Sara and Annie Frederickson; Anna Schneeberger, Shelly Frederickson, Joe W. Frederickson, Tania Frederickson Liesener, Joe P. Frederickson, Jamie Frederickson; Joseph S. Frederickson, Julia Hoffman, Sergio Violante, Jonah Frederickson, Karin Frederickson, Christopher Frederickson.
Frederickson Family story
by Karin Frederickson
After a horrific car accident Joe and I had last September 2020, I decided we would do something special to celebrate our family who means so much to us! We had talked about going to Beaufort, NC years ago as we knew the Yancey was sunk off the coast. So, during early spring 2021, I hatched the plan! We would take Joe and our entire family, who all live fairly close to us in North Lake, Wisconsin, to the site where the Yancey was sunk! I talked with our three adult children to make sure it would fit into their busy schedules and we decided July 17-24 would be the week. I was able to find a company--Outrageous Diving out of Beaufort, NC--that was willing to take our family of 14 out to the Yancey site. I then found a beautiful home on Harker's Island that would handle our large group and made the flight reservations. We also had special shirts made for the entire family that said "Frederickson Voyage to the USS Yancey" with a picture of the Yancey. Now, we needed to keep it a secret from Joe. That was the most difficult as we were all so excited to do this for him. Joe enlisted in the Navy when he was 17 years old in 1963--right after graduating high school. He loved being in the Navy and his time on the USS Yancey. Our house is full of nautical artifacts and antiques and he has an abundance of Yancey shirts, hats, sweatshirts and a jacket too. Joe got in on a "kiddie cruise" on the Yancey and was honorably discharged as an E-4 Boiler Technician.
As Joe and I had visited North Carolina in the past when our youngest son played hockey there, he did want to go back, so I just told him we were taking a trip back to North Carolina, and that our son Christopher would take us to the airport. The entire family met him at the terminal with their shirts on--Joe was in shock--he thought the kids and grandkids had come to see the two of us off on our trip--at 6:30 a.m.!
Monday morning, we arrived at Beaufort to board the "Carolina Rig" and begin our 3-hour long voyage out to the Yancey. The crew was most accommodating and invited Joe to view the Yancey on their sonar! I had ordered a biodegradable wreath and we also had carnations for each to leave as we hovered above the Yancey. Our son, Joe said a prayer:
It is You O God who is in control of the sea and it is you who calms all storms so that the waves are still. Lord, we pray that those at sea will travel with your heavenly authority so that they may be protected and remain at peace; this is the prayer of our hearts, Amen.
Heavenly Father, we also pray that You will be the ultimate guide for all the living sailors who have served on the USS Yancey, especially Joseph and that you keep them safe. We also pray for all the deceased shipmates of Joseph who served on the USS Yancey that You hold them in your loving embrace. We ask this and all things through Christ Our Lord. AMEN.
USN Joe then placed a wreath over the site.
It was a wonderful time for all of us to be together and celebrate the USS Yancey and Joe's time in the Navy.
As Joe and I had visited North Carolina in the past when our youngest son played hockey there, he did want to go back, so I just told him we were taking a trip back to North Carolina, and that our son Christopher would take us to the airport. The entire family met him at the terminal with their shirts on--Joe was in shock--he thought the kids and grandkids had come to see the two of us off on our trip--at 6:30 a.m.!
Monday morning, we arrived at Beaufort to board the "Carolina Rig" and begin our 3-hour long voyage out to the Yancey. The crew was most accommodating and invited Joe to view the Yancey on their sonar! I had ordered a biodegradable wreath and we also had carnations for each to leave as we hovered above the Yancey. Our son, Joe said a prayer:
It is You O God who is in control of the sea and it is you who calms all storms so that the waves are still. Lord, we pray that those at sea will travel with your heavenly authority so that they may be protected and remain at peace; this is the prayer of our hearts, Amen.
Heavenly Father, we also pray that You will be the ultimate guide for all the living sailors who have served on the USS Yancey, especially Joseph and that you keep them safe. We also pray for all the deceased shipmates of Joseph who served on the USS Yancey that You hold them in your loving embrace. We ask this and all things through Christ Our Lord. AMEN.
USN Joe then placed a wreath over the site.
It was a wonderful time for all of us to be together and celebrate the USS Yancey and Joe's time in the Navy.
