=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= From: Don Hall To: USS LEAHY Date: Friday, October 30, 2009, 9:59:40 AM Subject: Sinclair Files: --====----====----====----====----====----====----====----====----====----===-- Ken, these are the entries..... photos will follow separately. RADM ALEX (MAL) SINCLAIR MEMORIAL GUEST BOOK - 2009 Alex, you had a great Naval career and life. You touched so many people and made them all better persons because they had known you. Fair winds and following seas. Dave Ramsey, Rear Admiral, USN (Ret.) -- R.I.P SKIPPER You were a true friend of the crew and a respected captain of the USS LEAHY. I will never forget the lobster dinner you provided the crew your first night as CO. You wanted a fast gig, and I did my best. It was a long time ago, but my cruise memories are not forgotten. Glen Hager (your snipe) -- You will be missed..From winning Battle E's, and Engineering E's on the Leahy, to the Leningrad cruise 1975, and our Ships-Afloat & Dry dock football competition, you were an inspiring leader, and a real friend to the crew. Bobby Wynn (BT2) (the guy who supplied the steam) -- To a real sea-going Admiral...From your commands of the Firecrest, Bang, Eddie Mac, & Leahy, on the volleyball courts of Seabright Beach and the Outrigger Canoe Club, you were always the competitor, but with a smile. You were a good friend, Mal. Mo and I treasure the letters and stories you provided the last years of your life. Don Hall -- Lost a truly dear friend. We met in grade school, body surfed, built surf boards, delivered papers, and grew up together for 80+ years. Many happy, and very proud memories. Ken Moulton -- Fair winds and following seas BOSS! I served under Adm. Sinclair as an Assistant Scheduling Officer on his CCDG-5 staff. Adm. Sinclair was one of the coolest, most people oriented Sr. Naval Officers I have had the privilege of knowing. The incident I remember most is that Adm. Sinclair took time out from his busy schedule, to attend my Chief’s Initiation at the NAVSTA 32nd Street CPO Club in San Diego. I have been to many CPO Initiations since that day, both while on active duty and as a retiree. No officer in attendance has ever been as senior as Adm. Sinclair. I know all of us who served with him will miss the H**L out of not having him with us any longer. Steven J. Waugh OSC USN (Ret) -- He was my father-in law. My boys and my wife Amy and I will miss him. He has blessed our family with his humor, generosity and guidance the rest of our days. His is a truly noble spirit and we will miss his presence but always carry his memory and the legacy he has left our family. Henry Dahm -- Our hearts go out to all of you. It was amazing that he came to CA for the family reunion of 2005. Always a giving guy, though we know that trip was hard for him. Long live the great memories and stories of Uncle Malcolm!! Joanie Trask Johnston -- Thank you for your service...and many have gone on to the Lord. May his rewards be many. My Father served on the USS Hornet, WWII. He is now gone on. So, to the family of such a wonderful Man...God Bless you all. He was a true "Santa Cruzan". My children and grandchildren make 6 generations in Santa Cruz. The admiral was truly one from one of the greatest times in history. Many, I am sure, will miss him, and many yet will greet him. God Bless Mrs. Ileen B. Colvin, -- Alex Sinclair was our "skipper" on the submarine USS Bang when we made a very important, dangerous, top secret Northern Run into the Ruskies waters off the Kola in 63. The Ruskies forced the submarine Sea Lion to surface and nearly sunk it; however, Alex outfoxed them time and time again as they tried to get us. He was a brilliant skipper, a patriot, a fine human being and a very special brethren submariner as one of us. Now he is out on Eternal Patrol with the rest of our brethren out there and one day it will again be our honor and privilege to join and serve with him. May our Eternal Father bless our skipper's eternal soul and comfort his dear family that he leaves behind. Paull Anderson(ss) Chaplain, USS George Washington SSBN598 -- The wind is at your back. Have a wonderful voyage. My first skipper and after 20 years, there was none better. Larry Schafer, USS Bang 1963 - 1965 -- I did not serve under him but know of him, and I know his new duty station will please him. (anon.) -- He was a great Commanding Officer. Carl Weber COB 62/63 USS BANG SS 385 -- He set the example for all of us by his respect for everyone, from mess cook to XO. Jimmie Richey USS BANG SS 385 -- It was my duty to serve under him, but my honor, after knowing him. He was the very best CO, but even better human being. Rest easy, and one day we will all be together. Harry Ross -- I served under Alex aboard the Bang when we made the patrol in 63. In 2000, I contacted Alex by letter and it wasn't long before I received one back from him. He said that he remembered that patrol as if it had happened yesterday and gave a salute to everyone who was on that crew at the time. I served under three different Captains while I was on the Bang, and Alex was by far the best!!! I remember when he transferred, and the entire crew wanted to go with him. God Bless, Alex!! Our sympathy to all. Dallas Dixon, -- I served under him on the US Bang SS-385 from 1962 to 1965. He was an excellent skipper and a truly fine man. May he rest in peace. Dick Major -- Alex Sinclair was the perfect submarine commander. Respected by all, he embodied all of leadership traits that a naval officer aspires to. He will be sorely missed by all of his shipmates. His personal example and values shaped the rest of my life. Richard Barbieri -- Alex Sinclair greatly influenced my Navy career and my life. I served with him on USS Bang SS-385 from the day he reported aboard as a Prospective Commanding Officer until he transferred off to his next duty. Even today, I would go with Alex Sinclair no matter where the trip. In my 31+ years of Naval service he stands out above all other Naval Officers I served with. God Bless Alex Sinclair and his family. They need to know that the men who served under him idolized him and would go to hell and back with him as the skipper. Lamarr A. Seader -- The Firecrest AMS-10 was Ltjg. Sinclair's first command. We were on a minesweeper operating off the Wanson Harbor, and the Chinnampo area off North Korea in the Yellow Sea. The Lt. was a natural skipper, firm, but a friend to the crew. Respects to his family and friends. Jay Mays So. FL. -- To the Sinclair family; Words cannot express the sorrow we feel for your (our) loss. Alex was a good shipmate and, like you, we loved him too. We only hope that our sincere sympathy will somehow ease your pain. The Bang Gang -- Lord this departed Shipmate with Dolphins on his chest, Is part of an outfit known to be the best. Please welcome him and offer him your hand, As you no doubt know he's the best in the land. And also heavenly Father add his name to the roll Of our departed Shipmates who serve on Final Patrol. Assure them all that we, who still survive Will always keep their memory alive. Phil Beals -- I was a jr. officer aboard the cruiser USS Chicago, the flagship for RADM Alex Sinclair. Although my contact with the admiral was minimal, I could not have been more impressed with the authority his presence commanded. The admiral's uniform was designed to be worn by him. Although he was "royalty" aboard the Chicago, he always made eye contact with whom he came in contact. A very special seaman. God Bless...... Alan Simpson -- Alex was a great officer and skipper. He presented me with his own dolphins when I qualified on the Bang and I think of him often. He will be sorely missed. Mike Gothie, -- I like many others was privileged to serve under Captain Sinclair on the Bang during the Northern run into Russian waters in 1963. Over the years I have recalled many times the calm and efficient manner in which he maneuvered us out of harms way. I also recall that he was a fair and decent man who put the safety and welfare of his crew above all else. I wish him calm seas and following winds in his new career. I am sure that he will advance rapidly. Alan Moquin -- USS Bang SS 385 - circa 1963 - Submarine Sandwich Source: Smoke Boat Sailor by R. Barbieri (edited for brevity by don hall) One evening while standing the mid-watch on the Bang, which was moored to the pier, Barbieri hailed a canteen truck to bring him a sandwich. After a few bites, Barbieri decided the sandwich was not fit for consumption. Not wishing to pollute the harbor waters, and having no trash receptacle at hand, Barbieri decided to get rid of the sandwich by stuffing it in the Bang fog horn, thinking that it would wash away the next time they submerged. The following morning, the admiral and his staff came to the dock to see the Bang get underway. Following sailing protocol, the Union Jack is lowered at the bow, the Stars and Stripes is raised aft of the sail, and the fog horn is sounded. When it came time to sound the fog horn, instead of a clear, penetrating note, a terrible, muffled “phlaaaaaaat” was emitted, and the sandwich was expelled by vibration from the fog horn, landing on the deck. Those on the dock roared with laughter, Sinclair smiled. After clearing the harbor, Sinclair announced throughout the sub: “Now hear this.... this is the captain.... I don’t know who put the sandwich in the fog horn, and I don’t want to know, but it better never happen again”. Upon completion of his book, Dick Barbieri presented a copy to Alex, and received a thank-you letter in return, written on the Admiral’s personal stationery. Sinclair's letter was framed, and now hangs proudly in the Barbieri home. -- Jay Eddy (USS EDWARD MCDONNELL) writes: " I think it was Easter "Eve", the Saturday night before Easter Sunday, 1970. We were on a "work up" cruise for our upcoming European tour that June. We were doing an ASW exercise at night. I was the OOD for the 12-4 AM watch. The Commodore was riding the USS Page. My recollection was that he got great joy in beating up on our CO, Alex Sinclair. The good ‘ole’ Eddy Mac was notorious for chronic mechanical ailments, particularly while steaming in formation. This night, someone decided to have the exercise conducted “lights out”, and that's when I gave the Commodore fodder for a real chewing-out. We are on station around a carrier or an oiler, I don't remember which. The Page was out in front, on point, and got contact on the submarine. They announce it, and begin to maneuver in pursuit. I stay on station, and don't advise the Captain what is going on. So Alex is toes up, in sweet repose, while the Commodore on the Page is on the bridge and paying attention. I continue to stay on station and watch the Page on radar as she moves and maneuvers towards us. And I continue to stay on station as we lose the Page in the sea return on the radar. Of course, I can't really "see" her, never did. I guess that was the whole point of the exercise. As far as I know no one on our ship did. But one person on the Page saw us as we passed each other, going in opposite directions at flank speed, only a stones throw away from each other. It was the Commodore. He began screaming on the radio for the Captain, and quickly determined he wasn't on the bridge, and that his OOD was responsible for not maneuvering to avoid a ship in pursuit of a submarine contact. So, Alex took a major chewing-out that night. I think he knew how scared I was as he took the heat and let it go with me. I cried that night after getting off watch. First time in a very long time. Believe me, I was scared of what might have happened and not the chewing-out part. Anyway, with that behind us, I think we performed admirably for the rest of the work up. Alex continued to call me "Ace" but he should have renamed me "dummy". We left on the North Atlantic Cruise in May and in spite of being continually hassled by the Commodore, we did well. Alex even took me to play tennis on a grass court in Southampton (first & last time for me). I still play and have had my own court for the last 20 years, just no grass. Thanks, Alex. for that day and the whole European Tour. I remember it all, vividly and fondly. I have always had fond memories of Alex. A true gentleman through thick and thin.” (Jay Eddy wrote this letter in 2008, 38 years after the incident) -- USS Edward McDonnell DE-1043 - South American Cruise - Circa 1970 Sonar event as told by Alex Sinclair to don hall: The Eddy Mac, fresh with a new sonar installation, was on a cruise to South America with other ships. The sonar was attached beneath the bow of the Eddy Mac, and extended several feet below the keel. Upon arriving at the destination, and after a careful analysis of the assigned berthing location of the Eddy Mac, Alex moved the ship to deeper water. Within a few moments of anchoring, the admiral’s gig pulled alongside the Eddy Mac. The gig driver announced that the admiral wanted a session with the captain - NOW!. Sinclair met with the admiral, and explained that the berthing assignment was in water too shallow to accommodate the new sonar extension of the Eddy Mac. The admiral apologized and fired the berthing officer. Alex said with a wink, the admiral sat on the promotion board when Alex was promoted to the rank of captain. -- USS Leahy CG-16 Leningrad Cruise - 1975 As told by Alex Sinclair...(edited for brevity by don hall) The USS Leahy, with Alex Sinclair as captain, was chosen to participate in an exchange of visiting ships with the Soviet Union as an expression of goodwill between the countries. The Leahy departed the US for England to embark US admirals and dignitaries for the trip to Leningrad, and stopping to add Soviet admirals and dignitaries at a Soviet base near the Neva River. Navigating the Neva River toward Leningrad, the Leahy’s bridge was filled with US and Soviet admirals and dignitaries, and the Leahy was under navigational command of a Soviet pilot. At one point, the Soviet pilot ordered a steering change, and Alex Sinclair immediately sensed the order was in error. In full view of all on the bridge, Alex announced over the ship’s intercom that he had relieved the Soviet pilot, and he was in command. This was a highly unusual action, relieving a pilot in unfamiliar waters, with all the noted guests on the bridge. Alex explained that the Soviet pilot was not familiar with the maneuverability of the twin-screw Leahy, and the order would have grounded the ship. Alex added that his immediate thought was “No one is going to ground my ship while I am on the bridge”. The Leahy continued on to Leningrad without further adventure. At the numerous social gatherings of politicos and officers in Leningrad, one Soviet admiral continually prodded US admirals in attendance that “you should promote this man”. “This man” being Alex Sinclair. With a wink, Alex said that one admiral, who witnessed the bridge event, sat on the promotion board when Alex was promoted to admiral. -- USS Chicago CG-11 Flagship for RADM Alex Sinclair, Commander Task Force 75 Wreath laying ceremony - circa 1979 (edited by don hall) Enroute from the Philippines to Sydney, Australia to participate in Exercise Kangaroo III, CHICAGO's track took her through the Solomon Islands chain. On October 15th, the cruiser, flagship for RADM Alex Sinclair, USN, Commander Task Force Seven Five, paused briefly in Savo Sound, just north of Guadalcanal. A wreath was laid to pay tribute to the brave sailors and Marines who died at Guadalcanal, and, in particular, the four American and Australian cruisers (HMSA CANBERRA, USS VINCENNES, USS QUINCY and USS ASTORIA), and over 1200 men who perished there in the Battle of Savo Island, August 9th, 1942. The battle also saw the heavy damage done to the present-day CHICAGO's predecessor, USS CHICAGO (CA-29), the only cruiser to survive the battle. About 1943, Sinclair was 16 years of age and living in Santa Cruz, CA. He met a survivor of the sinking of the USS Quincy CA-39 named Hubert Mee, who had been credited for rescuing Quincy crewmen from the water. Mee was 12 years senior to Sinclair, and had served as a lifeguard for the local beach. Shortly after their meeting, Sinclair enlisted in the navy in 1944. Mee left the navy in 1945 as a Lt.Cmdr. with eight battle stars. Although they would meet only occasionally over the years, when Sinclair returned to Santa Cruz to see his mother, Mee remained active in the Navy League throughout his life, and followed the career of Sinclair. Mee preceded Sinclair in death by two years, at age 92. Circa 1980, about 37 years after meeting Mee, RADM Sinclair, with his task force, returned to the site of the sinking of the Quincy, and 3 other cruisers, to place a wreath in tribute to those who lost their lives in 1942. -- Alex was one of four CO's I served under during my 4 1/2 years on the USS Edward McDonnell. A finer gentleman could not be asked for. Competent, compassionate, committed. Skipper, I salute you. John "JC" Collins Major, USAFR (ret) former STG2 -- USS LEAHY - Capt. Sinclair, CO. - circa 1975 Upon arriving in Long Beach, CA after a very successful cruise to the Soviet Union, and a journey through the Panama Canal, the Leahy was being greeted by numerous admirals and dignitaries waiting on the pier. -- With the band playing, flags flying, and family members of the crew waving and in tears, Capt. Sinclair, the ever considerate CO, and loving son, ordered his mother piped aboard the Leahy before all others. -- A memorable gig trip - 1975 - USS LEAHY On a return trip to the Leahy after visiting with the admiral on his flagship, Captain Sinclair and the gig crew encountered heavy seas. As told by Glen Hager, the gig engineer, the skipper could have remained in the aft cabin, and stayed dry. Instead, Sinclair placed his coat in the cabin, grabbed on to the towing post, and got soaked with sea spray along with everyone else in the gig. Hager commented: "It was like being in a John Wayne movie. The skipper was larger than life". -- Remembering Alex (Mal) Sinclair RADM, USN-Ret. As the date for closure of the Sinclair Guestbook nears, we would like to document our last thoughts adding to the Sinclair legacy. Sinclair will be addressed as Mal, as that is how we knew him. Ken Moulton, Mal’s oldest and best friend, and I were privileged to receive a stream of letters and pictures from Mal from about 1995 to 2005, until it became too difficult for him to write, or navigate the computer keyboard. Even phone conversations became very difficult. Moulton would receive regular phone calls regarding off-track betting on the major races, and sports conversations. That all ceased toward the end of Mal’s life. At one point of an email exchange, we received a response from Mal with these few words: “ i try really hard”. That was the last email we received. Just imagining the frustration that Mal was experiencing was heart wrenching. We will never forget the emotions we felt when reading those words; extreme sadness, and, also, extreme anger toward the disease that was destroying our friend. Through Mal’s letters, we learned the names of the ships on which he served, and those he commanded. At first, Mal was hesitant about telling his sea stories, as he was a very private guy. Over time, he sensed our sincere interest, and out poured the stories, much to our delight. Realizing that we were hearing only one side of the stories, we hoped to contact those who had served with him on the ships he commanded, and get the rest of the stories. Fortunately, there were active web sites for the USS Bang SS 385, USS Edward McDonnell DE-1043, and the USS Leahy CG-16, providing names and dates of the men serving with Sinclair. The web site hosts could not have been more cooperative: Bill Fenton - Bang, John (JC) Collins - Eddy Mac, and Ken Deshaies - Leahy, and a very special thanks to Phil Beals, editor of the BANG NEWSLETTER. Phil Beals was responsible for publishing numerous tributes to Sinclair in the Bang Newsletter, and through Sinclair, and the Bang gang, we met a good friend. We sent emails to crew members asking for Sinclair stories hoping that recalling old events would ease Sinclair’s struggle with Parkinson’s. The flood of emails and photos was immediate, informative, and absolutely wonderful. The responses all praised the leadership of Sinclair, and the compassion he felt for those serving with him. From the men in close contact on the submarine Bang, to those serving on the bridges of the Eddy Mac and Leahy, and his team mates on the Ships Afloat and Dry Dock football teams, all wrote about their respect for Sinclair’s leadership, compassion, and professionalism. Unfortunately, the Guestbook entries represent only a small group of men that served with Sinclair. Since knowledge of the existence of the Guestbook is limited, many academy classmates, crew members, law school classmates, and friends will not have the opportunity to add their condolences. We have all lost a truly dear friend, a genuine good-guy, and a great navy commander. Don Hall Ken Moulton -- The story behind the picture displayed on Sinclair’s fireplace On Jan 13, 1943, a teenaged Canadian sailor, by the name of Frank Arsenault, was aboard the corvette HMCS Ville de Quebec (K 242) running convoy duty in the Western Mediterranean, West of Algiers, when the ramming of the German U-224 occurred. The Canadian corvette was launching depth charges in the area of a detected submarine. Suddenly, the German submarine surfaced due to damage sustained from the depth charge attack. The sub was so close to the corvette that the deck gun could not depress sufficiently for a shot. The skipper of the Ville de Quebec, within seconds of the sub surfacing, ordered “flank ahead......prepare to ram”. The corvette struck the U-224 a lethal blow, riding halfway across the sub's deck, then backing off. One German sailor fell from the conning tower due to the collision, the only reported survivor of the U-224. A large painting of the incident was commissioned by the Canadian government, and hangs in a Canadian museum. Many years after the ramming incident the surviving crew members of the Ville de Quebec were united for a tribute by the Canadian government. Each member received a folder commemorating their heroism, and the center fold was a copy of the noted painting. Frank Arsenault and I met on a Santa Cruz golf course. His story surfaced after Arsenault learned that a friend of mine was an admiral from Santa Cruz. Given a copy of the painting, I mailed it to my admiral friend, Mal Sinclair. Arsenault mentioned the admiral story to his wife, and her reply was: “I wonder if the admiral is Dorothy Sinclair’s boy?". We learned that Frank Arsenault had performed barbershop quartet songs at one of Sinclair’s parent’s anniversary celebrations. Frank and Mal eventually connected by phone and letters expressing mutual admiration for one another. It was beautiful to witness the evolution of a warm friendship between two sea-going comrades-in-arms. (story as told by frank arsenault - edited by don hall) -- Remembering Alex (Mal) Sinclair From letter written by Mal Sinclair Sept. 27, 2001 to don hall & ken moulton “Needless to say, my style of leadership was different from the norm. I most always played it by ear, and by my gut feel. Often, my decisions were ‘out of the box’, and drew lots of attention and controversy in the submarine force, but we beat the competition hands down in all categories, including tactics, reenlistment rates, etc. In retrospect, I think I was more lucky than good during my 38 years in the navy, but it seemed like I always had great sailors as shipmates on the ships I commanded. I should add that my enlisted service gave me unique insight on how to apply leadership principles”. signed: Mal ----------------------------------------------------- end =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=