USS SPROSTON (DD/DDE-577)
REUNION GROUP REPORT
January 2005
NEW YEARS GREETINGS to all of our Sproston shipmates, family members and friends. Once again, we extend to you all our best wishes for a Happy New Year. We look forward to seeing many of you in Bloomington, MN in 2005.
2005 REUNION, BLOOMINGTON MINNESOTA, SEPTEMBER 21-25
Plans are well underway for the 2005 Reunion. The Ramada Inn/Thunderbird in Bloomington has been selected by the Reunion Committee as our reunion site. The room rate will be $89.00 per night (single or double occupancy). This rate will include a daily buffet breakfast. The hotel is located across from the Mall of America and is four miles from the airport. Complimentary transportation is provided to both locations Iver Anderson, Reunion Chairman, is being assisted by Steve Krenz and Doug Menikheim. They are now in the process of organizing Reunion Activities. Mark your calendars for September 21-25. More information and registration forms will be mailed in early April. Also, we hope to be posting information on the website as it becomes available..........www.Sproston.com.
SAN DIEGO REUNION REVIEW
The 2004 Reunion in San Diego was another successful event thanks to all the crew who provided assistance before, during and after the Reunion. There were 160 in attendance. This included 80 shipmates and 80 family and friends. There were 17 WWII shipmates, 29 Korean vets and 34 from the Vietnam era. This is the first Reunion where the Vietnam era shipmates have had the largest representation. These are the shipmates who will carry on the Sproston legacy and tradition. On Thursday morning we got underway for our Annual Memorial Service at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery on Point Loma where 21 deceased shipmates were honored. The service was conducted by Charles Holland and Jim Marlatt. Several members of deceased shipmates' families actively participated in the ceremony. The Service concluded with the playing of taps. The Memorial Service was followed by a visit to the Mt. Soledad veterans memorial and then on to lunch in Old Town at the Casa Guadalajara. In the afternoon we visited two active duty ships at Naval Station San Diego. Some of the group visited the Cruiser USS Shiloh and others visited the destroyer USS McCloskey. Friday morning we went on a tour harbor cruise followed by lunch at the Bal Hai restaurant on Shelter Island. Following lunch we went aboard the carrier USS Midway. Saturday was time for rest, relaxation and fellowship. Saturday evening we attended the annual Dinner/Dance where Admiral Jim Sagerholm (ret.) shared a very inspirational and meaningful message with us. The reunion ended with the traditional Farewell Breakfast on Sunday morning.
THANKS
Thanks to all our shipmates and friends who attended the San Diego Reunion. Your attendance and participation in the tours and activities is what makes each Reunion special and successful. Thanks also to all of you who volunteered to help out with various tasks at the Reunion. Thanks to Len Doran for serving as reunion co-chairman Thanks to Jo Zittrauer and all those who assisted at the registration desk. Where would we be without our bartenders? Thanks again to Dick Clark assisted by Patti Edgar, Ray Minko and others who made sure our thirsts were quenched. Thanks to the Kellys for providing the San Diego souvenir fans for all attendees at the banquet. Thanks to the Brasingtons for the chocolate covered almonds at each table. Thanks to Chet Champion and his crew for bringing the Sproston replica. The replica has appeared in many parades. It drew a crowd and attention to our Sproston Reunion while it was parked in the Hilton parking lot. Thanks to Doug Kneibert for contacting the wardroom group from the early sixties and encouraging them to attend. We truly appreciate the assistance and support we receive throughout the year from Elmer and Fay Everidge and Al and Bobbie Fitz. A very special thanks to my wife Norma Marlatt for her support and assistance.
The following gifts were donated for the raffle:
Orville Amos -----------------------------------------------------Bronze sailor bust
Bud Kalosky -----------------------------------------------------CD Okinawa Battle (2)
The Brixeys ------------------------------------------------------ Home Depot gift certificate
The Kluths --------------------------------------------------------Candy
Ken Brown -------------------------------------------------------CD slide show WesPac (2)
The Pauldings ----------------------------------------------------Scarves and scrapbook
Noel Cooke ------------------------------------------------------Sproston scale model
The Poes ---------------------------------------------------------Wine and Champagne
The Dorans ------------------------------------------------------Clock and pen set
The Rankins -----------------------------------------------------Nautical nutcracker
Patricia Edgar ----------------------------------------------------Pewter ship model, tray & picture, Victory at Sea Tin Can Sailors Gift Certificates
The Everidges --------------------------------------------------“The Last Stand of The Tin Can Sailor”
Rob Wallace ----------------------------------------------------CDs and Sproston photos
The Filosas ------------------------------------------------------Inspirational book
Jo Zittrauer ------------------------------------------------------Doll and book
Henry Johnson -------------------------------------------------Champagne bottle holder
Thanks so much to all the donors. We apologize for any donations we may have omitted. The annual raffle is always a fun part of the evening.
The “Traveling Sailor” handmade b y Jim McLaughlin was won by The Brixeys and is spending the year in Richardson Texas.
BUSINESS MEETING
At 1500, Saturday 18 September, the annual business meeting was called to order by President Jim Marlatt. The Audit Committee appointed by the President, presented the audit committee report indicating all financial transactions had been reviewed and the records as presented by Treasurer, Elmer Everidge, accurately reflected the financial status of the Group The members included Tony Filosa, Chairman Charles Holland, and Orville Amos. In accordance with the bylaws the annual election of officers was conducted. The following officers were nominated and elected: Jim Marlatt, President; Elmer Everidge, Treasurer; Al Fitz, Secretary/Webmaster and Len Doran, Director. Minneapolis Minnesota was selected as the location for the 2005 Reunion. Iver Anderson volunteered to serve as Reunion Chairman The meeting was adjourned at approximately 1630.
DONATIONS
Each year The Sproston Reunion Group donates the bar proceeds to a worthy cause. In 2004, based upon the recommendations of Elmer Everidge, $520 was donated to the ALS Association. The mission of the ALS Association is to improve the quality of life of persons with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) while substantially contributing to the research effort to find a cure. Shipmate Bill Raymond, who was with us in San Diego, is an ALS patient. He and his wife Barbara are active members of the Association.
TAPS
Since the San Diego Reunion we have been notified of the passing of the following shipmates:
Anthony Capozzi S2 WWII
Jake Vaden TM2 WWII
Roberto Vega MM3 Korea
May they rest in Peace. Our condolences to their family members
SHIP'S STORE
We are pleased to announce that, thanks to shipmate Len Doran, the Ship's Store is open and ready for business. The following items are currently available:
Shirts: M-L-XL $15.85 including shipping; 2X AND 4X $18.35 including shipping
Caps: Sproston logo cap $8.85 including shipping: Navy regulation cap $10.85 including shipping
Sproston patch $8.00 including shipping.
To order, send check or Money Order (Do not send cash) to:
Len Doran
820 Bengal Rd.
Neenah, WI 54956
For information you can email Len at: ldoran@new.rr.com
I have received the following message from Al Fitz “I guess I don't have the time I used to have to devote to our reunion group. I am resigning as WEBmaster and secretary”. We extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to Al for all he has done for The Sproston Reunion Group. We hope to continue the website and are evaluating options and alternatives. If any of you shipmates are interested in assisting with the Secretary duties or with the website please contact Jim Marlatt. We look forward to hearing from you.
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
Again, PLEASE let us know when you move. We may have to start removing names from our roster of those shipmates who fail to keep us informed of their mailing addresses. Also, there are still many sailors out there who served on board the Sproston who are unaware of the USS Sproston Reunion Group. We ask for your assistance in locating these shipmates.
Finally, it's not too early to be thinking about Reunion 2006. If you have any ideas or suggestions please contact Jim Marlatt.
Jim Marlatt, President
Al Fitz, Secretary/Webmaster
Elmer Everidge, Treasurer