MARCH 31, 2008---NEW PICTURES ADDED TO PAGE TWO!
Recently received theses pictures and newspaper clipping from Armand DiBella. My scanner was acting up so the quality isn't the best. The pictures came out fair, but have done a better job in the past! He also sent Jack Hammond duplicates.
TO VIEW PICTURES, PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO BOTTOM OF PAGE AND CLICK ON PAGE TWO.
Thanks for sharing your pictures with us Armand.
Chuck Westbrook
ANOTHER UPDATE MARCH, 18, 2008.
E-MAIL TO JACK HAMMOND, FROM ARMAND DIBELLA.
A LITTLE INTERESTING HISTORY ABOUT ARMAND DIBELLA'S LIFE.In a message dated 3/2/2008 10:01:05 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, adibella3@optonline.net writes:
NOTE: Think he was referring to the reunion pictures on the Tortuga website.
-CW-
I was able to go thru all the pictures. How can U keep tract of who's who when label them, Great work. It looks like everyone had a good time. There is one thing I'll share with U..I could never go to a reunion, unless it was in my home town...I was a Marine Policeman for 20 yrs. Upon retiring, I had a 100 ton Captains license For the next 15 years delivered Power Boats ,60 ft to 42 ft NORTH& SOUTH....We also owned a 36ft Grand Banks. When we had no deliveries, we traveled on our boat ..For 25 yrs we went to Florida & Islands, back up North to Maine. In 10 trips we did all the fingers of Maine, as far East as Bar Harbor....this is where the S--t hit the fan...
At my house 1 snowy morning, while carrying some saw horses from my car, I slipped and fell. I tore the Quad in my right leg. No big deal. It was operated on and ok for a year. I then developed a muscle disorder called POLYMIALGA & was put on 20 M.G. of PREDNOSOLONE.. They call it the miracle drug. A yr later, while working on my boat in the spring, I fell & tore the Quad again. I tore it 2 more times in 6 mos. The last time, it was repaired the Doctor advised me it would be the last time it could be repaired...I had to sell the boat, No more long distant cruising...5 yrs we bought a 30 MAINSHIP, for day cruising, in & around the Sound in our area I belong to a boat club & pass the winter months with the TIDE WATCHERS looking at the water...Until this old lap top came along...Now I spend half the time sending emails...Jack U asked about virus protection. I have none.. the reason is, This was a corporate lap top, my daughter had...After 10 years she left that job they gave her the lap top). It has a corporate pass word which we can't remove. Both my daughter & my wife attempted to install virus protection ,but unless we know the password we can't install it.. Sorry if I bent your ear...Later
Armand
UPDATE, MARCH 14, 2008.
NEW SEA STORY ADDED FROM ARMAND DIBELLA...Read all of his story...
"ANOTHER LONG LOST 81 YEAR OLD TORTUGA SHIPMATE FOUND"
Received this e-mail from Armand DiBella recently. It sure is great for him to find out what happened to the Tortuga after all these years! Armand has also been added to the Plank Owner’s Roster.
Chuck Westbrook
Chuck,
Just received an email from Bob Kellough ,welcoming me ... and pictures of all Tortuga items for sale… U wont believe this but, this computer is all new to me...1/28/08, my daughter purchased a new computer and she was going to get rid of this one… I took it, got connected to Cable, joined a class at the senior center one month later.
It gets better...My first week his old lap top locked up… My instructor ,who repairs them came to the house,& in 5 mins had it running… It was while he was here, he saw a Picture of the TORTUGA on the wall and asked me the name and type of ship (he was a marine) He typed in the search column on Yahoo & there all the stuff on the ship came up on the Tortuga website! Contacted you. At 81 getting in to a new venture....
THANKS ARMAND
Chuck-Larry, I recently sent an email to Chuck, and he answered...Ill give U more information Re my time aboard the Tortuga...I was in the navy June of 44 to June 46', I was aboard when the ship was just being completed at the Boston Navy Yard....After completion, the ship was commissioned and we took it out for sea trials...We then left Boston, headed South ... Off the coast of Virginia we encountered a ` Hurricane, road that out and continued on to Louisiana Took on supplies and loaded a large Dredge to be transported to the Pacific… Left Louisiana While proceeding South in the Mississippi we had 1 of 3 steering casualties...the ship did a 90 degree turn to the starboard and almost wiped out a Coast Guard Station, The ship dropped anchors and we stopped before hitting anything… We arrived Colon Panama. As we were arriving to the anchorage, the announcement stated the war was over with Japan...WE stayed and celebrated a few days, then proceeded thru the Panama Canal, Bound for Hawaii.
Guys from here I'll give the highlights of various ports… Saipan, Okinawa , 2 typhoons.. That GO DO Dredge, broke loose & almost sunk us...All hands turned too to get it lashed down... Skipper Commander R.G.Brown was able to drop a snubbing hook into the chain plate on the deck of the dredge and all is well. We finally unloaded that dredge a Okinawa.. On to Subic Bay ,Philippines…
We started a shuttle of Marines to various Ports in China. Then up to Inchon Korea to repair Army Boats... June l945 Approximately half the crew was up for Discharge… We left the Tortuga at Subic Bay along with the skipper… (We were to sail State Side aboard the troop ship General George M Randal... `as we proceeded out the harbor ‘The Mighty T’ was leaving and running along side … We watched with tears in our eyes, and all of a sudden Tortuga does a 90 degree turn under the bow of the troop ship… Again, no collision, but a lot of horns and whistles. I often wonder if the skipper told the new skipper of those other steering casualties... All for now …Hope this e-mail was not too long---Nice to be n touch someone from the past - When I board the TT I was 19, today I am 81.
Later
Armand J DiBella 11 Seton Lane, Greenwich, Connecticut
E-mail adibella3@optonline.net
CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER ARRIVES ON TORTUGA LSD 26
(Sea story from an 81yr old).The original 1st Lt. went berserk one night & shot up the ship with his 45..They took him off in a straight jacket.. There was a Lt passenger, so he was assigned to the duties.. He was a nice guy, but did not know anything about the task at hand.. Off he goes and a few days latter a Chief Warrant Officer arrives.. He had hash marks from wrist to elbow.. Next day We were at quarters ..He was standing with a clipboard.. After he introduced himself he proceeded to give out assignments. My turn came and he told me take a STRIKER, and go to the starboard hatch in the officer's quarters.. There was a broken stanchion ..He wanted me to weld 3 overhead beads and 3 horizontal beads.. I replied Sir I Can't weld overhead. HE asked my rate, I responded SF3C .He then asked `how many 3rd class could not weld overhead;; 3 of stepped forward.. He gave the assignment to someone else.. He then proceeded to inform the three of us .AS OF TODAY WE WERE SEAMAN 1ST And we were to report to the SHIPFITTER SHOP at l600..For the five days he taught us to weld .in every way possible, then started to teach ACETYLENE, welding, including Silver Solder...He never took our rates away.. While working with him He asked if the Shipfitter shop was always this hot, we said yes.. He went to see the skipper and got permission to install to PORT HOLES on the forward bulkhead.. The next day, under his direction, we cut 2 holes and welded in 2 portholes.. Where he found the 2 portholes is a mystery.. Once they were completed, there was always a breeze blowing into the shop. We could have them open while underway as long as the seas were calm. The TORTUGA LSD 26 is the only LSD IN THE Navy with portholes inn the Shipfitter Shop.. If anyone on the ship at that time, remember the Chief Warrant's name, I would love to know...
Armand J DiBella.
Screen Name: adibella3@optonline.net
Phone
Home: 203-531-7371
Home Address:11 Seton Ln
Greenwich, CT 06831-4128