U.S.S. Little Rock Association's

Annual Shipboard Spring Workparty & Field Day
Information Page

Workparty 2008 (May 15-17) List of Volunteers (as of 01 May 08) Ava Bertok - Mc Keesport, PA (*) John Bertok - Mc Keesport, PA Don Bixby - Irwin, PA Wallace Cardwell - Lawrenceburg, KY Jerry Dupuis - Inlet, NY Dan Eddington - Kalamazoo, MI Sandy Mahoney - Meadville, PA (*)  Terry Mahoney - Meadville, PA Mike Mottern - Buffalo, NY Steven Rinfret - Ocala, FL Chuck Rudman - Wheat Ridge, CO Jake Rudman - Wheat Ridge, CO (*) Sean Rudman - Wheat Ridge, CO (*) Ed Smiley - Nashville, NC Georgenia Thacker - Frankfort, KY (*) Art Tilley - Fayetteville, PA Jane Tilley - Fayetteville, PA (*) Keith Wolfgang - Concord Township, OH Sara Wolfgang - Concord Township, OH (*) Emily Wolfgang - Concord Township, OH (*) (*) Indicates non-Association member

Don't wait....   add you name to this year's list of volunteers! Contact Art Tilley artillery@innernet.net

Workparty 2007 (May 17-20) List of Volunteers
John Bertok - McKeesport, PA Ava Bertok - McKeesport, PA (*) Don Bixby - Irwin, PA Wallace Cardwell - Lawrenceburg, KY Garry Keith - Shelbyville, KY (*) Bob Kreger - Jackson, MI Dennis McAllister - North Syracuse, NY Art "Butch" Siehl - Prince Frederick, MD (*) Non-Association Member !!	Kristopher Stoetzel - North Syracuse, NY (*) George Thomas - Hallieford, VA Art Tilley - Fayetteville, PA Jane Tilley - Fayetteville, PA (*) Pete Timan - Hawley, PA Keith Wolfgang - Painesville, OH Emily Wolfgang - Painesville, OH (*) Sara Wolfgang - Painesville, OH (*) (*) Non-Association Member !!

 

Art Tilley, Keith Wolfgang and Pete Timan discuss the worklist while Senior Chief Bob Kreger looks on.	Admiral Dennis McAllister points in the general direction of where the work is to be done.	On the messdecks Butch Siehl and Ship's Superintendent Dick Smith discuss the fine art of making (and drinking) coffee.
Ava Bertok, the team leader of the OOD Shack maintenance crew wields her paintbrush.	John Bertok, the other team member of the OOD Shack crew paints, polishes and cleans.	Don Bixby (our workparty Bos'n) relaces the canvas on the buffet tables used for USS  Little Rock receptions. (Come to the 2007 Reunion to see these in use!)
Emily Wolfgang tackles the painting of the handrails on the 03 level.	Sara Wolfgang makes quick work of a gallon of "Cruiser Grey" on the deck of the 03 level.	John and Ava Bertok take a break from their work in the OOD Shack, while Emily and Sara "secretly" sneak in a nap on the 02 level. (The camera sees all!)
Keith Wolfgang masterfully applies "Talos Blue" to the two missiles on the fantail. (Bendix would approve!)	Bob Kreger paints the white detailing on the Little Rock's Talos missiles.	Jane Tilley touches up after Keith and  Bob. Women seem to have a knack for that sort of thing.
Art Tilley tests his scraper on the 03 level bulkhead for'd of the Chaff Roc launcher.	This magnificent job of polishing up the bridge brightwork was done single-handedly by George Thomas.	If Wally Cardwell wasn't so tall he wouldn't need to have his paint roller on an extension pole. On the other hand, he DID do a lot of the high spots.
Kris Stoetzel uses up ANOTHER can of Brasso! The ship hasn't looked this good in a long time.	The workparty crew lines up for the morning meal at the "Hatch" restaurant at 0800.	And Don Bixby and Garry Keith enjoy a second cup of coffee before turning-to.
Dinner at Pearl Street Brewery....    an Annual Ritual !!		Not quite the same as a sunset at sea, but VERY close!!

Workparty 2006 Attendees...
Gene Appel - Jackson, MI (*) Mickey Cahoon - Weaverville, NC  Wallace Cardwell - Lawrenceburg, KY Jerry Dupuis - Inlet, NY Bob Kreger - Jackson, MI Mike Mottern - Buffalo, NY Chuck Rudman - Wheat Ridge, CO Jake Rudman - Wheat Ridge, CO (*) Sean Rudman - Wheat Ridge, CO (*)	Art Siehl - Prince Frederick, MD Art Tilley - Fayetteville, PA Jane Tilley - Fayetteville, PA (*) Carl Wetterling - Bordentown, NJ Carl Wetterling Jr. - Bordentown, NJ Keith Wolfgang - Painesville, OH Sara Wolfgang - Painesville, OH (*) Emily Wolfgang - Painesville, OH (*) (*) Non-Association Member !!

During a break in the weather, Art Siehl and Wallace Cardwell work on getting the ship's Med Lights operational.	Chuck Rudman shows where the new red lights are being installed on the Flag Bridge.
Sean Rudman pulls new cable to be used in powering new lights on the ship's bridge.	Art Tilley works at removing paint and dirt from lights in Admiral's passageway.
Jerry Dupuis and Bob Kreger go through the chow line (again?) at breakfast on Saturday.	Emily Wolfgang, Art Siehl, Carl Wetterling Sr., Keith Wolfgang, Sara Wolfgang (hidden) and Wallace Cardwell enjoy a meal.
Serendipity !! On Saturday while the workparty was engaged in their field day, the Naval Park had a ceremony dedicating a new statue to Lt. Thomas Michael Conway, a 37-year-old Catholic priest and Navy chaplain on the USS Indianapolis. The Indianapolis was sunk on 30 July 1945. Survivors floated in the Pacific for three days before being rescued. During that time Fr. Conway swam between groups of survivors encouraging them and praying with them. Fr. Conway died of exposure just several hours before the remainder of the crew was rescued. Pictures.... Above: Knights of Columbus and Sea Scout Color Guard. Right, the statue of Lt. Conway. Below left: the singing group "Friends of Harmony" from Buffalo warming up in the Admiral's wardroom. Below right: the Sea Cadets presenting The Colors.
Jane Tilley shows of her newly buffed deck and painted ladder between the 01 and 02 levels in the Flag spaces.	Mickey Cahoon, Wallace Cardwell and Art Siehl relax after and early breakfast at "The Hatch" just a short walk from the ship.
Jane Tilley, Gene Appel and Bob Kreger pose for after-breakfast picture just before heading off to continue work on the ship.	Emily and Sara Wolfgang share a plate of pasta on Saturday evening after a hard day of polishing brass in the 5"/38 mount.
Refueling operation on Saturday evening. Jake Rudman, Chuck Rudman, Carl Wetterling Jr., and Jerry Dupuis.	And last but not least...Mike Mottern !! Mike is an Associate Member of the Little Rock Association. And although Mike is not an ex-crewmember, he has faithfully worked alongside workparty volunteers for two years running. In addition Mike was a key player in our 2005 Reunion in Buffalo. It's guys like Mike that keep the Association running like the well-oiled machine that it is. Thanks from all of us Mike !!

For your enjoyment and edification, below are some photos from previous
U.S.S. Little Rock Association Workparties and Field Days.....

Workparty 2005

Some of 2005's Workparty Participants Left to right:  Bob Hinckley, Randy Nimtz, Chuck Rudman, Jake Rudman, Wallace Cardwell, Michael Mottern, Keith Wolfgang, Sara Wolfgang, Bob Kreger, Jerry Dupuis Art Tilley (Photographer)
Keith Wolfgang demonstrates chipping and painting techniques around the base of an antenna mount above the bridge.
	Jake and Chuck Rudman flew in from Denver for four days of turning-to, and still found time to pose atop the 6" turret.
Bob Hinckley adds a much needed coat  of hazy gray painting to the port side look-out wing above the flag bridge.
	Chuck Rudman and Sara Wolfgang enjoy some gourmet dining at Shang-Hai Red's.

Workparty 2004

	Some of 2005's Workparty Participants Left to right: Bill Shultz, Don Bixby, Art Tilley, Chuck Rudman, Paul Zimmerman, Bob Hinckley, Bob Kreger, and Kenny Skidmore. Absent are: Jerry Dupuis & Larry Wallace (who took the picture)
	Bell Polishing 101 Chuck Rudman works the Ship's Bell over with an electric buffer and LOTS of Brasso. Funny, we always thought it was supposed to be green!
	Old Salts at Work (?) Bob Kreger, Bob Hinckley and Don Bixby team up to: (pick one of the following): 1.   Tell sea stories 2.   Read the instructions, BEFORE they fix it... 3.   Take it easy after a tough morning of chipping paint.
	Hey Guys Listen Up! Larry Wallace shows us: 1.   What a WT Door combing is? 2.   Where NOT to bang your head? 3.   What part of a WT Door is never painted? 4.   ALL of the above !!
	Clean Sweep Down Fore and Aft Bob Hinckley and Bob Kreger clean teak decking after repainting the Quarter Deck OOD Office. We always try to leave the ship cleaner than when we arrived.