A newsletter exclusively for former USS YANCEY SAILORS YANCEY MEMORIES Volume 12, Issue 3 October 2008 Special Points of Interest 2008 USS YANCEY REUNION REVIEW • Read about the 2008 USS Yancey Reunion in The USS Yancey cial activity of the reun- the Vietnam War. The ship Seattle, WA in the cover (AKA-93) held its annual ion—the Welcome Recep- is now maintained and ad- story. reunion on October 2-5, tion at 5:00 PM. George ministered by the Bremer- 2008 at the Clarion Clifton, group coordinator, ton Historic Ships Associa- • George Clifton talks Seatac Hotel in Seattle, welcomed everyone to the tion and honors not only about future reunions in WA. Thirteen of the ship’s reunion and then hors the men and women of our his column on page 2. former crewmen attended d’oeuvres and drinks were modern US Navy, but also along with eleven of their served as everyone got recognizes the accomplish- • Eight new names for the guests. acquainted with anyone ments of those who helped Yancey roster are on page three under Wel- The reunion started at whom they hadn’t met in build and maintain the come Mat. See if you midday on Thursday, Oct. the Hospitality Room. The Navy’s ships as well. After remember any of them. 2 with the opening of the remainder of the evening the visit to the USS Turner registration desk and was free to have dinner in Joy the group was free to • Win Bryson tells the Hospitality Room. The the hotel, go into Seattle have lunch at any of the story of trying to locate Hospitality Room was the for some nightlife, or just near-by restaurants in the the Yancey Ship’s Bell main scene of the reun- relax in the Hospitality area. After the tour re- and Builder’s Plate. See ion, giving a place for Room sharing memories turned to the hotel, the re- Mail Call on page 3. everyone to gather and with others. mainder of the afternoon share their stories and After a hearty breakfast was free to relax and visit • Read about Mobile, Ala- memorabilia and to par- on Friday morning, those with friends. Planned activi- bama’s attractions for take of the refreshments who signed up for the ties began again at 6:00 the 2009 reunion on page four. Then return that were available Bremerton tour loaded the PM with the social hour the survey to ML&RS. throughout each day. motor coach to the ferry for where favorite beverages Most of the attendees a 60 minute ride from Seat- could be enjoyed before • An order form for a spent the afternoon in the tle to Bremerton. After the the dinner buffet at 7:00 Yancey plaque is in- Hospitality Room after ride across Puget Sound PM. After dinner there was cluded. This would getting settled into their there was a short walk to again free time to enjoy make a great Christmas rooms and the day the museum ship, USS spending with old ship- present. passed quickly. Soon it Turner Joy DD-951, the mates and new friends. was time for the first offi- famed Navy destroyer from (Continued on page 2) VOLUME 12, ISSUE 3 YANCEY MEMORIES PAGE 2 (Continued from page 1) comed everyone and then a deli- Saturday’s optional tour to take cious dinner was served. It was a COORDINATOR’S in the sites of Seattle began at 9:00 pleasant evening filled with laughter MESSAGE AM. One of the stops on the tour and good conversation. was the famous Space Needle, Sunday morning’s Memorial Ser- I just returned from our 2008 re- whose observation deck gives one vice to remember all USS Yancey union in Seattle. As usual we had a a spectacular view of Seattle’s shipmates who have passed away great time even though the turnout beauty. From the Space Needle the was held after breakfast. Ed was small and the weather a little tour went on to Pike Place Market, a McLaughlin and George Clifton led rainy. Friday morning we took a ferry public market overlooking Elliott the service, reading the names of ride across Puget Sound to Bremer- Bay. The market opened in 1907 those being remembered—James ton for a tour of the destroyer USS and is one of the oldest continually- Riles and Richard Vincent—and Turner Joy. Saturday morning our operated public farmer’s market in ringing the bell as the names were timing was perfect for our visit to the the United States. It is a place of read. With the closing of the Memo- Space Needle, we had a great view business for many small farmers, rial Service, the 2008 reunion came and the clouds didn’t roll in until it craftspeople and merchants. It is to a close. Good byes, hugs and was time to leave. also Seattle’s most popular tourist plans to meet in Mobile in 2009 The vote at our business meeting destination. The Market is also were seen and heard from every was in favor of having our 2009 reun- home to nearly 500 low income resi- corner of the room. We hope all ion in Mobile, Alabama the first or dents who live in 8 different build- those in attendance this year can be second weekend in October. I think ings throughout the Market. The back next year and encourage more it is a good choice as there is much Market is run by the quais- of Yancey crew to attend. to see around Mobile including the government Pike Place Market WWII battleship USS Alabama. Preservation and Development Au- The two cities we will vote on next thority. Throughout the Market were 2008 REUNION year for the 2010 reunion are Bos- many places to choose for lunch, so ton, MA and Wilmington, NC. Bos- if anyone went away hungry, it was ATTENDEES ton was chosen because of its his- not because of lack of choice of tory and it’s the home port of the Norman & Connie Boyd places to eat. After lunch the tour USS Constitution (Old Ironsides). Richey Brunskill continued on to the Museum of Wilmington was chosen because it is Kenneth & Connie Chester Flight at Boeing Field, the largest the final resting place of the USS Richard & Jackie Chester aviation museum on the west coast. Yancey. For those that are not George & Sharon Clifton This was one of the favorite tours of aware she was sold to the State of Walter & Toby Gillespie the reunion, especially for the men. North Carolina and unceremoniously Jerry Goforth The tour returned to the hotel in sunk in 160 feet of water off the Kenneth, David & James Groom time for the 3:30 business meeting, coast of Wilmington in 1990 as an Duane & Betty Malme where the 2009 reunion site was artificial reef. We are hoping it can Edmund & Jeannette McLaughlin selected to be Mobile, Alabama. be arranged to take a boat trip to the Henry & Marian Prosser The 2010 reunion will be either Wil- Yancey site for a memorial service. William & Nancy Suchy mington, NC or Boston, MA. George There were a lot of “regulars” Genevieve Vincent Clifton was again elected to serve missing from this years reunion for Ellen Mueller as the Association President/ various reasons, we had the econ- Victoria Waldrep Coordinator. After the business omy against us and flying isn’t what it meeting, most people retreated to used to be, but I hope we get a big- Total Members: 13 their room to get ready for the eve- ger turnout in Mobile and at future Guests: 11 ning’s big event—the USS Yancey reunions. Several people requested GRAND TOTAL: 24 (AKA-93) banquet. The pre-dinner a list of shipmates that they can call ___________ cocktail hour and photo session prior to next years reunion in an ef- began at 6:00 PM. Everyone was fort to boost the attendance. I think it dressed in a more formal manner FINANCIAL STATEMENT is a great idea and would be glad to for this event, so it was a good time Balance after 07/08 $444.17 get a list to anyone that wants one. to get photos made for the post re- Funds received since 07/08 $35.00 Let’s work on getting a record atten- union Memory Book. Individual, Funds available for 10/08 $479.17 dance in Mobile. I hope to see you Funds expended for 10/08 $135.30 couple and group pictures were all there. taken and then it was time for din- Balance for 01/09 $343.87 The newsletter is being mailed only to ner. The USS Yancey (AKA-93) those who returned the coupon for USPS George Clifton banquet began with the playing of service. All others can access the newslet- __________ the National Anthem and the Pledge ter on line at www.mlrsinc.com/yancey. of Allegiance. George Clifton wel- Please send contributions to the newslet- ter to ML&RS, Inc at the address on page 4. VOLUME 12, ISSUE 3 YANCEY MEMORIES PAGE 3 black-painted engraved text “Hull 280, Moore Drydock, Oakland, Calif., launched July 8, 1944”- or words to that effect. But, again, he didn’t re- call, but thought not. TAPS Time marched on, and last year WELCOME MAT about this time, while surfing the The Yancey Memories was notified The following shipmates have Washington Navy Yard web-site, I of the following shipmates’ deaths. Our been located since the last newslet- deepest sympathy is extended to the read that when U.S.