Nashville Reunion Wrap-Up Report. Reunion Recap 1 Vice President’S Corner 2 the 2014 Reunion Is Now Joined the Association
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DECEMBER 2014 Volume 20, 1st Qtr. The Coral Sea Breeze This Issue’s Ports of Call: Nashville Reunion Wrap-up Report. Reunion Recap 1 Vice President’s Corner 2 The 2014 reunion is now joined the Association. I ter. We welcome you to history and a great time understand that Tom the Association and our VP Corner & FL Fling 3 was had by all. will contact those of you extended family of ship- Annual BOD Meeting 4 Many new faces mates. Chaplain & Treas. Corner 5 showed up this As always, it was Membership Application 6 year, along with great to see familiar many others that faces. As usual, Annual Business Meeting 7 we’ve not seen many cruise books Small Stores Products 8-9 for some time. and other memora- Key Dates & Events for 43 10 Thanks to Tom bilia from Coral Sea were on display. Assoc. Officer’s Directory 11 Pukalski for get- ting a large group And those cruise Welcome Aboard! of his V-2 Div. books sure prompt shipmates to at- a lot of “sea stories” tend. Thanks also to be told! who have not yet joined. Gerald Beacher to those of you first- I’ll also assist in this mat- AOC, CAG time attendees who have (Continued on page 2) 1952-53 Robert Braun you will see the various union he would be retir- President’s Corner changes. I am very ing as our storekeeper. BT3, B Div. pleased to once again George has done a fan- 1975-79 Hello Shipmates, have the honor to serve tastic job and really up- Well, Nashville is behind as your president. graded the quality of our Bobby Gosnell us and it was a great re- Association merchandise. RM1, OC Div. Shipmate Tom Pukalski union. More than 220 Two shipmates have 1960-63 contacted several of his shipmates and guests stepped forward and said attended! The tours V-2 Div. buddies and we had about 20 ABs in at- they are willing to take Douglas Lute were fantastic, especially over this responsibility. I ABE2, V-2 Div. the Grand Ole Opry. tendance. Most were first time attendees! Net will be asking them for 1969-72 Next year we will be in proposals and then sub- Charleston, SC and reg- working really works and I encourage you to do mit same to the board Timothy Malek istration and tour info for selection of a new ABEAN, V-2 will be in the next issue. the same. The more the merrier. storekeeper. 1967-69 This was an election year One of the items we and if you will check the At the reunion, George Rogers announced that officer page of this issue, (Continued on page 6) after the Charleston re- P a g e 2 The Coral Sea Breeze (Continued from page 1) cers were elected for the next two years. Nashville Reunion Tours…. Welcome Bob Hintze and Bob Gaston to the board. Both of you will be valuable to The tours were well attended and I’m sure the Association and I thank you for wanting that those who took them enjoyed the to take these duties. Shipmate Mil Phillips sights and will lead us once again and I sounds of thank you, also, Mil for “Music stepping up to bat. City USA”. The Grand Saturday’s dinner highlight Old Opry was John Furgess, past on Friday Commander-in-Chief of the night was Veterans of Foreign Wars. a special He discussed his activities as treat. You Commander as well as never other VFW activities and know goals. which per- The membership voted to formers Shown L. to R.—Incoming President Mil Phillips discusses have the 2015 reunion in will be 2015 reunion site options at the 2014 annual reun- Charleston, SC and the there, so ion with board members John Ranson, outgoing 2016 reunion in San Diego, president; Clarence Neander, treasurer; and Don it’s always CA. Thanks to Bill Johnson Colwell, outgoing secretary. a nice sur- and Mil Phillips for getting prise. these sites. I have contacts for TAPS The only bad news future reunion sites in Indian- occurred when Ship- apolis, IN, Branson, MO and mate Jerry Collier fell Corpus Christi, TX. More in the parking lot of information about these sites Walter W. the hotel, breaking his to come. Look for hotel res- Wentzel leg. His surgery has ervation info for our 2015 AN, V-3G Div. gone well and I’m annual reunion in the March 1947-50 2015 issue of “Sea Breeze”. Plank Owner happy to report that Lebanon, PA he’s well into his re- See you all in Charleston next covery. Godspeed to you Jerry. year. Godspeed! At our annual business meeting, new offi- --Submitted by John H. Ranson, Past President Vice President’s Corner which follows: oring both the Battle of Coral Sea where the Allies Hello Association Sailors, “Thank you for your letter of September 15, 2014 on handed the Japanese their I became involved with behalf of Mr. Garland W. first strategic reversal in the John Ranson two years ago Addkison requesting that the Pacific and the career of the to see if we could get an- Navy name a future ship aircraft carrier that provided other ship named the USS Coral Sea. As Director, Na- over 40 years of admirable CORAL SEA. I have been val History and Heritage service to the Navy. in contact with my House Command (NHHC), I am Please understand, however, Representative, Jeb Hen- responding on behalf of the sarling, who is the chair- that the Secretary of the man of the finance com- Navy Chief of Legislative Navy retains the sole pre- mittee. After several Affairs. rogative and authority phone call and letters I We fully appreciate your for selecting names for U.S. have the latest response constituent’s interest in hon- (Continued on page 6) Volume 20, 1st Qtr. P a g e 3 Florida Spring Fling Mini-Reunion Set for March 14, 2015 Mini-reunions are a great opportunity for ship- choices include charbroiled cheeseburgers, mates to reconnect on a regional basis. It’s chicken tenders basket, tuna or egg salad plate especially helpful for those Association mem- with cottage cheese and chicken salad crois- bers who have difficulty trav- sant with fresh fruit. The eling to our annual national cost of the meal is $20 per- reunion. person, including tip. One of the best annual Mini- Make plans to join up with Reunions is hosted each year your fellow shipmates today by shipmates Bill Johnson and at the American Legion NO Bud McKay in Venice, FL. -VEL Post 159, 1770 East And the 2015 get together is Venice Ave., Venice, FL scheduled for March 14. 34292. For more informa- tion and to make your meal Not only open to Coral Sea reservation, contact: Assoc. members, but ALL carrier sailors in the area are welcome to at- Bud McKay, 151 Hoosier Place, Sarasota, FL tend. So if you have a friend who served 34232; ph. (941) 371-3790, or Bill Johnson, aboard any other carrier, invite him to join 322 N Portia Street, Nokomis, FL 34275; ph. Welcome Aboard! you! Our social hour will begin at 11 a.m., with (941) 485-4360 (leave a message, calls will be lunch serving between noon and 12:30. Meal returned). Louie Martinez SN, 3rd. Div. when I’m not sure of the membership renewal to Secretary’s Corner 1955-57 accuracy of the information the Association treasurer. that I have on file. Also, The officers of the Associa- Greetings Shipmates, note on the mailing label tion thank you for your Harvey Rey- Another reunion has come on this and future issues of help in this matter. nolds and gone and we have a “Sea Breeze” that the expi- ABE2, V-2 Div. Check out the hotel regis- 1966-69 new slate of officers for the ration date of your mem- tration information for the next two years. Please give bership is included. If Midwest Spring Fling. More John Smith your support to those who there’s an error in this, info will be in the March AO1, W Div. will work to keep the As- please contact me. Also, 2015 issue of “Sea Breeze”. 1963-64 sociation going in the right note that plank owners are At this time we’re still ne- 1966-68 direction. I’m happy to be indicated with a “P.O.” and gotiating with the hotel your new secretary. Many those of you who are over regarding dinners, etc. I thanks to Don Colwell for 80 years of age are indi- hope to see many of you Nathaniel Smith his work the past six years. cated with an “80+”. there in April 2015. And BT1, B Div. Bravo-Zulu to you, ship- As of the 2012 reunion, the I’m already working on a 1983-86 mate Don. Association voted to ex- bid for the 2016 spring Please note that the mem- empt those shipmates 80 fling. More on that later. bership application on the years of age or older be- All of you have a Happy Association website now fore 12/31/ 2012. All of us Thanksgiving, a Merry has my name and contact younger than that will need Christmas and a Happy information. Please use it to pay $20.00 dues per New Year. when renewing your dues year. If your dues expire by Godspeed! and fill out the form com- 12/31/2014, or if your dues pletely. I need to make are already expired, there sure that the roster is cor- will be a pre-addressed rect.