U.S.S. Allen M. Sumner DD-692
Binnacle List

The Binnacle List contains reports of our shipmates who are under the weather and might like a bit of cheering up. If you know of anyone who should be included and is not, please contact the Senior Chief ASAP. Joe is at AMS692@AOL.COM or you can call him at (716) 692-2697.

February 17, 2010 - Aleta Walters reports that Charles had an MRI and that afternoon the Doctor called and reported that the MRI indicates he has not only a bad gallbladder that needs to come out but cancer of the liver. He referred us to a Doctor at the Emory clinic (Dr Charles Staley) that specializes in Liver cancer. We will see him either tomorrow or Monday which ever day he sees patients and then go from there.  Cards and letters to:

Charles A. Walters
15 West Main St.
Hampton, GA  30228

March 6, 2010 - Charles passed away this morning.

February 16, 2010 - Jeff Clevenger reports that his wife Terry fell down the stairs and broke her foot, she has 11 pins holding it together. She also banged up her knee on the other leg. She's laid up, and Jeff is doing double duty. Cards and letters to:

Terry Clevenger
15378 Paseo Ajanta
San Diego, CA  92129

January 26, 2010 - Received a note from "Patches" Presfield that our shipmate Frank Presfield is in the VA Medical Center in Minneapolis and will be transferred to the St. Cloud Medical Center today. He had a total knee replacement of his right knee (1-21). He is having some bleeding problems but other than that, seems to be coming along fine. Cards and letters to:

Frank Presfield
124 37th Ave. North
St. Cloud, MN  56303

Update from Patches February 7, 2010 - He had his right knee replaced Thursday (1-21) in Minneapolis at the VA Medical Center. He came thru surgery really good, the knee was a lot worse than the X-rays showed, which explains why he was always in so much pain. He was transferred from the VA in Minneapolis to the VA Medical Center here in St. Cloud on Tuesday (1-26). He is progressing well and the pain is almost nil. Before surgery the pain was always 8-9 and now he is at 3-4 and that is after Physical Therapy. He goes to PT twice a day. All and all he is in good spirits. He does have his phone with him.

Update from Patches February 15, 2010 - Frank is home!!! I brought him home Friday (2/12). He is doing fabulous. His knee is at 90% and coming along better every day. He does home exercises and will go physical therapy twice a week at the VA.

September 29, 2009 - Received a note from Joe Pritchett that our shipmate Walter Wayne (Wally) SHUPE has cancer that has spread about his lungs, heart, and other body parts. He has been put on the Hospice program.

He can be contacted at (606) 549 2943......E-MAIL ashupe@bellsouth.net

October 6, 2009 - Wally passed away today.

September 1, 2009 - Received a note from the Senior Chief that our shipmate Vinnie Sodano is in a rehabilitation center battling colon cancer.  Cards and letters to:

Vincent Sodano
Waterview Rehab Center
336 Ridge Road
Cedar Grove, NJ  07009

March 30, 2009 - Received a message from the Skipper, Captain Laighton, that our shipmate Earl Finch underwent triple-bypass surgery earlier this morning, March 30th. He is also suffering from diabetes and Agent Orange exposure but the heart condition is a new problem. He'll be on the binnacle list from now through well into the summer. Cards and letters to:

Earl Finch
Mikish Lane
Shawnee, OK 74801

January 25, 2009 - We received the following update from Brenda Stanley on the condition of Jim Poston who has been on and off the Binnacle List; "Hello, Everyone.  Just wanted to let all of you know that Jim is in the hospital.  Jim had a CT scan last Monday and the scan showed that he had developed some sort of lesion on his liver. The doctors weren’t sure exactly what it was but suspected an abscess. They scheduled him for a PET scan.  Wednesday morning, Jim was running a fever. I didn’t feel good about leaving him home alone with a fever, so I called one of the chemo nurses. When she heard that Jim’s temperature was 101.3, she said to bring him to the ER immediately. She said it is risky for a chemo patient to have a temperature of 100 or higher and not find out why.  When we got to the ER, Jim’s white count was 14,000, which is high, so they admitted him to the hospital and put him on antibiotics. They canceled the PET scan and scheduled him for a liver biopsy. He had the biopsy yesterday morning. It was performed by one of our radiologists.  The lesion did turn out to be a large abscess (8 centimeters), but Jim gave us quite a scare. During the procedure, Jim’s blood pressure dropped to 40/50. His blood pressure seems to be stabilized now, but he will be in ICU for at least a couple of days.  Jim says he feels much better than he did. His blood pressure is remaining stable and he is eating a little better. If he continues to improve, he may be able to be moved out of ICU, but he will be in the hospital for several more days. He still has a tube in his side to ensure that the entire abscess drains from his liver. He is on IV fluids and antibiotics.  Dr. Aliker told me today that he will be consulting with Dr. Colbert about putting Jim on a protein supplement to help him gain weight. Jim only weighs 90 pounds now.  I just wanted to fill you in on Jim’s progress. Please keep him in your prayers. I’m spending a lot of time at the hospital, but I will do my best to keep you up-to-date.  Brenda"  Cards & letters to:

Jim Poston
4335 Lower Licking Road
Morehead, KY 40351-9780

August 16, 2009 - Jim passed away today.

December 19, 2008 - Mr. Sumner-- a/k/a Jesse Marney, is in the hospital after a fall. Cards and letters to:

Jesse Marney
c/o Kindred Hospital
200 Hospital Circle
Westminster, CA 92683

Note: Jesse passed away in January 2009, may he never be forgotten.

December 19 2008 - Charles Walters is recovering from a recent surgery. Cards and letters would be very welcomed to:

Charles Walters
15 west Main St
Hampton, GA 30228

September 11, 2008 - Lee Robson is going into the hospital for spinal surgery which she has put off for years, but the pain is getting to be too much.  Cards and letters to:

Lee Robson
1570 Scott Ridge Lane
Switzerland, Florida 32259

September 11, 2008 - Received word from Dave Robson that Earl Taylor is back in the hospital with a collapsed lung that was caused by his Open Heart surgery back in January.  Cards and letters to:

Earl Taylor
15 Two Duck Lane
Hattiesburg, MS  39402

April 26, 2008 - Walt Meierdierks has to go back to the hospital for an aneurism repair to be followed by gall bladder work. He won't be able to make the reunion this year. Cards and letters to:

Walter Meierdierks
431 Deer Path S.W.
Calabash, NC  28467

April 5, 2008 - Received word that Wiley "Doc" Boland had taken a bad fall and has broken his shoulder. Knowing "Doc," a retired HMCS, he probably put on his own splints and then operated...... Cards and letters to:

HMCS Wiley N. Boland, USN (Ret.)
5195 Hwy 342
Pontotoc, MS  38863

March 10, 2008 - Bob Duffield received the following e-mail return message when trying to reach our shipmate Jan Franklin; "I will be out of office from Friday March 7th until mid June for heart surgery. I will be checking email and voice mail."  Duffy also said; "I'm sure we will all want to keep our fellow shipmate in our prayers." Cards and letters to:

Jan Franklin
296 Dedham St.
Wrentham, MA  02093
jfrankli@foxboro.com

February 21, 2008 - Don Marion reports; "Pete Long (RM2 50-52) is in intensive care in Winston-Salem, North Carolina after a major operation for Lung trouble. His prognosis is good. Thought you could pass this along to the rest of the Crew."  Cards and letters to:

Percy J. Long
32560 Heath Row Dr.
Winston-Salem, N.C. 27127

February 15, 2008 - Walt Meierdierks has had hip replacement surgery, but he is still planning on being in Charleston with us.  Can't keep an old SeaBee down for long!  Cards and letters to:

Walter Meierdierks
431 Deer Path S.W.
Calabash, NC  28467

January 30, 2008 - Bobby Moore reports; "Shipmates; I would like to put Shipmate Harold Jackson on our binnacle list and prayer list. This past year he has had a hard time with pneumonia, and now he is waiting on results on biopsy for asbestos in the lungs. But he is still hoping he will make Charleston, with the help of his son."  Cards and letters to:

Harold Jackson
14 Villa Ave.
Warwick, RI  02886

January 15, 2008 - Bob Haderer's wife Karen is having back surgery January 15th for a herniated disc at the Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, Michigan. Cards and letters to:

Karen Haderer
6544 Joann Drive
Roscommon, MI  48653

January 7, 2008 - Received word from Dave Robson that Earl Taylor underwent Open Heart surgery today and is doing well.  Cards and letters to:

Earl Taylor
15 Two Duck Lane
Hattiesburg, MS  39402

November 19, 2007 - Received an update from Brenda Stanley that our shipmate Jim Poston is scheduled to begin radiation therapy next Monday the 26th of November. I am sure he would love to hear from you!  Cards and letters to:

Jim Poston
4335 Lower Licking Road
Morehead, KY 40351-9780

October 25, 2007 - Received the following message from our shipmate Frank Nekrasz; "MY WIFE, JOAN, UNDERWENT LUNG CANCER SURGERY ON 10/11/07.  EXCEPT FOR NERVE REMOVALS ALONG WITH UPPER LOBE OF LEFT LUNG SHE WEATHERED THE SURGERY LIKE THE TROOPER SHE IS.  SHE IS CURRENTLY UNDERGOING REHAB IN A NURSING HOME TO REBUILD HER STRENGTH AND IMPROVE HER BREATHING .   HOPEFULLY WE MAY BE ABLE TO ATTEND REUNIONS AND GET REACQUAINTED WITH FELLOW SHIPMATES." Cards and letters to:

173 Old Mill Lane
Portsmouth, RI  02871-5108

October 18, 2007 - Brenda Stanley sent us the following update on our shipmate Jim Poston's condition; "I just wanted to bring everyone up-to-date on what’s going on with Jim. We have just returned today from Dayton, Ohio where Jim had a thallium stress test and spoke with his cardiologist. Jim had to have the stress test before he could get the go-ahead for surgery. He is scheduled for surgery on Friday, October 26 at the University Hospital in Cincinnati. Jim was back in the hospital the weekend of the Milwaukee reunion. He had another mild attack of pancreatitis. While he was in the local hospital here in Morehead, the physicians suggested that he go back to Cincinnati right away. We saw the Cincinnati surgeon on September 26. When we spoke to the surgeon, he told us that, besides having a couple of problems with his pancreatic duct and his bile duct, he also has a small mass on his pancreas. This mass could become cancerous. They also found a 3/4-inch mass on one of Jim’s kidneys. The surgeon said that Jim’s best option is to have what is known as a Whipple procedure. Basically, what will happen is that the surgeon will bypass Jim’s ducts. He will remove part of the pancreas, a small portion at the bottom of the stomach, and part of the common bile duct. Then he will pull up the lower intestine and suture it in the place of what he has removed. Another surgeon will remove the mass from Jim’s kidney. This is the reason that Jim had to get an okay from his cardiologist. The surgery will take 5 or 6 hours. It’s not something they can rush if they want it to be done correctly so that Jim will not have problems following the surgery. Jim will be in the hospital for at least a week. When he can be released from the hospital, he will be at my house for at least a couple of weeks. I will probably be working from home so I can help take care of him until he is stronger. We will be leaving for Cincinnati on Wednesday, October 24, for a couple of pre-surgery tests on the 25th. I will try to keep everyone informed about Jim’s condition, but I may not have access to e-mail for a few days. If anyone wants to contact me, they can try my cell phone – 606-776-5289. (My home phone is 606-780-0859.) Please keep Jim in your prayers. I know he will appreciate it, as will I. Brenda (Stanley)" Cards and letters to:

Jim Poston
4335 Lower Licking Road
Morehead, KY 40351-9780

August 6, 2007 - Norm Charette reports that our shipmate and reunion Buddy, Harold "Hash" Jackson, has been in the Kent County Hospital in Rhode Island the last few weeks and has not been feeling well. Cards and letters to:

Harold Jackson
14 Villa Avenue
Warwick, RI 02886

July 4, 2007 - Received the following note from Eric Bollin; "I have a carciac cathater procedure on Friday7/6/07 to access any other damage to the heart other than the mitral valve.  Then they will operate to fix the mitral valve (repair, not replace) and any other problems.  This will probably occur next week but haven't spoken with the surgeon yet."  Cards & letters to:

Eric Bollin
530 Chase Road
Yorktown Heights, New York 10598

March 1, 2007 - Wes Ritchie recently had surgery for bladder cancer. The good news is that they caught it early and the outlook is good. Prayers & cards are the order of the day. Cards & letters to:

Wes Ritchie
2146 Toledo St.
Baker, LA, 70714

February 22, 2007 - Frank Nekrasz sent the following note: "SPENT THE LAST 5 DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL.  LUNGS FILLED WITH FLUID DUE TO CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE.  THEY MANAGED TO DRAIN ME DRY AND GET ME BREATHING AGAIN.  FEEL GOOD FOR NOW, JUST HANGING AROUND WAITING FOR THE NEXT ATTACK. IT'S HELL WHEN YOU GET OLD!"  Cards and letters to:

Frank Nekrasz
173 Old Mill Lane
Portsmouth, RI 02871-5108

February 20, 2007 - Our Shipmate & friend, Sam Bowers, has had open heart surgery.  Unfortunately, he is not doing well. Prayers & cards are the order of the day. He and Ruth Ann, attended several reunions.  However, they have been unable to attend for several years. Cards and letters to:

Sam Bowers
1700 Etruria St.
East Liverpool, OH  43920

February 20, 2007 - Our Shipmate Jim Poston is in the hospital. He has had 4 pancreatitis attacks since November and this is his 3rd hospital stay since December. He will have to be in the hospital for quite a while. Please ask everyone to keep Jim in their prayers. If anyone wants to send a get-well card, they can send it to me. I work at the hospital and I see Jim several times a day.

Jim Poston
c/o Brenda Stanley
150 Baber Wages White Rd
Morehead KY 40351

October 10, 2006 - Good News! Our shipmate Steve Zingerman had a successful kidney transplant on September 23rd and is doing well.  Cards and letters to:

192 E. Beaver Street
Sewickley, PA  15143

May 25, 2006 - Our shipmate Ron Stairs has had a heart attack and is in the hospital. Cards and letters to:

Ronald W. Stairs
10502 Lone Star Road
Jacksonville, FL  32225-8320

August 11, 2006 - Ron passed away today.

February 14, 2006 - Our shipmate L. Wes Kreske has been in the hospital and is going in again. Cards and letters to:

L. Wes Kreske
3804 Fairlawn Drive
Warren, OH  44484

November 26, 2005 - The Senior Chief spoke to Tom Hoover Thanksgiving Day. He had a stent implanted in an artery (90% blockage) at the Cleveland clinic and is doing great. This has also helped his breathing. He sends along his Best Wishes to all for the holidays, and hopes to see you all in Seattle.  Cards and letters to:

Tom Hoover
1439 Cumberland Ave.
Paducah, KY  42033