7 August 2007

Tin Can Sailor Website

You can check out where ships are holding reunions and read reunion reviews posted on the Tin Can Sailors Web site, www.destroyers.org . You do not have to be a member of the Tin Can Sailors to visit the website.

23 August 2007

Jacksonville 2007 Reunion

This past April we held our annual reunion in Jacksonville, Florida.  We stayed at the Crown Plaza hotel right on the river. It was one of the nicest hotels we have ever held a reunion. The hotel facilities, staff and banquet were fantastic.

 On the second day of the reunion we went on a chartered bus tour of St. Augustine.  The weather was perfect and the sights were enjoyed by all.

 On the third day we had a special treat, we went aboard the USS Doyle (FFG-39) which is home ported in nearby Mayport.  We chartered three busses to transport all those in attendance to the Navy base.  We were invited aboard the USS Doyle because CDR. Michael Elliott, Commanding Officer of the Doyle, is the son of Shipmate RD3 Charles Elliott (1954-1955) and his wife Mary.  Needless to say, we received first class treatment while aboard the USS Doyle.  A Navy Chaplain conducted a Memorial Service for us on the flight deck of the ship, that was followed by refreshments and tours of the Frigate.  It was a day which will long be remembered by the Compton shipmates at the reunion.  CDR Elliott was the guest  speaker at our banquet later that evening.

 Pictures of the Jacksonville reunion can be found on this Web site in the "Reunion" section.

 Our next reunion is going to be held in Branson. MO.  Details can also be found in the "Reunion" section.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) today praised the passage by unanimous consent of his bill (S.1877) clarifying U.S. law to allow veterans and servicemen not in uniform to salute the flag. Current law (US Code Title 4, Chapter 1) states that veterans and servicemen not in uniform should place their hand over their heart without clarifying whether they can or should salute the flag.

"The salute is a form of honor and respect, representing pride in one's military service. Senator Inhofe said, "Veterans and service members continue representing the military services even when not in uniform. "Unfortunately, current U.S. law leaves confusion as to whether veterans and service members out of uniform can or should salute the flag. My legislation will clarify this regulation, allowing veterans and servicemen alike to salute the flag, whether they are in uniform or not. "I look forward to seeing those who have served saluting proudly at baseball games, parades, and formal events. I believe this is an appropriate way to honor and recognize the 25 million veterans in the United States who have served in the military and remain as role models to other citizens. Those who are currently serving or have served in the military have earned this right, and their recognition will be an inspiration to others." This Bill was passed JUly 25, 2007. Let your veteran friends know about the Passage of this Bill.

Welcome Aboard!!

Welcome Aboard!!

Welcome Aboard!!

11 May 2008

Branson 2008 Reunion

Another great reunion!  In April of 2008 we went to Branson, MO., for our annual reunion.  We stayed at the Grand Plaza Hotel and everything went well.  This was the first time we had a reunion company, Gatherings Plus, run our event.  They handled everything and even provided a hostess for our hospitality room.

On the first day we had registrations and a welcome reception in the hospitality suite.  The second day we had a group trip for a wine tasting tour and a dinner and show aboard the Branson Belle Showboat.  On the third day we held our meetings and our banquet.  An optional fourth day was provided, with shows, for those wishing to extend the event.

Gatherings Plus provided a musical show at our banquet featuring local children.  It was a fantastic show and everyone enjoyed it, the kids were great.  The Showboat show included "talking dogs" and it was hysterical.  Many shipmates used free time to attend the various variety shows in Branson.

Check out the "Reunion" section of our website for Branson pictures.

Next year; Charleston, SC.

15 July 2008

Welcome Aboard!!

31 MARCH 2009

Welcome Aboard!!

17 APRIL 2009

Mail Call!! Mail Call!!

Dear Joseph,

Just reading that there will be a reunion of the men in USS COMPTON in Charleston, SC at the end of April.

Long time ago I had served for a short period onboard of the fine ship as a young exchange officer. In summer 1962 I came onboard after finishing the German Naval Academy and took part at the Mediterranean cruise of USS COMPTON. As far as I have seen both we had been onboard at the same time!

This was my first duty as a young officer onboard a destroyer and still now-a-days this time was one of the most important impression during my whole time of nearly 35 years in the German Navy. With great pride I still wear my blue jacket with the USS COMPTON badge. Therefore I also feel as a COMPTON man though I had served only a short time onboard this ship. Years later I met the USS COMPTON in Halifax, Nova Scotia while being there with German destroyer escort KOELN F 220.

Sorry, but its too far away to join the reunion, but please be so kind to submit my warmest greetings to everyone of the fine USS COMPTON family.

Have a good time and share fine memories!

Fair Winds and a Following Sea!

Yours,
Sigward Pohl

13 MAY 2009

2009 CHARLESTON REUNION REVIEW

We just celebrated our 20th reunion in Charleston, SC. We had a large turnout, 124 people, and the largest reunion in years. In fact, so many people came a day early the hotel was nice enough to let us open the Hospitality Suite the night before the reunion started. (Due to contract limitations that is not always possible.)

We had a very large Hospitality Suite which our hospitality committee kept well stocked with snacks and refreshments. Our shipmates gathered in the Hospitality Suite to tell sea stories for the 20th year, I am sure they will be just as interesting in the years to come, every once in a while you hear a new story. I don't think any other branch of service has the bonding and closeness we old Navy men have.

This year we welcomed three shipmates that have never been to a reunion before, Martin DeGasperis, James Griffith and Andy Kelly.

A gift was given to each shipmate attending the reunion, a limited edition pewter model of the USS Compton. Shipmate Paul Woodbury had the models custom made for our special 20th reunion. Once again shipmates and guests were given souvenir "Button Type" nametags.

On the second day of the reunion shipmates and guests went on a motor coach tour of Historic Charleston, visited the museum Naval Ships at Patriots Point and even ate lunch off metal trays on the USS Yorktown. The weather for the tour, and our entire stay in Charleston, was fantastic.

On the last day of the reunion we held our General Meeting and Memorial service at the hotel, the Town & Country Inn, later that evening we had our farewell banquet. Shipmates enjoyed a nice meal, music, dancing and each other's company.

Check in the reunion section, for Charleston pictures, future newsletters will also contain reunion pictures.

Next year we head to Warwick (Providence area) Rhode Island. Details will be posted shortly but mark your calendar, Friday April 30, Saturday May 1 and Sunday May 2.

06 APRIL 2010

Welcome Aboard!!

Warwick Reunion Review

Wow!

What a reunion! A record breaking 127 people attended the event in Warwick, RI. We returned to our home port state in force. The hotel, the Crowne Plaza at the Crossings, was a beautiful facility located on a large rural campus. The guest rooms, banquet room and hospitality room were first class. The staff was professional and friendly and all our needs were met without delay.

On the Saturday of the reunion we went on our tour. Two large buses were needed to take us through Providence sightseeing and then to Fall River to see the Naval museum ships on display. Then, on the return trip to the hotel, we toured past the mansions and downtown Newport. While at Fall River we had the opportunity to visit the destroyer Joseph P. Kennedy and the other ships on display. We gathered for lunch in the officer's mess aboard the battle ship Massachusetts and enjoyed a buffet meal. After lunch we went to the bow and a professional photographer took a beautiful group picture of the crew. The 16-inch gun mount was the background. Even the weather was perfect.

Sunday morning we met for our memorial service conducted by Charlie Jakob and later our general meeting. Sigward Phol, who came from Germany with his wife Brigit, spoke to our members and presented us with photographs of the USS Compton which we have never seen before. Sigward served on the Compton in 1962 as a Midshipman from the German Navy.

Sunday evening we attended our banquet. Shipmates renewed friendships. We have not been up north for some time so we saw some new faces at the event. Everyone appeared to have a good time and the DJ did a fantastic job, he has us dancing right up to closing time. Shipmate Duane Linden made a video of the Compton and it was shown, on a large screen, at the banquet. Later each member was presented with a DVD of the video presentation along with a memento of the reunion.

An added treat this time was the group breakfast held in the hospitality room. it was great to start each day by sharing a meal with old friends.

Welcome Aboard!!

05 MAY 2011

Washington, DC Reunion Review

Another year has passed and Compton shipmates once again gathered for our annual reunion. This time it was held in McLean, VA, a suburb of washington, DC. The event was at the Crowne Plaza Tysons Corner hotel and it exceeded our expectations. Everything was first class and the hotel staff was always at our beck and call. Our hospitality room was open each day of our reunion and it was well used. Shipmates spent many hours remembering old Navy days. On Saturday night the hotel treated us by providing a spread of food in the hospitality room. it was enjoyed by shipmates and guests.

Our tour was held on the Saturday of our reunion. The weather was pleasant and sunny, perfect for the tour. As in the past, our group needed two large buses to see the sights of washington, DC. In the morning we we went to the World War II Memorial where we had the pleasure of seeing Senator Doyle as he greeted veterans. We also met a Tuskegee Airman who flew the P-51 Mustang during WW II. We drove by the Capital, the White House and monuments, stopping later at the Korean War Memorial which contained nineteen statues of troops. It was quite a sight. We had lunch at the Phillips Flagship Restaurant; everyone agreed that it was a fantastic buffet. After lunch we went to the Washington Navy Yard and had the opportunity to go aboard the destroyer USS Barry. We ended the tour by having our memorial service at the Navy Memorial and placed a wreath at the statue of the Lone sailor.

On Sunday morning we held our general meeting at the hotel and discussed Association business and future reunions. Special thanks go out to shipmate Jerry Sample who provided memento flashlights. That evening we held our banquet where we enjoyed gathering with old friends, fine food and music. While in the hospitality room, later in the evening, we heard that the terrorist, UBL, had been dealt with by the U.S. Navy SEALS, a great ending to our reunion.

09 JUNE 2011

Welcome Aboard!!

11 JANUARY 2012

Welcome Aboard!!

30 JANUARY 2012

Welcome Aboard!!

Welcome Aboard!!

11 FEBRUARY 2012

Welcome Aboard!!

16 FEBRUARY 2012

Welcome Aboard!!

21 MARCH 2012

21 MARCH 2012

Welcome Aboard!!

16 APRIL 2012

Welcome Aboard!!

02 MAY 2012

Virginia Beach, VA Reunion Review

02 MAY 2012

Is amazing, we met once again and none of us got any older! Compton shipmates and guests, 107 in total, got together at the Crowne Plaza in Virginia Beach for our annual reunion. It was a pleasure to stay at the Crowne Plaza, the hotel was very nice and they provided everything we needed without delay. In fact, we got more than we bargained for; we did not expect free breakfast every day. Our hospitality room was well used during the reunion and the sea stories never stopped.

As usual we had our tour on the Saturday of the event, although this one started in the afternoon. We had a large group and we again needed two busses. We drove through Norfolk and stopped at Dumar’s, a famous ice cream parlor and drive in, where we all had an ice cream treat. The Dumar family claim to have invented the ice cream cone in 1904. From there we went to the museum at the Mac Arthur Memorial, then to the Mac Arthur Center where we ate supper. We then attended the evening show of the Virginia International Tattoo at the Scope Arena in Norfolk. The military and patriotic show was fantastic. Everyone was in awe of the military bands from various countries. They also had bagpipes, Irish dancers and acrobats on bicycles amazed the crowd. It was the highlight of the reunion.

On Sunday morning we held our general meeting at the hotel. We spoke on several topics and of future reunion locations. It was announced that the reunion next year is going to be hosted by Bob Ott and will be held in Buffalo, New York. Bob went over details, which will be published in our newsletter, and described the tour which will include the Niagara Falls area. The annual election took up no time at all; all the officers agreed to serve another year. Bob DiMonte, of Pensacola Florida, was appointed Southern Regional Officer. After the general meeting we held our memorial service, Chaplain Charlie “Jake”Jakob presided at the service which included reading the names of all the Compton shipmates who have passed on.

Later Sunday evening we had our banquet. After gathering for group pictures we enjoyed a nice meal with our shipmates. This year we did something different, we had a guest speaker, retired admiral Michael Nowakowski. The admiral is the cousin of our shipmate Joe Nowakowski. We also recognized our honored guest, “plank owner “Wayne Thornburg, who attended with his son Douglas. We then danced the evening away.

Welcome Aboard!!

02 MAY 2012

Welcome Aboard!!

29 MAY 2012

Welcome Aboard!!

25 JUNE 2012

Welcome Aboard!!

17 OCTOBER 2012

Welcome Aboard!!

14 NOVEMBER 2012

Welcome Aboard!!

14 MARCH 2013

Welcome Aboard!!

09 APRIL 2013

Welcome Aboard!!

04 MAY 2013

Buffalo, NY Reunion Review

17 JUNE 2013

Another year has come and gone and once again we were lucky enough to gather with our shipmates and friends. Our reunion in Buffalo was a nice event and shipmates, friends and guests had an enjoyable time.  We shared our sea stories in the hospitality room, and they must be true because they are the same every year, and we always enjoy hearing them again.  

We owe a tip of the hat and thanks to Bob Ott, our Northern Regional Officer, for hosting the reunion and making sure everything was in place so that we could have a great time. Kudos also for Jerry Sample who, once again, provided reunion mementoes; Compton engraved money clips.  Mike and Linda Olson donated snacks and beverages for the hospitality room and thanks to many of the other guests and shipmates who pitched in to help out; that’s what makes our reunions special.

Having the reunion up North we did not expect a record turnout but we did have a nice crowd; about 80 people.  We realize, of course, that our shipmates living down South have their “blood thinned” by the heat and can no longer cope with the cooler weather. No excuses next year!

We had rain on one of the days of the reunion, and of course, that was the day of the tour. We had a good time in spite of it, had a nice lunch and visited the Niagara area.  Actually, standing in the rain made you feel like you were in the falls, not just looking at them.  

Our banquet was the highlight of the reunion.  It was held in the atrium of the hotel and the setting looked like it was in the tropics.  Music was provided by a DJ who is a local legend and we danced through the evening.  Of Course Charlie “Jake” Jakob did his annual solo Disco dance to the great amusement of the crowd.  Our dance duo of Herb and Bertha Sellers once again pleased everyone with their display of superb dancing.

I hope you enjoy looking at the reunion pictures in upcoming newsletter issues and view them in color on our website.  

Welcome Aboard!!

4 NOVEMBER 2013

Welcome Aboard!!

9 FEBRUARY 2014

Welcome aboard to Shipmate Harold Richardson LTjg 1967-1969 of  Winchester, MA. 

Welcome Aboard!!

26 APRIL 2014

Welcome aboard to Shipmate Robert Chiesa RM3 1962 Med Cruise of  Mobile, AL and Shipmate Richard Walbridge SN 1964-1966 of Scituate, MA.

Myrtle Beach, SC Reunion Review

14 MAY 2014

Another great reunion! This was our 25^th reunion and we are still going strong! This year we held our three day event at the Landmark Resort, right on the beach, in Myrtle Beach, SC. We had 116 people attend, shipmates and guests, a nice crowd. The weather even cooperated this year, in the mid 70’s each day, some were even brave enough to go swimming in the ocean.

We had a large hospitality room, stocked with snacks and beverages, where we gathered daily. We socialized, looked at each other’s old Navy pictures and, of course, told sea stories.

On the second day of the reunion we had our group tour event. Over 100 of us filled two large busses in pursuit of happiness. First we were off the Giant Crab restaurant where we feasted on a large buffet. Then we were off to the Alabama Theatre to see a show, “Three Dog Night”. The music from the 1970’s brought back memories. Later that night it was back to the hospitality room where some shipmates lingered well after midnight.

On the third, and final day, of the reunion we held our general meeting and memorial service at the Landmark Resort. At the general meeting the present officers were retained in office for another year. The members also voted to check out Baton Rouge as a site for a future reunion. The memorial service was once again somber as the names of departed shipmates were read off, accompanied by the ringing of a replica ships bell.

Later that evening we held our banquet. At the start of the affair we snacked on cheese and crackers while others took turns posing for group photos. Shipmates from all time periods the Compton was in commission were represented, some from the 1940’s, and a few from the 1970’s, one serving in 1972, the year the Compton was decommissioned. The food was fantastic and we danced the night away. The DJ was quite the entertainer and made the evening even more enjoyable.

Next year: Gettysburg, PA. (Monday April 27 thru Wednesday April 29, 2015)

11 JULY 2014

Welcome aboard to Shipmate William Guzzy SN 1958-1962 of  Pompano Beach, FL and Shipmate Paul Meyer RD3 1966-1968 of Lake Hiawatha, NJ.

Welcome Aboard!!

28 AUGUST 2014

Welcome aboard to Shipmate Karl Streissguth RM2 1957-1959 of  Frederick, MD

Gettysburg, PA Reunion Review

14 MAY 2015

Well, we did it again! We gathered for another reunion and had a great time. Our three day stay at the Wyndham Gettysburg hotel was a most pleasant experience. Our hospitality room was stocked with snacks and beverages so shipmates and guests could socialize. We never get tired of the sea stories.

This year our “Plank Owner” at the affair was Bill Rader. ”Plank owners”, for you non swabs, is a member of the first crew of a ship. Bill went aboard in 1944 when the Compton was commissioned. We also had several shipmates from the last Compton crew, they were aboard in 1972 when the ship was turned over to the Brazilian Navy and became the Matto Grasso.

On the second day of the reunion we had our group tour. Two busloads of our crew and guests toured the Gettysburg Civil War Battlefield. The guides were most informative and it was an interesting event. Monuments to the soldiers, both North and South, are placed throughout the Battleground. It is quite a sight to see; preserving an important part of our history. The Battlefield is a National Park and is maintained to resemble the way it looked during the Civil War. After the tour our group ate lunch at the historic Dobbin House restaurant.

On the last day of our reunion, as always, we held our General Meeting and our Memorial Service in the morning. At the Memorial Service the names of departed Compton shipmates are read as a bell is rung for each man. At the General Meeting all of the present officers were, once again, held over for another term. The shipmates also voted to look into Boston for a future reunion. Later in the evening we had our banquet. The dance floor was well used by our shipmates and guests. It was an enjoyable evening.

Our attendees also discovered a little restaurant with a local resident flavor, the Gettysburg Family Restaurant, which became a popular eating place. Most of us had several meals at the eatery. The Thursday of our reunion was the day that local Navy veterans have a monthly breakfast. Quite a few of our crew joined them.

Next year: Baton Rouge, LA. Friday April 29, Saturday April 30 and Sunday May 1.

Welcome Aboard!!

03 JUNE 2015

Welcome aboard to Shipmate Donald Armstronge SN 1959-1960 of  Crescent City, FL

Welcome Aboard!!

NOVEMBER 2015

Welcome aboard to Shipmates;

BATON ROUGE, LA REUNION REVIEW

11 MAY 2016

Another year gone by and another reunion where shipmates and guests enjoyed the gathering. Baton Rouge is now history and is added to our large list of past reunions.

Although we had to watch the weather things went well. A thunderstorm caused us to cut our tour short and we were not able to visit the USS Kid. We did, however, get to go on the Cajun Swamp Tour and eat lunch at Ralph and Kacoo’s.
We all went on one large boat through the swamp for a very enjoyable and informative experience. The lunch at Ralph and Kacoo’s was fantastic. We had the local version of bread pudding for dessert which was quite different from the way it is made on the East Coast.

Shipmates and guests took advantage of the Hospitality Room during the three day event. Snacks and beverages and plenty of sea stories to go around.

We welcomed first timers Milton (EM1 1968-69) and Helen Stone and hope to see them at many future reunions.

Sigward and Birgit Pohl also attended. They came from Munich Germany and made the reunion part of a motor tour of the mid-west. Sigward was a Mid-shipman with the German Navy when he made the 1962 Mediterranean cruise on the Compton. They had previously attended the Warwick, RI reunion.

Instead of a DJ, at the banquet, we were entertained by a troupe of Cajun dancers. Shipmates and guests joined the dancers for an enjoyable evening. The banquet menu included some Cajun foods such as crawfish meat pies, catfish and gumbo. Of course some “normal” items were also on the menu.

2017 Warwick, RI - REUNION REVIEW

2 MAY 2017

Still going strong! We just held our annual reunion at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick, RI. We had a nice turnout, 85 people total, and we had a ball. First of all the hotel was first class, as it was when we last were there in 2010. We enjoyed our snacks and beverages in the Hospitality Room as we gathered to recall old times. Every morning we had a private group breakfast in our Hospitality Room.

We had four first time attendees, Charles Coale, LTJG 1962, Garth Elliott, RM3 1962-64, Robert White, BT2 1966-68 and Dave Scott, DK2 1968-69. And they had a fantastic time and are looking forward to our next reunion in Charleston, SC. Our “Most Travelled”, again, was Sigward and Birgit Pohl who came from Munich Germany to gather with old friends.

Our tour went to Boston. We had two large coach busses and it was amazing to see how the drivers negotiated the narrow streets of Boston. In the morning, we toured Boston then stopped for lunch at Maggiano’s Little Italy restaurant, downtown Boston. Great food family style and what a feast that was! After lunch we went to the Boston Navy Yard to see the USS Constitution and the USS Cassin Young. We also toured the museum.

On the last day of our event we held our General Meeting and Memorial Meeting. Later that evening we had our banquet. We had a lively crowd and the dance floor was used quite a bit. The DJ played a lot of slow music which suited us just fine. Herbert Sellers, and his wife Sandra, once again came from California, by train. Herbert, now in his 90’s, burnt up the dance floor as usual.

2018 Charleston, SC - REUNION REVIEW

MAY 2018

Well we did it again! Another great reunion.

Our Association is still going strong. We had 95 people attend our Charleston reunion. The Crown Plaza Charleston is a first class, four diamond rated, hotel and it showed. The facility was beautiful and everything went well.

Shipmates and guests spent quite a few hours in our Hospitality Room enjoying beverages and snacks. It’s great when the crew gets together socializing and telling sea stories.

We had three “first time” shipmates with us and they had an enjoyable time. If you have not been to a reunion you are missing a lot. John Koos also was with us, he is a “Plank,” a member of the original crew of the Compton crew. Herb Sellers, another WW2 shipmate attended, as he has for as long as I can remember, Herb went on the Compton about a month after she was commissioned. Herb is known for his dancing and he did not disappoint us at the banquet.

The weather was perfect for our tour. In the morning we toured Charleston stopping at the Citadel Military Academy, after lunch we went to Patriot’s Point. Shipmates and guests went aboard the USS Yorktown and, of course, the Sumner destroyer USS Laffey. It brought back many memories as shipmates showed their spouses and guests where they worked and slept when on the Compton.

On the last day of the reunion we had our business meeting and Memorial service at the Crown Plaza hotel. “Doc” Eames did an outstanding job conducting the Memorial service. No seats on our board were contested so the existing board will serve another year. Later that evening we held our banquet. It was a pleasant affair. We had a nice meal and enjoyed dancing to the music.

Next year we are heading to Tampa Bay Florida, April 26, 27 &28, Friday thru Sunday, we will hold our reunion at the Crowne Plaza Tampa-Westshore.

Joe Napoli