Welcome Aboard
USS Semmes DDG-18 Association


Ship's Motto: Dare to Excel

2008 Reunion
June 18th,  thru June 22nd, 2008
Come join us in Nashville, TN 
Renew those old friendships, meet members of other Semmes crews. 
See the sights.
Join the USS Semmes Association, and help preserve it's history.
Recent NEWS
Striker 18
(newsletter)
 

Semmes Association supports the efforts of the
ADAMS CLASS VETERANS ASSOCIATION
in saving the Charles F. Adams.

WE MAY AGAIN WALK THE DECKS OF A DDG IN JACKSONVILLE

30 minutes ago.........at 6:02 PM 2/26/08 The Jacksonville City Council voted 15 For and 0 Against and PASSED the resolution to accept the ACVA Project to bring the USS Charles F. Adams DDG-2 to Jacksonville, Florida.

Much work still needs to be done. The ACVA is working very hard to complete the ship application to submit it to NAVSEA by March 31, 2008.

ACVA NEEDS TO RAISE MORE FUNDS QUICKLY.  PLEASE SEND WHAT YOU CAN ASAP.

Make checks out to "ACVA" Send them to Dave Myerly, 5 Bush Road Denville, New Jersey 07834

Become an ACVA Member by going to the ACVA web site, click on "Join the ACVA" then fill out and submit the application. If you send a check for $25 or more at the same time, we assign you the title of ACVA Plankowner with your own ACVA Plankowner Number.

Info memo's from ACVA
Urgent NEWS from ACVA read Fundraising Letter

 

2008 REUNION

 As host to the 2008 reunion, I want to quickly introduce myself and encourage you, your family and/or friends to plan ahead and attend the 2008 Semmes reunion.  If you haven’t attended one in the past, I can assure you that it will be one of the best memories of your life. 

 My name is Byron Personett and I served all 4 years of my Navy career seasick aboard the big gray #18.  I lost 36 pounds on my first cruise to the Med.  I was throwing up in the Cooper River, 9 miles from the Atlantic.  I prayed to die at times, but somehow I survived.  I served from January ‘65 to August ‘69.  I was on the deck crew for my first cruise, then became a sonar man and left as an E5.  I married my high school sweetheart, Jackie, on leave in 1966 and we just celebrated our 40th anniversary last year with a trip to Alaska.  Jackie and I heard about the 2004 reunion in New Orleans and along with an old shipmate, we attended and had a ball.  We went back to Niagara Falls for the 2006 reunion and again made memories and had a blast.  We were so excited about the reunions that we have volunteered to host the 2008 Reunion in our hometown of Nashville, TN.  It will be held on Wednesday, June 18th, 2008 thru Sunday, June 22nd, 2008.  The location will be at the Radisson Opryland Hotel, which is by the Grand Ole’ Opry, 15 minutes from Nashville International Airport and 15 minutes from historical downtown Nashville.  The crew members that got the ball rolling with the 2002 reunion were mainly plank owners and each year we gain more of the crew from later years.  It is the goal of our association and myself this year to get crew members from all the years that the Semmes sailed.  Our past reunions have started on a Thursday night with a closing banquet on a Monday evening.  This year we will be starting on a Wednesday night, with our closing ceremonies on Saturday night.  I encourage you to attend all 4 nights, but if you still have job commitments that will not allow you to make it in on Wednesday, then please try to come for Friday and Saturday festivities.

 Let me go over some of the highlights that will make this reunion “Great in ‘08”.  First of all, we had over 100 crew and guest sign up at the end of the ‘06 reunion for the ‘08 reunion.  Our goal is for over 200 crew and guests to make it to Nashville.  We are hoping for over 50 - 75 new crew members  to attend.  We will be including a lot of extra things in your registration fee, like a free tour, continental breakfast each morning, free transportation to local attractions, more free welcome gifts and many surprises.

 Some of our special events will be a dinner cruise on the General Jackson River Boat.  A country Hoe Down featuring line dancing, crew member karaoke contest and a western costume contest followed by a trip to the world famous Grand Ole Opry.  We will be having a silent auction with one of a kind collectables, along with a variety of military and Navy items.  We will be lining up a group of tours that fit into everyone’s budget.  We will have the largest hospitality room that we have ever had and it will be available for more time to tell sea stories.  The final night will be a special finale, with laughs, good food and lots of surprises.

 The world famous and second largest hotel in the world, Opryland Hotel, is within walking distance, along with Opry Mills mall.  Both have free transportation.  There are many shops and restaurants in the mall and in the local area, including an Applebee’s in our hotel.  Those of you that will be camping, Two Rivers Campground is one mile from our hotel.  The hotel rate for us is $87 plus tax per night and the rate is good up to 3 days before and 3 days after our reunion, for those of you wanting to extend your trip.  Room rate is based on 2 people with children under 17 free.  Extra adults are $10 each.

The tour and events are available to look at by going to the 2008 Reunion Itinerary page and you can sign up for the tours and events by hitting the Register button on the same page.   Please reserve your hotel room ASAP to make sure you have a place to stay. If you have not signed up for the reunion, please do so now. The registration fee for the crew member will be $60, spouse/or other guest $40. We encourage you to join the USS Semmes Association to remain in touch with everyone and to keep the Semmes legacy alive.

 Registration information for the hotel and Reunion.  Any questions you might have please contact me at:  personett@aol.com or call me.
Home  615-851-9776  or cell  615-594-1153.

Contact all Semmes crew members that you know and don’t be late - “It will be great in ‘08”.

Reunion 2008 Update

It’s hard to believe, but our reunion is just a few weeks away. The response has been great and we now have 140 people registered, including over 50 who will be attending for the very first time. There are still many new shipmates who are planning on registering in the next few weeks. It looks like we will end up with over 150 coming to Nashville. 110 of you have signed up for your Events and Tours and 120 of you have registered for your room. We have a block of 75 rooms and there are only 15 rooms left. The rest of you who have registered for the reunion need to call the hotel and book a room before they are gone. Some of our tours are filling up so please register for your Tours and Events now.

If there are any shipmates that you have not contacted about the Reunion, please do so know.

If you have not sent me the 2 pictures that I requested, please do so as soon as possible. If you do not have a baby picture, then send me any picture that you have as a child. Also, do not forget to let me know your dinner selections for the banquet, Jack Daniels steak or pecan chicken.

Please let me know if you will not be staying in the hotel so I can adjust my room totals.

 
Please contact us if you have any questions.
Byron and Jackie
2008 Reunion Hosts

 

 

 

Tribute to the USS Semmes

Years have come and years have gone
During which Semmes sailors departed from our homes,
Serving our country and cruising the globe
Protecting our loved ones from those who would do wrong.

Upon the world's vast oceans filled with dark mysteries
Together we rode the Semmes ingto the Nation's history;
With salty tears we sailed waves of blue and gray
For Freedom, we worked so hard, both night and day.

The food in the galley was really great!
Though I tossed mine forcefully into the silver churning wake.
We yearned for families left faithfully behind
But a job had to be done, protecting our land, and mankind.

Loneliness and seasickness were so hard to take
But the captain, you see, wouldn't give us a break:
The mighty destroyer kept cruising alone
Protecting our nation, as the days grew long.
At last, we redirected our prow,
Seabags on shoulders, we were so proud.

Mission accomplished, received hugs all around.
Years grow shorter and memories may wane
But Truth, and our service, always will remain --
We're the crew of the Semmes and we love the sea
And we love America - we helped keep her Free.

-- By Sandra Hulsey
-- 2006

 

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