USS HULL ASSOCIATION (DD350, DD945)
NOT TO LEAVE THE SHIP – SPRING 2007 EDITION
SAN DIEGO HERE WE COME!!
HULL HOMEPORT FOR ‘08
The third Reunion of the USS HULL Association will be held in San Diego. The dates are 14, 15 and 16 October 2008. The location will be the Handlery Hotel and Resort in Mission Valley. More information is available on pages 2 and 3 of this newsletter in the official announcement by 2008 Reunion Chairman Bob Modell.
The Handlery Hotel is conveniently located in the Hotel Circle area of San Diego with easy access by automobile and other forms of public transportation to see the many sights in the area.
The two previous Reunions, each increasingly successful attendance-wise, have been held in Las Vegas. This is the first time shipmates will return to their homeport for the gala.
San Diego is no longer the sleepy little town it was compared to LA in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s. It’s one of the fastest growing metro areas in the U.S. and a major vacation destination. The skyline of today dwarfs the past.
It’s a major league city with has miles and miles of Pacific shoreline with many of the same attractions shipmates remember fondly – but it is still very much an all-Navy area – active duty and memories of the past like the USS Midway Museum.
FROM THE PRESIDENT
HULL Association Shipmates:
I hope this letter finds you, your families and friends in good health and spirits.
It’s time this growing Association went back to its roots for a Reunion – HULL’s homeport. My hearty congratulations to Bob Modell, John McKechnie and the others who have negotiated an outstanding Reunion package with the Handlery Hotel and Resort in San Diego.
If you haven’t been back to the area in recent years, you’re in for a very pleasant surprise. The San Diego zoo is still the best in the world – so is the climate. And don’t forget the Pacific Ocean. The downtown has been redone, but all of the landmarks there remain and convenient rail transportation can take you there and many other popular areas. Naval and merchant ships still tie up by the Star of India along Harbor Drive and the USS Midway (CVA-41) is a permanent museum there.
NTC is gone – but the USS Neversail remains – as a crown jewel on the National Historic Register! You can still stand on the tip of Point Loma and watch the Navy ships enter and leave daily because the 32nd Street Naval Station and virtually every other base you remember remains – and with the addition of some new ones. San Diego is as much of a Navy town now as ever.
You’ll be reading and hearing a lot more about the Reunion in the months ahead. After all, it’s barely 16 months away. Mark your calendars, make your advance plans and get ready for a memorable time!
Mike Gallegos
MM1 ’78 – ‘79
President, USS HULL Association.
USS Hull Association (DD350, DD945)
3 nights - October 14, 15, 16, 2008 – San Diego, California
We are pleased to announce that the 3rd reunion of the USS Hull Association’s members will be held at the Handlery Hotel and Resort in San Diego’s Mission Valley. Check their site http://www.handlery.com/sd/home.asp We’re looking forward to even better participation than that at our highly successful reunion in 2006 in Las Vegas.
The Handlery is a very comfortable, updated hotel conveniently located to all public transportation to the many sights of San Diego. The hotel rooms have been redecorated and have a small refrigerator for beverages. We will have a large hospitality room (860 sq. ft.) which spills out to a patio area surrounding the pool. At this time, our business breakfast meeting is scheduled for Wednesday (10/15) morning and our banquet dinner will be on Thursday night.
The Details
Where: The Handlery Hotel & Resort, 950 Hotel Circle North, San Diego, California
(619) 298-0511 direct
(800) 676-6567 toll free
Website: www.handlery.com/sd/home.asp
San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau: http://www.sandiego.org/nav/Visitors
Reunion fee: Due to the length of time prior to the reunion, we are unable to finalize the meal and related costs at this time. We are pleased to be able to offer a firm room rate 18 months out.
Room Rates: per night- $99.00 single or double; $109.00 triple; $119.00 quad
(rate is exclusive of tax). These group rates are available to us for
three days prior to and three days post reunion based upon
availability. Check-in time is 3PM and check-out time is 12 noon.
Reservations: You should make your own reservation. Rooms with two double beds or king beds are available. Call the Group Reservation Department at (619) 298-0511 or toll free at (800) 676-6567. Refer to "USS Hull Association" for the group rate and to be included in our room block. All reservations should be guaranteed with a credit card for the first night plus tax. "No-show" reservations, or a reservation cancelled within 24 hours of scheduled arrival will be charged one first night room rate plus tax.
Parking: Parking for overnight guests is $5.00 per day with "in and out" privileges. Please check with the hotel for the rate for oversized vehicles.
Air travel: Lindberg Field (SAN) is located just 6 miles from the hotel. Taxi and shuttle service is available and we will inform you of current rates in the future. At this time, a taxi ride (multi occupant) is $22.00 total. A shuttle is $11.50 per person.
Going forward, your reunion chairman and other members will be working on various venues available in San Diego to enhance your trip. For these optional activities, it will be necessary for us to approach our reunion date to finalize costs and availability. http://www.sandiego.org/nav/Visitors
In future editions of the newsletter beginning around December 2007, we will include the Reunion Registration form and request for annual dues and registration fee.
The Handlery’s reservation department is in a position to take reservations at this time. Given the very flexible cancellation policy for unforeseen events, you may want to consider making your reservation at this time. Similarly, it would be helpful for our planning purposes to notify me early on via email or phone message if you plan to attend and if you are bringing a spouse or guest. Contact me at 2008reunion@usshullassociation.org or (818) 701-0882.
In addition to the reunion, San Diego is also a beautiful city for vacationing, both from the standpoint of weather and its many activities. For those who haven’t been here for a number of years, you will be very impressed with the city’s improvements. We’re looking forward to an excellent reunion and a great turnout of our fellow shipmates.
See you in ‘08
Bob Modell
LTjg (SC) ’61-‘63
USS Hull Association
2008 Reunion Chairman
2008reunion@usshullassociation.org
FROM THE HISTORIAN’S VIEW
Attention on Deck!
The USS Hull Association now has a new unified web site. History and all things Hull can now be found in one site. You're invited to visit the site, and please feel-free to submit anything with regard to the operational and service history of any ship named Hull. Many links to other naval and military related sites can also be found. If your favorite ship/military related link isn't listed, just let me know and I'll get it posted. The "Luck Bag" is empty and I need some items to put in it, please help me out. Here's the site address: www.usshullassociation.org
Don’t forget to bookmark it and I hope to hear from you.
Regards and smooth sailing!
Lou Colella IC2 '60-'63
lecolella@netscape.net
or webmaster@usshullassociation.orgAND FROM THE TREASURER, TOO
I hope all HULL shipmates take a look at the new website Lou talks about above. Our Association has grown and continues to grow. Lou has taken the fine website created by fellow shipmate Dave Vrooman to another level to better serve the HULL Association and its members as it continues to grow.
Speaking of the Internet, our Association relies on the ability to communicate with its members. It’s vital that you keep us up-to-date with any changes that take place with your email addresses. You can email me at with any changes to your email addresses as well as physical addresses, phone numbers, etc. at treasurer@hullassociation.org.
And, do we continue to have a deal for you! Don’t forget your HULL Association $20 dues. —GOOD ‘TIL OCTOBER 2008.
MAIL TO:
c/o J. McKechnie, Treasurer
LT (SC) ’64-‘66
540 Alameda Boulevard
Coronado, CA 92118
FINALLY, FROM THE SPINMEISTER
I’m very excited over the prospects of returning to HULL’s homeport for the 2008 Reunion. Over the next year-plus you’ll be reading about – and seeing more photos of the San Diego area. There is so much to do and see and it promises to be a truly memorable event. I’ve been fortunate in the Navy Reserve to spend a lot of time over the years in San Diego. Sure, it’s bigger, but the city and the entire area have maintained a strong allegiance with the military.
In the meantime, keep recruiting former shipmates and help us continue to build the USS HULL Association into a bigger and even better organization!
George Tomek
V-P Communications
LT(jg) ’63-‘65