President’s Forum
Communication from the President
Brendan Holmes
Mon, Dec 29, 10:57 PM (20 hours ago)
To: USS Wisconsin Association Members
Seasons Greeting and Happy New Year shipmates. I'd like to take this opportunity to bring our association up to date with a few items as we close out 2025.
As noted we have published a new website and our previous website USSWISCONSIN.ORG will cease on or about year's end. If there is anything that you'd like to visit or view from this website you may want to do so before the New Year. I have backed up the content from this website and we will be incorporating some of this into our new website, USSWISCONSIN.COM over the next few months. Keith Cornelius, our newest member of the Presidential Advisory Board is our new webmaster/historian. He replaced Dom Menta and is working diligently to update the site expeditiously. We appreciate your patience as we address some critical issues. If you'd like to see something on our new website, please reach out to Keith directly (corneliuskeith101@gmail.com)
We have implemented a new software to publish our Badger and due to a learning curve, the current year-end issue was delayed. It was sent to the printer prior to Christmas so you should receive this issue soon. If there is something that you'd like to see or have us mention in upcoming issues please reach out directly to Ray via email (bugster999@yahoo.com) for review and approval. The transition from Microsoft Word to Canva will allow us to use a template and make the job easier for our editor Ray Sandberg.
If you're not aware we have implemented a lifetime membership for $100 or you can choose to pay the annual membership dues of $25/year. If you have joined our association for multiple years and choose to renew your membership for the lifetime option, any funds received will be credited toward this. Please communicate this directly to our membership chairman. Our membership chairman, Mike Brown, has notified me that there are members who have not renewed their membership and he has tried to reach them via information we have on file. If you have updated contact information, please feel free to reach out to him directly via email (firedogblaze1966@aim.com).
Please be advised that the executive board has made the decision to send hard copies of the Badger only to active members of our association who have paid their dues. If your membership has lapsed or if you need to update your contact information please reach out directly to Mike. The costs to print and mail the Badger exceeds $7/per issue, or just over $21/year for the three issues and we can only anticipate that the costs will steadily increase over the foreseeable future. This is why we are reaching out as a friendly reminder to those members who may have missed these reminders to consider renewing their membership. You can renew your membership directly via our website at:
https://www.usswisconsin.com/join-us
Our next issue of the Badger will include information pertaining to our reunion, shirt ordering and hopefully an itinerary for October 8th through the 11th. Our Vice President Leo Kenworthy is in charge of the reunion and he can be reached directly (lkenworthy13@gmail.com). Our reunion has been planned and will take place at the Sandcastle Resort located on Virginia Beach. The executive committee unanimously agreed after countless hours of negotiation with hotels in vicinity to the ship, As such we were not able to secure favorable lodging that would not place our association in jeopardy. Considering that we are entering the twilight of our association, please help us spread the word about our upcoming reunion. We hope to make the final reunions amazing and provide memories that will last a long time.
Please take a moment to check information from our new website. If your name, rate/rank, time onboard, etc., is incorrect, please let Keith know. As noted we are in the process of updating the new website and will be incorporating information from the previous website. As a work in progress we will work to address your concerns in a professional manner as time permits.
Warm Regards,
Brendan Holmes
USS Wisconsin Association President
OS2/OI Division Tomahawk DBM 1989-1991
Good afternoon Shipmates,
At approximately 1739 EST 16 January, 0139 17 January in theater 35 years ago, the coalition forces commenced an offensive attack with the goal of liberating the sovereign country of Kuwait. The 167-day buildup aptly named Operation Desert Shield in and around the Persian Gulf came to an end. As multiple units launched multi-faceted and coordinated attack strikes against the military forces of Iraq, Operation Desert Shield became Operation Desert Storm. The goal was the complete removal of the military occupation from Kuwait. Those of us who valiantly served and those who have served before us aboard our glorious ship, the USS Wisconsin (BB-64) in previous wars, hoped and some prayed for a quick and safe implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 678.
As a young sailor of just 21-years old I distinctly remember with pride and admiration serving alongside the best and brightest our US Navy had to offer. As an Operation Specialist assigned to the Tomahawk Weapons Control System as a Database Manager in Combat Engagement Center/Strike Warfare I felt an overwhelming sense of pride serving alongside the sailors and Marines assigned to the last & most prestigious battleship in our fleet.
At or about 0000 17 January 1991, General Quarters was initiated and our Mess Specialists served us Mid-Rats (Midnight Rations) some, or most, of us sat with tepid feelings of concern as we contemplated our mission rapidly unfolding before us. We collectively answered the call of our Commander-In-Chief, President George HW Bush and our military leaders and executed our duties to the best of our ability. These collective efforts helped us to achieve an overwhelming victory as we met our goal of the successful implementation of the UN Resolution and the complete liberation of Kuwait from Iraqi oppression.
As your elected president of the USS Wisconsin Association, along with the members of our Executive Committee, we want to take this moment to personally thank our members. The selfless efforts placed, as we gallantly fought to protect and defend the US Constitution and our way of life, was unsurpassed. We should hold our heads high as we reflect on the successful mission that we were tasked with.
As we prepare to gather together this upcoming Columbus Day weekend as we meet for our reunion we hope that those who we served alongside can participate in this reunion. Leo Kenworthy, our VP is working diligently to ensure that our reunion is unsurpassed. We hope to have a completed and confirmed itinerary in place for our next upcoming badger. Here is where we need your assistance. Please help us reach former shipmates so that we can include them in our reunion. Each reunion is a great opportunity to share stories with former shipmates, friends both new and old. Lets celebrate the 35th reunion of Desert Storm along with our members from both WWII and Korea in Virginia Beach this October.
Please help us to bolster our membership by sharing this link with former shipmates who may not be aware of our association.
https://www.usswisconsin.com/join-us
Here is a video from President George HW Bush announcing the commencement of Operation Desert Storm.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJ6qpFpIFkY
Here is a video of the opening Tomahawks and subsequent launches over the next 2 days.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I059Hmvkjpo
Warm Regards,
Brendan Holmes OS2/OI Division 1989-1991
USS Wisconsin Association, President