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Would you be interested in having an informal get together in Muskegon, Michigan in September? We will meet at the museum ship LST-393 and look over the area for maybe hosting the large 2010 reunion. This means no banquet, host hotel or bus tours, just a few York County crew members getting together on an old LST to discuss our experiences during our years on the York County. If so, on September 18, 2009 plan on meeting on the ship at 1300. I will be wearing a white USS York County hat with a name tag on my shirt, or coat if its cold. I hope to see you there too! Tim Cook IC2 Muskegon update: It looks like Larry Fisher, Ken Robinson and Ron Robrahn (who BTW has arranged to sleep on the ship at least one night), will be on the 393 with me on September 18th. Will you be there too? While in Muskegon and besides the LST-393, be sure to visit the Great Lakes Naval Memorial and Museum, The Muskegon Museum of Art, the renovated train depot and of course The Lakes Mall. Harris Cotter writes: The Reunion Committee has agreed that we need to put the reunion plans on hold at this time. Thank you very much for your consideration to attend. It's looking more like 2010. We will let you know when we start making plans again. Your comments and thoughts are welcome. Send them to Harris Cotter (hcotter@centurytel.net ) and he will pass them on to the reunion committee. 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 are, back row standing from left to right are: 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. |
