1st. USS Donner LSD-20 Reunion
was held April 14-16,1999 in Hamel,IL. 53 shipmates were present in the community center.
Old times were remembered and not forgotten. On display were memorabilia of the Donner: pictures, cruise books, 1968 Pennant and more!

2nd Donner Reunion April 27-30, 2000 in Virginia Beach, VA.
80 registered Donner shipmates. Over 130 attended [10 officers among them 3 former CO's Cmdr's. Cornetta, Harlan, and Malone] the Saturday nights banquet. Over the weekend, professional tours were conducted of Norfolk, (NOB/NAS) Norfolk Naval Station, Little Creek Va. Amphibious Base and the LSD-41 USS Whidbey Island. 

3rd Donner Reunion May 6-9, 2001 in St. Petersburg Beach FL.
56 registered shipmates attended the banquet at the Holiday Inn     St. Petersburg Beach, FL.  Busses toured shipmates and guests to breakfast on the beach at Pass-A-Grille, sights of St. Petersburg, FL. and shopping at the Pier, and an evening at the dog races in Tampa, FL.  A luncheon cruise of the St. Pete Beach inner coastal waterway brought much conversation, the remembering old times, and the traditional song Anchors A-Weigh with many other favorites.  

4th Donner Reunion May 20-22, 2002 in Branson, MO.
The 4th reunion of the USS DONNER LSD 20  was held in Branson, Mo. at the Welk Resort.  There  were approximately 72 in attendance. Some of the activities were the Welk Show with the Lennon Sisters, the Showboat Branson Belle Dinner Cruise, the Presley Show, the Lennon Brothers and a sightseeing tour. A Memorial Service was held at Tablerock  Lake with the Branson VFW Color Guard performing the ceremony. Each morning we enjoyed a full breakfast buffet at the Stage Door Canteen. On the last evening of the reunion we had our Buffet Banquet and entertainment.

5th Donner Reunion April 27-30, 2003 in Charleston, SC.
Over 135 attended the banquet at the Town & Country Inn and Conference Center.  Several drawings were conducted for valuable prizes, raising $338 for our troops overseas. Daily tours were conducted to Fort Sumter, USS Yorktown CV 10, a submarine and other ships at Patriots Point, and tours of Old Charleston and the Boone Hall Plantation. Each morning a breakfast buffet was the start of our day.

6th Donner Reunion May 1-4, 2004 in Salem/Boston, MA.
Held at the Hawthorne Hotel, Salem, MA., the 6th USS Donner LSD 20 reunion provided memories, tours of Boston & Salem Massachusetts area sites to over 80 attendees. Included were Spirit of Boston luncheon cruise, Tours of Old Colonial Salem, Lexington & Concord, Mass., Quincy Market, Charles River & back bay (in amphib. DUC's). Donner sailors and family members were saluted during the annual memorial service held at dry dock #2 Charlestown (Boston) Navy Yard. At this site 60 years ago, the USS Donner was built. US Coast Guard Saluted in full dress, at side rail aboard their Cutter that flanked dry dock #2.  Hosted in the grand ball room, the annual Donner banquet was enjoyed by all.  Each morning a breakfast buffet started our day.

7th Donner Reunion May 1-4, 2005 in Mobile, AL.
126 Shipmates, wives, family and friends attended a patriotic musical & banquet at the Riverview Plaza Hotel, Mobile, AL. The 7th annual USS Donner LSD 20 reunion gave attendees a tour of historic Mobile, City of Six flags: French, English, Spanish, Independent Alabama, Confederate States and USA. Bus tours allowed all to see Old Fort Conde (1702), the Historic Districts of Mobile such as De Tonti Square where tea was served by the DAR at The Richards Ante-bellum House (1860). Then on to USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, where many shipmates got reaquainted to shipboard life retelling many a sea story. The USS Donner Memorial Service was held aboard the "fantail" of the Alabama. Luncheon in the Aviation Pavilion and tours of USS Drum submarine were available. On the second day, busses were boarded for the Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola, FL. Lunch was served at the Lighthouse Point NCO Club. Each morning a full breakfast was served in the hotel dinning room to start our day. [7th Reunion Pictures]

8th Donner Reunion April 30 - May 3,2006 in Reno, NV.
More than 90 Donner Shipmates, wives, family and friends attended the two and a half day reunion at Harrah's Reno Hotel, which included "Night on the Town" show by Bareback. The Boatswain's pipe sounded a call to order by Mike Stefanidis at the Donner Memorial Statue and the Memorial Service was conducted by Jim Palmer with the assisitance of his family and shipmates. The newly aquired "Donner ships bell" was rung by Gerry Tesar for each name read by Bob Mclellan, Vic DiChiro, and George Hovey.  The memorial wreath placed by retired Captains Richard Hurt and John Stewart. A 20 minute Donner Party film was shown to all Donner visitors. The entire event was covered by the Sierra Sun newspaper featuring quotes by Ed Smith, Ken Winter and Ron Luxon.  The buses resumed the tour to Truckee, CA for a lunch, and on to Lake Tahoe in the rugged and beautiful Sierra Nevadas. Many shipmates and wives,family and friends attended the Dinner that evening.  The following day the tour traveled to silver mining town Virginia City, NV. Then it was back to Harrah's for Photos and the Annual Banquet, along with door prizes and raffle gifts. After  free time for gaming each evening, in the morning a full breakfast was served in the hotel dinning room to start our day. [8th Reunion Pictures]

9th Donner Reunion May 3 - May 6, 2007 Valley Forge, PA
A welcome dinner was held at the Inn of Valley Forge the evening of May 3rd with entertainment by the "Andrews Sisters" and six children of the entertainers conducted a sing along with all present of Sound of Music songs.  May 4th the annual memorial service was conducted by Jim Palmer aboard the USS New Jersey BB62 with bible readings by Diana Tesar, Roll of names by James V Phillips and laying of the memorial wreath by Mike Stefanidis and Ellis Beiblehiemer.  The buses continued on to Independence Hall near the Liberty bell.  Lunch and the gift shops were visited in the Brouse building.  Upon our return, historic Christ's Church was or last stop containing a baptismal over 600 years old. Raffle and door prizes were given after the annual business meeting.  May 5th historic Valley Forge was toured by bus and a special presentation was viewed by all celebrating the French Alliance of the American revolution. Afterward  shopping and lunch at the world's largest "King of Prussia Mall". Then it was back to the Inn at Valley Forge for Photos and the annual Banquet with a special Elvis entertaining all shipmates wives and friends. Dancing included the STROLL and jitterbugging.  Each morning a full breakfast was served in a reserved room at the hotel to start our day. 
[9th Reunion Pictures] 

The 10th Donner Reunion was held May 2-5, 2008 in St. Louis, MO at the Sheraton Hotel at Westport.  There were approximately 90 shipmates, wives, and friends in attendance.  The festivities began with a Welcome Reception on the evening of May 2.  Wine, cheese and hor d’oeurvres were served in the hospitality room. On the morning of May 3, the annual memorial service was held in the chapel of  Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. We then visited, shopped and had lunch at Union Station. We were also able to visit the New Cathedral (at which Pope John Paul once spoke) and the Gateway Arch.  A bus tour of the city gave us an opportunity to see Forest Park, the massive Barnes-Jewish Hospital Complex and Washington University.  We returned to the hotel for our annual business meeting, which included a beautiful tribute to Tom Nelson, by John Fuchs.  The evening concluded with a raffle of wonderful prizes and socializing.  On May 3, we took a tour of historical St. Charles, MO, which included a visit to a Veterans Memorial.  Afterwards, we toured Anheuser-Bush Brewery, and sampled some of the product.  Returning to the hotel, we prepared for picture taking and the Banquet.  Entertainment was provided by Oliver Johnson, one man band, and the remarkable St. Louis Strutters.  A buffet breakfast was provided each morning, in the hospitality room.  Reunion Hosts: Langston and Georgeanna Jackson.
10th Reunion Pictures

Donner Shipmates Contact US!
ANCHORS A-WEIGH

ANCHORS A-WEIGH MY BOYS ---
ANCHORS A-WEIGH
FAREWELL TO COLLEGE JOYS
WE SAIL AT BREAK OF DAY
DAY -- DAY -- DAY

ROLL OUT THE T.N.T.
ANCHORS A-WEIGH
SAIL ON TO VICTORY
HERE'S WISHING YOU
A HAPPY VOYAGE HOME !!

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THE MARINE's HYMN

From the halls of Montezuma,
to the shores of Tripoli
We will fight our country's battles in the air, on land and sea.

First to fight for right and freedom,
and to keep our honor clean.
We are proud to claim the title
of United States Marine.

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USS Donner LSD 20
Web site designed & hosted by USS Donner Memorial Assn. © 2007 at Homestead™
10th USS Donner LSD 20 reunion St. Louis, Mo. Shipmates, Wives & Friends
Honorary Member Bob Nelson,
assisted his late brother and association founder Tom Nelson
organizing the 1st USS Donner Reunion 1999
Civic Center Hamel, IL.