Charleston, South Carolina
June 23-26, 2005

USS England Reunion - Charleston, South Carolina - June 23, 2005

Thursday evening was a simple meet and greet with appetizers and chat while attendees showed up at the hotel. People gathered in the Hospitality Suite, in this case a large conference room in which attendees would gather all weekend.

USS England Reunion - Charleston, South Carolina - June 24, 2005

Friday we had a full bus for the historic tour of Charleston which included the Citadel, Shopping and lunch in old Charleston and a tour of the Civil War Confederate submarine CSS Hunley (where we were not permitted pictures). As you may know CSS Hunley made history on February 17, 1864 by scoring the first sinking by a submarine when she used a 135 pound torpedo to sink USS Housatonic.

The day was capped off with a trip by powered catamaran to Morris Island, passing fort Sumter on the way, to see marine life and shells.

That evening we had drinks and dinner in a very nice banquet room followed by a music contest and karaoke! Yes, it is true and we do have some excellent singers in our group. Everyone enjoyed themselves!

USS England Reunion - Charleston, South Carolina - June 25, 2005

Saturday we had a full bus and a van load to go on the tour to Patriots Point where USS YORKTOWN (CV-10) is open as a museum along with World War II veteran destroyer USS LAFFEY (DD-724), the submarine USS CLAMAGORE (SS-343), and the Coast Guard Cutter INGHAM (WHEC-35). The tour included lunch on board YORKTOWN in the CPO Mess. Though a rainy day, there were no complaints and everyone enjoyed the tours returning to the hotel in time to attend the business meeting and select the time and location for the next reunion.

That evening was our banquet with RADM Hugh Webster USN (Ret) and CWO4 “Gunner” Evans USN (Ret) giving speeches while Dennis O'Brien was MC and Steve Joyce helped with the various ceremonies. A great time was had by all!