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USS WADDELL DDG-24 2002 REUNION RECAP THE HANDLERY HOTEL & RESORT SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
DAY 1 Thursday, June 27, 2002 ARRIVAL & CHECK IN
Like most reunions, there seemed to be mass confusion during the registration process and room assignments. It was quite apparent that we were playing second fiddle to a much larger carrier reunion and some of us had to go to an overflow hotel down the road. I believe that in the vernacular they call it a cluster something or other.
Any way, everything fell into place and we were all directed to converge on the Waddell Hospitality Suite in the Handlery Tower. It was there that we were reunited with our shipmates and their respective spouses and significant others. Bill Brewer set the stage with our ship’s store stuff, numerous items of memorabilia, gads of photographs and of course, the ubiquitous cruise books.
The room was filled with ongoing greetings, cheers and jeers as former shipmates reminisced and brought each other up on the current status of their lives. All in all it was a wonderful afternoon.
At 17:00 MLR&S organized a Mexican Kicker reception with a cash bar where we imbibed in adult beverages and discussed our plans for dinner. A bunch of us decided to go to a Kelly’s Steak House on Bill Brewer’s recommendation. Actually, it wasn’t too bad. According to Lenny Burke, it was a real fine place, caused they served Bud and beef. It was quite obvious to the rest of us that Bill Brewer and Rich Gartrell were stag on this trip, as they ordered beef and beer with abandon and a flare that told us they didn’t particularly care about their respective wife’s dietary instructions regarding their convention food intake.
DAY 1 Friday, June 27, 2002 TOUR DAY
Many of us decided to take the Discover San Diego Day bus tour and boat cruise. We were in awe at the ever-changing San Diego skyline. The boat cruise gave us a spectacular view of the city, North Island Naval Air Station, Carrier Row. Although, a lot of us wanted the tour to go to the left under the San Diego / Coronado Bay Bridge and toward National City and the Naval Station, but that was not to be. Any way, we went up and down the channel and it gave the snipes among us a chance to actually see the land. When we disembarked we had to race on the bus to get our lunch spot, a Polynesian restaurant for a buffet spread with exotic colored foods. To our amazement the view from this place was an unbelievable panorama of the city and the bay.
For dinner arrangements that evening, we decided not to take Bill Brewer’s advise and elected to go to Tio Leos Mexican Restaurant in Old Town and eat Mexican food on the advice of more adventures Epicureans among us. Lenny Burke said it was OK with him, if they had beer. We assured him that Mexicans make a few excellent brews, and he could broaden his tastes.
After dinner we all headed for the innards of Old Town to see all the sights, the numerous activities, craft displays and just general goings on. It helped to walk off the dinner.
DAY 2 Saturday, June 28, 2002 MORNING TOUR, BUSINESS MEETING & BANQUET
The day started with an early drive tour of the US Naval Station and culminated with a visit to the USS Milias DDG-69. We were piped aboard and given a tour. The heightened security aboard ship was visibly apparent. We were apprised of the new armaments and electronic stuff that abounds in today’s navy.
A walk through the ship’s interior was enlightening, as all of the battle stations were on the main deck level or above. Everything concerning operations below the main deck was monitored electronically from strategic consoles in the passageways. Apparently in the New Navy everyone gets fresh air chits.
We did get an opportunity to pass through the enlisted mess deck and noticed that this New Navy has an entirely different menu from the rum and hard tack of our days of old. A relative young sailor sipping cappachino told me that the cooks actually serve Quiche and expreso for Mid-Rats.
We returned from the Naval Station tours just in time for our Association Annual meeting at 14:30. In essence, Rick Bennett proceeded with the introductions and reported on the health of our organization and began to work through his prepared agenda for the membership.
Rich Gartrell and Marc Poland were elected to our board for a three-year term.
We learned that our association is solvent from Bill Brewer. Tom Jones appraised us of the current membership status and told us that we now have 147 paid members. We heard about last year’s reunion from yours truly. I was told that I am a man of few words, but I use them repeatedly.
Rich Gartrell, reported on our living history project and acted as our historian in Allen Jones absence. Allen who had recently suffered a heart attack and is recovering nicely at home, but unable to travel.
Any way, everyone decided that the next reunion for 2003 would be in St. Louis, MO. I was finally instructed to record that we cast a single ballot for St. Louis. We finally convinced Lenny Burke that we would schedule a brewery tour and he then voted yes with the rest of us.
Our banquet was the single largest event attended by all attendees and their spouses and significant others during this reunion. The courtyard cocktail party adjacent to our dinning room provided a casual ambiance and a cash bar for us to mingle and review the day. It also gave us time to reacquaint ourselves with those that came just for this event. The photo ops were everywhere. Some of us actually clean up pretty well and became almost presentable to polite society.
To our amazement the hotel had to set up more tables to accommodate the unregistered overflow. That’s a good thing. Any way, we supped on succulent convention food, an oxymoron in some circles, in anticipation of our speakers for the evening.
You may recall that a topic of conversation was the recent controversy in California over the language of our Pledge of Allegiance. What stirred me, as well as many other in the room, during our saying of the Pledge was that the phrase “Under God” was resounded loud and clear by all in attendance.
I had the distinct privilege of introducing our guest speakers. The first speaker was LCDR Robert L. Lage, our first XO who gave us his insight during the commissioning phase and early operation of our ship. He emphasized the need for team building and setting the standards to meld the crew into one cohesive unit under the leadership of Captain Boyd, our first CO in a line of fifteen. This standard of excellence was also passed from man to man till the day she was decommissioned.
Our second speaker, CMDR John D. Lasswell gave us his unique and humorous perspective on his tenure aboard the Waddell. He stated that he was fortunate enough to have more dry dock time than sea time. He served as our ships twelfth CO.
Our third speaker, Captain Robert E. Smith, who was serving his last full day on active duty, spoke of his years on the Waddell as our ships 14th CO. He also shared with his that he is looking forward to retirement and spending more time with his family. We all wished him well in retirement and hope that he would maintain his ties with the Warship Waddell.
Rick Bennett reported to us on the status of our association’s accomplishments and he expressed the association’s goals for the future. He was excited about the growth of our association and the eager participation of its members.
Our Chaplain for the evening, Skip Hamlin, explained the symbolism of the Significance of Remembrance Table and asked us all to pray for those shipmates.
I closed this eventful evening by stating; “Let the fellowship begin.” Alas, this was not to be, as the damn hotel bar closed at eleven, otherwise we would have been talking thought the night and spending money and swapping war stories. What’s up with that?
DAY 3 Sunday, June 29, 2002
This day of reflection started with a buffet breakfast. After breakfast, we held a memorial service in honor of those shipmates that had passed on. A bell was struck for each of our shipmates.
We held a short business meeting at 09:00, which was intended as a reunion wrap up and critique, but by 09:15 the check out process had started and the departures for home were in full gear.
All in all, this reunion was a wonderful and enriching experience that was made possible by the comradeship of our shipmates.
Respectfully submitted,
Guy
Guy M. Ward, MM3 ‘64-’67 Secretary USS Waddell DDG-24 Association
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