USS Seattle (AOE-3) Veteran's Association

Formed: August 30, 2009   President: Vic Hellberg president@ussseattleaoe-3.org Vice President: Bill Norris vicepresident@ussseattleaoe-3.org Secretary: Keith Jones secreatary@ussseattleaoe-3.org  Treasurer: Al Kaspar treasurer@ussseattleaoe-3.org  Web-master: Ray Pierce webmaster@ussseattleaoe-3.org Comm Director: Dale Eicker deicker@comcast.net

 

 

USS Seattle (AOE-3) Veteran's Association Ships Crews of 1968 - 2005

 

From: Marland W Townsend Email: kitty-hawk@msn.com I was CO Seattle 1971-2 and relieved Capt Bruce Kener. I took Seattle through BIS trials during our RefTra at at Guantanamo. Greatly enjoyed working with a very talented crew that continues to have my admiration. The Med cruise was a delightful experience as I had just completed four Yankee Station cruises, and when relieved in mid-cruise I returned to Yankee Station as CO SS Kitty Hawk. I continue to believe that sailors should enjoy the Navy and have fun. I hope some of you remember the first Sixth Fleet Bosun Mate Olympics held in port at Athens on Board USS Seattle and the motor whaleobat races in Agusta Harbor. Those were a couple of things to make life enjoyable. Also swimming in the lee shore of Crete and lay Days in that location to keep up the ships' engineering plant. Every Port call was fun, and we were the first US Nasvy ship to visit the beautiful isle of Mikanos. We had complete support of ComSixthFlt, VADM Jerry Miller in everything that I asked for the crew. YOU HAD EARNED IT THROGH SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE ON EVERY UNREP OR SOVIET TRACKING ASSIGNMENT. You also earned every E in the Atlantic fleet for that period. I still feel lucky to have been part of that team. Marland (Doc) Townsend USS Seattle (AOE-3) Commanding Officer 1971-2.

 

Charter Members:

Guest Members:

Life Time Members:

2010 Sustaining Members:

 2011 Sustaining Members:

 2012 Sustaining Members:

Vic Hellberg

President USS Seattle (AOE-3) Veterans Association

I was born the first son of a third generation jeweler and his wife in Marshalltown, Iowa October 2, 1946. I have one brother and one sister. 1964 was the year I graduated from high school. I attended Marshalltown Community College one year while waiting to get into the Culinary Institute of America where I was trained to be a chef, graduating in 1967. I managed a restaurant in Minnesota for the summer before the draft caught up with me. I danced around seven states before finding a way into the Navy seven days before my draft deadline in North Dakota. Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in New Hampshire was my first year of duty after boot camp in San Diego. Then back home for Christmas and back to San Diego in late December 1968 to join the pre-commissioning group of USS Seattle. Aboard ship I was one of two bakers that served your eating needs for several months. I became a second class commissaryman during that time and moved up the chain to watch captain more quickly than normal with a second class above me missing the ship leaving San Diego for the Panama Canal. I served in that capacity until being shifted to a storekeeper billet as we left for our first med cruise. That was my job until I left the Seattle and Navy on July 8, 1971.

Ray Pierce 1968

 Ray Pierce 2009

Open publication - Free publishing - More ray

 

 

Albert (Al) Kaspar

 

Treasuer USS Seattle (AOE-3) Veterans Association

 

I joined the Navy in February of 1967 and took my Boot camp at the Great lakes Training Center.

Upon completion of Boot camp I was assigned to Naval Training Center Baltimore Md. And to the Washington Naval Yard for a total of 2 years. During this time I was working in Administration(Yeoman/Disbursing Clerk).

In July of 1969 I received orders to report to the USS Seattle AOE-3 as part of the first crew then assembling. Upon arrival on Seattle I was assigned to the Weapons Division as a SN. I served on Seattle from 1969-1971 and made 3^rd class GunnersMateGuns.

I returned to Baltimore and remained in the Reserves for another 10 years. During this time I was assigned to the following ships.

USS San Marcos LSD 25

USS Hermitage LSD 34

USS Steinaker DD863

I left the Navy in July 1981 after 14 years service. The changing politics towards the

 Navy and my not being advanced to GMG1 after passing the test 3 times led to my decision.

I dropped out of the OCS program in 1968 because I did not want to spend another 5 years on Active Duty as an Officer. Little did I know at the time that I would remain in the Navy and Reserves for 14 Years.

I married my wife Adrienne in 1970 and we have 3 children.

Holly 1972

Melissa 1973

Alex 1977

We have 3 Grandchildren, 2 Grandaughters and 1 Grandson

Holly has Sophia 2007 and Alex 2009

Melissa has Bronwyn 2010

I am a Season Ticket Holder for Navy Football and I enjoy this immensely. BEAT ARMY !!!!

Hobbies, I have been a Civil War Renactor for 29 years and we portray the following units

1^st Regiment Virginia Volunteers Company D CSA

82^nd New York Company D Union Army 2^nd Corp Army of the Potomac

I also portray a Civil War Sailor when teach at Middle Schools in Virginia, Md, & Penn.

 

I have been Retired from Bank of America since 2003 and in 2004 I started my own Accounting Firm

AJ Kaspar Accounting Services specializing in Small Business Accounting and Personal & Business Income Taxes. 

 

Keith E. Jones

Secretary, USS Seattle (AOE-3) Veterans Association

I was born on 5-23-48 in Central City, Nebraska. Raised on a farm near Marquette, Ne. with 3 brothers, I was the second oldest. I graduated Marquette High School in 1966. Not knowing what I wanted for a career and figuring that I would get drafted, I enlisted in the Navy on the delayed entry program in April of 66. My father served in the Navy during WW II. He was a 2^nd class Cook. My older brother had already been drafted into the Army, served year in Viet Nam. I figured by enlisting in the Navy I would avoid Viet Nam.

I reported to boot camp at Great lakes on August 3, 1966. In boot camp I listed my choice of rates as Cook 1^st choice, Postman 2^nd choice, and Engineman 3^rd choice, they sent me to BP&E and Engineman A school. At the end of A school I received orders for further training In California and Viet Nam (enlisting in the Navy didn't work out quite right).                                                                                                              

I went to Viet Nam in June of 67 and was assigned to River Section 533, in October I was transferred to Section 535 where I stayed for the rest of my tour. I extended for 6 months and got out of Nam in January of 69. My next assignment was the USS Seattle where I stayed until my discharge In March of 70. On the Seattle I was assigned to A Div. and was engineer on the Captain's Gig for a few months prior to discharge, I was an Engineman 3^rd class.

Back in civilian life I went to Technical College and earned a One Year Diploma in Diesel Truck Technology. I worked as an over the road truck mechanic until 1981 when I took a job as an Instructor at Southeast Community College in Milford, Ne. where I have been teaching for the past 28 years.

I was married 10 years to my first wife, two sons Davin and Keelan.

Married now 26 years to Glenda, two sons Nathan and Bryan. We have three grand children (Keelan and Jenifer's children) Alura, Kelsey and Emma.

Davin is a computer programmer over near Des Moines, Ia. Keelan taught Jr. High math for one year but prefers his work in a psychiatric Hospital, in Independence, Mo. Nathan is a communications electrician for a power company in York, Ne. and Bryan is in the Navy stationed aboard the USS Ronald Reagan in San Diego, Ca.

2010 Reunion Notes

Vic,

Thank you for letting me address the members of the USS Seattle Veterans Association.

I regret I was not able to attend the Reunion this year, but all of you were in my thoughts as I think back to last year’s Charter Reunion. It was only by chance I was even aware there was going to be a reunion. I was being nostalgic about my days on the USS Seattle when I decided to look up groups on face book and found Vic Hellberg with the USS Seattle.

He told me about the reunion taking place at the end of the month and I decided right then and there I was going to attend. It was the best time I can remember having in a long, long while. It was so great to see all of my old mates (40 years have passed). I think there were about 25 guys at that first reunion of Plank Owners and First Cruisers. What a great time.

I want to relate a short story about those Navy days…When I got out of boot in 1968, I was told I was going to be a Sonarman with on the job training. When I arrived at my first assignment, the USS Utina, I was asked what my job assignment was and I said “Sonarman - on the job training.” I have never heard so much laughter in my life. I asked what was so funny? I was told “You are a Deck Ape.” I said “No…I am a Sonarman.” After all the laughter had settled, I finally found out that there was no sonar on the ship. You see, the USS Utina was a fleet tug with 63 men in the crew. We didn’t even have a radar.

Eventually, I was able to acquire an assignment to an “A” school for Radarman. My assignment after “A” school was the USS Seattle. I arrived just before the first shake-down cruise and first med cruise. It was amazing, after the first med cruise, my wife got pregnant with our first and only child, as did about 1/3 of the ships wife’s, as many of you know…and that was the story of how it all started for me.

I wish all of you who are attending this year’s USS Seattle reunion, a wonderful time.

May the wind always be at your back.

________________________________________
Michael H. Miller

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream.
It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same."
~Ronald Reagan

Mike80921@msn.com
 

SHIPMATES

I congratulate the Association Officers and the Reunion Planning Committee for organizing and executing a most memorable reunion. Meeting those crewmembers that I had not previously met and seeing those shipmates who served during my time aboard was exciting. Wonderful memories were refreshed.

The opportunity to visit USS Seattle AOE3's birthplace and observe today's Navy in action at Bremerton was educational for everyone. It makes us proud to have served and established a basis for the pride that today's sailors demonstrate in their daily performance of duty.

Every day was fun. I appreciate the kindness and consideration shown me and I hope that I was able to fully show my appreciation to each and every shipmate.

With Respect and Best Regards to all,
It is Still Our Navy!

Doc Townsend, CO USS Seattle AOE 1971/72

John J. Cardillo SR
09/03/10 06:37 AM
Vic - First all I want to thank the sailors of the USS Seattle for their service. Second, I want to thank you and your group for the awesome job for putting this reunion together. It brought tears to my eyes to watch the men gather and remininscene and at other times I was holding my sides from laughter... the past years seemed to melt away as they sat and chatted and exchanged their pictures... I met so many wonderful people and it was a pleasure to meet Captain Townsend. I want to thank the "A" Gang for letting me tag along with them... and it was especially more fun having Terry in the midst too.. they are a great bunch and look forward to the next Reunion. Vic if there is anything I can do to assist you in your next endeavor, please do hesitate to contact me... thanks for the memories God Bless.
Marian Cardillo
 

 

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