Joe:
This message is from a Shipmate friend of mine, BILL WADE CWO4 USN-RET, He is in Florida now. We were both stationed on the USS Durant (DER-389). It includes a bit of VANCE History Trivia that I thought you might like to read.........
Duane

Duane...
Have a good time in Albany! I did some recruiting duty there back lots of years ago...and I grew up about 4 hours west of there (between Syracuse and Rochester). In fact I was stationed in Syracuse for about 2 1/2 years in the 60s too. The "state building" is pretty impressive if I remember correctly. That's the house that "Rocky" (Rockefeller) built. The weather is probably about what you are used to out by the "left coast."

I drove down by the old mothball fleet area in Green Cove Springs the other day. I go past it several times a week on the way over to my son's and back. The Vance was there before she was hauled out and refitted as a DER. I stopped at the VFW last week and got most of the "dope" on the mothball fleet from one of the old-timers that I sat and had a beer with. He told me that the crew lived across the road that cuts through the property and that it bears little to no similarity to what it was back in the 40s.

Enjoy Albany and the Vance reunion!
Bill

Duane, this has some information and a photo of the docking facilities at Green Cove Springs...from which the USS VANCE was reborn. My eyes are not sufficiently trained to pick out the Vance in the photo which is provided; however, I will continue to search...just in case.

viva-la reunion!
Bill

http://www.greencovesprings.com/history.htm

Green Cove Springs History
High ground along the river and a flowing mineral spring drew the first inhabitants to this area some 7000 years ago, but historic development dates from 1816 when George I. F. Clarke erected a sawmill in this vicinity under a Spanish Land Grant. The first settlement, called White Sulfur Springs, was established in 1854, with a wharf, a store, and several houses clustered around a Public Square. During the Civil War, Federal Troops frequently skirmished with Confederate Forces in the vicinity, and finally occupied the town in 1864.

	DECOMMISSIONING CEREMONY USS VANCE DER-387 WATCHDOG OF THE PACIFIC USS VANCE DER-387
	Decommissioning of United States Ship VANCE (DER 387) CRUISERS* DESTROYERS* PACIFIC* VIGILANCE San Francisco Bay Naval Shipyard Vallejo, California 10 October 1969

LIEUTENANT WILLIAM J. FULTON, USN

Lieutenant William J. FULTON was born in Derby, Connecticut in October, 1940. He spent his boyhood in Ansonia, Connecticut and graduated from Ansonia High School in 1958. He attended the United States Naval Academy and was commissioned upon his graduation on 6 June 1962. He was assigned to duty aboard USS JAMES E. KYES (DD-787). While aboard KYES he served as Gunnery Assistant and ASW Officer before relieving as Weapons Officer. Upon completion of his tour aboard KYES In July 1966, Lieutenant FULTON was ordered to the NROTC Unit At Tuffs University to teach Navigation and Naval Weapons. In June 1968 he left Tuffs for duty aboard USS VANCE (DER-387) as Executive Officer. He served as Executive Officer for a year before assuming command of VANCE on 3 July 1969. He is presently in receipt of orders to the staff of Commander Services Force Pacific at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Lieutenant FULTON is married to the former Joan Lucille Edson of Shelton, Connecticut. They have two children, a son, Scott Donald born in October 1966, and daughter, Donnie Joan, born in January 1969. The Fulton's presently reside at Ewa, Beach, Hawaii.

SHIP'S OFFICERS COMMANDING OFFICER LIEUTENANT W. J. FULTON, USN EXECUTIVE OFFICER LIEUTENANT P. K. JOHNSON, USN LT M. M. KRESS, USN ENGINEERING OFFICER LTJG M. R. NORDWALL, USNR SUPPLY OFFICER LTJG M. R. HEAVEY, JR., USNR MAIN PROPULSION OFFICER LTJG G. G. FARSTVEDT, USNR WEAPONS OFFICER ENS T. E. WOEHLKE, USNR OPERATIONS OFFICER CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS SENIOR CHIEF ENGINEMAN D. S. BAUMGARTNER CHIEF BOATSWAIN MATE G. R. RUBINO CHIEF ENGINEMAN A. R. MARKS

SHIP'S CREW TN C. F. ANCHETA IC3 R. W. ANDERSON RD3 J. A. APLIN STG2 E. G. AULT SA J. R. ASHER FN I. G. BALAI ETR2 G. A. BAMMAN SN D. W. BANDYCH TN T. O. BANUT TN R. A. BAQUIR ENCS D. S. BAUMGARTNER TA P. P. BAY DC1 K. BEBEE EN3 R. A. BECKMAN EN3 R. C. BERGER MR1 J. E. BERRY EN3 G. A. BITNER YN2 J. W. BLUE EN2 C. W. BONELL RM3 R. J. BREAUX STG3 S. P. BRUCCOLERI ETR2 R. L. BUIE SM3 R. S. BUTKUS RD3 E. CALABRO FN G. K. CAMPBELL SN R. J. CASTANEDA SK3 E. J. CEBULAR

SA L. P. CHILLIS EN3 E. E. COBB SA M. L COOPER EM3 T. H. CORRIE EN3 M. CORTEZ ST1 C. C. COUCH IC3 J. H. CREMEEN EN2 K. E. DENNE SN G. F. DUMAS FN T. M. ELY RM2 D. N. EWING SA J. GARCIA BM3 R. D. GLYNN IC2 B. K. W. GOO ETN2 G. R. GUSTAFSON EN3 G. L. GUTTNER SN D. A. HAARSAGER QM2 D. L. HANSON IC2 J. D. HEIKENFELD EN3 J. L. HERRERA SN I. HILLIARD PN2 P. W. HUKKI SA W. B. HUSKEY FN K. KAHIKINA FTG2 I. KAPLAN EN2 G. L KARLE SN H. Y. KATAYAMA

GMG3 C. R. KELLOGG BM3 T. J. KEMPER SN L J. KEREKGYARTO BT2 H. L KOONCE RD3 J. E. KOUTNIK EN3 B. H. KUCERA GMG2 R. V. LIGHT SA L. LUJAN EM2 C. T. MACALLISTER EN3 R. H. MACKENZIE ENC A. R. MARKS GMG3 W. D. MAXWELL SA R. E. McKINLEY SN F. J. McPARTLAND EN1 R. H. McLAUGHLIN SN J. R. McCONNELL RD3 W. M. MEREDITH SN W. N. MONGEAU BM2 T. W. MORRISON SA D. R. NOBLE SHL3 A. G. OBREGON SA M. V. OKEEFE FN J. L. OLSON SFM2 T. J. PATTERSON SA G. L. PERSONS FTG3 T. L PETERS TN A. N. PIMETNEL SFM3 A. F. PIONTEK

FN G. A. PIQUE SN P. E. PLUMMER EM2 L. T. RICHARDS EN3 T. J. RICHARDSON EN2 M. G.ROWE BMC G. R. RUBINO STG2 D. R. RUNION QM3 C M. SANDELL SH1 D. Q. SCARBRO SA W. H. SCHARNHORST FN R. L. SHAFFER AN S. S. SMITH RD2 J. R. SOFFE SN R. C. STEELE EM3 R. D. SULLIVAN EN1 C. TAYLOR SM2 P. L. THORNBURG SK2 C. E. TOWNS SN A. T. TREPANIER SN T. C. TYNDALL QM3 F. T. WALTERS IC3 G. K. WARREN SN R. O. WASSON SN G. R. WILLIAMS PC3 R. WYZYKOWSKI TM3 A. W. SCHULTZ

SHIP'S HISTORY

During the early years of World War II, destroyers were our primary weapon for convoy escort work and for Anti-Submarine Warfare. but destroyers were costly and their production period was long. To combat the German menace, inexpensive ships of relatively simple construction were needed immediately and out of this concept the destroyer escort or "DE" was born. These ships were diesel-powered, highly maneuverable and completely equipped for anti-submarine warfare. They became a major factor in the winning of the battle of the Atlantic and ultimately in the winning of the war itself.

VANCE, as one of these units, was built by the Brown Shipbuilding Company in Houston, Texas and commissioned in November 1943. During the next two years she served on nearly continuous escort duty in the Atlantic. Highlights of this duty included her participation in the sinking of a German submarine off Oran, Algeria in 1944 and the capture of a submarine with her crew off the Azores in 1945.

Shortly after the war ended VANCE, along with many other heroic ships, was decommissioned. She was placed in "mothballs" in Green Cove, Florida. (### During the Korean War, Vance was loaned to the Coast Guard and was recommissioned as USCGC VANCE WDE487. She was decommissioned in San Diego following this period, 1952-1954.)

By 1956, however, the aspects of national defense were Changed. In particular the speed of aircraft had already tripled since World War II and the early detection of air attacks had thus become increasing critical. To meet this need radar picket stations and ships were required and the destroyer escorts were found to be ideal in supporting the Navy this responsibility. They possessed tremendous endurance and were admirably suited as a mobile platform for newly designed long range radar and communication equipment.

Called back into active duty for this purpose. VANCE was fitted out with extensive electronics installations and redesignated as a radar picket ship. For the next two years she was homeported in Seattle. Washington operating on patrols as part of the Distant Early Warning line helping to maintain the radar barrier that blankets the western coast of the United States. In 1958, her homeport was changed to Pearl Harbor with her patrol area extended northward to the Aleutian Islands.

In 1961 VANCE was fortunate to be selected to participate under Commander Naval Support Forces, Antarctica in Operation Deep Freeze 1961-62.

April 1965 VANCE commenced duty with Market Time Operations. Vietnam and assumed additional duties with the Taiwan Defense force in June 1967.

VANCE continued these duties until May 1969 when she became the last DER to participate in Market Time Operations.

She returned to her homeport of Pearl Harbor in May and before the end of June, VANCE had orders to sail to Vallejo to be decommissioned and placed in "mothballs", once more.

VANCE was decommissioned on 10 October 1969 at Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility, Vallejo, California.

VANCE takes her name from Lieutenant Junior Grade, Joseph Williams VANCE. Jr., USNR. LTJG VANCE, while serving on liaison duty with the British Navy, was killed at his battle station and went down with HMAS CANBERRA off Savo Island during the battle of the Coral Sea. His wife (### His Mother) sponsored the ship at its launching

### corrections made in data

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Frank Tucker RMC, Duane Baumgartner ENCS

commendation1970.jpg

Duane receiving the Navy Commendation Medal from Captain W. Buckley,
C.O. of U.S. Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility, San Diego,
during a Personnel Inspection.... in 1970

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A Memorial Tribute to Miyo K Baumgartner 1930 to 2001

Miyo was born on 10 November, 1930 in Kogisu, Japan. She was the eldest daughter of Tomoe and Tane Kawamata. She attended public schools in Kogisu and advanced dressmaker school in Utsunomiya. She is survived by her mother, Tane, and her siblings: Chugi, Tsuya, Fumino, Kiyoshi, Shoji and Yukio. Her brother, Masashi, proceeded her in death. Miyo met Duane S Baumgartner on 13 March, 1953. From that day forward, Duane knew that Miyo was his Soul Mate. They were married on 2 November, 1955 at the American Embassy in Yokohama, Japan. In 1957, they came to the United States, where they bought their first home in El Monte, California. Duane and Miyo had four children: Johnny, Donna, Linda and Erika. For twelve years the family lived in Honolulu, Hawaii. While there, Miyo learned and loved Hula Dancing and danced professionally with a group of dancers that welcomed and bid farewell to ships arriving and departing Pearl Harbor. Because Miyo was so skilled as a Hula dancer, she soon became an instructor. Her Hawaiian dance name was Leolani. In 1971, after the birth of their youngest child, Erika, the family moved to Chula Vista, California. They soon sold their Chula Vista home and moved to Gold Hill, Oregon, where they built a new home. In the thirty years since then, the family has scattered throughout Oregon. Duane and Miyo have nine grandchildren: Duane, Jennifer, Jeremiah, Nicole, Keisha, Chelsea, Josiah, Alexia, and Brandon. In 1997, Duane and Miyo moved to the Portland area so that Miyo could be closer to her medical treatment. They bought a home in Lafayette, Oregon A THOUGHT FROM THOSE WHO LOVED HER ........ It does not seem appropriate to compile the enormous gratitude, love and respect we feel for such a beautiful person into a few short paragraphs, however, it is our hope that Miyo knew how important she was to us. Miyo was such a determined person in all aspects of her life. Her husband and children reaped the benefits of her skills and expertise in raising a family. She would sew them beautiful clothing and prepare wonderful meals. Her unselfish, loving kindness did not end with her immediate family. She was also a very supportive grandmother and a dear friend to many. Miyo made every person she came in contact with feel very special. Any who came to visit, were not allowed to leave empty handed. One would never have to worry about being thirsty or hungry, because Miyo was sure to provide, at the very least, a drink or snack for any who came to visit. Miyo was the ultimate hostess. With all of the obstacles that Miyo had to endure, she never gave up hope that she could overcome them. She has such a strong desire to live and would have continued fighting had her body allowed it. Thankfully, though, she is resting in peace and how exciting it will be to welcome her back with open arms. Until then, we will all miss her dearly.............................