Greetings,

Reunion plans are coming along for this September in San Antonio, Texas. I want to relay this info so that anyone wishing to make plans to attend will have a head's up before the registration begins. The following is from Joe Russell's letter:

"Here's what you have to do:

If you have not paid your dues, please do. Send your check in the amount of $10.00 payable to the USS Whipple Association.

Make your hotel reservations. Call LaQuinta direct 1-800-531-5900. Make reservations with the account #(e-mail [email protected] for acct. code) Langley-Whipple Reunion. (Rates are $75.00 plus tax/per night.)

Dates of the reunion will be: September 25 through September 29,2001. (Assume check-out on Sunday.)

Refreshments will be served in the hospitality room.

A bus tour has been planned which will take us to the LBJ Ranch and Nimitz Memorial. Lunch is on your own. There will be a brief stop at Luchenbach General Store. Cost for the bus is $32.00 per person.

LaQuinta Inn is located within walking distance of the River Walk, city buses are nearby for visits to local attractions such as Buckhorn Museum, the Alamo and San Jose Mission.

The banquet will be $30.00 each. There is a Denny's Restaurant next to LaQuinta. LaQuinta provides a free breakfast.

My next newsletter will have a form to be completed for registration, banquet and bus tour."

Hope to see as many of you as possible that can attend this year. If the whole week seems overboard, maybe consider just a weekend type trip for Friday- Sunday to enjoy the banquet and still have time to renew old friendships. To stay informed and contribute your welcomed input for this and future reunions make sure, if you have not done so, to send your dues to Joe at:

The USS Whipple Association
Joe Russell, Pres.
42 High St.
Union, MO 63084

Take care and see you in San Antonio,

Steve Langley

So much has changed over the last twenty years; Whipple is up for sale. Many of us either made careers in the navy or in the private sector; many of us have families of our own or have watched our children grow and mature over these past twenty plus years.

Some things never change.

History is one aspect of what we do here at Destroyers Online; "Contact" is another. One of the wonderful things about the internet is the ability to reach out across continents and Nations.

With my participation in handling the Knox class Frigates in particular and the web site in general, it has been my distinct pleasure to hear - personally - from so many of the people who either escaped by boat - or the ships sailors themselves. Each one has a very personal, moving story to share.

We are extremely pleased to announce that a reunion of Whipple shipmates is now in the initial planning phase. Unlike many reunions, this one will be expanded to include all of the former refugees rescued by the crew of USS Whipple on August 22, 1978.

Any and all shipmates, former refugees and their families are invited to attend. We are also taking suggestions to a time, place, city or even country to hold the reunion.

All interested parties are invited to contact Steve Langley.