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Valley Forge/Philadelphia, PA
July 20-23, 2006
The second annual USS Coontz All Hands Reunion took place in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, just outside of Philadelphia,
July 20-23, 2006. A total of 44 people, including shipmates and their guests, were in attendance. Although the crowd was
smaller this year, the event was expanded from three to four days, and a DJ was hired to entertain us following the reunion
banquet. The reunion attendees made good use of the hospitality room and its refreshments each night. On the day of the
tour, we piled onto a motor coach and visited the battleship USS New Jersey. We also toured Independence Hall, saw the Declaration
of Independence and took a driving tour of historic Philadelphia. Kenneth L. Coontz II, the great-grandson of our ship's
namesake, Admiral Robert E. Coontz, was the keynote speaker during the reunion banquet. He spoke of the admiral's accomplishments
and told some personal family stories as they related to the admiral. He also displayed the admiral's dress uniform. A fundraiser
for the USS Coontz transom project was also held during the banquet. Admiral Coontz' "fore and aft" hat was passed
around the room, and we collected $700 for a plaque to be erected near the USS Coontz transom in Hannibal, MO. A separate
auction for a one-of-a-kind commemorative USS Coontz mug also raised $200.
The shipmates also approved a set of by-laws for the newly-formed USS Coontz Association. A slate of officers were nominated
and approved by those in attendance. They include Association President Robert Hahn, Vice President Hal Hull, Treasurer Chuck
DeSabato and Secretary Terry Cordingley. The location for the 2007 and 2008 reunions were also selected. The 2007 reunion
will be held in San Diego, and the 2008 reunion will be held in Hannibal, MO.
Order your commemorative reunion T-shirt today! Just click on the photo to order!
ATTENDEES OF THE USS COONTZ 2006 ALL HANDS REUNION
SPECIAL GUEST
Kenneth L. Coontz II
DDG-40
Wayne Cooper and guest
Terry Cordingley and 3 guests
Thomas Huston
Daniel Keef
Greg Siegel and 3 guests
Ron Smith and guest
Stanley Sobolefski
DLG-9
Michael Burns
Chuck DeSabato and guest
Tim Glenn and guest
Robert Hahn and guest
Will Hays and guest
Hal Hull
John Myers, Jr. and 3 guests
Ludy Werts
Frank Rominiecki
John Sanford and guest
Frederick (Rick) Smith and guest
Nick Forlano and 3 guests
Paul Savard and guest
Don Swall and guest
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