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(MUSIC: "For The Good Times")

The U.S.S. Block Island Association was formed as a non-profit organization in 1963. Like the construction period of CVE 106 taking time, the real "Keel" of the Association was laid by a small number of the crew and in 1963 the "commissioning ceremony" of the USS Block Island Association became active by the adoption of the Bylaws that made the commissioning a reality in their effort to perpetuate the history of the USS Block Island. 

The Commissioning Ceremony of CVE 106 was attended by many dignitaries in part because a point in history was being made. Not just the launching of  the second carrier of the same name but the significant history that had been created by CVE 21. Adding to that history this was the first fighting ship that was to be almost completely manned by the surviving crew of it's predecessor. In his presentation to the ships crew and to their commitment to taking the helm of their new ship, Captain Hughes made this commitment and obligation to entire crew.

"We  have a more solemn obligation (over and above the task for which the ship was designed and constructed) for on us has fallen a very singular and solemn heritage - that to perpetuate the name "USS Block Island". That is indeed a big responsibility and one I know we shall accept with a determination that will not let us fail"! 

The crew held to this obligation with much pride and has continued to "perpetuate" that history long after the Block Island CVE 106 was stricken from the Naval Records in 1957.
The History of CVE 106 is the best evidence that the crew did in fact live up to that obligation and with much honor. 

Many of the survivors of the sinking of CVE 21 maintained personal contact with other shipmates after WWII. This included the four Destroyer Escorts that were operating with CVE 21 and had rescued these survivors. This  common disaster had created a comradeship between the survivors and the crews of the DEs. Some of these survivors would meet from time to time to renew friendships and to make new friendships and listen to their stories of that common disaster. Over a few years the group got larger and larger and the idea came up that an Association should be formed that could bring all of their shipmates together at a yearly Reunion . The Association was formed that included both of the Aircraft Carriers (CVE 21 and CVE 106) because the majority of the survivors of  CVE 21 also served on CVE 106. Within 3 years over 500 sailors, marines and airmen had joined the Association. The Bylaws as originally drafted included "all personnel who served on, over, or in the company of the two Aircraft Carriers". Little did the drafters of those Original Bylaws know that over 20,000 Navy and Marine personnel met these conditions. Their thoughts were that maybe as many as many as 2000 personnel would be involved but Navy Records show that this was less than 10% of those that qualified for membership. Public records now show that as great as a number as 85% of these qualified personnel are now deceased. To maintain the Association the remaining members are looking for their sons and daughters or other relatives to continue in the effort to continue in their footsteps. The contributions and sacrifices that these Sailors and Marines made for the Country should never be forgotten. As of September 1, 2006 (over 62 years since the sinking of CVE 21)  the Association has 269 registered members with 228 of those members having served on either ship in WWII. The Association also has 125 life members who are the known widows of deceased members and 69 members who are relatives of the men who did serve. The Association also has 41 members who served on CVE 106 during the Korean Campaign after WWII. 

The Association holds an annual reunion on a date close to May 29^th (which was the date of the sinking of CVE 21). In 1964 and 1966 through 1981 Mini-Reunions were held throughout the USA. In 1983 the last and final Mini-Reunion was held and after that year the Association voted to recognize only the yearly Nationally held Reunions.

Within this Website there is a section set forth as CVE 106 Crews Memories which involves that ship and it's crew members undertaking the rescue of some 1200 POWs being held on the Island of Formosa by the Japanese. This operation was very unique in that CVE 106 had the first entire Marine Air Group and the supporting personnel  to operate off any US Aircraft Carrier which made it possible for the ship, and it's personnel, to undertake the actual rescue. Because father time is not on the side of either the crew members or the POWs that were rescued, the Association  established the proposed 2007 Reunion to pay a tribute not only to the Island for which the ship was named and to the crews that served on her however, to all of those POWs who had been interned by the Japanese for some four fill years.
See the Reunion Section of this Website for the final story of this 2007 Historical Reunion

 On the following records the registered attendance does not reflect the number of actual shipmates who attended the Reunion.  These figures are based on Hotel Reservations which includes wives, relatives and friends. However for 2003 and 2004 the Host provided the number of actual shipmates who attended and in each year that number was 45. Those in attendance were not concerned with the historical significance of the numbers as the Reunions provided the opportunity to renew friendship, gain new friendships and to "tell sea stories" from their service to their Country. The Association's Records show that there are approximately 250 dues paying members which includes actual shipmates, their wives, relatives and friends. The original registration from 1987 listed some 850 members. The Association is unable to provide any historical records because contact with the many who served is limited to their personal contact with the Association.  Deaths of the membership is obtained only from information provided by relatives and friends. In 1946 the Navy published a list of personnel who served on the two carriers. However. while that list was correct in its listing that roster was limited to the names of those who were serving on CVE 21 when it was sunk on May 29, 1944 when in fact CVE 21 went into service in December 1942.  In regards to CVE 106 only the names of those personnel who were serving on the ship in June and July 1945 were listed.  When CVE 106 pulled into San Diego Harbor after WWII personnel departures was like blowing feather into the wind. The personnel being discharged or transferred were permitted to list the name of the City in which they desired to be discharged. Those records have been proven to be insufficient to provide all the names except that there has been no finding that names as listed were incorrect. These same circumstance also exist with all the ships. Navy and Marine Air Squadrons and Air Groups that served with either of the two carriers.

National                 Year              Anniversary                       Location                     ** Registered
Reunion                  Held              Year Number                     (City)                          Attendance
Number                                                                                                                           
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1                              1963                    19                                Boston, Mass.                  44              
2                              1965                    21                                Boston, Mass.                  53              
3                              1982                    38                                Randolph, Mass.              88              
4                              1984                    40                                Cambridge, Mass.            111            
5                              1985                    41                                 Las Vegas, NA                200            
6                              1986                    42                                 Nashville, TN                  223            
7                              1987                    43                                 Seattle, WA                     236            
8                              1988                    44                                 St. Paul, MN                   260             9                              1989                    45                                 Reno, NV                        280             
10                            1990                    46                                 St. Louis, MO                 260             
11                            1991                    47                                 Norfolk, VA                    246             
12                            1992                    48                                 Lafayette, LA                 180             
13                            1993                    49                                 Memphis, TN                 326              
14                            1994                    50                                 San Diego, CA                232              
15                            1995                    51                                 Colorado Springs, CO    235              
16                            1996                    52                                 San Antonio, TX             191              
17                            1997                    53                                 Datona Beach, FL           192              
18                            1998                    54                                 Roanoke, VA                  169              
19                            1999                    55                                 Reno, NV                        154              
20                            2000                    56                                 Lafayette, LA                   186             
21                            2001                    57                                 Duluth. MN                      161              
22                            2002                    58                                 Memphis, TN                   196              
23                            2003                    59                                 San Diego, CA                 121               
24                            2004                    60                                Annapolis, MD                  145              
25                            2005                    61                                Branson, MO                    100               
26                            2006                    62                                San Antonio, TX                 84               
27                            2007                    63                            Warwick, RI & Block Island  135               
** indicates the total attendance of shipmates, their wives and children. and other relatives and friends.

The 2003 Reunion was  held in San Diego, California.   Bill MacInnes was the Host of the Reunion:    WMacinnes@aol.com This Reunion marked the 59th year since the sinking of CVE 21. See Reunion Section.

The 2004 Reunion (year 60 Anniversary) was held at Annapolis, Maryland between May 16 and May 20, 2004. Ken Bruce served as the Host. See Reunion Section

The 2005 Reunion (year 61 Anniversary) was held in Branson, MO between May 24 and May 28, 2005. See Reunion Section. Ken Bruce again served as Host

The 2006 Reunion ( year 62 Anniversary) was held in San Antonio, TX  however the Reunion was scheduled originally for New Orleans and was rescheduled because of the damage done by the Hurricane Katrina

A complete report on the 2007 Reunion is outlined in a special section of the Reunion Section of the Website.

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

The Association publishes an information paper  quarterly each year  known as “Chips”. This name has been carried forward from the crew’s bulletin  published on CVE-21 and CVE 106.

               Chief Petty Officer Walter (Smiley) Burnette    Aviation Ordnance man  2/c
                                   (2002)                                       Walter Burnette  (1944)

Many of the shipmates who served on both Block Islands remained in the U. Naval Reserves for many years . An example is the present President of the Association Walter (Smiley) Burnette. He has a hang for longevity because he has been President of the Association since 1992

The letters U.S.S. means United States Ship... a fitting description for the two Block Island ships.  Naval records show that the crew of each ship had representation from all the States.  Even now, the USS Block Island Association still has representatives from every state in the country they all fought to preserve.

                     
The Bell of the USS Block Island CVE-106 is now standing at the American Legion Post on the island the two carriers were named after. Merrill Slate, an Associate Member of the Association and Otis Long, a member of the crew of both carriers and a former Editor of the Association News Paper “CHIPS”, are standing by the Bell. Block Island is a small island just off the coast of Rhode Island.

Ben Hruska became the Reunion Host for 2007 in that his position as Executive Director of the Island of Block Island  Museum, and a registered member of the USS Block Island Association, due to the illness of Ken Bruce.

 At the 1999 Reunion the Association Board undertook this special recognition   

                SPECIAL RECOGNITION BY THE ASSOCIATION
The wives of many of our shipmates have provided support and assisted in the many activities of the Association and we will always be grateful for that support and service. There is one shipmate's wife whose contribution to the very existence of this Website  the Association wishes to give special recognition. That is Doris Marie Greer, the wife of Jack Greer who served on both  CVE 21 and 106. Doris knew many of the original crew of CVE 21 dating back to 1942 when she went to the roller skating rinks with many of the then 17 year old "boots". They were in Seattle awaiting completion of the construction of CVE 21. Jack did not meet her until 1944 when he was in Seattle awaiting completion of CVE 106. They were introduced to each other by several of the old crew members of CVE 21. They both were younger than the majority of the crew and were still in the roller skating age era. Hector Vernetti, a parachute rigger on both CVE 21 and CVE 106, who was one of the mates that introduced Jack to Doris, attended their 53rd wedding anniversary in Phoenix Arizona in 1998.

  Doris got the Greer family involved in setting up the Website back in 1998.  She had saved all the pictures, books, papers and stories that Jack had sent her before they were married in 1946.  She had them placed away in storage. She got her "boys" to show Jack how to build the start of the Website and when we all felt that the idea was lost she continued her insistence to build the Website.  On December 24, 1999 the Website went into cyberspace with only three pages. She  felt that would be a good  Xmas for all our mates. However that was just the start of her pressure and by May 1, 2000  the Website contained over 50 printed pages of pictures and stories. She continued "pushing" until her death on October 1, 2000. Her last effort was to see that digital pictures were taken of those attending the  year 2000 reunion and published on the Website. One of her last wishes was that her family continue their efforts toward the Site. For this major contribution the members of the Association will always be grateful.

Doris Marie Greer   Sept. 12, 1927   -   Oct. 1. 2000

Gary Tim Bill David Randy Jack & Doris

 While Doris was the push, Jack and their 5 sons had to undertake the work of actually building the Website. The Association wishes to recognize the entire family for the total effort.

For several years this section contained the "E" mail addresses of many of our shipmates. These addresses have been deleted because the publication of these addresses has attracted undesired contacts and junk mail along with "crank and pornographic" materials. With the advent of hundreds of servers and "cost competition" many of the "E" mail addresses have changed and some of the members are now deceased. To avoid the many problems that providing these addresses has created the members "E" mail addresses will no longer be published on the Website.

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