Welcome aboard the USS Joseph Strauss Website

 

NOTICE!   Vietnam ship's logs now available!      We are happy to report that the USS Joseph Strauss Association now has in its possession a complete set of the deck logs from our tour of duty in Vietnam. The deck logs were acquired from the National Archives in Maryland. We were fortunate to have the assistance of a researcher who specializes in Navy history. We feel that the deck logs could possibly prove a valuable resource for VA disability claims if H.R. 2254 passes (see below). They are also undoubtedly a fascinating bit of history and will surely be an important addition to our Association's archives. In addition to the deck logs the researcher also was able to get copies of the ship's chronologies for each year. The chronologies, sometimes referred to as the ship's histories, are summaries of the ship's activities for each year written by whoever was captain at the time.     Because of the size of the files the ship's deck logs will not be offered as downloadable files. We will be providing them on CDs - one year per CD. Each CD will also include the ship's history for that year. The deck logs are divided by month on the disks for easy reference. We are asking for a small donation of $10.00 plus $2.95 S&H per CD to help defray the costs of research. The entire set of 7 CDs can be purchased for $65.00 plus $8.95 S&H.   Radiation-related illnesses The Amchitka Effect     Recently we became aware that the VA has a list of radiation-related illnesses that could have affected some sailors who served aboard the USS Joseph Strauss. The sailors affected would have been aboard the Strauss on 3 October 1969. That period was when we were near Amchitka Island for the underground nuclear tests. If you were aboard on that trip and have developed any of the medical conditions listed below then you qualify for presumptive service-connected disability compensation. Presumptive compensation basically means that if you were onboard during the Amchitka cruise and have one of the diseases on the list, the VA presumes that it was caused by radiation exposure and grants you a service-connected disability. So all you need to do to qualify is to provide medical proof of your condition and to prove you were onboard at the time, which you can do with a copy of the 1969 deck logs. A copy of VA regulations pertaining to the Amchitka claim will be including on every 1969 deck log CD. Amchitka references are highlighted in the October 1969 deck logs.   The list of radiation-related presumptive illnesses:   Leukemia (other than chronic lymphocytic leukemia). Cancer of the thyroid. Cancer of the breast. Cancer of the pharynx. Cancer of the esophagus. Cancer of the stomach. Cancer of the small intestine. Cancer of the pancreas. Multiple myeloma. Lymphomas (except Hodgkin's disease). Cancer of the bile ducts. Cancer of the gall bladder. Primary liver cancer (except if cirrhosis or hepatitis B is indicated). Cancer of the salivary gland. Cancer of the urinary tract. Bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma. Cancer of the bone. Cancer of the brain. Cancer of the colon. Cancer of the lung. Cancer of the ovary. Note: For the purposes of this section, the term "urinary tract'' means the kidneys, renal pelves, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra.         Click on the button above for more information about the Blue Water Navy and Agent Orange.

 

A 501(c) (3) Non Profit Organization   WE MAY AGAIN WALK THE DECKS OF A DDG IN JACKSONVILLE The Jacksonville City Council voted 15 For and 0 Against and PASSED the resolution to accept the ACVA Project to bring the USS Charles F. Adams DDG-2 to Jacksonville, Florida. Much work still needs to be done. WE NEED TO RAISE MORE FUNDS QUICKLY. PLEASE SEND WHAT YOU CAN ASAP. Make checks out to "ACVA" Send them to Dave Myerly 5 Bush Road Denville, New Jersey 07834 Become an ACVA Member by going to our web site http://adamsclassddgvets.org/    and click on "Join the ACVA" and fill out and submit the application.  If you also send a check for $25 or more at the same time we will assign you the title of ACVA Plankowner with your own ACVA Plankowner Number!      ADAMS CLASS SHIPS DDG-2 USS Charles F. Adams  - DDG-3 USS John King DDG-4 USS Lawrence - DDG-5 USS Claude V. Rickets DDG-6 USS Barney - DDG-7 USS Henry B. Wilson DDG-8 USS Lynde McCormick - DDG-9 USS Towers DDG-10 USS Sampson - DDG-11 USS Sellers DDG-12 USS Robison - DDG-13 USS Hoel DDG-14 USS Buchanan - DDG-15 USS Berkeley DDG-16 USS Joseph Strauss - DDG-17 USS Conyngham DDG-18 USS Semmes - DDG-19 USS Tattnall DDG-20 USS Goldsborough - DDG-21 USS Cochrane DDG-22 USS Benjamin Stoddert - DDG-23 USS Richard E. Byrd DDG-24 USS Waddell  Royal Australian Navy HMAS Perth DDG-38          HMAS Hobart DDG-39          HMAS Brisbane DDG-41 German Navy  Zerstörer Lütjens D185        Zerstörer Mölders D186        Zerstörer Rommel D187

Attention Shipmates! a message from Association president Jim Hansen:    If you are looking for a great Adams Class DDG model to build, click on the logo below and visit the home of BaD ship Models:        Keith Mullen, a USS Cochrane sailor and owner of BaD ship Models, will put together a custom Strauss kit for you. And this is not a flimsy little dime store model. The finished model measures 54 inches long! This kit is exceptionally detailed and as such it is recommended for the serious builder. But Keith is more than willing to provide you telephone assistance during the build process. His price for the model and his technical assistance does not even come close to covering his costs. I ordered a kit and am now in the process of assembly.  I will provide a report at the next reunion.  Please note that the 6" Dragon Adams kit has been discontinued.  Also note that BaD = Bad Ass Destroyer.....and BTW, his model is floatable and can also be outfitted with RC.       This BaD model was recently unveiled in the newly opened Adams Class maritime museum in Jacksonville, FL. The model was donated by Keith Mullen and will have a permanent berth in our new museum.

We Will Not Forget!