21st Annual USS Dale Reunion
When: 14-17 June 2007
Where: San Diego, California at the Hilton San Diego Harbor
USS Dale veterans gathered with families and friends for their 21rst– and possibly last– reunion at the San Diego Hilton Harbor hotel, 14 to 17 June, 2007.
This reunion was special for three reasons:
First, it was a “nested” reunion, as the World War II-era USS Dale DD 353 shared facilities with the Vietnam-era USS Dale DLG/CG 19, and thus did one generation of USS Dale veterans pass the torch to the next generation.
Crewmembers of the USS Dale muster for a reunion in Washington, D. C.
Second, it was a San Diego home-coming, as both USS Dales were, at one time in their storied careers, home-ported at this beautiful city. The US Navy is still very active in San Diego and provided a lot of “Navy blue” to the reunion festivities, inclu ding a color guard and brass band.
Third, the surviving crew of the USS Dale DD 353, or a member of their family, gathered to autograph copies of Tales from a Tin Can for each other. Tales was released in hard cover by Zenith Press in March of 2007. The Tales autograph party was conducted on the flight deck of the USS Midway, in full view of the Navy ships in San Diego Harbor.
The Dale’s USS Midway event was covered by the Los Angeles Times, San Diego Union Tribune, and three local television stations. To see this coverage click on the following links:
Stay tuned, as soon the Dale reunion’s memory book will be archived on this page, complete with photo slide show.