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My thanks for all your efforts in organizing and planning the re-union in Astoria. It was a great day for me and it is always nice to be with the people that made the Hassayampa the great ship she was. Too bad more couldn't attend but it was a great warm-up for Springfield.

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Wow! Thanks to Terry for planning and organizing such a great [mini] reunion. The time for sea stories seemed to me to be the best part. Also, thanks to all of you that helped me to be a part of this. I AM GRATEFUL MORE THAN WORDS CAN EXPRESS.

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As one of the younger attendees I was worried that I might not know many who were there and might not fit in very well. I need not have worried. As soon as I walked in I saw Ken Mapes and "Peaches" Bruce Wright who I recognized immediately and later Vic Whitmore who was on during my first cruise. Every one else made me feel welcome and at home.

It didn't seam to matter if we served on the Hass in 1961 or 1976 we had something in common. We had been young far from home and sharing the experience. We were mostly just kids who were entrusted with the responsibility of our fellow sailors lives. The relationships we had with each other and the shared experience of hard work and hard play shaped us into the men we would become. Every job I have had since then has been measured against the experience and training I received in the Navy and on the Hass. I have been unable to explain to those who weren't there how it shaped me.

If you are thinking about not attending the reunion in Springfield, I urge you to reconsider. As we shared sea stories I began to remember things that had been just vague thoughts. Memories that I was unsure of were confirmed by others who had been there. Being there helped me fill in the blank spots in my memory and understand why I react to certain things the way I do.

I am not trying to say this was a consciousness raising weekend retreat repairing emotional issues. I think it just helped me remember things about myself that I had forgotten. I felt the same comradeship for these guys that I had 30 years ago and haven't felt with anybody else since.

If you, like me, were one of those who served his time and then went home to a normal job, family and life not remembering or maintaining contact with your Navy life, the reunion will help you recapture some of those memories and a little bit of your life.

I know this is getting long but meeting these guys again brought back emotions that I didn't know I had about the Hass and that time in our lives.

If getting to Springfield seams to be daunting, hearken back to the days when you and a couple of buddies hopped a bullet train in Yokosuka not knowing where it was going, slept in bars after they closed and still made it back to the ship on time. You may have had a tattoo you don't remember getting or some really stupid souvenir that you had to give you mother but you made it just fine. Why can't we still do that?

I will god willing, attend the reunion even if it is a 6 day road trip and I sleep in the back of my pickup. I know we are getting older and some of us need medication just to be able to move in the morning. Think about recapturing some of your youth, take a chance and if you can't do it by yourself ask a shipmate for help.

God willing I will meet you all in Springfield.

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Sorry about being so long winded, I forgot to thank Terry for putting this thing together. It was great, Perhaps some of you in other areas of the country might think about putting one together.

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Thanks for this message Gary. I am sure that most of us involved with the Hass feel the same way. This was a great weekend and one that we can build on. Terry did his usual fine job of putting things together.

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Thank you Terry for a job well done. Everybody had a good time. Dinner on the Steadfast was a big plus for all of us. All the sea stories were excellent. Even Capt. Coulter had a few good ones to share. A good time was had by all. I hope that this reunion will serve as the springboard for more to come. Again thanks for all you do on behalf of your shipmates.

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Hey Terry. I would like to extend my thanks to you for your great work putting the mini meet together. It was definitely above and beyond the call. I wish that I had been able to spend more time with you guys but family commitments called.

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