FLEET RESERVE ASSOCIATION

TRIANGLE BRANCH 182

Chief Petty Officer
Frank J Fash USN (Ret)
December 4, 1925 - January 26, 2018

S/M Fash was a FRA Life Member of 48 years. He served in World War II, at 18 years old participating in the Omaha Beach landing in Normandy on D-Day. He then went on to serve in the Korean War, and in Vietnam. Frank retired from the Navy as a Chief Petty Officer and then worked for St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in the Hematology Department. He then went on to work at the National Institute of Health where he was engaged in neurological research, and co-authored several peer reviewed articles for medical journals. He and his wife moved to Grantsville in 1982. He was a member of Divine Mercy Parish, St. Ann Catholic Church, and he was an avid collector, reader, and researcher.

For his full obituary please see the link below:
https://www.newmanfuneralhomes.com/notices/Frank-J-Fash

Two Bell Ceremony in remembrance of those
Shipmates that have received orders to serve

on the Staff of the Supreme Commander.

2018
Shipmate Frank J. Fash

Shipmate Carol Lee Reichard

Shipmate Allan Gene Baxter

Shipmate Thomas E. Jones

Shipmate William E. Harris

Shipmate John J. Grohowski
Shipmate Felix B. Stewart

Shipmate Fred Williams

Please remember our troops overseas in
Iraq and Afghanistan.

Chief Petty Officer
Fred Williams USN (Ret)
August 4, 1939 - October 26, 2018

Shipmate Williams was a FRA Member of 34 years. Shipmate Williams served in the U.S. Navy for 22 years. He married Julie Diehl in 1962 and raised two children. After his retirement, he continued working as an HVAC mechanic until moving to Delaware in 1995.

Shipmate Williams had been a longtime member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, as well as the FRA retired association. He loved gardening, golf, classic country music, watching football (he played tackle on his champion football team in high school). He was an avid crabber and loved captaining his pontoon boat on the Indian River. He and his wife crossed the U.S. three times in their RV and loved the adventure.

For his full obituary please see the link below:
https://www.coastalpoint.com/obits/fred-williams-79/article_63da746d-b7ef-5609-ab02-6c1fcf3fad8e.html

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2018

"Staff of The Supreme Commander"

To report a passing of a Shipmate please Contact Us .

Carol Lee Reichard, USMC
January 31, 1932 - May 13, 2018

Shipmate Reichard was a FRA Honorary Member for 29 years. He was the beloved husband of the late Frances Irene Reichard for 67 years. Born January 31, 1932 in MD, he was the son of the late Kenneth and Gladys (Martin) Reichard.

For his full obituary please see the link below:
https://www.staufferfuneralhome.com/notices/Carol-Reichard

Chief Petty Officer
John J. Grohowski, USN (Ret)
March 2, 1921 - October 16, 2018

Shipmate Grohowski was a FRA Member for 49 years. After graduating high school, he enlisted in the US Navy working as a Hospital Corpsman with the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He was a proud WWII Veteran, having served on two submarines, USS Bashaw and USS Diablo, and retired from the Navy after 20 years of service.

For his full obituary please see the link below:
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/washingtonpost/obituary.aspx?pid=190529716

First Class Petty Officer
Felix B. Stewart, USN (Ret)
August 12, 1943 - October 19, 2018

S/M Stewart was a FRA Member of 38 years. S/M Stewart retired from United States Navy in 1984. He enlisted in 1961 and served with the USS Will Rodgers “SSBN-659” as a medical Corpsman during his service with both the Navy and the Marines Corps. After his retirement from the Navy he was employed by the United States Post Office, Gaithersburg, MD.

S/M Stewart was an active member of the Tri-State Base of Submarine Veterans; a life-member of both the American Legion Post #68, Twinbrook, MD where he was part of the color guard and the V.F.W. Post 2562, Twinbrook, MD where he served as chaplain and other committee chairs. He was also a member of the Washington-Rockville Elk’s Lodge #15; the Grand Lodge of A.F. and A.M. of Connecticut; and the Fleet Reserve Association.

For his full obituary please see the link below:
https://www.bowersoxfuneralhomes.com/obituary/Felix-B.-Stewart/Greencastle-Pennsylvania/1819145

The Two Bell Ceremony. When executed properly, the Fleet Reserve Association’s “Two-Bell Ceremony” is dramatic testimony to humility, dignity, reverence and honor. It fulfills the promise of our preamble – “our reverence for the memory of our departed shipmates.”

Unfortunately, there is no written documentation or knowledge that clearly identifies the origin of this beloved ritual except that it is unique and ours alone. In researching naval history back to the time of Britain’s Lord Nelson we can find no record of a memorial ceremony using the ship’s bell. Our current elder statesmen credit several deceased shipmates as being largely responsible for the originating and refinement of the ritual. But it is clear the sounding of two bells is the “time,” or the “moment,” to pause and reflect on our shipmates who are now serving on the staff of the Supreme Commander.

In days past, “two bells” marked the end of the routine day aboard ship. It was time for “Tattoo” and soon “Taps” would sound throughout the ship. Certainly, this is a most appropriate time to honor our departed shipmates.

Those familiar with one of the greatest stories of the sea, “The Ancient Mariner,” will remember that he/she found safe passage in narrow waters by listening to the bell on the marking buoy. That bobbing marking buoy sounds much like the tolling of a bell for a funeral dirge, solemn, reverent and mournful.

Since the beginning of recorded time, men of the sea have been guided and impressed by the sounding of the ship’s bell. In our “Two Bell Ceremony,” the tolling of the bell and the spoken word can and should be combined to execute a ritual that contributes to and strengthens the bond that exists amongst all shipmates of the Fleet Reserve Association.

Master Chief Petty Officer
Allan Gene Baxter USN (Ret)
July 4, 1938 - July 21, 2018

Shipmate Baxter was a Life FRA Member of 44 years. Born in Kannapolis, NC. He served in the Navy from July 1955 to June 1974 as a Cryptologic Technician. Resided in Las Vegas, NV.

Our Deepest Sympathies to the Baxter Family.

No obituary or photo could be found.

Two Bell Ceremony in remembrance of those
Shipmates that have received orders to serve

on the Staff of the Supreme Commander.

2018
Shipmate Frank J. Fash

Shipmate Carol Lee Reichard

Shipmate Allan Gene Baxter

Shipmate Thomas E. Jones

Shipmate William E. Harris

Shipmate John J. Grohowski
Shipmate Felix B. Stewart

Please remember our troops overseas in
Iraq and Afghanistan.

In Remembrance

Captain
Thomas E. Jones USNR (Ret)
June 22, 1931 - August 21, 2018

S/M Jones was a FRA Member of 32 years. He served aboard the USS Wisconsin and the USS Intrepid, as well as at the US Merchant Marine Academy. He left active duty because he felt his dream naval career was incompatible with family life, but he continued to drill in the Reserves, serving at the Naval Reserve Surface Division 3-76(L) and 3-77(L), Group Command 5-5(M) and the Naval Reserve Readiness Command. In the Reserves, he commanded the Naval Reserve Surface Division 5-37(L) and was the Naval Reserve Director of Naval Education and Training HQ Unit 106, with the latter resulting in him earning the Navy Commendation Medal and the Unit earning the Navy Unit Commendation. He also received a commendation letter for leadership from the Secretary of the Navy.

For his full obituary please see the link below: https://www.pumphreyfuneralhome.com/obituary/Capt.-Thomas-E.-Jones/Potomac-MD/1811194

Senior Chief Petty Officer
William E. Harris, USN (Ret)
October 20, 1918 - August 23, 2018

Shipmate Harris was a FRA Member for 42 years.

He retired from the U.S. Navy as a Gunners Mate Senior Chief.

No obituary or picture was found.