USS Hardhead Alumni Association

 

The History and Mission of the Association:

 

Around late Fall of 2000 Dick Pearce and Al Lansdowne began to collaborate on planning a reunion for 2001. Their efforts were successful and we had our first ever reunion in Tampa Florida in February of 2001. As one would expect the question of a subsequent reunion, or more importantly, who would plan the next reunion came up. Jack Gallimore assumed the responsibility of planning the next reunion and Dick Pearce began the process of developing a website.

 

Around May of 2002 Jack formed the Hardhead Alumni Association and applied for and obtained in November of that year a tax exempt status under CFR 501(c)(19). Planning began for a 2003 reunion and the never ending task of finding and registering shipmates, started by Dick Pearce and Al Lansdowne, continues to this day. The results of these efforts have been a website, six successful reunions, and a Ships Crew roster that contains 323 registered shipmates.

 

The Hardhead Alumni Association is dedicated to what we call the "Hardhead Family". Our goal is for this website and the Association to help our many shipmates stay in touch and relive old memories. Today we have a combined total of 978 names in our three rosters and 501 pictures in our collection. We have 143 members of the Alumni Association including 126 lifetime members. If you don't already belong we would love to have you as a member.

 

Cost of Membership:

 

Several individuals have and continue to donate their time and effort to make this successful and keep costs at a minimum. However, some things do cost money. For example, website hosting, postage, supplies, and occasional filing or registration fees. Membership fees are:

 

 

If you desire to join the Association please make your check payable to the USS Hardhead Alumni Association and mail it to:

 

 

Officers of the Association:

 

Association officers are elected every two years by vote of reunion attendees. Current officers are:

 

 

Special Thanks and Credits:

 

It is always somewhat risky to attempt to thank all involved in an effort because we don't want to leave anyone out. But here goes. First and foremost a very special thanks to Dick Pearce and Al Lansdowne who started it all in 2000 and made everything else possible.  Also a special thank you to Jack Gallimore, who for years has bore the brunt of the responsibility of maintaining accurate rosters, planning reunions, and day to day administration of the Association. We also want to take this opportunity to thank, in no particular order, the following shipmates for sharing their photos with us for use on this website: LCDR Richard Coupe 55-59, FTCS Eldon Davis 68-72,  EMCM Jack Gallimore 68-72, LTJG Kane Kelly 44-45,  QM3 Bernie Kenyon 54-57,  YNCM Dick Pearce 57-59,  MMCM Dennis Silvernail 70-72,  CAPT David Smith 56-57, EN3  Mike Somero 55-57, ENS Tom Turner 64-65, EM2 Robert Woodbury 56-58, EN3 Ross Mothersbaugh 55-59, ETS3 Jeffrey Gramenz  67-68,  QM2 Robert Clinger 70-72, RM3 Lee Ostlie 66-68, John Battick 53-54, CWO John Wahl, and SKSN Larry Hanna 66-68. Finally we thank George E. Peterson, Jr. (son of EN1 George E. Peterson) and Carol Hare Mier (daughter of EMC Orland C. Hare) for their photographic contributions and Lyn Bliss for her help in designing the header at the top of the pages of our new website.

 

We try and give credit to the appropriate people for each photograph and you will see this below the caption in many cases. Unfortunately our records are not always complete or accurate so if we left you out of the above list or if you see one of your pictures and you were not given credit for it please let us know. Please include the picture number in your email as appropriate. We really want our information to be as complete and accurate as possible so don't be hesitant to contact us.