Now Hear This!

                        Sorry many of you couldn’t attend our reunion in Jeffersonville, Indiana this past July 24-27^th.  We had approximately 80 crewmembers and their wives and family attend.  The Ramada Inn was a very nice place to stay and close to the LST-325 (only 3 blocks away).  A good time was had by all. Our Crewmember Terry Leahy was one of the crewmembers onboard the LST-325 and was very busy during our stay. The location of the reunion was very close to many attractions in the Louisville, KY area.  The one thing that sticks out in my mind was that due to the heavy rains we’ve had the Ohio River sure looked allot like the Mekong Delta, Bassac River in Vietnam with it’s true color, brown.  The only difference was that there weren’t any PBR’s or Riverine ships on it, except LST-325.

                        Friday night at the American Legion a dinner was held for the crewmembers and families, which was very nice. After the meal BMC John Pullin commenced telling sea stories which led into the night. One LST sailor from WW II showed up by mistake late and got up and told his sea stories of all the action he saw in the Pacific from 1942-1946. He had some great tales to tell and everyone was glued to their chairs as he described the action he saw.

                        Saturday night at the Ramada Inn, our dinner was held in conjunction with our business meeting so we could include our families as well.  BMC John Pullin and QM2 George Stankus were the key speakers and ran the meeting after the dinner. We honored our shipmates, which passed away and joined in Naval song, led by LTJG Dan Coffey.  Thanks go out to LTJG Dan Jeff, GMG3 Len Edelen for supplying the crew with table favors and souvenirs of the reunion.  As custom has it, we acknowledged “The Oldest Crewmember present: CS3 Earl D. Ozee ”, “The Youngest Crewmember present: EN2 Patrick L. Sullivan”, and the Crewmember who came the farthest to the reunion: ET2 Bernard F. Cummins and his wife Myra from Danville, CA.  And among the first timers were:  QM3 Sam Grimes and his wife Mary, SN Albert Poole and wife Ruby, IC2 Joe Flores, QM3 Emery Chadwick and wife Barbara, S2c John Cataline and wife Audrey, QM3 Jack Abraitis and wife Elizabeth, SN Joe Gatti and his brother.  You all have won 7 days of leave or early liberty which ever you prefer, at our next port of call.

                        QM2 George Stankus presented the financial statement and acknowledged the past crewmembers, which have worked hard to keep our shipmates of the USS Sumner County together, (Then and Now).  After George’s presentation I took the opportunity to give some items back to the crew, which I had.  To QM3 Jack Abraitis, he was given his Pea coat back after 35 years of safe keeping, “ he still fit in it”, BZ Jack.  I also decided to honor our crewmembers, which have went the extra mile in putting together our reunions past and present.  The award is called “The Silver Fork Award” and was made with silver forks, which I acquired from the Sumner County when we decommissioned it in Orange Texas, 1969. This years crewmembers were BMC John Pullin and GMG3 Len Edelen and QM2 George Stankus.  Awards were given to past crewmembers as follows: EN2 Douglas Spencer, LTJG John Hervey, LTJG Dan Coffey, LTJG Terry Leahy, GMGSN Ray Gauer.  I running out of forks, so if you have any out there, let me know. Ha Ha

                        During the meeting the following issues were settled:

1. Crew Roster                   We will add a category to each crewmembers record to include a next of kin contact. (Doug Bergs Responsible)

2. Donations                       We will send Sumner County, TN Museum a $200.00 donation in our name.  (George Stankus Responsible)

3. Treasurers Job              QM2 George Stankus has accepted the workload for another tour of 2 years.

4. 2005 Reunion                 It will be held in Gallitin, TN, Sumner County the 3^rd weekend in Sept or there about.  (Henry Kipp, Dan Coffey, George Stankus, Doug Bergs Responsible)

5. 2007 Reunion                 Voted to hold it on the East Coast (Location to be determined 2005 Reunion)

6. Women’s Meeting         During our Reunions a planned breakfast or get together will be scheduled for the women of our crewmembers.