The Tale of Two Steves – Posted for oldironsights

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The Tale of Two Steves – Posted for oldironsights

Post by DuncaninFrance » Sun Nov 22, 2009 5:44 pm

The USS ORLECK and a “Coincidental Reunion of Strangers”
By Evan Caffrey

On two weekends this October, a handful of very dedicated men and women answered the call to paint the superstructure of the USS ORLECK in preparation for her move from Orange, Texas, to Lake Charles, Louisiana. Amazingly, this small but determined group, many in their 60's, 70's, and even 80's (I was by far the youngest at 49) managed to paint a good 85%+ of the superstructure. The ship is looking truly fine! And on the second weekend, another minor miracle occurred – or was it simply an amazing coincidence?

Steve Norris came all the way from the Bay Area of California to help paint the ship on the second weekend. He and Bill Robinson planned on coming with Steve's brother-in-law, former ORLECK sailor Art Easely. But Art (who served on the ORLECK from 1950-52) had some health issues that landed him in the hospital, so he couldn't make the trip. Steve and Bill said “we're going anyway, to represent Art.”

Steve and Bill were some very hard working painters! As Steve was laying on the paint, he was recounting an interesting story (far from the only war story told on those weekends, I assure you!): Seems that Steve was in the Army in Vietnam in 1968. He was a small arms Infantry soldier in Delta Company, 4th Battalion 9th Infantry, known as “The Manchus,” which were attached to the 25th Infantry “Tropic Lightning” Division. Steve explained that while he could not date many of his experiences in Vietnam, one special one stood out: his 21st birthday, October 12, 1968. On that date, Steve and his unit were setting up camp near a village a few miles inland. They started receiving sniper fire. Artillery was called in, but , but none was available – until they heard that there was Navy ship that could provide support. The first round came in a little off target. An adjustment was radioed in, and the following rounds were right on target, taking care of the sniper problem.

Much later, Steve was talking to his brother-in-law Art Easely, and Art spoke of his deep love for his ship, the USS ORLECK, and its heroic service in Korea and Vietnam. Steve did some checking and found out that the ORLECK was indeed providing fire support offshore Vietnam way back on this birthday in 1968 (the logs of the ORLECK have been painstakingly transcribed and are available at http://www.ussorleck.com). It seemed pretty clear that Steve's brother-in-law's ship had been the one providing the artillery that probably saved several lives in Steve's company way back then!

But that wasn't enough of a coincidence on this special weekend, on which the ORLECK was getting a nice coat of haze gray paint. As Steve Norris told this story, a nearby volunteer, Steve Davis, chimed in: “Your welcome!” Norris was perplexed and asked Davis what he meant. Davis replied that he was a gunners mate on the ORLECK on that very day! Norris reports that he was “stunned” to have run into a gunners mate who could very well have been sighting or firing the guns that came to the rescue of Norris' pinned down company that memorable day.

Many have said that the ORLECK is a special ship. I would suggest this amazing coincidence proves that yet again. But for the skill and dedication of Steve Davis and the ORLECK's gunners mates, the Vietnamese sniper may have won the day back in 1968. But for Art Easely's love for his ship, he would not have bragged about it to Steve Norris. But for the dedication of many men and women, the ship's logs would not have been transcribed for Steve Norris to look up. But for the love of this ship by so many, these two men would not have been brought together across so many miles to paint her.

A few notes on the players:

Art Easely is one of the USS ORLECK's most dedicated veterans and supporters. In addition to his service aboard the ship from 1950-52, upon her return from Turkey in 2000, he attended field days to clean up and paint the ship, and he was ever so happy when he was given the commodore's cabin to sleep in as she lay afloat in Orange, Texas. Quite a promotion for an enlisted man! When Art heard that the ORLECK was tied up in litigation over damage she sustained in Hurricane Rita, and facing eviction from the shipyard whose barges damaged the ship, he flew out from the Bay Area to Orange, Texas, on a moment's notice, sleeping in airports, and showed up in Court to testify about his ship. Following is his sworn testimony:

[to be added – Art testified that the ORLECK was his “first love.”]

Steve Davis is another prime example of a super-dedicated ORLECK sailor and supporter. Steve reported aboard the ORLECK on Christmas Eve 1967 when he was transferred to the ship by highline from an oil tanker off the coast of Vietnam. He served four years on the ORLECK, starting off in the deck division and working his way up to Gunners Mate before leaving the ship. Steve remained in the U,S. Navy Reserve, advancing to Chief Petty Officer and Regimental Chief Master at Arms for the Navy Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Illinois. Steve later accepted a direct commission as a naval officer, and served as the executive officer and commanding officer of various naval reserve units, retiring as a Lieutenant Commander in 1997. Steve's decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal; Combat Action Award; Navy Unit Commendation; National Defense Service Medal; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Vietnam Campaign; and Vietnam Cross of Gallantry Award. Steve has contributed countless hours to the ongoing efforts to restore the ORLECK and get her re-opened as a museum, and was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the USS ORLECK Naval Museum.

Steve Norris served in Vietnam as a an infantryman and radio operator from March 1968 to March 1969. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal with Combat “V” for heroism in a firefight against the North Vietnamese on May 19, 1968, in which he transmitted radio information to his superiors, provided fire support, and retrieved the bodies of his fallen brothers under intense enemy fire. He was ultimately awarded a Bronze Star for his meritorious achievements in ground operations against hostile forces in Vietnam. Upon his return from Vietnam, Steve taught patrolling techniques and escape and evasion to troops at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

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Duncan

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Re: The Tale of Two Steves – Posted for oldironsights

Post by oldironsights » Mon Nov 23, 2009 10:49 am

Thank You Duncan!
By the way, did you know those five inch guns are ready for action? All that is needed are the projectiles, powder charge & a suitable target!
Now, if I can figure out how to get around the 150 kilobyte file size limit, I can post some more photos of the Orleck.
If You Can Read This, Thank A Teacher!
If You Can Read This In English, Thank A Veteran!

Help save this retired fighting ship from the scrapyard;
http://www.ussorleck.org
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Re: The Tale of Two Steves – Posted for oldironsights

Post by Candyman » Tue Nov 24, 2009 2:43 pm

oldironsights wrote:Thank You Duncan!
By the way, did you know those five inch guns are ready for action? All that is needed are the projectiles, powder charge & a suitable target!
Now, if I can figure out how to get around the 150 kilobyte file size limit, I can post some more photos of the Orleck.
Clay
If you go to tinypic.com you can upload pic's from your files and resize them to 800X600. Just copy the Image Tag for Forum and paste it in your text. When you subsit your post the Image Tag will change to a pic.
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Re: The Tale of Two Steves – Posted for oldironsights

Post by oldironsights » Sat Nov 28, 2009 8:39 pm

Thanks for the tutorial, Lee! :bigsmile:
It worked! :bigsmile: :salute:
If You Can Read This, Thank A Teacher!
If You Can Read This In English, Thank A Veteran!

Help save this retired fighting ship from the scrapyard;
http://www.ussorleck.org
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Re: The Tale of Two Steves – Posted for oldironsights

Post by oldironsights » Sat Nov 28, 2009 8:55 pm

Here is Evan Caffrey, author of "The Two Steves".
We went a shooting yesterday.

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Image
If You Can Read This, Thank A Teacher!
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Help save this retired fighting ship from the scrapyard;
http://www.ussorleck.org
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Re: The Tale of Two Steves – Posted for oldironsights

Post by Niner » Sat Nov 28, 2009 9:28 pm

Just a note..........if anybody links a photo be sure it is about 800 pixels or less. If you attach a photo directly from your computer it can be larger. All anybody has to do is click on it to make larger.

The first one of the two attached in this post is exactly 1600 pixels, which is the same pixel count as copied from above as a linked photo, and the photo is 1000 pixels resized down by me from freeware called IrfanView from 1600 pixels.
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Re: The Tale of Two Steves – Posted for oldironsights

Post by Candyman » Sat Nov 28, 2009 9:57 pm

When using Tinypic.com be sure to resize to 15" screen, 800x600 before uploading. It will fit most forums the best. Here it is at 800X600
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Re: The Tale of Two Steves – Posted for oldironsights

Post by Niner » Sat Nov 28, 2009 11:52 pm

Thanks Candyman. There is more than one way to skin a cat here.... just have to play around with it.
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Re: The Tale of Two Steves – Posted for oldironsights

Post by DuncaninFrance » Sun Nov 29, 2009 4:05 am

Niner wrote:Thanks Candyman. There is more than one way to skin a cat here.... just have to play around with it.
And LOOK what you get Robert :shock:
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Duncan

What contemptible scoundrel has stolen the cork to my lunch? -- W.C. Fields
"Many of those who enjoy freedom know little of its price."
You can't fix Stupid, but you can occasionally head it off before it hurts something.
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Re: The Tale of Two Steves – Posted for oldironsights

Post by oldironsights » Sun Nov 29, 2009 11:49 am

Thanks all! :D
I'll get it right one day. :oops:
If You Can Read This, Thank A Teacher!
If You Can Read This In English, Thank A Veteran!

Help save this retired fighting ship from the scrapyard;
http://www.ussorleck.org
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