Well, it’s time for my usual end of the year wrap up on Project USS Strong DD-467, and unfortunately this year there’s not much to tell. COVID has shifted the world’s focus elsewhere and has totally taken over lives, livelihoods and changed our history in ways we never imagined. Hope is not dead though, in seeing this project through to the final conclusion of getting the plaque in the water. The pandemic has made it a more challenging task, but I may have a couple of options at some point next year. I also am formulating a Plan B, which will be a land based location for the plaque at a strategic place in the South Pacific, somewhere it can be visited and seen by people visiting the area. So, all is not lost just put on hold.
I know many of us have had losses this year, either COVID related or otherwise. We lost my stepfather of 38 years this summer and dealing with helping my widowed Mom get on with life has taken up a lot of time. A couple weeks later a decades long friend passed from cancer, another emotional loss for me. Some friends and family members have had COVID, but all survived so far. Mentally, I like to think I’m dealing with this as well as anyone can, and I hope the same for all of you. That said, I did make a decision that has made me very happy, kept me focused and busy at times when I actually have time to devote to my new endeavor. I’ve decided to write a book!
Over the 22+ years I’ve been working on this project, it’s been in the back of my mind to do something more than the website and blog. So many more stories to tell and perhaps to help other people attempt to accomplish what I’ve been able to do. It all took time, but I wouldn’t change a thing. At this point I have a prologue and 10 chapters done. My friend and author of The Castaway’s War, Stephen Harding, is helping me with pre-editing. Who better, right? And once I get something together I hope to find a willing publisher. If not, then maybe I can self publish a few copies for anyone who might want to read it. Otherwise, it just feels good to get some of this down. I will try my best to pay homage to the families and the men. There are so many of you now, and I’ll try to fit in as many stories as I can.
So now, for the yearly accomplishments, as it were.
January 2020 – The RV Petrel was busy off the coast of Brazil laying weather buoys, then headed for Ft. Lauderdale to do some offshore surveys and equipment testing. She planned to be in drydock by early spring. A new family member contacted me for information on sailor Richard Alton Hodges, S2c who survived. I was able to share information with him. Michael, if your wife would still like to write something for the blog, she is welcome to do so. I also found out to my chagrin that the National Geographic program shot by Icon Films about Lt. Hugh Barr Miller and other episodes of Ultimate Survivor WW2 would not be broadcast in the US. Sorry sons-a-guns. The only episode about a US sailor and they wouldn’t put it on TV. But, I got a link to share with you all and if anyone still hasn’t seen it or needs a fresh link, let me know. Steve Harding lost a valued colleague and friend from his magazine, Paraag Shukla to cancer. Greg, Andy Hoder and I met Paraag when we visited Steve at work the year we were in Baltimore. A very nice guy, very funny and kept Steve on his toes. A sad loss for Steve and for Military History.
February 2020 – I received an email from another military history author for help with research on a book he’s writing and planning publication for 2022. Can’t tell you his name yet, but he works for the Department of Defense at the Pentagon, so yeah I feel pretty good about that! His subject is a very accomplished person who had the opportunity to know Captain Wellings when he was a young cadet at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. More on that when I have permission. February 6th was the first anniversary of the finding the wreck of Strong by the RV Petrel. That’s a day I’ll never forget and will always be appreciative of the efforts made by Paul Mayer and Rob Kraft under the Vulcan, Inc. umbrella. Guys, much love always! Lastly, another article I wrote appeared in the latest edition of Tin Can Sailor magazine this month. Happy to see that, as they also included an article written by the US Pacific Fleet PAO on the discovery of Strong and quoted me. Yeah, I did appreciate that.
March 2020 (beginning of the pandemic here) – My friend Julia McCurdy Gimbel had her book release for Student, Sailor, Skipper, Survivor about her father and his WW2 service. His career paralleled Billy’s as he was an Ensign who went through the V-7 program and served in the South Pacific. Her work was part of what inspired me to begin writing my book. Petrel was still off the coast of Florida and nearby when SpaceX launched a rocket. They had a beautiful photograph taken of the launch with the crew standing on the deck of the ship. As of March 11th, we shut down here in the US. Hubby and I had already booked a trip to Oahu to visit Pearl Harbor and other WW2 sites. Needless to say, that didn’t happen and it was a bear trying to get a refund from Expedia. So, maybe 2022?
April 2020 – Not a damn thing to report on my end. One of our shipwreck hunter friends is planning a new book, but he can’t tell me about it just yet. More when he can, and something to look forward to.
May 2020 – I had a very nice Skype convo with Paul Mayer just to catch up. He was home, but due to head back to Florida where Petrel was currently “stuck”, maybe to make some repairs before they took her into drydock. At that point, their projects were up in the air and ultimately were canceled. The future of the ship and her missions are uncertain. I also had a phone conversation with Kernal Armbruster, brother to Frank Armbruster, one of the men lost on Arundel with Lt. Miller. He was having some memory issues and confusion, not able to tell me much about his brother. Kernal served on the second USS Chevalier DD-805 in WW2, Pacific theater.
June 2020 – Petrel was officially put out to pasture, drydocked back near Greenock in Scotland. If the pandemic had not happened Petrel would have been back in the South Pacific. There was a very good chance I would have been putting the plaque in the waters of the Kula Gulf this year. Again, not giving up on this and pursuing other options. I hope I can report on something within the next few months, especially now that the vaccines are coming available. I will jump on whatever chance I get. Steve tells me that the people with HURL (Hawaiian Underwater Research Lab) had to shut down and lay people off. Sad business for discovery and research. I hope they can resume at some point.
July 2020 – The Chapter 5 group of Kentucky’s Rolling Thunder held a memorial service for my uncle Billy at Machpelah Cemetery in Mount Sterling, KY. A very moving experience and much appreciated. I also shared information with them on Jesse T. “Tommy” Geralds and Frederick Keller so they could do the same for them.
August 2020 – David Mearns has a new project seeking the anchor of Windrush, a ship that sunk in 1954 after catching fire. The ship was on its way to the UK carrying immigrants and nearly all were lost. To read more, click here: Windrush
September 2020 – Another unfortunate event, Gold Circle dropped the option for the film version of The Castaway’s War. They had planned to shoot this year, but again – COVID. Ugh. At present Australia is doing well, and there has been action on my website from locations in Los Angeles and Atlanta, Georgia – both places where movies are made. So, again some hope. This is also the month I began writing the book, and had a Zoom interview with David Mearns to confirm some information. I do get some writing done and it gets the seal of approval from Steve Harding, so I feel good about the progress so far. Lots more to do! Paul Mayer and I had another chat in hopes he will see if Rob Kraft will join us in a Zoom convo. More on that later. Paul no longer has authorship control on the Facebook page for RV Petrel, not a good sign. Vulcan is also selling the luxury mega-yacht, Octopus. John Opperman of Odyssey Marine Explorations gave me permission to use his info in the book.
October 2020 – I met author and WW2 historian Donna Esposito in a Skype call and she has some wonderful resources that may also prove fruitful in seeing the project to its conclusion. Time will tell. Danny Mullane’s name came up and finding him is still a priority. Connections with DPAA are key and there is much in the works. David Mearns has joined the advisory board of Schmidt Ocean Institute and I know he will be a wonderful asset. To read more about this, click here: David Mearns.
November 2020 – At this point, I’m 9 chapters into the book. I’m not rushing it, I have lots of time since I don’t have a contract or deadline as yet. Making good progress, however. My Zoom chat with Rob Kraft and Paul Mayer was incredible. This was the first time “meeting” Rob and I enjoyed his COVID beard. He was setting off the next day on a road trip with his son, and I hope you had a wonderful time Rob!
December 2020 – My friend and fellow researcher Katie Rasdorf introduced me to a great connection at the DPAA. This person shared some amazing documents with me that I would never have seen if not for him. There was also an introduction to his boss and many emails shared between us. He in turn introduced me to a former boss from the DPAA who lives overseas, and I hope to chat with him to learn more about the criteria for DPAA choosing sites for recoveries, more information for the book. On Facebook DPAA posted that they have removed several unidentified remains from the cemetery in Manila and are moving them to the lab at Honolulu for more work. I will keep on top of them just in case Danny Mullane may be among them.
That’s about it, folks. Enough, right? Here’s hoping that some things that didn’t happen this year may be possible in 2021. Get vaccinated when you can, wear your masks and stay safe!
-Tammi
I know many of us have had losses this year, either COVID related or otherwise. We lost my stepfather of 38 years this summer and dealing with helping my widowed Mom get on with life has taken up a lot of time. A couple weeks later a decades long friend passed from cancer, another emotional loss for me. Some friends and family members have had COVID, but all survived so far. Mentally, I like to think I’m dealing with this as well as anyone can, and I hope the same for all of you. That said, I did make a decision that has made me very happy, kept me focused and busy at times when I actually have time to devote to my new endeavor. I’ve decided to write a book!
Over the 22+ years I’ve been working on this project, it’s been in the back of my mind to do something more than the website and blog. So many more stories to tell and perhaps to help other people attempt to accomplish what I’ve been able to do. It all took time, but I wouldn’t change a thing. At this point I have a prologue and 10 chapters done. My friend and author of The Castaway’s War, Stephen Harding, is helping me with pre-editing. Who better, right? And once I get something together I hope to find a willing publisher. If not, then maybe I can self publish a few copies for anyone who might want to read it. Otherwise, it just feels good to get some of this down. I will try my best to pay homage to the families and the men. There are so many of you now, and I’ll try to fit in as many stories as I can.
So now, for the yearly accomplishments, as it were.
January 2020 – The RV Petrel was busy off the coast of Brazil laying weather buoys, then headed for Ft. Lauderdale to do some offshore surveys and equipment testing. She planned to be in drydock by early spring. A new family member contacted me for information on sailor Richard Alton Hodges, S2c who survived. I was able to share information with him. Michael, if your wife would still like to write something for the blog, she is welcome to do so. I also found out to my chagrin that the National Geographic program shot by Icon Films about Lt. Hugh Barr Miller and other episodes of Ultimate Survivor WW2 would not be broadcast in the US. Sorry sons-a-guns. The only episode about a US sailor and they wouldn’t put it on TV. But, I got a link to share with you all and if anyone still hasn’t seen it or needs a fresh link, let me know. Steve Harding lost a valued colleague and friend from his magazine, Paraag Shukla to cancer. Greg, Andy Hoder and I met Paraag when we visited Steve at work the year we were in Baltimore. A very nice guy, very funny and kept Steve on his toes. A sad loss for Steve and for Military History.
February 2020 – I received an email from another military history author for help with research on a book he’s writing and planning publication for 2022. Can’t tell you his name yet, but he works for the Department of Defense at the Pentagon, so yeah I feel pretty good about that! His subject is a very accomplished person who had the opportunity to know Captain Wellings when he was a young cadet at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. More on that when I have permission. February 6th was the first anniversary of the finding the wreck of Strong by the RV Petrel. That’s a day I’ll never forget and will always be appreciative of the efforts made by Paul Mayer and Rob Kraft under the Vulcan, Inc. umbrella. Guys, much love always! Lastly, another article I wrote appeared in the latest edition of Tin Can Sailor magazine this month. Happy to see that, as they also included an article written by the US Pacific Fleet PAO on the discovery of Strong and quoted me. Yeah, I did appreciate that.
March 2020 (beginning of the pandemic here) – My friend Julia McCurdy Gimbel had her book release for Student, Sailor, Skipper, Survivor about her father and his WW2 service. His career paralleled Billy’s as he was an Ensign who went through the V-7 program and served in the South Pacific. Her work was part of what inspired me to begin writing my book. Petrel was still off the coast of Florida and nearby when SpaceX launched a rocket. They had a beautiful photograph taken of the launch with the crew standing on the deck of the ship. As of March 11th, we shut down here in the US. Hubby and I had already booked a trip to Oahu to visit Pearl Harbor and other WW2 sites. Needless to say, that didn’t happen and it was a bear trying to get a refund from Expedia. So, maybe 2022?
April 2020 – Not a damn thing to report on my end. One of our shipwreck hunter friends is planning a new book, but he can’t tell me about it just yet. More when he can, and something to look forward to.
May 2020 – I had a very nice Skype convo with Paul Mayer just to catch up. He was home, but due to head back to Florida where Petrel was currently “stuck”, maybe to make some repairs before they took her into drydock. At that point, their projects were up in the air and ultimately were canceled. The future of the ship and her missions are uncertain. I also had a phone conversation with Kernal Armbruster, brother to Frank Armbruster, one of the men lost on Arundel with Lt. Miller. He was having some memory issues and confusion, not able to tell me much about his brother. Kernal served on the second USS Chevalier DD-805 in WW2, Pacific theater.
June 2020 – Petrel was officially put out to pasture, drydocked back near Greenock in Scotland. If the pandemic had not happened Petrel would have been back in the South Pacific. There was a very good chance I would have been putting the plaque in the waters of the Kula Gulf this year. Again, not giving up on this and pursuing other options. I hope I can report on something within the next few months, especially now that the vaccines are coming available. I will jump on whatever chance I get. Steve tells me that the people with HURL (Hawaiian Underwater Research Lab) had to shut down and lay people off. Sad business for discovery and research. I hope they can resume at some point.
July 2020 – The Chapter 5 group of Kentucky’s Rolling Thunder held a memorial service for my uncle Billy at Machpelah Cemetery in Mount Sterling, KY. A very moving experience and much appreciated. I also shared information with them on Jesse T. “Tommy” Geralds and Frederick Keller so they could do the same for them.
August 2020 – David Mearns has a new project seeking the anchor of Windrush, a ship that sunk in 1954 after catching fire. The ship was on its way to the UK carrying immigrants and nearly all were lost. To read more, click here: Windrush
September 2020 – Another unfortunate event, Gold Circle dropped the option for the film version of The Castaway’s War. They had planned to shoot this year, but again – COVID. Ugh. At present Australia is doing well, and there has been action on my website from locations in Los Angeles and Atlanta, Georgia – both places where movies are made. So, again some hope. This is also the month I began writing the book, and had a Zoom interview with David Mearns to confirm some information. I do get some writing done and it gets the seal of approval from Steve Harding, so I feel good about the progress so far. Lots more to do! Paul Mayer and I had another chat in hopes he will see if Rob Kraft will join us in a Zoom convo. More on that later. Paul no longer has authorship control on the Facebook page for RV Petrel, not a good sign. Vulcan is also selling the luxury mega-yacht, Octopus. John Opperman of Odyssey Marine Explorations gave me permission to use his info in the book.
October 2020 – I met author and WW2 historian Donna Esposito in a Skype call and she has some wonderful resources that may also prove fruitful in seeing the project to its conclusion. Time will tell. Danny Mullane’s name came up and finding him is still a priority. Connections with DPAA are key and there is much in the works. David Mearns has joined the advisory board of Schmidt Ocean Institute and I know he will be a wonderful asset. To read more about this, click here: David Mearns.
November 2020 – At this point, I’m 9 chapters into the book. I’m not rushing it, I have lots of time since I don’t have a contract or deadline as yet. Making good progress, however. My Zoom chat with Rob Kraft and Paul Mayer was incredible. This was the first time “meeting” Rob and I enjoyed his COVID beard. He was setting off the next day on a road trip with his son, and I hope you had a wonderful time Rob!
December 2020 – My friend and fellow researcher Katie Rasdorf introduced me to a great connection at the DPAA. This person shared some amazing documents with me that I would never have seen if not for him. There was also an introduction to his boss and many emails shared between us. He in turn introduced me to a former boss from the DPAA who lives overseas, and I hope to chat with him to learn more about the criteria for DPAA choosing sites for recoveries, more information for the book. On Facebook DPAA posted that they have removed several unidentified remains from the cemetery in Manila and are moving them to the lab at Honolulu for more work. I will keep on top of them just in case Danny Mullane may be among them.
That’s about it, folks. Enough, right? Here’s hoping that some things that didn’t happen this year may be possible in 2021. Get vaccinated when you can, wear your masks and stay safe!
-Tammi
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