USS McKEAN DD/DDR 784 Reunion 2000

Tall tales and remember whens have come to an end once again. The second reunion of the USS McKean DD/DDR 784 saw about 40 shipmates from almost all eras of the McKean's history come together in the lovely bay area, during Fleet Week. This may have been a coincidence, but a perfect one as the sight of the ships in the bay and the air shows over San Francisco made the incredibly long waits for transportation bearable.

The banquet was held on board the impressive aircraft carrier USS Hornet, and those who wanted to toured the ship. Allen McKean, executive director of the Aircraft Carrier Hornet Foundation, was the featured speaker. He informed us that a petition is being circulated to have a newly commissioned ship named McKean. More details on that, and on how YOU can help, will follow shortly.

Some decisions were made regarding the association and the next reunion. Don Kessler will continue heading up the association. Joe Hebert will act as treasurer. Gene Henrickson will coordinate future quarterly newsletters. (Everyone is invited to contribute to the newsletter.) Donna Gardner, now an honorary shipmate, will continue on administratively.

Those in attendance voted to hold the next reunion in Falls River, Mass. in 2002. There are no coordinators as of yet, but we will be recruiting shipmates in the area.

Please keep checking back for more about Reunion 2000, as well as pictures. I'll get some posted as soon as possible. Also, watch for the follow-up newsletter soon.

Attendees

W.R. Bohannan
Gary Bowman
Dick Brown
Gordon Bundy
Darrell Carpenter
Ted Chelson
Mike Colby
Jack Ekvall
Irwin Grau
Bob Hancock
Bill Hatzel
Joe Hebert
Gene Henrickson
Chuck Horvath
Marvin Hoy
Don Hudnall
Don Kessler
Brooks Medford
Jack Melvin
Leonard Mendonca
Jack Moon
Earl Moore
Vince Pappalardo
Clint Prescott
Allan Reinhold
David Richardson
Jim Runyan
Marvin Saugstad
Vernon Schmidt
Carlton Smith
Wayne Smith
Pete Thompson
Bob Tokarczyk
Dewey Walker
Gerald Weeks
Virgil Weese
John Wilkerson

Left to right:
First row: Chuck Horvath, Dick Brown, Clint Prescott, Jack Ekvall, Bob Hancock, Vince Pappalardo, Vernon Schmidt, Wayne Smith, Marvin Saugstad.
Second row:Hal Cushing, Bob Tokarczyk, Mike Colby, Joe Hebert, Jerry Weeks, John Wilkerson, Gene Henrickson, Brooks Medford, Bill Hatzel, Dewey Walker, Ted Chelson.
Third row: Pete Thompson, Don Hudnall, Thomas Wattle, Carlton Smith, Bo Bohannan, Earl Moore, Gordon Bundy, Al Reinhold, Dave Richardson, Jim Runyan, Jack Melvin, Gary Bowman, Darrell Carpenter.
Fourth row:Irwin Grau, Jack Moon, Marvin Hoy, Virgil Weese, Leonard Mendonca, Don Kessler

Left to right:
First row:Barb Runyan, JoAnn Hebert, Kathy Thomas, Linda Wesely, Iris Mendonca, Rosie Cushing, Jacquelinee Jurik, Mary Brown.
Second row:Marilyn Boehnke, Phyllis Tokarczyk, Gary Hebert, Sandie Hebert, Bev Ekvall, JoAnn Walker, Shirley Moore, Syble Bohannan, Celia Medford, Donna Gardner, Shirley Hudnall.
Third Row:Pat Kessler, Carol Grau, Margo Williams, Virginia Weese, Paula Hoy, Bonnie Richardson, Kathy Henrickson, Earlene Bundy, Carolyn Brown, Rick Brown, Nick Gardner, Sandy Horvath.
Fourth row:Donna Saugstad, Lorraine Melvin, Karol Gonzales.

More photos from Reunion 2000
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