At the ceremony, I made you guys cry....having to go home so soon, you guys made me cry, all the way home...but it was a proud and happy cry.

Dave Doty ETR3 65-67

A.K.A. "Minnow"
(941) 693-3689

you making me cry and i wasnt even there! Maybe thats why i m crying...there needs to be another reunion sometime soon. And I need to know all about this one. I wouldnt mind if ALL you guys sent me an e mail describing the experience. Did you collect any bounty?? Ken could send me a copy of the QM log I m sure he kept of the entire adventure. You guys are lucky and I'm sad. For all the old guys, I DID get to see Cochrane in 1980/81 during an IO deployment. I was on Independence (my last ship) at the time and she was with us for a few days, even came alongside, i think. Looked good, lie a warship should

Good God chief your making me get teary eyed here and getting my keyboard all wet! And I was onboard Cochrane during that 1980-81 Deployment where Cochrane set a record for her class of ship for being at sea for 76 straight days! And man now thinking back that was a very long time at sea! Hey John I hope you got down in the aft engineroom! Did you get your lagging on the evaps? Hope ya got me that stern wheel!! Smartley saluting all you guys that made the trip!

I am glad that all of you had a very memorable time in Brownsville, i'm sure this
was a very proud time to see the ship again
and sad to know this was her last trip.
It's awesome how something that happened to a
group of young people 30 yrs. ago can mean
so much to all of us now.

I am very happy that I got a chance to be there and the more that I think on it, the more that weekend means to me.
It was indeed over way to soon.

Ken Keeler QM2 63-65

Ken i'm glad you enjoyed your trip to Brownsville, It is nice to know that the ship meant so much to so many people and many
friendships haave been formed over the years
because of the time spent on her. I keep telling my family how nice it was to be out to sea under a full moon aand bright stars.