CDR Jerry Guertin, writes:  "Bill,Your article on pg. 5 of the Sept-Dec '12 Newsletter asks if anyone has seen this type P-Rock plaque.  Yes, that is the one I have hanging on my bulkhead, same design, probably metal, still on the wood backing.  Thankfully to date, it is not YET part of my "Estate". All the best, Jerry Guertin, '75-'77"

From the desk of Tom Wagner, Association President

Just want to let you all know, we have awaken from our winter hibernation.  I spoke with Bill Haynie about a month ago.  Bill is our new VP and Reunion Coordinator.  He is moving forward with our 2014 Reunion which will be held in Norfolk, Va.  I believe the last reunion in Norfolk was 2006 and it was a great success.  Norm Jepson & Harry Andersen put a lot of hard work into that reunion.  We had a great turnout in 2006.
For many of us, Norfolk/Little Creek is where our Naval lives began.  Little Creek was out in the country, miles from Norfolk.  The Main Gate at Little Creek was a far walk to the quay wall where the ROCK tied up.  I remember many a night making that walk.  In the winter, the temperatures could get very cold and there was always plenty of wind.  I can still see some of the Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT) training.  (UDT was the fore-runner of the Navy Seals)  They were running all over the base carrying a huge rubber boats or taking a swim in the pier area. 
That was 1958/1960.  The Little Creek base now is like a small city with many amenities for Navy personnel and their families.  It is still home to the LSD’s and Navy Seals.  We got to see much of the base in 2006.
But Norfolk and the surrounding area is not all about Navy.  In 2006, we had a wonderful Harbor Tour, a tour of the Gen. Douglas McArthur museum and a day long bus tour to Williamsburg, Va.,  which is about an hour away.   And of course, a self conducted tour of what remains of East Main Street.  Not much, but it did stir the memory.
I hope that I will see a great many of you at the 2014 Reunion.  Norfolk is a special place for most of us, so take advantage of this opportunity.
May all your skies be red at night, Tom Wagner

Ships Store Items

The following items are offered for sale through the Ships Store.  All orders are handled through Shorty Cyr, BM3, 119 Pinecrest Drive, Waterbury, CT   06708, Phone #203-753-6220, e-mail at:  shortybm3@yahoo.com  All orders must be accompanied by a check.  Checks must be made out to the USS Plymouth Rock Association.  You can click on any image to obtain a larger view of the item.  

	Through a donation from a shipmate, we were able to acquire a small number of ship patches (see left).  We are selling these patches for $15.00 each, and are limiting sales to one patch per person.   All orders are handled through Shorty Cyr, BM3, 119 Pinecrest Drive, Waterbury, CT   06708, Phone #203-753-6220, e-mail at:  shortybm3@yahoo.com   Call him before sending money to insure that patches are available, since the number is limited (17).  Orders are on a first come, first served basis.
Plymouth Rock Mug.  Price is $15.00 includes shipping and handling.	Bumper Stickers.  Price is $2.80 includes shipping and handling.
Ships Patch.  Price is $8.75 includes shipping and handling.	Plymouth Rock Cap.  Price is $15.00 this price includes shipping and handling.
Short sleeve tee shirt.  Price is $22.00 which includes shipping and handling.  The following sizes are available:  Med./Lge./XL/XXL and XXXL.	Personalized Commemorative Plaques.  Price is dependent on size, 7x9 is $15.00 + $5.00 shipping, 8 x 10 is $20.00 + $5.00 shipping.   To order contact Shorty Cyr, BM3, he will send you an order form.

WRITE AN ARTICLE! We need your articles and letters to the newsletter editor for publication in our newsletter. Photographs accompanying articles are much appreciated. Send your articles to the editor at:  billinp@metrocast.net

Post Mark, P Rock's first year of operations, one month prior to the ship leaving for it's first cruise to Frobisher Bay, in Labrador

	Somewhere at sea!
	Junior Officers, recognize anyone, what year?

Picture and article contributed by Randy Silbaugh, nephew of Ernest Saroniski, SN. Plank Owner.  Article would be dated probably from 1956. Two items on the right, also contributed by Randy, does anyone have any idea what it is?  The number 424 was on back of picture of the ship picture.

Photo of a British LCAC landing on the stern gate. We were doing NATO ops in August 1970.  Picture contributed by Bill Lydon, FTG1

Tektite II
	The attached photos show the lab we picked up in Philadelphia shipyard around May of 1970 and delivered it the St. Johns in the Virgin Islands. Plymouth Rock delivered Tektite II to the bay where it was submerged. The United States Department of the Interior coordinated Tektite II, with part of the funding coming from NASA, which was interested in the psychological study of the scientific teams working in closed environments, similar to that of spacecraft. The missions were carried out in 1970. Tektite II comprised ten missions lasting 10-20 days with four scientists and an engineer on each mission. Other scientists participating in the all-female mission included Renate True of Tulane, as well as Ann Hartline and Alina Szmant, graduate students at Scripps Institute of Oceanography. The fifth member of the crew was Margaret Ann Lucas, a Villanova engineering graduate, who served as Habitat Engineer. The Tektite II missions were the first to undertake in-depth ecological studies.[ Medical and human research oversight for Tektite II was well documented in a series of reports covering a project overview, saturation diving, lessons learned from Tektite I, application to Tektite II, medical responsibilities and psychological monitoring, medical supervision duties medical and biological objectives project logistics, lessons learned, excursions to deeper depths from storage pressure, decompression tables, general medical observations, psychological observations, blood changes and general program conclusions.
Article and photo contributed by Bill Lyndon, FTG1

Pirate Chasers

This Pirate chaser was running 43 knots at half throttle which is 49.5 Mph so running full throttle would mean almost 100 Mph.  If those pirates are in the immediate area then this LCS-2 the USS Independence would probably catch them... Note that there is very little spreading wake. In fact, it does not look like a wake at all, just foamy water from the water jets. Somehow, at 43 knots, you'd think there'd be more of a wake Here she is at sea trials running at only HALF- power at 43 knots! NOTE the absence of a bow wave.| The U.S.S  Independence was built by General Dynamics. It's called a "littoral combat ship" (LCS), and the tri-maran can move its weapons around faster than any other ship in the Navy.  These ships are also relatively inexpensive.  This one is a bargain at $208 million, and the Navy plans to build 55 of them. These pictures and information contributed by James Novak, USAF, Retired

3 Navy Ships on Course for Longest Deployment
in Years

NORFOLK -- Three Navy amphibious ships that left Norfolk ahead of schedule in March are set to stay at sea into February, which would make their cruise the longest ship deployment in decades. The amphibious assault ship Bataan, the amphibious transport dock Mesa Verde and the dock landing ship Whidbey Island left Norfolk Naval Station on March 23, three months earlier than planned because of the unrest in Libya.

The thousands of Sailors and Marines aboard the ships were recently told that their deployment will last about 10 1/2 months, Lt. Cmdr. Bill Urban, a spokesman with Naval Surface Force Atlantic, confirmed Monday. Navy officials said that would make the Bataan group's cruise the longest in decades. Typical deployments last six to seven months.  After the Bataan group left Norfolk, it spent three weeks training in the Atlantic. The ships then steamed to the Mediterranean, where the Bataan relieved the amphibious assault ship Kearsarge, which was involved in early strikes into Libya. The Kearsarge spent 8 1/2 months at sea before coming home in May; it left Norfolk ahead of schedule to help flood victims in Pakistan. In August, the Bataan arrived in the Arabian Gulf for its planned deployment, replacing the West Coast based Boxer.

Since leaving Norfolk, each of the ships in the Bataan group has spent about a month in port in various cities. The Bataan has had four port visits, the Mesa Verde five, and the Whidbey Island six.

USS Arizona picture contributed by Harry Andersen BTC

USS Plymouth Rock (LSD-29) probably in Hampton Roads, date unknown.

Navy Trivia

Battle Lantern:  Battery powered, portable electric lights for emergency use.

Boats:  Small open or decked-over craft propelled by oars, sails, or some type of engine.  This term also applies to larger vessels built to navigate rivers and inland waters; calling a ship a boat is not good Navy talk.