USS Oriskany - OE Division
Reunion

Hey!!  This is the reunion planning and reporting web site for the ET and DS gangs who served together during those final years of the Vietnam War. We planned and held a husband and wife get-together in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Super 8 Motel from May 1 through May 4, 2006.  Another OE Division reunion was held from May 10 through May 13, 2009. See pictures on facebook!!!
Add me as a friend, and I'll invite you to our private OE Division group.

During the 2006 reunion we visited with fellow ET and DS shipmates who took one, two, or more cruises sometime between 1968 through 1974; and BTW we've posted lots of pictures on the Photo Gallery. 

This website is for all of us to communicate with past shipmates. Use the Message Board to tell us what you've been up to, or write-down your sea stories of the old Navy-life to share your memories. We'll also announce future reunions, and report on past reunion activities. Email Gerry or George to be added as an administrator, which will enable you to post messages, stories, and pictures.  NOTE: Your password may have changed to your overseas hometown.

Past Reunion

We stayed at the Super 8 Motel at 4250 Koval Lane (East of Bally's) in Las Vegas in May of 2006.  The motel provided a conference room for our group gatherings, and we mostly reminisced, ate snacks, and gathered to eat at the Ellis Island restaurant or venture off to see the Vegas sights.  See the photo gallery for reunion pictures. 

2009 Reunion

Sunday, May 10 through May 13, 2009 was our last reunion.  It was held at the Imperial Palace in Las Vegas, NV (a block or two North of Bally's).  Some of us arrived early and some stayed over a day or two longer. Early arrivers had Sunday lunch at the Ellis Island restaurant (Eureka Casino). We met poolside and got for meals. See pictures on facebook.

..... Gerry (303-451-9166) or gerry_benner@yahoo.com

Two years or so till the next reunion -- 30+ ETs and DSs have been contacted. I heard from Curtis Click in February and April of 2006.  He is alive and well with his family living at 100 Lorenz Rd., Apt. 406, San Antonio, TX 78209. Katrina flooded his house in New Orleans, and they're awaiting repairs/restoration.  Send Curtis and wife Nancy a note.  Curtis has email at cpa_no@yahoo.com  They have both been through a lot.  Unfortunately Curtis Click has lots to take care of and wasn't able to attend the 2006 reunion.  We heard back from many of you; and had 14 attendees (although Charlie Crites had to leave Tuesday). Ransdell, Barry, Hassinger, and Kimmel couldn't work out coming due to work, so we'll have to plan another one for them (and everyone else) sometime down the road.

Still missing Bill Simacek, Terry Coleman, Roger ("it's the good life") Tindall, (Senator) Dan Dirksen, Jim Hunter, Gano, Noe, Chaploney, McElfresh, Bootcamp, Maxwell, Jerrel Trammell, ....  A zabasearch.com website has helped, but it has been impossible to locate some folks. We hope the Oriskany news serves to ignite our shipmates to search the internet and find this page.  Our latest find is Bruce "gator" or "bruno" Horton. We hope to welcome aboard many others before the next reunion.

2006 Reunion -- Report on Events

Monday was welcoming, reminiscing, and sea story telling.  On Tuesday morning we took pictures (see Photo Gallery), and then drove out to Lake Mead and Hoover Dam (pictures also in the Photo Gallery).  Tuesday evening and on Wednesday evening we divided into various groups and hit a variety of Vegas sights.  Thanks to Doug and Judy for getting some comp tickets.

Feel free to share the pictures you took at the 2006 reunion. Just upload them to the photo gallery (or email them to me for posting).

We treat reunions similar to liberty call - morning muster then off on your own, or in small groups.  Some of us just hang around the pool. In 2006 we met in the conference room and talked and talked about the old days (which are a bit of a daze these days).  The conference room served as our ET/DS shop.  Heard back from a lot of folks, and it seems everyone enjoyed themselves. 

Hats and T-Shirts:  Hats are available at militarybest.com and other sites for around 19.95 each.

Pensacola News!!  and the "last" interior pictures from the surface
The USS Oriskany was sent to the bottom on May 17.  The Pensacola Chamber of Commerce and Naval Aviation Museum has put many Oriskany items on display. Not sure if the US Flag that flew over the Oriskany back in the early 70s is there yet. 
A BIG Thanks to George Thomann for all of his work and contributions to these groups.
Pat Mulcahy was on board the USS Oriskany in April, 2006; and he has posted the pictures he shot while there. Lots of great interior shots.  Enjoy!!  and thanks Pat. 

 
Sea Stories (top menu bar)
If you have sea stories that don't embarrass or offend anyone too much, please submit it to this web site.   Thanks!! 

2009 Reunion

Pictures!!!

Sailor Attendees:  Gerry Benner, Dave Kimmel, George Thomann, Curtis Click, Jim Dunkelburger, Hank Meyer, Gregg Harriger, Clyde Becknell, Moose Webster, Tom Clark, Ray Carson, Steve Wilder, Des Birmingham, M. or is it D. Mitchell, Wes Rice, Terry Mautz.

We're using www.facebook.com to post OE Division Reunion photos (and videos).  So, get your facebook account, and then join the USS Oriskany Alumni group.  Add Gerry Benner as a friend, and I'll invite you to the private OE Division group, which is only visible to OE members, spouses, ex-spouses, and trusted decendants.