MILITARY REUNION NEWS

USS DeWert Reunion

USS DeWert’s first official reunion was held in November 2021 at the fabulous Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina and the Patriot's Point Museum and by all accounts, everyone had a great time. The official quarterdeck mat made its appearance and remained as a welcoming sign for everyone who passed by. (Thanks to Mike Hollingsworth for transporting that heavy thing to the reunion.)

Folks filtered in throughout the afternoon and it was fun looking up and seeing familiar faces walking through the doorway. Right next door was the Reel Bar that became the other unofficial gathering spot. It wasn't long before laughter became the predominant sound at that end of the resort. As evening came, we met up on the patio for a delicious spread of coconut shrimp, bacon wrapped scallops, artichoke dip, pimento cheese, warm brie with toast points, and some of the most delicious chocolate brownies ever made.

Buddy Parson, President of the USS DeWert Reunion Association, made his introductory remarks, followed by Delta Hinson who took over with a trivia contest that covered the life of the ship. Congrats to Greg Doan for answering the most questions correctly. Fast fingers and a vast collection of DeWert pictures on his phone may have been a factor in Greg’s win.

We then moved indoors for a White Elephant gift exchange. Folks brought wrapped gifts from their neck of the woods and the exchange began. If you've never participated in one of these it's a lot of fun. As people take a turn they can either select a wrapped gift or "steal" one that's already been opened. Pat Parson holds

Operations Specialists (OS) (left to right) Delta Hinson, David Adams, Derek Leistra, Richard Dondero two distinctions. One, she has a sixth sense for selecting any gift that was alcohol related. That being said, the second is that she also had the most gifts stolen from her. I believe the total was six steals. Afterwards folks gathered at the fire pits and inside to continue catching up. Friday found small groups getting together for breakfast out on the town, touring the Patriot’s Point Museum including the USS Yorktown and the USS Laffey. The latter is a WWII destroyer that absorbed 6 kamikaze hits and survived, limping her way back from the Western Pacific to the states. Several groups headed downtown on a beautiful sunny, but cool day to explore all that downtown Charleston had to offer. Others headed to tour the Civil War era submarine Hunley and visit historic cemeteries that date back to the 1700s. Friday evening found many gathering for a dinner cruise around Charleston Harbor. The meal was outstanding and feeling the deck move a bit underneath you brought back memories of dining on the mess deck while underway. Cruising under the new, and much larger, Ravenel bridge was a very impressive sight that signaled the end of the ride. Arriving back at the pier we headed back to the hotel and quite a few headed to the Reel Bar for a nightcap and more stories. Saturday dawned clear and cool with a breeze off the water. Thankfully there was a full breakfast buffet set out that was a great way to start the day. Following breakfast we held the DeWert Reunion Association business meeting. The constitution and bylaws were reviewed and accepted. Per the by-laws, the officer's positions are elected to LCDR Larry Parker and Kristine Parker. separate terms so we are not replacing the entire

USS DeWert reunion group.

slate at one time. Up for election this year were the President and Secretary positions. VP Reggie Brown was elected President, and Kevin Justesen was elected Secretary. Since Reggie was in the position of VP, his position had to be filled. Derek Leistra was elected to fill the remainder of the VP's term. A huge thank you and BZ (Bravo Zulu/Well Done) to Buddy Parson for the job he's done over the last two years leading the association and bringing everyone together for this reunion. After some discussion it was decided that the next reunion will be held in Jacksonville, Florida, in November 2023. Following the meeting, power naps while football was on seemed to be the plan of the day. That brought us to Saturday’s premier event, the formal banquet onboard the USS Yorktown. Several members looked fantastic in full dress uniforms and Admiral Doran promised to break his uniform out for the next reunion. The setting onboard was fantastic. The banquet was held on the hangar deck with a B-25 Mitchell Bomber (The Ruptured Duck) as one backdrop. Similar B-25's had flown from carriers to strike mainland Japan early in WWII. Behind the stage was an enormous American flag that served as the other backdrop for the festivities.

LCDR Larry Parker began the remarks portion of the evening with a moving tribute to all POW/MIA's who have not yet returned home. Following LCDR Parker's speech, Delta read a speech from the ship's first Executive Officer, Captain Bogle. We wish he could have been there to present his remarks in person and he was missed. Bogle's speech did a great job capturing the camaraderie that grew during the ship's pre-commissioning days and flowed into the early years of the ship. ADM Doran, DeWert's second commander, followed with fantastic remarks about how a ship takes on the attributes of her crew, and how the crew then takes on the attributes of their ship. And while DeWert is not physically plying the high seas, every time her crew gets together, for a short time at least, the watch is set again and DeWert is back. Let us never allow the spirit of the USS DeWert to fade. Following three outstanding speeches, we quickly covered the results of the online, silent auction. Delta Hinson was in charge of administering the auction. He and Master Chief David Frey had a very spirited bidding war going on throughout the day. Delta mentioned that he had a secret method and assured several folks that he was going to outbid Frey. Sadly, Delta did not notice that time slipped away and when he looked, the auction had ended. Guess who won the items … Master Chief Frey. Guess who gets to deliver said items to Master Chief … yep, Delta. Wishing you the best when that happens Delta! The auction raised over $2,500 which all goes to the Association. Thank you to all of those who donated items and all of those who bid, it was a great success. One other note on the auction. If you'd like to know why his name is now Buddy "Ashtray" Parson, you can ask him at the next reunion. What banquet would be complete if there was no entertainment. Reggie Brown brought Flashback, the Party Band, onboard. Reggie is the lead singer for the band and if you ever get a chance to see Reggie perform you're in for a treat. Reggie knocked it out of the park and had everyone moving. To make the

gig even more special and unique, Neil McEvoy played bass with the band. He looked and played like he'd been with the band forever. And much too quickly, our time onboard the Yorktown came to an end. That doesn’t mean the night came to an end, just the banquet. Oh, no, we headed back to the resort and commandeered the Reel Bar again. There may or may not have been some members of a wedding party in there, and like soldiers, airmen, or marines, when they saw the Navy coming they figured they should just clear out. (In fine Naval tradition we shut down the Reel Bar as well).

Sunday morning dawned and we all made our way to the private breakfast. As we finished our meal, everyone had a chance to address the group one last time and share any memories, insights, or words of wisdom. The theme that seemed to stand out was what a positive, long-lasting impact the DeWert and her crew had on the lives of so many who served onboard FFG-45. Finally, the last official event was led by David Houghton and Dave Guarino as we held a memorial service that recognized all of the DeWert shipmates who have passed away. Two bells were tolled for each name that was read. Taps was played and honors were rendered to our fallen shipmates. And just like that, we had come to the completion of our first reunion. Like all great times, the days flew by and we soon found ourselves heading back home.

We'd like to take this time to thank everyone who made this reunion such a great time and resounding success. Thank you to the small group who back in June of 2019 thought it would be a good idea to hold a reunion. To Delta Hinson for his wisdom and experience as we got the Association off the ground. He helped us navigate the early obstacles and set us on a good path. To the first officers of the Association who took a leap of faith and a willingness to shoulder the responsibilities of getting an organization off the ground, starting from nothing. Especially Buddy Parson and Wayne Wilcher. They both spent countless hours checking out venues, talking with caterers, vendors, and location managers, and securing great rates in contracts. Thank you to those who jumped on bi-weekly Zoom calls and added their insights and suggestions that helped fine tune the reunion and make it something special. And especially to each and every one of you who served aboard USS DeWert. Many of you went to great lengths to attend our first reunion and it is greatly appreciated. Many others wanted to attend and were unable because life and circumstances wouldn't allow it. Know that you were greatly missed. While you might not have been able to make it, you were and are remembered and there's a very good chance you were talked about. November 2023 will be here before you know it. Our hope is that the legacy of the DeWert and her crew will continue on forever and that our reunions will grow over time. Just as FFG-45 left her mark around the world and in the history books, let’s continue to show that the spirit of the DeWert lives on. “Daring, Dauntless, Defiant.” Till we meet again, fair winds and following seas, USS DeWert Reunion Association. Report and photos shared by Delta Hinson, Virginia Beach, Virginia, with input from David Houghton.

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USS Corry DD/DDR Reunion

Members of the USS Corry DD/DDR reunion report having a terrific time in Warwick, Rhode Island, at the Crown Plaza Hotel. All were grateful to put the challenges of 2020 in the record books. Thanks to Richard and Sally Barnier for a great job of hosting and to their many helpers who made this reunion special.

Most important to the success of our reunions are the attendees, shipmates and soulmates who always make it memorable and exciting! I always look forward to seeing everyone and am genuinely disappointed when some can’t make it.

The Crown Plaza was an outstanding hotel choice and probably the most reunion friendly hotel we’ve ever stayed at. They were most accommodating and exceeded our expectations on every level. A very special gift came from Master Winemaker Rich Barnier for providing all the attendees with bottles of Great Tasting, privately labeled USS Corry Wines.

Our tour, “A Taste of Rhode Island” was well attended and fun. The trip took us to the capital city, Providence, founded in 1636, and filled with three centuries of history and culture. We learned a lot about this wonderful little state as we toured the city. As the name of this tour indicated, our culinary adventure introduced us to some of Rhode Island’s most famous foods as well as a good deal of the history of Providence. The tour ended with all the attendees receiving a certificate proclaiming them to be official citizens of the Ocean State.

There was plenty of free time for individual activities, socializing, renewing friendships with a great banquet to close out the weekend. Looking forward to 2022, the members voted on Nashville, Tennessee. for our next reunion and plans are being made for another great gathering.

Reported by Patrick McGoohan, Secretary of the USS CorryDD/DDR 817 Association.

USS Corry DD/DDR Reunion group in Warwick, Rhode Island

Youth & Responsibility

A Naval Reunion Remembrance

It was September 1999 and the fourth USS Eugene A. Greene (DD-711) Reunion in Baltimore, Maryland. Hurricane Floyd had made an unexpected visit however, over one hundred shipmates braved the storm and arrived to celebrate their time served on the naval destroyer.

For many it had been over thirty years since they had served their nation in the US Navy. Serving on a destroyer is unique because you live close to the sea and close to one another. Lasting friendships are formed and endure throughout the years.

Destroyers are rightfully called the workhorse or greyhound of the sea. Each crew member is critical to the functioning of the ship. Many of our shipmates were onboard in 1966 and served in the ship’s Vietnam deployment. Over the years, USS Eugene A. Greene ship had sailed around the world and served in Asia, South America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Our guest speaker for the Greene Reunion was J. Scott Harmon, at that time Director, US Naval Academy Museum. His speech reflected on the time he served on USS E. A. Greene. The speech was titled Youth and Responsibility.

“The theme that keeps recurring in my mind is youth and responsibility. Thirty years, fifty years and more have passed since those days. As we gather here in reunion, we are young once more. The years have melted away … time stands still as we once again see our friends and shipmates of long ago. And we tell wonderful ‘sea stories’ that unite shipmates. All “sea stories” are true…some of them even happened. “As I think back on those days, I am amazed at how young we were … seaman and foreman … seventeen … eighteen and nineteen years old ... senior petty officers in their twenties and really old-timers, chiefs perhaps in their thirties. Forty was ancient, reserved for the oldest, wisest chiefs and captain. The responsibility we were given at such a youthful age was incredible! “Nowhere is responsibility more shared and more equal than on a destroyer. Each person, from seaman apprentice to captain, has his duties. We think of the captain of the ship as having responsibility for the ship, but to my mind, everyone on board shares equal responsibilities.

Bob Clark & Admiral Joe Lopez, both were junior officers on board the USS E.A. Greene in 1966.

USS Eugene A Greene

USS Eugene A Greene (DD-711) patch

“A fireman keeping constant watch on a sight glass on a boiler, making sure that the water level is in sight and that the boiler has the proper amount of water. If the water level gets too high or too low, the boiler is at hazard that people might die. The duty is hot and dull, but vital! The fireman is responsible for not only the boiler, but for the lives of his shipmates and ultimately for the ship.” Youth and responsibility continues to be the recurring theme.

It is true that few recollections overcome the hazards of sentimentality. Nostalgia has its way of producing its own emotions and sensations, but my remembrance of this reunion was that of a young person. The E. A. Greene (DD-711) was my home and passage to a larger world than I had known. She was a “window to the world” and was a teacher of responsibility, trust, respect and friendship that has lasted over the years. The lessons of youth and responsibility have served me well in my past career and personal life. Reminiscence of Robert J. Clark, Louisville, Kentucky.

Scott Harmon, Earl W. Sapp, Commanding Officer, Bob Clark and Jad Sortore.

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