Happy New Year everyone!  Earlier this year I posted about the efforts of the DPAA (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency) to locate, recover and repatriate the remains of fallen men and women from our modern wars. I posted the dates of their family meeting events in case any of you would like to attend. Recently I obtained the dates for the 2020 events. Details can be found here on the website: DPAA events 2020

For a quick look: 
2020 Family Update Schedule
Date and Location
January 25, Las Vegas, NV
February 22, Portland, OR
March 21, Miami, FL
April 18, Little Rock, AR
May 16, Chicago, IL
June 24-27, Washington, D.C.**
July 30-31, Washington, D.C.***
September 12, Colorado Springs, CO
November 2, San Juan, PR

In addition: Remember, families that cannot attend can watch the meeting live on Facebook or DPAA YouTube or Vimeo.
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Vimeo Link

DPAA YouTube 

​-Tammi

Every December I do a recap of the things that have happened with the project over the past year. This one has been monumental. So, without further adieu….

January – A new documentary on the USS INDIANAPOLIS was aired on PBS. Next, I posted regarding a mystery about a young man who died on Arundel Island with Lt. Miller, Edward A. “Eddie” Deering. Eddie’s fate had always intrigued me, as he was found and reburied in Manila. That still leaves the mystery of what happened with some of the others. This is not yet resolved. Soon after, I established contact with Eddie’s family, which led to them coming to Savannah in September. Also, a new book “Tin Cans & Greyhounds” was released by author Clint Johnson. I was consulted on this book and am referenced in the back. A good read!

February – The RV PETREL located and reported on locating the wreck of the USS HORNET on CBS News. Stephen Harding released information on his new book “Escape From Paris” to be available in October. And the best yet – the wreck of STRONG was found!!! STRONG was located on February 6th, but I was not allowed to make the information public until the 26th. We did it, with the help of some wonderful, dedicated and profoundly generous people over several years. I’m still pinching myself to make sure it really happened. The best news ever!

March – The RV PETREL located the wreck of the USS WASP, another aircraft carrier. Links on the website lead to video and a survivor account of the sinking.

April – Dates and information for the 2019 reunion were announced. Greg and I were able to head to the Chattanooga area to meet up with Paul Mayer! We so enjoy Paul, Rosie and their menagerie of sweet fur babies. Paul presented me with a hard drive of video and information from the ROV dives of the expedition to find the ship. Many of you now have copies. If anyone still needs a copy, send me an email and we’ll work it out. Last, I made contact with someone who gave me some valuable information on the DPAA (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency) and the processes of locating and identifying the missing from various wars. This information is still posted and I hope to get updates for 2020.

May – I shared some links to interviews of Stephen Harding, and released info on the Savannah reunion documents.

June – A Facebook friend who has a similar mission posted a wonderful piece, The Ghost Army by Julia McCurdy Gimbel. Sometimes these things should be shared, and I believe Julia’s writing is one of those things. She will have a book coming out about her father in WW2 and I hope to profile the book on the website.

July – Author Stephen Harding was interviewed on “The Castaway’s War” on Australian radio. The link is on the site. There is a wonderful WW2 museum in development on the island of Vanuatu, where the base at Espirito Santo was located. I hope to visit there some day, but for more information check out the link on the post.

August – Three Kentucky boys died when STRONG went down. One was Jesse T. “Tommy” Geralds, and I reported on locating his family. Fred Keller and of course my Uncle Billy were the others. The RV PETREL was featured on an episode of Drain the Oceans, National Geographic Channel. The episode was titled Pacific War Megawrecks. A link to view the episode is on the blog post.

September – All posts were about the reunion in Savannah, again a banner event. Thirteen total family representatives of the DD-467 group attended, including us (Hedrick), the Jelineks (Hackett), the Deerings and the Mullanes. We had an amazing time and we have so many new friends on board.

October - “Escape From Paris” by Stephen Harding was released! Another great book, and if you haven’t picked up a copy then you’re missing out. There is movie buzz around this book as well. Also, Icon Films finally let me release information about the Ultimate Survivor WW2 series and the episode filmed about Lt. Hugh Barr Miller, Jr., including photos from the film shoot on Arundel Island. The RV PETREL also located more wrecks from the Battle of Midway and the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Keeping up the good work!!!

November – Unfortunately the Lt. Hugh Barr Miller, Jr. episode that was scheduled for November 18th was switched for Gordon Ramsey! Fortunately though, Icon sent me a link to the program that I was able to share so Ultimate Survivor WW2 with Lt. Miller could be downloaded. I am still waiting to hear if National Geographic will re-start the series in the US some time in 2020. No idea why it was pulled. The missing WW2 memorial plaques that once hung on the chapel walls of a building on Transylvania University’s campus were located! I’ve been 3 years trying to get someone to take me seriously on this and finally got it done. More on that in December.

December – The WW2 memorial plaques are back on the walls, thanks to Transy’s administration and people who cared. A lovely unveiling ceremony was held, I was presented with a flag by Rolling Thunder KY Chapter 5, and expectations were exceeded. What a wonderful way to cap the year.

Still not done yet. At some point and some way, the plaque I had made will be placed in the Kula Gulf. I also want to keep working on what happened with Danny Mullane. He was found, buried then lost again. He’s out there, so he’s still high on my list of priorities. There are also more STRONG families to be found and a movie to be made (if they ever sign a director, get a move on Gold Circle!).

Anyone on this list who does not want to receive further updates, let me know and I will remove you from the list. Otherwise, when I have news to share you will continue to hear from me. Thank all of your for your continued support. A very happy and prosperous, healthy new year to all of you!
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Tammi

A couple of weeks ago I posted about my efforts to get the old WW2 memorial plaques that once hung in Old Morrison Chapel on Transylvania University’s campus located and re-installed. This past Wednesday the leadership of Transy exceeded my expectations.

I was notified by President Dr. John Williams that they had been found. A few days later one of his staff, Shella called me to let me know they were planning an unveiling ceremony for re-installment. So, wow. Very nice, yet unexpected. I was pleased and she told me to invite my family. A list was made, addresses sent to her for my family to come and be there with me. Another few days later she called again and asked me to speak. Yikes! However, I started this thing and it was only appropriate that I get up there in front of people and say thank you to the people who helped make this effort come to fruition. I told her yes, I would speak, but keep my remarks short.

My remarks were to be added into a program to be given out to attendees. A program? You give programs out for important events. I was getting a little nervous, yet so thrilled that the effort to restore the plaques to their rightful place was being taken seriously.

We arrived at the chapel about half an hour before the ceremony, put away coats and spent time talking with President Williams, his staff and a few people I didn’t expect – Rolling Thunder KY Chapter 5. Another of his staff, Megan had once worked for Veteran’s Affairs and knew of the role of Rolling Thunder in honoring POW/MIA families. I had heard of Rolling Thunder, yet wasn’t really knowledgeable of their mission and activities. I was soon to learn.

Also invited was a representative of the US Department of Veterans Affairs, Patrick Sinclair, and from the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs, Candace Bradley. Again, unexpected and a very pleasant surprise. They were very sweet, great to speak with and I’m so glad they were included.

The photo of the program goes through the ceremony, so I won’t reiterate that. What was a complete and total surprise was what happened with Rolling Thunder. I knew they were to be part of the ceremony, yet completely missed the meaning of the flag presentation as listed on the program. I had no idea they meant to give one to me. As it was presented to me, wide eyed and crying I was a bit in shock. They then saluted me as a gentleman named Patrick played Taps on a bugle. You could have knocked me over with a feather. I have never been so in shock or so honored. On behalf of my uncle and the 38 other men whose names are on the plaque, I couldn’t have been prouder.

There was a very nice reception afterwards and a chance to speak with many of the attendees. Some things were made very clear to me. First, when you build a project such as this and start having success, it feels great, really the best. But when you have other people who tell you that it actually means something to them – it can be daunting. There’s a sense of pride, yet discomfort because now you feel you have certain expectations, something to live up do. You don’t want to let people down. And so far, I feel the others who have come along on this journey, we’re all on the same page. These folks at the ceremony were these people as well, and kept telling me they admired my persistence in getting the plaques found and put back up. It’s really hard to come up with words to describe how I felt. Let me just say I will keep at it. There’s more to be done and one more plaque to be placed in the waters of the Kula Gulf. Once that’s done, well we’ll see.

Thanks to my family for being there, first my most devoted supporter and husband of nearly 40 years, Greg; my sister Jamie and hubby Jim; Mom; daughter Emily, hubby Matt and grandson Alister. Thanks again to Dr. Williams, Kristin, Megan and Shella! You too B.J.!

Tammi
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*Photos to follow