"Final Cruise" for WWII Shipmates: USS Basilan (AG-68)

It's sad to read the stories about last reunions of the "Greatest Generation" as they succumb to the passage of time. This story is about 15 men who were on the USS Basilan, an auxiliary supply and repair ship during WWII. This will be the last reunion.

Sixteen years ago, six old friends got together in San Antonio and decided that they should organize a get together. But after all the years had passed since WWII, how to get in touch with shipmates was going to be a problem. They were able to get the addresses of 200 men out of the 1000 who had served on the ship from the Social Security Administration.

This week, they are holding a last hurrah in Chicago " a farewell to fellow members of the Greatest Generation, the brothers-in-arms who helped defeat Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan more than sixty years ago."

Again, age has struck them down. Their organization and many others are having last reunions now. In their 80s, many are too feeble or poor to make the trips to the reunions any more, not to mention the rapidly dwindling numbers.

I believe I heard somewhere that over a thousand WWII veterans are dying every day.

From Sept. 7 Chicago Tribune, "15 shipmates are in final cruise" by Deborah Horan

Statistics and facts about the USS Basilan: 14,200 tons full load, 441 foot long, 57 foot beam Took part in the Pacific War after commissioning in 1944.

Picture of it at :

www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/AG/AG-68_Basilan.html

We'll Sure Miss Them. --RoadDog