Reunion  2004

Members of the USS Gregory (DD-802) Association meet approximately every 18 months to share memories

Reunion 2004 - Reunion was held at Seattle WA from Sept. 23-25 at the Best Western Executive Inn. 

USS Gregory Association

                                  NEWSLETTER 

REUNION ‘04

The ‘04 Reunion was held September 23 - 26, 2004 in Seattle, Washington. This reunion was held in conjunction with the 60th anniversary of the commissioning of the USS Gregory, which was built in Seattle. The weather was great and Ron Ludolph had set up a group of tours which provided many things for Shipmates to enjoy. One day we visited the USS Turner Joy (DD95 1) which is a Forrest Sherman Class Destroyer which has been restored and is located on the Bremerton waterfront. A harbor tour was followed by a visit to the Naval Undersea Museum in Keyport, Washington. Our transportation was by bus and ferry, which gave us a great view of the Seattle skyline. The next day we had a Seattle City tour, which included the waterfront, Pioneer Square, International District, Ballard Locks, Magnolia Bluff and Pike Place Market. 

The turnout for this reunion was very good and we had shipmates from the beginning to the end, Plank Owners and men who were aboard when she was decommissioned, plus all the years in-between. There were shipmates who come to all the reunions and some who were there for the first time. The hospitality room was never without an old sailor who had a story to tell to anyone who would listen. A good time was had by all. 

GENERAL MEETING

The general meeting was called to order by President Jerry Peterson at 1430

hours. The minutes from the Annapolis reunion were read and accepted. The

Treasurer gave his report which was followed by information on the Ships

Store and the Web Site status 

The membership discussed what should be done with the artifacts, currently in our possession .. Bill Laing received the ship’s bell from the first USS Gregory which a VFW Chapter had and did not know what to do with. He did not bring it to the reunion as it is over 80 pounds and would cost too much to ship. He did have some pictures of the bell for shipmates to look at. Greg Young shared information regarding a plaque, which was on loan to him from the Naval Museum, to be displayed at this reunion. This plaque was on the bulkhead in the wardroom from 1952 - 1964. A committee was formed to investigate options for all the artifacts the Association has. The committee members are Greg Young, Ford “Whitey” Richardson and Bill Laing. 

New officers were elected and the results were President Ron Ludolph, Secretary Bud Collier, Treasurer Bill Laing and Vice President Ford “Whitey” Richardson.

As required by the by laws the next reunion is to be .held in the Midwest. Nominations were accepted and the winning city was San Antonio, Texas. The reunion will be held in the spring of 2006.

 REUNION 2006

 Your Vice President, Ford “Whitey” Richardson, started to work on the ‘06 reunion as soon as he got home from the Seattle reunion. It looks like it will be held at the Holiday Inn Riverwalk, which is right downtown and close to everything. The reunion will be sometime the middle of April 2006. When the exact dates, tours and dinner are set, the Board will be sending out a mailing to the membership with all the pertinent information. I know Whitey will have some great things set up for all who attend the reunion plus he said he has Mother Nature on his side and she said spring of ‘06 will be the best year ever for the “Bluebonnet Season” You know how Whitey is with the ladies! I Again, look for reunion information in the mail just as soon as everything is set 

LOST ITEM

There is a request from shipmate Ken “Willie” Williams asking any shipmate who was at the reunion in Baton Rouge if they remember seeing a black book belonging to him that seems to have gotten lost. It contained information regarding the treatment of shipmates during his time aboard the Gregory. If you remember seeing the book or if anyone picked it up to get a good look at it and forgot who it belonged to, please give Willie a call as the book has a lot of memories in it for him. Thanks for your help in finding the book and getting it back to Willie. He can be reached by phone, the number is 973-627 -5656, or call one of the Board members. Their names and numbers are listed in this newsletter.

BOARD MEMBERS

Your Board members are listed below: 

Ron Ludolph -- President

19837 N. Shadow Mtn. Dr.

Surprise, AZ 85374-4949

623-214-6732

ludolph6732@msn.com

Bill Laing - Treasurer

709Crescent

Glen Ellyn, IL 60137  

630-858-2076

wlaing@att.net

Ford “Whitey” Richardson  Vice President

1676 Willow Ave.

Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403-

5630 928-855-1703

dd491 @ddrraz.net

Bud Collier - Secretary

11201 Rene# 900

Shawnee Mission, KS 66212

913-469-8499

bud8O2@comcast.net

If any shipmate has a question about anything to do with the Association feel free to call any board member. 

NEWSLETTER

I have been putting out the newsletter for the last 5 or 6 years and I think it is time to get another person to take over the newsletter. Someone new will have different thoughts and ways to put it together. Change is always for the good, change makes things better and I know there is some shipmate out there who would like to become a writer and show what a great job he can do. All you have to do is step forward and let the Board know you would like to take over the newsletter. If you have any questions about the job just call or e-mail me for information. Phone number 503-843-3751 or dogap@earthlink.net.

 REUNION & 60^TH ANNIVERSARY

Reunion 2003- Annapolis MD Sept 25 - 27, 2003