Mother Teresa Assembly 2655
News from our Knights
Home
The Popes Visit to the United States of America
Knights Insurance
Veterans Outreach
Send Us Your Message Today & Sign Our Guest Book
New Officers 2008-2009
Keep these Knights in your prayers
Easter Vigil 2005
News from our Knights
Faithful Navigators Page
Support Our Troops
2008 Assembly Calander
Father Michael J. McGivney Guild
Interesting Web-Sites
Corpus Christi Council 11325 Web-Site
Mother Teresa
Ladies Auxilary
Sir Knights Anthony J. Darmanins - Web site Editor
2009 4th Degree Exemplification

On Sept. 23.2004 I will be leaving for Patriots Point at Mount Pleasant, SC. I will be working on the USS Laffy DD724, a Sumner Class Destroyer form WW2, Korea and the cold war. I served on her for nine days in 1956 as a Radarman 3rd Class Petty Officer. I was on Temporary Duty. My regular duty station at that time was the USS Ingraham DD694. When my TAD was up I returned to the Ingraham, and served on her until my discharge in March 23.1957.
You see I belong to the Tin Can Sailors Association and each year I pay $30.00 to work, eat & sleep on board the Laffy. We work to keep her in good shape, so the country can visit her a (War Memorial) along with other ships throughout the USA.
It is a work of love. Every once in a while I take some of my Granddaughters to Patriots Point to see a ship that their Grandfather served on in his younger days.
There also at P. Point the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, along with a submarine, and Coast Guard Cutter Ingram that was in the service of this country for 50 years.
For a slight admission charge anyone can go on board all of these ships. Some members of the Knights may not be aware of these fine Historical ships, and might want to take the families there. It is a wonderful day trip.
                                                  Jack McGuinness

chrome_shimmer_md_wht.gif

Don't know if this report on my work trip to the USS Laffey DD724 with the Tin Can Sailors would fit the web site interest. But here goes.

I arrive at Patriots Point to work four days on the USS Laffey DD724. Back in 1956 she was my home for a short time. This was my third year working on her, with the Tin Can Sailors Association. It cost $30.00, but thats for the food  and beer, soda,etc. We not only work to help keep her  in half way decent shape, but we also eat and sleep on her.
There were not quite 30 men from all over the country there. One came from Georgia, seven from South Carolina, Four from Florida, Two from La Conner, Washington State. This man from Wash. was 79 years young. He had served on the USS Aaron Ward a Destroyer Minesweeper at Okinawa. This ship was just about shot out of the water. She lost over 1/3 of here crew. He had some pictures he had taken after the ship was toe back for repairs. Unbelievable. There were men also from Wisconsin, West Virginia, Penn. Maryland, Tenn., Virginia, and Indiana.
We all served at one time on Destroyers.
We worked getting the engine room, berthing area, ready, so the Tourist can actually go in these space and she what the engines are like and where we had such wonderful sleeping accommodations.
We have Reveille at 0600. Breakfast was at 0630. We get our work assignments, and start work by 0800. WE have lunch at 1145 and back to work until 1545. Shower, change into clean closes. Have supper at 1730 and then a few beers or soda at 1900. We wouldn't do any drinking until 1900 because the would be tourist until then.
WE got a lot of work done, believe it or not, told a lot of sea stories, and drank almost 27 cases of beer and soda.
The Tin Can Sailors not only work on the Laffey, but on The USS The Sullivans DD537, USS Kidd DD661, USS Joseph P.Kennedy,Jr.DD850, USS Orleck DD886, USS Edson DD946, and USS Turner Joy DD951
It is our work and hope to keep these ship alive so our children and grandchildren, and further generation will be able to see and not just read about what these historic
ships were like.
                                    Jack McGuinness a Tin Can Sailor, and Brother Knight

Maintained by Sir Knight Anthony J. Darmanin