An Association of Soundmen, Sonarmen, Sonar Technicians
And Others Interested in Sonar
The early years (1982-1998) of "The Ping Jockey" newsletter are now available in the password protected members only section.
he infant National Association of Sonarmen is beginning to walk. In the past, efforts have been made to stage an annual reunion in San Diego, resulting in limited success. But to my knowledge there has never been a nationwide campaign to bring sonarmen together.
Communication -- getting the word out -- is the biggest problem. Newspaper ads are both too costly and impractical. The best overall answer seems to be letters to newspaper editors.
On May 25, a letter (not a very good one, either)was sent to 141 newspapers in major cities across the country. Only 19 papers carried it, sometimes with heavy editing, and the response was not overwhelming. On June 17, a completely revised and shortened version was sent to 194 papers in California, Oregon, Washington, and Florida. Thus far, 26 papers have printed it, and the response is much better. In increments the letter will ultimately go to 1500 papers covering every state. Different versions will be sent to various veterans' organizations. The result should be a steady increase in membership.
Because the printing run of this first issue is somewhat limited, the newsletter was composed by typewriter. In future issues, we will be going to a typeset, 3-column format, and the page size may be larger also.
Photographs are welcome, and will be used whenever they are available. If you wish to send in a picture for use in the newsletter, please don't send one which you must have returned. Sometimes they are inadvertently damaged, and also they may require cropping to fit a desired space.
This regular feature will be a "Letter to the Editor" column. It is hoped that members will use it extensively. If you something to say, be it information, gripe, or compliment, that is the place for it.
This newsletter is for communicating, and everyone likes a good story. Any member who wishes to tell an experience or sea story is encouraged to send it in. It won't be edited; it will be you doing the talking.
Raymond Fleming, of Vernon Hills, Illinois, has tried the shipmate location service. He mailed in a roster of the 81 people of his harbor defense detachment at Tsugen Shima, Okinawa. The addresses were '45 or '46 vintage, but from preliminary results, it looks as if 10 or 12 have been found, with good chances for 10 or 12 more.
DeWitt Gooch, of Clearwater, Florida, wonders if there were any other CSoM(H)'s? He goes a long way back -as a Radioman 3rd Class standing sonar watches on the CHARLES F. HUGHES (DD-428). He is also an amateur radio operator -- call letters W4JIK.