Newsletter May 1998Committee:John Reynolds, President; Dudley E. Cass, Secretary/Treasurer; Al Jefferis, Assistant Secretary, Jack Kehoe, Reunion 98 Chairman; Jack Connery, Newsletter Editor. FROM THE PRESIDENTFrom San Diego to Boston... Eight years ago we dreamed of having a Baka Hachi reunion. San Diego was targeted as the spot for the first get-together. It was such a success that we took it on the road, and within the next seven years, have covered Long Beach, Washington, D.C., Nashville, back to San Diego, Topeka, Seattle and now it's on to Boston. As we move around we are enjoying good times together, remembering old times, looking forward to better times, and having a good look at this great country of ours. Each time we meet it gets better and we look forward to a great time together. August is fast approaching and Boston is the target for this year's bash. I hope you will grab the phone, as soon as you complete the registration form herein, and make plans to join us in Bean Town for another great party. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the shipmates and their families for all the work and sacrifice they have made to make the Topeka Reunion Association the wonderful organization it is. As you read this newsletter, thank Jack Connery for all the work he puts into keeping us up to date on everything that goes on, and for his dedication to the association. When you register for this year's reunion, thank Dudley Cass for the work he does all year keeping up with all of us and making sure everything is organized. As you enjoy the food at the banquet, thank Ruth Cass for all her work in making sure everything is just right. She is always on top of everything and it shows up on banquet night and we all just think it automatically happened, but believe me, it would never happen without her dedication to her task. These are just a few of the people who keep the screws turning. There are others like Jerry Judge who does such a great job a emcee of our Saturday program, Don Nellis, who from the beginning, provided great leadership as chairman of the Advisory Committee and has set the course for us from the get-go. Thanks to all the reunion committees and chairpersons that have worked each year to set up and provide direction for us to have the great times we have always had. Thanks to Jill Connery who keeps the ship's store stocked and ready for each yearly meeting. Thanks to all of you who attend and support the reunions. Without you we would be out of business. I hope to see everyone on Dudley's data base in Boston this summer. If you know shipmates that we don't, or one who is not on the list of those coming to Boston, give them a call and invite them to this year's affair. I guarantee they won't be sorry they came. John ReynoldsTAPSKeith L. Camp, BT2, 61-65, February 24, 1998, Placerville, Cal., Cancer. In our continuing search for more former shipmates, we have found the following to be deceased: Edmund Pipho, CDR (60-62), Flemington, NJ NEW MEMBERS (SINCE JANUARY)
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