I am a plank owner and got on board early 1955 as a Fireman assigned to the A Gang.  They were trying to make me into a MM and I ended up in the small ( very small Carpenter Shop ) forward, right next to the Emergency Generator Room as a Damage Controllman stricker.  I was discharged in Long Beach 10 September 1957 --  left the ship when we were tied up at Pier 6  as a Damage Controllman . (DC2)  I had taken the civil service exam just a short time prior to this.  The day after I got out, I went to work at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard and was sent back out to work as a civilian on the USS Kawishiwi as my first assignment.   I retired after 32 years with the yard. 

I am originally from is Pennsylvania.
I remember Ski Lewandowski -  We were together in the A Gang.  I seem to remember his accident along with the Chief that was almost killed, the one were the gangway ran over the fellow's foot and the Chief that killed himself.  I do remember some very good times also.
Thanks shipmate-------- Fred, September 2002

Ship Buddies
I wish I did have more info.  I have tried to find crew members addresses and telephone numbers through many Web sites without any luck.   I thought that I had some valid numbers and sent letters to Leslie Burroughs and Phillip K. Collins, but as of this date have not had any reply.  Both of these shipmates were stationed at Fort Monroe, Virginia on shore duty with me prior to going on the USS Kawishiwi in 1955.

            Doug Kerns was a MS 1 assigned to the R Division, A Gang and I am not sure when he came on board and he was still on when I left in 1957.  He went to work for at the Naval Fuel Depot in San Pedro and we kept in touch for several years but have lost contact.     Fred Billetts Oct. 9, 2002

Photo to Vern
This R Division photo was probably taken in 1956.  I do not recognize very many of the crew and was hoping that Ski Lewandowski might know more.  Maybe you might have his E-Mail address,
-------Sincerely Fred Billetts, November 21, 2002