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To F1/c George Desharnais

USS YMS 427 WWll

From: Jim Minor, Past President,

NAVAL MINEWAREFARE ASSOCIATION

224 Angelus Drive

Salinas, Ca. 93906

(408) 449-5352

       Information for prospective members---recommended by those who belong

The NMA was formed in 1982 in San Antonio, Texas by a very “salty” group of sailors.  They had served on various Minecraft prior to WW-ll and were quite proud of this special field of endeavor.  You see, each of them were members of the “Pearl Harbor Survivors Association”  So, in a sense, the NMA is an offspring of the well-known elite organization!  Like “submariners”, “tin-can sailors “,”Airdales” And Battleships  and Cruiser sailors, these men had a burning desire to “bunk with their own kind”.  And, as a result, this organization of Minecraft sailors was formed.  Many of these men had served on old four stacker destroyers that had been converted to DMs and DMSs .  Some had served on old coastal and yard minesweepers, and yet others had been on the larger mine layers of the fleet.  So, there was common ground among them!  It might be said that the NMA is a social oriented organization, it has great purpose.  It is officially recognized by such governmental offices as the postal service and the I.R.S.  as a non-profit veterans’ organization and must meet certain requirements.  Members attending the annual NMA convention are considered voting members, and as such, may use a portion of their expense of attending for tax purposes.  The NMA has supported the statue of liberty foundation, the navy memorial , the USS turkey project, Sea scouts and the NMA’s special program, its very own “flagship”, the USS Hazard AM-240, which is at freedom park in Omaha, Nebraska.

Available through the NMA small stores are such items as baseball caps sporting the red, white and blue logo and other items related to the mine specialty.

Membership dues are reasonable—only $10.00 a year with a $5.00 iniation fee the first year.  New members receive a membership card, a beautiful NMA logo lapel or hat pin, a Ladies’ logo pendant necklace and a current edition of the official newsletter.  All members receive quarterly the newsletter, “The Silent Defenders”, which features Historical stories and documented facts about men and ships of the mine forces, past, present and future.  A special feature is the “ yesterday’s ships—were are they?”  You won’t want to miss a single issue of this and you can’t put it down till you’ve read it cover to cover.

Annual conventions are held in a different region each year by dividing the United States into three regions—east, central and west.  The attendance usually averages 500+.

I highly recommend membership in the Naval Minewarfare Association.  This is an elite group—one in which YOU BELONG!

Jim Minor-NMA Membership Chairman