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USS Ponchatoula (AO 148) Crew List
The table below contains the names of sailors who served aboard the USS Ponchatoula (AO 148). Please keep in mind that this list does only include records of people who submitted their information for publication on this website. If you also served aboard and you remember one of the people below you can click on the name to send an email to the respective sailor. Would you like to have such a crew list on your website?
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There are 150 crew members registered for the USS Ponchatoula (AO 148).
Select the period (starting by the reporting year): precomm – 1966 | 1967 – 1973 | 1974 – 1979 | 1980 – now
| Name | Rank/Rate | Period | Division | Remarks/Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kzinowek, Walter (Zip) | SM2 | 1955 – 1900 | Operations | I was registered before but and not on the list now. Website is not user friendly. Previously I had listed that I was looking for Robert Byrne jr |
| Reiner, Ron | RD2 | Sep 7, 1955 – Dec 22, 1958 | O | Great Ship loaded with great people. I remember in one day the highline transfer of Arleigh Burke, CNO, 44 times without dipping him once. Also the rescue of SS Venus, the Panamanian freighter which had thrown a screw. |
| Bury, John | MR1 | Nov 1955 – Nov 1957 | A (machine shop) | Great ship. Made many friends. I try to go to the reunions, always a good time with lots of sea stories. Funny how sea stories change from one reunion to another. I'm a plank owner. With 22years in the Navy, I retired in 1975. |
| Michel, Benjamin | SEAMAN B .M. | Mar 1956 – Mar 1959 | SECOND | IN 1956 WE TOOK IN TOW 7900TON MERCHANT FREIGHTER SS VENUS INPATH OF TYPHOON IVY FOR THREE DAYS RELIVED BY SALVAGE TUG USS RECLAIMER HOMEPORT PEARL HARBOR BEN MICHEL 206 S SPRING ST PRINCETON IN 47670 |
| Clark, Dave | PFFN | Jun 1957 – 1958 | R | Left the ship for Tripler Hospital one week before Austrailia cruise. Worked with a great bunch of shipmates, John Carter, Red Bohling, Norm Rodgers, etc;, Best days of my life. |
| Hammond, Paul (Pf) | PN3 | Jan 1958 – Jul 1959 | Operations | I made PN3 on the PONCH, and served as the Postal Clerk for the ship. I also stood signal watches on the Signal Bridge as a PN3. I am the Secretary/Treasurer of the USS Ponchatoula Shipmates Association. See www@USSPonchatoula.com |
| Simonson, Richard Rick | RMSN - RM2 | Mar 1, 1959 – Oct 15, 1961 | Operations | Served with David Ankeny RM3 Keokuk IA, Willian Rainey RM1, BeBe AR, Billings RM3, Elgin RM3, Jim Christensen, Kansas City, Mac Dougal RM3, New Hanpshire, Captain Spruance, Captain Higginbotham 3 Westpacs tours |
| Andrews, Charles | E3 | Jan 1, 1960 – Dec 31, 1965 | ||
| Utgard, Gary | BT3 | Feb 1960 – Apr 1961 | B | |
| Jones, Donald | BM3 | Apr 1960 – Dec 1963 | 1st | |
Leach, Bob  | E3 | Jun 1, 1960 – Mar 1, 1964 | Engineering MM | Kinda hoping to find anyone that might have been on board same time I was. Really good experience and travel. Loved
every minute of time on board. Assigned to engine room and served with Norrington, Sherridian,JJ... View 'now' Photo |
| Vetkos, Raymond | E3 | Dec 1960 – Feb 1963 | B | I was a boiler tender for the first six months, then transferred to machine repairman/striker. Chief Brown was the Boilermaker Chief. Served with Hoffman BT2, Holmes BT2, Hocket MR2. |
| Schlatter, Robert or Bob | SK3 | 1961 – Mar 1963 | Stores | was the head storekeeper on the Ponchatoula , I am looking for other crewmembers who served during that time |
| Wright, Thomas | PN2 | 1961 – 1962 | Ship's Office | Reelistment & Diary Personnelman - XO Starboard Bridge Talker during UNREP....Converted to CTR and left for "A" School in 1962....Ship's operations during my tour included local 3rd Fleet, WESTPAC 7th Fleet Deployments and Operation DOM |
| Clark, Robert (Bob) Qm1ss | QM3 | 1961 – 1962 | Operations | One of the finest ships the Navy ever had. One officer that stands out for me was LTJG Paul Quackenbush a very good navigator. My CPO was Buford Taylor a great friend. |
| Andrews, Charles | E3 | Jan 1, 1961 – Jan 1, 1965 | ||
| Ward, Vern | FN | Jan 13, 1961 – Sep 1962 | A | I worked with Frame EN2, Hill EN3 and Soua Toua EN3. We were in on the last surface nuclear test at Christmas Island in 62. Great first ship, great crew. I retired in 95 as a CWO Engineering Tech. |
| Germain, George | IC2 | Feb 1961 – Oct 1962 | Engineering Electrical | |
| Wieczorek, Larry Aka Ski | ENGINEMAN 3RD CLASS | May 1, 1961 – Sep 1, 1963 | A | I would like to hear from anybody that knew Leo Rude.and Jim Ringennberg. |
| Pavel, Adolph John | FT2 | 1962 – | Weapons | Don"t rightly remember the exact dates I was aboard. I was on the Ponch about one year. |
| Allen, Ronald | IC3 | 1962 – 1963 | E Dìv | Reported aboard ICFN promoted to IC3 Accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour this turned my life and Navy career around. Reenlisted went to Great Lakes NTC to USS General JC Breckenridge (TAP 176) |
| Leifried, Norman (Litefoot) | MM2 | Feb 12, 1962 – Feb 18, 1966 | M | The best learning experience I have ever had was aboard the Ponch. Met some super friends and saw super places. Its a shame that I did not know of this site years ago. Look forward to hearing from some of the gang in the engine room. Also Leo Rude |
| Wieczorek, Larry | En3 | Jun 7, 1962 – Oct 7, 1963 | A div | I am looking for anyone who serve at that time. |
| Axtell, Dan | RD3 | Jan 23, 1963 – Aug 24, 1965 | Operations | Came aboard an SA Jan 63, made RD3 Jan 64, Two West Pacs, three space shots, and a lot alongside for fuel..enjoyed Hong Kong the most..Sasebo was #2 |
| Dowda, Jack | BTFN | Nov 12, 1963 – Aug 1966 | "B" divison | I was the fuel oil king for some of my time "STUD BROWN WO4 was div officer ,RON BASHFORD BT1 JOHN MEYERS BT1 CAULDWELL BT3 VAN BT2 were some of the guys I worked with made 3 trips to west pac and vietnam ,unreped ranger the most |
| Lofgren, Donald | RM3 | Nov 28, 1963 – Mar 28, 1965 | 1st | Had some good times while on the ponch, just had dinner with Don Snowden, Augest Deguair and Taylor Hubbard. You can reach me through military.com another good buddy finder site |
| Childress, Ken | PN3 | Dec 1963 – May 1965 | 2nd and X Division | Started out in 2nd Div in Dec 63 and transferred to Ship's office. Made PN3 and left the ship in May 65. Many more ships and deployments. Retired in 1982 from USS ENTERPRISE (CVN65) as Senior Chief Navy Counselor. |
| Dipaola, Paul | GMG3 | Dec 1963 – Feb 1966 | FOX division | reported 12/63 SA 1st Div. 6 mo LJG Lum ask me to if i wanted to transfer to Fox Div. yes 6 mos. SM 6 to 8 mo. GMG3 Jan. 66 reported MA in Pearl. for duty. I wish i was on the ponch. in her last days.i did fine FT King |
| Childress, Ken | SA/PN3 | Dec 6, 1963 – May 27, 1965 | 1st/X | Check out PONCH's home page. Next reunion will be in Kansas City in 2018. |
| Gay, Elbert | E3 | 1964 – 1965 | A | |
| King, John - Skyking | FTG3 | May 1964 – Sep 1966 | Fox | When we worked....we worked hard. When we played....we played hard. |
| Ball, James | SFP3 | May 14, 1964 – Nov 9, 1967 | R | was on the cargo gang. ran the fuel lab, and after pumproom during unrep's. |
| Rehlander, Ray | mm3; mmfn | Dec 1964 – Jul 12, 1967 | A | ran the after pump room for unreps. it was hard work, but looking back now , I have some good life long friends. |
| Smith, Rodger (Smitty) | MM2 | May 1965 – May 1968 | M | The Engine Room was a great place to be during unreps. The smoking lamp never went out. Go to ussponchatoula.com and see the shipmates assoc.for reunion info.Want all you old swabbies to get together and tell sea stories about the Ponch. |
| Krieg, Charles (Blitz) | SK3 | Sep 10, 1965 – Sep 23, 1968 | SUPPLY | 2 CRUISES TO THE GULF OF TONKIN. SAW THE WORLD AND HAD A GOOD TIME DOING IT. HAD A GREAT CREW. |
| Krieg, Charles (Blitz) | SK3 | Sep 15, 1965 – Sep 22, 1968 | Supply | Came on board as a deck ape and moved to supply |
| Lepore, Roy | seaman app. | Sep 15, 1965 – Mar 1, 1966 | deck ape | Hello Old Mates, I served for only 7 mos. aboard the Ponch. Was in Sydney 1965, those seas were something else. Looking for Carmona, Eddie from New York,NY |
| Hendricks, Merle | ETN2 (SS) | Sep 18, 1965 – Aug 30, 1966 | OE | I am the sailor who always wore dolphins. Reported aboard in time to cruise to Sydney. Became a Golden Shellback on the way. Remember the rough seas just outside of Sydney? Had good times aboard and met many good shipmates. |
| Carlson, Bill (Carl ) | SK3 | Oct 3, 1965 – Aug 20, 1969 | Supply | Started out as a deck ape when they came in for dry dock then transferred to supply got out as a SK third class spent almost 4 years on board the Ponch. Looking for Mitch from S.F,-Sam Chow from S.F- George Rose El Paso |
| Graling, Jerry | YN1 | 1966 – 1968 | Ships Office | Many memorable times on board the PONCH. Looking for old shipmates who remember me. I completed several unreps off North Vietnam, did shore patrol in Olangapo City, got my shellback certificate and rode her back to Pearl Harbor. |
| Bevins, Theodore (Ted) | Damage Control (DC2) | 1966 – 1970 | R | I was on the #3 pumping station during unreps. Slept in the crew berth above the engine room. Had a good time in Hawaii and even better time in Subic Bay. |
| Odom, Odie | YN2 | Jan 8, 1966 – Mar 1968 | Ship's Office | YNSN/YN3/YN2, 2 WESPAC cruises, Shellback, transferred to NATO HDQTRS Norfolk, VA. |
| Litchfield, Barry | SN | Jul 1966 – Aug 1967 | 1st | I did one cruise to Viet Nam while aboard. We called on Subic Bay, Singapore, Sasabo, Hong Kong, and Manila during that cruise. Contact the USS Ponchatoula shipmates assn. at www.USSPonchatoula.com website, or e-mail to pf@USSPonchatoula.com. |
| Ablanczy, Pete | SN | Aug 14, 1966 – Oct 3, 1967 | 1st Division | My first and favorite ship. Lots of great memories and great shipmates! |
| Houghton, Dale | YN3 | Sep 10, 1966 – Nov 1969 | Had a lot of good times on the Ponch with a lot of good friends Refueling at sea was a lot of fun(yeah right). Saw a lot of the world (Subic Bay) My favorite was always Hong Kong. | |
| Graling, Jerry | YN1 | Nov 1966 – Dec 1967 | Ships Office | Rode the "Ponch" from the Phillipines to the North Vietnam coast, crossed the equator, and made the trek back to Hawaii. Looking for my snipe buddy Lito Saldana and my striker, ODOM, YN3 or anyone who remembers me. |
| Olson, Phil | ENFN | Dec 1966 – Dec 1966 | Just a guest in medical transit | I was treated very well during my brief stay (I was in medical transit) looking for the USS Hoel. Need information on the whereabouts of the Ponchatoula and when it made contact with the USS Picter in Dec. 1966. Please email me if you have any info! |
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Select the period (starting by the reporting year): precomm – 1966 | 1967 – 1973 | 1974 – 1979 | 1980 – now
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Reunions
There are currently no planned reunions.