Posts on USS Ashtabula (AO-51)

2026 Reunion

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 09:05:45 -0400

The 71st USS Ashtabula reunion will be held Wed April 29 - May 3 in Mobile Alabama.
For more information, visit the USS Ashtabula Facebook Group.

Reunion 2012

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 19:17:21 -0400

In 2012 the Reunion will be held in Branson Missouri at the Lawrence Welk Resort. Currently the dates will be 13 June 2012 through 16 June 2012. The hosts will be Wayne and Florence Harclerode, if any of you have been to one of the Reunions they host, you will be excited (as I am :-) ) More info coming soon. Today is the day ! Attached are the letter and Registration Form in Microsoft Word, if you have trouble opening or printing please email Ed Benningfield. Click on the below links and download the files to your computer.

2011 Reunion (57th Annual)

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 17:35:31 -0400

Ahoy Shipmates

You are heartily invited to attend the 57th annual Ashtabula Reunion to be held June 22,23,24,and 25th 2011. This year we’re meeting in Evansville , Indiana on the north bank of the Ohio River at the southwestern tip of the state. Our hotel will be the Clarion Inn (formerly Holiday Inn) which has offered us a good rate of $70 per night which includes a Hot Buffet Breakfast for which they normally charge $10 per person It’s good. Also a large Hospitality room which will have no curfew. The hotel is close to the airport and other restaurants and is on USHwy 41 N. For room reservations call 812-424-6400. Be sure to tell them you are with the USS Ashtabula Reunion.

Ashtabula Patch

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 21:31:52 -0400

This is the patch that Dan Polecheck has had made, if you would like one this is what Dan says: If anyone is interested, send your email to pollycheck@charter.net and I will send you a picture of it. The cost will be $10.00 and that includes the shipping. It is a 5 inch patch and I think it really looks nice. I hope to hear from some you

2009 Reunion

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:29:59 -0400

The 2009 Reunion(55th Annual) will be held in Myrtle Beach SC and the hosts will be Grom & Lee Carroll. Early Information has been received from Lee in the form of the Fall 2008 Newsletter. The dates will be Sunday, June 7, 2009 through Thursday June 11, 2009 at the Landmark Resort 1501 South Ocean Blvd in Myrtle Beach SC 29577. The deadline for Reservations will be May 7, 2009. The Reservation number is 1-800-845-0658. There is a 4 Night Package available and you can make other arrangements if you need to. if you have questions, email Grom & Lee at the address in the Roster page. A quick comment: Be sure you make the Deadline for the Registration, there is a lot of planning and arrangements for food, and other activities. When you just show up at the Reunion you take a real chance in not being able to attend the Dinner and other activities and it makes it doubly hard for the Hosts

Reunion 2008

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 20:39:37 -0400

Thanks to Ron and Peg Smith

A different Perspective !

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 22:25:58 -0400

Ashtabula from an approaching ship! Thanks to Neil Greer and the USS Virgo website. USS Virgo alongside Ashtabula in 1969.

Ashtabula Ribbons

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 22:16:49 -0400

Ashtabula was awarded eight battle stars for World War II service, four battle stars for Korean War service, and eight battle stars for duty in the Vietnam War Top Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - American Campaign Medal Second Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (5) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) Third Row - National Defense Service Medal - Korean Service Medal (4) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (4-Quemoy-Matsu, 9-Vietnam, 1-Korea, 1 Op. Frequent Wind) Fourth Row - Vietnam Service Medal (7) - Humanitarian Service Medal (1-Frequent Wind, 1-Boat People) - Philippines Liberation Medal Fifth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)

49th Annual Reunion 2003

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 22:03:41 -0400

The 49th Reunion was held in Atlanta Georgia

The Old and The New

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 22:38:33 -0400

The Ashtabula in 1957 The Ashtabula in 1969

53rd Annual Reunion June 2007

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 22:02:32 -0400

The 53rd Annual Reunion was held June 20, 21, 22 and 23, 2007 in the Greater Cincinnati Ohio / Northern Kentucky area at the Hilton Cincinnati Airport Hotel. If anyone has a group picture that they would like to have posted, please email Ed Benningfield (ebenning@suddenlink.net). The 54th Annual Reunion will be held in Springfield, Il. on June 19-22 2008 and the hosts will be Ron & Peg Smith, they can be reached at pegsmith652 at hotmail.com. As more info becomes available it will be posted. The 2009 Reunion (55th Annual) will be held in Myrtle Beach SC and the hosts will be Grom & Lee Carroll.

52nd Annual Reunion June 2006

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 21:44:58 -0400

The 2006 Reunion (52nd Annual) was held in Independence Missouri in June of that year. The hosts were Wayne and Florence Harclerode.

2001 Reunion

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 16:05:45 -0400

These pictures were taken by Paul McGinty at the 2001 Reunion.

New Ashtabula Site

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 12:12:50 -0400

Welcome to the USS Ashtabula website. It’s been changed to a little different format so it will be easier for the crew members to manage the site and keep up on the latest events. Ed Benningfield is currently administrating the web site. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact him directly.