Reunions
2019 Reunion in San Diego, CA. Sept 18-21
Hello Albuquerque; Good bye San Diego!!
Our largest turnout in several years enjoyed three days of events highlighted by the 75th Anniversary of the launch and commissioning of the USS Frank Knox – the first of the Gearing class destroyers to launch and be commissioned. Final banquet seated 75! Spectacular fall weather held throughout the events. Our hotel was centrally located in OLD TOWN, surrounded by shops, restaurants and museums Little Italy, Naval Training Center and Harbor Drive. Some took advantage of the 100’s of
world class restaurants to enjoy dinner and a view.
Thursday featured a tour of restored and vibrant NTC San Diego and Little Italy followed by the harbor cruise and lunch. Everyone received a FULL tour of San Diego Harbor from nuclear subs to the new Zumwalt class destroyer. Every minute there was a new view of San Diego sights and sea life including sea lions, harbor seals and other marine life. Following the cruise members split their time between the USS Midway CV-41 (with complimentary tickets provided by Steve Cross), the Maritime museum and Veterans Park with the Kissing Sailor Statue and Bob Hope Memorial. A day to remember!
Friday the group departed early to see the beaches, surf sites and parks that make San Diego the site to visit – 35.8 million folks visit the city annually keeping prices reasonable and the choices infinite. From La Jolla beaches to Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial took just a few minutes. Mt. Soledad is the highest point inside the City. We celebrated the view. Then as the piper called, we mustered to start the dedication ceremony. President Harry Chandler started the program and introduced Captain Larry Eddingfield, USN to give the invocation. Steve Cross, reunion organizer, introduced RADM Denny Conley who spoke about the ship that carried us all safely and followed by Captain Jerry Harken USN who reviewed the history of the ship. CDR Jim Lasswell spoke of the special teamwork on the ship. RADM Conley then unveiled the plaque along with the oldest attendee, LCDR Russ Judah to applause from the crowd.
Friday’s lunch followed at beautiful Kate Sessions Park under shade trees (Kate Sessions is the founder of San Diego’s famed 1450-acre park, Balboa Park). After lunch, it was over to Coronado Island via the famed San Diego Bay Bridge. Coronado is the site of the famed Hotel del Coronado, NAS North Island and the famed US Navy SEAL training site. On the way over the bridge we were saluted by the USS Coronado passing under us. Back over the bridge to Balboa Park, Little Italy and home to our hotel where dinner plans took groups to different restaurants within walking distance.
Saturday’s business meeting selected ALBUQUERQUE NM as the site of the 30th Annual USS Frank Knox Reunion in mid-September 2020. If you like hot air balloons, spectacular scenery, native American crafts and the famed Turquoise and Santa Fe Trail then make your plans for Albuquerque.
Our final banquet seated 75 for dinner and hung spell PIPER JIM HEALY FRANK KNOX VETS AT MT. SOLEDAD PLAGUE DEDICATION bound as WWII veteran Art Webster talked about adventures and sinking ship recounted in his book “Down to the Sea”. The glorious evening ended with friends spinning stories and affirming plans to meet again in Albuquerque.
Hello Albuquerque; Good bye San Diego!!
Our largest turnout in several years enjoyed three days of events highlighted by the 75th Anniversary of the launch and commissioning of the USS Frank Knox – the first of the Gearing class destroyers to launch and be commissioned. Final banquet seated 75! Spectacular fall weather held throughout the events. Our hotel was centrally located in OLD TOWN, surrounded by shops, restaurants and museums Little Italy, Naval Training Center and Harbor Drive. Some took advantage of the 100’s of
world class restaurants to enjoy dinner and a view.
Thursday featured a tour of restored and vibrant NTC San Diego and Little Italy followed by the harbor cruise and lunch. Everyone received a FULL tour of San Diego Harbor from nuclear subs to the new Zumwalt class destroyer. Every minute there was a new view of San Diego sights and sea life including sea lions, harbor seals and other marine life. Following the cruise members split their time between the USS Midway CV-41 (with complimentary tickets provided by Steve Cross), the Maritime museum and Veterans Park with the Kissing Sailor Statue and Bob Hope Memorial. A day to remember!
Friday the group departed early to see the beaches, surf sites and parks that make San Diego the site to visit – 35.8 million folks visit the city annually keeping prices reasonable and the choices infinite. From La Jolla beaches to Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial took just a few minutes. Mt. Soledad is the highest point inside the City. We celebrated the view. Then as the piper called, we mustered to start the dedication ceremony. President Harry Chandler started the program and introduced Captain Larry Eddingfield, USN to give the invocation. Steve Cross, reunion organizer, introduced RADM Denny Conley who spoke about the ship that carried us all safely and followed by Captain Jerry Harken USN who reviewed the history of the ship. CDR Jim Lasswell spoke of the special teamwork on the ship. RADM Conley then unveiled the plaque along with the oldest attendee, LCDR Russ Judah to applause from the crowd.
Friday’s lunch followed at beautiful Kate Sessions Park under shade trees (Kate Sessions is the founder of San Diego’s famed 1450-acre park, Balboa Park). After lunch, it was over to Coronado Island via the famed San Diego Bay Bridge. Coronado is the site of the famed Hotel del Coronado, NAS North Island and the famed US Navy SEAL training site. On the way over the bridge we were saluted by the USS Coronado passing under us. Back over the bridge to Balboa Park, Little Italy and home to our hotel where dinner plans took groups to different restaurants within walking distance.
Saturday’s business meeting selected ALBUQUERQUE NM as the site of the 30th Annual USS Frank Knox Reunion in mid-September 2020. If you like hot air balloons, spectacular scenery, native American crafts and the famed Turquoise and Santa Fe Trail then make your plans for Albuquerque.
Our final banquet seated 75 for dinner and hung spell PIPER JIM HEALY FRANK KNOX VETS AT MT. SOLEDAD PLAGUE DEDICATION bound as WWII veteran Art Webster talked about adventures and sinking ship recounted in his book “Down to the Sea”. The glorious evening ended with friends spinning stories and affirming plans to meet again in Albuquerque.
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- 2018 REUNION IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK
- “REUNION 2018 FRIENDS, FAMILIES AND FELLOWSHIP”
HUNTER-KILLER – Our 2018 Reunion speaker was CDR George Wallace, USN (Ret.). George accepted our invitation to come to Buffalo NY. CDR Wallace commanded nuclear submarines and has operating knowledge of Special Warfare (SEAL) operations with nuclear subs. George became an author after his retirement from the Navy. George also has a day job in the defense consulting industry. Among other awards he was awarded the CIA Meritorious Unit Citation. George authored four books to date – Dangerous Grounds, Firing Point, Final Bearing and Operation Golden Dragon. Firing Point became the basis for the script Hunter Killer and later a major motion picture of the same title. The movie was in theaters October and November 2018. George’s journey from sub skipper to author and then seeing one of his books become a major motion picture is an amazing story well told at our final banquet. George brought copies of his books to the reunion and returned to Washington with empty boxes. IF YOU MISSED THE MOVIE “HUNTER-KILLER” IN THEATERS, Amazon has the DVD available as of January 15, 2019 for $15.95. My wife and I planned to take George and his wife, Penny, to dinner after they arrived and checked in to our hotel. After sharing cocktails with our reunion group George’s wife learned of our trip to the ANCHOR BAR – home of the “original “BuffaloWing”. Off we went! At dinner my wife and I settled for “mild” heat on our BullaloWing” order. Penny and George ordered “hot heat” spices on their wings. They devoured their order with a blink of an eye. We powered through some of the best menu items following Penny’s top priority to experience “BuffaloWings” in their original birthplace. Our guests were not disappointed – original “BuffaloWings” are the best! George made the drive with wife Penny, Washington DC to Buffalo in one long day. This delightful couple made many new friends during their visit to Buffalo and the USS Frank Knox Reunion.