USS Cleveland CL-55 Reunion Association

Association News

2008

Our condolences to Mary Taylor and family on the news of the passing of our shipmate Leonard Taylor.

Thanks to Christine Warner for writing to us regarding her father, shipmate John P. Ellis (Fourth Division) and family "uncle", shipmate Sal Calandra (N Division).

Sorry to report the recent passing of shipmate Jim Garner and his wife Velma. The Garners attended many of our reunions and will be missed.

Shipmate Memorials:
Fred Bennett, Wayne Davis, Jim Garner, Lawrence Gipe, Francis L. Neshem, Leonard Taylor, Jeff Whitley.

Our prayers and condolences in order to them.

2007

Thanks to Sandy Atherton Cline for sending us photographs from the 2007 Reunion in Kansas City, MO.

Thanks to Vivian Braubitz for sending us photographs taken at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park. The park and museum includes the missle cruiser USS Little Rock (CL-92, CLG-4), the destroyer USS The Sullivans (DD-537), and the USS Croaker (SSK-246). The USS Little Rock is the sole remaining example of the U.S. Light Cruiser, (CL) type.

Thanks to Brett Lambert and Scott Chandler for writing to us regarding "A" division shipmate William Conant.

Great weather, entertainment and the hospitality of the Taylor and Gawron families made for a fabulous reunion in Kansas City, Missouri. Thanks again to shipmates Mary and Leonard Taylor, Mary and Joe Gawron along with their brothers, sisters, and children for their work and dedication to the crew of the USS Cleveland.

Thanks also to Paul Albrecht for once again volunteering to man the hospitality room and helping us all.

Some of the KC area sights we visited included The Truman Presidential Library & Museum, The National World War I Museum, The National Frontier Trails Museum, The Truman Memorial Building, and the Steamship Arabia Museum.

Thanks to Jim Noble for writing to us and wishing all a good reunion in Kansas City. Jim served aboard the Cleveland as a radioman in C division.

Thanks to Lt. Charles Stewart for his generous donation of photographs to the Reunion Association. Lt. Stewart was senior aviator and photography officer aboard the Cleveland from 1944 to 1946, piloting the ship's scout planes. Many of his Cleveland service photos were recently added to the web site with more on the way. Please visit the Photo page to view these rare images.

Thanks to Denise Whatley Herrera for writing to us regarding her father, shipmate Clifton Whatley.

Shipmate Ed Brockett honors fallen veterans during Memorial Day ceremonies at American Legion Post 257 in California.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to shipmate Lee Tipton who is fighting a serious illness. Lee attended our reunion in Louisiana.

Thanks to Tim Brausch, son of shipmate Robert H. Brausch, for contacting us through the website and honoring his father's service aboard the Cleveland.

Jim Kauffman's family in Massachusetts will be hosting the 2008 reunion in Cape Cod, so we are still planning and moving ahead.

2006

Thanks to Alberta Robinson for the many 2006 reunion photographs! Click on a link below to display them:

Photos 1 to 20, Photos 21 to 40, Photos 41 to 60

Thanks to Paul Smith for sending reunion photographs along with info on the Cleveland's role in the service test of the Proximity Fuze on August 12, 1942.

Thanks to Thomas O'Keefe, grandson of CL-55 officer James O'Keefe, for contacting us and sending wartime service photographs for the website. Lieutenant James O'Keefe served on the Cleveland until the ship was decommissioned.

Thanks to Jim and Mary Kearney for hosting the 2006 reunion at Chattanooga, Tennesse. We enjoyed the trip to the Tennesee Aquarium, Rock City Gardens, and the lunch cruise aboard the Southern Belle river boat. Spectacular views along the Tennesse River, Lookout Mountain, and the surrounding area.

We have lost a few shipmates since our last get together: Raymond B. Biggers, William Farrington, Capt. Lorin W. Hay, H.O. Lindberg, Charles Naffzigger, Lt. Bayard T. Read, Donald G. Waldhalm.

Our prayers and condolences in order to them.

2005

Thanks to James Kauffman and Family for the wonderful job hosting the 2005 Reunion at Gettysburg, PA. Tours of the Gettysburg National Military Park, Eisenhower Farm, along with trips to the National WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C. and the Smithsonian Air&Space Museum annex located in Chantilly, VA.

Thanks to Alberta Robinson and John Mulshine for sending reunion photographs for the website.