I attended the 2008 reunion of the crew of USS Electra (AKA-4), the ship on
which I served from March 1954 to May 1955.
On this page are some photos I took. If you would like to see pictures of the
ship's reunion, please also visit USS ELECTRA
and click on Reunions, then on the 2008 Reunion - San Diego link.
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| The Bay Club Hotel on Shelter Island: |
Looking out my balcony: |
Steven, the resident seagull: |
Downtown San Diego (from Shelter Island): |
San Diego skyline, with North Island in the mid-ground: |
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| San Diego skyline: |
Boat marina (Shelter Island): |
Boat marina: |
Boat marina: |
My yacht (in my dreams!): |
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| Kona Kai hotel on Shelter Island: |
Still more of the Kona Kai: |
Boat channel (behind Shelter Island): |
Arcade leading to boat landings: |
Arcade: |
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| Sail boats in the harbor: |
A forest of sail boat masts: |
San Diego Harbor, North Island in background: |
Point Loma, the "Silver Gate" to San Diego Harbor: |
U.S. Coast Guard Base: |
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| Sculpture of tuna fishermen on Shelter Island: |
Peace Bell on Shelter Island: |
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We had a good ol' time at the USS Electra reunion,
as you perhaps can tell:
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USS Midway CV-41: |
Flight Deck: |
Coronado in background: |
| Some of the reunion attendees went on a tour of the
USS Midway museum berthed at the foot of Broadway: |
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| "Complete Surrender" statue: |
USS Ronald Reagan at North Island: |
Me aboard USS Midway: |
Electra Reunion crew: |
The Air Boss' chair in Flight Ops: |
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| While I was in San Diego (my old home town), I spent
some time visiting friends and driving around to locations I knew so well,
as I was growing up. The experience was jarring, I admit. When you return to
a place you knew intimately 50 years earlier, it usually has changed so much
that you get this feeling that something is wrong here!
Of course, everyone knows that buildings are renovated, replaced and put to
different uses, over time. Even entire neighborhoods can change dramatically.
And I have visited San Diego several times over recent years. But, somehow, the
changes seemed to affect me more, this time. |
| Old Town, San Diego: |
First school in San Diego (1865): |
Historic plaque: |
Casa de Estudillo *: |
Historic plaque: |
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| *This was called "Ramona's Marriage Place"
from perhaps 1910 until 1968. My uncle, George Best, was involved with the promotion
of the site as a tourist attraction in the early years. |
| My grandparents' home in the 1930's, at Fort Stockton and Lark: |
My Aunt Jean Walford's home on Alberta Place: |
My parents' home (and mine) in 1947-1948, 4556 West Talmadge Dr.: |
My parents' home (and mine) from 1948 until 1960, 4674 Van Dyke Ave.: |
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