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Our next reunion will be held in Muskegon, MI on September 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th 2010. Your comments and thoughts are always welcome. Please send your ideas to Harris Cotter the point man for our 2010 reunion. He will pass them to the others on the reunion committee: Harris Cotter (hcotter@centurytel.net) Ken Robinson ENFN 61-5 (kenro1175@verizon.net) Ron Robrahn (rrobrahn@yahoo.com) Larry Fisher ENFN 63 (lmerc50@frontiernet.net) Minzie Leister BM3 65-6 (mjleister@comcast.net) Tom Mckenny EN3 (Spray1011@aol.com) Pat Minton EM 64-5 (tispats@msn.com) Verlyn Schalow EN2 68-72 (schalow@tds.net) The committee would like to share their experiences from the exploratory trip to Muskegon, as well as show a few images of the museum ships that are maintained in Muskegon. They would also like to thank Hot Rod Harley Davidson who provided a conference room and dinner at the Holiday Inn for their planning and discussions. The LST-393 Site These pictures of the USS LST-393 were taken by Tim Cook IC2 the WEB PO. Great Lakes Naval Memorial and Museum site Pictures of the submarine USS Silversides SS-236 were also taken by Tim Cook. Larry Fisher (far right) writes, I think by having an eight member committee, we will make some sound decisions as to a fun and entertaining reunion, not to mention the fun time we had while in Muskegon. The town of Muskegon is a big port of call for the Great Lakes of Michigan. I wish we could have made a port of call there on the USS YORK COUNTY 1175. The town is steeped in history, the sandy beaches are fresh water, and if you take a swim, you don't have to rinse off like salt water, and you can fish from the pier near the light house. As we found out, the LST-393 has a huge history, as well the Silverside Sub. I thought the HOT ROD HARLEY SHOP did a great job putting together accommodations and dinner for us at no cost and cheap rates at the motel. The owner, Carl Miskotten, and his son-in-law, Clyde, were very generous. A Side Note: Pat Minton writes on Sunday, Verlyn and I took the ferry back to Milwaukee. A gentleman behind us leaned forward and asked if we were Navy and we said yes, we were LSTers. He said he was too, LST 292 which invaded Normandy on D Day at Omaha Beach. He was the coxan of a landing craft that took army in and the wounded out. He had a side arm and was instructed to shoot any soldier that refused to jump in the high water over the spikes that were planted by the Germans. He said that he threw the gun in the water and never used it. He was 85 and lived in Milwaukee, returning from a reunion. There were 88 in his reunion group when it started and now the group is down to 8. This was their last reunion... very sad. He is sending me some materials. The 2008 reunion was held on October 19th, 20th and 21st in York, PA. Ron Robrahn writes: Shipmates, The 2008 reunion held in York, PA is in the books, and a great time was had by all. We had a very nice Hospitality Room and Banquet at the Holiday Inn York. We also had various tours, Gettysburg Battlefield, Harley Davidson Factory, and a viewing of the USS York County LST 1175 bell at the Heritage Foundation Museum in York, PA. Also on loan to the Foundation until November 2008, is a very large model of the USS York County and various other items. 39 crew members were present. Among the 39 present were 11 officers of the York County. This participation of officers far exceeded our hopes. Also attending were many of the wives of the crew members who are in the back row standing from left to right: Joyce Leister, Tina Casper, Patty Haselman, Dianne Gaynor, Francis Iley BarbaraEvans, Charlene McKay, ? Kennedy, ? Johnson, Barbara Kirk, Ellen Nickelson Patty Minton, middle row, blonde standing Cindy Fisher. front row seated left to right are: Judy Ellis, Judy Gray, Mary Schlow, Karen Schlagel, Cindy Robinson and Joyce Marders. Ron also reports that after the reunion costs were all covered, and some monies were returned to people that had to leave the reunion due to sickness or emergencies (the monies were returned only after we sold the openings that were vacated by the people leaving ) we ended up with the amount of $ 1990.89. After the reunion was over, John Schlagel sent a donation of $ 50.00 to add to the general fund for a percentage of the goods he sold at the reunion. We now have a total of $ 2040.89. As all of you know, these funds are in a non interest bearing checking account. I suggest we purchase a CD for about $ 1500.00 for 12 mo. to get some interest on the money. I am willing to claim the interest on my taxes. This will be my donation to the general fund. I feel this would be the way to go since it has been decided we may not to have a reunion in 09. Attending the reunion were Ronald Robrahn, John Schlagel, James Marders, Don McLaughlin, Milton Gray, Earl Nickelson, Harris Cotter, Carl Casper, Minzie Leister, Richard Life, Aubrey Jennings, Ken Robinson, John McKay, Joseph Sharland, Larry Fisher, Paul Iley, Verlyn Shalow, Eugene Haselman, WIlliam Evans, William Price, Carl Gilpatrick, Dwight Ellis, Philip Stevens, Jackson Kennedy, Fred Card, Dennis Hopkins, Gene Allen, Ron Meisinger, Pat Mnton, Thomas Kirk, Willis Holladay, Harvey Johnson, Stephen Harlan, WIlliam Gaynor, Richard Tameris, Robert Bochenski, Joseph Wise, George Gowen and Eugene Katzman. Guests included Barre & Marge Shepp, Dave Miller, Richard Shananberger and Malcolm Friedmon. Here's a picture of Jim Tallent from the 2007 reunion who wanted to attend the 2008 reunion and act as the DJ, but he died of cancer about a month before the reunion. We would like to extend our deepest sympathy to his wife, family and friends. Jim was on the York from 1960 to 1963. From Ens. Tom and Barbara Kirk, Congratulations on a great job at the reunion. It was a very memorable affair and was a great opportunity for everyone to renew old acquaintences. I really enjoyed myself and even Barbara made a comment that she didn't think she would enjoy it as much as she did. She said she really enjoyed the tea and the chance to meet the other wives. Don't forget she never met anyone before this weekend as we never met until after I got out of the Navy. It was a good location, with lots to do aside from the reunion, and you guys really got a good turnout, both officer and enlisted. A Job Well Done. See you in a couple of years. Did you know there was a 1994 reunion? Here's a 1994 group picture of the attendees sent to me by Ken Robinson. Below are the names of the crew as best Ken can remember. Bill Kesson, Jim Marders, Wm Holcomb (wheelchair), Ken Robinson, Lewis Kline John Mckay, Tom Mcdowell, Howard Kinman, Joe Wise, Jack Helsey, Carl Casper Dick Bishop, Jim Talent, Gary Cole, Bob Lenahan, ?, Aubrey Jennings, Warren Schnider and Ben Ferguson 2007 York County Reunion in Evansville, IN Below are a few pictures that were taken on Tuesday afternoon during early registration. Here's a group shot of Minzie Leister Jr, Ron Robrahn, Ben Fergusen and Fred Card. Minzie built and brought a York County model that seemed to be the hit of the reunion. Minzie even drew this squadron8 image and had it reduced to be mounted on the model. On Wednesday some of us boarded a bus which drove us to the ship where we had breakfast in the tank deck because of the rain. As we approached the ship, We took a few pictures of the 325 next to the pier and a few inside the ship after eating. I thought I'd also post this picture of Jim kellogg and Fred Card talking together in the lobby of the hotel, and a picture of a image from Willis Holladay EM3 who brought his photo album with him to the reunion. Most of the images that we tried to take from his album didn't turn out. We have received some 07 reunion pictures from Ron Robrahn, Verlyn Schalow and Minzie Leister Jr., and some are posted below. On Thursday, we took a short cruise aboard the 325 along the Evansville shoreline, most everyone had a good time including these four (Phil Stevens, Ken Robinson, Ron Robrahn, and Earl Nickelson). Later, after the cruise, a short meeting was held about the location of our next reunion, maybe York, PA? This is where the ships bell and other articles were given to the York County Historical Society back in 1972 when the ship was sold to Italy. 
 
 
 
 Here's the US Navy Union Jack given to Verlyn (Magpie) Schalow (center) in 1972 having been on the York longer than anyone else when the ship was turned over to Italy. As you face the union jack, Bill Evans is on the (left) and Gene Autry Allen (right) are Plank Owners. Also at the reunion, Pat Minton handed me two pictures, both of Pat Minton, and his friends Charles Brown and Fred L. Parker. Ron Robrahn tried to keep track of everyone attending the reunion in Evansville. Below is his list and a 2007 reunion York County partial group picture that fills the screen, but here's a even larger size for those with larger monitors or for a closer look, just click on the picture. In the picture, from left to right first row kneeling is Bill Evans, Earl Nickelson, Fred Card, Gene Alan, Leo Kinville, Ken Robinson, Ron Robrahn, and Pat Minton, the next row standing is Alan Schultz, Jim Marders, Verlyn Schalow, Minzie Liester, DonMcLaughlin, Phil Stevens, John Schlagel, and Sam Peters, in the last row is Ben Ferguson, Larry Fisher, Jim Talent, Tom McKenny (red hat), George Pantzer, Tim Cook and Jim Kellogg. Not pictured in the group picture is Harvey Johnson, Harris Cotter, Willis Holiday, Joe Sharland, Julius Atchley, Charles Brown, Mike Croxton, Robert Leininger. With 21 wives and other guests by Ken Robinson's count making a grand total of 52 attendees. The feedback we're getting from those who attended the reunion has been very good. Tom Mckenny writes "Hi Ken. I still have a smile on my face from the wonderful time we had in Evansville. Great to hear from you. Here's also some movie footage of the LST-325 leaving port, cruising down the Ohio river, returning and one of a LCVP riding along with us. These are large files and best viewed using a high speed internet connection. FYI... Evansville, IN was a major ship building town during world war two, and while the men were overseas fighting the war, the women went to work and built LST's. Also, between 1942 and 1945, the Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company, Shipbuilding Division, constructed 167 LST's at the Evansville shipyards using mainly women welders. |
