Posted on Sep 26, 2015
4 members of USS Emmons crew gather for reunion
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Did you know that 4 members of USS Emmons crew gather for reunion?
Did you know that 4 members of USS Emmons crew gather for reunion?
RP members another one of those great GOOD NEWS stories about WWII Veterans! Enjoy!
http://www.stripes.com/military-life/military-history/4-members-of-uss-emmons-crew-gather-for-reunion-1.370367
When Armand Jolly thinks about the USS Emmons, a World War II Navy destroyer that was struck in 1945 by Japanese pilots in the waters off Okinawa, he remembers, "What a crew, beautiful crew. We had good times and bad times."
Sixty men died and 77 were injured after the ship was struck by kamikaze pilots on April 6, 1945.
The survivors had to abandon ship. The following day, the Navy sank what remained of the Emmons so it wouldn't fall into enemy hands.
In 2001, after 56 years at the bottom of the ocean, the ship was discovered in approximately 150 feet of water off the coast of Okinawa.
Jolly, now 93, who was a gunner's mate on the Emmons from September 1942 until it was sunk, was one of four veterans from the ship who traveled to the area Friday for a reunion.
He lives in Pomfret Center, Conn., and said he's come to every reunion but one, and estimated that adds up to 40-some reunions in total.
The reunions started in 1952 but have not been held consistently every year.
About 25 members of the Emmons crew are still alive 70 years later, according to reunion organizers.
Did you know that 4 members of USS Emmons crew gather for reunion?
RP members another one of those great GOOD NEWS stories about WWII Veterans! Enjoy!
http://www.stripes.com/military-life/military-history/4-members-of-uss-emmons-crew-gather-for-reunion-1.370367
When Armand Jolly thinks about the USS Emmons, a World War II Navy destroyer that was struck in 1945 by Japanese pilots in the waters off Okinawa, he remembers, "What a crew, beautiful crew. We had good times and bad times."
Sixty men died and 77 were injured after the ship was struck by kamikaze pilots on April 6, 1945.
The survivors had to abandon ship. The following day, the Navy sank what remained of the Emmons so it wouldn't fall into enemy hands.
In 2001, after 56 years at the bottom of the ocean, the ship was discovered in approximately 150 feet of water off the coast of Okinawa.
Jolly, now 93, who was a gunner's mate on the Emmons from September 1942 until it was sunk, was one of four veterans from the ship who traveled to the area Friday for a reunion.
He lives in Pomfret Center, Conn., and said he's come to every reunion but one, and estimated that adds up to 40-some reunions in total.
The reunions started in 1952 but have not been held consistently every year.
About 25 members of the Emmons crew are still alive 70 years later, according to reunion organizers.
Posted in these groups: 
Naval/Maritime History
Naval/Maritime History
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
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No I did not know that 4 members of USS Emmons crew gather for reunion COL Mikel J. Burroughs. I wonder how many other crew members are still alive from the USS Emmons.
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
LTC Stephen F. You got my last (Vote UP) the day already here at 9:03 AM PST. All out of ammunition for another day!
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
LTC Bink Romanick I agree totally - pretty soon we'll be saying that about the Korean veterans (my Dad is 84 now)!
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