Served aboard the USS Mississinewa AO144.
from Feb. 1965, - May 1966 

Don started out as the Yeoman for the Deck Department, when making 3rd Class, was assigned to the Ship's Office.

I live across the river from New Salem.  About 7 miles.  Not only do I live across the river, I work at New Salem.  I am the Village Copper.  Since I retired from the Air National Guard in 1998 I have been working there full time for 2.5 years. We get about 600,000 visitors a year.

FIRST REPORTED ABOARD THE MISSISSINEWA IN FEB OF 1965.  I WAS ASSIGNED TO THE DECK OFFICE AS YEOMAN AND WHEN I MADE 3RD CLASS I WAS ASSIGNED TO THE SHIP'S OFFICE.  SHE WAS GETTING A OVERHAUL AND WE LEFT THERE AND DID A SHAKE DOWN CRUISE AT GITMO.  WE WENT FROM FREEZING TO HOT IN JUST A SHORT TIME.  THE MED CRUISE WAS THE BEST.  A LOT OF GOOD MEMORIES; NAPLES, ROME, BEIRUT, MALTA, PALMA, ATHENS, RHODES, SPAIN.  I LEFT THE MISSY IN MAY 1966 WHEN WE GOT BACK AND HEADED TO FLEET TRAINING CENTER, CHARLESTON. THIS PAST WEEK I GOT ON THE INTERNET AND TRACKED DOWN THREE PEOPLE IN ONE NIGHT.  I FOUND ENS. JERRY KRESKE ON MY FIRST TRY, AND FOUND YN3 RICH (DICK) GODIN.  DICK PASSED AWAY 6 OR 7 YEARS AGO, BUT HAD A REAL NICE CONSERVATION WITH HIS WIFE.  SHE TOLD ME OF SOMEONE ELSE THAT DICK HAD KEPT IN CONTACT WITH.  PN3 TOM (DEAN) SMITH.  TOM AND I WENT TO THE WORLD'S FAIR IN NEW YORK CITY IN 1965.

I HOPE EVERYONE CAN COME TO SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, JUNE 10, 11 & 12 FOR THE FIRST USS MISSISSINEWA (AO-144) REUNION.