The 2001 Fall Field Day crew musters on the fantail.
Fall Field Day '01: Held October 25-28, 2001. Fifteen (15) participants attending including three (3) former KIDD crew members. Those attending came from six (6) different states: Florida, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Texas, and Virginia.
Work project centered around four (4) main areas: the 40mm quads, the machinery spaces, fabrication and installation of vent covers, and clean-up of the aft ammunition magazines. Max Igleheart (BB-40), Richard Ammon (DD-661), Tim Hayles, George Gordin (DD-661), and Mack Bradley (DD-661) joined KIDD volunteers Dick Findlay (SEABEES), Rick Worley (DD-576), and Bob Allen (DD-659) in fastening down the deckplates and gratings in the firerooms and enginerooms. This is a new safety measure requested by the Navy.
Max Igleheart's son Michael, grandson Eric, son-in-law Daniel Outman, and neighbor Bruce Bieneke (VFAW-4) turned to on the quad 40mm guns on the 01 Level. Their job for the weekend was paintwork, finishing up the touch-ups started last fall with the repair of wasted metal on the shell ejection chutes. The group experienced good weather throughout the weekend, which allowed them to get a lot accomplished.
Back down belowdecks, Michael McGee and Richard Jones were housecleaning. Some years ago, the aft ammunition magazines had been turned into a storage area for all of the spare parts brought back from scavenging trips to the Inactive Fleet. Shelves had been built and erected in the tight quarters, but they quickly overflowed. Mike and Richard tackled the job of organizing and making sense of the chaos. They also had to bring their light sources with them in some cases.
Dennis McCarty (CVA-66), Troy Poteet (DDG-12), David Field (USMC), and son Jonathon Field handled the fabrication and installation of the vent covers. Dennis and Troy would make them, and as soon as they were finished, David and Jonathon would place them.
Evening meal on Thursday was provided by The Pasttime Lounge. Benjamin C. Fernandez (DDG-16 & FF-1074) and wife Jo Anne returned for their fourth year to serve as our galley crew for remainder of the weekend, garnering compliments from all as always.
Girl Scout Troop 141 of St. Martinville, LA and Cub Scout Pack 26 of New Orleans, LA were aboard on Friday and Saturday respectively for overnight stays. Mack Bradley, Max Igleheart, and Bruce Beineke took a moment to talk to the kids during breakfast the following morning, giving them the opportunity to meet and talk with men who actually served on ships like the KIDD.
This field day was sponsored by both Tin Can Sailors, Inc. and the Fleet Reserve Association. Special thanks to Troy Poteet, Stan Nahill, and Laura Armstrong for helping to advertise the event in the fall issue of Naval Affairs, the National FRA newsletter.