Reunion Info

_______________________________________________ Reunion Information _______________________________________________

 

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USS Basilone DDE/DD-824 2026 Reunion

 

This year’s Basilone Association Reunion will be in New Orleans, LA, Monday, September 28, to Friday, October 2.  Below is a tentative itinerary.

  • Monday, September 28
    • Arrive at hotel
    • Welcome aboard meeting and dinner
  • Tuesday, September 29
    • New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise
    • Walking tour of the French Quarter
  • Wednesday, September 30
    • Tour the World War 2 Museum
  • Thursday, October 1
    • Louis Cemetery Tour
    • Business Meeting
    • Farewell Banquet
  • Friday, October 2
    • Check out and leave for home

Please click on the below link and complete the form if you are thinking about attending.  There is no obligation if you change your mind.  The reunion committee is just trying to get an idea of the number of people who might attend the reunion.

Final details and costs for the reunion have not yet been determined and will be published in April or early May.

Please complete the form by Friday, April 17.  Again, there is no obligation if you change your mind about attending.

Attending Reunion

 

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USS Basilone DDE/DD-824 2026 Reunion

 Save the Date

 

The 2026 reunion will be held in New Orleans, LA, from Monday September 28 to Friday October 2. 

The host hotel is Homewood Suites by Hilton French Quarter.  The nightly hotel rate is $159 + tax.  If you ever thought about going to New Orleans for a short vacation, here’s your chance.  We have arranged with the hotel to honor the discounted rate two days before and two days after the reunion.

The reunion committee is working out the final details of activities and will publish them sometime in March or April.

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Reunion Year / Reunion Location / Host / # of Shipmates Attended / Memorial Service Location

1989 – Raritan, NJ

1994 – Raritan, NJ

1996 – Raritan, NJ – Host Charles Davis, YNC, 58-59 – 34 Shipmates Attended

1998 – Baltimore, MD – Host George Christenson, BM1, 65-67 – 68 Shipmates Attended – US Navy Memorial, Washington DC

1999 – Norfolk, VA – Hosts Henry Hepsoe, SMC, 56-61/ Jack Price, RMC 72-75 – 65 Shipmates Attended – General Douglas MacArthur Memorial, Norfolk, VA

2000 – Fall River, MA – Hosts Tom Bembenek, OS1, 69-73/ John Moreau, RM1, 70-73 – 70 Shipmates Attended – USS Joseph P. Kennedy DD-850, Fall River, MA

2001 – Charleston, SC – Host Robert Barkalow, RD2, 64-65 – 84 Shipmates Attended – USS Laffey DD-724, Patriots Point, Charleston, SC

2002 – Placerville, CA – Host Jim Goodspeed, LT, 63-66 –  33 Shipmates Attended – American River Gold Discovery Site, Coloma, CA

2003 – Buffalo, NY – Host Richard Hadley, RM1 71-75 – 63 Shipmates Attended – USS Little Rock CLG-4, Buffalo, NY

2004 – Branson, MO – Host Jack Price, RMC 72-75 – 32 Shipmates Attended – Showboat Branson Belle, Branson, MO

2005 – Saco, Me – Host Jim Goodspeed, LT, 63-66 – 41 Shipmates Attended – Maine Maritime Museum, Bath, ME

2006 – Newark, NJ – Host Philip Poplaski, EN2, 69-70 – 22 Shipmates Attended – Basilone Monument, Raritan, NJ

2007 – San Diego, CA – Host Ray Jones, LT, 67-69 – 23 Shipmates Attended – Piazza Basilone, San Diego, CA

2008 – San Antonio, TX – Host Les Carter, MM3, 57-59 – 16 Shipmates Attended – Anderson Theater on the River Walk, San Antonio, TX

2009 – Chicago, IL – Host Geoffrey Bender, FTG2, 70-74 – 30 Shipmates Attended – USNTC Chapel, Naval Station Great Lakes, IL

2010 – Sarasota, FL – Host Greg Perkins, MMFN, 67 – 29 Shipmates Attended – Lido Beach Gulf of Mexico, Sarasota, FL

2011 – Newport, RI – Host Jack Richie, MM2, 68-71 – 52 Shipmates Attended – USS Massachusetts BB-59, Fall River, MA

2012 – Syracuse, NY – Host Philip Poplaski, EN2, 69-70 – 22 Shipmates Attended – Sampson Naval/Air Museum, Fort Sampson, NY

2013 – Gettysburg, Pa – Hosts Frank Crouse, GM2, 52-55/ George Christenson, BM1, 65-67 – 49 Shipmates Attended – Civil War Battle Field Naval Memorial, Gettysburg, PA

2014 – Seattle, WA – Hosts Robert Terhune, LTJG, 64-66/Jim Goodspeed, LT, 63-66 – 15 Shipmates Attended – USS Turner Joy DD-951, Bremerton, WA

2015 – Santa Fe, NM – Host Frank Cowling, ETR2, 65-67 – 21 Shipmates Attended – Inn at Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM

2016 – Wilmington, NC – Host Richard Papesca, MM2, 68-70 – 30 Shipmates Attended – USS North Carolina, Wilmington, NC

2017 – Arlington, TX – Host Frank Stepka, SN, 70-73 – 23 Shipmates Attended – Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, Dallas, TX

2018 – Milwaukee, WI – Host Karl Weber, BT2, 67-70 – 32 Shipmates Attended – Milwaukee County War Memorial, Milwaukee, WI

2019 – Atlanta, GA – Host Fred Gehrisch, ETN2, 66-68 – 22 Shipmates Attended – Marietta National Cemetery, Marietta, GA

2020 – Cancelled

2021 – Cancelled      

2022 - Savannah, GA - Hosts Frank Stepka, SN, 70-73, Fred Gehrisch, ETN2, 66-68, 15 Shipmates Attended - Ft. Pulaski, GA

2023 - Cancelled 

2024 - Cancelled

2025 - Jacksonville, FL - Host Joe Fisher, FN, 65, 10 Shipmates Attended - USS John Basilone DDG-122 Mayport, FL Naval Station