Summer 2010 Update UPDATE

[ The September 2010 AESA /AOE Association reunion is fast approaching ]

Better get your civvies in order and for sure confirm your reservations (800-314-2117) for the upcoming AESA/AOE reunion at the Saint Louis Airport Hilton in suburban Saint Louis September 23rd to 27th. Our very own Bill Gohde (1966-68) is now 2nd Vice President of the AESA/AOE Association and plays a big part in event planning & rallying members. For more details go to www.aesailors.com. And of course, our spouses are invited.

he reunion last year in Charleston, NC brought together several hundred AE/AOE vets, and USS Mazama was one of the most represented with over 20 ex-crew from the 1944 to 1969 era’s (see photo in earlier Homepage Update).

This year, the first day Thursday will be get-togethers to share memorabilia, cruise books, photos with crew you haven’t seen for many years. Friday will offer tours of the historical parts of Saint Louis, the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, and a special stop at the “Budweiser brewery”. There are more tours planned for Saturday but we’ve planned something very special for our crew, an evening at the historical Chase Park Plaza Hotel built in the 1920’s on legendary Forest Park, site of the 1912 World’s Fair. There will be a happy hour and dinner, and lots of stories from our days on the USS Mazama ($50 a person + cash bar). The reunion ends Sunday night with a AESA/AOE Association banquet at the Airport Hilton Hotel.

If you're not a member of the AE/AOE Sailors Association (AESA) you should join. They send out a great newsletter with information on all the AE ships from the fleet. USS Mazama was featured in the November 2009 Over The Waves.

We're still looking for more of our shipmates who have connected through our web site and word of mouth. Take a look at the Guestbook for someone who sailed with you and send them an e-mail.

Happy sailing! Doc