USS Holder Association's 33rd Annual Reunion

06 October 2011 through 10 October 2011

The shipmates of the ships named USS Holder DE401, DD819, and DDE819 held their 33rd reunion in Chicago, Illinois. It took place at the Marriott Deerfield Suites in Deerfield, Illinois from 06 October 2011 to 10 October 2011.

 

 

 

 

Shipmates attending 2011 Reunion

  Adams     Rob    MM3    60-62                       Kemp       Peter  LTJG   57-58 

  Batko  Stephen   ENFN   50-51                      Kenton Francis   FN2   52-53 

  Bavender  John   STG3   65-67                    Kuma John   RD3   48-51 

  Bernacchi  Raymond   EM3   46-48              Lower Eugene   SEM3   57-59 

  Bisson   Malcolm SD3   64-66                       Maloney      Francis       TM3   50-53 

  Byrd        Jim       GMG1 64-67                      McCoy David  QM3   50-54 

  Christensen Frank   CWO4   55-57              McCrain      Edward       SFP2  61-65 

  Dame Doug     ETN3    65-67                        Oman   John     BT3  58-59 

  deBarrios Jim     MM2    59-61                       O'Neill   John     BT3  58-59 

  Delgado Joe       ETR3   59-61                       Patrie  Gerald BM1   75-76 

  Ellsworth      Robert     SK2  71-72                Pinkus        Joel    BT1    66.67 

  Elston      Ray     TMC  62-65                         Powers        Theodore    PC3    66.67 

  Fyfe      John     SFM3  59-60                         Quinn        Harvey    BTFN    59-60 

  Gill     Doug   FT3   57-59                               Reed     Allen         BTC   48-55 

  Goetz     Thomas   GM2   51-52                     Smith     William         GMCS   61-65 

  Grudowski Bill     BT2  62-67                          Stevens   Robert      RMSN    66-68 

  Grundman Jack TM2   52-55                         Stigall Ronald   BT3  57-61 

  Harrison  Fred    BTCM   64-67                      Stoffa     George       SO2  54-57 

  Irvin  Charles        HMSN  61-63                    Tabing  Richard       MM1  54-57 

  Johnson  Tim        STG2  66-69                      Valois  Bob       IC2  57-59 

  Kaim     John         MR3    56-58                     Zimmerman    Anthony         STG3  65-67 

  Kea      J.C.             MMCM  60-62 

   

Events of the 33rd USS Holder Reunion

Hospitality room was open when we were not on tour.

Thursday, 06 October 2011

Afternoon - 1400 -     Check-in

In the evening we had a "Heavy snack meal" in the hospitality room and got a chance to meet friends, both old and new . Ray Bernacchi read a letter of greeting on the occasion of the USS Holder Association reunion from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

 

Friday, 07 October 2011

We got on the buses about 0700 and went to Great Lakes Training Center for the Boot Camp graduation ceremony followed by a guided base tour and Memorial Service in the base chapel. We left Great Lakes Training Center and went to the Chicago Botanical Gardens where we had a box lunch before taking the guided tram tour of the extensive area of gardens. We then had a while to explore the gardens on our own before gathering back at the buses for the return to the hotel.

Evening - 1915 -     Broadway show "For the Boys" - including music and songs starting in 1942 and covering 30 more years of USO shows.

Saturday, 08 October 2011

We gathered in front of the hotel to board the bus about 0815 to take our guided bus tour of downtown Chicago which gave us a glimpse of many points of interest, many parks, and some nice neighborhoods in the city including the Magnificent Mile. We stopped at the Veterans Memorial and the John Hancock Building, where we were able to view Chicago from above, before we continued to the Navy Pier where we had time to walk along the pier and see the many resaurants and shops. We then returned to the hotel after another good day of sightseeing.

We had the evening free to do what we wanted and some joined others in the hospitality room.

Sunday, 09 October 2011

At about 1000 we held our business meeting including Association business and selecting the next reunion site after discussing possible locations. It was decided that the next reunion, in 2012, would be held at Branson, MO.

We had the afternoon free to relax and to gather in the hospitality room, etc.

We had photographs taken in the hospitality room for the "Memory Book" which will include photos of everyone and which could be purchased.

About 1830 we began our Annual Banquet after which we had our famous raffle.

Monday, 10 October 2011

Time to check out, say good-byes, and head for home.