REUNION 2009
The 17th annual reunion turned out to be one of our largest reunions so far. We had 11 "fIrst timers" and many who were back after missing a reunion or two. We were treated "fIrst class"
by the hotel. The trip to the Boston Naval Shipyard and Quincy Market were very informative. Due to the death of Teddy Kennedy we were unable to go to the JFK Library. The following day tour of the Naval Base at Newport was an eye opener for many ofus (not what it was when we were stationed there.) A wonderful lunch was enjoyed by all at the O"s Club. Our banquet Saturday evening (some of the guys are still young enough to dance) concluded the reunion. The highlight of the banquet was the 7ft model ofthe USS NORRIS which Bob SNOW, MM2, 62-64 has put together.
CREW MEETING
Our meeting was started with the Pledge and a prayer of THANKS for all we have and our Departed Shipmates.
A discussion was held on having a NORRIS cruise. Bert JOHNSON is interested in putting together one. If you have an
Plans are a go on the 2010 reunion in Branson, Mo. The dates will be 29 Sept. to 2 Oct. There is an enclosed registration and itinerary form which you will send to Pam Brown who is doing the leg work. As you can see we will arrive on Wednesday and leave on Saturday. You can arrive or depart up to three days before or after. You can also go online to the web-page: www.reunionproregistration.com/ussnorris.htm for more info.
Branson has a new airport which will make travel easier to get to the reunion. The airport is just 3 miles outside of town.
It was voted that the 2011 reunion be held in Fairfax Co. Va.
DUES
In accordance with our By-Laws, our fiscal year begins with the reunion, therefore 2010 dues are now due. The dues are still $15.00 per year and may be made payable to:
USSNORRIS
11 Bethany Forest Dr.
Dagsboro, Del. 19939.
The memento gift you received for paying 2009 dues is a window decal---just peel.
NEW MEMBERS
ABRAMO, Robert FN 69-70
PARRENT,Ed IC2 67-70
DETCH,John RD2 67-68
GARFIELD, Ronald LTJG 64-66
JOHNSON, Danny BT3 66-68
TAPS
KULLICH, John SN 51-52
PONTIOUS, Paul EM2 66-67
VEALE, Robert MR2 53-55
BAUER, Gerald FN 60-61
GUTHRIE, Paul SIIc 45-46
WESCOTT, Lawrence RM3 52-53
Joan BUSENER wife of Henry BUSENER, F2/C, 46-47
GAGE, Everett FN 52-53
Steve BLEVINS Jr. son of Steve BLEVINS, SN, 68-69
McGRAW, Frederick SMI 45-46
ADVICE FROM A PLANK OWNER
Handle every stressful situation like a dog.
If you can't eat it or hump it.
Piss on it and walk away.
TRIBUTE
When the NORRIS Association was first started ,some of the PLANK OWNERS were the backbone of our reunions. Mother
Nature has now played a big part in their lives and made it almost impossible for them to attend the reunions now. Listing the
names I hope will bring back some fond memories for the rest of us.
OUR PLANK OWNER LIST
ALGI, Herman ET2
BARAGAR, Dick CS3
BERGAN, Joe RD3
BRIGHTMAN, Harold MM3
CAMPBELL, Warren S2/c
COYNE, Ed
DECKER, Bob GMI
DEWITZ, George
EGAN, Gerald SM3
GILBERT, Richard
GRIMM, Lester TM2
GUENDLING, Don
HENDRIX, Olan SlIc
HUTCHINSON, Hobert
LEE, Richard FlIc
MARFLAX, Richard TM2
MEADOWS, David S lIc
MORRIS, Ed
MULLINS, "Moon" MMI (who's wife says "He's still the best looking snipe in the group")
OVERMAN, Wayne ETl
ROGERS, Webster Fl/c
SARLO, Carl Cox
SELZ, Hubert RD2
SMITH, Leonard MMI
STEFFEY, Melvin CN
TOTH, Julius Sl/c
TOTMAN, Earl BM3
WATERMAN, Bob MM3
WHITE, Richard LCDR
WOLFF, Allan LTJG
WOODS, Earl CM3
It has been ten years since I've researched the roster, so I may have made some of you PLANK OWNERS and missed some
others, but please forgive me if I did. WE STILL HONOR ALLOF YOU.
LETTER FROM NORMA MULLINS
"Moon" and I met on a blind date Dec. of 1942. He was stationed on board the USS ARKANSAS BB 33 doing convoy
duty in the Atlantic, home port in Brooklyn, N.Y. (It was love at first sight for both of us) We had about 12 dates and became
engaged during that time, then he was transferred to California, assigned to a new DE the USS FOREMAN DE 633 ---- we didn't
see each other for 19 months. In Jan. 1945, a MM first class was needed for a new destroyer, of course he jumped at the chance to get back to the States. He received 30 days leave and arrived in N.J. the second week in February and we were married March 4th 1945. We went down to Georgia to meet his family, then on to Norfolk, Va. While we were there FDR died and the war in Germany ended.
I went back to New Jersey-----shortly after that the sailor boys left for Calif. and the USS NORRIS DD 859. I went to Calif. forabout 5 months then back to N.J. (pregnant of course) During that time V-J Day took place-what a bunch of drunken sailors.
Dutch Van Cleave had the duty and was the only one with a clear head the next day. After that, Frank was off to sea for 13 months. He was discharged December 20, 1946.
After all these years "I still think he is the greatest"
SHIP'S STORE
• USS NORRIS BALL CAPS $13.00 + $4.00 postage Specify DD or DDE
• USS NORRIS BELT BUCKLES $15.00 + $3.50 postage
WEB BELTS $ 5.50 + $1.50 postage
USS NORRIS SHIRTS (golf type) White $23.00 + 4.00 postage (9) XL (6) L (3) M
KIDS SHIRTS $ 7.00 + $3.50 postage (6) S (8) M (6) L (6) XL
My grand pop served aboard the USS NORRIS (8) Small (13) Medium (10) Large (7) X Large
SERVICE AWARD MEDALS (Hat Pins) $ 3.50 + 1.50 postage
Specify: WWII / Korea / Vietnam Service! UN Service!
China Service! Vietnam Campain / Good Conduct/
National Defense! Navy Occupation
KOREA VETERAN VIETNAM VETERAN
• RATING BADGES $ 5.00 + $ 1.50 postage
YN SK SM ET BT BM EN
SO QM RM RO(Radar) MM PN
DESTROYER TIE BARS
$ 8.00 + $1.50 postage
PETTY OFFICER CHEVRON PINS
$ 8.00 + $1.50 postage
• USS NORRIS SHIPMATE ASSOC. patch
$3.00 + $1.50 postage
USS NORRIS MONEY HOLDERS
$5.00 + $1.50 postage
USS NORRIS License plate holders
$4.00 + $3.00 postage
USS NORRIS DECALS
$4.50 + $2.00 postage
USS NORRIS BUMPER STICKERS
$9.00 + $2.50 postage
If you purchase more than one item, only add the cost of the highest postage.
MILITARY TRANSLATION
SECURE THE BUILDING
NAVY PERSONNEL: Tum off the lights, Jock all the doors, and dog down the hatches.
ARMY PERSONNEL: Occupy the building, so no one could enter.
MARINE PERSONNEL: Assault the building, capture it, and defend it with suppressive fIre and close hand-to-hand combat.
AIR FORCE PERSONNEL: Take out a 3 year lease with an option to buy.
