Capt G Ball

Regretfully, we inform you that Captain Ball passed away at his home in Arlington, Va., on Wednesday, May 1, 2002, at the age of 82.

He was a great Skipper, and held the very special distinction of serving aboard the USS Perry DMS-17 as an Ensign and later as Skipper of the USS Perry DD-844 (1955-1957). For the many of us who served under him, our fond memories of the Perry are due largely to our affection for Captain Ball. We are extremely pleased that he was able to join us at our Virginia Beach reunion as our honorary guest with his son and daughter. During our banquet, we learned from his children, that among all the ships he was associated with, the Perry held a very special affection for him.
Capt G. Ball Obituary

Perry Zippo Lighters
Sorry to those wanting a lighter. We fell short of the 50 lighter minimum and will not be ordering any lighters.

USS Perry Pennant
We did not get a volunteer to work on the Perry pennant project. So NO Perry pennant.

Presidential Memorial Certificate
A nice tribute to the family of an honorably discharged deceased veteran

http://members.aol.com/forvets/vvssp4.htm
click the above link for details

You're in the Navy Now (movie)
The USS Perry DD844 showed up in the background of a movie Bob Gruss was recently watching on satellite TV. Does anyone remember this movie? This movie will again be shown on TV. Check your TV guide for the scheduled date and time or write Bob Gruss for details gruss4@qtm.net

Obituary
George Gill Ball
ARLINGTON -- Retired U.S. Navy Capt. George Gill Ball, formerly of Virginia Beach, died at his home in Arlington, Va., on Wednesday, May 1, 2002, at the age of 82.
George Ball spent his boyhood in San Antonio, Texas, where he learned to shoot and ride. He remembered fondly being taken along as a 14-year-old boy on a horseback trip from San Antonio to El Paso with an Army armored car division. The son of an Army officer who died when Ball was 5 years old, he was influenced by his great-uncle, Adm. Richard Harrison Jackson, to join the Navy.
Ball was a member of the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1941.
With World War II looming, this class of midshipmen was graduated early and pressed into active duty. As an ensign in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Ball was strafed by a Japanese plane as he drove to his ship, the USS Perry (DMS 17), on the morning of Dec. 7, 1941. He was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor for his decisive action in getting the vessel underway and taking her to sea as acting commanding officer during the attack.
In 1944, George Ball married Margaret ``Peggy'' Arnold. They were happily married for 55 years until Mrs. Ball's death in 1999.
Capt. Ball was a proud ``destroyer man'' for most of his 30-year Naval career. He is remembered affectionately by those who served under his command and by his fellow officers.
In 1972 the Balls retired to Bay Island in Virginia Beach, where Capt. Ball was an avid golfer and member of the Cavalier Golf and Yacht Club.
Capt. Ball is survived by his daughters, Katherine Oser of Arlington, Margaret Ferguson of Underhill, Vt., and Kristina Carrick of Wakefield, Mass.; by his son, George Gill Ball III of Richmond, Va.; and by nine grandchildren. He will also be missed by his brother, Col. H.P. Ball (U.S. Army, Ret.); by his sons- and daughter-in-law, by many nephews and nieces and many loving friends.
A memorial service will be held for Capt. Ball at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, June 24, 2002 at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation, 25 Maryland Ave., Annapolis, MD 21401.

God's Great Grace

This message is very true. Hope you are all as blessed as I was from this story.

There once was a man named George Thomas, pastor in a small New England town. One Easter Sunday morning he came to the Church carrying a rusty, bent, old bird cage, and set it by the pulpit. Eyebrows were raised and, as if in response, Pastor Thomas began to speak...

I was walking through town yesterday when I saw a young boy coming toward me swinging this bird cage. On the bottom of the cage were three little wild birds, shivering with cold and fright. I stopped the lad and asked,

"What you got there, son?"
"Just some old birds," came the reply.
"What are you gonna do with them?" I asked.

"Take 'em home and have fun with 'em," he answered. "I'm gonna tease 'em and pull out their feathers to make 'em fight. I'm gonna have a real good time."

"But you'll get tired of those birds sooner or later. What will you do?"

"Oh, I got some cats," said the little boy. "They like birds. I'll take 'em to them."

The pastor was silent for a moment.
"How much do you want for those birds, son?"

"Huh?? !!! Why, you don't want them birds, mister. They're just plain old field birds. They don't sing. They ain't even pretty!"

"How much?" the pastor asked again. The boy sized up the pastor as if he were crazy
and said, "$10?" The pastor reached in his pocket and took out a ten dollar bill. He placed it in the boy's hand. In a flash, the boy was
gone. The pastor picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end of the alley where there was a tree and a grassy spot. Setting the cage down, he opened the door, and by softly tapping the bars persuaded the birds out, setting them free.

Well, that explained the empty bird cage on the pulpit, and then the pastor began to tell this story. One day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation. Satan had just come from the Garden of Eden, and he was gloating and boasting.

"Yes, sir, I just caught the world full of people down there. Set me a trap, used bait I new they couldn't resist. Got 'em all!"

"What are you going to do with them?" Jesus asked.

Satan replied, "Oh, I'm gonna have fun! I'm gonna teach them how to marry and divorce each other, how to hate and abuse each other, how to drink and smoke and curse. I'm gonna teach them how to invent guns and bombs and kill each other. I'm really gonna have fun!"

"And what will you do when you get done with them?" Jesus asked.
"Oh, I'll kill 'em," Satan glared proudly. "How much do you want for them?" Jesus asked. "Oh, you don't want those people. They ain't no good. Why, you'll take them and they'll just hate you. They'll spit on you, curse you and kill you. You don't want those people!!"

"How much? He asked again.
Satan looked at Jesus and sneered, "All your blood, tears and your life."

Jesus said, "DONE!" Then He paid the price.
The pastor picked up the cage he opened the door and he walked from the pulpit.

Notes:
Isn't it funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell.

Isn't it funny how someone can say "I believe in God" but still follow Satan (who, by the way, also "believes" in God).

Isn't it funny how you can send a thousand jokes through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing.

Isn't it funny how when you go to forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it to them.

Isn't it funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

This is a very special time to keep God in our thoughts

GOD bless you all!!!