Attending The 2022 USS Franklin Reunion
Two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending a reunion of crewmembers and their families of the USS Franklin. The three-day reunion was held in Fredericksburg, TX at the Museum of the Pacific War and at the Inn on Barons Creek. There were two of the three surviving crew members present and 30 to 40 family members of those who are no longer with us.
The Crew and Their Families
The first thing I learned is that these attendees consider themselves part of the USS Franklin family. Many are the grandchildren of crew members while others are sons, daughters, and widows. Many had attempted multiple reunions and greeted each other as family.
They made me feel welcome and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I picked up a great deal of useful information and, when I move into my primary source research phase, I will be getting back in touch with them.
I also interviewed John “Jack” Hensel, 97 years young, who was a tail gunner on a dive bomber. Scratched from a mission the morning of March 19, 1945, he was either blown overboard or jumped to escape flames when the bombs struck.
The second thing I learned is that none of the attendees had anything good to say about Captain Gehres. As usual, there were many of the crew members who never shared stories about that day but of those who did, I could not find any family member that thought the captain was justified in either his leadership methods or his attempt to court martial hundreds of crew members.
In talking with several of them I have decided to expand the section of the book that deals with the period when the first captain, James M. Shoemaker, led the ship and contrast the management and leadership styles of the two captains. Captain Shoemaker led the ship from commissioning in January 1944 to early November of that year.
Back to the reunion. The USS Franklin Association presented the Admiral Nimitz Foundation, the organization that manages the museum, with a check for $10,000. We then had a memorial service followed by a trip to view the two plaques featuring the USS Franklin. We took a guided tour of the George Bush Gallery which I highly recommend. (Full disclosure: I am a supporter of the museum.)
Shout out to the Bill Smallwood Band (aka the “BS Band”) who provided music during the reunion dinner. Bill also played Taps at the memorial service and at our Friday morning service remembering the recently departed crew members. Bill’s voice reminds me of Alan Jackson. A talented musician, he plays at least five or six instruments well.
The Museum and The Inn
If you are anywhere near Fredericksburg, TX and you are interested in either wine, shopping, or the Pacific Theater of World War II, I highly recommend spending some time there. The Museum of the Pacific War is housed there because Fredericksburg was Admiral Chester Nimitz’s hometown. He used to live in the Nimitz hotel which contains the museum’s conference center, offices, and a few exhibits. The pictures you see above are a few of many plaques on display in the courtyard. There is also the Japanese Garden of Peace with a history of its own. The main exhibits are housed in the George W. Bush Gallery. About a quarter mile away you will find the Pacific Combat Zone, which is where they put on various exhibitions using equipment from WWII.
Reunion attendees stayed in the Inn on Barons Creek, about two blocks from the museum and well within walking distance when the temperature is not in triple digits. I stayed in a King room with a living area and a bedroom that could be closed off if desired. It reminds me of a Hampton Inn, although my room was larger. Like the Hampton Inn, they serve a breakfast in the mornings. You can get a continental breakfast or something heartier. The coffee is good, too. The staff was very pleasant. Five stars!
My wife and I will stay there on our next overnight trip.
My “To Do” List
This week I will be focusing on leadership topics.
- I will finish reading “The Aleutian Warriors: A History of the 11th Air Force and Patrol Squadron 4.” Captain Gehres commanded the Patrol Squadron prior to being assigned to the USS Franklin.
- I am also finish reading “Above and Beyond,” by Lt. Col Charles Weiland, USMC (Ret.). He flew a Corsair on the USS Franklin.
- I’ve going to tweak this website and blog a little as well as make sure it is SEO optimized.
Where You Can Help
I would love to talk to three or four retired naval officers, especially if they were in naval aviation. Bonus points if they graduated from the US Naval Academy. I want to talk to them about leadership and management of a carrier or other surface warship. I am also looking for “day in the life” information on life aboard carriers and their escort ships during WWII. If you know someone with a relative, officer or enlisted, that served and you have stories, letters, diaries, and especially pictures, let me know. They do not have to have served on the Franklin.
I would also like to speak to a retired historian as I am looking for some best practices on research.
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