As of December 2010

The Long Island Chapter of Armed Guard meets at the Farmingdale, NY, Public Library on the 4th Wednesday of the month at 11 AM. Contact Dot and James Pellegrino, 527 Livingston Street, Westbury, NY 11590, telephone 516-997-5585. James has taken over from Joseph McKenna who kept the chapter going for years and they have a great number at their meeting. Our thanks go to Joe McKenna for his leadership.

Delaware Valley Armed Guard/Merchant Marine will meet on the 2nd Tuesday in April 2011 at 11:30 AM at the Old Country Restaurant, Oxford Center, Fairless Hills, PA. Contact John Harman, 9 Tree Avenue, Levittown, PA 19054, telephone 215-295-3114. John replaces Peter Cugasi who sailed on to be with his Maker January 11, 2011. Peter had held the crew together for many years and our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

The South New Jersey Pinelands Armed Guard Unit meets the 4th Thursday of the month at 12:30 PM at The Captains Inn, 304 East Lacey Road, Forked River, NJ, telephone 609-693-3351. The hosts are Mike Chengeri, telephone 908-486-6577, Al Messina, telephone 732-350-1304, and William Wilkie, telephone 609-597-2946. They ask all NJ Armed Guard members to come join them. Wives and widows of members are welcome to attend a great "sit-down" luncheon and view the Forked River. Come on down and join us. Those outside of NJ are welcome too.

The Northern NJ Crew is now meeting at Stashes Restaurant, Wood Avenue (off Route 1 North), Linden, NJ, on the 1st Tuesday of the month at 12 noon. Host: Ernest Stoukas, 65 Webb Drive, Fords, NJ 08863, telephone 732-225-2054. Ernie says that if anyone interested in holding a mini-reunion at Atlantic City, NJ, or Pocono Manor, PA, to contact him NOW.

Iowa/Minnesota/Dakotas meet on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 10 AM for coffee and gab at the Machine Shed off Exit 125 on I-80/I-35, Urbandale, IA. Contact Arnie Latare, 4400 E.P. True Pkwy #59, West Des Moines, IA 50265, telephone 515-225-1084, e-mail malata@q.com. All Armed Guard/Merchant Marine and family are welcome.

The Texas 2011 reunion will be held April 7-10, 2011, in Wichita Falls at the Holiday Inn at the Falls. Hosts will be Jesse Dwain Holmes, 1510 Rita Lane, Iowa Park, TX 76367-1040, telephone 940-592-5730, and his two daughters, Judy H. Gilmore, 13403 Ravenwing Drive, Cypress, TX 77429, telephone 832-229-4088, e-mail judygailgilmore@hotmail.com, and Diane H. Dill, 6013 Settlement Way, McKinney, TX 75070, telephone 214-578-3206, e-mail dianedill@sbcglobal.com. Debbie Wade will assist.

Victoria, Texas, Armed Guard Crew meets on the 1st Monday of the month at 9:00 AM at Ramsey's Restaurant, 1401 North Navarro, Victoria, TX. Contact Norm Neureuther, telephone 361-578-7900, e-mail neureuther@suddenlink.net.

The Harrisburg, PA Area Crew's new hosts are Charles Hastings, 300 Old Orchard Lane, York, PA 19403, telephone 717-843-6231, and Eugene Alexander, 1147 Galway Court, Hummelstown, PA 17036, telephone 717-220-1090. The Crew meets at Hoss's Steak and Sea House, 9009 Bridge Road, Hummelstown, PA, at 11 AM on the 1st Thursday of the month.

The Sun Coast Armed Guard/Merchant Marine Veterans of World War II will meet at Kally K's, 3383 US 19, Springhill, FL, at 11:30 AM. Contact Hal Conn, 6625 West Seven Rivers Drive, Crystal River, FL 34429, telephone 352-795-6257, e-mail halconn@embarqmail.com.

The Sarasota Manatee Chapter of the AMMV along with the Armed Guard in the area have moved their meetings to Duff's Original Buffet, 6010 14th Street West, Bradenton, FL. They meet the last Wednesday of the month (excluding-July/August) at 12:30 PM, but most go at 11:30 AM to enjoy the buffet lunch and hold their Bull/Heifer session. Ed Cleary, Armed Guard, attends and wants more AG to join in. Host: James Waters, 137 Osprey Circle, Ellenton, FL 34222, telephone 941-729-1346. Visitors welcome.

The Rudy Kozak Chapter of the U.S. Merchant Marine and Armed Guard Veterans still meets at 1 PM on the 2nd Wednesday of each month except July and August at American Legion Post No. 53 in Sanford, FL. Contact: Richard McCamy, 26002 Zinna Lane, Astatula, FL 34705, telephone 352-742-1394, e-mail marymccamy@embarqmail.com. We invite everyone to come join in while we are able.

The Southern California Region of the Armed Guard Veterans meets every two months, alternating at the West Buffet in Carlsbad, CA, at 11:30 AM, Jan 11, 2011, and San Diego Family Restaurant, Chula Vista, on March 9. Contact Howard Wooten, 2438 East Vista Way, Spc-23, Vista, CA 92084, telephone 760-724-4724, e-mail ankerclanker0135@gmail.com.

Rhode Island and Eastern Massachusetts Chapter host, Gerry Greaves, 1287 South Broadway, East Providence, RI 02914, telephone 401-431-0011, e-mail USNAGVan@aol.com, informs that they will meet the first Thursday in April and October 2011 at the Imperial Room, 1 Rhodes Place, Cranston, RI, at 12 noon.

Wisconsin/Illinois meetings for 2011 are: January 11, March 15, May 17, July 12, October 11 and December 13 at the Driftwood Restaurant and Lounge, 8607 Durand Avenue in Sturtevant, WI, at 12 noon. Hosts are Jay and Jane Wildfong, 13211 Durand Avenue, Sturtevant, WI 53117, telephone 262-886-2966, e-mail wildfongj@cs.com. Jay says there are plans for a mini-reunion planned for sometimes in September, time and place to be decided. Everyone is welcome.

The US Navy Armed Guard and Merchant Marine Veterans of World War II meet every third Saturday of the month, except June, July and August, at Marsh Landing Restaurant, 44 North Broadway, Fellsmere, FL. For information contact C.F. "Korky" Korker, telephone 772-571-0230, e-mail korkykorker@aol.com.

The Logansport, Indiana Area Crew meets at VFW Post 3790, 1023 Erie Avenue, on the last Friday of each month at 11:30 AM except December. Hosts are William and Betty Zwyers, 9239 North State Road 29, Frankfort, IN 46041, telephone 765-258-3353.

The Rochester, New York Area Armed Guard/Merchant Marine meet on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 11 AM at Jay's Diner, 2612 West Henrietta Road, Rochester, NY 585-424-3710. Hosts are John Shevlin, telephone 585-467-2057; Walter Mace, telephone 585-394-7165, Frank Hutter, telephone 585-473-8103, Michael Lucci, telephone 585-388-0576 and Marie Lane, 14 Hanna Lane, Webster, NY 14580, telephone 585-217-9897, e-mail coolforest@frontiernet.net.

The Albany, NY Area Armed Guard/Merchant Marine World War II meet on the 4th Thursday of the month at Schuyler Inn, 545 Broadway, Menands, NY at 11:30 AM. Hosts are Art and Marion Fazzone, 3936 Albany Street, Schenectady, NY 12304-4371, telephone 518-374-5377, e-mail mamoon3@aol.com, and Peter Falasco, 49 Monroe Avenue, Latham, NY 12110, telephone 518-785-7890 (changes underlined).

Northern New England members of the USN Armed Guard Veterans of WW II will hold their spring 2011 meeting at the Red Blazer Restaurant in Concord, NH. Meet at 1 PM, eat at 2 PM. RSVP by May 6 to: Bob Norling, 6 Tow Path Lane, Concord, NH 03301, telephone 603-224-4927, e-mail uppa1924@aol.com.

West Virginia Armed Guard Merchant Marine WW II Veterans meet at the Ranch House Restaurant in the Conference Room, Route 55, Craigsville, WV, telephone 304-742-6117, on September 24, 2011. Hosts are Forrest Flanagan, PO Box 119, Craigsville, WV 26205, telephone 304-742-3160 or Robert Wheeler, 203 Hunt Avenue, Beckley, WV 25108, telephone 304-255-0897.

The American Merchant Marine Silicon Valley Veterans Chapter meets at Carrow's Restaurant at 3180 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA, on the 4th Friday of each month (except November and December) at 11:30 AM. They take in the Santa Clara Veterans Day memorial services at Memorial Park and would like to have many Armed Guard join in the camaraderie and show their AG colors. Contact: Perry Adams, 5100 El Camino Real, Apt 303, Los Altos, CA 94022, telephone 650-967-3696.

Merchant Marine/Armed Guard Susquehanna Mariners contact William Balabanow, 74 Delp Road, Lancaster, PA 17601, telephone 717-569-0391, e-mail b.balabanow@verizon.net for their next meeting.

The Cleveland, Ohio, Chapter still holds their meetings at Denny's, 4331 West 150th Street, West 150th exit off I-71 in Cleveland on the 1st Monday of the month at 10:30 AM. They regretfully inform everyone that William "Bill" Joyce took the voyage to be with his Maker on October 13, 2010. Bill's wife, Janet Joyce, informs that the new host will be Al Borgman, 25534 Chatwood Drive, Euclid, OH 44117, telephone 216-481-1142, e-mail ahbseadog@gmail.com.

Oregon Merchant Marine/Armed Guard Chapter host Ruthann Heineken, 7055 SW 184th Avenue, Portland, OR 97007, telephone 503-848-7031, asks all in the area to come and join with them.

The American Merchant Marine Veterans Association will hold its 2011 25th National Convention at the Silver Legacy Resort Casino in Reno, NV, on May 15-18, 2011. Hosts are the AMMV Golden Gate and Sacramento Valley Chapters. Contact Sindy Raymond, e-mail saaren@frontiernet.net. See http://www.ammv.info/2011-Convention.html for information.

Our own Joe Colgan, Armed Guard commander on SS JOHN W. BROWN in Baltimore, Maryland, asked me to remind all of you of the ship's cruises and to purchase your tickets early. Joe is stepping down as a board member but will still help the crew as much he can. Thanks Joe for your past help in keeping the ship afloat. See www.liberty-ship.com for cruise information.

The Patrol Craft Sailors Association's 24th National Reunion will be held April 13-17, 2011, at the Crowne Plaza Riverfront Hotel, Jacksonville, FL, telephone 877-270-1393. Host: Duane Walters, 103 Cross Road, Camillus, NY 13031, telephone 315-487-2623, e-mail buckypcsa@twcny.rr.com.

USNTC Bainbridge Association meeting, contact Walter Alexander, 2311 Idavere Road SW, Roanoke, VA 24015-3903, telephone 540-353-5826, e-mail DE585@cox.net.

Contact the following Historical Ships for sailing dates or visiting hours.

S.S. JEREMIAH O'BRIEN, Pier 23, San Francisco, CA 94111, phone 415-544-0100. Tentative cruise dates for 2011 are May 21 or 22; July 16 or 23; and Fleet Week, October 8-9. Contact: Elizabeth Anderson, Office Manager, 1275 Columbus Avenue Suite 300, San Francisco, CA 94133, telephone 415-544-0100, e-mail liberty@ssjeremiahobrien.org or see web site: www.ssjeremiahobrien.org.

S.S. JOHN W. BROWN, P.O. Box 25846, Highland Station, Baltimore, MD 21224, phone 410-558-0646, web site www.liberty-ship.com, e-mail: john.w.brown@usa.net. Day cruises on Chesapeake Bay May 28, June 25, September 10, 2011; $140 per person. Call 410-558-0164 or see website.

S.S.LANE VICTORY, Berth 94, P O Box 629, San Pedro, CA 90733-0629, 310-519-9545, web site www.lanevictory.org. The ship makes summer cruises off Catalina Island in memory of the Merchant Marine and Naval Armed Guard lost at sea. Cruise dates for 2011 are July 23, August 27, and September 24.

S.S.AMERICAN VICTORY, 705 Channelside Dr., Tampa, FL 33609, phone 813-228-8769, web site www.americanvictory.org. AMERICAN VICTORY will not cruise during 2011.

For all of you who host meetings of the crew, please inform me if you still meet and send me update on meeting location and time to place in a future POINTER. If you don't update the meetings, it will not be in--PERIOD! E-MAILS CHANGES OFTEN! Search older POINTERS for hosts, meetings, time and places. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS, if any be listed.

REMEMBER DO NOT USE MY RALEIGH ADDRESS or TELEPHONE NUMBER from old POINTERs or other material. Use the RETURN ADDRESS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE POINTER. LET ME KNOW IF YOUR CREW INFO NEEDS CHANGING NOW!

Also, If you want to start a Chapter in your area, please advise as I can furnish you names by zip code of those in your area. Also, if you need labels. If you find out that I have an Armed Guard on HOLD and he is still around and interested, PLEASE CONTACT ME.

Remember the USN ARMED GUARD WEB SITE, www.armed-guard.com, begun by the late Tom Bowerman from Anniston, AL.

I want to thank all of you for your donations, they keep THE POINTERs coming.

~ Charles A. Lloyd - Chairman