NEWS UPDATE APRIL 6, 2010

DDG-2 Ship Model Built by Keith Mullen

NEWS UPDATE JANUARY 26, 2010

NEWS UPDATE JANUARY 17, 2010

NEWS UPDATE DECEMBER 18, 2009

At the recent Adams Class Naval Ship Museum Commanding Officer event in Jacksonville during the first week of November, Larry and Marjorie Caney enjoyed the reception, dinner and opening of the Jacksonville Landing Museum Store. Two weeks later Captain Caney tragically passed away from a massive stroke after a morning bike ride. He was 88. Captain Caney was the first Commanding Officer of USS Henry B. Wilson DDG-7, putting her in commission on December 17, 1960 and serving until he was relieved in July 27 1962. His career spanned 40 years from his graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1943, participation in World War II landings at North Africa, Normandy and Southern France, and six sea commands including Destroyer Squadron Commander in the Vietnam War. He participated in the development of the Spruance Class Destroyer, and his last act in uniform was as Guest Speaker at the decommissioning of USS Henry B. Wilson DDG-7. ACVA and JHNSA have sent our condolences to his family. He will be missed.

NEWS UPDATE NOVEMBER 15, 2009

Recent Adams Class Naval Ship Museum Commanding Officer Events November 5-7, 2009

Goldsborough Association President, Pat Taylor, presents the $2500 donation check authorized by the Association sponsoring a hull plate in memory of seven shipmates who lost their lives while serving on Goldsborough to Capt. Bob Branco, USN (Ret.) ACVA President, former CO of USS Charles F. Adams DDG-2 and former XO of DDG 20. At Pat’s left is RADM George Huchting, USN (Ret.) former CO of USS Charles F. Adams DDG-2. On the far right is ADM Jonathan Howe, USN (Ret.) the Guest Speaker of the Dinner on Friday night and former CO of USS Berkeley DDG-15.

On Thursday evening November 5th, the first of the Adams Class Museum events took place; a Reception for former Commanding Officers, Adams Class Crewmen and Sponsors at the River City Brewing Company located on the South bank of the St. Johns River next to the Acosta Bridge. The event was extremely well attended and all had a spectacular view of the St. Johns River at the proposed location for the new pier that will be the future home of the Adams Class Naval Ship Museum.

On Friday evening, the Dinner Commemorating Adams Class Ship Commanding Officers was held in the OMNI Hotel, beginning with a reception and Silent Auction. Over 150 Navy veterans and Jacksonville City Officials, businesses, and community leaders attended the dinner. During the Reception, a model of the USS CHARLES F. ADAMS (DDG-2) built and donated by Keith Mullen, owner of BaD Ship Models was on display. Also during the Reception, a large number of donated items were put up for Silent Auction to raise funds for the Adams Class museum. To raise additional funds for the Museum, Keith Mullen donated two DDG-2 model kits for the raffle.

DDG-2 Ship Model Built by Keith Mullen

After the Reception, everyone headed into the ballroom for the Dinner. Each table had a framed picture of one of the ships of the Adams Class of guided missile destroyers. Following dinner, Captain Bob Branco (former C.O. of Adams and President of ACVA) gave a presentation on the status of our efforts to set up the Adams Class Museum. Rear Admiral George Huchting shared his thoughts on why these ships were so significant, and how the Adams Class Museum should be used to educate the youth of today and tomorrow. Next, our Guest Speaker, Admiral Jonathan Howe USN (Ret) spoke eloquently regarding the Cold War, and the role that was played by the Adams Class Destroyers. He made it very clear that there was a compelling case to be made for telling the story of the Cold War, how the USA was successful in winning that very difficult struggle against Communism, and how the story of the US Navy and the Adams Class needs to be told through the Adams Class Museum. Finally, Councilman John Meserve, former Mayor of Jacksonville, gave a strong endorsement of the Adams Class Museum. It's important to note that the dinner attendees included a number of Jacksonville City Council members and local businessmen. The dinner concluded with remarks by JHNSA President Bert Watson.

On Saturday, many of the event attendees headed out to Jacksonville Beach in buses provided by JHNSA to see the Jacksonville Sea & Sky Spectacular - Blue Angels Air Show. Later Saturday evening, everyone walked over to The Jacksonville Landing, to attend the Grand Opening of the JHNSA Museum Store. A large crowd assembled and was in awe of what they saw. In the front window was Keith Mullen’s 1/96 model of Charles F. Adams. In the center of the Store are 10 foot long models of the USS GRIDLEY and USS PORTER, on loan from the Jacksonville Maritime Museum. Over half a dozen displays show numerous items from the Adams Class ships, such as a General Alarm, sound powered phone sets, communications equipment, navigation lights and a radar repeater. Diagrams showing the proposed pier to berth Adams, along with Hull Plate Donation Program schematics, are on display. On the walls, a vast number of items are on sale, courtesy of Eagle Crest. Within the store is the largest display of military hats in the US as well as Adams Class Museum patches, ball caps, coffee mugs, license plates, and dog tags.

Jacksonville Naval Ship Museum Store Grand Opening November 7, 2009	Meghan Bernat enjoying ADAMS Class hardware that is on display inside JHNSA Store

Retired Captain John L. (Jack) Jones became the largest individual donor to the effort to save his former ship the USS CHARLES F. ADAMS DDG-2. Jack commanded the Charley Deuce from April 10, 1968 until September 11, 1969. He is the CO who took ADAMS from its home port of Charleston, SC to Mayport, FL. To his friends he is known as Captain Mustang, because he served as an enlisted Aviation Electronics Technician from 1943 to 1955 before receiving his commission from OCS. Jack’s 45 years of dedicated naval service included four commands, three ships and Commander Destroyer Squadron Twelve in Mayport, Florida. Recently he donated $5,000 to ACVA, bringing his total contributions to over $7,150. ACVA thanks Captain Jones for his dedicated military service and very special unselfish support of our efforts to save his former command as a ship museum.

USS LYNDE MCCORMICK DDG-8 ASSOCIATION NEW MAJOR DONOR

Recently the USS Lynde McCormick DDG-8 Association generously contributed $4605 to ACVA for our efforts to save ex-USS Charles F. Adams DDG-2. Thirty contributors topped by Jim Hirshfield’s $1,000 personal donation. We send our thanks to Bob Wefald, President of the USS Lynde McCormick DDG-8 Association veterans, for their generous donations to our effort.

USS RICHARD L. PAGE DEG-5 /FFG-5 DONATION

The USS Richard L. Page DEG-5 / FFG-5 Association and CAW Marine Services combined to donate $2,000 to ACVA to host a table at the ACVA / JHNSA Jacksonville Nov. 6, 2009 event to honor all DDG Commanding Officers. We thank them for their generous contributions to memorialize the ADAMS Class DDG ships.

NEWS JULY 24, 2009

JACKSONVILLE UPDATE

SHIP RESTORATION FUND RAISING

For the last couple of years Major Supporter and ACVA Member donations have been used in the long process of submitting our Donation Application for ex-USS Charles F. Adams. This process included engineering surveys, marketing studies, environmental studies and permitting. Our ACVA team has donated over $650,000 dollars of cash and in-kind labor to support the project by developing the Donation Application and obtaining all types of shipboard equipment to restore the CHARLES F. ADAMS. In addition, DDG-2 will need to be dry docked and have major hull repairs conducted by a shipyard.

We are opening this significant fund raising drive in hopes of involving larger numbers of DDG-2 veterans. We also want to include Ship Association Groups, companies and/or individuals who would contribute to restoring/replacing the 1245 4 X 8 foot sections of hull plating for the ex- USS CHARLES F. ADAMS DDG-2 and Yards O’ Concrete for pier construction or restoration. In addition, we are planning local Jacksonville Fund Raising Events starting this Fall and we could use volunteers to assist in us in the events.

THIS LINK will provide the details of how you and your shipmates can help us “Restore the CHARLES F. ADAMS.”

JACKSONVILLE FUND RAISING

All Adams Class Veterans in the vicinity of Jacksonville, Florida interested in supporting fund raising events are urged to contact Craig Bernat, ACVA Treasurer and Fund Raising Chairman: fc1ddg4@atlanticbb.net

NEWS UPDATE - MARCH 17, 2009

SHIP RESTORATION - MATERIAL DONATION AGREEMENT

The ACVA and JHNSA recently completed an important Material Donation Agreement with NAVSEA to obtain antennas for the restoration of ex-USS CHARLES F. ADAMS (DDG-2). The antennas shown above will be removed from a ship undergoing scrapping in the near future and provided to ACVA/JHNSA for display while the Ship Donation process continues. The radar antennas will be displayed in the Armed Forces Military Museum in Largo, Florida and the satellite communications antennas will be displayed with other DDG-2 class memorabilia and museum information at the Jacksonville Landing in Jacksonville. Keeping the items on public display is required until the ship begins the restoration process after the Navy officially donates it as a museum. This is a significant step in restoring the ship to its former appearance as an active Navy Ship..

NEWS UPDATE FEBRUARY 9, 2009

(ACVA members Steve Weber, Bill Reinhard, and Craig Bernat)

The ACVA and JHNSA began the effort to develop restoration plans for the ADAMS in November and December of 2008. From 17-21 November five members participated in a NAVSEA Open House in Philadelphia at the Inactive Ship Facility. Steve Weber, Bill Reinhard, Craig Bernat, Jim Lappegaard, and Bob Branco visited four Navy ships that are planned for disposal. They obtained important pieces of equipment that had been removed from the CHARLES F. ADAMS during her many years in that facility, and placed that equipment on board the ADAMS. The ACVA and JHNSA are also filing a Material Donation request with NAVSEA to obtain replacement SPS-40 and SPS-10 radar and WSC-1 satellite communications antennas that are important for restoring the appearance of the ship during her last operating days at sea.

NEWS UPDATE OCTOBER 30, 2008

     

LEFT - USS STEVEN W. GROVES (FFG-29).
RIGHT - Bob Hoffman (facing camera in the background), Jacksonville ACVA Board Member and JHNSA President Bert Watson and ACVA Member Tim Nightingale show the kids the inside and outside of a SPA-25 Radar Repeater.

The beginnings of Navy Birthday Celebration started on Thursday morning when ACVA Treasurer Craig Bernat picked up Bert Watson in Fairfax, VA. Craig’s truck was full of guided missile destroyer shipboard equipment that was being transported to Jacksonville to be put on display for the Navy celebration at The Jacksonville Landing.

On Friday they set up the equipment in a vacant store front (donated to ACVA/JHNSA). In spite of the rain they were able to unload the 3 shipboard SPA-25 radar repeaters and other display equipment and move it to the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association (JHNSA) Navy Birthday Celebration booth tent location near the USS STEVEN W. GROVES (FFG-29). On Saturday morning, Bert and Craig were joined by Wayne Misenar and Tim Nightengale to greet the countless visitors who came to see the GROVES and the display tents at the landing. A radar repeater was placed in the walk in front of the booth. There was always a crowd of parents and kids around it and those that past by did so because of the crowds around the radar repeater. The kids were in awe when the top of the radar repeater was opened, showing the inside of the repeater to them. As Craig was showing off the big video game to the kids, the others were handing out the JHNSA information sheets, JHNSA Volunteer forms, and JHNSA donation forms. The visitation line for the GROVES during the weekend was several blocks long and thousands were turned away.

On Sunday the crowds were very enthusiastic and the long lines for the GROVES tours were long, with several thousand people being turned away. The Jax River Taxi manager is very supportive of the museum plans and would like to land his craft at the mooring pier once the museum is opened. Towards the end of the weekend, one of the coordinators of the NAVY Birthday Celebration came by the JHNSA booth and expressed that the JHNSA booth was the most popular booth there of the four booths(Naval Order, Navy League, USO and JHNSA).

Overall it was a great weekend. JHNSA got nothing but support from people visiting the booth, and everyone thought it was a great idea of having USS CHARLES F. ADAMS on the waterfront. The Navy Birthday Weekend would be a great annual event.

NEWS UPDATE APRIL 30, 2009

DDG-2 CLASS SHIP REUNIONS IN 2009

Today starts the USS Claude V. Ricketts DDG-5 Reunion in Jacksonville, Florida. The Big Nickel’s Reunion Coordinator Carl Slack has welcomed other ACVA supporters to join their celebration. USS Hoel DDG-13 Reunion will be in Branson, Missouri in October 2009, and the USS Lawrence DDG-4 Reunion will be in Charleston, starting the 21st of June 2009. Reunion groups from other ships in the class, who would like to have information on their reunions posted on the ACVA web page, please forward them to Dave Myerly. Reunion information will be posted on the REUNIONS link.

NEWS UPDATE JANUARY 30, 2009

Major milestone reached in making the USS CHARLES F. ADAMS NAVAL SHIP MUSEUM a reality. Use the following link to view the report:
ACVA and JHNSA UPDATE - JAN 30, 2009

YEAR END REPORT / NEWSLETTER - JANUARY 6, 2009

A summary of our progress during 2008 and our current status can be downloaded or viewed via this link.

The effort to berth the USS CHARLES F. ADAMS (DDG-2) as a Naval Ship Museum as a part of the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Museum project received nation-wide news coverage in the October edition of SEAPOWER, the monthly magazine of the Navy League of the United States.

TO VIEW THE ARTICLE : Click on the following link, SEAPOWER Article, and you'll be able to read the article on the Naval Ship Museum being proposed for the Jacksonville Florida waterfront.

NEWS UPDATE NOVEMBER 15, 2008

An article on the effort to establish the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Museum, utilizing the former USS CHARLES F. ADAMS (DDG-2), appeared in the just released NOV/DEC 2008 issue of "The Navigator", the bi-monthly newsletter publication of the Fleet Reserve Association (FRA), Branch/Unit/Club 91 (the local Jacksonville area Branch of the FRA). Click on the following link, FRA_Article, to see the article.

You can also see the article at the FRA Branch 91 web site, Click here: http://www.fra91.org/newsletter/NovDec2008Navigator.pdf The article is on page 3.

NEWS UPDATE - OCTOBER 15, 2008

The USS SELLERS (DDG-11) Association recently conducted their bi-annual Reunion in Baltimore, MD in early September. During their Business Meeting, SELLERSmen voted unanimously to donate $2,000 to the ACVA for the effort to berth the USS CHARLES F. ADAMS (DDG-2) in Jacksonville, FL as a Naval Ship Museum that will honor all 23 ADAMS class DDGs. If the Museum is in place in Jax in 2010, the SELLERS Association will be having their next Reunion there!

In early September, the USS Goldsborough (DDG-20) Association concluded their reunion in Annapolis, Maryland with a presentation by ACVA President Bob Branco updating the latest progress by ACVA in the effort to have ex-USS CHARLES F. ADAMS (DDG-2) donated by the Navy to become the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Museum. After the presentation, Goldsborough Association President Pat Taylor presided over a unanimous Business Meeting vote to donate $2,500 to ACVA supporting the project.

The ACVA and JHNSA send out their special thanks to the SELLERS and GOLDSBOROUGH Associations for their generous contributions supporting the establishment of a naval ship museum to honor all 23 ships of the Adams class and their Navy veterans.

REUNION PRESENTATIONS
In June ACVA Board members made presentations to the LAWRENCE and SEMMES Reunions in Chicago and Nashville respectively. Please contact ACVA President Bob Branco if you are interested in receiving a presentation.

NEWS UPDATE - SEPTEMBER 15, 2008

JAX VISIT. On August 11, 2008, Captain Dave Tungett, Program Manager for the Navy's Inactive Ships Program met with Bert Watson, Jim Aldrich, and Tom Schodowski in Jacksonville to view the planned site for ex-USS CHARLES F. ADAMS DDG-2 on the St. Johns River. In addition to presentations from the ACVA/JHNSA leadership, Capt. Tungett met with representatives from the Mayor of Jacksonville’s office, local hotels, and Duval County Schools who highlighted the positive benefits of the ship museum to the community in Jacksonville.

PHILLY SHIP VISIT. On August 28th ACVA/JHNSA leaders visited to CHARLES F. ADAMS in Philadelphia to update Donation Application planning ideas before their meeting with NAVSEA PMS 333. Bob Branco, Bert Watson, Jim Aldrich, Pete Mansel, Craig Bernat, and Steve Weber completed another good survey of the Adams and a tour of ex-USS EDSON to develop some new display ideas about about preparing ADAMS as a museum.

NAVSEA MEETING. Our meeting on Friday August 29th with Capt Dave Tungett and Glen Clark lasted over 4 hours and the discussion created a good path for providing answers to the questions on the Donation Application. Later in the meeting we discussed Curatorial Plan questions with the Naval Historical Center Curator, Mark Wertheimer. We also obtained lists of Naval Historical Center artifacts from all of the ships in the DDG-2 class that are available to develop excellent displays to memorialize all 23 ships in the museum. The revised Donation Application is due to NAVSEA at the end of January 2009.

NEWS UPDATE - JULY 28, 2008

(L-R) Jim Aldrich, CNO Admiral Gary Roughead, Bert Watson

CNO ENDORSES THE ADAMS CLASS SHIP MUSEUM
After the CNO’s recent participation in the Battle of Midway Dinner in Jacksonville in June where he met ACVA and JHNSA officers, his staff released the following announcement:

“The ADAMS Class Veterans Association and the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association are truly undertaking a worthwhile cause. The CHARLES F. ADAMS Museum will represent all of the DDGs of this historic class of destroyers. The Museum will be a fitting and dynamic tribute to the many Navy veterans who served on these great ships.” G. Roughead

THE “NEW CHARLIE DEUCE”
While there certainly is nothing new about the 48 year old ex-USS CHARLES F. ADAMS (DDG-2), these two photos of the recent paint maintenance provided for the sides of the guided missile destroyer have greatly improved her appearance. She is still moored outboard of ex-USS FORREST SHERMAN (DD-931) and ex-USS EDSON (DD-945) at the Philadelphia Inactive Ships Facility.

NEWS UPDATE - JULY 11, 2008

NAVSEA RESPONSE TO DONATION APPLICATION
On June 20, 2008, NAVSEA responded to the Adams Class Veterans Association and Jacksonville Historical Naval Ship Association, both who had jointly submitted the Donation Application for ex-CHARLES F. ADAMS DDG-2 to be established as a ship museum in Jacksonville, Florida. The PMS 333 Inactive Ships Program Office provided a total of twenty four questions and comments from different parts of the Donation Application to be addressed in future discussions with the ACVA and JHNSA. This marks an important stage in the Donation Application process and the beginning of the dialogue between the NAVSEA and the sponsoring groups. The ACVA and JHNSA members who wrote the Ship Donation Application are meeting on a regular basis to develop responses to the NAVSEA questions. At this point, they see no problem in fully answering all the questions by the deadline.

The deadline for responding to NAVSEA PMS 333 Donation Application questions is January 30, 2009

NEWS UPDATE - JULY 11, 2008

CHARLIE DEUCE BACK AT HER BERTH
ACVA member Steve Weber reports that the CHARLES F. ADAMS is back at her normal berth in Philly with FORREST SHERMAN and EDSON with the routine paint maintenance mostly complete.

NEWS UPDATE - 06/18/08

ACVA NEWSLETTER
The June 2008 ACVA Newsletter is out and can be reached through this link NEWSLETTER. In the newsletter are articles on the February 2008 ACVA Survey of the CHARLES F. ADAMS in Philadelphia, the ship museum costs and Jacksonville pier design graphic, and an updated list of all the DDG-2 Reunions.

NEWS UPDATE - 06/09/08

MIDWAY DINNER
At the Navy League's "Battle of Midway Dinner" in Jacksonville on Saturday night, June 7, 2008, Bert Watson and Jim Aldrich, both members of the ADAMS Class Veterans Association and the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association, were able to talk with CNO Admiral Gary Roughead about berthing ADAMS as a museum in Jacksonville on the St Johns River.

(L-R) Jim Aldrich, CNO Admiral Gary Roughead, Bert Watson

NEWS UPDATE - 06/09/08

ADAMS CLASS DDG REUNIONS
In our June/July 2008 ACVA Newsletter out this week we have listed the key information provided to us by Adams Class Ship Associations and/or from their web sites. When requested, the ACVA Board is willing to attempt to make presentations at reunions regarding our project to bring the ex-USS CHARLES F. ADAMS DDG-2 to Jacksonville, Florida as a historic naval ship museum. We are already scheduled to make presentations to upcoming reunions for USS LAWRENCE, USS SEMMES, and USS SELLERS this year. Please contact ACVA President Bob Branco if you are interested in receiving a presentation.

CHARLIE DEUCE ON THE MOVE
On May 27th a former USS LAWRENCE veteran and Philly resident, Bob Schmid, reported to us that it appeared that the CHARLES F. ADAMS was missing from its normal place next to the USS Forrest Sherman and USS Edson in the Inactive Ships Facility. When we checked with another ACVA member from the Philly area, Steve Webber, he said that he also noticed that the ship was missing as he drove across the bridge on Interstate 95. After some checking, the ACVA determined that the “Charlie Deuce” had been moved to another berth for some paint maintenance for an undetermined amount of time. We will keep ACVA members informed.

BOARD CHANGES

Tom Crosser, who has been President of ACVA since the passing of our original President Frank Manis in 2004, stepped down in an April 16 ACVA Board meeting after the Donation Application was completed. Tom will continue serving on the Board as Director of the Volunteer Program that he helped to develop for the Donation Application. We are indebted to Tom for his efforts over these past years as President to make USS CHARLES F. ADAMS (DDG-2) as a ship museum. Later, the Board voted and approved Bob Branco, the current ACVA Vice President, to succeed Crosser as President. In addition, Craig Bernat, the ACVA’s Director of Public Relations and Fundraising was elected to relieve Pete Mansel as the ACVA Treasurer. Pete’s efforts to organize the Donation Application and prepare the Business Plan for the Application were invaluable to that huge 828 page effort.

MAJOR CONTRIBUTION

Recently the ACVA received a major contribution of $2.500 from DRS Technologies, a defense contractor with headquarters in Parsippany, New Jersey. Not only did the company make the generous donation, but they also offered to assist ACVA with the restoration of the MK 68 gun fire control system onboard ex-USS CHARLES F. ADAMS (DDG-2).

NEWS UPDATE - 05/14/08

DONATION APPLICATION SUMMARY
We have now placed a summary of our Donation Application on the web site to explain to ACVA members the depth of information that was included in the application. Over 2100 hours of effort were completed by the core application team in the effort. The Marketing Survey and the Mooring design were completed by industry professionals, but the remaining portions of the application were developed by the ACVA members listed in the summary. The work was completed on Friday March 28th in time for delivery to NAVSEA on Monday March 31, 2008. The application summary highlights the effort to make the preservation of CHARLES F. ADAMS as a memorial to all 23 ships of the class. The DONAPP SUMMARY link on the left column of the Home page will open up the Summary.

NEWS UPDATE - 05/14/08

NEW BOARD MEMBERS
In last week’s Board Meeting, Jim Aldrich, the Director of the City Search Team was elected to fill the vacant Vice President’s position. Jim’s hard work in the ACVA in Tampa and now in Jacksonville to work to establish a home for the CHARLES F. ADAMS as a ship museum is well known to all ACVA members. Congratulations, Jim. At the same meeting the Board approved to change its By Laws. Previously the ACVA had a City Search Team in its organization. Since Jacksonville has approved the location of the CHARLES F. ADAMS and a Donation Application has been received by the Navy and is being evaluated, the City Search Team in the By Laws has been replaced by the Donation Application/Restoration Planning Team. This team will respond to the Navy’s questions about the Donation Application and also develop the plans for the restoration of the ship and its equipment as part of the ship museum development. Former Seller’s CO Bob Rumney and John Skiffington a former ETR2 on Sellers and long time Air Force and Defense Contract Management Agency Civil Service manager were elected as Directors to serve on that new team on the Board. Bob’s contributions to the Donation Application effort and in the survey of the ship in Philadelphia were a great help to the cause.

5/6/08 - MAJOR SUPPORTERS

Now on the web site is a new Major Supporters link that displays an updated list of corporations and sponsors who made major donations to support our Donation Application effort. This link replaces the former Corporate Backers link.

3/31/08 - SHIP DONATION APPLICATION COMPLETE

GREAT NEWS for all ACVA Members and everyone who has supported our effort to berth the USS CHARLES F. ADAMS (DDG-2) on the St Johns River in downtown Jacksonville, Florida - The SHIP DONATION APPLICATION has been completed!!! We have met the deadline for completion of the Application beyond all expectation and overcoming numerous obstacles, the most critical one being TIME!! Our Application Team put together in 75 days what normal ship organizations take up to two years to do.

Thanks to the efforts of Pete Mansel, Bob Branco, Jim Aldrich, Bob Rumney, Bert Watson, Wayne Misenar, Craig Bernat, and Tom Crosser, the 3-Volume document, with 826 pages, was completed on March 28th. These men spent countless hours, a few literally into the hundreds of hours, most days, and every week writing the many sections of the Application. The Team was very pleased with the final product, and felt it did justice to the wonderful ships we seek to honor. Bert Watson will personally deliver the document to NAVSEA at the Washington Navy Yard on the afternoon of March 31st. Since the application is being evaluated by the Navy, the document is considered confidential.

3/19/08 - PLANNING THE RESTORATION OF CHARLES F. ADAMS

VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP - The ADAMS Class Veterans Association (ACVA) is beginning to plan for the restoration of the CHARLES F. ADAMS with an “advanced sign-up” request to Navy veterans and other interested individuals who want to help restore the various areas of the ship and set up museum displays. We need lots of skilled help from preservation to technical skills in order to restore the ship’s appearance to that of its operating days of service. We will not be starting the restoration work until the Navy awards us the ship. It will be a big help to have an “advanced sign-up” list that will allow us to build a database of seriously interested individuals who are motivated to participate in the restoration work. Go to the "VOLUNTEER" page on the ACVA web site and register today so that we can begin the effort to “RESTORE THE CHARLEY DEUCE” as a representative of all ships of the ADAMS class!!

3/11/08 - SPECIAL RECOGNITION – USS Barney Association

For several years a number of DDG Ship Associations had made strong efforts to have their ships saved for history. The leader of the USS Barney Association, John Van Dusen, had fought hard to have the Barney preserved. After the Navy disposed of the BARNEY for scrap, he shared his disappointment with ACVA Vice President Bob Branco and started to build new hope and greater resolve to save the last DDG by joining the team. This became even more important as the Jacksonville ACVA Team moved steadily towards getting the approval of the City Council to bring the former USS CHARLES F. ADAMS DDG-2 back to its homeport, ending 17 years of exile in the Inactive Ship Facility in Philadelphia. “John Van Dusen was excited about the possibility of having the last surviving DDG-2 class ship represent not only Barney, but all the ships of the class. John worked hard with the Barney Association to help make it a reality” said Bob Branco.

We ask that all ACVA members offer John and the Barney Association a GRAND “BZ” for their recent outstanding donation of $10,000 to the effort to bring CHARLES F. ADAMS home to Jacksonville, which will serve as a memorial to all 23 ships of the DDG-2 class. This great contribution will be recognized with a special ACVA plaque presented to the Barney Association and special recognition when the Museum is established.

Other associations are stepping up too. USS Goldsborough Association President Pat Taylor wrote a letter to the Mayor of Jacksonville, John Peyton, supporting the project to bring the ADAMS back to her old home port. He strongly suggested to Mayor Peyton that with the CHARLES F. ADAMS in Jacksonville, every DDG and other ship associations would likely plan on having their reunions there, boosting tourism and the local economy.

3/3/08 - ACVA Membership Increases Dramatically During Recent Months

Due to the success achieved by ACVA's Jacksonville City Team and support from ACVA members, Jacksonville City Council has endorsed the concept of bringing the USS CHARLES F ADAMS home to Jacksonville for permanent display as a Naval ship museum. With news of that success going out to so many through articles, emails, and broadcasts, ACVA Membership has increased significantly. During the past three months, over 145 new members have joined ACVA, for a total nation-wide membership of 555.

3/2/08 - ACVA Receives More Support for ADAMS Berthing in Jacksonville

The Florida Secretary of State and the Florida Executive Director for the Department of Veterans' Affairs have both written letters to ACVA supporting the berthing of ADAMS on the St Johns River in downtown Jacksonville. Click the links in preceding sentence to read the letters. Both of these letters will be a part of the Ship Donation Application being prepared by ACVA for submission to the Navy Department.

EX-USS CHARLES F. ADAMS GETS JACKSONVILLE CITY COUNCIL ENDORSEMENT

The City Council of Jacksonville, Florida passed a Resolution supporting the establishment of the ex-USS CHARLES F. ADAMS as a Naval Ship Museum in Jacksonville. The CHARLES F. ADAMS is the first in the class of 23 guided missile destroyers built by the Navy in the 1960s. Currently, only one other DDG-2 class ship exists besides the Adams, and it’s in Germany moored as a museum.

The Adams Class Veterans Association (ACVA) started the effort to save the ADAMS as a museum by approaching at least three different cities. Complications successively sunk the first two efforts. Then the veterans focused on Jacksonville where they slowly gained some attention, incorporated a team, and systematically developed support in City Council, Council committees, City commissions, and received endorsements. After the Resolution passed out of two City Council committees, it went to the full Council for consideration. On February 26, 2008, the City Council unanimously passed an amendment to the Resolution that listed the entire Council as co-sponsoring the Resolution – and then quickly voted to pass the Resolution without dissent.

ACVA Board member Wayne Misenar, a retired Chief Warrant Officer, said that this was a day he has looked forward to for a number of years. “It’s a day I wasn’t sure I’d ever see.” The response to the ACVA from veterans expressing congratulations and quickly adding that they are available to volunteer to help bring the Adams back to her nimble state of readiness, at least as a museum, is gratifying. AVCA President Tom Crosser expressed appreciation for the progress to date and is very excited about the response from members of the AVCA and other ship organizations. “If we continue to get the support from members that we have seen in the last couple days, we will easily meet our goal to have a full list of volunteers to help bring her back to glory.” The ACVA’s reason for existing is to save the Adams and find her a home where she can serve the rest of her life educating and entertaining the public, veterans and children. The museum plans include memorializing all 23 ships in the class, including photos, memorabilia, and histories of the service of all the ships. According to retired Navy Captain Bob Branco, a former Commanding Officer of the Adams, “It’s appropriate to bring the ship back home to Jacksonville where she was home-ported for the last 23 years of her service.”

From here, the effort to save the Adams will include submitting an approximate 1,000 page Ship Donation Application to the Navy, and fundraising, fundraising, fundraising. Jacksonville team member Bert Watson knows very well what the ACVA is facing, but remains very optimistic. “I’ve been looking far into this tunnel for months, seeing a light and trying to decide if it was a train coming at me or not. I am very inspired by the capability of the ACVA team to put this Ship Donation Application together. It is definitely daylight in that tunnel.” But Watson also knows that the development of the Application must be matched by a successful fundraising campaign. The funding strategy will depend on three areas: (1) the DDG community strongly supporting the effort; (2) the greater Jacksonville community participating in large numbers; and (3) the business and corporate community playing their part. Between in-kind and monetary contributions, the $7 million cost to bring her to “museum ready status” is a realistic goal.

The quality of the attraction to be gained by the Jacksonville Community will be substantial. The organizers foresee the ADAMS being an exciting interactive and vibrant museum as well as the premier event venue in Jacksonville. There are no naval ship museums in Florida or Georgia, and both states have significant naval and military presence. Initial estimates suggest the Adams will be dedicated as the Jacksonville Historical Naval Ship Museum in mid-2010.

2/21/08 - UPDATE

This week, Adams and ACVA passed another hurdle by being endorsed by the Finance Committee and the Recreation / Community Development Committee of Jacksonville City Government.

Our next hurdle will be a vote of the full City Council on Tuesday evening February 26. Our Team in Jacksonville believes we have sufficient City Council support for our proposal to pass and be sent to the Mayor for his signature, which has been assured by a Mayoral representative.

Writing of the Application for Donation that we must submit to NAVSEA is progressing nicely and our Application Team must be commended for their efforts. Former Adams CO and ACVA VP, Bob Branco, led a second Survey Team back to Philly on February 19-20 to secure additional details on the condition of Adams for inclusion in the Application for Donation.

Former Sellers CO, Bob Rumney, has been working on a Yard Availability Report just as he would have done while on Active Duty. This too will be part of our Application for Donation so NAVSEA knows what repairs we intend to make while Adams is in Dry Dock. This was a primary reason for the Survey Visit I mentioned above. Bob Rumney has also put together an outline for our Volunteer Program, so those of you who may be pacing the deck waiting to get your hands dirty on Adams, will know what to expect. I will talk more about this in future emails / newsletters.

Tom Crosser
President, Adams Class Veterans Association, Inc.

1/22/08 - NEWS FLASH

As many of you ACVA members already know, ACVA set out some weeks ago to raise the $100,000 (plus!) needed to cover the cost of having a professional Application writer prepare the ADAMS Ship Donation Application for submission to NAVSEA before the 31 MAR 2008 deadline. However, the ACVA Board has also explored other alternatives to completing the Application. As it worked out, part of the answer came from within ACVA. Support for the project has been growing tremendously, both in the Jacksonville area and across the country. The end result has been an influx of new members and supporters, many of whom are uniquely qualified in areas critical to the project. After analyzing who and what resources we had gained, ACVA Directors of City Search, James Aldrich and Bob Branco, suggested that we complete portions of the application ourselves. This is not without precedent; several successful naval ship museums have followed the same course.

A plan was laid out, detailing who would do what parts of the application, along with a timetable that would assure that we got the completed application submitted by the deadline. The Board reviewed the plan and discussed it thoroughly at the 1/15/08 Board meeting. At the end of the discussion period, the Board voted unanimously to approve the plan - that ACVA would be responsible for preparation of the Application, but using "outside sources" to complete those critical sections of the Application where ACVA did not have the expertise. The writing of the Application is already under way and on schedule.

This new plan for completing the Application is reflected in the changes to the "thermometers" on the ACVA home page. We now have 2 thermometers. That portion of the total funds needed for the application which would have gone for the professional writing of the Application, approximately $78,000, has been shifted to an "in kind" donation thermometer. This represents the value of the time and effort donated by our people who are writing the Application, which we otherwise would have had to pay 'cash'.

Even with these "in kind" donations, we still require funds for things which MUST be done by "outside sources", like the required Marketing Survey, various engineering services, and the berth design. This is reflected by the "cash" thermometer, and these donations we have received will be used to pay for the services needed from the "outside sources". We are still short in this area; the cost of the Marketing Survey and other required expenses is still not totally covered. The Board feels, however, that obtaining donations to cover these expenses is "doable”, thus allowing ACVA to submit an Application for ADAMS by the deadline.

Also at the 1/15/08 Board meeting, the resignation of Rick Watson as Vice President was accepted. The Board was unanimous in their expression of gratitude to Rick for his efforts to help get ACVA to where we are today. The Board voted unanimously to elect Bob Branco, Captain, USN (Retired) and former C.O. of ADAMS, to the vacant VP position. Another recent addition to our ACVA Board is Bill Hunteman, who is taking on the job of Director of Ships Liaison. He will be responsible for communicating with all the DDG Ship Reps, and other interested parties, keeping them informed of our progress and providing them updates.

Since the ACVA is a “nation-wide” organization, ACVA members residing in the Jacksonville area have formed the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association (JHNSA), so that we will have a local group which can take custody of the ADAMS, and operate the museum.

The Jacksonville City Council met on January 22, and legislation was introduced by Councilman Warren Jones containing a Resolution that supports placing the ADAMS on the south bank of the St Johns River in the downtown area at our preferred berth site. This legislation (Resolution) has been referred to two committees for review, the Finance Committee and the Recreation and Community Development Committee. The Resolution will be reviewed at two more City Council meetings (standard procedure) prior to a vote, which we expect to see happen toward the end of February. This necessary piece of support is moving along nicely!

12/18/07 - PROCEDURE CHANGE

The ACVA Bylaws are going to be removed from the EZ Board. ACVA Members who wish to have their own copy of the bylaws may request them directly, via email, from Dave Myerly: DaveDDG2@aol.com

12/08/07 - STATUS REPORT TO NAVSEA and REPLY

We recently sent NAVSEA a status report and received a prompt reply. View them via this link.

11/29/07 - UPDATE

> To: All ACVA Ship Reps.

> > From: ACVA President.

> > Subject: Urgent Communication and Request to Adams Class Shipmates.

> > Gentlemen,

> > Due to the ongoing efforts of the ACVA Board and our JAX Team, the Jacksonville Florida Waterways Commission passed a Resolution on November 1, stating their support for the berthing of the last existing ADAMS CLASS DESTROYER IN THE UNITED STATES, USS CHARLES F. ADAMS, in their city and the creation of a Memorial and Museum, dedicated to the Adams Class DDG's, the sailors who served on them, their contribution to our nation's security during the Cold War, and their part in US Naval History.

> > As of Tuesday November 27, the report from our JAX Team added two more City Council Members to the list of those supporting our efforts. This brings the total to 13 supporting our effort, 3 uncertain (but probable) and 2 yet to be briefed. The 13 is the "super majority" we wanted to secure prior to bringing the request to the full Council for consideration. Additionally we were briefed on Business Leaders and other interested parties who have voiced support for Adams and ACVA. And lastly, the City of Jacksonville's Veterans' Affairs Director has voiced a "No Objection" position on our effort. This is significant due to the fact that the Mayor will ask his opinion first, and also because he has declined each and every Naval Ship Museum proposal he has seen, including this one in May, until last week when he expressed support for ours during a meeting with a JAX Team member.

> > We need to make sure that our message is getting to each and every former Adams Class crew member possible. We need to make sure that everyone knows about recent developments in Jacksonville and the fact that we only have until March 31, 2008 to submit our "Application for Donation" to NAVSEA. The preparation and submission of the actual "Application" Is going to cost ACVA at least $100,000.

> > This information must go out as fast as possible to all former Adams Class crew members. We need contributions and we need them very quickly. Our goal is within sight. We have asked and often prayed for this opportunity and it is finally before us. We must rise to the occasion and do our part to bring Adams to her final home. I am asking that every sailor make a $25 contribution - and send it today...PLEASE. If you can send a little more, Great! But more important, contact anyone else you think would be interested in our effort and ask them to send a little too. As we were taught on board, many hands make light work.

> > I will also request that everyone associated with an Adams Class web site or Reunion Group have our story and this request posted prominently so anyone visiting your site can read about our ongoing effort to save the last Adams Class DDG in the US. Please make sure all of your shipmates are aware of the ADAMS Class Veterans Association web site (www.adamsclassddgvets.org) because on that site is all the latest info, including a rendering of ADAMS sitting in the proposed berth on the St Johns River in JAX!

Tom Crosser
President, Adams Class Veterans Association, Inc.

11/02/07 - FLASH MESSAGE - JAX Waterways Commission endorses ADAMS Concept

On November 1st, the Jacksonville Waterways Commission (which is tied to the City Council) voted to endorse the concept of berthing ADAMS in JAX. Final endorsement from the Commission will depend on the future submission of a detailed Business Plan, and related Financial Plan (upon which work can now begin, given Commission support of the berthing... they understood we couldn't put a plan together without a location defined). The next step will be to go to the JAX City Council and also get their support (about 1/2 of all City Councilmen have already said they support the proposal).

Bert Watson gave a superb presentation (Powerpoint), and then there was an extensive Question & Answer session. There were 2 Commissioners who, during the Q & A discussion, voiced some concerns (parking, impact on nearby boat ramp, lack of a detailed financial plan, etc). One Commissioner expressed concern that there was "no organization behind the effort". Jim Aldrich explained about ACVA, and our concept that once the City says they support the idea, then a local "501c3 Museum group" will be formed. In spite of the concerns from the 2 Commissioners, these 2 Commissioners voted to Endorse anyway. On the other hand, during the Q & A, there were about half a dozen Commissioners who were very vocal in their outright support of the idea. One had recently been to Charleston, and Patriot's Point, and she said, basically, this is a wonderful thing to do, and can be of great benefit to the City ! The failed SARATOGA effort surfaced, but everyone agreed that ADAMS is a much different (smaller, more appropriate to JAX) kind of proposal. Another key point - the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Waterways Commission are both City Councilmen, and both of these men expressed strong support of the idea. There were no "NO" votes when the Commissioners voted on the Motion to endorse the ADAMS concept. Bert has been told that he will get a "copy" of the Endorsement. After the presentation, several - commissioners and people from the audience - came up and voiced strong support of the proposal; all offered support, a couple offered guidance and references to other that might help, and one offered to help directly!

That afternoon, the ACVA JAX Team put together the urgent action items that now must get into high gear - additional fund raising, establishment of 501c3 in JAX, and commencement of work on elements of the Application. This is what we have been waiting for. The door has been opened and it up to us to continue opening it so that we can walk through it. This is why the fundraising letters have been sent. We have asked for this opportunity - it is ours for the taking and take it we must. It is a great part of the reason we have banded to gether. Please contribute some funding, some names and contacts of others who can contribute, and please share the inspiration felt by the ACVA Board and the ACVA JAX T team !! We can now control our destiny - it is up to us to kick this can down the road. We owe Wayne & Bert a big ATTAYBOY for achieving this success!! Download the Jacksonville Waterways Commission resolution.

10/16/07 - Waddell Association Presentation

The WADDELL Association recently had a Reunion in Charleston, SC. Jim Aldrich went to their Saturday evening banquet to provide a Powerpoint briefing on ACVA's efforts to berth ADAMS in Jacksonville. The presentation was very well received, and some of the WADDELL crew members made very generous contributions to the ACVA effort.

09/22/07

06/07/07

Official Report - ACVA Report on Adams Evaluation Visit 0521-052307
This report of the survey of the Charles F.Adams in Philadelphia is set up so that you can download it and read it at your leisure, and/or save it for future reference.