Essex Officers and Members, when someone is reported deceased, please forward if available any obituary and/or a newspaper story to the Essex Secretary.

You have blessed America with your service and set an example for not only Navy SAILORS today and tomorrow but for all Americans."

 Any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile ... can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction, 'I served in the United States Navy'." -- 

President John F. Kennedy 1963, Annapolis, MD

Men mean more than guns in the rating of a ship.-- John Paul Jones"

Unto the Almighty we commend the souls of our departed shipmates, and we commit their bodies to the deep; in sure and certain hope that one day she will give up her dead."

Member Name

(*) = Non Member, (L)=Life Member, (A)=Associate Member

As of January 1, 2010, ONLY USS Essex  Members and Family  will be listed.

Name

SALUTE TO THE SAILOR'S WIFE

Being "Married to the Navy" is a very common expression among Navy Wives. It soon becomes obvious why.

THE NAVY WIVES CREED

When the good Lord was creating Navy Wives, he was into his sixth day of overtime, an Angel appeared and said, "Are you having a lot of trouble with this one?  What's wrong with the standard model?"   The Lord replied, "Have you seen the specifications on this order? She has to be completely independent, must be sponsored to get on the base, have the quality of both mother and father during cruises, be a perfect hostess to four or forty, run on black coffee, handle emergencies without a BUPERS manual,  be able to handle the flu,  birthdays, and moves around the world if need be on a moments notice,  have a kiss that can heal anything from a child's torn valentine to her husband's weary day,  have the patience of a saint when waiting for the ship to come in, and have six pair of hands."  The Angel shook her head slowly and said "Six Pair of Hands, no way!" The Lord answering, "Don't worry,  we'll create other navy wives to help.  Besides, it's not the hands that are causing the problem, it's the Heart.  The Heart must swell with pride in her husband, sustain the ache of separations,  beat on soundly and strongly when it's too tired to do so, be large enough to say I understand when she really doesn't and say I Love You regardless." "Lord" said Angel, touching his sleeve gently, "come to bed, you can finish this tomorrow." "I can't" said the Lord. "I'm so close to creating something unique.  Already I have one that heals herself when she is sick, can feed three unexpected guests who were stuck in the area due to bad weather, and can wave goodbye to her husband from a pier or runway and fully understand that it is important to our country that he leaves." The Angel circled the model of the Navy Wife very slowly.  "It's too soft" she sighed. "But touch" said the Lord excitedly.  "You cannot imagine what this woman can do or endure." "Can she think?" asked the Angel. "Can she think! Why she can convert 1400 to 2:00P.M." Finally the Angel bent over and gently ran her fingers across the models cheek.  "There is a leak" she pronounced. "I told you that you were trying to put to much into this model." "It's not a leak" said the Lord. "It's a Tear." "What for?" asked the Angel. "It's for Joy,  Sadness, Pain,  Disappointment,  Loneliness, and Pride!" "You're a genius" exclaimed the Angel...The Lord looked somberly at the angel and replied, "I didn't put it there."       "Author Unknown"