How some ships now anchored in the Navy's Reserve Fleet
CAN BE MADE USEFUL.
These ships are Oilers of the Neosho Class built in the 1950's. They could be safely moored in coastal harbors and stocked with dry goods or Liquids for quick use in disaster relief or even in general emergencies. During an earthquake or wind storm, the ships would just bounce around but stay afloat with the contents ready for use. The ships have refrigerators, freezers, galleys, and medical facilities.
Their use could be realized in five ways.

House recovering HOMELESS VETERANS
Store DISASTER RELIEF SUPPLIES
Create a NATIONAL SUPPORT MUSEUM
Provide a HOMELAND SECRUITY OUT POST
Re-Deploy ship as a DESALINATION PLANT

Oilers appeared at anchor like this during their service. (click image)


At a harbor pier they could look like this. (click image)
The page above is the cover of brochures mailed on October 10, 2006


DOWNLOAD and Save this Proposal: in PowerPoint for PC



The 1st wish of this mailing is to have the retention status of our five oilers changed to "Historic Review"
The 2nd wish is that a means to achieve the thoughts of this brochure comes about.

A big wish is that the brochure readers will forgive any misspelled words that may be included in those mailed.
There were quite a few.
SHELTER for recovering HOMELESS VETERANS

The VA's major homeless programs constitute the largest integrated network of homeless assistance programs in the country, offering a wide array of services and initiatives to help veterans recover from homelessness and live as self sufficiently and independently as possible.

VETERANS located in our cities along the coast could find SHELTER in retired OILERS removed from the Reserve Fleet. Remember, these veterans could be young persons from current serving assignments. The "Veterans Transitional Housing Opportunities Act of 1998" might cover this application. Read Review.

The "AFT" portion of the ship, described below, would have to be SECURE and free from:

SMOKING               ALCOHOL               DRUGS
                                

The MAIN Deck is on the same level as the word "AREA"
(Under the word "HOMELESS"), as displayed on the "could look" image above.
The decks are identified upward from the Main deck, 01 Deck, 02 Deck, 03 Deck.
      
     
Plans of these decks, as displayed above, are detailed on the next pages.

Spaces have been identified in GREEN as possible areas where our veterans could live.

The number of beds in these possible areas total to 134 beds.
Aft-03 Deck = 30;    Aft-02 Deck = 24;    Aft-01 Deck = 27;    Aft-Main Deck = 54

Bed spaces on the 02 Deck were Officers Quarters - The best spaces.
Bed spaces on the Main Deck were for deck hands - less privacy



With this upper 03-Deck, Homeless Veterans would be using quarters that were created for civilians during their TAO times.
These quarters were located where gun turrets  previously perched. USNS Kawishiwi TAO-146 received a REFUEL RIG on the
Aft-Starboard support structure of a gun turret.  No other Neosho Class Oiler received this type rig.


With this 02-Deck, Homeless Veterans would have easy access to the open air. It was Officer and Gun Control area.
Rooms were quite private. The Aft-Port Gun turret area became a Paint Locker when hazardous material rules changed.
It was operated by a civilian who trained the crew on proper painting procedures.

With this 01-Deck, Homeless Veterans would be reminded of where labor accomplished the transfer of goods to other vessels.
It is also where most had taken on food. Berthing quarters here would be in the past hospital ward, Chief Petty Officer quarters,
or office spaces. Perhaps a veteran could operate the Galley, Bakery or Post Office. Perhaps the ship could have its own zip code.
There is a Recreation room, Library and even a Dark Room. Perhaps a nurse could have visiting hours once a week in the old hospital area.


On this MAIN-Deck, Homeless Veterans would be reminded of where most of the ships men of hard labor lived.
The quarters are not too private and past access to this area was accomplished by descending down a ladder (stairs)
from the 01-Deck. there are many store rooms. Perhaps a veteran could operate the Laundry, Cobbler, Tailor, Repair
or even the Barber shop. New doors will be needed in this area.

SUPPLIES for DISASTER RELIEF
Supplies could include packaged pre-sorted clothing, bedding, and food products. Also included could be cleaning supplies, comfort kits, household items, and medical supplies. Mobile units could be located top-side, ready to be loaded with required items and lowered to the pier, ready for delivery. The ships Radio Rooms could be maintained for communication services.
Ties to the American Red Cross is a must.

-----

Having Oilers Geared for In Port Operations.

Fresh water - always seems to be in short supply at the site of any disaster. The Oilers are already configured to carry a million gallons or more of potable water. It could be regularly used to keep it fresh. New technology desalinization plants would be a plus, the ship existing plants are too small.

Removing Hazardous materials such as Asbestos may be the most costly obstacle, but this is required even when ships are disposed of.

Adding side doors and converting the formerly liquid cargo compartments requires expensive design and engineering, but it is do-able. The top-side decks should be cleared of winches so deck cargo like building material, small boats, trucks, ambulances, etc. could be stored. Moderate-to-heavy lift cranes could be added. When clearing the decks, a larger heliport area should be added. AO-144 has one already.

Let's Create a NATIONAL SUPPORT MUSEUM

To help face reality, American can be reminded as to what support has been required to keep us FREE. Americans need to trust and help heal our land. All branches of our armed services have thousands of behind-the-scenes personnel. This museum could display what was required to perform their duties of support

Navy Oilers are one of the largest physical objects available to demonstrate what support has been required to keep America free. When Navy Oilers are at sea, they have for decades been supplying our ships with the fuel required to keep them in the right place at the right time to deter American enemies. Even today in decades in the future, they will be needed to keep carriers supplied with fuel for the jets and to keep the destroyers in motion for sending un-manned projectiles toward our enemies.

Crews of Navy Oilers put them self's in harms way every single day they are at sea to perform the tasks of refueling. It is precise work and danger jumps up every time there is a human error or mechanical failure. Even anger builds up fast when an oil line brakes and oil is sprayed over the customer's ship. An example is; In 1971, one of Kawishiwi's lines to USS Oklahoma City broke. Oil shot right into her bridge at a rate of 3000 gallons per minute. These oilers also provide food, clothing, and ammunition for the small ships coming along side for their much needed fuel.

Oiler veterans say the most rewarding part of serving in the navy was their duty on an Oiler. Oil can be a very negative word to persons who use our nation's waters. Every ship that enters a harbor or river must have its hull properly constructed and maintained to make sure NO oil empties into the water that the ship floats in. At the same time, these ships must be allowed to supply America's needs.

In the 1950's, six ships were constructed especially to support Navy Task Forces. They were the first streamlined tankers and have a sleek looking profile. One of those ships; USS Kawishiwi AO-146, supported Apollo 13's splash down. It also provided the fuel to evacuate Saigon. It was the first navy ship to transfer refuges out of Saigon. These ships are large and their tanks could be modified to be display or storage rooms. the central tanks could hold fluids needed in emergencies such as earthquakes.




Oil Tanker
USS Kawishiwi
AO-146
.....................................
Being Approached
by
USS Rochester
in 1956


This is a center line elevation displaying compartments of an oiler. This includes berthing for Homeless Veterans
display rooms for a National Support Museum, and storage areas for Disaster Relief supplies. An oiler is chosen
because mainly, that is what the museum is about. How destroyers and carriers are supplied at sea, 24/7. The museum
should go further and represent Gasoline tankers and Air force tankers. Then other auxiliary supply ships.

These drawings are an example only. Careful planning and design work would have to be completed.
Berthing could be started with little modifications. Little modification would be required for storage
in the forward area where it could be started and rearranged as compartments were changed and completed.
Major applications such as the side entrance or elevator can come as time and funds permit.





To go one step better, the ships operations could be used for an HOMELAND SECURITY OUT POST.

Three AO's in Suisun Bay, California are pictured below. Vern took the photo in September 2006 Reunion Cruise
                                                                                         The AE-24 (Pyro) was removed in March 0f 2006

Many lines are required to refuel a Carrier                        Kawishiwi decks are awash during a storm >

A fuel line probe is extended to its customer                             Even in rough seas, refueling continues
..................Pulling together                                                 Crews practice protection off Vietnam
Alamo received gash from refueling collision                                          TOO close in 1976.......................

Both AO-145 and AO-146 are seen here as moored in Suisun Bay.
Stern area of Kawishiwi is on right.
This ships bridge photo was taken in 2002.
It could be either TAO-145's or TAO-145's.   These compartments are still clean.

Commissioning Ceremony in Philadelphia of USS Mississinewa AO-144 - January 18, 1955


USS Mississinewa AO-144 in center, Refuels DE-133 and CVS-9 in 1967


...................................................................................
My book is considered a reference to what
Neosho Class Oilers were about.

The book information about all six oilers.
USS Neosho AO-143 ...................... Scrapped in 2005
USS Mississinewa AO-144 ....... assigned to Atlantic
USS Hassayampa, AO-145 .......... assigned to Pacific
USS Kawishiwi AO-146 ............... assigned to Pacific
USS Truckee AO-147 ..................... assigned to Atlantic
USS Ponchatoula AO-148 ........... assigned to Pacific

96 Ports around the world are described

Several Sea stories are included

I sell the book for $24 including shipping.

Vern Bouwman
12616 NE 190th St.
Bothell, WA  98011
425-485-8068


member

About the CD at right

It will NOT work on a Mac

If you have any trouble with the CD, I will send a new one.

Cleaning of CD must be in done in a circular motion, not across grooves.
<>



Another way to describe what Neosho Class Oilers are about it to
Furnish you with this CD

It contains 14 PowerPoint shows plus a menu.
The CD will start automatically in a PC type computer. If you click anywhere on the first slide, the total CD will run for 1 hour. If you click on a show title you can view them one at a time. either way, during a show, you can right click and switch to others shows or just a certain slide.
To be familiar with the oilers, "Service At Sea" and "Life at Sea" should be viewed.
The second choices could be "South Pacific" and "Vietnam".
Look for a "UFO" experience in "Philippine Sea".



15 Show Titles are:
RE-USE Proposal......7 min.53 sec.
Commissioning ...... 3 min. 45 sec.
West Coast .............. 5 min. 30 sec.
Service at Sea ........ 5 min. 15 sec.
Hawaii ........................ 4 min. 0 sec.
South Pacific ............ 2 min. 0 sec.
Life at Sea ................ 3 min. 15 sec.
Philippine Sea ........ 4 min. 40 sec.
 Japan .......................... 3 min. 15 sec.
South China Sea ...... 3 min. 45 sec.
Movie at Sea .............. 3 min. 0 sec.
Philippines ................ 4 min. 40 sec.
Subic Bay .................. 5 min. 45 sec.
Vietnam ...................... 9 min. 15 sec.
Singapore .................. 1 min. 30 sec.
The three links require PowerPoint on your PC - CD is needed to hear sound.



It really is important that American People
Are aware of efforts required
To support their ships of war.

Our sailors are out there on OILERS
Every Day of the year,
Not to fight,
But to support those who do fight.

OILERS are never mentioned in the NEWS,
MOVIES or on TELEVISION.
All the public seems to want is seeing Fighting and Fire Power.
WE are becoming very complacent.
We can not let our guard down.


By Vern Bouwman, a U.S. Navy Veteran
USS Kawishiwi AO-146 Historian
12616 NE 190th St. bothell, WA 98011