[ 2009 Reunions, 2010 AESA ReUnion – Saint Louis ]
Changes coming to the USS Mazama website soon!
Another year gone by & our new year's pledge is to improve the USS Mazama AE-9 website to provide more timely updates of shipmate activity. We'll be tweaking our homepage layout to make it easier to navigate the links and see What's New each time you visit. We'll be adding the 1964 Cruise book to the Med, plus more. If you have Mazama history worth posting, get in touch.
2009 AESA ReUnion – Norfolk: At the September 16-20 AESA reunion in Norfolk , we had one of the best turnouts from AE's, attended by 13 of our shipmates and their wives Pictured are Bottom Row L/R: Gene Kronk...Eric Butterfield....Ed Booth....Clifford Shorter....Robert Brenner...Bob Hall
Second Row L/R; Bob Herrin...Bill Gohde...George Evjen…Rich Castleberry....Tom Rogers....Dave Anderson...Jimmy Huntsberger....Back Row; L/R Rick Becker...John Langlois...Ed Reilly...Darrel Nelson...Ken Rayborn....Bob Crandall.
Bottom row is WWII, Korean war....and last Two Rows are WesPac 66, Med 67 & WesPac 69. We're looking for an even better turnout in Saint Louis this year. Mark your calenders.
2009 ReCommissioning ReUnion – Biloxi: Paul Paledeno (61-63) from Daphne Alabama shared information on the First Annual Reunion of Mazama's 1961 Recommissioning who were Plank Owners & Veterans of the Cuban Blockade. Twelve members attended the reunion held last May at the Grand Casino, Biloxi , Mississippi.
2010 AESA ReUnion – Saint Louis: The upcoming AESA reunion in Saint Louis this coming September at the Airport Hilton. Our very own Bill Gohde (66-68) is now 2nd Vice President of the AESA Association and plays a big part in event planning & rallying members. More to come on this, but if you want to get details now, go to www.aesailors.com.
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
July 2009 UPDATE
[ Captain Kiley's burial at Arlington National Cemetery ]
We've finally been able to make some upgrades to the website that should speed-up updates. For one you can click on the "Guestbook" link and we will be able to get your information on the Guestbook page faster. Same for "Memorials" and "Crew List". Many former Mazama crew members are discovering our site to get in touch, so pass the word and keep them coming. I'll add updates as often as I can in between my job travels. Later this month a few of our mates are heading to DC to attend Captain Kiley's (1965-66 Vietnam cruise) burial at Arlington National Cemetery. We'll post a follow-up but you can go to the Guestbook and read his daughter's memories of her dad and Mazama as a young girl. We hope you are planning to attend the AESA Reunion in Norfolk this coming September 16. If you haven't heard about it, contact Billy Gohde (gohde4u@aol.com) for more information. Happy sailing! Doc
September 2008 UPDATE
[ 1968 WestPac Cruisebook ]
It's been a while since we updated, but thanks to all of you who are e-mailing material to add to the Mazama HomePage. As you can see from the Guestbook link many former Mazama crew members are discovering our site to get in touch. New information about to be added here soon is the 1968 WestPac Cruisebook, an updated crew list from 1942 to 1970, continuous Guestbook entries and hopefully some reunion photos from the AESA Reunion in Erlanger, Ky across the river from Cincinnati, Ohio, September 17 - 21, 2008. I'll add updates as often as I can in between my job travels. Happy sailing! Doc
SUMMER 2006 UPDATE
[ May 2, 2006 LAUNCH DAY ]
Welcome...it's been thirty eight years since I walked down the USS Mazama gangplank in Brooklyn, New York on May 23, 1968 with my separation papers, never to look back, or so I thought.
In 1974, I hooked up with Bill Gohde in Hoboken on a business trip to New York City. This meeting with Bill set into motion a plan to someday, someway reunite with many of the crewmembers we served with on two cruises and a trip around the world. Looking back, those were two amazing years. This website memorializes those two years, and also provides Mazama crew-members, their family and friends with the history of USS Mazama AE-9 from 1945 to 1970. While she is no longer with us, a piece of her memory lives on in each of us. In 2005, a few of us met in Milwaukee to celebrate our time together on Mazy in the 1960's. More reunions are planned as our group grows, so pass the word and stay in touch. Now, welcome back aboard the USS Mazama AE-9. Enjoy!
