2008 Reunion

For me the highlight of the 2008 Reunion was the visit we made to the LCS(L) 102. I attended the Transfer ceremony the previous November and toured the 102. The difference in the condition of the ship between the two visits was amazing. Admiral Mason and his crew of volunteers had really done a great job on the 102. The primary source of the volunteers came from a car club known as Boyz Under the Hood. Click on Boyz Under the Hood in the previous sentence to visit their web site. Whenever there was a need for going to the Reserve Fleet to retrieve furniture and other items, they were readily available. They furnished trucks to transport the items from Benicia to the ship. Equally important was their willingness to participate in paint days. The Boyz Under the Hood who assisted were Chip Carter, Larry Collins, Mike Brigandi, Charlie DaLamater, Brenda DaLamater, Steve Lane, Mark Miller, Chris Miller, Mike Preston, Larry Torres, and Mike Wertz. Chip was the organizer of the group. He would round up the Boyz. Click on 102 Renovation to see the page covering the work that has been done on the 102 and the volunteers that have helped so much to get the ship into its current state.

The visit to the LCS(L) 102 during the 2008 Reunion started with a Memorial Service. The Memorial Service started with a welcome speech by the 2007 Skipped Edward Desmond of the 128. This was followed by the Presenting of Colors by the Travis Air Force Base Honor Guard. The current Executive Officer Robert Cowell of the 128 led the Pledge of Allegiance. The Vallejo Middle School Band members led by John Rooney played The Start Spangled Banner. The Travis Air Force Base Honor Guard then Posted the Colors. Edward Desmond presented each of the widows in attendance at the service with a corsage and a flower they would later toss in the river in honor of their husbands. The Memorial Wreath was presented by Don & Ryan Hawkins, Melinda Stewart Hardin and Steve Mitchell. Walt Longhurst of the 61 read Psalm 23 and read the Memorial Address. John Rooney of the 82 read the Necrology and Gilbert Nadeau of the 45 rang the bell. Taps was played by the Vallejo Middle School Band and John Rooney did the Navy Hymn. Gil Nadeau then signaled "Welcome Home LCS 102".

If you know people in these pictures that are not named in the caption, please send their names to John.Wisner@cox.net. Recommendations for updates to the photo captions are also appreciated. Please pay special attention to the photos that have a series of question marks.

The following pictures were taken at the Memorial Service and during a tour of the LCS(L) 102 which followed the service. The first set of pictures were donated by Anita Simpson.

Photo #1042 - Members of the Association gathered for the Memorial Service	Photo #1044 - Members of the Association gathered for the Memorial Service	Photo #1050 - Anita Simpson at the start of the Memorial Service
Photo #1051 - Robert Cowell presenting a flower to ???? ??????. John Rooney and 2007 Skipper Edward Desmond in the background	Photo #1054 - John Rooney presenting a corsage to Miriam Brokaw.	Photo #1072 - Travis Air Force Base Honor Guard
Photo #1076 - ??????????	Photo #1077 - ??????????	Photo #1078 - Anita Simpson tossing a flower in the river in memory of Frank Simpson
	Photo #1079 - Fran Lother Tossing a flower in memory of her husband.

The following pictures were donated by Ginny Rooney.

Photo #1 - Walt and Clair Longhurst	Photo #2 - Bill Mason talking with some of the volunteers	Photo #3 - sinks in the Enlisted Head.
Photo #4 - Clair Longhurst sitting in the radio shack. ???????? is looking on through the port hole.	Photo #5 - The Galley	Photo #6 - Walt Longhurst posing in a gun turret.
Photo #7 - ??????????	Photo #8 - The forward Enlisted Quarters	Photo #9 - The forward Enlisted Quarters
Photo #10 -	Photo #11 - The Senior Enlisted Quarters	Photo #12

The following photos were donated by me, John Wisner. I took these pictures during the visit to the LCS(L) 102 as part of the 2008 Reunion.

Photo #6 - The LCS(L) 102 as it appeared during the 2008 Reunion	Photo #9 - The 2007 Skipper Edward Desmond starting the Memorial Service	Photo #10 - Association members gathering for the Memorial Service
Photo #11 - Association members gathering for the Memorial Service	Photo #13 - The widows of LCS sailors in attendance at the reunion	Photo #15 - Larry Torres, Torres, Steve Lane, Greg Conrad, Larry Collins, Bonnie Yee Collins, and Chip Carter from the Boyz Under the Hood
Photo #16 - The start of the Memorial Service. John Rooney read the names of the members that died during the previous year	Photo #17 - John Rooney reading the names of the members that passed away during the last year while Steve Mitchell and Melinda Stewart Hardin place carnations on the wreath	Photo #18 - John Rooney reading the names of the members that passed away during the last year while Steve Mitchell and Melinda Stewart Hardin place carnations on the wreath
Photo #19 - Vallejo Middle School Band	Photo #20 - The Boyz Under the Hood in attendance at the 2008 Reunion. Larry Torres, Steve Lane, Greg Conrad, Larry Collins, Bonnie Yee Collins, Chip Carter, and Mike Brigandi	Photo #21 - Travis Air Force Base Honor Guard
Photo #22 - Shorty Signals "Welcome Home LCS 102"	Photo #23 - Shorty continues his message	Photo #24 - Shorty continues his message
Photo #25 - The LCS(L) 102 with the original number on its side	Photo #26 - Larry Torres, Mike Brigandi, Steve Lane, Greg Conrad, Larry Collins, and Chip Carter from the Boyz Under the Hood.	Photo #28 - Members of the Boyz Under the Hood in attendance at the 2008 Reunion. Larry Collins, Bonnie Yee Collins, Ckhip Carter, Mike Brigandi, Steve Lane, Brenda DeLaMater, Greg Conrad, Larry Torres, Charlie DeLaMater, Shirley Koot, and Anthony Koot
Photo #29 - The forward mounted gun	Photo #30 - Junior Officers Quarters	Photo #31 - Junior Officers Quarters
Photo #32 - Junior Officers Quarters	Photo #33 - Senior Enlisted Quarters	Photo #34 - Senior Enlisted Quarters
Photo #35 - COs Quarters	Photo #36 - COs Quarters	Photo #37 - Officers Mess
Photo #38 - Forward Enlisted Quarters	Photo #39 - Forward Enlisted Quarters	Photo #40 - Forward Enlisted Quarters
Photo #41 - Officers Head	Photo #42 - Officers Head	Photo #43 - The Radio Room. The photo is of the LCSer and his wife that intend to donate a radio to the LCS 102.
Photo #44 - The Radio Room. The photo is of the LCSer and his wife (?????? ????????) that intend to donate a radio to the LCS 102.	Photo #45 - The desk in the Radio Room	Photo #46 - The Galley
Photo #47 - The Galley	Photo #48 - The Engine Room	Photo #49 - The Port Side of the 102
Photo #50 - The Forward Gun	Photo #51 - The Conning Tower	Photo #52
Photo #53 - The Aft	Photo #54 - Don Hawkins (128) & Grandson Ryan Hawkins	Photo #55 - The Bow
Photo #56 - The Radio Room	Photo #57 - The Map Desk	Photo #58 - Rear Enlisted Quarters
Photo #59 - Enlisted Mess	Photo #60 - Enlisted Head	Photo #62 - Steve Lane, Paul "Boats" Carter and Steve Ellison (an LCS sailor)