USS Waddell DDG-24 Reunion Recap

by: Guy M. Ward, MM3 ‘64-’67

Wednesday, 29 August 2001

A few of us arrived a day early and stayed at Bill Brewer’s house to get a jump on the reunion. Allen Jones, Rick Bennett, and I were needed to help Bill who was in an absolute tizzy about organizing all of the ships store stuff. Actually, he was more concerned about my check clearing and kept asking me if I did want to pay cash for all my stuff. I told him that I like to play the float with my checks, but that seemed to make him even more nervous. Anyway, we discussed what we needed to do the next day before we journeyed out for the hotel and the reunion.

Allen, Rick, Bill & Sandy and my wife Cindy and I, all piled into Bill’s SUV and headed out for the infamous Kelsey’s Tavern in Ellicott City, MD for their wonderful Crab Cakes. The offering of adult brewed beverages was immense and a Godsend compared to the cheap stuff Bill offered us earlier in the day. Needless to say, we enjoyed our meal and then returned Bill’s house for needed rest and relaxation.

Thursday, 30 August 2001

Bill was up early as Sandy had to be at her school by 07:30 HRS. So he made us a bountiful breakfast of all the food groups. We then adjourned to the basement where we discussed the reunion in greater detail, making sure that we had all of our organizational bases covered, as best as we could. This being our first reunion, our expectations were high and we all were a little anxious about pulling it off successfully.

We arrived at the hotel around two o’clock expecting to be the advance party, but to our surprise quite a few shipmates had already checked in and were occupying their rooms. We on the other hand had a little difficulty with the hotel; but that was worked out by the ML&RS site contact Pat Hill. She did an admirable job, no pun intended, and is to be commended.

The USS Waddell DDG-24 Association, had a large hospitality room/suite at the roof level of the Innerharbor Holiday Inn (a former revolving restaurant) where all sorts of memorabilia and photos began to be deposited by our shipmates on the numerous tables in the room. This check in period was a collection of hugs, laughs, tears and jeers. The room radiated with the warmth of renewed friendships and the chatter of bringing each other up to date on our families and lives.

The only formal gathering was Thursday evening where we hosted a cocktail reception, a cash bar I might add, where we all gathered to officially kick off our reunion. This room was on the other side of the building at the same roof level and overlooked Camden Yards. John Walter Batista, MM3 ‘64-’66 announced to the room that his seizure dog Doc was to be left untouched and not to be fed any human food. Well I tell Ya, you could have heard a pin drop with the silence of not know how to react to this announcement. Well, Captain Walker, in his infinite wisdom, blurted out; “Will the dog drink bourbon then?” It brought the house down and we again began our conversations right where we left off, now knowing the rules of the road, so to speak.

Anyway, this party was much too short and we all broke for dinner. Most of us walked down to the Innerharbor and ate in one of the numerous restaurants that pepper the area, again no pun intended. If you couldn’t find anything to eat in the Innerharbor, then it ain’t meant for humans to eat it.

The latter part of the evening was spent in the hospitality suite/room where groups swapped sea stories and laughter could be heard into the wee hours. By this time, most of the over fifty crowd was in the rack catching their forty winks.

Friday, 31 August 2001

Our official day started at 09:00 HRS with the call to order of our first annual meeting of the USS Waddell DDG-24 Association. We discussed a lot of stuff that was pertinent to the organization, but I didn’t take very good notes, so I will have to make something up for my official report. Although, I did record some of the motions, seconds and votes. May be I should have brought a tape recorder. Oh well, I’ll think of something.

The afternoon was left for free time and city wandering, as there is a lot to do in the Innerharbor area.

At six o’clock, that 18:00 HRS for you career types, we had a mixer down stairs in the Chesapeake Room on the main floor with limited finger food. I have no problems with that; my problem is that I think the event wasn’t well thought out. Here we had a pleasant social setting for interaction and the round tables and cash bar helped to promote that. What was disturbing is that we had a DJ that was playing contemporary music that was not of our era and stymied conversation and recollections. I would have ditched the DJ and have us bring our own music and put on a tape or two if needed.

The timing was the prime dinner hour and all we had was limited finger food. I would have the reception start a seven and run till nine to give people a chance to eat before they came. Any way, that’s my two cents and food for thought, only this time a pun is intended.

Saturday, 1 September 2001

At 08:00 HRS a party of shipmates boarded two vans and headed out for the SS John W. Brown, a World War II Memorial Museum Ship berthed in Baltimore, MD. We almost had an incident prior to boarding as a power tripping little weasel tried to prevent Butch Batista and his dog Doc from boarding the ship. Marc Poland and I immediately put ourselves between Butch and this bully and began to discuss the finer points of the Federal Law pertaining to Seizure dogs and Seeing Eye dogs. Since were both much bigger than this power tripping wimp, he told us that he now fully understood our point and began to see and understand the full meaning of the Disability Act.  He let us all board.

Oh, I almost forgot. Rick had bugged Rear Admiral Pete Cullins to bring his Flag so that it could be flow from the mast when we were at sea. The Master of the Ship gladly accepted this offer and ordered that the Admiral’s pennant be flown.

This ship and the SS Jeremiah O’Brien on the West Coast are the only two survivors of the 2,700 WWII Liberty ships built from 1941 through 1945. The entire crew is deckout in WWII uniforms and there are actors playing the rolls of FDR, Eleanor and General Mac Arthur.  Abbott and Costello were even represented. Anyway, there was entertainment for all and we also had numerous WWII era planes fly over the ship during the day.

While a few of us were gathered on the main deck during the afternoon part of our journey, Mindy Poland casually said; “This is boring, is this all you do at sea?” All of us who had some sea experience were absolutely dumbfounded. When Marc, her husband and former MPA (Main Propulsion Assistant), recovered enough to refute her point, it was too late as the damage was done and now all of our spouses think that life at sea is a cakewalk.

Never the less, we enjoyed the day and had a wonderful experience. You should check it out at the SS John W. Brown website www.liberty-ship.com

Our formal banquet began at 19:00 HRS with a Cocktail Hour and our Webmaster Rick will post a copy of the official program on the web along with this narrative. My only comment would be that we need to fine-tune the music section of the program. You would think with all the IC men in attendance we would have had a better sound system. With that said, we anxiously awaited hearing from four of the first five Commanding Officers of our ship. Their brief talks were not only informative and entertaining but humorous as well. The remarks made by these men was duly recorded by John Mack FTM2 ‘71-’74 and a video VHS formatted tape will soon be available through our ships store for a nominal fee.  I must remind myself to ask John English GMMC ‘64-’68 if he will now finally junk his BETA machine when we have this VHS tape for sale.

I must add here that our former Engineering Officer LT Gil Hansen ‘66-’68 did a magnificent job with both the Invocation and the explanation of the Significance of Remembrance Table. My hat is off to him not only for his words of wisdom but articulating an insight that few of us posses.

I must also mention a little know fact from Captain Boyd who told a few of us that being the Commissioning Captain he gets to design the crest and submit the motto for the ship. If you look closely at our patch right below the name banner you will see a helmet and sash above the profile of the CSS SHENANDOAH on the red shield. Well that accent was borrowed from the Boyd family crest. The second diddy was that Seper Confidens was the second choice for our motto as the first one was rejected by BUSHIPS. My Latin isn’t that good and I was sick that day in high school when they covered this motto stuff, so I will defer the original motto submission of Captain Boyd to LT Rich Gartrell ‘’66-’68 who actually heard and understood what the Captain said. 

All in all we had a great time and some us just hung around and chatted through the night while others, mostly snipes, returned to the bar to continue their conversations. This was by far the best attended of all the reunion events. I think that we need to take a lot of pictures through out the evening and not just concentrate on the speakers. We should have done table shots that included everybody.

Sunday, 2 September 2001

The brunch started at 08:00 HRS and all the usual food groups were served and the coffee station was well attended.

The Memorial Service started at 08:30 HRS with remarks from our association president, Rick Bennett, IC3 ‘84-’87. The Invocation and reading of the prayer was done by Allen Jones, IC2 ‘64-’67. The bell ringing for lost shipmates honor roll was done by your truly, Guy Ward, MM3 ‘64-’67. 

I think that we definitely need a better sound system for the taped music and most of all we need a ships bell or a facsimile there of to properly tone those who have passed.

When the ceremonies were concluded most of us proceeded to our hospitality suite/room for a group critique and debriefing. Many of us participated in this open discussion and gave Rick a multitude of suggestions on how to make thing better. I just hope he kept good notes, as I didn’t write down a thing.

We broke up the meeting around noon and started the departing rituals and good byes.

Sadly, the time went too fast.

Respectfully submitted,

Guy M. Ward, MM3 ‘64-’67

Secretary

USS WADDELL DDG-24 ASSOCIATION

GMW 09-04-01