In Memoriam

This page is dedicated to the crew members of the USS Fresno who have gone before us as we share our memories of time served together and lives well lived.

Fair winds and followings seas, gentlemen. We Have The Watch.

Name:Rate/RankTime ServedE.O.WMemoriesContributor
Plankowners
Stanislaus J SowinskiCDR (C.O.)22NOV69 – 03APR708JAN10I am a plankowner and was on the Fresno from commissioning to Oct, 1971. I found an obituary online where Stanislaus J Sowinski died 8 Jan, 2010. He was the first Captain of the Fresno.Don Allen (’69-’71) dallen222@yahoo.com
Ralph HeckertYN3’69-’71Operations dept/ships office, family called him Bob, was from NebraskaCoby Barstad (’69-’71) ndwoodlake@gondtc.com
Terry DustanRMC’69-’7121MAR11 first RMC assigned to the USS Fresno in 1969Jim Alexander (’69-’71) JamesHAlex@hotmail.com
James Hatten’69-2017My dad passed away in 2017.Jamie Keil (Daughter)
jamie@thelastpaladin.com
Ken Saunders’69 -’7306JAN23https://www.edgerlyfh.com/obituary/kenneth-saunders?lud=D17C5DA27D44BD97982335BCE4296B20Tom Saunders (Son)
70’s
Daniel AlegriaSN’72-’7610JUL12Spoke on the phone with him just before he passed. Prostate cancer due to Agent Orange exposure. ( – Larry Brooker)

We did a lot of liberty calls together (- KC Ratner)
Larry Brooker, EN3 (’70-’74)
Taybrook@aol.com and KC Ratner (’72-’74) kcratner@gmail.com
Darcy ZerbelEM2’72-’7617OCT21I met Darcy on Sept 28, 1973. He asked me to marry him after only dating 3 months! I told him if he really loved me he would buy his own car, and then I would think about it! He bought a green 1972 Chevy Nova with a white vinyl top! We were married August 30, 1975 and rented an apartment in National City until he was discharged in February 1976. His pride and joy was a piston that he brought home, after replacing it onboard the Frez. I passed it on to Boyd Puckett. Eng (EMT) A and M Gang are invited to my home in Oceanside, CA for a small gathering during the San Diego reunion. Email me if interested. Anyone know where Aikens, Clark, and Ferry are? Donaldson lives in MO, if you’re looking for that wild man!Ruth Zerbel (wife) drzerbel2@gmail.com
Manuel SalasHTC’72-’7609JAN21Manuel Salas Obituary – San Diego, CA (dignitymemorial.com)Doyle Osborne
Robert MumfordCDR (C.O.)’73-’75NOV22https://allveterans.com/tribute/details/305164/Robert-Mumford/obituary.html#tribute-startLes Mann
Lesmann3@hotmail.com
Bob SongET2’74-’782020Bob Song, Pat Crippen and myself were on board mid to late 70’s on The Fresno and we had a place in Imperial Beach. Bob was a good friend and even better shipmate. Was told of his passing by Rocky Turner. He lived in Hawaii and passed away in his home state. Think of him often and miss my friend very much.
J.D. (Jimmy) PageSN’74DEC16CancerMark Donn
Ronald BrandquistCDR’75-’7625NOV14On behalf of the 200-member crew of the USS Fresno, he received the Arleigh Burke Award for the finest ship in the Pacific Fleet in 1976. Only one ship OR one squadron can win the bronze plaque award. See Facebook Group MEDIA for a copy of the article and photoRuth Zerbel via Kurt Brandquist, son
RIchard DomenickMS’76-’8016OCT97Met many wonderful friends during our time on the Fresno. Prayers  for the families of those who have lost their Loved one.
Jerome Larry Bahm22APR13Served 30 years; retired Master Chief Petty Officer. 3 tours; from Seven Points, TX; Leaves behind a wife, Valerie and two children, son, Jerome Jr and daughter, Christine.Jerome Bahm, Jr.
Bob (Merv) Avin’76-’8024OCT11John Bennett
Mike D. SmithFN’76Accident at Ship’s EventRonald Zepke
Dennis RoeberLT. Engineer’78-’7901OCT21That was the first ship that I was involved with
As soulmates. The best shipmates and wives group. Still in touch with many. Prayers for those gone but never forgotten. Thank you!!
Richard DominickMSC’78-’8109/98
Steven Lee PhillipsSN’78-’8009NOV80’78-’79 West Pac crew. Died just a few months after leaving the service.Bob Kyle
Richard SchuergerCDR (C.O.)’78-’8012AUG13Fresno’s 9th Commanding Officer.
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/utsandiego/obituary.aspx?n=richard-schuerger&pid=166431587
Mike Ogonowski
Rick TrullNov 22David Roy Leppert
Jeffrey B. ColeHT’7918DEC15Bob Kyle
80’s
Donald LuxSN’80-’8215APR12Met Don on the flight to the Philippines where we both started our time aboard the Fresno. He was a good guy and he enjoyed life to the fullest. We met up a few years after the Fresno, he was from Philly and I was from the Allentown area of Pa. He was in my wedding and I was best man in his, he and his wife had 3 kids together. He was my best friend form the day we met until his passing 10 years ago, he is truly missed by all “RIP” my friendRussell Hicks (’80-’83)
Kenneth KnoxMS3’80-’82
Tim SatterfieldSN’80-’8220APR08Heart attack. Was from Missouri. Wife is ShannonRussell Hicks and Mark Dunn
Truman “Bud” DeLaMatterSK’79-’8224MAY21from Gentry, ARGregory A. Fox
Brent St. JohnHTFN’80-’8415JAN22Cisneros and McGilvray

Gerald F. DeConto
LTJG’82-’8411SEP01Arrived at Pentagon in June 2001, Captain USN. Never forget we lost one of ours on 9/11!Mark Donn
Ron “Sprout” SprouseBMSN’82-’8611NOV15The fact he looked like he was in grade school, smoking, and a pool shark .
Bill KeebaughEN1’83-’8718JUN21EN1 Keebaugh was one of the most memorable sailors from my time aboard Fresno, and that’s saying something. He was extraordinarily competent at his job and took pride in knowing everything there was to know about it. His example taught me, a new officer on my first ship, the importance of knowing your stuff and when you’re in charge, be in charge. If he was cantankerous at times, it was because he didn’t suffer fools, so best to not be one. I respected him greatly as an enlisted leader who was on top of his job, and if you knew your job and knew your stuff, he respected you in return, but you had to earn it. That made me a better officer. RIP EN1, you made our ship and our Navy better.

https://www.kitsapsun.com/obituaries/pbks0033740
Joe Wright
Jerry RumbergBM3’86-’882022it is with a heavy heart to have learned of the passing of Jerry Rumberg. Edward Snow called me this morning to deliver the news. Jerry was my “Sea Daddy” and a true gentleman.
Our sincere condolences to his family and to all those who knew him.
Jerry, may you Rest In Peace my Brother
Mark Collard
William Edward “Will” JohnsonEN3’85-’8812DEC11Will was assigned to M-Division and worked in #1 Engineroom. He always had that great outlook on life. A gentle giant who loved to laugh. Rest easy shipmate.EN2 Burke (’85-’89)
Ekrubet@gmail.com
Allen BayleyBM2’86-’8906SEP22Shipmates of the Fresno, we lost Allan Bailey. He was a Bm2 on the Fresno but retired as BMCS down here in Jax. He was my best friend and brother.ENCS SW/AW Ed Swanson
John SorbySN87-911994 (?)Sorby was a funny guy. Inventor of the phrase, “I’m chewed”. He is missed.GMG3 Peterson (’88-’90) HossPete@yahoo.com
Harvey DwyerHMC’87-’8916OCT21https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/24697957/harvey-wade-dwyerDoc Johnson 1987-1989
90’s
Keith LoweLT’90-’911998 (?)When I transferred to TAR he always called me the “Tar baby!” Later in his career, he transferred to TAR as well!LT Joe Blaylock (’88-’91)
joe.blaylock87@gmail.com
Randy Cale FisherENFN’90-’9318AUG21Gents I was just informed early this evening that we lost a Fresno Shipmate. He was part of the Decom crew 1990-1993 and was in #1 ER with me. On the 18th of August 2021
ENFN Randy Cale Fisher was taken from us do to liver failure. The will be a celebration of life this coming weekend in I believe Marion, VA area. His daughter reached out to me and said she would provide the details. If anyone in this group has Jeff Caldwell’s number please relay it to him. Him and Randy were like Mutt and Jeff in #1 ER!!! Please keep the family in your prayers!!!
Jeff Sliker

Do you remember a shipmate or have a family member who served aboard the Fresno who has passed on? Enter their name below, and we will add them to our list.