The Pittsburgh, PA Chapter has folded according to Hilary and Dorothy Makowski who have been the hosts for 20 years or more. Thank you both for your dedication to the crew. You have made many happy. (calloyd)

The Armed Guard Cleveland, Ohio Chapter holds their meetings at DENNY'S, W150th Exit off I-71, 4331 West 150th St., Cleveland. Contact Bill Joyce, phone 440-937-6487. See their story in the current POINTER. Located four more AG.

W.VA AG/MM Mini-Reunion will be held again Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009, at the Ranch House Restaurant, RT 55, Craigsville, WV, phone 304-742-6117 Contact: Forrest Flanagan, P.O. Box 119, Craigsville, WV 26205, phone 304-742-3160, or Robert Wheeler, 203 Hunt Ave., Beckley, WV 25801, phone 304-255-0879 They had their largest crew in 2008. Lodging will be at the Comfort Inn, Summerville, WV, phone 1-800-228-5150.

The NJ Pinelands Armed Guard Crew are still active and still meet at THE CAPTAINS INN, Forked River, NJ. They still get about 30 at their meeting and they extend an open invitation to all AG and their ladies to have dinner at the NJ seashore where they say the food is good and reasonable. Host is Bill Wilkie, PO Box 548, Manahawkin, NJ 08050, phone 609-597-2946, e-mail Wilfrosty@aol.com.

SUNCOAST AG/MM WW II Veterans still meet at Kally K's, 3383 US 19, Springhill, FL at 1130 hrs, 2nd Saturday of the month except December, when they exchange gifts at China First in Crystal River. Host: Hal Conn, 6625 W Seven Rivers Dr., Crystal River, FL 34429, phone 352-795-6257, e-mail halconn@xtalwind.net.

The Merchant Marine will hold their 23rd Annual Reunion at the Doubletree Hotel, Tampa, FL, May 14-18, 2009. Contact: Morris Harvey, 8055 Dacca Terrace, Dunellon, FL 34433, phone 352-564-0267, e-mail morrisharvey27@yahoo.com. Additional information and forms are available at the American Merchant Marine Veterans of World War II website, http://bhirdo.net/americanmerchantmarineveteransofwwII.html.

They have invited all Armed Guard to attend as they have program set up for both crews. Their convention fees do not apply to the AG. AG, fill out forms or just send in the things you care to attend and send to them. I will be there. Make your own hotel room reservations. Also pay ship directly for the cruise on the AMERICAN VICTORY. (cal).

IL/WI LUNCHEONS for 2009 will be at NOON in the Sturtevant/Driftwood Restaurant on: Feb.10; April 21; June 9, August 11 and Nov. 17. Hosts are Jane and Jay Wilfong, 13211 Durand Ave., Sturtevant, WI 53117, phone 262-886-2966, e-mail WILDFONGJ@cs.com.

Southwest Virginia Chapter of AG/MM plan to continue meeting in 2009 at the famous ANTHONY'S on the 2nd Friday of each month. Contact Rocky (MM) Rhodes, 5390 Merriman Road SW, Roanoke, VA 24018, phone 540-772-7212, e-mail rockyr2@cox.net.

The Lansing, MI Armed Guard 2009 MEETINGS: March 18 and June 17 at the OLD COUNTRY BUFFET, Okemos, and again on September 16 at a location to be announced later. Contact Carl Mescher, 508 Wayland, East Lansing, MI. Their meeting at the Flegel Farm in September 2008 was a great success with Bob Applegate, a survivor of the S.S. JEAN NICOLE sinking, who told them of being taken prisoner by the Japanese.

The TEXAS USN ARMED GUARD Annual Reunion will be held again in Fredericksburg, TX, March 5-7, 2009, at the SUNDAY HOUSE, 501 E. Main St., phone 1-800-274-3762. Host: John Shirley, 4128 N. Summerset Loop, Round Rock, TX 78681, phone 512-671-3464.

The San Antonio, TX Chapter of the Navy Armed Guard WW II Veterans ended their meetings Feb. 21, 2009, as it now stands unless someone steps forward to be the Host. If so, it will be announced in a future POINTER. I would like to THANK Dan and Liz Mock for their dedicated service over the years in keeping them together. Age, aches and pains are taking their toll as traveling begins to take its toll, also.

The Victoria, Texas hold their monthly meeting at RAMSEY'S IN VICTORIA, hosted by Norman and Joyce Neureuther, 4507 N. John Stockbauer #13, Victoria, TX 77904, phone 361-578-7900, e-mail n-jneureuther@global.net. All welcomed!!

The Rochester, NY area Armed Guard/Merchant Marine meet at JAY'S DINER, 2612 W. Henrietta Rd., Rochester, NY 424-3710. Host John Shevlin, 37 Winfield Rd., Rochester, NY 14622, phone 585-467-2057, who says he is assisted by AG Walter Mace, phone 585-394-7165; MM Frank Hutter, phone 585-473-8103; and Joan Lucci, phone 585-388-0576. They are a lot of help since John's wife Mary, of 61 years, passed on to a better place, 10/29/08.

Albany, NY Area Armed Guard and Merchant Marine meet the 4th Thursday of month at the SCHUYLER INN, 545 Broadway, Menands, NY, at 11:30 AM. Hosts are Art and Marion Fazzone, 3936 Albany St., Schenectady, NY 12304-4371, phone 1-518-374-5377, e-mail Mamoon3@aol.com, and Peter Falasco, 49 Monroe Ave., Latham, NY, phone 1-518-785-7890.

THE BUCKLEY, WA. Contact: Hank and Sandy Harrison, 27014 Lower Burnett Rd., E. Buckley, WA 98321, phone 360-897-9381, e-mail Bng75@aol.com. They still meet 2nd Wednesday of each month at 12 noon at ELMER'S, 7427 Hosmer, Tacoma, WA 98408-1220, phone 253-473-0855.

Topeka, KS Area ARMED GUARD AND MERCHANT MARINE meet on the "FIRST THURSDAY" of EACH MONTH at 8:30 A.M. at the AMERICAN GRILL on Gage St. with DON Gleason, 2405 NW CROSS ST, Topeka, KS 66606-2401, phone 785-234-6087, as Host. E-mail Hmgleason@aol.com.

DESA (Destroyer Escort Association) will hold their 2009 Convention at the Crown Plaza Hotel, Old Town, Alexandria, VA @ $99 Sept. 10 - 14, 2009. Contact: Dori Glaser, P.O. Box 3448, Deland, FL 32721, phone 386-738-6900. With a memorial service at the Navy Memorial on Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington, DC. All Armed Guard and Merchant Seamen have been invited to attend and share the comradery together. Many have never been able to see the sights such as the Navy Memorial, World War II Memorial and many other sights there. Contact Tom Kidd, (e-mail tlk3636@juno.com), if you can't get Dori.

LST CREW CONTACT: Linda Gunjak, 6641 Spring Beauty Ct., Curtice, OH 43412, phone 1-800-228-5870, e-mail uslst@uslst.org, web site www.uslst.org. Linda's husband, Mike, passed away 2/13/09. He was President of the LST ASSOCIATION.

Contact the following Historical Ships for sailing dates.

S.S. JEREMIAH O'BRIEN, Pier 23, San Francisco, CA 94111, phone 415-544-0100, web site: www.ssjeremiahobrien.org. Manager Elizabeth Anderson lists NEW Administrative office address: 1275 Columbus Ave., Suite 300, San Francisco, CA 94133. Cruises: May 23; July 18; Aug 22, 2009, $100 per person. Traditional Fleet Week/Blue Angels Aerial Show with all day cruises Oct. 10 and 11, 2009, @ $150 per person.

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 23, June 13, September 12, 2009; $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. They support the ship with summer cruises off Catalina Island in memory of the Merchant Marine and Naval Armed Guard lost at sea during time at war.

S.S.AMERICAN VICTORY, 705 Channelside Dr., Tampa, FL 33609, phone 813-228-8769, web site www.americanvictory.org. AMERICAN Victory will hold its SPECIAL SAILING CRUISE for the MM/AG WW II in Tampa, FL MAY 16, 2009. Get your $99 to them before April 1.

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