From: "Kurt Wagemann" (Removed to prevent Spam LI)
To:

Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2007
Subject: New Sherman update

Greetings Shipmates,

Its with a great deal of sadness that I must report to you the passing of Captain Guy C. Leavitt, USN (Ret) on June 11th in Palm Coast, Florida. Capt. Leavitt was the second Commanding Officer of the USS FORREST SHERMAN DD-931. Full details will be in the next newsletter that will go to press shortly, but he had always considered the SHERMAN to be the best duty assignment he ever had. While health precluded him from attending our reunions he was always interested in the progress we were attaining in saving his ship. Our sincere condolences go to his family and friends. I was lucky to serve under Capt. Leavitt, and have always considered him to be more than an officer, and a gentleman. He was a great human being. We were lucky to have had him on board.

And, now to saving his ship! We have just received the feasibility study that was requested by the Calvert County Commissioners. This six month, 84 page, study shows a very positive outlook for the SHERMAN in Solomons, Maryland. We will print the Executive Summary in the next edition of the Sherman News.

After over six months of consideration the Navy has responded to the request of the Calvert County Commissioners to obtain the land to moor the Sherman. They have informed us that they cannot excess the land, but can lease it to the County. That is the route we will now go. Isn't bureaucracy fun? Sometime you wonder how we ever won a war!

The Board of Directors of the Foundation has voted to have the next reunion in 2009 instead of 2008. The hope is to have the reunion in Solomons when the ship is there. That cannot happen in 2008 based upon the progress we have made so far, but 2009 looks like it can be a real possibility. We will keep you informed.

Lastly, we are over 100 members short of renewals from last year. It is the paid up members who keep this fight going forward. If you haven't renewed for 2007 as yet please do so now. The form is attached.

Best regards.

Kurt Wagemann

President

USS FORREST SHERMAN DD-931 Foundation, Inc.

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USS Forrest Sherman (DD-931) Main - Welcome to the Official site of The USS Forrest Sherman DD-931 Foundation, Inc. Last of the GREAT Gunships ... www.ussforrestsherman.org/indexb.htm

2007

USS Forrest Sherman (DD-931)

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Career

Ordered:
Laid down:	October 27, 1953
Launched:	February 5, 1955
Commissioned:	November 9, 1955
Decommissioned:	November 5, 1982
Fate:	on donation hold for museum
Struck:	July 27, 1990
General Characteristics
Displacement:
Length:
Beam:
Draft:
Propulsion:
Speed:
Range:
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Motto:

USS Forrest Sherman (DD-931) was the lead ship of her class of destroyer of the United States Navy. She was named for Admiral Forrest P. Sherman USN (1896–1951).

Forrest Sherman was laid down by the Bath Iron Works Corporation at Bath, Maine on 27 October 1953, launched on 5 February 1955 by Mrs. Forrest P. Sherman, widow of Admiral Sherman and commissioned on 9 November 1955.

Forrest Sherman was decommissioned on 5 November 1982, stricken from the NVR Naval Vessel Register on 27 July 1990 and sold for scrap to the Fore River Shipyard and Iron Works at Quincy, Massachusetts on 11 December 1992. When the Fore River Shipyard went bankrupt she was resold to N. R. Acquisition Incorporated of New York City by the Massachusetts Bankruptcy Court.

Ship was 'recovered' by the Navy and berthed in the Inactive Ship Facility at the former Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. She was eventually put on a list for donation for museum status. In 2006 legislation was signed transferring the ship to a group that plans on moving the ship to Calvert County, Maryland to restore the ship as a museum.

List of United States Navy destroyers

[edit] External links

[http://www.ussforrestsherman.org/ link The Official site of The USS Forrest Sherman DD-931 Foundation, Inc. ]

Coordinates: 39°53′35″N, 75°11′20″W

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Forrest_Sherman_%28DD-931%29"

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Categories: Forrest Sherman class destroyers Cold War destroyers of the United States

General Characteristics Crew List About the Ship's Name to end of page

USS Forrest Sherman (DD 931)

- decommissioned -

USS FORREST SHERMAN was the lead ship of the FORREST SHERMAN - class of destroyers and the first ship in the Navy named after Admiral Forrest P. Sherman who was the 12th Chief of Naval Operations. Decommissioned on November 5, 1982, and stricken from the Navy list on July 27, 1990, the FORREST SHERMAN was sold for scrapping in 1994, but was repossessed by the Navy on October 10, 1996. The FORREST SHERMAN is now berthed at the Naval Inactive Ships Maintenance Facility Philadelphia, PA., awaiting final disposal. The ship may be used as a museum and memorial.

General Characteristics: Awarded: March 10, 1951
Keel laid: October 27, 1953
Launched: February 5, 1955
Commissioned: November 9, 1955
Decommissioned: November 5, 1982
Builder: Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine
Propulsion system: four-1200 lb. boilers; two steam turbines; two shafts
Propellers: two
Length: 418.3 feet (127.5 meters)
Beam: 45,3 feet (13.8 meters)
Draft: 22 feet (6.7 meters)
Displacement: approx. 4,000 tons full load
Speed: 32+ knots
Aircraft: none
Armament: three Mk-42 5-inch/54 caliber guns, Mk-32 ASW torpedo tubes (two triple mounts)
Crew: 17 officers, 275 enlisted

Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS FORREST SHERMAN. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

Click here to view the list.

Click here to read more about the Ship's Namesake - Admiral Forrest P. Sherman

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I remember that this was very important to Dad. He gave me siloet copies of his two ships that he served 16 months on. I don't recall all the details. But I know my Ret. Capt. brother would. Dad was frustrated and overwhelmed but positive that they could have their ship repaired and recommishioned! With our help this would help their dream become a reality. As he was sad to see her in 'mothballs' not cared for. The photos were overwhelming at her current condition from rust and neglect.
I believe there was a passion for friendship and life that was different from today. Dad rarely discussed his service in the Korean War. Yet we knew it was important to him the places he traveled to and the many photos, and crew that were his friends. They respected each other.
How many opportunities do we get to pass on his legacy? This would be better than only doing a tile at Los Olas where they enjoyed the tiles on the bridges that raise.
Sad to hear another person has passed. I would be happy to help with a donation. Let me know what you decide.