The 31st Last Annual Crusader Ball

Attendees

Alderink, James & Mary
   Karen & Bruce Dyer
Batcheller, Pete & Joyce
Beam, Dave & Ann
Bell, Teri
Berry, Russ & 
   Kathaleen Bainbridge
Black, Karen &
   Mackenzie Edwards
Borich, Mike & Patty
Brown, Dolly
Burnside, Al & Cindy
Calmes, Greg & Barbara
Campbell, Jay & Faith
Cavicke, Dick
Carroll, Willy & Elaine
Clark, Larie & Marci Lyn
Corah, Frank & Sandy
Cowles, Dave & Dru
Crim, Roger
Cummings, George & Cecilia
Dicke, Gary & Ruth
   Karen Dicke
   Brian & Steffanie Keefer
Doherty, John & 
   Dianne Powell
Domville, Tom & Carol
Evert, Dick & Mary
   Al & Patty Krause
Fischer, Lawrence & Jan
Greathouse, Bob & Susie
Grover, Craig & Wanda
		

Henderson, Neal & Carolyn
Howard, Tom & Nancy
   Sally King
Jordan, Don
Keefer, Richard
Kilpatrick, Jack & Shirley
   Jack Turgeon, Joseph
   Turgeon, Scott Cooper
Kiper, Bill & Mike Kiper
Lambe, Ron & Shirley
Lambert, Steve
Larson, Vern & Gerri
Leonard, Skip
Lewis, Morrie & Connie
Little, Douglas & Elice
Longo, Tony & Undine
Lorenzo, David &
   Cece Russell
Lucas, James
Lyon, Robert & Robin
Markel, Jim & Bev
Miller, Nigal & Joan
Moore, Denny
Morgenfeld, Tom & Norma
Mudgett, Dick & Lorraine
Mundell, Jim & Darlene
Murrell, Greg & Barbara
Musitano, Jack & Terry
Napoli, Tom
Nowak, Larry
    Brittany Eldridge
Overton, Frank & Sandy
		

Ozbirn, Jim & Dede
Pearl, Tom
Peck, John & Anne
Peters, Richard
Phelps, Pete & Patricia
Renner, Ernie & Judy
Repsher, Boyd
   Todd Repsher
Riley, Vic & Carolyn
Ringwood, Paul & Lynne
   Wil & Janet Gorrie
Rivers, Rob
Rose, Ray & Karen
Schroeder, Chuck & Joyce
Scott, Mike
Smith, Kevin & Sue
Stewart, Jess & Sue
Swartz, T.R.
Tracz, Stan & Marie
Umbdenstock, Pete & Kate
Wagoner, Jim & Karen Higo
Waldron, Mike & Joy
Watts, Gary & Heather
Weatherup, Mark &
   Beatrice Snider
Weber, Jerry & Sandy
Welch, Mike & Marguerite
Weller, Gary
Wenzel, Rick & Pat
Williams, Gary & Kathy
Yeates, Richard & Joan
		

LACB31 Report

The Thirty-First Last Annual Crusader Ball was held at the Courtyard by Hilton at Hazard Center in Mission Valley, San Diego, CA, October 17-20, 2021. Seventy-seven drivers plus their ladies and guests attended the reunion and it was a blast!

The festivities kicked off with check-in at high noon on Sunday, the 17th, with Crusader ladies Dru, Joy, Dede, and Joyce greeting arrivals, checking them in, and giving them their SWAG. That evening VF-191 and VF-194 had their squadron dinner at BJ’s.

Monday was a busy day. It was boarding the buses and off to the MCAS Miramar O’Club for the luncheon. It’s not the same o’club of yesteryear, but it’s the same building with a lot of nostalia, including WOXOF, the main bar, and the dining room where the luncheon was held.

The special program included presentations and Q&A by the CO of the F-18 RAG, and the CO of an F-35 squadron. In addition, there were several young F-35 officers interspersed among the tables, eager to expound upon the capabilities of their airplane and to hear about our exploits. All in all, it was a magnificent luncheon.

Back to the buses and to the hotel with a brief time to refresh and then to the Gunfighter Happy Hour. And what a blast that was, complete with an authentic Ocktoberfest Ompa Band and an open bar! Let the good times roll. Afterwards, VF-24/VF-211 and VFP-63 had their squadron dinner at BJ’s.

Wednesday gave attendees the opportunity to go see some of the sights of San Diego or just hang out in the ready room and reunite with old friends. Thanks to very generous donations by G. K. Skaggs Importers, the San Miguel beer flowed freely. The membership meeting was held at 2 p.m. Then the crowd gathered once again at 6 p.m. for and open bar cocktail hour and the Thirty-First Last Annual Crusader Ball.

The evening opened with presentation of the colors by the Crusader Squadron of the Sea Cadets. How about that for an interesting coincidence? In solemn silence, reverence was paid to POWs/MIAs. Then came a magnificent dinner with boisterous laughter and sharing, a brief program and dirty dancing on the dance floor!

Throughout the three-day event, our meeting planner Mary Buonaguidi kept everything on track and running smoothly. We owe her a special thanks for all of her hard work.

Thanks to everyone who attended the festivities and a special thanks to those generous folks who made financial contributions to support the effort.

The LACB31 Committee had a challenging task in making LACB31 happen. Originally, the reunion was scheduled for June, 2020, in Pensacola, Florida. Events were planned and contracts were let, but then Covid-19 hit! In February, 2020, the Committee wisely made the decision to delay LACB31 until May of 2021, again in Pensacola.

Hurricanes hit, damaging our hotel and Covid persisted. After planning LACB a second time and starting registrations, the Committee had no choice but to cancel LACB31 for the second time. All registration fees were refunded and all contracts cancelled.

At that point it was just too difficult to try and stay with Pensacola. The decision was made to return to San Diego and the planning process began a third time, this time with great success.