill our request.
So just to be clear, if you are a LIFE MEMBER, that means you are a member for life, regardless of what the envelope says or doesn’t say. I think most Life Members know they are Life Members, but I received numerous inquiries about why they were no longer a life member.
Again, if you became a Life Member at any point in the past, you are still a Life Member.
Please understand this was a regrettable mistake and was not a deliberate personal act to confuse you or in any way minimize your commitment to become a Life Member of the Association.
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2020 is an election year for the USS Saratoga Association
Just a reminder that at the 2020 reunion in San Diego all Association leadership positions will be open and officer positions will be up for election.
If you would like to make a difference and get more involved with the leadership of the Association, now is the time to start thinking about volunteering. Please reach out to myself or to any of the other members of the Executive board for information on any of the leadership positions.
Having new sets of eyes and fresh ideas can benefit the Association and help keep it moving forward far into the future. Get involved, help your shipmates and the Association and make a difference!
Historian Needed
Brad Senter (President)
The Association is actively seeking a replacement historian to take over for KC Boles.
The Duties of the Association’s Historian are as follows:
- The historian has sole custody of the Association’s memorabilia.
- The historian makes every attempt to store the memorabilia in a climate-controlled environment.
- The historian arranges to have the memorabilia shipped to and from the annual reunion.
- The historian sets up and tears down the display at the reunion.
- The historian provides security for the memorabilia at and during the reunion.
The historian is an active member of the USS Saratoga Association’s Executive Board.
The Association Executive Board and its members would like to thank KC Boles for his nearly 10 years of service to the Association in this position. We greatly appreciate his time and dedication to the Association.
The Association urgently needs someone step up and take over this position. The reunions would not be the same without the Saratoga Memorabilia and Artifacts being on display for the attendees.
For more information and/or to express interest, please contact President Brad Senter.
Ship’s Store
Phil Rasnick (Storekeeper)
Ship’s Store Sale!
Shipmates, when you get a chance check out the ship’s store. We have a lot of merchandise on sale – and, all sale items include shipping in the price.
Here are some examples of the deals:
- Saratoga caps $15 - $17
- Belt buckles $12
- Windbreakers $10 (small and medium size only)
- License plate frames $5
- Mouse pads $4
- Denim Button-up Shirts $15
- Khaki Button-up Shirts $12
We only have limited supply and sizes of many of the sale items, so get yours now!
Pricing drops as supplies shrink. Check back regularly!
There are only have a few items left from the ship’s steel. A few rough pieces of conduit and then the really nice 5” Lucite souvenir. When these are gone, all steel items will be gone!
Attention Marines!
The ship’s store needs to order items for the Marine detachment.
Rather than purchase what we think you’d buy; Phil would like to have some feedback from you on what you’d like to have available. We only have a small number of hats, a couple of jackets and a few t-shirts (red) available that we need to replace.
Your ideas for designs, colors, etc.… would be greatly appreciated!
Mail your order with an order form which you can download from the ship’s store page on the Association’s website, or you can call Phil and he’ll take your order by phone and you can pay by credit card.
www.USS-Saratoga.com/store
Send Orders To:
Phillip Rasnick
USS Saratoga Association
8602 Dunaire Drive
Knoxville, TN 37923
Tel: (865) 253-7324
Scholarship Committee
Steve Katz (Scholarship Committee Chair)
On behalf of the USS Saratoga Association Scholarship Committee I would like to bring attention to the main points of interest about our program and to those shipmates who have recently joined us, I want to say, WELCOME ABOARD.
Here are a few points of interest pertaining to the Scholarship program.
The program has several goals which benefit the membership.
1: Our program was created as a vehicle to help enhance the Legacy of the Association. It is a goal that the Scholarship program serve as a tool allowing the name, Saratoga, to continue on for perpetuity. (Perpetuity is Latin for uninterrupted or continual, which essentially means forever.)
2: Our program offers financial assistance to those applicants who will become recipients of an award. This year that award is $2,000.00 per recipient. We will award up to four scholarships this year. We award both academic scholarships for either a two-year or four-year accredited college degree and we offer scholarships for accredited trade schools.
All of the eligibility requirements to apply for a scholarship can be found on our website <http://www.uss-saratoga.com> , under the Scholarship link. The application, which includes a required essay, is submitted on-line, utilizing PDF fill-in format.
This year we will issue up to $8,000.00 in awards. The application time frame will end on April 30, 2020.
UPDATE: Due to the pandemic, the Scholarship Committee has decided to extend the scholarship application deadline to July 31, 2020.
3: The program also serves as a valuable tool to assist in increasing the Association’s Membership. One of the eligibility requirements to apply for a Scholarship, is that the applicant’s relative to be an Association member in good standing for the past twelve months, which means their dues must be current.
Should you wish to send a tax-deductible donation to the scholarship fund, please make out your check to USS Saratoga Reunion Scholarship Fund.
Send checks to:
USS Saratoga Association
447 Land ‘Or Drive.
Ruther Glen, VA 22546
The Committee extends our sincere thanks and gratitude to those who have graciously donated to the program. We thank the Executive Board for their continued support of this program.
Remember, our children are our future.
Take care Shipmates.
Working towards a new Saratoga
At the 2018 reunion in San Antonio, the Executive Board and Membership agreed to support a plan to lobby the Secretary of the Navy to name a new US Navy ship, Saratoga. In December 2018, the Association officially asked SECNAV to consider this and since that time, we’ve been working on different avenues to bring our voices on this matter to his attention.
Some of our latest measures:
- In October, a letter was sent to the Secretary, that included the hundreds of signatures that were collected at last year's reunion in Charleston.
- Former Saratoga CO retired Rear Admiral Joseph S. Mobley sent a letter to SECNAV adding his voice to that of the members of the Association. Former CO, retired Captain William H. Kennedy has also pledged to write a letter on behalf of the mission.
- Recently, we added a new tab to the Association’s website http://www.USS-Saratoga.com/NewSaratoga to more easily allow interested parties to download and send a letter.
Under this tab, we have a form letter (at the bottom, labeled “Download SECNAV Letter”) which can be downloaded, signed with your name and address and sent to the Secretary of the Navy asking him to consider bringing the name Saratoga back to active duty.
This letter is meant to make the process as easy as possible for those that would like to lend their support to this campaign. If you would like to write you own letter, that's perfectly acceptable and encouraged.
We would also ask that you consider asking your friends and family to download the letter (or write their own) and help us in our pursuit of convincing SECNAV to name a new US Navy ship, Saratoga.
A Shipmate In Need
Saratoga shipmate and Association Life member, Ed Spear was diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer in October.
Ed has been chronicling his on-going battle since his diagnosis at: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/oldsaltnavydays
Currently, he’s completed 6 of 12 bi-weekly chemo treatments, but it’ll be June before he will find out if his treatments have been successful.
Ed could use some financial help with his medical bills, as he had to stop working when he received his diagnosis.
If you would like to help, he has set up two accounts to accept donations:
PayPal <https://paypal.me/edwardspear?locale.x=en_US>
Venmo <https://venmo.com/spear44> (EddieSpear)
Ed says that everyone who donates will receive a signed copy of his book Navy Days: Memoirs of a Sailor In the 60’s <https://navydaysmemoirs.blogspot.com/>, in which tells the story of his time in the Navy from 1961-1965, serving aboard both the Saratoga and the Roosevelt.
After you’ve donated, email Ed < oldsalt5520@gmail.com> with your mailing address to receive the book.
A Few Minutes with...... Stephen Katz
Bill Lack (Vice President/Mid-Rats Editor)
I recently spent a little time talking to Stephen Katz, chairperson of the USS Saratoga Association Scholarship fund.
Steve grew up on Long Island, NY and enlisted in the Navy in 1966. He said he chose the Navy because his father had a ship’s chandlery business and had always had boats. He was always attracted to the water, so the Navy seemed like a natural choice.
Steve served aboard the Saratoga from ’66 to ’68. He did 2 years active and a little less than 4 years active reserve, being discharged from active duty when he left the ship. He’s one of the large group of CR Div. alumni that are so prevalent at every reunion. Onboard, Steve was a Communications YN 3rd Class and sported the nickname, “Alley Kat”.
After leaving active duty, he had a series of jobs, before taking a position as a Manufacturer’s Rep for a plumbing business in Baldwinsville, NY. He ended up doing this for 28 years, culminating in his selling his company in 2000. He then, stayed on with the company for two more years to help with the transition to the new ownership. His wife, Amy had moved into their newly built house in Florida in 2001 and Steve followed her to Florida, at the end of the two years, in 2002.
A few months later, the friend who had bought his company, asked him to come back to train his sales force, a job that he did for a couple of more years before finally retiring for good.
Steve found out about the Saratoga Association from an old friend & another CR shipmate, Phil Flanagan, who convinced him to attend his first reunion in Orlando in 2007. Since then, Steve’s attended nearly every reunion.
During the period when Sammy King was president of the Association, he called Steve looking for ideas in which the Association could keep itself and the Saratoga name alive in the long term. Steve said he’d give it some thought and, after mentioning it to his daughter, she suggested a scholarship program. Sammy got board approval and handed the idea of the scholarship fund back to Steve and told him to run with it. Sammy and Steve decided they wanted a representative from all three versions of the Saratoga (CV-3, CVA-60, CV-60) involved. The original members of the Scholarship Committee were Captain Steve Medina, Steve, and John Bolton.
Steve met with his friends at the local Chamber of Commerce to get some ideas on how to set it up and they gave him a lot of help, giving him some basic guidelines and a grading rubric to use for scoring the applications. He also met with the assistant superintendent of his local school board, to ensure that he was on the right track.
When Steve met with the Association Executive Board, he asked the board to agree to support 3 years of two $1000 scholarships per year, one to be awarded to a 4- or 2-year traditional college student and one to be awarded to a student who was going to attend a trade school.
The first scholarships were awarded in 2018, last year four $1000 scholarships were awarded and at this year’s business meeting the Association decided to up the amount to $2000 per scholarship.
Steve is also very involved with Honor Flight of West Central Florida (which encompasses 10 counties surrounding Tampa). He was recently asked to accept a seat on their Board of Directors. Since its inception, this chapter of Honor Flight has flown over 3000 vets to Washington to visit the memorials which were built to honor their service.
Steve and his wife, Amy, who met after being introduced by his mother and Amy’s aunt. They have now been married for over 50 years. They live in the Spring Hill, Florida area, north of Tampa. They have one daughter and 2 grandchildren.
2020 Saratoga Classic Half Marathon & Super Sara 5K
Skip Burnham (Master-At Arms) w/ input from Terra Downey (MWR Mayport)
Naval Station Mayport held its first Saratoga Classic Half Marathon & Super Sara 5K, named “Run The Ship” in honor of the USS Saratoga in February, 2019. The event was such a success, the base Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR) department, with the full support of Captain Dave Yoder (CO – NS Mayport) and NS Mayport Command Master Chief Teri Zehnacker, immediately started planning for the 2020 event.
It was a cool crisp (45 degrees) morning on January 26th when 542 runners made their way to the “carrier piers” to run/walk the 2nd Annual race. In attendance on the pier that morning were NS Mayport commanding officer Captain Jason Canfield, NS Mayport Command Master Chief Zehnacker, and the Saratoga’s last commanding officer, Captain William “Turkey Bill” Kennedy. Representing the USS Saratoga Association were members Steve Katz and Skip Burnham.
The Association was a squadron level sponsor of the race. The Board felt this would not only promote the Association, but would also support the race and keep the ship’s name in the public eye as we work towards convincing the Secretary of the Navy to name another ship, Saratoga.
But the true “star” that cold January morning was the Saratoga’s shining stern plate, which was prominently displayed behind the start/finish line for all to see when they finished the race.
MWR set up a “museum tent” adjacent to the awards stage that held some Saratoga memorabilia, a poster showing the Saratoga underway, a television playing a video of life aboard the Saratoga, and the return of the stern plate in January, 2019. Like our reunions, MWR had a poster board made up and displayed in the “museum tent” for former Saratoga shipmates to sign. By the end of the day over thirty former crew members had signed the board. Steve Katz thought to bring and hand out Association membership applications while “manning the tent”.
The race was remarkable. Medals were presented to all who finished the race, and trophies were presented to the top three finishers in each category by Captain Kennedy and Captain Canfield.
There were many interesting finishers, including an 8-year-old girl that ran the 5K and finished 4th among women (and 19th overall) and a 60-year-old man winning the 5K (with a 14-year-old coming in 2nd). There were several running clubs from around the Jacksonville area in attendance, along with moms and dads running, pushing strollers with their kids in them. But the one event that super charged everyone on the pier that morning was when a woman in a custom made athletic wheel chair wheeled her way across the finish line of the Half Marathon.
Hundreds and hundreds of pictures were taken that morning. From runners finishing the race, to runners and spectators posing with the Coast Guard and their “fast attack” boat. But the most photographed person was, without a doubt, Captain Kennedy. Everyone wanted their picture taken with the last skipper of our great ship.
Next year’s race will be held on January 24, 2022. MWR believes the turnout will be even larger next year than this year as one of the other big races in the Jacksonville area is changing dates and the Saratoga race will be the only race held in January. Registrations are already ahead of last year.
Captain Kennedy made me promise that I would see him at next year’s race. I’ll be there, and, hopefully, we will see you there too.
Attention CV-3 crew members
Recently, the Executive board received the following email, the top section (in italics), as it states, was send to PSNS and the National Archives, but in the section below that, Mr. Welsch asked us to direct his inquiry to our CV-3 shipmates to see if they had any memory of this discovery and subsequent internment. If you’re able to help him, his contact information is listed below.
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My father was stationed aboard the USS Saratoga CV-3 from 1942 until late 1945 or early 1946. The ship was severely damaged by a Japanese kamikaze attack off Iwo Jima February 21st, 1945. She arrived at what was NYPS March 21st 1945 for repair.
During the repair process human remains were discovered. These remains were interned in the Navy portion of the Evergreen Cemetery in Bremerton. The gravestone read Saratoga Unknowns. The gravestone was discovered in 1989 or 1990, which lead to the installment of the Saratoga Monument at Evergreen in 1991.
I was the guest speaker at the ceremony. A letter my father wrote describing the attack was instrumental in the process of acquiring the Saratoga Monument. Over the year’s questions have been asked about the process that occurred from the discovery of remains through their interment. Exactly what is in the grave and when were they buried?
I do not expect the person reading this to have the answers. However, I spent nine years in the Navy so I am sure there were instructions and policies for the handling of human remains discovered during repair. These instructions required reports that are somewhere.
My question then is where do I start my search. I know the Saratoga arrived in Bremerton on March 21st, 1945. My Dad said he had a memory of 21’s. 2 -21 attack; 3-21 Bremerton; 4 -21 he married my mother. That is the extent of my knowledge.
Thank you very much for your time! Sincerely,
James M. (Jim) Welsch
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The email above was sent to PSNS and the National Archives. I am in the process of researching those sources. I am wondering if there is any way to ask survivors if they have any knowledge of the discovery and interment of the remains?
Thank you for your time,
James M. (Jim) Welsch <oldaq1@gmail.com>
Son of J.M. Welsch EM1
Chaplain’s Corner
Reverend Dr. J. Lee Martin, Ph.D. (Chaplain)
FROM THE CHANCEL WINDOW
JOHN 10: 1-6
I KNEW A MAN ONCE WHO TOLD ME THIS STORY. HIS NAME WAS JOHN AND HE RAISED SHEEP ON HIS SMALL FARM. WHEN THE TIME HAD COME FOR THE SHEEP TO BE BROUGHT INTO THEIR BARN, JOHN WOULD GO OUT TO THE FENCE AND CALL OUT TO THEM AND THEY WOULD COME SCAMPERING TOWARD HIM. ONE YEAR, HE CAME DOWN WITH A TERRIBLE COLD AND RASPY VOICE. HE CALLED UP HIS NEIGHBOR AND TOLD HIM THAT HIS SHEEP WERE IN THE SMALL FIELD AND HE FELT TOO ILL AND HIS VOICE STILL TOO RASPY TO GO OUT AND CALL TO THEM IN, SO WOULD HIS FRIEND, WHO ALSO RAISED SHEEP, GO OUT AND TRY TO GET THEM TO COME TO THE BARN. THE NEIGHBOR SAID HE WOULD BE GLAD TO TRY AND GET HIS SHEEP TO COME IN FROM THE FIELD. THE NEIGHBOR ARRIVED, WENT TO THE FENCE AND BEGAN TO CALL OUT TO THE SHEEP. OVER AND OVER AGAIN THE MAN CALLED OUT TO THE SHEEP. THEY IGNORED HIM. SO, THE MAN WENT TO THE HOUSE AND SAID, “JOHN, I CAN’T GET YOUR SHEEP TO COME IN; YOU WILL HAVE TO TRY.” SO, THE TWO MEN WENT OUT TO THE FENCE AND JOHN WITH HIS RASPY VOICE CALLED OUT IN A FEEBLE TONE FOR HIS SHEEP TO COME TO THE BARN. THE SHEEP BEGAN TO RESPOND. THEY LIFTED THEIR HEADS AND LISTENED. AND THEN ALL TOGETHER BEGAN TO MOVE TOWARD THE FENCE AND BARN WHERE JOHN WAS CALLING OUT TO THEM. THE NEIGHBOR HELPED JOHN TO HERD THE SHEEP INTO THE BARN, AFTER WHICH JOHN THANKED HIS FRIEND AND THEN RETURNED TO HIS HOUSE.
JESUS SAYS THAT HIS SHEEP KNOW HIS VOICE. THOSE WHO FOLLOW JESUS ARE HIS “SHEEP” AND KNOW HIS VOICE….HIS CALL TO THEM TO NEW LIFE THROUGH FAITH IN HIM. IN FACT, HE KNOWS HIS SHEEP BY NAME. THAT HE KNOWS EACH FOLLOWER BY NAME IS A PROFOUND COMFORT IN THESE TROUBLING DAYS OF THE COVID-19 VIRUS. BELONGING TO THE GOOD SHEPHERD, JESUS, WHO KNOWS US PERSONALLY PROVIDES SPIRITUAL COMFORT AT A TIME WHEN MUCH OF LIFE HAS BEEN THROWN INTO A FLUX, UNCERTAINTY, OR PERHAPS THE SAD PASSING OF FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS DUE TO THE VIRUS.
THE GOOD SHEPHERD WHO BORE MANY GRIEFS AND SORROWS IN HIS LIFE KNOWS OUR NEEDS BEFORE WE ASK. DO NOT LET THE PROSPECT OF THE “VALLEY OF SHADOWS” (Psalm 23) CONSUME YOUR THINKING. THIS ONLY PROVOKES FEAR AND ANXIETY THAT IMPOSES A WALL AGAINST THE GOOD SHEPHERD’S VOICE. STRESS ALSO CAN REDUCE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ONE’S IMMUNE SYSTEM THUS MAKING THE PERSON MORE VULNERABLE TO THE VIRUS.
INSTEAD, TAKE A FEW MOMENTS IN QUIET MEDITATION AND LISTEN FOR THE VOICE OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD CALLING OUT TO YOU. HE IS SAYING, “COME UNTO ME, ALL YE THAT TRAVAIL AND ARE HEAVY LADEN, AND I WILL REFRESH YOU. (Matthew 11:28). JESUS ALSO SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES CONCERNING HIS SHEEP, “IF ANYONE ENTERS BY ME, HE WILL BE SAVED AND WILL GO IN AND OUT AND FIND PASTURE.”
EVEN THOUGH JOHN’S VOICE WAS WEAKENED AND DID NOT SOUND LIKE HIM IN ALL RESPECTS, HIS SHEEP WERE ABLE TO DISTINGUISH HIS VOICE FROM ANOTHER VOICE. THEY RESPONDED TO HIS VOICE AND FOLLOWED THE SOUND OF HIS VOICE BACK TO THE BARN.
IN THESE TROUBLING TIMES MANY VOICES SOUND OUT TO GAIN OUR ATTENTION. THERE IS ONE VOICE THAT OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD, WHO PROVIDES A SPIRITUAL RESPITE THAT, CAN HEAL THE INTERNAL WOUND, STRENGTHENS FAITH WEAKENED BY LIFE EVENTS, AND OFFERS THE PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE TO THOSE WHO LISTEN TO HIS VOICE.
AMEN.
Contributions and Consultation
Thanks to Skip Burnham, Terra Downey (MWR Mayport), Stephen Katz, John Lipscomb, Chaplain Dr. J. Lee Martin, Ed McCready, Steve Medina, Phil Rasnick, and Brad Senter for their suggestions, thoughts, and contributions to this edition of Saratoga Mid-Rats.
