GEARING ASSOCIATION INFORMATION

USS GEARING ASSOCIATION HISTORY

HOW WE STARTED
In October 1987 Leo Dougherty (RM2 67-68), called a couple of shipmates he still kept in touch with to make plans of getting together again after twenty years since serving on the Gearing. These few men decided, “Why not have a reunion of all former Gearing crew members!”. Leo took on the task of setting this reunion up. He placed advertisements in various magazines, newspapers and made hotel reservations in Newark, New York to host our reunion. In his first newsletter, Leo said he currently had seven shipmates that were interested in attending a Gearing reunion. After only four months of planning, Leo had sent out five newsletters and reported that there were about twenty confirmed reservations for the reunion and seventy-five names were on his mailing list. All of the above work was done entirely by Leo. In his sixth newsletter, Leo reported he had received help from Roy Buser (RD3 50-52) and Conrad Hebert (MM2 48-52), who had sent him stamps to help with the postage. The mailing list had grown to eighty-eight names and Leo requested help from someone who could computerize his mailing list and supply him with mailing labels. That’s where I, Bob Witkowski (FTG3 65-66), came in and offered my services in March of 1988.

HOW WE'VE GROWN
At our first reunion, the attendees voted to start an association, collect dues, and meet each year. The following Officers were elected:
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD - Leo Dougherty (RM2 67-68)
VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD - William Hiles (RM2 67-69)
SECRETARY - Robert Witkowski (FTG3 65-66)
TREASURER - Daniel Donohue (FTG3 65-66)
EDITOR - Leo Dougherty (RM2 67-68)
APPOINTMENTS
HISTORIAN - Russell Brown (RM2 67-70)
CHAPLAIN - Robert Economou (SO3 52-54)
MASTER AT ARMS - William Ericksen (BM2 47-52)
At the end of 1988 we had 108 names on our Mailing List.

At our second reunion, we passed a set of By-Laws that were developed by Ed Bishop (CDR 45-46) from another organization's By-Laws that Bob Flynn (BTC 46-56) belongs to. Our First Ladies Auction was held. The following Officers were elected:
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD - P. Prentice Gilbert (QMSN 62-64)
VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD - David Chappelle (EN3 53-56)
SECRETARY - Robert Witkowski (FTG3 65-66)
TREASURER - Daniel Donohue (FTG3 65-66)
EDITOR - Leo Dougherty (RM2 67-68)
APPOINTMENTS
HISTORIAN - Russell Brown (RM2 67-70)
CHAPLAIN - Robert Economou (SO3 52-54)
MASTER AT ARMS - William Ericksen (BM2 47-52)
At the end of 1989 we had 201 names on our Mailing List.

During our third year we had embroidered emblems and hats made. Gerry Casey (GMG3 60-62) had two boxes of membership cards printed up. P. Prentice Gilbert (QMSN 62-64) put his 63-64 Gearing movies on VHS tape along with the Navy promo film "Destroyerman". The promo film was made aboard the Gearing in 1968. The following Officers were elected:
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD - David Chappelle (EN3 53-56)
VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD - Robert J. Flynn (BTC 46-56)
SECRETARY - Robert Witkowski (FTG3 65-66)
TREASURER - Daniel Donohue (FTG3 65-66)
EDITOR - Leo Dougherty (RM2 67-68)
APPOINTMENTS
HISTORIAN - Russell Brown (RM2 67-70)
CHAPLAIN - Robert Economou (SO3 52-54)
MASTER AT ARMS - William Ericksen (BM2 47-52)
At the end of 1990 we had 240 names on our Mailing List.

During our fourth year we gave out USS GEARING ASSOCIATION Pins. A donation of $100.00 was made to Tin Can Sailors Pearl Harbor Memorial Plaque Fund. Tin Can Sailors erected a Memorial Plaque in the Punchbowl Cemetery at Pearl Harbor on July 4, 1991. Some members started to communicate by Electronic Mail. We purchased 16MM micro-film, from the Naval Archives, of Gearing Muster Rolls. The following Officers were elected:
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD - David Chappelle (EN3 53-56)
VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD - Robert J. Flynn (BTC 46-56)
SECRETARY - Robert Witkowski (FTG3 65-66)
TREASURER - Daniel Donohue (FTG3 65-66)
EDITOR - Leo Dougherty (RM2 67-68)
APPOINTMENTS
HISTORIAN - Arthur H. Payne (S1C 45-46)
CHAPLAIN - Robert Economou (SO3 52-54)
MASTER AT ARMS - William Ericksen (BM2 47-52)
At the end of 1991 we had 318 names on our Mailing List.

The Officers were:
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD - David Chappelle (EN3 53-56)
VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD - Robert J. Flynn (BTC 46-56)
SECRETARY - Robert Witkowski (FTG3 65-66)
TREASURER - Daniel Donohue (FTG3 65-66)
EDITOR - Leo Dougherty (RM2 67-68)
APPOINTMENTS
HISTORIAN - Arthur H. Payne (S1C 45-46)
CHAPLAIN - Robert Economou (SO3 52-54)
MASTER AT ARMS - William Ericksen (BM2 47-52)
At the end of 1992 we had 491 names on our Mailing List.

The Officers were:
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD - Robert J. Flynn (BTC 46-56)
VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD - Carrol L. Sanborn (FT3 51-55)
SECRETARY/EDITOR - Robert Witkowski (FTG3 65-66)
TREASURER - Daniel Donohue (FTG3 65-66)
APPOINTMENTS
HISTORIAN - George C. Jones (BM3 56-59)
CHAPLAIN - Thomas C. Hughes Jr. (SOG2 45-46)
MASTER AT ARMS - Frank R. Schleis (BM2 45-46)
At the end of 1993 we had 540 names on our Mailing List.

The Officers were:
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD - Carl T. Lloyd (RM3 45-46)
VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD - Robert K. Calhoun (MM3 55-59)
SECRETARY/EDITOR - Robert Witkowski (FTG3 65-66)
TREASURER - Daniel Donohue (FTG3 65-66)
APPOINTMENTS
HISTORIAN - George C. Jones (BM3 56-59)
CHAPLAIN - Thomas C. Hughes Jr. (SOG2 45-46)
MASTER AT ARMS - Frank R. Schleis (BM2 45-46)
At the end of 1996 we had 769 names on our Mailing List.

The Officers were:
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD - Robert K. Calhoun (MM3 55-59)
VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD - Harold D. Hollifield (MM3 55-58)
SECRETARY/EDITOR - Robert Witkowski (FTG3 65-66)
TREASURER - Daniel Donohue (FTG3 65-66)
APPOINTMENTS
HISTORIAN - George C. Jones (BM3 56-59)
CHAPLAIN - Thomas C. Hughes Jr. (SOG2 45-46)
MASTER AT ARMS - Frank R. Schleis (BM2 45-46)
At the end of 1999 we had 866 names on our Mailing List.

The Officers were:
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD - David B. Petrie (SN 56-58)
VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD - Douglas N. Dobson (RD2 62-64)
SECRETARY/EDITOR - Robert Witkowski (FTG3 65-66)
TREASURER - Daniel Donohue (FTG3 65-66)
APPOINTMENTS
HISTORIAN - George C. Jones (BM3 56-59)
CHAPLAIN - Thomas C. Hughes Jr. (SOG2 45-46)
MASTER AT ARMS - Conrad T. Hebert (MM2 48-52)
At the end of 2005 we had 919 names on our Mailing List.

MORE TO COME

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