The Big Nickel Site Updates
for 2024
for 2024
08 April 2025
- Sadly added STG2 Anthony (Tony) Camarato to the Crew Taps Page.
- Updated the Belknap 2025 Reunion page with information about reunion and hotel registration.
- Updated the 2025 Belknap reunion page with the dates and location and contact information for John Cubells for more information or if you're interested in attending.
- Added the latest Big Nickel Newsletter (December 2024, Volume 31). You can find it on the Newsletter page.
- Sadly added MM1 Harry Arthur "Art" Carl, Jr to the Crew Taps Page.
- Sadly added GMG3 Chuck LePoidevin to the Crew Taps Page.
- Sadly added MM2 Wolfgang Hirtz, FGN, to the Crew Taps Page.
- Decided to add a navigation button for the (alleged) 2025 Belknap Reunion in October 2025 to make it a bit easier to get to the page.
- Added 2024 Reunion photos taken by Toby Marquez. You will need to go to the 2024 Reunion page by clicking on the The Reunion navigation button and then selection 2024. Or you can just click here.
- Got a phone call from John Cubells who said he'd been in contact with some guy(s) from the Belknap Association. John said that the Belknap Association is planning a reunion sometime in October, 2025 to remember the collision of the Belknap with the USS John F. Kennedy CV-67 and is inviting members of our DDG-5 Crew Members Association and the Kennedy to be there. That's all the information I have at this time and am waiting for some contact from the Belknap Association with further details. For now I've created a page for the reunion which you can get to by clicking this link. I haven't put any links on the home page of this site as of yet and will probably do that when I have a lot more concrete information. BTW, there's a glitch with the countdown clock on the page that I'm trying to figure out, but given I don't have actual dates yet, it really doesn't matter I guess.
- Finally posted the 2024 Reunion Crew Meeting minutes from Jerry Dinger. You will need to click on The Reunions navigation button and then select 2024 in the dropdown. When you get to the 2024 Reunion page, click where it says click here for the meeting minutes. Any questions, contact me.
- Finally put up the pictures taken at the 2024 DDG-5 Reunion. A lot of them were from Carol Raines, wife of Patrick (Spider) Raines. You will need to click The Reunions navigation button and then select 2024. When you get to the 2024 Reunion page, click where it says click here for the pictures. If you get confused, contact me and I'll try to help.
- Working on updating the site for the 2026 Reunion and things might be a bit messed up for a while. Pleae be patient :-)
- Added the June 2024, Volume 30 Big Nickel Newsletter. I'll be sending out the newsletter via email shortly so keep an eye out for it. If you don't get the email, please make sure your email address is current and up-to-date on the website. If your emailed newsletter bounces (i.e., you email address doesn't match what I have in the site registration database) you'll be added to the Bad Email List found on the home page.
- Sadly added GMM1 Robert Fred Bettoney to the Crew Taps page.
- Sadly added MS1 Earvin M. Chafin, MSC Robert C. (Bob) Ouellette, MS2 Edmund L. Pauig, and SM1 Leon Brock to the Crew Taps page.
- Sadly added FTM2 James Porter to the Crew Taps page.
- Sadly added EM2 Hans Gunther Behr to the Crew Taps page. Hans was a member of the MMD German Contingent.
- Sadly added ET2 Raymond S. Rand to the Crew Taps page.
- Updated the 2024 Reunion Page to indicate that you will have to call the hotel to make your reservations. Contrary to initial knowledge, the hotel has not provided a special link to obtain rates for the 2024 Reunion. Click the Hotel Reservations button on the Reunion Page for further information.
