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| Date | 2010-05-07 |
| Location |  |
| Message | Mr. Richard Riehl- My uncle "Ski' Ustaszewski was also a pharmacist mate on the Houston. It turns out your Uncle Al was his close and dear friend. When I was doing a search about my uncle, I found your Uncle Al. He and I have been communicating since October. He gave me much information about my uncle and how my uncle died. It brought remarkable closure to my family. Al is a remarkable man, so kind and wonderful to talk to. I never knew my uncle but thanks to your Uncle Al, I now feel like I do know him and I will always be grateful for Al's kindness. |
| Date | 2009-06-01 |
| Location | |
| Message | My uncle "Ski" Ustaszewski was also a Pharmacist Mate on the Houston and was never found. I am interested in the blog by Richard Riehl whose uncle is Mr. Kopp. I am wondering if his uncle by chance knew anything about my uncle as they must have both served together on the Houston. If you see this Richard, can you please get in touch with me at [email protected] Thank you very much! |
Private Message added 2009-02-28 |
| Date | 2008-09-24 |
| Location | |
| Message | I should have listed the names I have: Picture in Navy whites, Charles E. Cage 143 W. Third St. Cumberland, MD is written on the back of one picture. I have identified him with a woman sitting in front of a water tower in civilian clothes also. Another picture AL is with a young possibly blonde man, around 5' 11" tall, in Navy whites. Two pictures of them and one the man has written: R. Friedman 15 Brewer Avenue I cannot read the first word which appears to be the letters blurkan March 1942 |
| Date | 2008-09-24 |
| Message | My father in law A.L. Sherrer transferred from the USS Houston to the USS Marblehead shortly before the attack on Pearl Harbor and I have photos of men, two with names, I am trying to find which ship they were on and possibly give pictures to the families or post on a web site. AL was a barber and manned the turret guns. |
| Date | 2008-09-16 |
| Location | |
| Message | MY FATHER, ROBERT RUSSELL LAFOON, (RIP) SERVED ABORD ON A CRUSE TO ASIA IN 1933. |
| Date | 2008-08-31 |
| Location | |
| Message | I just saw the KLRU program; thought that I was going to just flip thru channels while I grabbed a late lunch (10 min. max) and I ended up 'living and reliving' this with the survivors and their families. My father was an airman having beginnings of service in Army Air Corps and then the Air Force- his name was George T. McGehee (a Houstonian) - we lost him in October 2007. Popa was many years in the 'business' of finding first hand accounts of all battles of WWII and has such an extensive collection that his daughters are so proud of. Everything seems so much more vital for me, especially now, as I carry on his love and respect for his fellow service-men and women. I wish we would have celebrated the USS Houston reunion along side you guys.... perhaps I will sometime. Thanks for a great job on the film... "I'd heard about you guys!" jmj |
| Date | 2008-08-26 |
| Location | |
| Message | As a member of the Jesse Paul Gilleland family, Water Tender on the Houston I have uncovered a few facts of interest. In the book "Ships Of Ghosts", it mentions when Capt.Rook died on deck near the exploded gun that he was held by one of the china men. There were two china stewards on the Captains personal staff. As Jesse Paul Gilleland swam around in the waters from 1 am till about 10 the next day, he ran up on one of the china men.He was standing on a something and was asked what are you standing on, the china man said .."ME DON'T Know, Me no swim", He aske Gilleland to stay with him , but Mr. Gilleland said that guns were shooting all around them and he would go to a safer place. Later in the day, when the Japs picked up Gilleland, the china man was on the small boat with 12 people. After that Mr. Gilleland never found the china man again,but he did survive the sinking. Another interesting fact I just learned was that early in capitivity, about the first 3 months, In the book , "Ships of Ghosts", it mentions that 50 Americans were picked, based on their health, to go to Hakodate POW camp in Japan to work in coal mines. Jesse Paul Gilleland, along with 4 officers, and 45 other men of Houston and Marines were shipped out and never heard of till after 15 August 1945. Then a few weeks later were found when they closed Camp. Interestingly, there were only 2 that died there and they died being transported up there. Again, Kalinosky was with Gilleland again. Thank you |
| Date | 2008-08-25 |
| Location | |
| Message | I am a family member of the Next Generation of USS Houston. I have just completed reading the book "Ship Of Ghosts", and I think it was a very well written book. All of the facts are very accurate and reveals much insite into what our family member went through. I urge all to read it. Also, if your a member of Kalonaski, Robert , Rogers and Fowler, our family member Jesse Paul Gilleland was swimming with these people from 1 a.m. till mid morning after the sinking. Also, Kalonaski was picked up on the same Japenese small boat and carried to the Tanker. The Tanker was later sunk by US submarine and the pows. picked up by a destroyer. I think all mentioned in this story survived pow life. Also, in his recordings of the sinking he mentions C.V. May,, a warrant officer. I have first hand recordings of Jesse Paul Gilleland, Water Tender on the Houston at the nite of the sinking. He passed away with heart problems at the age of 86 and lived a very successful life in Georgia. He spent many of his retired years speaking to schools about the war. Highway 78 from Atlanta to Loganville was named in his honor. Thank you |
| Date | 2008-08-23 |
| Location | |
| Message | Hello, This is Don Kehn, Jr., the "historian" with the Cruiser HOUSTON Survivors Association. I am gratified that so many folks saw the PBS documentary. Y'all may be pleased to know the show has been nominated for a regional Emmy Award. It is also going to be entered in a film festival next month under the documentary category. We all owe Jim Fisher & company (Matt B. & Fujio) a debt of gratitude for their fine work in putting that tribute together. I would also like to mention that my book on the Asiatic Fleet destroyer USS Edsall (DD-219) entitled "A Blue Sea of Blood" [published by Zenith Press] is coming along in the editorial process, and is scheduled to be in warehouses Nov 2008 & bookstores Dec 2008. It is worth noting that many falsehoods have been built up over the past 66 years around the story of EDSALL, and unfortunately in some areas these errors continue to be perpetuated. Please be aware that my book will clarify most if not all of the Mysteries concerning EDSALL's fate, and that currently the facts at most naval websites are simply WRONG. NEVER accept the details recorded at any naval history, warship, or other related site as entirely accurate. (Least of all Wikipedia or Navsource!) In Dec 08 my book should--the Good Lord willin'--be released, after an exhaustive project of four years with research stretching from the US to Holland and on to New Zealand and Japan, at which time many errors will be rectified. Please be patient. It's worth it!  |
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