From : Webmaster (6/21/2011) -- The
latest reunion reminded me how I wish I had started attending long before
Boston in 2008. My wife and I have had a great experience at each one.
I would also like to thank Jeff Minton for asking me to take over the
design and maintenance of your web site. This has served to challenge
my mind, waking me up from a sedentary life style after my retirement.
I have been retired from Bell Labs for 6 years (10 years now) and was beginning
to forget things everyday. I feel it is important for all of us to
continue to do things that challenge our us and keep as fit as
possible. Work, volunteer, play do whatever you need to stay active. I
am already planning to attend next year in Newport, and the following
years, to see those I new so long ago and those from the years
before and after my own time aboard. We have made new friends and enjoy talking with
each and every one of them. Thanks - EES (61-63).
~~~~~~~~~
From : Harold Williams Jr. (addressed to the Webmaster - Edited) (Honorary member - HPRA) -- My fellow shipmate, I appreciate your immediate response to my request. I can only imagine what you guys went through,as a crew member of navy destroyers-the ocean-seas can change unexpectedly. The USS Turner Joy rode out 2 typhoons in south china sea. It was nothing nice, but it also the best weight loss system for us sailors. Also the DE-1043 Edward Mcdonnell, my second tin can, had a problem in the mediteranean.We lost 2 men over the side in a storm while doing underway rep. We recovered our men 14 hours later with the assistance of a Russian AGI. who had been picking up our sonobuoys while doing ASW exercises. Again, I thank you for your quick response-and your service and all crewmembers USS Hugh Purvis for dedicated service; GMG 1st Class Harold Williams jr.
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From : Brian Roth (Non Member -posted with special permission - 5/3/2010) -- I am looking from information on my uncle who served on the Hugh Purvis. He was a plankowner and served on board in at least 1945. His name was Malcolm McDowell and I believe he was a fireman. He may have gone by the nickname of Mac. He passed away about 10 years ago and I never heard too much about his service. If you remember him please contact me and maybe give some details of what his duties might have been. My parents attended the commissioning in New York. I am curious what went on before the commissioning etc. Any information you are willing to pass on would be appreciated. I have some pictures of the ship and a few crew mates, although none are identified. I have given these to George Baker of the reunion committee. He has published at least one of them in the recent newsletter.
If you have any information, please use the email form "Click here to..." at the bottom of the page to send it to the webmaster. It will be forwarded to Brian Roth.
~~~~~~~~~
From : John Goldsworthy (3/13/2010) -- I often think of that curry too. What I suspect is that it wasn't curry at all, but some Filipino dish that the cooks made and couldn't think of a better name. I remember Billy ____ asking us what we would like to have more often and the answer was always curry and ice cream. I've had several curry dishes since that time and none came close to what we had on the Purvis.
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From: Roger Nelson (3/10/2010) -- (This is particularly for those from "officers country") -- We were having a curry dish for dinner one evening, and I said to Marian (as I have many times before): "I always loved the curry our Filipino stewards made when I was in the Navy. I've eaten many curries since then, but never just like they made! I wish we had their recipe!"
Does anyone have or know where to find a recipe for the curry that our stewards used to make aboard the Purvis in the 1960-62 time frame? Thanks in advance.
~~~~~~~~~
From: Tom Kelleher (3/10/2010) -- I really enjoyed the latest issue of the newsletter and wanted you to know that there was another small band later in 1968! As webmaster you may have heard about the 'Nam cruise 8/68-4/69, and some good times we had while aboard. Here's one oddity to share...
On the way home in 2/68 we had left Brisbane, Australia and hit New Plymouth, NZ. Now the previous year some of the city guys from the East coast formed a good band, with a heavy emphasis on "soul" music - the then popular style. We had great fun with NZ beer (Taranaki), great country folk - who like the Aussies still liked the Yank's from their WWII experiences, and lots of local sites.....and one night the crew was invited to a local dance. The local performing band was similar to what I would term a "Show Band" in the Irish style, playing songs more familiar to our older relatives -- an older time. They played foxtrots/smoothe ballroom, that became the "Wellington" danced by the young people at the dance.......easily learned by the swabbies. During a break our guy's were given the ok to go up and play......and the Kiwi's loved them for they were playing pop tunes from the radio. SOUL! They were so happy with the band from the Huey P that they cheered and shouted their appreciation for offering "current hits', not the older standards! {By the way, the local group leader was not pleased that our guy's did so well!}
You must accept my thanks for bringing back the memory that had been long "lost"!
~~~~~~~~~~
From: Tim Kline (3/7/2010) -- I was on the USS HUGH PURVIS (DD709) from Dec.1961 until Dec 1962. We were all electricians (EMFA) . I believe I reported first and Burit and Fisher reported a few weeks/months later. I was transferred to precommissioning detail for the USS BERKELEY (DDG-15) in Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. However !962 was quite a year for me with a lot of memories of adventures on the "PURVIS". Take Care and Keep Smiling!
~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~
From : Harold Williams Jr. (addressed to the Webmaster - Edited) (Honorary member - HPRA) -- My fellow shipmate, I appreciate your immediate response to my request. I can only imagine what you guys went through,as a crew member of navy destroyers-the ocean-seas can change unexpectedly. The USS Turner Joy rode out 2 typhoons in south china sea. It was nothing nice, but it also the best weight loss system for us sailors. Also the DE-1043 Edward Mcdonnell, my second tin can, had a problem in the mediteranean.We lost 2 men over the side in a storm while doing underway rep. We recovered our men 14 hours later with the assistance of a Russian AGI. who had been picking up our sonobuoys while doing ASW exercises. Again, I thank you for your quick response-and your service and all crewmembers USS Hugh Purvis for dedicated service; GMG 1st Class Harold Williams jr.
~~~~~~~~~
From : Brian Roth (Non Member -posted with special permission - 5/3/2010) -- I am looking from information on my uncle who served on the Hugh Purvis. He was a plankowner and served on board in at least 1945. His name was Malcolm McDowell and I believe he was a fireman. He may have gone by the nickname of Mac. He passed away about 10 years ago and I never heard too much about his service. If you remember him please contact me and maybe give some details of what his duties might have been. My parents attended the commissioning in New York. I am curious what went on before the commissioning etc. Any information you are willing to pass on would be appreciated. I have some pictures of the ship and a few crew mates, although none are identified. I have given these to George Baker of the reunion committee. He has published at least one of them in the recent newsletter.
If you have any information, please use the email form "Click here to..." at the bottom of the page to send it to the webmaster. It will be forwarded to Brian Roth.
~~~~~~~~~
From : John Goldsworthy (3/13/2010) -- I often think of that curry too. What I suspect is that it wasn't curry at all, but some Filipino dish that the cooks made and couldn't think of a better name. I remember Billy ____ asking us what we would like to have more often and the answer was always curry and ice cream. I've had several curry dishes since that time and none came close to what we had on the Purvis.
~~~~~~~~~
From: Roger Nelson (3/10/2010) -- (This is particularly for those from "officers country") -- We were having a curry dish for dinner one evening, and I said to Marian (as I have many times before): "I always loved the curry our Filipino stewards made when I was in the Navy. I've eaten many curries since then, but never just like they made! I wish we had their recipe!"
Does anyone have or know where to find a recipe for the curry that our stewards used to make aboard the Purvis in the 1960-62 time frame? Thanks in advance.
~~~~~~~~~
From: Tom Kelleher (3/10/2010) -- I really enjoyed the latest issue of the newsletter and wanted you to know that there was another small band later in 1968! As webmaster you may have heard about the 'Nam cruise 8/68-4/69, and some good times we had while aboard. Here's one oddity to share...
On the way home in 2/68 we had left Brisbane, Australia and hit New Plymouth, NZ. Now the previous year some of the city guys from the East coast formed a good band, with a heavy emphasis on "soul" music - the then popular style. We had great fun with NZ beer (Taranaki), great country folk - who like the Aussies still liked the Yank's from their WWII experiences, and lots of local sites.....and one night the crew was invited to a local dance. The local performing band was similar to what I would term a "Show Band" in the Irish style, playing songs more familiar to our older relatives -- an older time. They played foxtrots/smoothe ballroom, that became the "Wellington" danced by the young people at the dance.......easily learned by the swabbies. During a break our guy's were given the ok to go up and play......and the Kiwi's loved them for they were playing pop tunes from the radio. SOUL! They were so happy with the band from the Huey P that they cheered and shouted their appreciation for offering "current hits', not the older standards! {By the way, the local group leader was not pleased that our guy's did so well!}
You must accept my thanks for bringing back the memory that had been long "lost"!
~~~~~~~~~~
From: Tim Kline (3/7/2010) -- I was on the USS HUGH PURVIS (DD709) from Dec.1961 until Dec 1962. We were all electricians (EMFA) . I believe I reported first and Burit and Fisher reported a few weeks/months later. I was transferred to precommissioning detail for the USS BERKELEY (DDG-15) in Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. However !962 was quite a year for me with a lot of memories of adventures on the "PURVIS". Take Care and Keep Smiling!
~~~~~~~~