These web pages have been designed for the enjoyment of all who served on board USS Fremont APA-44. I dedicate this site to the memory of the USS Fremont sailors and embarked troops who gave their lives in the service of their country. Sadly, SA H.W. Nesbit, USN and LCPL R.F. Cook, USMC were lost at sea during a naval exercise in January, 1960. The "Plan Of the Day" button below will display the POD for 28 January 1960. Read about a not so typical day aboard the USS Fremont over 40 years ago.
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Proud supporters of our troops around the globe defending freedom
The USS Fremont Website is supported by the USS Fremont Association. If you have enjoyed your visit and wish to help keep this site on the Internet; join the USS Fremont Association by attending our annual USS Fremont Reunion.
"WANT ONE or some of the other memorabilia items we have in our Ship's Store???
Looking for a great gift for your father or husband? -- Check out our Ship's Store!!
To get there quickly click on Ship's Store below."
Don Ulmer, Fremont July '54 - June '55, has a new novel, Silent Battleground published by Patriot Media of Niceville, FL. The book sells well and has won the Publishers Award for 2008.
http://patriotmediapublishing.com/silentbattleground.html
SM2 Danny Overton is looking for SM3 Roger Carter. Danny can be reached at his email address: dannieo@alltel.net
I am Earl Tracey's sister-in-law and this is my email address conniekelley1@mac.com. Please contact us if you were on the ship with him and would like to get in touch with him. He was a radioman and is now 84 and lives in
the Villages , Florida. Connie Kelley for Earl Tracey
Does anybody remember the name of the Fremont's Dental Officer between 1954-55, I would very much like to get in touch with him.
Bill Ritger GM 1954 - Oct 1955
EMail/address OURCABINPOND@bellsouth.net
PO BOX 358
Montmorenci SC 29839
Is any one from ships company familiar with the air support control unit which had temporary duty aboard the Fremont during the battle of Layte gulf and Lingayen Gulf. Joe Freire RM2/c…..contact me at (pepe 54@juno.com)
My name is Thomas Martin. I was a BT onboard the USS Fremont 1963-66. I am trying to get in touch with Richard Mcbride via email. Looking for a good email address. you can email me at fobish123@yahoo.com
A message for Clarence Kurtzweil aka "Kurt".
Hello, "Kurt" looking to hear from you. You can reach me at Sydwil@msn.com. We were in E Division 1965-1968. Drop me a line soon.
Sydney Williams aka "Willy"
My grandfather served aboard the Fremont from 1952-1956, I'm looking for information on the following sailors: -Burton,-Kimbel, Dave Thoma, Joe Bergen,-Durban..anything on these men or from anyone who might remember Thomas Buday would be greatly appreciated. Email me at thomasm@atlanticbb.net Thank you, Michele Buday
I'm looking for "Fuzzy" RM3, 1958-60. I recall that his full name was James P. Farazoko. Last name may be spelled wrong. Please check in with the webmaster webmaster@ussfremont.org for the benefit of all the radio shack gang if you know anything about him. Cliff Britton.
I would like to hear from anyone that hung out in Hy's City Hall during the early 60's. BJ and Brenda think about them alot. They were good friends. E-mail me at Seawitch45@cox.net
From Kaye Lovegrove -- I am searching for Larry Swope (Illinois) and Roger Schofield (Florida I think). The others I remember are Donald Fields, Joseph Harris and Robert Humphrey (from Toledo). I really have no pressing reason to find them except they impressed me very much (must have for me to still remember them) and always wondered what they did with their lives. I also was really concerned about the Vietnam thing which was going on then. Larry, Roger, and I did spend News Years Eve in Time Square (which was the only time I did that) and that was pretty special. That's a problem with me; I do tend to get attached to people and always want only good things for them and it is frustrating not to know. Anyone with any information about them please contact me at klovegrove@webtv.net
If you have any item you would like to appear on the bulletin board, please e-mail me or notify me by mail at the following address:
Anthony R. Yebba
785 Briarwood Ct.
Orange City, FL 32763
"Click here to E-mail your information"
Our 2008, 28th reunion was held in St. Louis Missouri, September 17 - 21. Congratulations to Dave and Donna Lape on a successful reunion. Next years 29th reunion will be held in Phoenix Arizona from September 23 - September 27. Mike and Shirl Broyhill will host the Phoenix Reunion. Click on the link below the countdown clock to go to the reunion section for the latest 2009 reunion news. If you have never attended a reunion and are not on the mailing list or if on the mailing list and you move or change your phone number let Mike know. You can contact Mike via e-mail at "Mmga74@aol.com"
20 May 09 -- Added RM 2(c) John Martin's rememberance of Leyte during WWII in the History Page. Added SGT Pete Perez USMC to the 60's Roster.
11 March 09 -- Added RD2 Paul "Zeke" Crutchley to the 50's roster.
11 February 09 -- Added YN2 Robert G. Tischler and SM2 Danny Overton to the 60's roster.
4 February 09 -- Completed the St. Louis Reunion pictures. They can be seen in the Reunion Photo and Scrap book section of this page.
13 December 08 -- Added Henry F. Richards to the 40's roster. Added Elton Blair and RM2 Ted Stegura to the 50's roster. Added EN3 Joe L. Moran and YN3 Larry G. Johnson to the 60's roster.
25 June 08 -- Added Tony Honan USMC, and Bill Mondon USN to the 60's roster. Added a picture of Sydney williams to page 22 of the 60's section of the Ship's Photo & Scrap Book.
I am fresh out of new ideas!!! If you have any thoughts on what you like to see included or any changes that you would like to see me make, please send them to me.
"USS Fremont Call Sign"
N K G R
A special welcome for the USS Fremont radiomen.
(Click on the sparks for the message.)
A special welcome for the USS Fremont signalmen.
If you ever want to re-live your experiences aboard an APA watch "Away All Boats!" starring Jeff Chandler, Richard Boone, George Nader, Julie Adams and Lex Barker. If you watch real close you may see Clint Eastwood. Clint had a one line bit part in the movie. This movie is based on the novel "Away all Boats" by Kenneth Dodson. The story was conceived during Mr. Dodson's wartime service aboard the Navy attack transport USS Pierce APA-50.
The movie's fictitious ship the USS Belinda APA-22 was played by the USS Randall APA-224. The USS Fremont played a minor roll in the making of this movie. The following are recollections of SM2 Kenneth Sapp and GM3 Joe Montgomery: SM2 Kenneth Sapp -- "I was on the Fremont when they made the movie "Away all Boats". I think the ship they used to film on was the USS Olmstead or one of her class. If you see the movie the Fremont can be seen in the background of several scenes. It was filmed off the island of Vieques". GM3 Joe Montgomery -- "We were operating with our "Sister Ship" at the time, the USS Randle APA-224. I was able to get a glimpse of the sail boat that was used in the movie. Also, I was one ot the coxswains that hit the beach with the Marines".
This movie serves as an excellent depiction of what it was like to serve aboard an attack transport. If you were a crew member aboard the USS Fremont you will not be disappointed with this movie for there are many scenes that will cause you to remember life aboard ship.
In the movie there was a Tennessee sailor who was in charge of the garbage grinder. With the exception of being a scrounge, I can relate to the character's job as I was placed in charge of the garbage grinder during my 90 days of mess duty. When in port and unable to use the grinder, empty boxes would be stacked in the grinder space. Myself and several marines who had also been assigned mess duty would hide behind the boxes and play poker.
The movie like most movies does not do the book justice, therefore it is my recommendation that you read Kenneth Dodson's book. Believe me, it is far better than the movie. I have read the book three times over the past 40 years. A year prior to his passing, Mr. Dodson informed me that the USS Pierce (Mr. Dodson's ship) and the USS Fremont sailed many a sea mile together during WWII. "Away all Boats" was re-published by the U.S. Naval Institute, Annapolis, Maryland as part of their "Classics of Naval Literature" series. In the re-published book's introduction, Capt. Robert Shenk USNR (Retired) states, "The Navy .... bought one thousand copies of the novel for officer training--perhaps the only time fiction has ever been used for such a purpose. Clearly, Dodson was successful at conveying the essence of the naval side of amphibious work to laymen and professionals alike." USS Fremont WWII veterans will find the parallels between the books fictitious USS Belinda's adventures and their own experiences very similar. A great addition to a book collector's library.
Kenneth Dodson passed away May 24, 1999 at his home in Stanwood, Washington after a long fight with Parkinsons. He was 91. Dodson was lucid and communicative right to the end. Like any good seaman, he had everything planned and all the details worked out. He even wrote his own obituary. Dodson was buried in the Fern Hill Cemetery, Anacortes, Washington with full military honors. He had just finished a book about his relationship with author Carl Sandburg and this book is soon to be published. Kenneth Dodson's passing was reported to me by his friend Jim Allen.
APA sailors have lost a good friend in Kenneth Dodson. Mr. Dodson in his book "Away all Boats" immortalized for all time our service aboard an APA. He will be missed by all of us who have heard the call "Away all Boats, All Boats Away".
Tony Yebba
The USS Fremont was decommissioned 3 September 1969. A copy of the decommissioning program was provided by ENC Dennis Snyder. Click below to see the Decommissioning Program.
The USS Fremont was decommissioned in 1969. Probably forgotten by the U.S. Navy -- WRONG. Ship's name is still used in BUPERSINST 1430.16E. Click below to see the instruction.
I am searching for those who served (crew members and embarked troops) aboard USS Fremont APA-44. E-mail your name, final rank/rate while on board, branch of service, the month and year reported/departed, if a plank owner, and duties if USN. Optionally, you may want to provide a good sea story, where you live and what you are doing today. I will add this information to the ship's muster making it a permanent part of this site. If you have any facts, or pre-scanned pictures that you think would enhance this web site, please include them with your e-mail. If you have Fremont pictures or other scannable mementos, mail them to the following address:
Anthony R. Yebba
785 Briarwood Ct.
Orange City, FL 32763
Include your address so that I can return them to you.
"Click here to E-mail your information"
Below is a muster list directory of the crew members who have submitted entries to date. The Ship's Muster is listed by the decade in which they reported for duty aboard the USS Fremont. If you see a shipmate that you know and wish to contact, you may send e-mail by clicking on the last name in the actual roster (the full name in the quick list will only take you to the main roster entry).
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The 40's |
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The 50's |
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The 60's |
Ahoy, Shipmates & Ladies,
The 29th USS Fremont reunion will be held in Phoenix Arizona, September 23 - September 27, 2009. Our host is Mike and Shirl Broyhill. Information about the reunion will be posted when received.
Our reunion activities are as follows:
9/23 Wednesday ....... Early Bird Day Welcome hospitality room open"See you in Phoenix"
9/24 Thursday ........ Hugs & Kisses Day and registration in hospitality room.
9/25 Friday .......... Scheduled Tour Day
9/26 Saturday ........ On your Own Day, be back in time for a the 6PM Attitude Adjustment,
and the 7PM Banquet & Entertainment
9/27 Sunday .......... 7am - 11am Breakfast and Farewell Till We Meet Again
If you have pre-scanned pictures that you would like displayed for any reunion, please attach them to an e-mail message. If you have non-scanned reunion pictures, mail them to the following address:
Anthony R. Yebba
785 Briarwood Ct.
Orange City, FL 32763
Include your address and I will return them to you.
"Click here to E-mail your pictures"
Looking for a great gift idea for your father or husband? -- Check out our USS Fremont items!! The USS Fremont Reunion Association has ball caps, ship's patches, rate pins, ship's bells, shirts, and jackets.
USS Fremont Ship's Patch (Price $4.00) -- Press the button to the left for a larger picture.
Polo style shirt nicely done (Price $20.00) -- Press the button to the left for a larger picture.
T shirt (Price $8.00) -- Press the button to the left for a larger picture.
Light Jacket or Pull Over Jacket with USS Fremont logo (Price $30.00) -- Press the button to the left for a larger picture.
Regulation style Navy Command ball cap (Price $10.00) -- Press the button to the left for a larger picture.
Fremont Bag (Price $8.00) -- Press the button to the left for a larger picture.
E-mail Bos'n Bob at "BOSNBOB44@netzero.net" or write him at this address: Bob Allen; 819 Ackerman Ave.; Syracuse, NY 13210 to place an order for any of our Ship's Store items.
I strongly support the U. S. Navy Memorial Foundation and encourage all of my USS Fremont shipmates to enroll and be a part of our country's naval history. Click on the "Lone Sailor" below for further information.
View the USS Fremont Log
Some of my fondest memories are of the time I served aboard the USS Fremont APA-44. When I first started searching the Web, I was surprised to find that information about the USS Fremont was not available on the Internet. I decided to solve that by creating a web site dedicated to this ship and her crew. It is my hope that this web site will feel like home to all those seeking the USS Fremont on the Internet. If you have time click on the chief's anchor below and visit Chief Yebba's Navy Web Site.
"Chief Yebba's Home Page"
USS Fremont Home Page | USS Fremont Specs | Ship's History | Ship's Bell | The War Diaries | Commanding Officers | Ship's Roster the 40's | Ship's Roster the 50's | Ship's Roster the 60's | Ship's Photo Album | Ship's Reunion | Deceased Shipmates |