Saturday, June 25, 2005

USS ASHEVILLE 63rd Memorial

USS ASHEVILLE 63RD ANNIVERSARY MEMORIAL

I want to thank everyone here today for joining us in this Memorial ceremony. It is your support that makes the memory of those 160 sailors, on the good ship USS Asheville PG21, that gave their lives so we could be here today, such a memorable occasion. Your attendance shows the great spirit that prevails in our city. The late navy Admiral Boorda, then Chief of Naval Personnel, said “For a city, without harbor, beach or pier Asheville has truly proven itself a great “Navy Town.”

The gunboat Asheville, built in Charleston shipyard, served in China waters off and on since 1923. She was not a fleet ship but operated independently, giving refuge and protection for American citizens along the 2,000 mile China coast.

I am very proud to have served on the Asheville for 2-1/2 years, from 1936-1939, along the China coast. I must say that of all the ships I served on in my 30 years naval service, the Asheville was the most memorable of all. Fortunately I was not onboard on March 3, 1942 when she was sunk, in battle with a large Japanese force. All hands were lost in the shark infested waters without a hope of rescue, except one who was taken onboard the Japanese warship apparently to identify the ship they had sunk. He died in a Japanese prison camp, enduring 3 years of horrible treatment, from pellagra, dysentery and heart trouble. But like the Grecian legend bird ,the Phoenix, that built its greatness from its own ashes, we have kept the navy ship Asheville high in the navies history and today it triumphantly rises from the ashes of that gunboat to become the new nuclear attack submarine , USS ASHEVILLE SSN758, that today sails majestically throughout the Pacific ocean and our city was instrumental in its commissioning.

In 1984 we organized a reunion here in Asheville for the former Asheville sailors. It was a wonderful occasion. The city turned all out and entertained us royally. A private tour of the Biltmore House was given by Bill Cecil, the merchant businesses gave us an arrival party, the Mayor gave each a gold sealed proclamation, the Rotary Club gave corsages to all that attended the banquet given by the Asheville Industries and Men’s Garden Club put roses in every room we occupied. The banks and the Veteran groups paid for our luncheon at the Deer Park Restaurant. Young’s travel supplied bus service and the Citizen-Times supplied plenty of newspaper coverage. Well, it was so successful we founded a permanent organization called the South China Patrol, later the Yangtze Patrol joined us and now we are the South China Yangtze Patrol. Part of our membership now are “patrons” who joined with us because they wanted to be a part of such a unique group of “Old China Hands” as we are known, and to receive our award winning newsletter called the ChinaGunBoatMan of which I am honored to be the editor. Also during the commissioning of our latest attack nuclear submarine, the USS ASHEVILLE SSN758, we organized a naval display of all the four ships named after our city, with funds supplied by the local Fleet Reserve Association and the Navy League. The North Carolina local department of History and Archives did all the building for us. It is here today, in the city hall, that we also honor the establishment of this naval display.

It was at the Regional Asheville Airport since 1994, but here it will be more assessable to local citizens and school groups to understand their great naval heritage.

We propose, and hope to accomplish, a reunion here in 2006 for all those able to travel; after all the members are all in their 80’s. It will probably be our last reunion and what could be better than to have our first and last reunion right here in our namesake city. So with your blessings we hope to have a memorable reunion as great as we had in 1984. Thanks again for your support and attendance today.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

My grandfather James (red) elmer allen served aboard the uss asheville in the early '30s. Your web link has helped me to know a little more information about him. Unfortunently grandpa passed away in 1986. But i know he was proud of his time aboard.

Anonymous said...

My Fathers cousin was the Chief Storekeeper on the USS Asheville, his name was Robert john Hare. He hailed from Texas.
He also served with the Fourth Marines, Shanghai, served abroad the ships,USS lark,Tutuila,Dobbin, Bridge,Augusta,Sands,Dahlgren, Wyoming.Anyone know of him.
Thanks

Anonymous said...

AS I WAS LEAFING THROUGH MY MELCHER-DALLAS IOWA HISTORY BOOK THIS MORNING I NOTED THAT EDWARD V. ROMEO CHIEF MACHINISTS MATE WAS LOST AT SEA WHILE SERVING ABOART THE USS ASHEVILLE. I HAVE LIVED IN M-D FOR MANY YEARS AND KNEW SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE ROMEO FAMILY. I NOTED THAT ALL HANDS WERE LOST AT SEA, GOD BLESS THERE SOULS. I WAS A SAILOR DURING VIET NAM,AND FEEL FOR THERE FAMILYS. JUST THOUGHT SOMEONE MIGHT READ THIS AND JUST MAYBE HAVE A LOST RELATIVE WHO COULD RELATE TO THIS SHIPS CREW.

Anonymous said...

My uncle Charles Ewing, went down
with the brave serving this nation
on the USS ASHEVILLE.

Anonymous said...

My uncle Norman C. Hergert went down with the Asheville. They had him missing in action until 1945. He received a Purle Heart for his services. I just lost my father Orville D. Hergert who was a Marine during WWII. At one time his Mother had 4 sons fighting in the war.

Anonymous said...

At the request of congress, the military just changed the eligibility for the Purple Heart Medal to include POWs that died in captivity after 7 Dec 1941. Someone should get in touch with one of Fireman Fred L Brown's siblings families to see if one of them will contact the Navy to request that he be awarded the Medal based on his death in a Jap POW camp in March 1945. The phone # is 314-592-1150. Normally a relative must make the request.
It's the least that can be done for the ships sole surviving sailor and in the memory of the brave officers and crew of the Asheville. May the memory of their sacrifice never fade.
Sincerely,
Greg Krawczyk
Capt, USNR(Ret)

Anonymous said...

My father, Carl A. Puswaskis spent 32-33 as a member of the Marine Detachment on the Ashville. I have many photos and much memorabilia from those years if anyone is interested. James I. Puswaskis
LtCol. retired
jamespuswaskis@yahoo.com