Manley Notes
Reach Out And Feel The Pride
Page 6
I receive notes weekly from ship-
mates expressing an opinion, a
thought, or just a casual comment.
Here are a few received recently:
“Last week I talked to a cousin who
was drafted into the Army and was
send to Vietnam for a year. He said,
‘I haven’t seen or spoken to a single
man I served with.’ That’s sad. I
have my friends from PA to MS I talk
to every few days.
The last day I worked I once again
checked the Manley roster. I can not
express the warm homey feeling I get
when I see my name listed with all
the other men who served on this
great ship.”
...Aubrey Burns
:...I wanted to thank you and the offi-
cers for the outstanding job you do
keeping this Association up and go-
ing, much less keeping it a first class
operation.”
...Billy W. Stamey (HT2)
“Thanks are really due you, not me.
Your service to the Association is both
selfless and outstanding. All mem-
bers owe you a debt of gratitude.”
...Bob Reilly
“Keep up the good work! “BZ from
your old skipper.”
...Warren Graham
Capt, USN (Ret)
“I am sending some extra. Apply it to
the needs of the Association. It’s the
least I can do for all that I feel you
have done for us.”
…..Name Withheld by request
Often I am asked, Are you a Vet?
My proud reply: you bet!
Question asked, is why that I went,
A time of turmoil, unrest and dissent.
Why I served this Country of Mine?
The draft, some might say,
Made me go that way.
That story for me is too lame.
Adventures say some
Is the reason to come?
The adventure is there,
Without bullets in the air.
Some say pride is the ride,
The glory and highs,
The reason I raised my right hand…
Agreed to defend our great land.
The sound of the drums,
Blair of the band,
The reason I served,
One might say.
It’s simple you see, why I’ll put me
‘Tween evil and those that are home,
Sacrifice I will give, so that others
might live,
The reason I served, you must see!
For its freedom I love,
Why I am not a dove,
A gift simple and true
Yes, I served the Red, White, and
Blue.
Freedom is a way of life,
Legions before me gave all.
Have you been to the Wall?
So, we might live as we please.
This Country I love, but it is only a
place,
Without Freedom the way it should
be,
That is why I served, and I did it you
see,
Because of the things I believe.
...J. R. Goldbach “Teach”
USN - 1970-1976
Writings, stories, essays and the like by
Association members are encouraged
and will be included in the newsletter at
the discretion of the editor.
What They Say...
Dear Joe…
Thank you for your e-mail. I am very
pleased to be a member of the Man-
ley Association. I never realized that
any of these organizations even ex-
isted until last summer. While at-
tending a party I happened upon an
old Navy vet. Well, we had great sto-
ries to tell each other about our Navy
experiences. Then he mentioned that
he had recently attended a reunion.
He said I should go online and see if
my ship had any type of organization.
Eight months later I decided to check
and here we are.
The three years I spent onboard Man-
ley was a very special part of my life
that I think about quite often. I am
also proud to have been part of the
Manley’s decommissioning crew in
1983. I can still remember that chilly
windy day standing on the pier in
Newport watching that big old ocean
tug hook up to the Manley and take
her to her final resting place in Philly.
It’s hard to believe 23 years have
passed since them.
Sincerely, John Bartlett
Dear Joe & Shirley,
Thinking of you and hoping your return
trip home was a safe one, and that you’re
relaxing as you reflect on the reunion and
the success of all your efforts and hard
work.
This note is meant to be a message of
thanks, praise and appreciation to you
and Shirley for all the work and effort you
put into planning such a wonderful time
for all of us.
Tom and I enjoyed being with old friends
and making new ones too. We enjoyed
the tours, the Virginia International Tattoo
show. We will be a long time reflecting on
all these wonderful memories.
Joe and Shirley, we will keep you two in
our thoughts and prayers.
Best wishes,
Tom & Gladys (Fortsch)
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