|
|
Flash on the Handlebar Fire Control System while a couple of Helo's fly over to drop off various items. Photo by FTG2 Steve Brichford
|
|
|
Really ,-you got to love this shot.I felt honored that the gunner'smates and Hanks (RD2) would allow me into there presence-me a mear Fire Control Tech. Left to right: is Bobby Chong;Hanks(RD2)Bobby Ryan (GMG3)Gary "SHORTY" Meiler(GMG3) and Louis Schmidt (GMG3) he just made 3rd) guy on the deck's name escapes me.
|
This is the "Gunnersmates Rat pack" Ringate;Boyd and Biff Springborg.They were rumored to get ahold of very strange "wacky-tabacky".I'm not making this up.after all its just a rumor(cough)
This is John Meyers;Gun Fire Control Chief; AKA: Salt Water Johnny to the Fire Control gang according to Les Young.He's on the Barbette,I heard he retired and went home to OHIO
These Muskateers are either privy to the "Huckle berry" club or replacements for some of the officers aboard the Rio Blanco,I think the guy with his fingers up made Admiral.I think the guy on the far left is Danny Miller??? who else???
This is an actual photo of the Flash sleeping while standing a trait he picked up in the Navy.The ability to fall a sleep on ones feet is indeed a rare talent.several things must be kept in mind while this occurs;once in a while stomp your feet for circulation and if you are ever caught doing this on watch and they suddenly and rudely awaken you always reply with "AMEN"...-"you think I'm kidding?"
One day while taking a break from the continously failing fire control equiptment on the Binjo Maru;Steve Brichford;Faris Antoon,and Wm.Geraghty(most of the FT gang) walked over to the New Jersey to check out the "FT" system-16 inch guns;took three marshmellows in the breach to launch a shell from the BB-62.
This was a shot of a mild downswing of the bow cutting into the waves of the South China Sea.Remember the fun times as the bow went up in the wave and slammed back down before the next wave.Like being lulled to sleep by a catapult. wmg
Tai Pak Floating restuarant in Hong Kong Harbor.Great food -and it was real Chinese.I often wondered if Mary Sue ate here?
For those of you that can't see the name "Wayne" right away look on the box above the canvas. WMG
Thanks Flash. I can still recall how that feels! - John
This is the pier where "then Ensign" James H.Short did a remarkable job of "finally" docking the 536,and that just tickled Goldfinger and the crew gave a "sigh" of relief.I wonder if he learned to dock a water craft from Jack Kennedy?(Uncle Jack)
if you enlarge the lower picture you can see Wayne Ringate standing at attention while the change of command with "Goldfinger" being relieved.
BIff Springborg giving the Victory sign.not sure where this picture was taken. WMG Thanks Flash, maybe Biff can fill in the details.:o) John
This is a label from "33" beer that I saved from Market time Beach White Hats Club-around the bay from Cam Rahn -the beer was allegedly made with formaldehyde.I think the rumor was to kind.It wasn't "Stroh's" or "San Miquel" and I never had "Grain Belt"(brain melt) to compare it too.(Yet)I always thought the label was interesting.After being on board and having a discussion with Buddy Hood hell even tse tse flies are interesting.
Here we find two famous White River Chief's -Saltwater John Meyers Gunfire Control and "Franklin" just making the hat as chief gunnersmate.now what was the question that prompted this response? was it: Hey guys;what do you think about the chow aboard? The Coffee?;The Leadership?;The hours? Sailing?;Steaming?:fill in the blank
I have a shoe box filled with MPC and Japanese yen and silver coins I saved from Phillippines.I wonder if any of its worth anything,other than collector value. interesting stuff to look at.
here' Looie having a smoke and having just come back from A-33 with his new Asahi Pentax camera he bought with his hard earned combat pay after asking Bill Cayford,Bill Geraghty and Steve Brichford what camera to buy.
I think that's Ringate in the back and Biff Springborg in front of him,but the two other's names escape me.That shipmate learning against the launcher wasn't exactly a "Rocket Scientist" if I recall.
The Fire Control Gang of the U.S.S.Whiteriver-LSMR536.Left to right -Steve Brichford-Willoughby Hills,Ohio.Faris Antoon-Cleveland,Ohio.William M.Geraghty,Willowick-on-the-Lake,Ohio,Chief John"Saltwater Johnny" Meyers-Belfontaine Ohio.Picture taken with Subic Bay in the background on the LSMR-536 aka "The RAT" or the "Binjo Maru" depending on how you felt This picture taken in December 1968 P.S. "not far from Old Jolo's"
Steve Brichford in Tiger Baum Gardens;Photo by William M.Geraghty.We were searching for Neil Biggs whom was lost there after a few pops.Steve was second class "FT."Bill just made 3rd class "FT" Steve Brichford probably one of the nicest guys you'd want to meet died in Golden,Colorado on New Years day 1986 from Lymphotic gland cancer -with roots to Agent Orange. WM.M.Geraghty
Mike Monroe of Madison,Wisconsin,acting out a "Ralph Buick" episode.he really wasn't sick,but his 5 foot 1 stature and his marriage to a fillippino girl along with his removal of a tatoo on his right arm grossed alot of shipmates out.He was called "Bilge Breathe" alot by the crew.
contrary to what everyone thought ,Berg;usually deep in thought on the 3rd boland on the starboard side can be heard "mumbling" his nuggets of wisdom about Lt.(j.g.)James Short ,and The USS Whiterivers very own "twilight zone" Lt.Winters.
Some "Journalist" came aboard one time in 1969 that we ended up dropping off at some really off the wall place-one of them dropped this card by accident on the way down to a zodiac boat.I picked it thinking it was a piece of scrap paper only to find it wasn't -"Hey-who were those guys?" and why does official Naval records say we weren't there in 1969-check it out or e mail me at Williamm@4dcomm.com,I'll send you the records./gee boys and girls;what does "S.O.G" mean?
Gary"Shorty" Meiler from Hialeah,Florida. Gun Mt Capt of 5 inch '38. everytime we fired it we'd lose 45 lbs of bulkhead plaster
You know those cookies we ate that tasted so "really" good and gave you a "good" feeling .. "OH!!! Those cookies!!! ,yes,they were the "Alice B.Toklas "recipe: cookies of that famous Iowa on the W.R.cook,non other than Ikehorn.
|
|
"THE BROWN EYED HANDSOME MAN" Well now you see him,the face behind those rockets that were being launched,and the five inch 38 when it was fired.It was this Sailor;William M.Geraghty of Willowick-on-the-lake,Ohio, that had to be 100 percent sure the "Grid" and "gun target lines" were correct and accurate;A very heavy responsibility with zero tolerance for error. Geraghty completed his job of 21 months on the WR with 100% accuracy and split hair sometimes on "Walking in rounds" of rockets until the spotter radio'ed "Fire-FIRE FOR EFFECT" Geraghty one of four "FT'S" from Ohio was on the White River from 1968 to 1970 at decommissioning some of the troops we supported in areas in 'Nom' were so amazed at his accuracy they bought the rounds all night at the White Hats Club at Market Time Beach in Cam Rahn Bay as their way of thanking him. (Webmaster--No Comment!)
|
The Gunboat -"Rioblanco" aka "The Whiteriver-LSMR536 also know affectionately by the crew at the "RAT" or in Japanese"Binjo Maru" meaning "Toilet: or "Crap" boat(I dunno why?) this change of command was James Jordon "Goldfinger" transferring all his "gumballs" and "baseball cards" to Cecil B.Hurst of Tyler,Texas(The rat does look good-eh?)
This is Mr."A.J.Squared-away" right after his 17th shipping over lecture from "Hurbatooth" and "Mortimer" needless to say it rolled off him like water off a ducks back-he didn't ship.But James"Buddy" Hood had and still does."A hell of a sense of humor" (James "AKA" Buddy Hood,true pal of Hurtibese sent me this picture in an e-mail)
Stienstra and Geraghty-Phillippines
William M.Geraghty-Fire Control from Ohio Rich Peterson-Store Keeper -from California Robbins -Boatswainmate from Chicago,Illinois
Just a note to let you know that Bill was cremated on June 6th. His wife Hannelore will be taking his remains down to San Diego where she and the children will have a memorial service and a burial at sea. No date is set at present but I will let you know when one is settled on. Thanks again for your help on passing the word on to the shipmates, their kind words and prayers have been greatly appreciated by the family.
Rick Geraghty
Bill died on the morning of June 2. 2006
William Micheal Geraghty
A memorial Mass and a U.S. Navy military service in San Diego, Calif., is pending for William Micheal "Flash" Geraghty, 57, of Freshwater, California.
Mr. Geraghty died of leukemia on June 2, 2006, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Eureka, Calif.
Born Aug. 10, 1948, at McDonald House, University Hospital in Cleveland, he lived in Willowick for approximately 20 years, before he settled in Lakeside, Calif., which is a suburb of San Diego, Calif.
He graduated in 1966, from North High School in Eastlake. He was a big fan of the Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Indians teams.
He was a U.S. Navy veteran. He was a former member of St. Mary Magdalene Church in Willowick where he attended elementary school, V.F.W. Post 678 Willowick, and the Vietnam Veterans Post Wickliffe branch of V.F.W.
Mr. Geraghty loved to travel and went to Ireland and Germany with his wife and daughter, Erin, last year. Prior to that, he visited Hawaii.
He will be greatly missed, especially for his sense of humor, love of family and love of relatives, friends, neighbors, animals and life.
Mr. Geraghty was self-employed in sales and landscaping. He also was the author of "Fire for Effect."
Survivors are his wife, Hannah; daughters, Erin Maureen, and Maria; sons, Jeff, Will, and David; several grandchildren; sister, Patricia Geraghty ("Eagle" Richard Sr.) Adler of Willowick; many cousins, Kriners, McCanns, Geraghtys and Tom Bartlo; deaf goddaughter and niece, Darlene Goldy Gibbons; and many other nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews. He also leaves his best buddies from childhood, Tim Furlan and Mike Cicora.
He was preceded in death by his father, Robert; mother, Mary; and brother, Don "D.J." Geraghty.
Burial will be in the Pacific Ocean.
