This is where you may ask questions, seek assistance, or just share a story about your TICONDEROGA experience.
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Welcome, Chief Johnson. My name is Jon Kettl and I was the ISCS(SW) onboard TICO 1989-1993. You have found us!
To join, go to our website at
ticovets.org and click the JOIN button on the homepage or under the tab ABOUT, click JOIN.
We have an upcoming annual reunion in Kansas City, MO. Click REUNION for more details.
If you have any questions, contact me -- happy to help!
Warm regards,
Jon Kettl
1st Vice President
----- Original Message -----
From: TICO Vets [
mailto:forms@TicoVets.org]
To: 1stVP@Ticovets.org
Sent: Fri, 17 Feb 2023 15:41:09 -0500
Subject: Question or Comment from Site
Name: Gregory D Johnson
Email: gdj12003@yahoo.com
Phone: XXX-XXX-XXXX
Message:
I'm TMC (SW) Retired, and I served aboard the USS TICONDEROGA (CG-47)
from Jan 86-Jan 88 as a First Class Petty Officer. I met a veteran that
served aboard the USS TICONDEROGA CV-14 as a Postal Clerk, and he
informed me of the USS TICONDEROGA Veterans Association. I would like to
know how to join the association.
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From: Eugene Embry
To: 1st VP
Date: Mon, 06 Feb 2023 14:17:00 -0500
Subj: Question or Comment from Site
Thank you so very much for the information. I spoke with
my wife, and we would appreciate it if you would put our note and her
dad's name Victor Brumlow's on your guestbook. Victor died in 2005. You
can use my email
eugeneembry1@gmail.com. We will also look at past issues of your newletter. Thank you again.
Mr. Embry,
Thank
you for contacting the USS TICONDEROGA Veterans' Association! In
response to your question, of our roughly 550 active members, over 100
served on the carrier during the period 1967-1969. I would like to
offer four suggestions:
1. Mrs. Embry is most welcome to join our Association as an Associate member. She can apply via our website at
ticovets.org.
2.
I can also post your note in our Guestbook. Many of our members
frequent the Guestbook to see who they may know. We don't normally
include any personal contact information in our posts but in this case
we could post your email address and/or your phone number but only with
your permission. Would you like us to do that?
3. The Association holds annual reunions. Details can be found on
ticovets.org.
You all are welcome to attend. There are many wives who attend, some
with husbands and others who are widows or children (and even
grandchildren) of crew members. Our next reunion is in May in Kansas
City, Missouri. In 2024 we will gather in San Antonio, Texas, and 2025
in Orlando, Florida.
4. Our website offers digital copies of our Newsletter for many years past. You may wish to peruse there as well.
I
hope this helps! If you have the name of someone you may be
specifically seeking, past it along and I'll check our roster. The
roster is not public in order to honor the privacy of our members.
Warm regards,
Jon Kettl, 1st Vice President
From: TICO Vets [
mailto:forms@TicoVets.org]
To: 1stVP@Ticovets.org
Sent: Sun, 05 Feb 2023 21:01:49 -0500
Subject: Question or Comment from Site
Name: Eugene Embry
Email: eugeneembry1@gmail.com
Message:
Hello. My father-in-law Victor Brumlow served on the USS Ticonderoga in
the 1967-69 period. Victor has passed, but his daughter, my wife, has
shown interest in hearing stories from those with whom her Dad served.
If I may ask, does your membership include many from that period? A 1968
Cruise Book shows Victor worked in the Power Plants on the USS
Ticonderoga. Thank you for your time.
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From: Ernest Davidson
To: 1st VP
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2023 11:13:03 -0500
Subj: Question or Comment from Site
Message: Good evening. Has you organization been made aware of Ticonderoga being in Guam on 1 June 1972 and therefore presumed exposed to Agent Orange for VA claim purposes? If not, and if you would like a copy of her deck log for that date, please let me know by return email and I will forward a copy.
Also, on 6 April 1968 there is evidence she passed briefly through AO exposure "coastal waters" shortly after 2000 hrs. Since it was between daily position reports, it is unlikely be detected by VA and would require a dead reckoning plot to substantiate. DR plots often/frequently are rejected by VA but can sometimes be won on appeal if handled by an experienced VA accredited attorney. I have such a detailed plot and would be happy to provide it to the Association for use as you see fit.
Please advise at your convenience.
Ernest Davidson
LT USN 1969-1973
USS Brinkley Bass DD887
ebraddavidson@comcast.net
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From: Benny L Armentrout
To: 1st VP
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2023 02:33:03 -0500
Subj: Question or Comment from Site
Message: I'm a life member from an earlier date when it was still a $100. Has that changed for those of us who paid the earlier price?
Any
way enjoy your newsletters but won't be able to attend the reunions,
just don't have the money. I was in V-2C's from 63-67 left the ship on
my birthday.
I lost my wife on Mar. 2, 2022,
Keep up the good work.
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From: Jon Kettl
To: Peter Bartolovich
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2023 20:41:35 -0500
Subj: RE:Question or Comment from Site
Peter,
I do.
We are working on ensuring our new web site is secure
prior to accepting credit cards. When we have a secure means, I will
notify you personally.
Regards,
Jon Kettl, 1st VP
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From: Peter Bartolovich
To: 1st VP
Date: Sun, 08 Jan 2023 14:33:48 -0500
Subj: Question or Comment from Site
Message: who has
ink-on-paper bank "checks" or uses "money orders" in 2023 ? better yet,
who buys stamps, envelopes in 2023 ? why no online debit-paypal-or
credit card membership links ?
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From: Jon Kettl
To: Ron Lana
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2023 20:16:12 -0500
Subj: RE:Question or Comment from Site
Ron,
I did a little web design work when I retired from the Navy
in 1998 so I had the interest but didn't know if I still had the skills.
I discovered that in late 2022 if I could copy & paste, I could build a web site.
The compliment is most welcome -- thank you, sir!
Regards,
Jon Kettl, 1st VP
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From: Ron Lana
To: 1st VP
Date: Sun, 08 Jan 2023 14:15:33 -0500
Subj: Question or Comment from Site
Message: As a retired
graphic designer, book designer and college professor I think your web
site efforts are great. Loads well presents information well and
attracts attention to the viewer. Well done.
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From: Jon Kettl
To: Len Carroll
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2023 20:16:12 -0500
Subj: RE:Question or Comment from Site
Len,
The button for the reunion registration page has been fixed.
Sorry you got an error code; I think it comes along with creating something new. The error was mine alone.
Regards & regrets,
Jon Kettl, 1st VP
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From: Len Carroll
To: 1st VP
Date: Sunt, 08 Jan 2023 13:52:53 -0500
Subj: Question or Comment from Site
Message: Tried registering for the reunion on the new website. Received: Server Error
403 - Forbidden: Access is denied.
You do not have permission to view this directory or page using the credentials that you supplied.
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From: Jon Kettl
To: Paul Torgerson
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2023 20:16:12 -0500
Subj: RE:Question or Comment from Site
Paul,
No log in is required.
Regards,
Jon Kettl, 1st VP
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From: Paul Torgerson
To: 1st VP
Date: Sat, 07 Jan 2023 14:09:50 -0500
Subj: Question or Comment from Site
Message: I cannot figure out how to login to the new website. Or, is it even necessary to have a login?
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From: Jon Kettl
To: Tom Eddy
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2023 Sat, 31 Dec 2022 20:07:42 -0500
Subj: RE:Question or Comment from Site
Tom,
Sorry about the delay in responding to your email.
I
assume you are referring to BigT.net and Ticovets.org. They are one and
the same. BigT.net will be phased out later this year.
R,
Jon Kettl, 1st VP
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From: Tom Eddy
To: 1st VP
Date: Sat, 31 Dec 2022 08:26:28 -0500
Subj: Question or Comment from Site
Message: I'm already a life member of the Ticonderoga Association how is this any different?
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From: James Lutz
To: Brody Dersch
Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2022 17:19:08 -0600
Subj: Re:Passing of a Shipmate
Brody,
I'm very sorry to hear about the loss of your
father. Even though it was a long time ago, I'm sure many of his
shipmates will be saddened to hear the news.
I will pass the news on to our membership team.
I
have no idea of your interest, but the Ticonderoga Veterans Association
does allow for Associate Members if you are so inclined.
You can see more at the new Web Page at TicoVets.org.
Feel free to reach out about anything at all.
I pray that the New Year is favorable for you,
Jim Lutz
President
USS Ticonderoga Association
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Dear Sir,
You don't know me. If I sent this to the wrong officer, I apologize, I wasn't sure who to send it to.
My
father, James Edward Dersch served on Big T many moons ago. I need to
inform the Big T association of his passing on April 27, 2001. It was
my oversight that the association is receiving such late notice. For
this, I apologize.
The details of his service
that I know of are vague at best. I never could get him to really go
into depth. What I understand is he entered service when he was a
17-year-old high school dropout and got his college education in laser
physics through the Navy.
He recanted to me
that when he was serving on CV-14, he was assigned to clean the bilge
for a week. Then he was assigned to work in the records department of
engineering for a week. He was then asked which he preferred. I think
we can guess his answer. With that, he took the equivalent of the ASVAB
at that time and scored high enough that the Navy sent him to school
for laser physics.
He served his 4 years and
left and went back to school to get an MS in Computer Science and spent a
significant amount of his professional career working for military
contractors such as EATON and General Electric where he worked on sonar
and radar systems. During this time he received an offer to teach at
one of the Military colleges that he decided to turn down.
He never lost his love for the military and the Navy always had a special place in his heart.
Please find attached the eulogy that I gave at his funeral and a link to the Funeral Homes Memorial page.
Brody Dersch