President's Page

s one of the founding members of the AD31 Association, I'd like to invite you to join our AD31 Association. In January 2003, we officially opened our membership roles as a new organization with the special mission of preserving the memories of years long since past, but not forgotten. In 2004, we incorporated as a 501(C3) not-for-profit corporation as USS Tidewater AD31 Association, Inc.

In preparation, during the Fall of 2003 we formed what we called the AD31 Steering Committee met for a planning session in Charleston, SC aboard the restored USS Yorktown in the CPO Mess. All members in good standing were invited to attend. Twenty-two of us did that. At this meeting we elected Board Members, drew up by-laws and planned for a first ever Ship's Reunion to be held in October 2004 in Charleston SC.

Our steering committee picked Charleston for our first reunion because that city was the birthplace of the Tidewater, and there are many wonderful historical naval sites and places of Maritime interest located there. In total with spouses and guests, we had nearly 100 in attendance.

We just returned from our 2nd Ship's reunion. This time it was in St. Augustine FL. We do these every two years now. We had a very good turnout in St. Augustine and I need to make you aware that it is the AD31 Association that is making all this possible. Our members' dues are taking care of our website, regular mailings to members and planning, organizing and carrying off reunions and making our Ship's Store merchandise available. We are a registered not-for-profit corporation composed of volunteers who want to keep AD31's memories afloat. The Tide is long gone, but thanks to our membership our memories are very much intact.

I hope you'll decide to join us in this endeavor. The Tidewater was special to me. It was my home and workplace during many of my Navy years. I met a lot of wonderful people and have many special memories that I cherish yet today of being a sailor in the U.S. Navy's Atlantic Fleet. If the Tide has the same significance for you, then I hope you'll agree that it's time you did this.

Bill Cook, President
USS Tidewater 10/62 - 9/65
ad31@UssTidewater.org