Back when the old Geocities site guestbook started collecting more spam than legitimate entries, I created a blog to replace it. Here are the entries from the blog.
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hi everyone, and thanks to richard dobson for creating this blog. This is YN3 Jim Carroll, crewmember 1976-77. Hope everyone is doing well. I recently posted a photo of the JI from this site to Wikipedia, so check it out. Also, I had a very nice call w/ Tom Chirhart, former JI Radioman, a month or so ago (9/2007) when i was in D.C. Tom works there, and lives nearby. Hopefully I'll get to see him next time i'm there. I also want to visit USS BARRY, now a museum ship at Washington Navy Yard. Gotta run for now. Let's get this blog going! Contribute when you can.
--Jim Carroll
<mailto:airforcefalcon05@yahoo.com>
2007-11-09 15:06:50 GMT
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Hello to you YN3 carroll and to all J. I. sailors. This is BT2 George Kyser from the After Fireroom (where the professionals worked). I would like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season and a Merry Christmas. I have heard from fellow shipmates Rocky White, Muskie, Bushman, and Chief Merrill. We live in South Georgia. Would love to hear from ya'll 2299217016. Take care, george.
--George Kyser
<mailto:peach6155@bellsouth.net>
2007-12-02 11:35:44 GMT
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Hello to all J. I. sailors past and future. This is BT2 Rocky W. White from the Forward Fireroom. "Black Out of Two" ... How often the Forward Fireroom heard those words (where the professionals worked!?!) while steaming underway. A good many tours, a good many memories, and a good many friends from the days aboard the "J.I.". I hold the "Ole Man's" coveralls obtain while sleeping in his state room during a Charleston yard period ... do I have any bidder's for such a collectable item. Mr. George T. Kyser holds the manufacturer's nameplate from the Forward Fireroom "A" boiler he may want to part with too. Richard Dobson; keep up the good work and thank you for your efforts. "Haze Gray & Underway"! RWWhite
2007-12-04 17:32:39 GMT
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Hello to all Jonas Ingram shipmates. Merry Christmas to all. I talked to BT2 Rocky White of the Forward Fireroom and Chief Merrill. Both were doing fine. Chief Merrill told me that Chief Spivey was in poor health. Lets remember him and if any of you have the dime here is his phone number: 912-449-3262. Well gotta go time to hold sweepers and dump the trash on the receptile provided on the pier. Take care, George Kyser.
--george T. Kyser
<mailto:peach6155@bellsouth.net>
2007-12-24 12:20:18 GMT
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Served on board 3/72-3/77 A-GANG
best tour of duty.
Several crew members still in NORVA area all say the same.Good ship, good crew, get hot, turn to.Must say something about a ship when 20?
years of different crew all have good memories.
Happy Holidays and HAPPY NEW YEAR
--Bud Ory
<mailto:budory@cox.net>
2007-12-31 03:51:07 GMT
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Best bunch of BT's I've ever seen - B Div '73-'77. Thanks guys.
--CWO Ed Skiba
<mailto:chapedskiba@yahoo.com>
2007-12-31 04:31:53 GMT
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This is the former YN3 Robert Schaff. I served aboard the USS JONAS INGRAM from May 1977 until I was discharged on August 10, 1979 while we were in the shipyards for overhaul in Charleston, SC. Anyway, the best time of my life was the time I was onboard the INGRAM, including our cruises. I especially appreciated the fact that thanks to the website a girl I met in Zakinthos, Greece who was from Frankfurt, Germany found me 30 years later. We are conversing. She would have never found me without the efforts of my former shipmate.
--Robert Schaff
<mailto:robschaff@yahoo.com>
2008-01-10 03:52:22 GMT
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I wish you well on this blog. To those of the Jolly JI,from 1980-1982, that knew SN3 Floyd C Nickels, "Butch" passed away Sept 20, 2006, at age 52.
The Jolly JI, was the best time of his life and he loved that ship and always, always thought highly of the Command and Crew members he met while on the Ingram. I hope all of you are doing well and in good health.
--S Nickels
2008-01-13 19:00:33 GMT
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Gary A Dingman, ETN2 served aboard the JI on the date of his death, May 16, 1968. I am forming a Nonprofit organization to honor his memory and am interested in contact from anyone that served with him prior to his accident. He had completed a Med. tour in 1967 and was out of FL at the time of his death. Our organization will work with Missouri & Arkansas veterans returning from Iraq/Afghanistan and will provide mini-vacations to vets and their families in appreciation of their service and the sacrifices of families that kept the "home fires" burning while the veteran was deployed. During the time of Gary's service, he started a spoon collection for me at ports of the Med. tour. I tried to send care packages to him & shipmates on a regular basis accompanied by long, newsy letters from home. Gary had told me several of his pals would share the goodies from the package with him and he would read my letters to them all. The spoons were to symbolize my sharing in his Naval experience. Following his death several of his shipmates continued to send me spoons as they continued their tours and I wish to express my appreciation. I will also try to make contact through any information available regarding reunions.
--Lynie Dingman Williams
<mailto:lyniewllms@yahoo.com>
2008-01-15 22:03:54 GMT
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I was MM2 Main control on the Jonas Ingram 6-70 to 6-73. I pickec up the Ingram in the Philly yards and traveled the carabean the Med. There are many who served this grand old ship until it's sinking. May it make a good home for the fish and other oceanic life. hter were many drag races for ships parties and good times. I have had contact With Ben Lupo and no others.
I now work at a community college in Michigan.
2008-01-17 18:36:27 GMT
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I came aboard the Ingram in 1959, after DesRon 12
was split. I had been aboard the USS Davis DD937,
in fact, a plank owner. When the squadron was split
half stayed in Newport and the other half was transferred
to Mayport, Fla. Being from the South, I jumped
at the chance to get out of all that snow, so I
was transferred to the Ingram. I was MM2 in the
After Engine Room. Would like to hear form any
old shipmates that served aboard. I now live in
Ethel, Louisiana. Let me hear from you .
--J.W. Smith
<mailto:Scoop1050@aol.com>
2008-02-01 20:29:07 GMT
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Its great to find a site that I can hook up with old buddies.The J.I. was my only ship,but Ithink about it often ,what a trip.Wheres the OS gang let me hear from ya!
--Scott Perdue
<mailto:beemer938@msn.com>
2008-02-21 02:27:03 GMT
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I went abord the Jonas Ingram April 8, 1959 and served aboard until late 1962. What a great ship and crew at that time. We went half way around the world twice. Two trips to Africa, England, Ireland, Spain and many other ports. I have about 300 photos of these crusies. After attending a reunion a few years ago in Baltimore, where I met up with an old shipmate that I lost touch with we have become friends again since we both live on Long Island NY. By the way I was a Signalman Third Class. Hope to see all of you in Philly Pa at the next reunion in October 2008. Guess thats it for now. Will get back again if there is any responces to this post.
--Joe Schmidt
<mailto:joe@lizjoephoto.com>
2008-02-23 21:24:15 GMT
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I am trying to find John Tymick
I served with John on board ths USS King DDG-41.
Any help would be appreicated, in finding him.
His middle name, email address, phone number,
where did he last live in city? State? any
information would be helpful for me to find him
Name: John Tymick
Years Served: July 1977-Dec 1978
Your Rank: STG3 - STG2
Comments: I am retired now after 20 plus, STGCS(SW) -
but was on KING as my first ship.
Remember long watches on SQS-23 Sonar.
Thanks for your help, Scott
--Scott
<mailto:Scott33075@yahoo.com>
2008-03-14 10:43:33 GMT
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Hello to all. This is BT2 George T. Kyser. Hope everyone is fine. Was in Wal - Mart the other day and passed some Nev - R - Dull. If I owe any of you a can just let me know. Well got to shine some bright work and scrub the heaad. Take care, George.
--George T. Kyser
<mailto:peach6155@bellsouth.net>
2008-03-30 02:54:17 GMT
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BT2 George T. Kyser (aka "Lifer") ... you can take the man out of the service but, you can't take the service out of the man!?! Black-out-of-two
--RWWhite
<mailto:Rocky.White@exeloncorp.com>
2008-03-31 15:06:28 GMT
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How's everyone doing.this is MM3 Craig Nordin,foward engine room,Apr-1974 to Sept-1978,was always proud to have been in the Navy,been on the Ingram and most of the people I served with,hope to see some shellbacks at the Oct-08 reunion,hope evryone is doing well,at ease sailors.Craig Nordin
--Anonymous
<mailto:Thor1927@aol.com>
2008-04-15 00:21:28 GMT
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Good morning everyone, welcome aboard Craig, BT2 George Kyser here. "Black on two" I hear that all the time. That's just the smoke from the Foreward Fireroom drifting over the Afterfireroom stack. Hope everyone is fine. Good to hear from you Nordin. Take care everyone, George.
--george T. Kyser
<mailto:peach6155@bellsouth.net>
2008-04-19 12:30:29 GMT
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This is the former YN3 Schaff reporting aboard the Ingram's blog again. I just found Bob White thanks to this blog. It turns out that he was living in Laplace, LA where I work for over 15 years and did not know I was a former shipmate working at the school his kids attended. In fact I taught his daughter. My e-mail now is RSchaff@stjohn.k12.la.us. It may change soon so use rrschaff@yahoo.com if you can't use the first one.
--YN3 Robert Schaff
<mailto:RSchaff@stjohn.k12.la.us>
2008-05-01 04:41:02 GMT
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hey craig sure do remember the ceremony in '77. There weren't many polywogs after that cruise, until the Seychelles. So where is the reunion being held? I just found out from Dobs about this site and the reunions every 2 years. I would love to make the reunion. Fresh air sailor, not a snipe but known by many and even etched into the walls in some of the heads during my tour from '75 - '80. Picked up the JI in overhaul in '75 and departed during overhaul in '80. Both Chief Merrill and S. Chief Spivey initiated me into the Chief's mess. Still living in Florida and can say "Gone Fishin'" most of the time.
CWO3 "Gunner" Hurt (retired)
--FTG1 Tom Hurt
<mailto:jaguartom34@aol.com>
2008-05-14 01:59:11 GMT
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Mike (Skid Roe) here. Was on board 76-78. Claim to fame is that I was a singer in the ships band. Wow, an amazing part of my life. Teamwork 76, where we went to Europe, Red sea cruise, Shellback. I still have dreams of being on board. Now my son is in MC A school and my daughter leaves for boot in June also to become an MC, Mass communications specialist.
--Mike Roe
<mailto:azep12@yahoo.com>
2008-05-14 23:18:39 GMT
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'78 TO '80 I was a sonor tech. IE paint chipper as we were in the yards
--ST3 Nixon
<mailto:ednixon@verizon.net>
2008-05-24 02:30:27 GMT
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I was the first Storekeeper on board skeleton crew. was working out of Fargo Bldg. in s Boston
1958. Before Commisioning. Not many of us aroun d. Don't remember names. Made shakedown cruise to Gitmo, and south thru Canal and down to Lima Peru. Was transferred to Shore duty in Miami.
Also served on uss Salem ca 139 and WR Rush DD 714
--Don Wagoner SK2
<mailto:DWAGONER@GWINNETTTECH.EDU>
2008-05-27 17:53:19 GMT
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Served on the Ingram from 62-65 as a radarman. Hung out with Marino RD3 MooreSN Dave WrayGM3 at all the bars in Mayport Beach. Made a couple of Med cruises. Had a ball. Loved the Navy,wearing the uniform, going to sea. The best CO I had was a three striper named Christoph. He was an ex UDT man and a hell of a skipper. No chicken shit, just do your job. A great four years, learned a lot had some hellacious times.
--R Cowles RD3
<mailto:RWCowles@charter.net>
2008-07-31 15:28:47 GMT
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"Black on 2", former BT2 George Kyser here. I just heard Charleston and the Shipyards are no longer there. So next time I'm on Spruill Ave. I do no want to see any of you walking down the side of the Ave. Hope this day finds everyone well and in good health. Take care, George.
--George Kyser
<mailto:peach6155@bellsouth.net>
2008-08-21 00:59:35 GMT
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I was really surprised to find this when I googled info on the ship. I (Larry McGrew) served aboard the ship from March 1973 to August 1977; assigned to the EM and IC shop. Great to see that this has been created about the ship and to see some names I haven't seen in a long time.
--Larry McGrew
<mailto:wlmcgrew@cvrenergy.com>
2008-09-18 20:43:16 GMT
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Hi all,
This is PC3 Kenneth Rogers McKay (1981 until decomissioning of JI) Just looking for shipmates especially Joe Foreman, Greg Bern, "The Spanish Fly", "Peaches", "Boney", Kenneth P. McKay, ship's self-defense force members, Tom the captains' cook, and more friends I remember, but too old to remember their names! Let me know if you know any of these guys.
--PC 3 Kenneth R. McKay
<mailto:kennethrmckay@gmail.com>
2008-09-21 21:48:40 GMT
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Hi Shipmates,
I served on the Ingram from 1979 until it decommissioned as a sonar tech with some really fine people I'd really like to hear from. Leroy Anderson, Maylon Forrest Eggleston, Geoffry Davis, John Linsembigler, Steve White, Butch Merseal, Steve Irre, Dan Bingham, to name a few. If your out there, drop me a line.
Always thought the ship would be recycled for beer cans. Made me sad it was sunk as a target. Hope to hear from you.
--Mike Hayes
<mailto:panhead1man@yahoo.com>
2008-11-10 05:47:21 GMT
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To the individual who is trying to locate John Tymick. His middle name is Marvin. If you go to the web page for Find People. You'll find his address. According to that web page, he resides in Wisconsin.
--anonymous
2008-11-17 16:02:43 GMT
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The last I heard John Tymick is married as well
--anonymous
2008-11-17 18:04:05 GMT
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Is there any way to erase the two last blogs relating to John Tymick? It would be appreciated.
--anonymous
2008-11-21 15:20:14 GMT
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Is there any way to erase the two last blogs relating to John Tymick? It would be appreciated.
--anonymous
2008-11-21 15:20:21 GMT
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Good morning everyone, former BT2 George Kyser, hope this day finds everyone well. HAPPY THANKSGIVING to everyone. Well gotta go. We had "Black on 2" and a "greasing" going on when I left to write this so I better get back to see if we got the smoke cleared.
--George Kyser
<mailto:peach6155@bellsouth.net>
2008-11-23 13:04:53 GMT
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There is a USS Jonas Ingram Group now on Face-Book. Perhaps this would be a more efficient way to keep in touch. Happy Thanksgiving!
--Pat Leyendeckers
<mailto:pleyendeckers@yahoo.com>
2008-11-27 00:17:38 GMT
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Hi everyone I served on the Ingram in 1970 and 71. Was on it when it was recommish in Philly. Would like to hear from any shipmates from that time.
--Neil Elliott
<mailto:nelliott50@yahoo.com>
2008-12-19 16:52:35 GMT
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RM3 Joseph "Tim" Reilly, served on the Jonas Ingram from the time it was being refitted in the Philly shipyards in 1970 until my discharge at the end of of war in 1973. I served under Captain D.M. Metzeler and Capt. Louis Colbus, both very fine C.O.'s Our RMC was George Neville who was also my Company Commander in "A" school in in San Diego. Imagine my surprise when he showed up in Philly a few weeks after I did. I'm still acquainted to this day with my old shipmates, Eddie Goldsmith (Retired Senior Chief and one hell of a fine guy), RM3 David Kean USNR (also one really great guy) and Jim Comish who got us all to join facebook and get onboard the J.I. site. We had a very small division reunion 3 years ago and even Chief Neville attended. what a great time and a hoot to see how bad we all had aged, especially Goldsmith. The memories of sailing in the J.I. are some of the best of my life. Still looking for Bill Bice, Richard Vassar, Bill Owens, Chris Cabaniss, David Hume, Ralph Abernathy, Pete Arangio and other shipmates from the 1970 era who are plankowners from the recommissing.
Tim Reilly
Boerne, Texas
--Tim Reilly
<mailto:reillyjpt@gvtc.com>
2008-12-20 13:16:07 GMT
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HELLO JOLLY JI SHIPMATES IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE THAT WAS ABOARD FOR THE GOLDEN SHELLBACK OF 73. THAT SAME CRUZ WE RESCUED WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE SS SAUDI IN THE I.O. FROM THE MED HALF WAY OF 72 TIL OCT 74 I WAS IN THE FOWARD FIREROOM HARRY FOOTE WAS THERE INTIL HIS DEATH. OSTRANGE WAS THE CAPT. I WAS UP AND DOWN FROM 3RD. IS THERE ANY ONE OUT THERE THAT KNOWS WHO THE PHANTOM SHITTER WAS I HAD TO CLEAN UP AFTER HIM SEVERAL TIMES. I AM THE ORIGIONAL JOHN REDCORN. HURLEY RIZZO VASTBINDER RIPLEY SPIEGALHALTER OLDHAM BRIGGS ONEAL ALL BT'S BM'S
MARK GRIMALDI,PENN TO ALL A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.
--JOHN REDCORN BT
<mailto:JAMBREES@YAHOO.COM>
2008-12-22 00:56:01 GMT
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change of email for johnred now johnredmond88@yahoo.com
2009-01-30 23:03:24 GMT
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They called me Muskie. I worked and played in EBO1. Foreeward fireroom. Yeah we did smoke black a few times but not as often when I was burnerman. Economy haze was my goal and the bridge smemtimes called it black. My time on board was 75 to 80. My GQ station was plotter in DC Central. Refuel station at sea was the foreward hose trunk. My favorite job was working in the oil shack,tricing up the fuel oil service tanks,transferring fuel and running boiler water tests and treatments. I ran the Coca-Cola fund for snipes too. I made good money having a slush fund too. 10 for 14, 20 for 28,30 for 40, 50 for 70 and 100 for $140. Never a dull moment down in the hole. Hope all who serve aboard are well. Mahan"s the name. Making money was my game. Played a lot of poker down in the compartment too. Hi to Heath,Chief Davis,Coupe,Lankewicz,Halter,Rocky,Kyser,Adams Cathey,Ruffcorn and the rest of you hard working BTs who kept the ships screws turning.
--Richard (muskie) Mahan
<mailto:Termisoil@comcast.net>
2009-02-15 15:47:49 GMT
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Hello everyone, former BT2 George T. Kyser After Fireroom. Hope everyone is fine. Yea, we smoked black and did some greasing. Glad to hear from Rocky, Muskie, McKee, and "Ole E-9". Take care, george.
--George T. Kyser
<mailto:peach6155@hughes.net>
2009-03-06 00:01:55 GMT
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Hello to all whom served on the Jonas Ingram DD-938 and especially those from 1980-1981 in AS Division. I will always have great respect for the Commanding Officer C.M. St. Laurent. Several times he pulled up a chair in one of the bars and had a drink together with his crew while in a liberty port. I wish to thank him for leading us on the deployment to Gonzo Station and the North Atlantic from Feb-August 81 and bringing us back home. I had a wonderfull time even though some of it was hard work.
--TM2 Greg Mocsary
<mailto:g.mocsary@gmx.de>
2009-05-18 10:53:56 GMT
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Hello Fellow Sailors........... I was stationed on the USS Jonas Ingram from 6/67 to 2/69. I worked in the machine shop as a MR stricker. God bless Dingman, I was aboard ship the day he died,it was a sad day for the JI. FN Francis Talarczyk
2009-05-25 01:03:12 GMT