Artillery
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| | 10/06/08 at 11:28 AM | Reply with quote | #1 |
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Shipmates: I'm trying to solve a small mystery. Specifically, what was Captain OSCAR F. DREYER's (CO 27 Sep 65 - 11 Apr 67) "familiar" name?
Typically the crew would address any CO as "Captain" or perhaps "Skipper", but seldom anything else. On occasion those close to him might in a non-formal / non-military setting call him by his first name or a nickname if he was okay with that.
Captain Dreyer's first name was "Oscar" and it would appear that he didn't use that name in an informal setting. Two crew members recall him as answering to "Fred" (although his middle name was in fact "Frank"). Captain Dreyer's grand daughter suggested it might have been "Red" as that was the color of his hair.
So.... the question is: Do YOU have any specific recollections pertaining to this conundrum? If so, we'd like to hear from you.
Click on [Reply] above this message and give us your input.
Thanks.
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Art Tilley MT2
1962-1963 |
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Artillery
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| | 10/09/08 at 07:40 AM | Reply with quote | #2 |
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It looks like we’ve come up with our answer....
Here’s how it came about.
On Monday 06 Oct 2008 I contacted the NEMESIS Alumni Association, an active group of individuals who were associated with the Naval Ship Missile System Engineering Station (NSMSES) in Port Hueneme, CA. (Captain Dreyer was CO of that facility starting in March 1967) asking them if they could help answer the question of Captain Dreyer's "familiar" name and dates he was CO of NSMSES.
By Wednesday 08 October 2008 I had my answer. Following are the details pertaining to the various e-mails:
1. My original inquiry was forwarded from Lynne Nuibe to Gary Nuibe of the NEMESIS Alumni Association
2. Gary Nuibe sent out a broadcast to Alumni members, including Mr. Hank Morris:
“Hank and company, perhaps you can provide the historical info for this gentleman?”
3. Hank Morris replied back to :
“I'll be in the Alumni office tomorrow and will dig up CAPT Dryer's service dates at NSMSES...... As for CAPT Dryer's familiar name, or nickname, I have no direct recollection...... I'll dig around. Maybe other board members have a recollection as to how he was familiarly addressed at NSMSES...... As some of us may recall, CAPT Dreyer was relatively big (tall and heavy) and what hair he had while he was our CO was sort of red...... Personally, I don't recall hearing him addressed as "Big Red", but knowing that, perhaps it'll ring a bell with someone.”
4, The next day Mr. Morris provided this:
“Art: CAPT Dreyer assumed command of NSMSES on 30 June 1967, relieving CAPT Harry A. Seymour, our second CO. CAPT Dreyer was relived of command by CAPT W.A. Arthur, 31 July 1969. His retirement became effective 1 August 1969...... In my note of 6 Oct I passed the info regarding CAPT Dreyer's apparent nickname while serving as a LCDR and final CO for USS O'BRIEN's (DD-725) 1947 decommissioning. He was known as "Big Red" aboard USS O'BRIEN. I never heard that used at NSMSES, but it may have been an "endearment" used by the wardroom...... I unearthed a duplicate portrait of CAPT Dreyer and if you would like it, I'll send it. I also have CAPT Dreyer's Change of Command program and If it would be of use, I'll copy it. I've copied pages from the NSMSES "Information Bulletins" of 25 July 1969 and 8 August 1969 covering CAPT Dreyer's retirement and the Change of Command when he was relieved by CAPT W.A. Arthur and I can send those. I have not found the "Information Bulletin" covering CAPT Dreyer's assumption of command, but I'll keep looking.”
5. The next day Mr. Morris e-mailed me with:
“Art: I got an input from our former NSMSES PAO, Nick Strangio. Nick is our Program Director in the NEMESIS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. His recollection is that CAPT Dreyer went by "Red". That squares with the "Big Red" I found on the USS O'BRIEN (DD-725) NAVSOURCE page.”
6. Mr. Nick Strangio’s e-mail read:
“Hank.... Great job. Dreyer went by the "Red" nickname.... Nick”.
So, based on the above I believe we can agree that Captain Dreyer went by "Red" when in the company of friends and close associates. However, for the rest of us he was and will remain "Captain".
Thanks to everyone who helped solve this puzzle.
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Art Tilley MT2
1962-1963 |
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Artillery
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Registered: 01/25/07
Posts: 134
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| | 10/09/08 at 07:51 AM | Reply with quote | #3 |
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A note of clarification received from Michele Dreyer:
"Ooops, Art I am not his granddaughter. I am his 1st Cousin 2 times removed....."
(signed) Michele
Thanks for that info Michele. You're doing a great job. Glad we can contribute!
(Click HERE to see the Little Rock Association's link to Captain Dreyer's Navy biography.)
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Art Tilley MT2
1962-1963 |
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