Destroyer Escort Historical Museum, USS Slater (DE-766)

**SlaterDoc** · 16 Nov 11,, 03:52

Your not taking over anything! Feel free to add and contribute all you want!
Since that is you in the video, This must be Tom!
Welcome aboard! Between the two of us we can make all the others experts on a DE!
There's a bunch of work waiting for you on board! Plus, I have a couple of other projects for you! So, we'll see how we can get you up to the ship a little more often!
BTW, be sure to introduce yourself to the gang in here! There's quite a collection of "old salts"(like me) and some youngins like yourself!

**tbm3fan** · 16 Nov 11,, 06:12

Originally Posted by NavyDoc

You did?

Where? Tell me and they will be checked and repaired! We can't have that!

The Flying Bridge panorama showed a hanging chain on a single sound powered phone outlet in the lower right. There may have been an outlet down to the lower left also but the view of it wasn't as clear as the one down to the right. Sorry, but this is a unfortunate habit of mine in that I notice the smallest details and why some volunteers on the Hornet are bothered by me. Every week I cruise the entire Navigation and Flag Levels looking for anything out of place.

For DD fans the shot below is of a status board that was/is present in Flag Plot when I set foot in the compartment back in 1998. Seems all were DC'd after the Hornet except for one in a mishap. All Sumner Class it seems too. The shot was taken later after restoring the board right down to those little brass cap nuts.

**tbm3fan** · 16 Nov 11,, 06:22

Reading the history of the ship and saw it was named after a sailor who was killed in action aboard the USS San Francisco. We have one of the original crewman of the Hornet who was also aboard the USS San Francisco at the time as a plank owner. He was also at Pearl Harbor and I can tell you is one tough old bird. Always dares you to punch him in the stomach even at the age of 85 when I met him. It is as hard as steel.

By the way I notice that the ship's hull sure has a lot of dents in it when looking through Navsource.

**SlaterDoc** · 16 Nov 11,, 06:39

By the way I notice that the ship's hull sure has a lot of dents in it when looking through Navsource.

Shows how well those Greeks took care of her!
But then, she is a "tin can"!

**qaz14595** · 16 Nov 11,, 23:06

Your not taking over anything! Feel free to add and contribute all you want!
Since that is you in the video, This must be Tom!
Welcome aboard! Between the two of us we can make all the others experts on a DE!
There's a bunch of work waiting for you on board! Plus, I have a couple of other projects for you! So, we'll see how we can get you up to the ship a little more often!
BTW, be sure to introduce yourself to the gang in here! There's quite a collection of "old salts"(like me) and some youngins like yourself!

Yes, you are correct this is Thomas! Also indeed we can make all the rest on here experts on DE's & the Slater!

Yeah, I bet Eric & you have plently of work waiting for me! (Wrok that I cant wait & help do too haha!) Also we definitely do need to see how i can get on up there more often since I cant rely on my dad since hes stuck working 6/7 days a week as a Electrition.

Il assume that here would be an ok place for a brief introduction about myself. Im Thomas, Im 16 years old (young!) & is currently a Junior in High school. Im about 70 or so miles from NYC & about 2 hours & 100 miles from the Salter too.

**USSWisconsin** · 16 Nov 11,, 23:12

Originally Posted by qaz14595

Yes, you are correct this is Thomas! Also indeed we can make all the rest on here experts on DE's & the Slater!

Yeah, I bet Eric & you have plently of work waiting for me! (Wrok that I cant wait & help do too haha!) Also we definitely do need to see how i can get on up there more often since I cant rely on my dad since hes stuck working 6/7 days a week as a Electrition.

Il assume that here would be an ok place for a brief introduction about myself. Im Thomas, Im 16 years old (young!) & is currently a Junior in High school. Im about 70 or so miles from NYC & about 2 hours & 100 miles from the Salter too.

Hi Thomas

this is the right place
http://www.worldaffairsboard.com/wab...tml#post844730

**SlaterDoc** · 17 Nov 11,, 02:20

The Flying Bridge panorama showed a hanging chain on a single sound powered phone outlet in the lower right. There may have been an outlet down to the lower left also but the view of it wasn't as clear as the one down to the right. Sorry, but this is a unfortunate habit of mine in that I notice the smallest details and why some volunteers on the Hornet are bothered by me. Every week I cruise the entire Navigation and Flag Levels looking for anything out of place.

I see that and it has been noted! I am gonna check that and any others I can find the next day I am on board! Of course, being the corpsman and not one to dabble with an area of responsibility outside of my own, Those little things matter when you are trying to be true and authentic! I am even bringing the sick bay resto down to the med bottles and paper in the typewriter! I will bring that to the "Boats" attention! and then disappear for the rest of the day!

**qaz14595** · 17 Nov 11,, 02:52

Originally Posted by NavyDoc

I will bring that to the "Boats" attention! and then disappear for the rest of the day!

ahhhh "Boats" our great volunteer boatswain mate!

Along with some great shots of him at work that where Shared on the Slaters FB page a few weeks ago - Collection: USS Slater Along with plently of other great detail pictures the Slater too!

**SlaterDoc** · 03 Dec 11,, 04:59

One of the important things that keeps a museum ship a "living museum" and helps secure it's future is an active and dedicated "Veteran Crew"! We are lucky in that we are able to use every aspect of the ship and continue those uses as they were intended to be! We may be the only Destroyer Escort to fly an Admiral's flag! Our 2 star, Admiral Czesack and the rest of the brass make any swabee feel right at home on board!Attachment 27421

When you are able to serve up the food hot and fresh, right out of the galley and share the stories on the mess deck, you know you are back in the Navy! Even if you are able to collect social security!
But, be careful what you say to the Chief about his food! That spatula can be smarts!
Attachment 27420

We need for more of our museum ships to be brought back to life! Enough already with the "static" museum thing! Being static is what makes them rust away!

**ATF83** · 05 Dec 11,, 00:23

This is great thread. Spending some time aboard the Slater is on my bucket list.

**SlaterDoc** · 05 Dec 11,, 01:46

Originally Posted by ATF83

This is great thread. Spending some time aboard the Slater is on my bucket list.

Don't leave it in the list, check it off! Although she is closed till Spring and tomorrow we will be moving her to the Winter berth on the other side of the river, the crew still work on her through the Winter. If you are a vet, anytime you want to!
How far away are you?

**SlaterDoc** · 05 Dec 11,, 01:55

When the Slater was returned from Greece she was missing one of her "depth charge roll off racks" on the port side.
Attachment 27434

One of our officers (a Commander who is still reserves) is also a school teacher. The students at the school spent time on board making drawings and taking measurements. They then took on the task of fabricating the missing rack!
Attachment 27435

With some minor completion works by the crew, it made her aft end complete again! It is tough to tell which is original!
Attachment 27436

Now she looks better!
Attachment 27433

The involvement of high school and college students is something every museum ship needs and should have! Not only do they learn, they become a part of the ship's history!

**qaz14595** · 05 Dec 11,, 02:26

Originally Posted by NavyDoc

The involvement of high school and college students is something every museum ship needs and should have! Not only do they learn, they become a part of the ship's history!

Ineed, like myself

Also I should finaly be getting back up there this saturday (that is if my dad remembers to take off work)

Also a great comparison picture of the old & new depth charge racks.
From the ussslater.org

Along with my own picture -

**SlaterDoc** · 05 Dec 11,, 02:52

Just remember though that tomorrow is move day! For the rest of the Winter she will be on the Rensselaer side of the river.

**RustyBattleship** · 05 Dec 11,, 06:23

Attachment 27440 Attachment 27441

TBM3fan noted the USS Frank E. Evans (DD-754) on the ship's marker board.

As most of you know, the Evans was cut in two by the Australian Aircraft Carrier HMAS Melbourne while on manuevers. The Evans was home ported out of Long Beach and was actually assigned to go to Viet Nam during that deployment. However, on the way there she was ordered to participate in some fleet exercises with the Australian Navy.

But because she wasn't in the Tonkin Gulf at the time of the collision, the names of the lost crewmen were never put on the Viet Nam Wall. However, through the efforts of the Evans Memorial Association, memorial plaques have been put in place at the Navy Memorial Park in Long Beach (just behind the Aquarium).

Every year families of the Evans' crew and surviving crew members have a memorial service there. At least there is one place where they will never be forgotten.