The Bangust Comments Page

Greg Sides

Hello Don,

Exciting day today...the Bangust sweatshirts and cap arrived. I didn't expect such a speedy delivery! Thanks for sending by Priority mail. You knew how anxious I was to get these. I am thrilled with the excellence of the workmanship on the logo design. The sweatshirts are TOP quality! Dan is also very pleased with his cap. I am looking forward to cooler weather so we can wear our shirts and we will wear them with GREAT PRIDE!!!! Thank you, Don, you did a most wonderful job! Your time and effort spent on doing this is greatly appreciated!

Hugs to you and Noreen!
Charlotte

I got my cap and I like it .I see that it is a great American product made in "Bangladesh"? Only kidding ---- they did a quality job,Bob

Hey bro, it me edzo again, :-)

I picked up the ship hat you sent yesterday and boy is it a beauty. I will send you a check.

Bro Edzo

Subject: HOW I FEEL

LET ME JUST THROW THIS YOUR WAY. READY

WHERE IN THIS WORLD OF SO MANY GOOD THINGS.
CAN YOU FIND A GUY WHO MAKES BROKEN BELLS RING.

WELL THE BANGUST HAD SUCH A GUY WHO COULD DO THIS AND BEYOND.
HEY GANG THIS GUY IS OUR SHIPMATE DON POND.

HOW LUCKY THE DAY YOU CAME ON BOARD
I WAS THERE WITH YOU, THESE TREASURES I'LL HOARD.

THANKS OLD CHAMP FOR THIS I AM SURE AND MORE
SURE THERE WAS NEVER A BETTER CREW TO FIGHT IN A WAR.

SO WITHOUT FUTHER ADUE. I AM PROUD,
THAT LITTLE OLD ME WAS ONE OF YOU .

EDDIE CAPRAUN.

HI DON & NOREEN!
THE CLOTHES CAME TODAY JUST BEFORE I WAS GOING OUT TO LUNCH WITH THE DESA GUYS. SO BEING A LITTLE CHILLEY I WORE THE SWEAT SHIRT AND THE HAT. I REALLY THINK YOU DID A GOOD JOB BOTH IN MATERIALS AND LOGO AND THE PRICE FROM WHAT I KNOW IN LOOKING AROUND THAT TO WAS VERY GOOD. I AM WAITING TO SEE HOW MY BOOKS BALANCE IN OCT. BECAUSE I WILL WANT A COUPLE OF GOLF SHIRTS WITH THE LOGO . SO AS USUAL YOU ARE A CREDIT TO THE MIGHTY B. AND THANKS ! I DO HOPE THE GUYS GET BEHIND YOU FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS. I ALREDY MISS SHERRY WE GOT TO BE QUITE A COUPLE OF CHATTERS. SO OLD BUDDY KEEP UP THE JOB YOU ARE DOING IT WILL IN THE END PAY OFF WITH THE GANG COMING THRU. CAPPY

Don,
I viewed your web site last night. You've done a superb job of capturing memories of the crew of the USS Bangust as they remember their service during World War II. Those memories of you and others of the crew of the USS Bangust and the sacrifices they made to keep our country free bring to mind why Tom Brokaw called your generation "The Greatest Generation." No other generation in the history of the United States has done more to make this the greatest nation on Earth.

Bill Shilton

That is really neat! And right on!!!! Thank God for special people like you who give so much of yourself for others. You are appreciated beyond measure.

SherryLu

Found time to check out the new stuff on the Bangust Pages again today. How do you do it all?!!! Hope the Bangusters have computers, they don't know what they are missing. Great job on the logo. Looks just like the old USS BANGUST. I see you up on the bridge and Cappy standing on the deck waving! You must spend many hours keeping this in top shape and adding new features. Bravo Zulu for a job well done!

Sherry Wray - Ohio

Hat and shirt arrived, great emblem, many thanks. Hubert Hecht MD hubnan@rcn.com

The Bangust logo is pretty sharp, you have talent, my lad.

You guys have quite a history. Not exactly a one year tour, then home or in the case of Desert Storm, 3 months? Thanks for your service and sacrifice. Our country is a great nation because of men like you and your shipmates and all vets from WWII. John Vickers (link on the Bangust page)

Thanks Don for all your help in getting out the word on the reunion.... I certainly appreciate all the hard work that you are putting into the Bangust Web Page ..... It is certainly reflected in the quality of the information that you are making available... I especially liked the USS Cole material..... You even scooped some of the newspapers on that one.... Be in touch... Regards John

Don: Bangust cap arrived this afternoon.... It is really very nice.... Perfect .... Thanks for making it possible........John (11/8/2000)

Dear Friend,

We are so happy with your prompt response to getting more info on the regards of our dads service in ww2. we found his picture on the website titled U.S.S.Bangust DE739, a very informative help in our finding out things that the ship and crew went through. His picture appears in; deck division-seaman. We think this website was done by you and we really want to thank you for putting the ships history available for all to see. By reading the battles and history of the ship we can only imagine the things you all went through together. It would be nice to be put in touch with your crew members that would remember him. We would also love to hear some of the stories that are memorable to you all. Our father (Willard Karnes) passed away in 1973 due too long illness of cancer. He told us stories from aboard ship but we were young so most of it didnt stick in our memories. We would also like to know what his duties included. I was also wondering if any of your shipmates or you would put into your website the personal stories and adventures while being assigned aboard the bangust. Ror histories sake I think that would be a wonderful addition of the things you all did for our country in her time of need. Do you know of a way that we could get a hold of his military records, if they exist even? We have his complete personal history and his military service number. Thank you so very much again for all your effort with the website and repling to our queries so fast.

(We are) very fond of what you did for us Bonnie, Dave, Russell, Daniel, Willard jr, Lonnie, Larry,and Ben

I happened upon your wonderful Website while looking for Navy Reunion information....MY SURPRISE ! We brought mail your ship on July 17, 1945... I served on the USS Garrard (APA 84) and two shipmates have planned a reunion for August 16-19, 2001, with attendance still growing. I am forwarding your Website to them as I'm sure they will enjoy this shared history.

Again, many thanks for the outstanding Compiled Diary and the work of Anne E. McCarthy,and others. God Bless all those who served aboard the USS Bangust.

Most sincerely,

Richard F. Appleton
Cape Cod, MA
E-mail Address: Dick Appleton

Hi Don,

I tried to send you a joke at your dpdon@msn.com and it came back. Soooo, I went to the Bangust Homepage to track you down. You can run but you can't hide. While there, I looked at some more info in the site. It is truly impressive. You have done a fabulous job and it is quite a story to be told. I still marvel at the courage of the men at sea during WWII. The danger of beng hit and/or sunk would, to me, be a constant nightmare. The thought of surviving a hit, then being in the water trying to survive further, is beyond a nightmare. Thank God there were such men as you and your shipmates to keep us free.

John Vickers, (May 9, 2001)

VICKERSHOMEPAGE ***FREEDOM IS NOT FREE***

Mr. Pond---what a great website you have on the ship..........about a month ago, my father-in-law was out visiting us and I said let's go on the internet and see if there is something about the USS Bangust, and there it was!!. He seemed very interested. At that time, the diaries weren't on (I don't think). So, I copied those this week and have sent to him. I am sure he will thoroughly enjoy them. He has mentioned the typhoons probably more than anything over the years.

Thanks again, gentlemen, very much..

Mark Frasure (May 12, 2001)

Pond Note: Father-in-law was James Freeman

One of the best, most thorough pages I've ever seen! I've added a link from my page at: Click Here
How would you feel about my 'borrowing' your photo to add to my page?

Patrick (June 27th 2001)
E-mail Patrick

Pond Note: Patrick has a great ships of the Navy page!

I am the proud grandson of Bangust crewmember Phil "Ski" Scimeca, who is alive and as well as can be expected, living in Secane, PA with his beautiful wife of 63 years, Jennie. Thank you very much for your fantastic website. It is a tremendous and fitting tribute to her brave crew and a wonderful resource for information and especially pictures of the Bangust and her crew. You can imagine my excitement upon discovering the excellent picture of my grandfather with his fellow Carpenters and Shipfitters, looking every bit the hero we have always known him to be! My son, who is named Phil after his great grandfather, is preparing a report for his third grade class on his great grandfather's exploits during WWII. My son has had the benefit of hearing some of the stories first hand from his great grandfather. I can't wait to show this to my grandfather, who has often talked about his days aboard the Bangust. I am sure he will be thrilled. And you can bet I will be ordering some hats very shortly! I would also like to obtain some information on the next crew reunion.

All the best to you and all who visit this place, including those members of the "Greatest Generation" who served aboard the Bangust!

Phillip J. Duffy (April 23 2003)

This Electronic Message contains privileged client attorney communications from the law firm of Gibbons, Del Deo, Dolan, Griffinger & Vecchione. The information is intended to be for the use of the addressee only. If you are not the addressee, note that any disclosure, copy, distribution or use of the contents of this message is prohibited.

That was really great news Don.

All of us that are aware of the pages know that you have done an excellent job and that your award was a long time in coming. I've heard nothing but raves about your efforts and the composition of the Bangust Pages.

We're all proud of the "Mighty B" and without your efforts and zeal, we would surely be without a great venue to relive those days of our youth. I know that I was not too keen on historical happenings but I was wrong. I see now the interest and pleasure that so many have derived from these pages of the past. It's great that there are those that see the value of keeping the history of the past for the future generations. Thank you for a "Job Well Done",

Your friend,
Bob McKnight

Well deserved. You have done an excellent job and I know all of the crew appreciate it.
Norm

I'm so PROUD!!! Good job my friend!
Sherrylu

HI DON, WELL IF ANYONE DESERVES AN AWARD I WANT TO GIVE U A STANDING OVATION. IF YOU ONLY KNEW HOW I READ OVER AND OVER THE BANGUST PAGES .I HAVE SAID TIME AND TIME AGAIN CAN I IN ANY WAY HELP KEEP THEM THERE AFTER WE ARE GONE , THANKS OLD BUDDY
CAPPY

That is great!!
Eileen DE 439

Congratulations!
Tim

Hi Don,

Think that's GREAT! I've been working on the DE data and believe BANGUST earned more battle stars than any other DE! Keep up your good work!

Regards,
Anne McCarthy

Dear Don, A very deserved recognition for the many years you have been doing that work.
Harry and Lilly Lapham

ALL I CAN SAY IS WOW, OLD BUDDY IF ANYONE DESERVES THIS AWARD IT IS U

JUST REMEMBER WE WERE PIPED ABOARD TOGEATHER I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THE FEAST THEY PUT OUT ON OUR ARRIVAL;I WILL NEVER FORGET MR, YERXA FAMOUS WORDS AND I QUOTE VERBATAM I GUESS YOU MEN ARE HUNGRY SO WHEN WE GET ABOARD WE WILL WHIPP UP SOME GOOD FOOD . THESE WORDS ARE LIKE LINCOLNS GETTYSBURD ADDRESS INPLANTED IN MY LITTLE BRAIN. SO NOW AFTER THE CLOWNING AROUND IM PROUD TO SAY WE WERE SHIPMATES AND THIS U KNOW IS VERY SINCERE WORDS , KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK YOU ARE A CREDIT TO THE BIG B.
CAPPY

I never doubted that the Bangust pages were the best anywhere! This is just so that others also know and have the opportunity to see what you have done, pulling all of this information together in such a comprehensive, yet FUN WAY!!! We meet everyone, we get to hear them tell their stories, poems, pictures, diaries all kinds of details that no other website offers in such fine array. I am most proud of it and will never forget the day I first saw it and read the diaries! That was a defining moment in time because the war was real, day by day to me, through these diaries. Then there were the tributes and poems from those who served and loved the USS Bangust.

You deserve this for the time it took from start - to finish....although it will never be finished.

Congrats and thank you!
Fair winds and following seas, always!
Sherry

Congratulations,
I just heard the good news. That's great Don Now you know how we feel about your dedication and endless hard work of providing such a wonderful web site that all can visit and relive some of the "Good Old Days".

"DESA AWARD OF EXCELLENCE", A great tribute to a fine Gentleman,
Your friend,
Bob McKnight

Don,
That was the Pat from DESA that sent the award. I just want to add my congratulations to you for the great job you are doing on behalf of the Bangust.

Pat...

On this Veteran's Day, November 2003, I just want to say THANKS! to the "Fighting Men of the Mighty 'B'" - and how lucky I am that I have gotten to meet and know so many of you. And of course, that one of you special sailors is my Dad!! Thank you!!

Jeannie Roulet Minchak

I was doing a search on my last name and found your website. My father was a member of the crew on the USS Bangust. His name was John W. Tiszka.

My father died in 1975 at the early age of 51 in Kansas City, Kansas. I always wondered about his Navy time so it was nice to see a bit of his history out on the web. It was sad though that your first reunion was in 1999 - long after his passing. I am sure he would have enjoyed seeing his old shipmates!

Just thought I would pass on this information.

Sincerely,

Nancy Tiszka Taylor