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The USS Davidson DE/FF1045 reunion was held at the Grand Country Inn in Branson, MO. on October 6 th , 7 th , and 8 th , 2005.
WOW! What a reunion it was. Attendees started arriving on October 2 nd , the Sunday before, and by Wednesday, October 5 th (the day before the reunion started) 21 crew members had already arrived. We opened the meeting room a day early on October 5 th .
By reunion time, we had 41 crewmembers, 22 wives and 6 guests.
The following is a list of the attendees:
Ambrosio , P.Q. & Ely
Bartlett, Sam & Diann
Bel, James & Pat
Black, Steve & Mary
Blackann, John & Gay
Bozek, Matthew
Breit, Richard & Nona
Brewer, Fred & Vicky
Brill, Lloyd
Bunch, Ralph
Burris, D.L.
Crosby, Russell & Belinda
Decleene, Peter & Eileen
Eney, Neilson
Gibbard, Jim
Gibbs, Forrest & Eunice
Go, Romualdo & Rose
Goodspeed, Robert
Hinton, John
Holterhaus, Dave & Marcia
Hower, Bud
Hunt, Martin
Jochum, James
Jovanelly, Jim
Keller, Darryl
Klein, Ed
Kroeger, Dan
Kraft, Harold & Nida
Lawson, Curtis & Helen
Marcus, Larry & Lola
Overstreet, Pete
Pehl, Brian
Rothenbach, John & Becky
Schippers, Robert & Karen
Speer, Frank & Joan
Stohs, Sr. Marvin
Thomas, Gerry & Linda
Thomas, Larry & Pat
Viegut, Dennis & Cherie
Windsnes, Lyle & Diane
Zimara, Walt
Breit, Steve & Druanne – Richard & Nona Briet's son & daughter-in-law
Fowler, Brean & Wyatt – Russell & Belinda Crosby's daughter & grandson
Haney, Fae – Belinda Crosby's mother
Havel, Annie – Vicky Brewer's sister
On Thursday, October 6 th , we held our annual pizza party and mixer.
Friday, October 7 th , started off with coffee and donuts followed by our business meeting. Bob Schippers led the meeting with business reports by Russell Crosby, Frank Speer and Deke Keller. Karen Schippers gave the treasury report. It was decided that once again, next year's reunion would be held in Branson , MO. Many felt that the reunion there offered the cheapest reunion with the most variety in eating establishments and entertainment. The 2006 reunion will be October 4 th , 5 th , 6 th , and 7 th , 2006. An extra day has been added due to increased interest and early attendance plus new activities in our agenda.
Following the business meeting, Frank Speer gave a question and answer program and much was learned about the ship and it's crew. Speer's sense of humor made for an extremely interesting program.
In the afternoon, we had a premier of the DVD that was sent to us from Wreck Finders of Brazil that was filmed just after the sinking of the ship in February of this year. Bob Schippers gave a short informative speech on what happened to the ship and what is being done since then. A second DVD was shown that was made by Brean Fowler (daughter of Russell Crosby) on the history of the Davidson. It and the dive DVD made up a 2-pack collection that is being offered for $15. $5 of the price is being donated to Wreck Finders to show our appreciation and to help further their work in exploring the ship and presenting it as a dive location. The balance goes to fund Davidson Reunion
Association projects.
Contact Russell Crosby if you would like to purchase a copy of the 2-DVD set at:
8105 Webb Drive
Tulsa , Oklahoma 74131
(918) 224-2215
http://www.ussdavidson.com/
James Jovanelly, crew of 1970-1973, presented a slide show of the engineering spaces of which many of us had never seen before on Friday afternoon.
Friday evening's special event consisted of special presentations to those who have supported the Davidson Reunion over the years. Russell Crosby presented special drawings to Lloyd Brill, Steve Black, Sam Bartlett and Larry Thomas. Another drawing of Naval Gunfire Support was presented to Ralph Bunch. Deke Keller was presented a military mess deck tray. Other gifts were given to Russell Crosby and Frank Speer. A surprise gift of an autographed photo of film star, singer Ann Margaret was presented to Bob Schippers. Special gift bracelets of appreciation were given to Karen Schippers, Belinda Crosby, Diann Bartlett and Brean Fowler.
Neil Eney presented a slide program of photos he took while on board the Davidson. We got to see the officer's side of life on board the ship.
During the course of the reunion, special mementos were given to the Association to add to the Davidson archives:
A lighter and patches from Jim Gibbard
Shell Casing ashtray from Larry Thomas
A serving tong and desk tray by Neil Eney
A uniform, Master-At-Arms badge and other misc items from Ed Klein
Saturday, October 8 th , was pretty much a free day for those who wanted to do outside activities, but the meeting room remained open for those who chose not to venture out to see the sights. Nona Breit and Diann Bartlett manned the raffle table and sold chances. Dave Holterhaus showed one of us movies in the afternoon and Deke Keller collected audio cassette stories from the crew members.
Saturday evening was very busy with the raffling of items of both military and non-military. Over $200 in tickets was sold and it was decided to make it an annual event. P.Q. Ambrosio fired up the crew and sold another $100 just before the raffle was held.
Bob Schippers gave a short speech on the 40 th anniversary of the commissioning of the ship and special cakes were cut and served by Diann Bartlett and Marcia Holterhaus.
Sam & Diann Bartlett presented Russell Crosby and Bob Schippers with Viet Nam memorial plaques.
In an effort to bring more participation into the reunion by later crews, Dan Kroeger, Jim Gibbard, Matthew Bozek and John Blackann gave a presentation on the 3 rd West Pac Cruise. Following the presentation, those leaving early on Sunday morning said their good-byes.
Sunday, October 9 th , an early farewell breakfast was held at the Grand County Inn Buffet. It was sad leaving our friends and crewmates but many were anxious to hit the road and head home. Another Davidson reunion was over.
After returning home, I received in the mail another DVD from Wreck Finders in Brazil . We are told that Wreck Finders will soon start diving on the ship again after stopping for the winter. We will keep you informed of future dives.
During the reunion, three crewmembers gave me one of their dog tags to drop down the stack of the ship in Brazil . After thinking about this, it seems like this is the very last way for us all to participate in putting a time capsule on board the ship. Anyone wanting to contribute their dog tag can send them to me and at a future date, they will be sent to Brazil to be put in the ship. I am also looking into trying to find a manufacturer of dog tags for those of you who no longer have them. Your tags can be sent to:
Bob Schippers
1519 First Street North
Newton , IA 50208-1711
Within the last few days, many of the crew have given permission to Tin Can Sailors to have their stories from the website printed in their newspaper. These stories will be coming out during the coming year. With the stories that Deke Keller recorded last year and this year, the USS Davidson ought to be well represented in their publication for several years. Anyone wishing to submit new stories can do so to me.
Another long deceased crewmember was reported to me – GMG3 Ronald Rodenmacher in 1982.
The next newsletter will be at the end of January 2006.
Robert "Tweetie Bird" Schippers
Robert "Tweetie Bird" Schippers
President
U.S.S. DAVIDSON Reunion Association
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A message from the President…