VIVA FIESTA ~ San Antonio 2006

USS GYATT REUNION No. 11

September 12, 2006 ~ September 16, 2006

This reunion was hosted by Roland & Rosemary Castillo to the joy of those who missed the 2001 reunion as a result of 9/11. Our hosts left no stone unturned as they put together a most enjoyable visit by old and new shipmates.

For those that wanted to get an early start pre-registration was the 12th day of September with a tour scheduled for the Institute of Texas Culture starting at noon the following day that continued until four and then a Luau which was held in the hospitality room of the hotel.

The next day – Thursday – the 14th took us to Fredericksburg and the home of the Admiral Nimitz Museum and our memorial service at the “Wall of Remembrance” where a plaque recognizing the GYATT was placed in 2001. The memorial service, a two-bell ceremony, was conducted by our chaplain who was assisted by shipmates in reading the names of 344 identified shipmates no longer with us. Pat Rayburg, a white hat, who served aboard the GYATT from 1966 thru 1968 was there in uniform and was envied by many of us there.

The museum will be receiving a name change in the not to distant future when a 40,000 square foot addition is completed and an area set aside for George W. Bush our 41st president. The new name for the museum, if I remember correctly, will be the “The National Museum of the Pacific War”. That evening found us back at the hospitality room enjoying a Mexican meal and the music of a Mariachi group. I almost forgot – on the return to our home away from home we stopped off at Luckenbach , Texas – population three – for some refreshments and atmosphere. As always gifts were exchanged. Two shipmates split the 50-50 drawing and the Armstrongs were the winners of the last GYATT stained glass hanging made by departed shipmate and master stained glass artist Bill Betz.

Friday morning, found us at the “Riverwalk” cruising the canal, enjoying the sites and the indoctrination by our boat captain. After the “Riverwalk” we were off to the “Missions” and later in the day souvenir shopping. The evening found us on our own, enjoying the company of shipmates, the night and the foods of San Antonio .

Saturday morning our annual business me et ing was held with a rundown on the budget , a voting of officers and a rundown on our next reunion site by Al Seybrecht, the host for Reunion 12 in the Washington DC area. Lyle Clark (1953-54) submitted a proposal for the following reunion in the San Diego area. The remainder of the day was open and our evening was spent at the “Enchanted Springs Ranch” where we toured the facility, observing domestic, wild and exotic animals, watched “Pistol-Packin-Patty” show us how to use six-guns and a bullwhip, ate too much ranch food and danced.

Sunday morning saw us making our farewells and looking forward to next year and our next meeting.

A special thanks for a job well done to our hosts – Roland and Rosemary Castillo, to those that started these gatherings – “J-C” and Shirley Johnson and to those who handled the duties of their offices and kept us informed over the past few years Gordon Sanders and Arnold Metdepennigen.