USS Yorktown CG48

Yorktown Reunion July 4th 2009

David Black (OS1) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 22:05:00 -0600

Yorktown plankowner Mike Hirsch and I were on the same train of though last weekend. Mike called me tonight and said why not have a reunion on July 4th, 2009? I told him Bill Kivlan and I were just talking about that very thing last weekend. So. . . what do you think? Ready for a reunion of all Yorktown sailors? Want to join a committee to put a reunion together?

I told Mike I would post this idea on the site, so, here 'tis. We are certainly open to any suggestion for the reunion next year. We want to see ALL YORKTOWN CG48 SAILORS!

Mike and I will interject some of our thoughts on the location and time and these are only suggestions, we will go along with the majority :

The 4th of July 2009 will be the 25th year of the commissioning. We thought a reunion in Tidewater might get a large attendance. Yorktown is just up the road and Mike thought we could collaborate with the citizens of Yorktown for some celebration and festivities.

Another thought: I have had some discussions with other Yorktown sailors and they thought a reunion with the USS Yorktown sailors from CV 10 might be feasible and worth looking into. In fact, the CV10 web site has a CG48 page on their site which can be seen at this link: http://www.ussyorktown.net/main/index.php I recall talking to some members of the CV10 association at the decommissioning ceremony in Pascagoula, MS they would be interested in CG48 sailors joining their association. That might be happening today. I'm not sure but it wouldn't surprise me.

So, I hope to see a reunion of the Yorktown on July 4, 2009. Until then, let's see what the sailors from Yorktown think about this future event. Contact me at maldenite@gmail.com

Mike said he would utilize his mailing list he saved from the decommissioning ceremony. Hope this reaches plenty of Yorktown sailors and I am looking forward to another great time with my shipmates.

After everyone arrived in Pascagoula in 2004, it seemed like yesterday since the last time we met. It was a great time!

Stay in touch and smooth sailing. OS1(SW) David Black-1983-1986

Yorktown Black Sea OPs

waltx4 — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 18:54:00 -0600

I still have some copies of the shouldering incident if anyone is interested. I have changed ISP's and have a new Email. It is waltx4@charter.net Please send me your address. For Cliff Serano (OS3) please email me back, I lost all info when I changed and can not retrieve it...
Thanks
Darin Walter

Information on Yorktown Sinking

David Black (OS1) — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 12:48:00 -0600

This information was mailed to by GunnermateM@aol.com on September 12th. So perhaps they have changed their mind about sinking Yorktown.

From: "Dunnigan, Katie A CIV NAVSEA"
To:
Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2006 09:44:23 -0400
Subject: RE: USS Yorktown CG-48
Mr. Watts,
Below are the responses to the questions submitted in an e-mail dated Aug. 30. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Thanks,
Katie

Katie Dunnigan
Public Affairs Officer
Naval Sea Systems Command
202-781-3350
katie.dunnigan@navy.mil

Q1. Can you tell me about the status of the ship? How will it be disposed and when?
A1. The ex-USS Yorktown is a decommissioned inactive ship at the NAVSEA Inactive Ship Maintenance Office (INACTSHIPMAINTO) in Philadelphia, Pa. The ship is designated to be sunk as a part of a fleet sinking exercise. The date and location have not been set yet.

Q2. What is the current state of the ship? Has everything been stripped off already? Are the missile launchers and the guns still onboard?
A2. The Navy is in the process of preparing the ship for sinking. Most of the weapons systems have already been removed from the ship.

Q3. Is there any way we can some souvenirs off the ship?
A3. Unfortunately, the Navy cannot permit veterans, or any individuals, to remove material from the ship. The Navy is only authorized by law to donate material to eligible non-profit organizations for educational display purposes at no cost to the government.

Q4. Do you have any current pictures of the ship that we can have?
A4. Unfortunately, the Navy does not have current pictures of the ship available.

Thanks to Mr. Watts for sending that information.

Valley Forge Sunk

David Black (OS1) — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 12:40:00 -0600

Received this article from Mike Hirsch.

Aegis ship sunk on target range

The first Navy Aegis ship to be sent to Davey Jones' locker now rests on the bottom of the Pacific, done in by a combination of missiles and gunfire.

The decommissioned cruiser Valley Forge was sunk as part of a Nov. 2 target practice on a test range near Kauai, Hawaii, according to the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

The fourth Ticonderoga-class Aegis cruiser to be built, it was in service for only 18 years, from 1986 to 2004. The ships were designed to serve at least three decades, but the Navy decommissioned the first five Aegis cruisers in 2004 and 2005, citing their older missile systems.

The Navy could not say whether the Aegis combat system was on board at the time of the sinking, although Naval Sea Systems Command said Nov. 17 that "various components of the Aegis weapon system have been removed."

Topside items such as missile directors, radars and gun mounts were removed prior to the sinking. None of the other decommissioned Aegis cruisers are currently scheduled for sinking, the Navy said.

Sinking ships at sea, usually for target practice, has become a regular method of disposal. Of 31 decommissioned Spruance-class destroyers, 19 already have been sunk and three more are scheduled. Only two ships have been scrapped, and two more are scheduled to be broken up.

Yorktown Video

waltx4 — Thu, 09 Mar 2006 20:21:00 -0600

Hello
I have a DVD of the incident at Sea in the Black Sea if anyone is interested. It also contains the Christmas special of1987.
You can Email me at waltx4@intergate.com
If you can, please send $5.00 to cover transfer and DVD cost as well as shipping.
Thanks

or snail mail @

Darin Walter
11253 West Second Street
P.O. box 225
Fowler, MI. 48835

Donations

David Black (OS1) — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 23:39:00 -0600

Thanks to Mike Zimmerman and Mark Jeffcoat for the generous donations for running the Yorktown weblog! I hope some of us can begin think about a reunion in 2006 and NLT 2007. I know you are busy with Christmas and New Year holidays with family and friends but it would be great to have another reunion. Where and when is the big question.

If anyone wants to post photographs or holiday greetings on the site and have a little trouble figuring the ins and outs of posting on the website, let me do it for you. Just e-mail me your message and photograph to post on the site and I will be more than happy to upload them. There is a link on the site to contact me but just in case you need a quick link in this posting write to: maldenite@gmail.com and I will get your information posted.

I am still trying to get some photographs uploaded that Kenny Zimmerman sent in June, so you can see that my schedule has been loaded with starting a new business and developing sites for other clients. I will get back to the Yorktown this winter.

Thanks so much for any help with expenses and being patient with uploads.

MISSISSIPPI AREA

GARY GETMAN — Sun, 11 Sep 2005 20:05:00 -0500

KATRINA ASSISTANCE

Good Luck Thunders! Watch Out Katrina!

David Black (OS1) — Sun, 28 Aug 2005 23:52:00 -0500

Good Luck Thunders! Watch out Katrina! is a tribute the many fine people in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Affectionately known as "Goula" to many, our thoughts for their safety during the hurricane. What is now called the largest hurricane in the last 500 years will surely cross near the city of Pascagoula and many sailors of the Yorktown will pause and remember those who live in the city.

I have been absent from publishing on the web site and regret that I have not been able to update the site like I want to but I have plans for becoming more active since some of the summer business on my end has slowed. Perhaps this winter, I can have some new design and ideas to share with you on the site development.

Mike Zimmerman recently made a wonderful donation and for that we can all be happy that Mike will keep the lights turned on for the site. I have been in contact with some Yorktown sailors and they have been kind enough to donate their photographs. I promise to find time to upload them to the site soon.

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to visit the site and please stay in touch with me and return to see more information about site development. Good luck and smooth sailing and especially for citizens that must deal with the wrath of Katrina.

Photographs

waltx4 — Thu, 04 Aug 2005 22:28:00 -0500

I served aboard the Yorktown for 4 years as an OS and the ships Photographer. If anyone is interested I ...

CG-48 LIFE

GARY GETMAN — Mon, 25 Jul 2005 08:03:00 -0500

Am looking for photos or videos of "Precom" and "Commissioning"!
Attemptuing to put together a scrapbook of the Yorktown's birth and life!
Any and all photos/videos would be greatly appreciated!
If anyone knows where I might obtain these, please let me know, either on this website or at my home address

My address: DCC(SW) Gary S. Getman, USN Retired
2237 Hoss Road
Utica, Ohio 43080

Email: GSGETMAN@ECR.NET

Decommissioning Video / DVD

Ramsoft — Tue, 22 Feb 2005 23:18:00 -0600

I am looking for video and pictures of the USS Yorktown's decommissioning. I will be producing a decommissioning DVD for all ex Yorktown sailors.

Yorktown Plankowners Contact List

David Black (OS1) — Sun, 06 Feb 2005 16:26:00 -0600

Mike Hirsch, a driving force behind the success of the Yorktown decommissioning ceremony in December 2004, was kind enough to send me the current list for Yorktown plankowners. Please respect the wishes of members that have offered their e-mail for public viewing.

If you desire to have your name removed from the list, please let me know by e-mail.

Mike and I were discussing the growth and potential of the Yorktown site and we feel that it belongs to any Yorktown sailor. So, if you sailed with the Yorktown, write me and I will add your name to the mailing list.
In the interest of Yorktown Plankowners who have requested the contact page be removed from the site, you can contact me and I will verify that it is a valid request with e-mail verification. Once I am comfortable that it is a Yorktown friend looking for someone, I will reply.

Joining Yorktown Site

David Black (OS1) — Sat, 29 Jan 2005 16:34:00 -0600

Today I created another link to help new users join the site. At the center of our heading, just click the Yorktown seal and it will take you to the site to join. What's the advantage of being a member of the site? Well, it allows you to post and upload photographs if you desire. You can be notified of postings by using your e-mail program is another good reason for joining the site. No need to keep checking back on the site, just use RSS feeds on the site and you will be automatically notified when the site or your special interest is updated. You can subscribe to a specific article that might be in progress and updated. Again, thanks for keeping the site going with donations and continued support.

Mark's Memories Touch Spirit of Yorktown and Ms. Mary

David Black (OS1) — Tue, 25 Jan 2005 21:37:00 -0600

Mark Watts

It's been an interesting conversation with Mark Watts. He is just another example of the type of sailors that roamed the decks of Yorktown. Always willing to give of themselves for the betterment of the crew and memory of Yorktown.

Mark wrote that he first became acquainted with Nick and Mary when his father was stationed at Fort Eutis in the summer of 1970. It was the first time they visited Nick's Seafood Restaurant and they immediately fell in love with Nick and the great sea food he served. He said, "Until my dying days, I will always believe it was the best seafood ever."

In 1988 Mark's parents came on board the Yorktown for a dependants cruise, and of course, Nick's was on top of the list for dining with the family. That first night Mark and his parents dined at Nick's. When his father was checking out and paying the bill you might guess what Ms. Mary did for the family. Yep, like so many other sailors from the Yorktown, she refused to accept their payment. In fact, much to Mark's father's insistence, Ms. Mary refused to accept payment during their stay the second night. How many times have sailors from Yorktown experienced the complete unselfish love Ms. Mary demonstrated time and time again for Yorktown families. Mark said his Christmas tape has lots of footage about Mary and some day I hope to have that on the site.

Mark mentioned that he would like to see our Yorktown berthed alongside Yorktown CV10. That would be wonderful and a huge undertaking. Not to forget the political clout that would be needed to keep her alive tied next to CV10. You never know, that could happen. As time passes, perhaps CG48 could find a home in Charleston. If you are looking for a great site about CV 10, check out Patriots Point. It's a great site with lots of Flash and interaction.

Although Mark was unable to attend the decommissioning ceremony last December he remarked that he is definitely excited about the next reunion. I believe he has lots to add to the Yorktown story. There are thousands of stories from Yorktown sailors and it's a keyboard stroke away. Send e-mail to me and I will make sure it gets posted.

Now, for some more good news. Richard Daigle honored the website tonight with a wonderful donation to keep things rolling. I look forward to hearing more about what Richard is doing today and what Yorktown adventure he might share on the site.

A BZ to all of you that have shared your donations and many others that have taken time to visit the CG48 website! Captain Rick Easton recently wrote that he enjoyed visiting the site and really appreciated the work put into the ceremony last December.

My good shipmate friend, Mike Hirsch, deserves a lot of credit for pulling us together in Pascougla. My heart is yearning for another reunion and I hope it is soon. Here's wishing smooth sailing for all of you.

RSS Feed and My Yahoo!

David Black (OS1) — Tue, 25 Jan 2005 19:41:00 -0600

If you take a glance to the right of the website, I have created two links that you can use to keep up with the Yorktown site. I use RSS news feeds on my favorite sites and it keeps me posted when new information is uploaded.

If you use Yahoo! then the link will give you a choice if you want to add Yorktown to your site news feeds.

Any questions about how to use RSS news feeds this site gives some excellent information: Fagan Finder.

Naturally, you can always Google RSS and find tons of sites explaining the use and future of RSS on the internet. Many writers of technical advances on the web, say that RSS is making waves in the world wide web. Keeping up with avalanches of information on the internet is at times daunting.

I find it a big time saver and nothing is more a thief of time than computers. So, any edge to stay close to my favorite site is an advantage. Hope it helps you manage your time. Thanks for taking the time to visit the Yorktown site.

Another Yorkktown Sailor Join The Website!

David Black (OS1) — Tue, 25 Jan 2005 19:09:00 -0600

Mark Watts
GMM2 (SW)
USS Yorktown CG-48 1988 1989

Thanks to Mark's very generous donation and uploading his photographs for Yorktown crew members to enjoy.

Mark wrote and said he has more than 500 photographs. I wrote back and said, bring them on and I will upload the historical images. Truly historical, now that she is not on active duty today.

He added that he had tons of memorabilia from the ship and expressed a desire to see items available today. I will get busy building a store for purchases of Yorktown collectibles.

Mark just e-mailed me and said he had some videos. He owns some videos of the ramming incident with the Soviet Union and a Christmas party by Norfolk television crews. I asked him to send them to me and I would upload the movies to the website.

Stay in touch for more photographs and information about the Yorktown activities. One day we will have to decide when we hold the next reunion. Any ideas, let me know and I will do my best to arrange it for the website. Smooth sailing for now to all Yorktown sailors. Thanks Mark!

Last Tour

David Black (OS1) — Sun, 16 Jan 2005 17:26:00 -0600

OI Division, from left, Marty Martinez, Pat Joy, Brian Dean, Dan Persse, Jim Limric, David Black, Jim Mauhler, and Mike Zimmerman.

After the ceremony, OI Division took one last tour of the ship. It was filled with many memories and a some final poses and smiles on the bridge.

It was hard to describe how one felt. This was it. She was going to be hauled back to the fleet in Philadelphia and it was sad. The Yorktown we remembered was full of life, high spirits and great adventures to come.

She was quiet this day and the vacant spaces were indeed filled with just our memories of the past. I am sure each of us were thinking our own private thoughts of how another chapter of our own lives was closing this day.

One thing is for sure, we will never forget the Yorktown and the crews that served her well during a prestigious and honorable career.

NC1 Jim Hutchinson Photographs

David Black (OS1) — Tue, 11 Jan 2005 20:02:00 -0600

Jim Hutchinson gave a copy of his CD with photographs and scans of Yorktown memorabilia while at the de-commissioning weekend ceremony.
Unfortunately, like I explain in the album on the site, I don't know the names of everyone in the photograph. So, if you know who is in the photographs, e-mail me the name and I will change the album captions.

Ceremony Part 2

David Black (OS1) — Fri, 31 Dec 2004 19:21:00 -0600

Happy New Year!

Hope your New Year is a great one. I can just imagine the different fellowships that are going on tonight. I'm sure some of the conversation will be about our times we experienced at the great reunion with friends in Pascagoula.

It's hard to find the words that express what I felt when we reunited the first night. Seeing so many familiar and not so familiar faces was a really joy. A moment I will long remember. My photographs are available to anyone interested in printing copies or storing on hard drives. Let me know.

I can recall the lump in my throat while I photographed the plankowners who were deep in their own special thoughts. I saw a couple of tears, too. Tears washed with memories of twenty years ago, when most of us saw the Yorktown for the first time. Echoes in our minds of the words we once heard while walking through the passageways might have lingered in our thoughts.

I am sure Max Liberty was just around the corner holding his hands to his face as he smiled about old memories. He might have whispered, "some day you will have complete liberty with the sea gods." With a wink and a nod, we could almost see and hear 'ol Max.

I hope to help the site grow and most importantly, make it enjoyable for plankowners and sailors that served on one of the best ships to float the seas. What made it best? The crew.

I can never forget my shipmates on the USS Montrose (AKA 212) during Vietnam and that is a special moment in my heart. Yorktown ranks right up there with her and the many friendships I have made are highly cherished. Many sailors have served on great ships but I am proud to say, the Yorktown plankowners were top notch and we proved it over and over.

I haven't heard from the officers of the Yorktown and I hope they participate in the site as it changes. I invite all to contribute with articles, sea stories and photographs. I would like to see the site a place to meet shipmates and plan reunions. Pass the word. USS Yorktown is alive on the web!

Many thanks to those who donated financial support. It will be used to cover monthly expenses and to set up a Yorktown store. The store will be used to offer Yorktown memorabilia. If you have a photograph that you would like printed on coffee mugs, t-shirts and various items, let me know. You will get to see samples of items that I will put on the store site.

Once more, Happy New Year and thanks so much for visiting the site. Be sure and check out the new Ceremony 2 photographs that I uploaded to night. Select this link to go directly to the album.

Interesting Web Page

David Black (OS1) — Fri, 31 Dec 2004 15:54:00 -0600

While looking around on the web this afternoon, I ran across this link supported by www.navysite.de This is the USS Yorktown CG48 page with comments of sailors that left their names and commetns on the site.

This is not the official site of the U.S. NAVY, you can find the official one at http://www.navy.mil/.
This website has no official connection to the US Navy or the US Department of Defense.

Donations Made

David Black (OS1) — Fri, 31 Dec 2004 15:38:00 -0600

Thanks to the following plankowners for donating to the site:

Gary Getman
Dan Perrse
Jeffery Smith
Don Arnold
Mike Hirsch

I need a complete roster of all Yorktown Plankowners. If anyone knows how I can obtain this list, please e-mail me.

If anyone wants to write articles for the site and do not want to upload them, send them to me by using the link in the articles. I will be glad to post them for you.

Sea Stories! I know there are some sea stories out there just waiting to be published on the site. Send them to me or create an account and upload the stories. Just click on the account link in blue and join the site.

Shoving off for now.

DC PLUG REMOVAL

GARY GETMAN — Mon, 27 Dec 2004 10:29:00 -0600

After having completed repairs to one of the eductors while underway, a loud boom resounded from Aux 1, I never seen the CPO mess empty as fast as it did that night! AUX 1 got crowded in a hurry! XO got on the phone pronto! WHAT USE THAT BOOM! HTC Getman reported that we just removed that stubborn DC plug that had been put in the hull so that we could make repairs to the eductor!

A 15# CO2 extinguisher was used to eject the DC plug from the hull!!!

Administrating The Yorktown Site

David Black (OS1) — Mon, 20 Dec 2004 18:56:00 -0600

Hope all is well with Yorktown shipmates and their families. The Christmas celebration is just around the corners. Children and grandchildren are in great anticipation.

I wanted everyone to know that Gary Getman has agreed to help me administer the site. I really appreciate his offer to help and the site needs two volunteers to keep the site up-to-date and handle any problems. Thanks Gary!

Also, Dan Persse, James Limric, Jr., William Bunting and Mary Morley have joined the site. They have upload capability and posting privileges. Anyone can have the same access. I know that it might seem clumsy and perhaps it might seem that way, but carefully look for links that will take you to "creating an account" or if you have received an invitation from Blogware, that is the company that is hosting our site.

I know some of you expected a different site, perhaps more static, but I believe this blog can be very useful for keeping track of shipmates. It will become more evident as we get closer to having a reunion. It will prove to be one location for planning a reunion. E-mail is great but strings and strings of e-mail can be difficult to keep up with. Also, photographs of meeting locations, maps and information will be good tools for planning a reunion. '

What's important is that a blog be kept alive with information. I read an article on Yahoo about blog being the number one word requested for the U. S. dictionary companies. So, if blogging is new to you, there is tons of information about it's use and meaning.

I know there are people out there with their own sites and please let me know and I will add your link to the Favorites. In fact, I will add my site the Maldenite. It's my blog about my hometown and local news. You might not find it interesting in the way of news articles but I publish photographs that I hope you might enjoy. I have reserved my Yorktown adventure for this site.

Thanks again to all who have joined the site. Dan Persse gets a special welcome for making a donation for the cost of running the site. Dan will get a copy of the DVD history.

I remember William Bunting mentioning that he made the DVD, so William if you can provide copies that would be great. I am able to rip them and make copies but if you have an easier way, let me know. We can see that expenses can be made to you through our PayPal account.

We have lots of hits on the site. Well over 1,000 so thanks for taking the time to look at the site. Write me for suggestions. My e-mail address is always available in the link for each article.

New Album Posted

David Black (OS1) — Wed, 15 Dec 2004 23:05:00 -0600

I just finished uploading the third album for the site. Since I took over 200 photographs during the reunion, I will have more in the next few days. I will be glad to send a CD of the weekend photographs for you to print or save on your hard drive. I know it seems like I am always asking for donations to run the site but a small contribution for cost of CDs and monthly site fees would be greatly appreciate. There is a Donation Button on the right hand side. Any amount can be added and you don't have to be a member of PayPal. I can send a receipt if you like.

Hope you enjoy the site and photographs.

Joining the Yorktown Site

David Black (OS1) — Wed, 15 Dec 2004 09:24:00 -0600

The Yorktown web stats was a total of 438 page views. That means we have traffic but no one is joining the site. Benefits of joining the site is the choice of writing articles and publishing photogaphs. This means the site can be a way of communication among shipmates.

It's easy to join the site to upload your photographs and write short articles about what you find interesting or tell sea stories! Remember the funny stories you might have retold at the reunion? Share them on the site.

I will create a Sea Story folder and when you tell your story, just add the Sea Story category for a quick reference. Be sure and post it to the main page, too.

Click on this link to sign up when you view the site. This is where you get your user name and password to use the site.

Blast Off

David Black (OS1) — Tue, 14 Dec 2004 22:51:00 -0600

Well, I hope everyone that checked the site had a blast! Bad pun, I know, but hey what the heck. I didn't get to complete all the plans I had for the site but there's another day, I hope.

I want to thank Mr. Hutchinson for giving me a disc of photographs that he scanned. In fact, I used one of the Yorktown at sea photographs for the website banner.

Welcome to Yorktown's New Website

David Black (OS1) — Tue, 14 Dec 2004 09:03:00 -0600

Hello and welcome to to the USS Yorktown (CG 48) website. As some may notice this is a blog which means that a definite interaction is capable. In other words, you can post articles and photogaphs by uploading your stories and images directly on to the site.

One of the first steps in joining the Yorktown blog is to "create an account" which is on the right corner as you enter the site.

As webmaster, I will be building folders that are useful to direct readers to when they come to the site. For instance, I have a history folder that can be used for quick reference to postings. When you post, it is best to select a category that your story should be linked under.

I am going to set up a PayPal account that will be used for donations to keep the site up and running. There will not be a specific donation amount. What ever one can donate to help the site will be appreciated.

I also plan on putting up a store where Yorktown items can be purchased. Another link will be added to shop in the store. If you have items to use on the store, send me the photographs and I will use them on our store. The store is a gift item idea, such as, T-shirts, coffee cups, hats, etc.

Hope you have fun and I will be busy uploading lots of photographs that I took at the reunion and decommissioning ceremony in Pascagoula. Words can't really express how much I enjoyed seeing everyone. Thanks for visiting the site and please be sure to use the ideal e-mail notification choice when you create your account. Any questions, e-mail me.

Have fun!
David Black (OS1 (SW) proud member of the OI Division

Continental Man Found

David Black (OS1) — Tue, 14 Dec 2004 08:44:00 -0600

Hey Guys,
I found the Continental Lineman. I just received an email from York County that stated they retained it after Nick's was demolished, and Yorktown Weapons Station is picking it up tomorrow to have it displayed in a small museum. I am not sure if they know the history of the statue or not. If you want specific contact information email me and I can give you the information I was given.

Rudy
Rudy Bohannon
NAVFAC MIDLANT
rudy.bohannon@navy.mil