10th reunion 2014

Our 10th reunion was held in Norfolk, VA, on September 25-28, 2014. We had 41 people in attendance.

Bill and Linda Provencal	David and Rhonda Dortch	Jim and Cindy Freeman	Andrsew and Gertrude Dusault
Dennis (Shorty) and Joyce Cyr	Tom Gilpatrick	Kerry Whitlock	Al;an and Suedean Moser
Roger Lamay and Ellen Thomas	Bill Haynie	George and Lisa Bierce	John and Kay Reed
Gary Peterson and Marilyn Ralf	Mike Flanagan	Cjuck Larkin	Erin and Rose Paulak
Paul and Patricia Peraino	Don and Barbara Rhine	Tom and Jackie Wagner	Forest and Jeanine Short
Richard and Crystal Pratt	Seeley and Bernadette Jennings

Day 1 was spent registering and getting reaquainted.

Day 2 was spent visiting the Nauticus Naval Mueseum, located on the Elizabeth River in Norfolk, VA and touring the USS Wisconsin BB64, an Iowa Class battleship berthed at Nauticus. It is the largest and last battleship built by the US. The Wisconsin served in WWII, Korea and Operation Desert Storm. In the afternoon we boarded a river cruise boat and viewed all of the highlights of the harbor and the Norfolk Naval Station.

Day 3, we were fortunate to be able to tour the USNS Comfort a naval hospital ship. USNS COMFORT is one of the two Hospital Ships of the Navy. Both ships are maintained by the Military Sealift Command and are part of the Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force (NFAF).
USNS COMFORT was a participant of Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield. Following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, COMFORT deployed to New York City and served as a floating base for rescue workers. In late 2002, the ship left the US East Coast and deployed to the Arabian Sea in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In September 2005, COMFORT deployed to the Gulf Coast after only two days of preparation to assist in the recovery effort following Hurricane Katrina. After a good-will cruise to 12 central and south American countries in 2007, COMFORT's next humanitarian mission came in January 2010, following the earthquake in Haiti. This operation was a milestone for COMFORT because it was the first time in her career that she reached her full operational capacity, using all of her 12 operating rooms. The COMFORT has 1,000 beds.
This tour was arranged by Mike Flannagan, QM2 a shipmate affiliated with the ship as a civilian Merchant Marine. We conducted our business meeting and in the evening attended our reunion banquet. Our guest speaker at the banquet was Captain Alan Moser, on board 1981-83 prior to the P Rock being decomisioned.

Day 4, we wrapped up the reunion and "cast" off for home or places elsewhere.