[GreenKeys] Navy plans to Sink America (off-topic)

[Gregory W. Moore]

 Good Morning, Don, and the Greenkeys Group...

Since I happen to be one of the Preservation Officers of the USS America 
Museum Foundation, we
have tried for years to save her for a museum ship,  As Don knows, I was 
trying to get some greenkey
stuff for restoring MainComm and Radio Central  to the era on which I 
served aboard her (1960's)
Don was nice enough to provide a TDA which I have repaired to operating 
condition, and now, given
the circumstances, will now adorn my shack  (which, in honor of the 
CV/CVA-66, I am setting up
like a ship's radio room, albeir smaller, since my basemnt in mo way is 
as large athwartships as
the radio spaces on the America. 

I do have a rather sad story to relate.  In December of 2002, the 
President of the Museum Foundation,
Mr Lee McNulty, and I had the pleasure of going aboard her for one last 
time, in Philadelpha. Since I live
near the city, it was an easy trip.  Both Radio Central and Main Comm 
were stripped out, and what was
there was demillled with a sledge hammer.  However, on the 02 level, in 
the former CIC, lo and behold,
 what did I see, but two M28ASR's "full up" with underdome reperfs, etc, 
they even had paper and tape
still threaded.  Now, the same gorilla had made a demil attempt by 
slamming something into the keyboard,
but I guess that said gorilla didn't know how to open the cover because 
the printer and the reperf and mounts
were pristine,,,  the  28 even had GEARSHFTS!!!!!!!  now, at the time we 
were aboard, we were still
seeking our Tax exempt status, and at the time, we couldn't remove any 
"artifacts.. Being a dedicated
Greenkeyer, however, I couldnt get the thought of these units being lost 
to the Greenkey community
forever. I knew I couldn't get the cabinets ( I have had 8 spinal 
surgeries, and lifting a cabinet out
several hatchways and down 3 decks (the catwalks had been removed, there 
was no chance of getting
the units up to the flight deck.... was totally out of the question) so 
I wanted to strip the cabinets out,
including the TEMPEST filters located in the input lines.

At any rate, earlier this year, prior to the Memorial service held 
friday a week ago, I sent an email
to NAVSEA Philadelpia, trying to get access for at least 1/2 hour or so 
to get the "innards" as well
as some of the standard florescent fixtures to add realism to the 
shack.... I thought you would
like to hear the response:

Mr. Moore,
      Wrong e-mail address first time.  Please see below.
 
r/

Ken Naegele(N33)
NAVSEA Inactive Ships Management Office
Phila. Naval Business Center
4701 S 16th Street(Bldg.545)
Philadelphia, Pa. 19112-5095
Comm. (215) 897-6760
DSN- 443
E-Mail:  kenneth.naegele at navy.mil

-----Original Message-----
From: Naegele, Kenneth A CIV INACTSHIPOFF, N33
Sent: Friday, January 28, 2005 8:45
To: Greg Moore (E-mail)
Cc: Masino, Michael J CIV INACTSHIPMAINTO PHIL PA; Deegan, Tom CIV 
INACTSHIPMAINTO PHIL PA; Jones, Michael A CIV NAVSEA INACTSHIPOFF 
PORTSMOUTH; Blackburn, Carolanne CIV INACTSHIPMAINTO PHIL PA
Subject: FW: ex-AMERICA, fluorescent llight fixtures, possible recovery 
of components from CIC

Mr. Moore,
         Unfortunately your request for lighting fixtures and teletype 
components cannot be supported.  The ex-America is no longer a candidate 
for any equipment removals.  It is in the final stages of  SINKEX 
preparations and any further removals would severely disrupt the tight 
schedule that remains.
 
r/

Ken Naegele(N33)
NAVSEA Inactive Ships Management Office
Phila. Naval Business Center
4701 S 16th Street(Bldg.545)
Philadelphia, Pa. 19112-5095
Comm. (215) 897-6760
DSN- 443
E-Mail:  kenneth.naegele at navy.mil
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Masino, Michael J CIV INACTSHIPMAINTO PHIL PA
Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2005 17:00
To: Naegele, Kenneth A CIV INACTSHIPOFF, N33
Cc: Blackburn, Carolanne CIV INACTSHIPMAINTO PHIL PA
Subject: RE: ex-AMERICA, fluorescent llight fixtures, possible recovery 
of components from CIC

Ken
 
Note attached request.  Can you let this person know we can't support 
this request or pass to Mike J.
 
/R
Mike
-----Original Message-----
From: Gregory Moore [mailto:nnn0bvn at navymars.org]
Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2005 11:03
To: Masino, Michael J CIV INACTSHIPMAINTO PHIL PA; Blackburn, Carolanne 
CIV INACTSHIPMAINTO PHIL PA
Cc: nnn0bvn at navymars.org
Subject: ex-AMERICA, fluorescent llight fixtures, possible recovery of 
components from CIC

Good afternoon, Mike and Carol,

As you may remember, I was one of the persons who  went aboatd the 
ex-AMERICA on
4 Dec 2002, along with Mr Lee McNulty, of the USS America Museum 
Foundation.  At the time, we were still in the process of becoming a 
non-profit organization, and were separating from the Carrier Veterans 
Organization, although I am still a Life Member of Same.   These points, 
however, as you are well aware, are now moot, as the ex--AMERICA will be 
sunk as part of a SINKEX sometime this year, and all of our 
organizations have recieved communications to that effect.  You are also 
no doubt aware, that we are holding a  Memorial Service on 25 FEB 2005 
at 1200 Hrs. for the ship, and those shipmates who are still on Eternal 
Patrol, who were lost during her long period of outstanding service to 
this great Republic in which we live.  I hope I have a chance to meet 
both of you again at that time.

I am sending this email for an entirely different purpose.  Some time 
ago, I approached you, concerning the possibility of obtaining several 
Navy-standard fluorescent light fixtures for installation in my own 
personal radio room which I use for Navy MARS, and which I desire to 
"outfit" in resemblance to a shapboard radio space.  To do this, I would 
like to acquire 4 standard light fixtures, of which the mountings  don't 
matter, as I will have to fabricate them anyway to fit the location in 
which they are to be mounted, at least one bullkhead brass light switch 
and switch box with packing gland (no cable is necessary, as it will be 
simulated), and if in any way possible, 2 sound power phone jacks with 
boxes and packing glands.

OK. now tha's out of the way, I have one more request.  While visiting 
the ship and tagging equipment for future recovery which never occurred, 
I happened across two Teletype Model 28ASR units "full up" with 
underdome  reperforators  located in the  former CIC space on  the 02 
level  just forward of the Avionics shop.  While someone had tried to 
demil these by  hammering the keyboard, they were unable to gain access 
to the interior of the units, probably becaure they didn't know how.  As 
a former RM. this is "old home week" to me.   I would like permission to 
recover said reperforators, as well as the printing units and the speed 
change gearshifts for the mainshafts of both machines.  With the passage 
of time, this equipment is rapidly becoming "pure unobtainium", 
especially the speed change gearshift assemblies.  Today, with all 
message traffic being sent via satellite and computer, using 8 level  
ASCII code, the day of 5 level Baudot code and paper tape is fading into 
obscurity, and there are only a few diehard "Greenkeyers" like  myself 
who collect, maintain, and actually operate these rare items.   When the 
ex-AMERICA sinks, these pieces of history are gone irrevocably, 
forever.  I can provide a
respectful repository for these items, and continue to use them in the 
manner for which they were designed.

I wish to state that this request has no connection with the USS America 
Carrier Veteran's Association, the USS America Museum Foundation, 
Navy-Marine Corps Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS). the Historical 
Naval Ships Association (HNSA) or any other organization concerned with 
preservation or restoration.  This is entirely a personal request by a 
dedicated collector and Teletype/Radio  enthusiast.  Credit for the 
items will be prominently displayed along with the items, including all 
those who helped with the donation thereof.  They will be restored, 
maintained and used on a regular basis, to Navy Standards, with Navy 
issue tools, from Navy issue manuals (Mine).

I have no wish to actually go aboard the ez-AMERICA, if such is 
impossible, the removal of the typing reperforators requires only a deep 
socket  wrench and a screwdriver, and can be done by anyone with 
mechanical knowlege.  It would be helpful, though and much faster, if I 
were to perform the removal, and should take no longer than  1/2 hour/  
I would sign any waiver you may desire

 The light fixtures, switch, and sound power phone jacks, of course, can 
be removed by anyone.  I really hope you can assist me here, as I am 
really trying to make my "radio room" as realistic as possible so as to 
remind me of "back in the day" --hi--

I thank you for your help in this matter
Respectfully Submitted

Gregory W. Moore
120 N Cedar Lane
Upper Darby. PA 19082-1306

Phone (610) 446-5871
Cell (215) 805-9260   (I prefer calls on this)
Fax (610) 446-0357
email:  reply to this message, or   gwmoore at moorefelines.com

tnx much de GW  WA3IVX / NNN0BVN


At any rate, you can see they blew me off.    You would think that they 
would have been more than happy to
get rid of some "useless material" which would have no bearing on any 
tests that they would make...  considering
the rest of the space looked like the face of the moon... OPNOTE:  when 
Lee and I were aboard, in that very space
I noted a whole PILE of Winchester disks just piled up in a corner of 
the compartment.  Being the holder of many
clearances, and havning security so deeply ingrained that it comes 
before anything else in my thoughts (those hours of
numbing security briefs work --hi-)  I reported same to the appropriate 
authorities, for I didn't know if they had sensitive
material on them or not, heck, they were just thrown in a pile.....

This is the thanks one gets --hi---  but as always  BOHICA!!!!!!

73 de Greg  WA3IVX/NNN0BVN


Don Robert House wrote:

 > Explosive tests will send aircraft carrier to bottom of Atlantic

(snip)


-- 

Happily turning electricity into RF energy for almost 40 years,
on land, sea and air, professional and amateur,
around the clock and around the world. KEEP CW ALIVE! 
Become an Elmer today!!!

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
                                                   --Edmund Burke
Greg Moore NNN0BVN PA
U.S. Navy-Marine Corps Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS)
Official Pennsylvania Area Website:
http://pages.prodigy.net/nnn0fbk/mars.htm
Official Northeast Area Website:
http://www.navymars.org/northeast/index.htm
Navy-Marine Corps MARS: Proudly Serving Those Who Serve."
E-Mail (MARS) nnn0bvn at navymars.org
E-Mail (ARRL) wa3ivx at arrl.net
******************************************************************************************************

PRESERVATIONS OFFICER: USS AMERICA (CV/CVA-66) MUSEUM FOUNDATION
Please visit us on the web at http://www.ussamerica-museumfoundation.org

SIGN OUR GUESTBOOK! KEEP HER MEMORY ALIVE!

THIS YEAR, THE FINEST CARRIER THAT EVER SAILED THE 7 SEAS WILL
BE GONE FOREVER, HER CALLSIGN NMIB (LATER NUSA) NEVER TO BE
HEARD AGAIN, NOR BE SEEN FLYING PROUDLY FLYING FROM THE HALLIARD
WHILE ENTERING OR LEAVING PORT.

SHE MAY BE SUNK, IGNOMINIOUSLY, BY THE NAVY, SANS COLORS, SANS HONORS
BUT WE, HER LOYAL CREW, AND SHIPMATES, WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HER FOR
CARRYING US INTO HARMS WAY, AND BACK AGAIN WITH OLD GLORY FLYING AT THE 
GAFF, AND WITH HONOR APLENTY.  AT LEAST WE TRIED TO SAVE YOU FOR A MUSEUM,
 BUT SOMETIMES YOU JUST CAN'T WORK MIRACLES WITH MORONS.

NERK NERK NERK DE NMIB NMIB NMIB SK SK SK