Mid-Atlantic Chapter
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Photo's taken with RADM Tillotson, NECC on Memorial day, May 31, 2010. |
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Presentation May 14th, 2009 |
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On May 14, 2009, members of the Mid Atlantic Chapter Gamewardens of Vietnam met and had lunch with Michael Williams, son of James Elliott Williams. Following the luncheon and the presentation by Michael of a drawing, depicting a mural from the general mess of the USS James Elliott Williams, DDG 95 , the group proceeded to Little Creek Base and visited our static Pbr display and monument. The visit by Michael and his lovely wife Patti was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Right to Left: Clarence (Coop) Cooper, Larry Weatherall, Adrienne Green, retired YNC, USN, and wife of Navy SEAL, Jeff Green. Bill Ferguson, Fred Olds, Jerry Gandy, Bob Fred, and Michael Williams. |
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Riverine Force In The News! |
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Submitted by: Larry Weatherall 20 Black Berets were in attendance at the
RIVRON TWO Establishment Ceremony out at NAB Little Creek Feb. 2nd. CAPT Jordan recognized National President John Woody, East Coast V.P. Vaughn Schuler and Mid Atlantic Chapter President Larry Weatherall by name and recognized all the Vietnam Era Brown Water Navy vets as the predecessors to the current Riverine Squadrons. RIVRON ONE will be deploying to Iraq sometime in March '07 to relieve the Marine units who are currently performing River Patrol duties. View local TV coverage of: An interview with Ralph Christopher » An interview with Tom Glickman and Jerry Gandy » It was a great ceremony and we will also be invited to the RIVRON THREE Establishment when it is scheduled. |
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Leadership Excellence Award |
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On April 7, 2008, the Mid Atlantic Chapter of Gamewardens of Vietnam presented the James E. Williams/ Gamewardens of Vietnam Leadership Excellence Award to ET1(SW) Aaron D. Divine on board the USS J. E. Williams, DDG-95. Aaron was selected by his seniors and peers for his surperb leadership and Technical skills as displayed during the ship's recent deployment. As iterated by Commander Trampenau, Commanding Officer of USS Willliams, Aaron, in all endeavors "Lead from the Front!"
Pictured above are (l to r), are Gary Marker, Bob Fred, ET1(SW) Divine, CDR. Trampenau, Jerry Gandy, "Coop" Cooper, Bill Ferguson, Rodger Alston, and Pat Doyle. Jerry Gandy President, |
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Meeting Saturday, August 26th, 2006
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Hello Everyone!
The pictures below are a few of the ones taken last Monday, 4/10,
during a visit to the USS J.E. Williams by some of the GWVN Mid Atlantic
Chapter members. Ken Meek, Clarence Cooper and I were able to meet with the new
CO, CDR Hall, XO LCDR DeGregory and new CMDCM Burnett during their
pre-deployment "Family Day" cruise event.
The "Family Day" cruise
consisted of getting underway from Norfolk Naval Base, heading out past the
Chesapeake Bridge Tunnel, turning around off Cape Henry / Fort Story and then
heading up the York River to the Yorktown US Naval Weapons Station. As you can
see, it was a great day to be on the water! We disembarked at Yorktown and were
bussed back to Norfolk.
Personally, my favorite picture of the ones I'm
attaching is the one of the Sailor on the "Sea and Anchor Detail" who is
wearing the Black Beret that GWVN President John Woody presented to the ship
during the Commissioning in Charleston, SC. It is an official part of the
ship's routine to have someone wearing the Black Beret when the "Sea and Anchor
Detail" is set in honor of BM1 Williams. You can tell that the Sailor is
enjoying the moment as well because the XO had just called down to the working
party by radio and had told him to look up at the bridge so he could have his
picture taken.
The mural on the wall in the Enlisted Mess was painted by
an Enlisted member (Plankowner) of the ships crew who drew an approximation of
the firefight that resulted in BM1 Williams receiving the Medal Of Honor. The
ship has the copy of the MOH in the passageway outside the Mess Decks and it is
just one of the many reminders of their ships namesake.
I'll have these
and all the rest of the pictures printed and available to pass around during
our upcoming quarterly meeting in May.
As you know, the USS Williams is
going to be deployed during our upcoming event at the Tidewater Veterans
Memorial Park during Memorial Day as well as when we have the re-dedication of
the GWVN East Coast Monument and MK I Pbr at Little Creek in July but we will
be able to share both of those locations with the crew when they return. I'm
really looking forward to the ships company being able to see the MK I so they
can see the size of the boat that BM1 Williams commanded compared to the size
of their ship.
I thanked CO Hall, XO DeGregory and CMDCM Burnett for the
invitation and hospitality while we were on board and on behalf of GWVN Mid
Atlantic Chapter, wished them a safe and productive
deployment.
V/R,
Larry Weatherall
lweatherall@cox.net
2006 | |
GWVN Mid Atlantic Monument - 05-29-06. | Firefight Print Signing. | RIVGRU Establishment. |
Tidewater Memorial letter from Ian Hall. |