JANUARY 2008 NEWSLETTER
I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and I'd like to wish each and every one of you all the best for 2008.
With the 2007 USS Davidson reunion and a well deserved holiday break for the staff, we are back to start the 2008 season.
The year 2008 will mark the 20 th anniversary of the decommissioning of the ship after twenty-three years of service to her country. We hope to have some new souvenirs to reflect that and also incorporate the event into the October reunion program.
Our 2008 reunion will be October 9, 10 & 11 in Branson, MO.
Since my last newsletter in July of 2007, I have made contact with the following former crewmembers:
Dean Abraham
Ricky Little
Charlie Adams
David Alexander
Marvin Pumphrey
James Parrow
Dennis Mathews
Eudore Drury
Gregg Baer
Ron Wallace
Richard Dugdale
John Nevenhoven
John Bolinski
Terry W. Apthorp
Don Turner
Terry Bailey
James Lowery
Craig Kleint
Ron Rulli
Abel Aran
Kevin Bush
Stephen Benedict
William Moraca
Frank Barefield
James Sjohun
Gary Keener
Larry Kraft
Tim Wallace
Mingo F. Cope
John Whiteing |
William Baird
Terrance Weldon
Felix Quinn
Edward Blust
Thomas Behrle
Allan Bonner
Larry Brake
Scott Bulfinch
Thomas Backora
Kenneth Berns
John Brayman
Daniel J. Callahan
Robert Buckley
Robert Reitter
Mark Sullivan
Steven Avila
Donald Harvell
Kevin Lewis
Terry Scovell
Kenneth Beins
William Toler
Jake Soden
James Oleson
James Gates
Raymond Piaskowski
Gary Byrer
Parvin Neloms
Pedro Baybayan
Curt Butler |
If there is anyone from the above list that you would like to contact, please write me for their address, phone number or e-mail address.
It is always sad to have to report deceased crewmembers. The following have been reported to me recently:
Harrell G. Musgrove
Arthur Beck [2000]
George Filis [1987]
Guy McFadden [2007] |
William Arbogast [1989]
William H. Bousquest
Renaldo Beneditti [2007]
Patrick Collins |
We need a good photo of each of the above deceased crewmembers for the website. If you have one available that we could use, please let me know.
I would also like to report that after being listed as deceased for several years, we have found out that Bill Eldred is alive and well.
For those of you who remember the television series “Hawaii 5-0”, the second season is now out on DVD.
John Jones stopped in Newton in October and we had a short visit.
Word has been received from Russell Crosby of a new book that he highly recommends. It is “Quicksilver – A Greyhound At Sea” by CDR. Jack Wells. This book tells what life was like onboard a destroyer in WestPac during the Viet Nam era.
Deke Keller presented to the Gerald Ford Presidential Museum in Michigan, a flag that flew over the USS Arizona. It was presented to the museum from the entire crew of the USS Davidson. Deke was assured by the caretaker that it would be displayed in the oval office.
At the 2007 reunion, Harry Shearer donated a reel of 8-MM movie film to the Association. He took this film in the 1970's. We have converted it over to DVD and it is now a part of our archives and can be purchased from the Association. We encourage others to do the same with any old movie film or photos to preserve them.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Curtis Lawson who recently had surgery. Cards and letters can be sent to him at 116 Sharondale Lane, Simsonville, SC 29680.
Be sure to check out the recap for the 2007 reunion posted elsewhere on the website.
The next newsletter will be in April. Until then, mark your calendar for the next reunion and talk to your shipmates about joining us in October in Branson.
Now Turn to
Continue Ship's Work
Tweetie
Robert "Tweetie Bird" Schippers
President
U.S.S. DAVIDSON Reunion Association
A message from the President…