Mayor Gregory
Nickles
P.O. Box 94749
915 2nd Avenue
Seattle, WA 98124-4749
October 10, 2006
Dear Mayor Nickles
The usefulness of five, 1950’s
era, Neosho
Class oilers now held in the
Navy’s Reserve Fleet, are in question. The oilers are scheduled to
scrapped, Neosho already has been. If
saved, the Oilers can be
moored in coastal harbors where their holds and personnel quarters
could be put
to use. Neosho Class Oilers were the only oilers designed with a clean,
streamlined silhouette.
Three useful functions to be accomplished
would be; House Recovering
HOMELESS VETERANS; Store DISASTER RELIEF SUPPLIES; and Create a SUPPORT MUSEUM.
In an earthquake or hurricane, Oilers would
just bounce around but stay
afloat with their contents ready for use. Navy Oilers do not appear on
television, in movies, or in news papers. Past crew members have
claimed that
serving on an oiler was the most rewarding duty station of their navy
career. I
believe our nation needs to think more about the support groups, not
just fighting
ships.
Our U.S.
Senators can save the oilers by putting, AO-144, AO-145, AO-146,
AO-147, AO-148
on the list for historical study. Would you please study this thought
and
submit an approving suggestion to a Senator or other authority that can
help make
this project happen. AO-146 would be my 1st wish to be saved, she was
my ship.
I have no means other than these words to you, to make it work.
“DISASTER RELIEF” info is on web site: http://navy.memorieshop.com .
I can be reached at 425-485-8068 or email: vernb@memorieshop.com
My address is: 12616 NE 190th Street, Bothell,
WA 98011
Sincerely,
Vern Bouwman
USS Kawishiwi AO-146 Historian
Encl.: MAKING THE RESERVE FLEET USEFUL
cc: Department
of Veterans Affairs;
Veterans
of Foreign Wars
U.S. Naval Institute;
U.S. Senator Maria
Cantwell
U.S.
Senator Patty
Murray;
Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street
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