IN THIS ISSUE:

Ø REUNION NEWS

Ø GET WELL WISHES

Ø ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Ø MAILBAG

REUNION NEWS

Reunion dates are October 23 – 26, 2002 at the Radisson Hotel in Baton Rouge, LA.

I hope a lot of you are planning on attending this year. It promises to be one of the best yet. Just wanted to give you a few reminders. Hotel reservations should be made by September 23, 2002. The hotel will not hold rooms after that date. Reservations for the activities (WWII Museum, USS KIDD and lunch, and the banquet) need to be made by October 1, 2002. Don’t forget to bring a little gift if you want to participate in the raffle. We have the raffle at the end of the business meeting and it is fun.

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Stack and their daughter plan to attend the reunion in Baton Rouge. It will be their first reunion. Mr. Stack was one of the shipmates located last year. It will be great having them in attendance.

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GET WELL WISHES

Jim Humbert, a friend of the USS Bell, suffered a stroke on July 4, 2002. He is doing well and we hope to see him in Baton Rouge. Jim is a friend of Tom Gutierrez and has attended many of the reunions. So, get better Jim. You know we need you and look forward to seeing you this year

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thank you for your thoughtful sympathy card. Helen treasured her USS BELL gatherings and thoroughly enjoyed her many USS BELL friends. I hope to make the next reunion. Fondly, Bud

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MAILBAG

….. I am the son (born Aug 1946) of Lester Blagg, Machinist Mate on the Bell. Dad has been gone almost twenty years now. Your website is wonderful and I can hardly wait to share it with Mother. Mom was mentioned in the newsletter by Rita M. Barnard. Could you help me get in touch with Mrs. Barnard? Feel free to post or give my contact information to anyone who is interested. I saw the reunion information on the site and will do everything possible to make it. My Mom’s birthday is October 22 and that trip would be a great present. I would love to see the Kidd with some of the guys that were on the Bell. My address is Lester F. Blagg, 1560 Bluefin Court, Naples, FL 34102 (239) 417-3244. Mom is “homeless” – at least until her condo herein Naples is finished in September so just list Neysa Blagg at this address. She is hanging out in Texas, where she has lived almost all her life, with my brother, her brother and assorted friends.

…..Lester Blagg

NOTE: Mr. Blagg was one of the shipmates I have been trying to locate for a year and a half. Very happy to hear from you and hope you and your Mom can make the reunion.

….. I wanted to write and let you know that my father, John Chandler, still wears his USS BELL cap. Dad has Alzheimer’s disease and after living with us for a long time has moved into an Alzheimer’s specific facility in Falmouth, Maine. His wife, Fay, is still living, but not able to care for him, as her health isn’t very good either. They will celebrate 60 years of marriage in September. We have all heard BELL stories growing up and I wanted to let you know why you weren’t hearing from my father any more.

…..Sincerely, Becky Cuthbert

….. We won’t be at the reunion because ill health has curtailed our traveling quite a bit. We are involved in time-shares and that’s the extent of our vacations. Jerry is still working five days a week, shorter hours but not enough to suit me. He celebrated his 80^th birthday in March with family, friends and business associates. We made a video of his life and many pictures were of his time on the USS BELL. He says those were the most restful years of his life and he remembers many of this shipmates fondly.

…..Sincerely, Mrs. Gerald (Estelle) Gerson

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“Laisse Le Bon Temps Roule in Red Stick!”

(Let the good times roll in Baton Rouge!)