NOTES FROM THE ASSOCIATION OFFICERS

 

CALVIN HARRIS-COMMANDER

Not much has happened since I stepped up to the Commander's slot in April of last year.

I look forward to working with the board and welcome all suggestions and comments

from all former shipmates.

CALVIN!

 

 

BOB EDGE-VICE COMMANDER

Thanks to all of you for a fantastic turnout at the last reunion. We are now planning the next one

for April 2009 in San Diego. Make sure the Secretary has your latest e-mail address so you can

receive the latest Bancroft newsletter. Thanks!

BOB

 

 

BILL BADALUCCA-SECRETARY

I am trying to find every sailor who served aboard the Bancroft and add his name to

the Crew List on the website. If you know anyone not yet found, please contact me. Thanks!

BILL

 

 

 

JIM ANGELICA- TREASURER

It has been my pleasure to serve the last 8 years as treasurer for the organization. Your

support, generosity, and comraderie make the work an enjoyment. Let's hope we all

last another 40 years so I can keep doing it!

ANGIE

 

DALE PRESLEY- STOREKEEPER

Another successful reunion with nobody disappearing. Thanks to all who made it a big hit.

I hope to continue to bring quality entertainment & products for years to come. I am

working on getting patches, decals, hats and shirts. If you have anything you would like

to see, drop me a line. See you at the next reunion!  DALE

 

CHARLIE CANNON- HISTORIAN

If anyone has movies, slides or digital photos, please make them available to me to archive

them and present them at future reunions. I can digitize them if you cannot. Thanks.

CHARLIE

 

 

 

REUNION REPORT

REUNION 2007 at the COCOA BEACH HILTON

COCOA BEACH, FL. APRIL 26-29, 2007

 

Some of us arrived early in the week on Wednesday and about 20 or more attendees arrived on Thursday.The hospitality room was two adjourning rooms with a connecting door and the beds removed. In their place they put in two large tables with chairs and the tub in the bathroom served as a "cooler" for all the beer and soda. Thursday was a lot of swapping old sea stories and everyone getting to know everyone again. Lots of new faces showed up at this reunion and we hope that trend continues at all our future reunions.

Friday, more folks showed up and the head count was around 120 people at the LUAU on the Hilton's poolside deck. There were around 15

tables set up. We all got a bit wet just before the food was served thanks to one of Florida's famous evening downpours. Lots of folks got real wet and had to run inside to dry off or change clothes, but before long, things dried up and a dinner buffet was set up. We all enjoyed a meal together again which was a shade better than MIDRATS.

We had a few dozen raffles and prizes were given out during the LUAU. CHUCK EWING not only got a prize for coming the longest distance to the reunion (Bangor, Washington), but he also won the "Last Man Standing On Board" award since he was working at the Bremerton shipyard when the Bancroft was cut into pieces. Chuck told us it was very hard to watch that event since he was a plankowner back in 1965 when she was built. We all spent 1/2 our lives aboard that ship for several years and it was "home" to us when we were on patrol. Hard to believe it has already been scrapped and turned into so many razor blades

 

                                  

     J P OLSSON & BOB EDGE ADDRESS THE CROWD                                                                             MORE POOL DECK CROWD

The LUAU went on till around 10:00 PM and a few diehards were seen in the hospitality room playing cards till around 2:00AM (Some things will never change).

Saturday afternoon the Association Meeting was held as it is at every reunion. This is when the Commander steps down and the Two year Vice Commander steps up into the Commander's slot for the next two years. This time it was J P Olsson stepping down and Calvin Harris taking over that post. Also elected was the new Vice Commander from candidates presented and this time that post was filled by Bob Edge from the early days of the Blue Crew.

The positions of Secretary and Treasurer were again re-elected for another two year term each since there were no other candidates nominated. Once again our Secretary is Bill Badalucca and the treasurer is Jim Angelica. It just so happens these two guys like the jobs they do for the organization and no one else really wants to do those jobs anyway.

Jim gave the treasurer's report about our financial condition and then some talked went on about where to hold the next reunion. Several guys volunteered to check out facilities in their areas such as San Diego, CA, Biloxi, Mississippi, Bremerton, Washington and Cleveland, Ohio.These locations were checked into very well but as you know, San Diego was chosen as the next reunion location. More about that later.

Around 6 PM, we had a cocktail hour as the buffet was put into place and the nad set up in the banquet room. It didn't take long for the line to get long as people started lining up for chow.

Later on the Bancroft cake was cut by the two former skippers in attendance; Ken Barker and Tom Hunnicutt                                                                          

                                                                     

 

The cake was very good and

the photo was made right into the

icing. They did a super job with it.                                   

 

 

All during the banquet, more 50-50 raffles and auctions took place to raise funds to keep the Association dues down to zero. Our treasury was very successful at this reunion and we made enough to pay the bills along the way and have some left over to start the next reunion plans.

One of the raffle items was the Bancroft hull piece AKA "THE SPIRIT OF THE 643". This is a piece of the HY-80 hull from the missile compartment section that was donated by a shipmate. The winner gets to keep it at home for the two years between reunions and then it is raffled off again at the very next reunion. This year it was won by Don Washburn, a launcher TM from the Gold crew in the mid to late sixties.

                                                          

 

 

UPCOMING NEWS

BANCROFT REUNION-2009

SAN DIEGO, CA. APRIL 16-19           

                                                                                                 THE MISSION VALLEY RESORT IS THE SITE OF OUR NEXT REUNION

 

THIS IS A FIRST RATE HOTEL AND WE LOCKED IN THE ROOMS FOR ONLY $ 99.00 / NIGHT FROM 3 DAYS BEFORE UNTILL 3 DAYS AFTER OUR REUNION.

CHECK OUT SOME OF THE SHOTS OF THIS FACILITY OR YOU CAN CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW AND GO TO THEIR WEBSITE FOR A TOUR OF THE FACILITY.

WWW.MISSIONVALLEYRESORT.COM     THEIR PHONE NUMBERS ARE 800-362-7871 & 619-298-8281

                                 

                                   

 

                                 

 

CLICK HERE FOR A RESERVATION FORM FOR THE MISSION VALLEY RESORT

MORE DATA ABOUT THE NEXT REUNION WILL BE POSTED AS IT

BECOMES AVAILABLE SO CHECK BACK OFTEN