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Association President Joe Dennison delivered the following address during the dinner festivities on Sunday evening, October 28, 2001.
Distinguished guests, officers and men of the USS Manley Association, it is with a deep and sincere appreciation that I welcome you to this Capitol 2001 Reunion dinner of this once great naval vessel. It is a honor for me this evening to extend a very special and warm welcome to four former Commanding Officers of the Manley: Captain Raymond and Mrs. Mary Ellen Komorowski, 1964 - 1966, Captain Warren Graham, 1966 - 1967, Captain John and Mrs. Eileen Wettroth, 1967 - 1969, and Captain Mike and Mrs. Helen McGuire, 1972 - 1974. The same special welcome goes to a former Manley executive officer: Captain Joseph and Mrs. Barbara Ann Murray, 1962 - 1964. I have no idea who SOPA may be; so, if I am out of order, you must forgive me for my ignorance. I use to love it when the CO would yell for the officers' register to retrieve a lineal number and then become all excited when he learned that the guy on the bridge of the tanker was his junior. I want also to extend a big hand of welcome to a few of our young people in attendance this evening: Micca Creech, Bonnie and Robyn Gowan, Stephen Flores, and Rodney Owens. A big hand for our wonderful children and grandchildren. Let me recognize our shipmate all the way from Houston - Manuel "Flo" Flores, Jr., decorated with the Purple Heart for injuries sustained in the Mount 51 explosion, and his beautiful wife, Maria, and the proud parents of Stephen. In May of last year, I stood before
you under circumstances somewhat unpleasant and neglected in my
excitement and enthusiasm to recognize the key people who deserved
my recognition. I apologize now for the faux pas and wish to
correct that situation this evening. Charlie Brant put in place the foundation that is now the USS Manley (DD-940) Association. He and his wonderful wife, Ann, devoted their time and much effort and personal expense so that the Association was assured a future. I have never overlooked that; but, I am guilty of allowing my preoccupations to let their service stand without proper notice. Along with Charlie and Ann, Ken Finegan gave much of his energy in constructing the Association framework without realizing the importance of his efforts. Of course, the counsel of my very good friend, Ernie Yost, is not without due notice also, as well as the work of so many others who have been dedicated to the Manley legacy over the years. (At this time, the speaker makes a telephone call to shipmate David Smith in Florida and is being broadcast to the audience on a speaker.) Hello David. This is Joe Dennison at the USS Manley reunion in Fairfax, Virginia. How are you, David.? David, I called to thank you for the work that you have put into the web site at plateau.net. That page was instrumental in laying the foundation for what is now the USS Manley Association because it was the original and only source of names with whom we were able to make contact to kick-start this organization. We started with a handful of guys from your efforts and now have grown into a database of nearly 500 former crew members. I have about 70 Manley sailors who join me tonight in saying: thank you! We extend our well wishes and are remembering you in our prayers." That's what all this reunion stuff is about, isn't it? And I have heard a few of you utter it in the last few days: Shipmates! Shipmates! The tours, this dinner, the hospitality room, and all the other forms of meeting are for the purpose of bringing shipmates together. Did you hear the tour guide Saturday morning say that the Army has nothing like it? Let's not forget our purpose: to bring our people together. David Smith was a young radioman from 78 to 79 with dreams and a future. Hit by lighting in 1992, he is homebound today. In spite of his physical setbacks, David remains very proud of his naval service aboard Manley and continues to work to bring the Manley crew together although he is unable to attend a reunion. He is the example of shipmate! Assisting me to bring this Capitol 2001 reunion to fruition is another group of very special people. Don and Dottie LaRue of McKinney, Texas; Larry and Geri Lutz of Port Crane, New York; Ed Gowan of Deland, Florida. Of course, at my side through calm and storm, my North Star and trusted friend and wife, Shirley. Ladies and gentlemen, it is my distinct honor and pleasure to introduce to you our keynote speaker this evening, Executive Officer of the USS Manley from 1963 until 1964, he volunteered to lead a small band of sailors to go ashore on the island of Zanzibar in January 1964 during a violent revolution, and he successfully negotiated the release of ninety-two U.S. citizens being held hostage by armed rebel forces. In August 1968, then a Navy Commander, he assumed command of the destroyer Richard S. Edwards that saw a successful deployment in southeast Asia. He and Barbara Ann have four children and eight grandchildren and enjoy retired life in Wildwood, Missouri. He was one of my early XOs during my Manley tour and I knew him to be a great naval officer and professional sailor who easily commanded the respect and admiration of the entire crew. I was overjoyed six months ago when I opened an e-mail one morning to learn that my former boss was planning to attend this evening. He has made the trip all the way from Missouri to tell you a story of giant significance in the history of Manley. His story will illustrate clearly who we are. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming Captain Joseph E. Murray, Jr., United States Navy now retired...
This page last updated 17 August 2011 |
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