USS ATKA-AGB-3
U.S.S. ATKA Reunion...April 26-29, 2007
Holiday Inn Savanna-Midtown Hotel
Savanna, Georgia
The sixth annual reunion of the U.S.S. Atka AGB 3 will be held at the Holiday Inn Savannah-Midtown Hotel in Savannah, Georgia on April 26-29, 2007. Plans are being finalized to provide an enjoyable weekend of visiting, reminiscing and sightseeing for former shipmates, spouses and friends.
The Holiday Inn Savannah-Midtown is located at 7100 Abercorn Street in Savannah. The cost for a couple is $525; singles are $400. This includes three nights of lodging (April 26, 27 & 28) plus three breakfast buffets and three dinner buffets per person. Meals begin with the Thursday evening dinner buffet and end with the Sunday morning breakfast. Cost for the six buffet meals will be $130 for each person if more than two in a room.
Shipmates should make their own hotel reservations no later than March 26 by calling the Holiday Inn Savannah-Midtown directly at 1-912-352-7100 or toll-free 1-800-255-8268. Be sure to give our group code of UUA when making your reservation. Also let them know if you need a a handicapped, single or double, smoking or non-smoking room.
Several airlines and Amtrak serve Savannah. I-95 passes Savannah on the west side of town. There are many things to see and do in Savannah. Please make suer you complete the Reservation Form being enclosed with this newsletter and send it directly to Carl Brown, our Chairman. (His address is on the form.) The information you provide will help us ensure everything is ready to make this a very pleasant and smooth-running reunion for you.
See you in Savannah!
A GENTLE REMINDER...
If you have not already paid your dues for 2007, please send your check for $25 as soon as possible to our treasurer. If you are a new member, you are asked to pay an additional one-time fee of $25 (or a total of $50 the first year).
Send your check to:
|
U.S.S. ATKA Association
% Michael Kovacs 6 W. 16th St. Burlington, NJ 08016 |
WITH SYMPATHY
It is with regret we inform you of the passing of some of our former shipmates. Since our last newsletter we have received the following names:
- Dole Colquist of Edison, New Jersey who passed away on May 9, 2006 at the age of 59. Doyle and his wife Cathy attended the 2004 Charleston, South Carolina reunion, even though he was in a wheelchair at that time. She does have 8mm films of the ATKA if someone would like to transfer them to DVD.
- BMC (Ret.) Francis L. "Frank" Davis, who passed away on December 28, 2006. He served on the U.S.S. ATKA from 64 to 66 and went on two Deep Freeze cruises. He attended the Pittsburg, PA reunion but was unable to attend the Baltimore reunion due to his failing health. His daughter Kellie said her father was very proud to have served his country aboard the U.S.S. ATKA and valued the time spent with those on ship.
- We received a letter from a neighbor of Richard B. Hilton of Clifton Forge, VA, informing us of his passing on February 18, 2006. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery with military rites. They said he loved the time he spent in the military and talked about it all the time. His favorite saying was "Sit down a while and I will tell you a sea story." They spent many hours swinging in the porch swing and sailing the seas once again.
LOOKING FOR THE LOST
As editor of the newsletter, I received a phone call, then an e0mail from a former ATKA Shipmate, Bobby Taylor of Pensacola, FL. He was concerned that most of the members of the organization were before his time (1963-65). [Note: He was assured there were shipmates younger than him in our association.] An E-4 during most of that time, he was the Bilge Rat that worked in the Engine Room and Boiler Room. He is looking in particular for a few African-American shipmates who were on at the same time as he was. If you can help him find any of the following, please contact Billy at sputnik997@bellsouth.net
- William C. Robinson, a cook from Youngstown, OH
- Robert Laverne, a steward from Los Angeles, CA
- Billy Buggs, a steward from either NC or SC
- Jerry Miller, boatswain mate from Memphis, TN
- Richard Bonner, a boatswain mate from ???
| E-mail address: | pecorner@iserv.net |
| Snail mail: |
U.S.S. ATKA Association
Phyllis Corner, Editor 15291 32nd Ave. Coopersville, MI 49404 |
| Phone: | 616-481-3037 |
REUNION BITS & PIECES
- The Hospitality Room will open on Thursday at noon and will be the place to get your nametag, shop at the Ships Store, display any ATKA memorabilia you'd like to bring, sit around and chat, have a liquid refreshment or snack or maybe even play some games.
- Dinner will be at 7:00 PM on Thursday & Friday.
- A cocktail hour begins at 6:30 PM on Saturday prior to the 7:30 banquet.
- There will be a small charge for the transportaion to the casino trip and downtown (price still getting confirmed). Most likely it will be between $5-$10 per person for the two days.
- Carl Brown is the chairman (1-616-874-9913) or e-mail him at: browncarlione@aol.com
GETTING TO SAVANNAH
| BY AIR |
Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport(18 miles from hotel) is served with non-stop
flights on the following airlines:
|
| By AMTRAK | Amtrak (7 miles from hotel) does serve Savannah. There are three trains daily from Washington, DC and New York. Time from DC is approximately 11 - 13 hours, New York is 20 - 22 hours. Two trains leave daily from Jacksonville, Florida. |
| PLEASE NOTE: The hotel does not have shuttle service from the airport or Amtrak station; however, there are several taxi companies available. |
| BY CAR |
FROM THE NORTH ON I-95
Follow I-95 south to I-16 - EXIT 109 Take I-16 East to I-516 (Lynnes Pkwy.) - EXIT 164A Take I-516 East about 5 miles to Abercorn St. Turn right on Abercorn St. for 3.5 miles to Eisenhower Dr. (3rd light) Make a U-Turn at Eisenhower Dr. onto E. Abercorn St. Holiday Inn Savannah-Midtown will be on your right behind the Daiquiri Island FROM THE SOUTH ON I-95 Follow I-95 north and take the GA-204 exit - EXIT 94 - towards Savannah Turn Right onto GA-205 E for 11.7 miles (just past the Oglethorpe Mall on the right) Holiday Inn Savannah-Midtown will be on your right. |
HOLIDAY INN SAVANNAH-MIDTOWN HOTEL
7100 Abercorn St.
Savannah, GA 31406
Hotel Front Desk: 1-912-352-7100
When making your room reservation, be sure to give the clerk our group code - UUA
The hotel has free parking, including space for RVs. Pets are welcome (be sure to let the hotel know
when making your reservation - there is a small fee). Rooms have a king-size or two double beds, cable/satellite
TV with in-room movies available, coffe maker, free high-speed internet service and wireless data, desk with
electrical outlets, two phones, hair dryer, iron and ironing board. Some rooms have microwaves and small
refrigerators. Laundry service is available and there is an on-site guest laundry area. A restaurant and
coctail lounge are at the hotel. Room service is available from 6:30 AM to 9:00 PM. All guest rooms have
new carpeting. We will have our own hospitality room. The hotel staff is looking forward to our stay.
THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN SAVANNAH
Friday - We've arranged for a 5-hour cruise on the Millionaire's Casino Boat run by Diamond Cruise
Casino. We'll sail three miles into international waters where gambling is legal. It takes about 45 minutes
before the casino actually opens - remember, we have to be in international waters. Over 200 slots are on
the first level of the ship. The second level offers Blackjack, Craps (5X Odds), Roulette, Three Card Poker,
Let It Ride and more (sorry, no Texas Hold'em on Fridays). The third level is where you can enjoy nature
and the beauty of the river and ocean if you don't feel like gambling, or just want to sit back and relax.
With any luck you'll be able to see manatee, dolphins, etc. With a coupon (which we will make sure everyone
has), there's no charge to board the ship. Then you'll need to pay $20 but get $30 in Diamond Dollars in
return. Spend as much or as little as you want. The Diamond Casino Deli Menu includes salads and snacks
($3.50 - $8), hot and cold sandwiches of all kinds ($5.50-$8), wrap sandwiches ($6-$8), make-your-own
sandwiches ($7), burgers and dogs ($5-$8). You can even make your own omlet ($9) and, of course, they have
NY Style Cheesecake and Death by Chocolate Cake ($6). We are sure you will have a very enjoyable afternoon.
Saturday - We've arranged for a bus to pick us up at the hotel and take us to Historic Savannah.
There you can take trolley tours of Old Town Savannah, catch a riverboat cruise to Tybee Island, visit
historical buildings and museums, get your exercise by walking the area and/or "window" shopping. There
are several places to eat there, too. Savannah's fare-free CAT Shuttle will also take you around the
historic area through not with a narrator. They run every 20 minutes.
A FEW PLACES TO VISIT IN HISTORIC SAVANNAH
You will be given plenty of information when you arrive of places to see and things to do. Below are some places you may want to think about visiting, followed by the admission fee. Links are available if you would like to look up some more information before you come to Savannah.
- Andrew Low House - home of Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts - $8
- Davenport House Museum - an 1920 built Federal-style home - $8 ($7.20 with senior, military or AAA discount)
- Juliette Gordon Low birthplace - $8
- Roundhouse Railroad Museum - with over 100 years of railroad history and the oldest portable steam engine in the U.S. - $4.25 ($3.75 with senior, military, AAA discount or railroad retirees)
- Savannah History Museum - inside the Visitor Information Center has Johnny Mercer's Oscar and Juliette Gordon Low's family carriage among thousands of artifacts from Savannah's past and a historical railroad car that is the WhistleStop Cafe - $4.25 ($3.75 with senior or AAA discount)
- Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum - exhibits of ship models, paintings and maritime antiques principally from the 18th and 19th centuries, Scarbrough House, an elegant home built for one of the owners of the Savannah Steamship Company and its magnificent gardens - $8
SHOPPING
The Oglethorpe Mall is located just one/half mile south of the hotel. Belk, JCPenny, Macy's and Sears are
the anchor stores and there are over 100 other stores, services and restaurants. Retailers that
have recently opened include Build-A-Bear Workshop, The Sharper Image, Select Comfort, Johnny Rockets,
Old Navy, Hollister Co., Cache, Yankee Candle, Aeropostale, Gymboree, Limited Too and Charlotte Russe.
It also boasts an 800 seat Food Court.
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