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."
Earl Pinegar is looking for a shipmate by the name of David Huffmine. both served from 1948 - 1952. Earl can be reached ad 124 Doll Harrell Rd., Hertford, NC 27944.
Sgt Carl Dachs U.S. Army a member of the 3170th Sig. Svc. Bn. is looking for anyone who was a member of his unit and on the Fremont in the 40's. He can be reached at car88lou@cox.net or 14052 Dusty Trail Blvd. Sun City West AZ 85375-2097.
Looking for confirmation of the collision on September 12, 1954 of the SS Yassa with the USS Fremont. Send any information to Kurt Hofschneider at kurtsue@onthewaterfall.com or call 732-381-4143
I am looking for a man who served on the USS Fremont in June 1950. I have an invitation to a Ships Party at the Showboat on June 23, 1950 in Boston Massacusetts. The invitation was signed by a Navy man whose nick name was Buddie. Does anybody know this man? Please reply to Barbara Mard at my email address: barbaramard@aol.com
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.
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 2009, 29th reunion was held in Phoenix Arizona September 23 - 27. Congratulations to Mike and Shirl Broyhill on a successful reunion. Next years 30th reunion will be held in Fredericksburg, Texas from September 15 - September 19. Tony Tedesco will host the Fredericksburg Reunion. Click on the link below the countdown clock to go to the reunion section for the latest 2010 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 Tony know. You can contact Tony at 830-998-1189
25 March 10 -- Added CDR Jonathan Wesner USNR Ret. to the 60's Roster.
6 March 10 -- Added RM3 Mark Cross to the 50's Roster.
22 February 10 -- Added YN2/c John Paine to the 40's Roster.
17 February 10 -- Added additional information about our 30th Ship's Reunion. Added PhoM2/c Robert Schaub to the 40's Roster. Added DK3 Luther Colter to the 50's Roster. Added YN3 Jim Christy to the 60's Roster. Added a picture of YN2/c John Paine to page 6 of the 40's section of the Photo & Scrap Book. Added pictures provided by John Schaub the son of PhoM2/c Robert Schaub to page 8 of the 40's section of the Ship's Photo & Scrap Book. Added pictures provided by EM2 Clarence "Kurt" Kurtzweil to page 23 of the 60's section of the Photo & Scrap Book. Added more pictures to the Pheonix 2009 reunion section.
5 November 09 -- Added pictures provided by CDR Frank M. Klicar USNR Ret. taken during the 65 med cruise to page 23 of the 60's section of the Ship's Photo & Scrap Book. Added pictures provided by Eric Valencia the son of BM3 Joseph Valencia taken around 1957/58 to page 11 of the 50's section of the Ship's Photo & Scrap Book.
26 October 09 -- Added Earl Pinegar and UT1 Strunk USN Ret. to the 40's Roster. Added personal recollections of Linda Hilton the wife of deceased shipmate BM3 Richard Douglas Hilton to the Ship's History under the year 1969. Added Pictures provided by Sydney Williams to page 22 of the 60's section of the Ship's Photo & Scrap Book. Added pictures to the Phoenix 2009 reunion section. I need more reunion pictures!!! If you have some please email them to me.
11 October 09 -- Added Everette "Bud" Erickson and Artie Franklin Hampton to the 40's Roster. Added Joe Gugliemelli, Tony Tedesco, and SSgt W. L. Smith USMC Retired to the 50's Roster. Added Jim Weaver to the 60's Roster.
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 30th USS Fremont reunion will be held in Fredericksburg Texas, September 15 - September 19, 2010. Our host is Tony Tedesco.
Hotel reservations: Fredericsburg Inn & Suites
Hotel: Fredericsburg Inn & Suites Cut off date for the group rate is Aug. 15th, 2010.
Address: 201 So. Washington St. Fredericsburg, TX. 78624
Phone no.: 800-446-0202 E-Mail: stay@fredericsburg-inn.com
Room fee: Wed . & Thru. $79.00+TAX Fri. & Sat. $119.00 +TAX Average per night $99.00
Ask for USS Fremont reunion rate when you make your reservation. Pet friendly $35.00 1 time Charge. Must notify at reservation. Physical needs, inform desk when you reserve, Reserve early for 1st floor rooms.
Transportation:
If you choose to fly. You have a chose of Austin or San Antonio. From Austin exit west on Rt.71 to Rt.290 then all the way to Main St. in town. Left on Washington St. 2 blocks on the left. From San Antonio take I-10 west to exit 523, Rt.87 north to Motel on right.2 blocks before main St. If you are driving to the reunion all major interstates will just about get you here. See enclosed map. RV’s call Lady Bird Rv Park for reservation 830-997-4202.
Reunion agenda:
Wednesday Sept. 15:- Early bird registration, 50/50’s available, hugs and kisses, free time in hospitality room. See the town, if you want side trips on your own, I can arrange.
Thursday Sept, 16:- Registration, free time, 50/50’s, enjoy hospitality of Fredericksburg’s German food, shops and small town warmth. Evening activity;- Mexican Night.
Friday Sept. 17:- Memorial Ceremony and dedication of the Memorial Plaque. Luncheon in the Nimitz Educational Center, Group pictures WWII, 40’s, 50’, & 60’s. Tour the G. W. Bush 41 "War in the Pacific" section of the museum. Annual meeting of the troops in the hospitality room, Ladies free time to visit the shops and have fun, 50/50’s available. After annual Meeting, Evening activity Donated Items Raffle and 30th Anniversary Party, Y’ALL come.
Saturday Sept. 18:- Tour the Pacific Combat Zone and the Nimitz section of the museum. Banquet, 50/50 Drawing, Dinner and Dance in the ballroom.
Sunday Sept. 19:-Breackfast hugs and kisses farewell. See you next year. To be determined.
Please make note of this date, June 1, 2010
Planning, Scheduling Band, Activities, Caterers, is critical to the numbers at the event. Please be sure to mail your Registration Form and Check and Dues to me by June 1, 2010. If you want to be eligible for a FREE 3 night B&B raffle, NO ENTRIES AFTER 6/1/10. See raffle rules.
See you in September Tony and Del Tedesco ; 830-998-1118 if you have any questions please call.
"See you in Fredericksburg Texas"
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 |