SSN 680 Plan of the Day
The clock is ticking on our next Bates reunion - LAS VEGAS 25 - 29 days, 1 hour and 21 minutes, according to the countdown timer on the coldwarboats.org website.
If you have already RSVP’d as “GOING”, now is the time to purchase your tickets - $35 for a single, $50 for a couple - to help defray the cost of our hospitality suite and light refreshments for the duration - room and meals not included.
You can pay on the website: HOMEPORT >> SOCIAL ACTIVITY >> REUNION INFO >> REUNION PAYMENT (click the link). If you would rather pay by check or cash, by mail, or at the door, contact me and let me know.
It is important that you have RSVP’d or contacted me directly so we have an accurate count!
Don’t forget your room reservations - there is a group of rooms set aside for us, but without your reservation, they will not be held.
If you are still on the fence about going, now’s the time to commit!
To help influence your decision, here is the list of RSVPs that we expect to see in Las Vegas.
GOING
John Barry
Bob Bethard
Miles Bradley
Bill Byers
Scott Elder
Richard Gagne
Dave Gordon
Richard Hausvik
Noel Hernberger
Jamie Hogan
Dorn Jensen
Tom Johnson
John Kettelle
Michael Langenheim
Jerry Lundquist
Kelly D. McLaughlin
Steven Perry
Robert Pitchford
Joe Ramsey
Brad Williamson
INTERESTED
Michael Akers
Michael Fees
Albert Frankel
Sean Gawne
Mark Herber
Mike Kimball
Richard Machinski
Ernesto Maisonet
Albert C. McKinley
Tom Meyer
Jim Meyers
Chris Mumford
Robin Rickman
Lynden Uplinger
Walt Weber
If you have any questions, refer to the previous posts on the ssn-680.org website or our Facebook groups. If all else fails, drop me an email or text, and I’ll get you sorted out.
Looking forward to seeing all of you there, and remember, if you can’t make Las Vegas, we are still working to make an East Coast reunion this fall. Stay tuned…
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Many of you remember our shipmate Dennis Carroll from back in the day. Engineering Logroom Yeoman, RC Division Supply Petty Officer extraordinaire, if you needed a part or tool that couldn't be had for love or money, Dennis was the go-to guy. He would apply his near-magical comshaw skills, and, just that like, the needed item would appear out of nowhere, much to the chagrin, I'm sure, of whatever boat or tender happened to be on the other end of that particular transaction.
Now, he could use some support from us. He wouldn't ask, so I'm asking for him.
Currently he is sitting in a hospital room in Kansas City, MO, if I'm not mistaken, at the bedside of his youngest, 23 year old Ryleigh, who has suffered sudden and complete liver failure, and now faces the struggle to stay alive while awaiting a transplant.
Work continues relentlessly on the ssn-680.org website, one of 393 Cold War submarine websites and part of coldwarboats.org family of websites. Much neglected during the growth activity of the last six months, the situation is improving.
The Logroom Archives have been brought up to current standards, with AI improved large images and documents converted to easy to download pdfs. Every archive has been upgraded, including:
- Commendations
- Correspondence related to Congressman Bates and the boat.
The USS WILLIAM H. BATES (SSN 680) West reunion for 2025, LAS VEGAS 25, is coming together and we need your action and feedback.
First, the critical information.
WHEN: 5 - 8 MAY 2025 - only 167 days away as of today!
WHERE: Tuscany Suites & Casino, Las Vegas, NV
WHO: You, of course, and as many SSN 680 shipmates as we can convince to join us!
Early May should allow us to miss the searing southern Nevada heat. The hotel is located off the strip, so we won’t be bombarded by the bulk of the tourist traffic, but within a relatively short walking distance (15 minutes) for those who wish to take the unique sites, sounds, and smells of Las Vegas in all its glory, and ground transportation is available for those longer trips.
We are not planning activities for this reunion expecting that, given the wide range of entertainment available, group activities will emerge spontaneously. That doesn’t rule out a reunion dinner and the traditional tolling of the bell ceremony, but we will await your feedback before we get carried away.
So, what to you need to do?
