Reunions

Many descriptions and thoughts about Military REUNIONS have been discussed, cussed
printed, and published by well spoken and intelligent individuals. Military Reunions have one major difference than the majority of Reunions because there is a life and death factor that will always be remembered. Bill and Judy MacInnes (Bill being the nephew of both Block Island
CVE 21 and CVE 106 Chaplain) volunteered to Host the 2003 Reunion held in San Diego, CA.
The brochure prepared and published after that Reunion is closed with what the Webmaster feels is the best presentation of the thoughts of the Military Reunions.

"We came to renew friendships and to make new
friends. We came to meet the family members
of our shipmates. We came to remember those
who were lost on May 29, 1944 and in the 1945
battles in the Pacific and all of those who have
later departed this life. We toured San Diego
and broke bread together. We reminisced about
sad and happy moments of times past and left
with happy memories of our San Diego Reunion.
God willing, we look forward to seeing our ship-
mates, their spouses, loved ones and families
next year in Annapolis! "

The 2008 Reunion will be held in Bloomington, Minnesota Tuesday, May 27 through Saturday May 31, 2008. Information can be obtained from Bill MacInnes at E-Mail Wmacinnes@aol.com

From 1947 to 1962 some of the shipmates for both CVE 21 and CVE 106 would meet from time to time in different locations throughout the States to maintain friendships and personal contact with their shipmates. Each year more and more contacts took place. In 1962 those attending these meetings made the decision that there was a common bond over and above just being shipmates. That common bond was that they were all survivors of the sinking of CVE 21, or of the destroyer escort 576 USS Barr, and that the three destroyer escorts USS Ahrens (DE-575), USS Elmore (DE 686) and the USS Paine (DE 578) whose crews saved the survivors from certain death in the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

While many of these survivors went aboard CVE 106 as the original operating crew, many of those attending these reunions actually were transferred off the ship when the Marine Squadrons were brought aboard for air operations. CVE 106 went on to make naval history. It was only a short time when everyone involved recognized that all the personnel serving on the ships and squadrons (being Navy or Marine), serving with either CVE 21 or CVE 106, were very much a part of the history of the two Block Islands. The Bylaws of the Association established these facts and as many as 2000 Sailors and Marines were made a part of the USS Block Island Association.

Note: With the interest shown and the Association Membership increasing yearly, as shipmates became aware that in fact there were yearly Reunions, maintaining records of the mini reunions by the Board was discontinued in 1984.

After many Historians found that this Website existed their interest was sparked by the fact that so many Sailors and Marines were involved that actually took place from December 7, 1941 up until well after the Korean War. Historical Records show that over 12,000 individuals actually participated in the war time activities of the two USS Block Island jeep aircraft carriers even before the Korean War. Of interest is the fact that the majority of these sailors and marines were at least 17 years of age on December 7, 1941 and that with no real public recognition or national publicity, like so many of the Military related Associations and Reunions of the Second World War have been given, over 66 years later the USS Block Island Association is still alive and well doing what it was organized to do which is to perpetuate their history. There is another interest that these Historians recognize and that is the fact that these yearly Reunions took place in as many as 20 States and over 30 individual cities.

Of great interest is the fact that with as many as 1,000 ex WWII service personnel being reported as dieing each day that participants in the Association have even scheduled Reunions in even more Cities up through 2010. Sons, daughters, other relatives and friends of these service men have become involved in the Association to honor those sailors and marines who were killed in the war or survived and became a part of the Association.

The registration forms provided by the host hotel for the 2007 Reunion listed 137 total in attendance. Of that total attendance 40 were actually men who served on the Block Island ships, the escort ships, the air squadron crews and another 8 shipmates who served on CVE 106 during the Korean War. There were actually a larger number in attendance because those that traveled to the Reunion in motor homes and those that only came for that part of the Reunion Program that took place on the Island of Block Island were not accounted for. Because the Reunions have been scattered throughout 30 states and in even more different cities many of the attendees scheduled their yearly "vacations" for the Reunions. In the early years the attendance was held down because many of the families had school grade children and the May 30 Reunion target date fell in many cases in the week of "final testing" back when most schools were "out" a few days after Memorial Day. As late as 1992 the Editor of the Associations Information Paper actually listed over 800 actual crew members who received the publication four times each year. That publication provides information on "the reported" deaths each year and between the last 2 yearly Reunions 26 members had joined their shipmates that were killed in WWII.

The 2007 Reunion was probably the most Historic undertaking of the Association in that it involved actually holding a part of the Reunion on the Island that the two USS Block Island carriers were named after. It also involved the establishment of a part of the USS Block Island Association being set forth in the Island of Block Island's Historical Society. At the same time the Association becomes a part of American Legion Post 36 and obtained recognition of the administrative and elected officials of the State of Rhode Island.

The total membership of the Association wishes to offer special recognition to the Curator of the Island of Block Island Historical Society Ben Hruska not only for the personal efforts he has made to the Association and our membership, also for the part that he undertook to "co-host" the Reunion and to undertaking the task of having the POWs (rescued by all the Naval Ships and their crews from the Island of Formosa back in August 1945) actually represented and in attendance at this Reunion as was the Director of the Taiwan POW Society Michael Hurst, MBE – Society Director - VP and General Mgr. and Historian

The Webmaster has elected to actually publish materials furnished by the Island of Block Island Times on June 9, 2007.

Program at Legion Park

After the initial greeting and handshakes with members of American Legion Post 36 at the dock, the visitors were ferried by bus to Legion Hall, where a program of tribute and remembrance unfolded.

After welcoming remarks by Hruska and Dan Millea, commander of Post 36, First Warden Kim Gaffett read a resolution of the Town of New Shoreham, which concluded

"Therefore be it resolved the Town Council joins the American Legion Post 36 and the Block Island Historical Society… in welcoming the members of the USS Block Island … and offers … the thanks of a grateful nation and honors the courage and valor shown by these men and their families and expresses appreciation to them for sharing their stories…"

Gaffett credited former First Warden Martha Ball with drafting much of the language of the Resolution. (See right for the entire Resolution.)

Post 36 member Bob Gilpin rang the bell from the USS Block Island CVE-106. Mary Donnelly recalled that she had been present in 1971 with her husband John, Allan Hall, Merrill Slate and Tom Croke for the dedication of the ship's bell, which holds center stage on the lawn in front of Legion Hall. Toward the end of the program, Hurst read a poem, entitled "Liberation" by Maurice Rooney, a since-deceased British POW, who was among those rescued by the USS Block Island. Clarke stood by as Hurst read Rooney's thoughts on coming up to the USS Block Island for the first time:

Asked to speak immediately after, Clarke was too filled with emotion to do so

Above, crewmembers of CVE21-106 and Chuck Bartley from the USS Santee (in the red jacket) standing in Legion Park. To the right Michael Hurst, Director of the Taiwan POW Camps Memorial Society, and former POW Cecil Clarke join a member of the USS Block Island Association next to the ship’s bell of CVE 106.

Waiting to ship out

Among the visitors at the island reunion were two couples who became acquainted when the husbands, crew members on CVE-21, were waiting to board the ship for its departure from Seattle. During that time, Herb and Jeanne Potter met Ed and Mary Kulik, and they became friends while living in government housing just across from each other.

The Potters and the Kulik’s lost touch after the war and did not see each other for decades. With great delight, they met again recently when they sat at each other's table at the Radisson Hotel, the mainland base for their reunion in Rhode Island.

Peter Alfonse (Pat) Tamulonis attended the reunion with his grandson Nate. He entered the Navy in January 1943, and noted that his captain on the CVE-21 was Logan C. Ramsey, who "called in an early report that Pearl Harbor was about to be targeted." Tamulonis added, "He was originally laughed at." Tamulonis recalled that he was six decks below when torpedoes hit the first USS Block Island. "The first two blew up the engine." His timetable was "the torpedoes hit at 8:10; I went into the water at 8:30, and was pulled out at 11:30."

"It's surprising," he added, "how Navy training takes over. You remember everything. I just threw my shoes away and began to swim away from the vessel, which I knew was going down." He said that, once in the water, he and his buddies took off their belts and hooked them together so they could remain with each other until rescued.

Lunch and reminiscences

After a tour of the island, the veterans and their families were hosted at a luncheon at Smuggler's Cove by Rita and Steve Draper and the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary, Post 36.

Platters of assorted sandwiches piled high on rectangular tables, bowls of chips and pitchers of iced tea and lemonade tempted healthy appetites. Steaming bowls of clam chowder were served, followed by coffee and dessert.

The reminiscences at the long tables were as engaging as the fare.

Having brought his grandson Aaron Sawyer along, Walter Keszek said he was only 19 at the time and "on the flight deck when the torpedoes struck."

Werner Hospers, who drove to Rhode Island from Valpariso, Ind., said he, too, was 19 and described scrambling down a "monkey line," a rope that was knotted about every 10 feet. "You go down," he said, "until you're about 10 feet from the ocean; then you jump!"

Hospers said that the sailors had been instructed to keep their bodies above the water - to stretch out and keep swimming - to avoid the concussions from depth charges.

He confided that while he and his fellow crewmen were swimming around, "we kept talking about getting our 30-day survival leave and thinking about what we'd do with it."

At one end of the table, Bill Rutledge chimed in that he was married on his survival leave. He noted that the crew of CVE-21 was rescued by the destroyer USS Ahrens.

Hospers said that he was taking a shower when the torpedoes hit, and all he had on when he hit the water was a towel and lifejacket. "And he soon lost the towel," his wife quipped.

The three veterans agreed that they were not really afraid at the time. They were young and invincible and "in a way enjoyed the adrenaline rush."

These sentiments were echoed by veteran Gordon Felder. "I was never at any time worried," he said. "I could swim like a fish, and I had on a lucky watch cap," which became soaked with oil. He kept it as a souvenir for years in the same condition, until someone trying to do him a favor sent it to the cleaners. It was never the same.

Wanting to 'do something'

Hurst, who has lived in Taipei, Taiwan, for the past 18 years, pointed out that most of his life he has "wanted to do something for my uncles and grandparents who were in the First and Second World Wars.

"I wanted to say 'Thank you!" to the vets."

He discovered that there were more than 15 POW camps in Formosa, and that the numbers of prisoners kept rising. Americans took more than 1,200 British servicemen back home.

Hurst organized some remembrance services for veterans, particularly those who had died as prisoners of war in Formosa. He wrote letters to discover where survivors lived and how to reach them. He continues to be in touch with the children of many World War II servicemen.

In founding the Taiwan POW Camps Memorial Society, Hurst has fulfilled his dream of giving back to those who made "such huge sacrifices for their countries." To learn more about the organization, visit the website: POW Taiwan
E-mail Address(es):
society@powtaiwan.org

POW meets rescuing crew member

Acknowledging he had some initial difficulties in coming to the reunion, Clarke said he was delighted to have met one of the members of the crew on the 106, who remembered taking the POWs from Formosa aboard.

Clarke was standing with Irving Biron, who was equally thrilled because, "I've found my buddy at last!

"We saw them only from the distance," he said, recalling the day of the transfer at sea. The POWs were actually brought out to the aircraft carrier by a destroyer.

Clarke, 86, said the airlines made it difficult for him to fly to the states from England, demanding that he get medical clearance, and though he was frustrated initially, he understood they wanted to make certain he was well enough to travel.

Clarke pointed to one of his several lapel pins with particular pride, noting it had been given to him by a representative of the Royal Family. He said it was issued by The Not-Forgotten Association, and stressed, "It is very important because lots of servicemen have been forgotten."

Clarke, who has been governor of a middle school in England and a lecturer in mechanical engineering at Peterborough College, said his recurring and "lasting memory is when the Americans took us off." "When Formosa became a speck on the horizon, I moved away drying my happy wet face. With my eyes filled with tears of emotion, I saw the BLOCK ISLAND, majestic in grace. We were taken aboard and feted, deloused, reclothed and well fed. It was lovely to be treated so kind hearted. They almost tucked us up in our bed… As for me I'm relieved and grateful and there's warmth which stems from my heart for those who came to answer our call God bless them all who took part." \

Personal pictures of the individuals attending this 2007 Reunion will follow onthe Website update.

The Association Board elected to have the 2006 Reunion in New Orleans, LA. That was no longer possible due to the destruction by Hurricane Katrina . The Board gave approval of a proposal by Ray Warden that the 2006 Reunion be held in San Antonio, Texas starting on May 30, 2006. some particulars of that Reunion are set forth herein. The 2007 Reunion will be held in Rhode Island with some activities actually taking place on the island of Block Island for which the two Block Island Carriers were named to honor the many naval activities that have taken place on that Island.

Both the sinking of CVE 21 and the damage taken by the USS Barr (DE 576) created a “bond” from the life or death circumstances, and then later the placement of the surviving crew on CVE 106, only to have as many as 400 of those survivors replaced with Marine personnel, expanded that bond to many persons. That bond was expanded to all of the wives, relatives and friends who attended the Reunions with these survivors. While history is interested in the lives of those survivors, and the many Sailors and Marines who served with them, this has not been the case of the members of the Association. History is interested on just how many (in numbers) attendees actually were Navy or Marine survivors. To the members of the Association this was never a concern because they all became “family” and no records were kept relating to the attendance of actual Survivors.

(*) The only attendance records that were maintained were the Registration Records and in many cases attendees never registered because they came for one or two days and maybe stayed in their motor home or with friends and relatives. The figures shown represent all attendees including relatives, friends and neighbors.

At every reunion that the Association has held there is always something outstanding that takes place.
In 2002 it was the fact that someone who actually was involved in the sinking of the submarine that sunk CVE 21 was at the Reunion. The shipmate was on the Destroyer Escort that sunk the submarine. The shipmate was 93 years old and had no idea that there was even Reunions taking place had it not been for a daughter seeing the information on this Website. Attendance to the 2002 Reunion was a birthday present being given by the daughter to her father. His story is carried in the Memories section of CVE 21.

Several years back the son of Logan C. Ramsey Sr., the first skipper of CVE 21, attended the Reunion. Logan Jr. served on the second Block Island CVE 106. Captain Ramsey was replaced as Captain of CVE 21 in February 1944 by Captain Massie Hughes just before CVE 21 made that last cruise and was sunk..

Captain Hughes also was the first Skipper of the new USS Block Island CVE 106 until August 1945. Captain Massie Hughes had a son who was also given the name of Massie Hughes, Jr. Massie Hughes, Jr. graduated from the Naval Academy in the class of 1958 and dropped the Jr. when his father died. Massie Hughes Jr., and his wife Diane, attended the 2005 Reunion and sent this "E" mail to the President of the Association as soon as he returned home.

(June 1, 2005) What a delightful evening. Diane and I can't thank you enough for the welcome that you and your group gave us. It was truly a highlight for our trip to Branson. Your organization is not only a tribute to those that served on the CVE-21 and 106, it is an inspiration to all military people to keep in touch with those that they served with. We appreciate all you did to get in contact with me and hope that we can participate in the 2006 reunion in New Orleans.

I am honored to be an Associate Member of you group. You and Bill MacInnes have done a magnificent job. We will attempt to see what additional information we have in our closet of 5 years! We just received the pictures of the reunion. Isn't the computer world marvelous.
Thanks again Massie Hughes

Ray Warden Smiley Burnette
Ruth Warden - Rayleene Warden Morris - Becky Warden Wade - Mary Beth Strong - Eddie Kolhoss

                                Smiley Burnette    Bob Mathis       Buster Lapeyrolerie   Otis Long
                                           All four served on both CVE 21 and CVE 106
                                            This is the 4 Ordnance Men who attended the Reunion

The 60th Anniversary of the sinking of CVE 21 brought about the 2004 Annual Reunion (number 24 for the Association) and was held in Annapolis Maryland (the home of the US Naval Academy) with Ken Bruce serving as Host. There were 149 Association Members attending with 49 of those in attendance actually having served with the two USS Block Islands between 1942 and 1957. The Memorial Service was held for some 30 known members who had died after the 2003 Reunion. Association Records indicate that between 30 to as high as 50 of the Association Membership die each year. With the ages running between 79 and 95 years these figures relate very close to the National Average of the 1,100 deaths per day of the just over 4,000,000 WWII Veterans that were still living as of January 1, 2003.

Reunions not only permit these shipmates the opportunity to renew "old friendships", and to make new friendships with the sons and daughters, relatives and friends of those shipmates, it also gives them a chance to undertake Association Business on a personal basis. The 2003 Reunion was the 59th year anniversary of the sinking of CVE 21 and the 23rd year that a National Reunion has been held. Behind the scenes there is that "Association Business" that makes the Reunions possible.

The following are pictures showing the Board Members who run the business meetings and a table full of attendees taking care of the "old business" and establishing the who, where, how and when for the 2004 Reunion being year No 60. Reunions don't "just happen" someone has to make 'them happen".
(click on the pictures for a larger view)

In order to have these Reunions someone has to volunteer to Host and select the City at which the Reunion is to be held. That decision is made a full year in advance because this requires much work and dedication by the Host and those who volunteer to assist. Ray McMillan and his wife Dottie served as the Host and Hostess for the Memphis Reunion. This is their second time of being the Host of a Reunion.

While our membership may be in the "winter of their lives" they will never forget
that they were given the privilege by our Lord to have lived in and fought for the greatest country in the world.

"That's all folks" but watch for "coming attractions" on our Website Updates