February 3, 2010
Ahoy Mates,
Here is an e-mail from Pat Carpenter regarding his thoughts
about the USS Carpenter Shipmates Association and our
reunions. Please join us in Norfolk. Remember, go to <reunionproregistration.com/usscarpenter.htm>
for registration and other info.
Jimmie
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DEAR JIMMIE,
SOMEHOW IT HAS GOTTEN TO BE 2010, AND FEBRUARY,
AND THE REUNION IN APRIL IS VERY MUCH ON MY
MIND. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH IT HAS MEANT TO
ANN AND ME TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REPRESENT MY
DAD, AS THE USS CARPENTER'S NAMESAKE, AT ALL OF
YOUR REUNIONS! IT HAS NOT ONLY BEEN THE HONOR
TO THE CARPENTER NAME BUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET
TO KNOW AT LEAST SOME OF THE STALWARTS THAT
BROUGHT THE SHIP TO LIFE AND GAVE IT SUCH A
GREAT REPUTATION. TO SAY THAT WE'VE BEEN
IMPRESSED WOULD BE VERY MUCH OF AN
UNDERSTATEMENT. THE SHIPMATES WE HAVE MET AT
YOUR GATHERINGS--THE "OLD SALTS" AS WELL AS
THEIR LADIES--HAVE PROVED TO BE WHAT I CALL
"REAL PEOPLE" THAT REPRESENT THE CORE OF OUR
COUNTRY AND STAND FOR THE PRINCIPLES THAT HAVE
MADE IT SO SPECIAL. YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO BE
PROUD OF THE ORGANIZATION THAT YOU AND BERT VAN
HOUTEN STARTED!
HAVING SAID ALL THAT, AND MEANT IT MOST
SINCERELY, I AM A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT THE
TURNOUT FOR THE NEXT REUNION. FIRST, LET ME
ASSURE YOU THAT MY MAIN CONCERN IS FOR THE
MEMBERS OF YOUR ASSOCIATION TO RECOGNIZE THE
WORTH OF THE REUNION OPPORTUNITY AND THE FACT
THAT THE OPPORTUNITY DIMINISHES AS EACH YEAR
GOES BY. FROM MY OBSERVATION, YOU WOULD BE HARD
PRESSED TO GET ANYONE WHO HAS ATTENDED A REUNION
TO EXPRESS DISAPPOINTMENT. I DO HAVE A BIT OF A
STAKE IN THIS ONE, HOWEVER, SINCE I ARRANGED FOR
THE SPEAKER AND TOLD MY FOUR-STAR ADMIRAL FRIEND
WHO SET IT UP FOR YOU THAT THERE WOULD BE 75 TO
100 IN ATTENDANCE. HEAVENS KNOWS, THESE ARE
TOUGH TIMES AND IT'S HARD TO MAKE THAT KIND OF
COMMITMENT. I JUST HOPE ALL THAT COULD BE THERE
WILL CONSIDER IT SERIOUSLY AND MAKE EVERY EFFORT
TO BE PRESENT AND NOT JUST ACCOUNTED FOR. IF
THERE IS ANYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF THAT I COULD
DO TO HELP, JUST ASK.
ANN JOINS IN SENDING OUR BEST REGARDS TO YOU AND
CHLORIS. WE KNOW YOU'RE GOING THROUGH A BIG
TRANSITION BUT I THINK YOU'RE DOING THE RIGHT
THING.
PAT
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MODEL IN PROGRESS
BY
WARREN REGAN QMSN (1954-55)
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