reunion

[dodgblu]

The "reunion" is winding down and coming to an end again and again, I was unable to attend. ONE OF THESES DAYS!!?? I hope all had fun and enjoyed one another and that there will be at least one more scheduled. To all have a safe trip home and hopefully there will be some "new posts" on this site about the reunion. Later, dodgblu (John Lewis - 68-70)

[DVinson]

Thanks, John, for the good wishes. Sorry you could not attend. I am now safely back in the comfortable cocoon that I call home, but I am still warm and tingling from the time spent at the reunion. It was great, as I think all of the Small reunions must have been great. I reconnected with another seven shipmates that I had not seen in more than 40 years, and I met new friends as well. Our next reunion will be in Washington, D.C. in mid-September. It is a great venue; lots of memorials to our U.S. history, museums, sights and, of course, the Smithsonian Institute. Try to put it in your next year's agenda, and if time allows, plan on staying more than the few days of the reunion to enjoy the D.C. sights.

Regards,

Dennis (Vince) Vinson 1962-1966

[scotty]

To all that have a computer and use this wonderful site. I also returned from the reunion with very little problems. The hipe was still there from the 2006 reunion. To see additional shipmates after 40 years of passing life will be with me the rest of my life. May whom ever can make the 2008 in D.C. please make it a priority plan. The remark Don Smith Em2 made to me on the phone prior to getting on the list will stay with me a long time. Quote made to his wife. I don't know what tomorrow holds for me. It was a true statement that I myself believe in. It was good to see you Smithy. A Small Family shipmate Scotty

[Herbert Royster]

Yea Sure ya-bet-ya my wife and I had a realllly good time at this year's re-union in San Antonio! Seeing/meeting old ship mates was wonderful. Bill ('Andy') Anderson made sure my wife didn't waste any of her kisses---he's such a thoughty guy! He was a good friend waaaay back when and I proud to say he still is (once a sailor man though---always a sailor man!).

Vince, Scotty 'n many of the 'old gang' made the re-union a very special time. Heck, we even had a tour guide that made for memories (yup, we did get a little roudy). For those of you who didn't make the last tour on Saturday it went something like this:

Mr. Tour director was an old retired Sea Bee Chaplin who was trying his best, but we old 'Dirty Ernie' members were doing OUR best too. As the tour ended that day the Chaplin/tour guide pointed out a church and said, 'If you're Baptist then you can go to that church tomorrow.' A few seconds pointed to another church and said, 'If you're Episcopalian THEN you can go to that church.' At that point he stopped talking and a vioce came from the back of the bus saying, 'If we don't THEN the rest of us can go to hell?' To that our tour guide had no response!

Me, I didn't have the guts to ask why his cell phone rang with a cats meow. When it first went off several of us looked for a cat who had snuck on the bus. MEOW, MEOW, MEOW...'Hello Dear, can't talk right now and over there is the---.' Yupper's we sure had a GOOD time!!!

Next year Washington D. C. here I/we go---God willing, if the creeks don't rise 'n my toes are still above ground we'll be there!
WETSU to all, Bert & Eileen Royster