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U.S.S. Green Bay (PG-101)
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Currently the city of Green Bay, WI, has a scale model of the USS Green Bay, and a display built around it.
There had been talk of the foreign navy to whom the USS Green Bay was sold is getting rid of the ship, there has been some talk of buying it and turning it into a museum in Green Bay, WI.
However, it turns out that the former USS Green Bay is on active duty in the Hellenic Navy as the HS Tolmi (P-229). The commander of the HS Tolmi, LCDR Ioannis Kakavas HN, was kind enough to send pictures of the ship and the ship's crest.
So: no museum at least until/if the hull is retired from the Helenic Navy.
Personally, I like the idea that she's still working.
Thanks to T.O. Kerley, first Captain of the U.S.S. Green Bay (PG-101) for pointing me to this story.
Story from the Green Bay Press-Gazette, some time in 1999. Posted here with permission of Carol Green, executive editor, Green Bay Post-Gazette (Wednesday, 25-April-2001).
Group pushing to create ship museum in Green BayVessel named after city sought for purchase BY SEAN SCHULTZ The Brown County Harbor Commission may spearhead a project to bring the USS Green Bay back to its namesake city. Volunteers who want to work on a proposed ship museum are being sought, said Charles Larscheid, director of Brown County’s Port and Solid Waste The port director said U.S. Rep. Mark Green and auxiliary members from the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy have expressed interest in a ship museum project. The group needs a leader and some funding ideas, Larscheid said. Donors are also needed. “The state has said perhaps they could help through the Department of Tourism,” he said. Larscheid said a committee would need to investigate possible affiliations with the ship to enhance Green Bay as a tourist destination. Some considerations include the Neville Museum, the Port of Green Bay and the Visitor and Convention Bureau. “There are a number of these in the U.S.,” he said. “It’s questionable whether any of these earn money.” A ship museum also requires regular maintenance. “Anything sitting in water takes a lot of upkeep.” The commission also discussed the availability of funds to match Market Destination Grants to help attract cruise ships to the port. He said two cruise ships may come through Green Bay this fall and two more are expected next year. The commission will invite other ports to work together on a project to attract cruise ships. The USS Green Bay is a Vietnam War-era Navy gunboat which was designed for river patrols. The ship was built in Door County by Peterson Builders. It is 165 feet long and made of a lightweight aluminum hull and aluminum and fiberglass superstructure. Powered by a jet turbine used in F-4 Phantom airplanes, it was one of the fastest ships in the U.S. Navy. It was the last of 17 Asheville Class patrol gunboats produced for the U.S. Navy, five of which were built in Sturgeon Bay. ———————————————————————————————— |
In an email of Tue, 24 Apr 2001, regarding the USS Green Bay museum, Dean R. Haen <Haen_DR@co.brown.wi.us>, Port Manager (Port of Green Bay) says:
"... For the past 3 years the Green Bay area has had a museum ship committee working on the prospect of returning the USS Green Bay. Unfortunately, the estimated cost is very high and the committee has questioned the likelihood of raising the money. As a result, the prospect of returning the USS Green Bay is on hold."
Dean R. Haen, Port Manager (Port of Green Bay)
Brown County Port and Solid Waste Department
2561 S. Broadway St.
Green Bay, WI 54304Phone: 920-492-4950
(But see HS Tolmi page!)
In an email of Sun, 30 Sep 2001, LCDR Kirk Benson, Commanding Officer of Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center, Green Bay, says that discussions are still under way:
"I just attended a meeting on Thursday at the Brown County Recycling and Waste Facility concerning bringing GREEN BAY back to Green Bay. Other organizations represented included the City of Green Bay, Green Bay Chamber of Commerce, Visitors Bureau and the Retired Officers Association. You may already know about this, but if not, Mr. Dean Haen is the point of contact. He can be reached at 920-492-4950. I believe we will be having another meeting in about a month."
Thanks for the update, Kirk.
If anyone has any ideas, please contact Dean R. Haen, Port Manager (Port of Green Bay). I do not know if there is a charitable (i.e., tax deductible) fund to which we can make contributions. I will update this page when I find out.
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