Remembering our departed shipmates

Updated February 23, 2024

The following is a list of deceased USS Paul F Foster crewmembers. If you know of any additions or edits to this list please contact us

There is a table set with the items below and the ceremony is dedicated to our fallen shipmates.

Master of Ceremonies - MC

MC - "ON THE TABLE SITS A RED ROSE TO SIGNIFY THE BLOOD OUR FALLEN SHIPMATES SHED, A CRYSTAL GLASS OF WATER TO QUENCH THEIR THIRST FOR FREEDOM. SALT TO REMIND US OF THE PAIN THEY FEEL LEST WE FORGET THEM. THE CHINA IS BONE WHITE AS IS THE PURITY OF THEIR HEARTS AND SACRIFICES. THIS, ON A WHITE LINEN TABLE CLOTH THAT COULD BE USED AS A CLEAN BANDAGE FOR THEIR WOUNDS. WE TAKE THIS TIME TO REMEMBER THEM. THE PLACE WE SET FOR THEM THIS EVENING IS A SPECIAL PLACE. AS IS THE PLACE WE HOLD FOR THEM IN OUR HEARTS, OUR MINDS, AND OUR NAVY." (PAUSE)

"IN DAYS PAST, TWO BELLS (toll two bells here) MARKED THE END OF THE ROUTINE DAY ABOARD A SHIP. IT WAS TIME FOR TATOO, AND SOON, TAPS WOULD SOUND THROUGHOUT THE SHIP. CERTAINLY, THIS IS A MOST APPROPRIATE TIME TO HONOR OUR DEPARTED SHIPMATES. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WOULD YOU PLEASE BOW YOUR HEADS."

"THE TOLL OF THE SHIP'S BELL REMINDS US OF THE REVERENCE WE OWE TO OUR DEPARTED SHIPMATES;
(toll two bells here)

TO THOSE WHO GUARD THE HONOR OF OUR COUNTRY.........UPON THE SEA........IN THE AIR........AND ON FOREIGN SOIL.
(toll two bells here)

LET IT BE A REMINDER OF THE FAITH THEY CONFIDE IN US;
(toll two bells here)

LET US WHO GATHER HERE NOT FORGET OUR OBLIGATIONS, AND IN SILENCE, BREATHE A PRAYER FOR OUR ABSENT SHIPMATES.
(toll two bells here)

LET US OFFER A SILENT PRAYER FOR OUR DEPARTED SHIPMATES (10 SECOND PAUSE). THIS MOMENT OF REVERENCE WE DEDICATE TO THE MEMORY OF OUR SHIPMATES WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE US.
(toll two bells here)

(BUGLER PLAYS TAPS SLOWLY AFTER THE RINGING OF THE BELLS)

 

Ships Namesake
Rate/RankInformation
Foster, Paul FrederickVice AdmiralShips namesake, Born on March 25, 1889, "Passed January 30, 1972 (aged 82) "Arlington National Cemetery (Section 5, site 106)
Foster, Isabelle (De La Vicendiere Lowe)  Ships Sponsor, Born on January 15th, 1894 "Passed August 5th, , 1981 (aged 87) "Arlington National Cemetery (Section 5, site 106)
Commanding Officers
  
Sullivan, George E. *Captain1st Commanding Officer, Feb 21 1976 - Apr 7 1978, Plank Owner - "Passed July 7, 2018 (aged 80)" Burial at Schofield Barracks military cemetery
Kaiss, Albert LeeCaptain2nd Commanding Officer, Apr 7 1978 - May 11 1980 "Passed  July 25, 2018 (aged 78)"
Lockhart, TheodoreCaptain3rd Commanding Officer, May 11 1980 - May 17 1982       "Passed  July 24, 2013 (aged 75)"   
Turner Jr, Laurence H.Captain4th Commanding Officer, May 17 1982 - Jun 15 1984, "Passed  July 25, 2018 (aged 81)"
Ahern, Timothy MichaelCaptain7th Commanding Officer, Desert Storm, Feb 11 1989 - Feb 23 1991    "Passed on August, 6, 2016 (Aged 68)"  "Arlington National Cemetery (Section 71, site 89)
Executive Officers
  
Williams, Robert R. IIILCDR2nd Executive Officer, 1978 to 1980, "Passed  July 18, 2021"   http://www.coronadonewsca.com/obituaries/capt-robert-r-williams-iii-usn-retired/article_22b2c580-01ff-11ec-8f0a-97a648710213.html?fbclid=IwAR1Q__Za3sQ4OOoq9CJ8ckxTwJ2hZVz4QLfzkHxHIe2UcjqM5yzz5q_JCnE
Plank Owners * verified  
Anderson, Andy *MACSPlank Owner
Anderson, Bill *EN2Plank Owner
Brown, Tommy *BM3Plank Owner   " Passed September 2012"
Byard, Larry f. *LCDRPlank Owner, OPS Boss
Clink, Phillip *FTG1Plank Owner
Collins, Leonard *HTCPlank Owner
Dockery, Donald *OSCSPlank Owner
Druckery, Ed *EM1Plank Owner
Fallon, Peter *QMCPlank Owner
Flack, Monte *ENCMPlank Owner, 1st Command Master Chief
Ferma,  Pepe *SKCPlank Owner
George, Donald l. *MSCPlank Owner
Hargrave, Bevard *LTPlank Owner, Supply Officer
Harbinson *SK1Plank Owner
Hegler, Dave*GMG3Plank Owner "Passed in 2008"
Jenkins, Ronnie *EN3Plank Owner
Johnson, John *EMSC1976-1978 Plank Owner "Passed Febuary 20 2023"
Kopacz, Tony *LTJGPlank Owner, CIC Officer
McNeely, James V*STG1Plank Owner
Mushaben, Jerry *MS3Plank Owner

Olaes,  Rolando *

SK2Plank Owner

Rankin, C.J. *

HMC

Plank Owner
Sagi, Larry *ENCPlank Owner
Sewell, Ray *CWOPlank Owner    " Passed December, 2002"
Skelton, Wilbur Leon*STGCPlank Owner "Passed July 8th 1997"
Smith, Jesse *SH1Plank Owner
Spahn, Geoffrey *EM2Plank Owner  " Passed  2004"
Takac, Rick *ET1Plank Owner, OE Div.
Wilson, Thomas*STG1Plank Owner
Woodside, Mike *EM2Plank Owner
Alphabetical order  
Bachman, GuyEW31986 - 1989 "Passed away on Sunday, May 26, 2019.(Age 53) "
Baker, JamesFTM21978 - 1979
Ball, HarryEW11985 - 1988
Beatty, ShawnMRFN1986-1988
Brucklacher, Patrick “Casey”HT21984
Brooks, BrianSTG31978 - 1979
Boden, Mark  1976-1980
Bollinger, Keith GSM21981-1985 "Passed 2018 (age 60) "
Ca’mel, CraigTM2 
Carney, Patrick WillisMMCM1986-1987 Command Master Chief CMC, "Passed May 30, 2018 (age 70)"
Cavanaugh, Timothy IC1980-1982
Commeree, AnthonyEN11999- Decommissioning
Cruz, DanRMC1979-1981
Depedro, JohnBMSN2003-2003
Dunkelberger, SamGSM11984-1986, Association Chaplin 2014-2016
Ehlert, John EN31986?  "Passed 1987"
Emerson, WilliamGSM2 
Fagen, David L.RM31992 - 1995, passed away while off duty,  "Passed March 1st 1995 (age 24)"  involved in a tragic traffic accident while the ship was still in Long Beach Ca,
Fiebelkorn , BobSN1976 - 1980
Frazier, JeffCTM1(SW)1993-1996,  "Passed January 1st, 2024)" 
Friess, DanOS11995 - 2000
Gause, BryantOS1997 to 2001
Gonzalez, EloyMS31997
Gray, JasonMS-31994-1997 "Passed October 2021"
Griffith, DonaldSTG31990 - 1994 Desert Storm, "Passed July 7, 2016 (age 47)"  https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/college-station-tx/donald-griffith-7001307
Grover, JeffreyRM31992-1994
Hastings, RobertHMCM1989,September 7, 1949  -  November 15, 2020
Hill, AlanFireman85-88
Hixon, GeneBM31977 - 1981
Hodges, Randy QM21979 -1982
Hughes, James  
Hunter, JeffEN21976-1980
Jones, KipGSM21984-1986
Joyner, DougSM31979 - 1980
Keith, DerekGSE31999 -  2003
Kitchen, RickySM31978 - 1982
Lawrence, Ronald WayneFN1987 - 1988
Lindsey, JoesphOS31992-1994
Lilly, JacobDC2 1999 - Decom
Litza, Robert 1990
Lovall, ChrisOS21989 - 1992
Maloney, Stephen CCMDR1989 - 1991 Cheng, Desert Storm    "Passed   November 6, 2014 (aged 58)" 
McKinstry, ScottSTG21981 – 1985 "Passed January 1st, 2024)" (aged 64)
Morris,ClevelandDS2 
Myers, JeffGSMFN1986-1988
Person, Steven T.RM11992-1994
Pogliano,DaveIC21986-1989
Preble, TerryLt.1984-1987, MPA
Puffenbarger, Marshall (Marty)EN1 " Passed  2007"
Rumple, Charles EdwardGSE1986-1992 "Passed December 21, 2022."
Saole, FaatupuBM31996
Sheahan, KevinRM? 
Spangler, Jr. Dale AlanEWSN1984 - 1986
Tibbs,  Richard J. (Roscoe)STGSN 1977 - 1978
Vogel, William R.SK11977 - 1978
Waymirem, BrianGMG11991-1994         "Passed on 25 June 2023"
Wetlesen, John ACTT2 1988-1990
Wilcox, Steven G.MR12003 to Decommissioning "Passed August 4th 2017"
Wilkinson, JohnIC1 "Passed July 26 2015"
Withrow, MichaelSH31998-2002
Whittenburg, Dale FTM3 1980-1983
Wood, Richard (Dick) GSE21976-1980"Passed on January 1 2019 at home, he was 64"
Yohe, GeorgeEN11978 - 1982
   

 

RECALLED TO DUTY - THE ETERNAL VOYAGE Bon Voyage to those who've set sail We bid them farewell as we man the rail.Let us be Joyous and let us not weep For those who have now crossed over the deep.When a Sailor’s last roll call is made His final embarking shant be delayed.So lower the Colors, let them be furled Each time a Sailor disembarks this world.The crew onboard in Heaven awaits The Eternal reunion of their shipmates.They’ll be welcomed home by those onboard Moored in peaceful waters with the Lord.As he approaches, he’ll call “Ahoy! The ship!” Now in safe harbor, an Eternal trip.Then he’ll hear “Sailor on deck! Hoist the flag!” “Help him get settled! Help stow his seabag!”Be it known that it’s a Divine remand To ship in Heaven, ye Seafaring Man.On permanent station forevermore Peaceful duty for Veterans of war.And when he’s weighed anchor for the last time We’ll Honor his memory so sublime.We’ll all reminisce and hoist a brew In a Toast of Honor to the crew.Rest Easy, Warrior Brother, We have the Watch!By: Gary L. Edmisten