


James Retslaff, MMFN 68-71 |
Thomas Kroh, CPL {USMC} 73-75 Smokin' Joe Taylor, FTG2(SS) 92-95 David Rakers, BMSN 67-69 William R King, Jr, FTG3 76-78 McCloskey, Robert YN3 Stansfield, Robert W, FTM2 65-68 William "Bill" McHugh, RM2 70-72 Terry O'Brien, BT2 61-64 |
Richard W Marsh, FTM1 Nicholas W. Farley, SN1C 43-46 George R. Davis, BMSN 76-78 Kenneth A. Wisenbaker, YN3 69-70 Richard E. Oster, CPL {USMC} 77-79 Charlie E Pike, EM3 73-77 |
Additional photos are on the PHOTO page. |
![]() CL91 Plankowner Ralph Alfaro was both surprised and honored when he recently visited the museum at the Portsmouth, NH Naval Shipyard. SKCS(SS) Jason Dinkel, Chief of the Boat (COB) of the USS Oklahoma City,(SSN723), presented Ralph with a plaque and a baseball hat from the Submarine. The boat is presently going through an overhaul at the shipyard. |
Gilbert F "Gil" Romine, February 7, 2010![]()
Dr. Gilbert F Romine was born November 30, 1939 in Kermit, Texas, the son of the late Willie Corena Hayes and Gilbert F. Romine Sr. On July 16 1967 he married Lane Claire Woodall, who survives.
He graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in Houston in 1958 and went o n to enlist and serve in the United States Navy aboard the Guided missile cruiser USS Oklahoma City CLG-5 as an electronic technician. After leaving the Navy he attended the Lee College in Baytown, Texas and graduated from the University of Texas Dental School in Houston in 1969.
He worked in private practice in Baytown and Liberty, Texas until 1973 when he accepted a commission in the Navy as a dentist. He served in that capacity on the cruiser USS Oklahoma City and the aircraft carrier USS John F Kennedy. He was stationed on naval bases in Japan, the Philippines, Guam, Monterey California, Corpus Christi Texas, Norfolk Virginia, Charleston South Carolina and his final duty station was Naval Air Station Dallas until 1996, when his retired as a full Commander USN. In his service to his country he was awarded the Navy Good Conduct Medal, The Meritorious Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.
Dr. Romine then served as a dentist for the Texas prison system and Veterans Administration. At the time of his death he was working in private practice at the Pilot Point Family Dentistry Clinic in Pilot Point Texas.
Dr Romine was a member of the Church on Rush Creek in Arlington Texas. He was loved and admired by all that knew him. He was devoted to his family, friends and animals. He loved to hunt out bargains at garage sales and was always finding "treasures" for his grandchildren.
Dr. Romine was preceded in death by his parents and daughter Scarlett.
Survivors include his wife Jane Romine of Arlington, sister Sandra Woods of Baytown Texas, daughter and son-in-law Stephanie and Rick Deese of Midlothian Texas, grandchildren, Allison, Jonathan, Reagan and Jacob Deese, and many nieces, nephews and friends.
"Gil" was affectionately known by his old shipmates, who served with him during the late fifties and early sixties, as "Sofine-Romine." He loved attending the annual USS Oklahoma City CLG-5 reunions with his wife Jane and reminiscing of those "old days."
Dr. Romine was laid to rest with full military honors at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery on February 15, 2010.
Personal Note: I remember sitting next to Gil at a luncheon on board a riverboat at the Nashville reunion. (How fortunate I was since I had, just hours before, chipped a tooth on some wonderful peanut brittle we found in one of the malls.) I recall that I was impressed by the enormous size of his right forearm; it looked like Popeye's arm. Then he showed me the other one that was a more appropriate size for a human.
He told me he was a Dentist working in the prison system in Texas. It seems that the majority of dental work done in prisons involves extractions. He said he spent most of his time twisting out molars and bicuspids with brute strength. Indeed, and the proof was resting right next to me there on the table. He was an absolute prince and I was glad I had the opportunity to spend some time with him. -Joe Caruso- |
John E. Grigsby dead at 89
John E. Grigsby 89, of Shelbyville died Thursday, January 21, 2010 at his home. Born July 13, 1920 in West Baden, IN, he was the son of Floyd and Eva Grigsby.
While attending West Baden High School, he played on the varsity basketball team for 4 years and the American Legion baseball team. He represented WBHS at the first Hoosier Boys State held in 1937 at Butler University. Upon high school graduation in 1938, he with his family moved to Bloomington where he attended Indiana University graduating in 1942 with a BS degree in accounting.
After marrying Louise Armstrong of Paoli on Feb. 1, 1942, he joined the US Navy where he served 3 years in the Atlantic during WWII as a first class storekeeper on a destroyer escort and in the Pacific on the cruiser USS Oklahoma City. |
Retired Chief Jim Kemmerling, RMC 69-70![]()
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![]() ![]() This Sept. 1963 picture shows Yogi Berra during his days as catcher for the New York Yankees Harry Harris / The Associated Press.
“Our honorees are living examples of how service to country changes lives and helps develop leaders — whether it be in the world of sports, politics, government, the private sector or the arts,” said retired Rear Adm. Edward Walker Jr., president and CEO of the Navy Memorial, in the announcement. “The common theme they all express is that their public service has given them a solid foundation for their careers and instilled in them the enduring values that propels them to continue to ‘serve’ their communities.”
Berra interrupted his baseball career during World War II to enlist in the Navy, and he served aboard a missile boat during the Allied invasion of Normandy in 1944. When the war was over he began playing in the Major Leagues, where he went on to a Hall of Fame career with the Yankees.Also to be honored at the Navy Memorial’s Lone Sailor ceremony in September are Leonard Lauder, chairman of the cosmetics giant Estée Lauder., who is a former Navy supply officer; and Frederick Smith, CEO of FedEx, who is a former Marine officer.
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| Additional photos of the 2008 Reunion Cruise aboard the Norwegian Pearl. Thanks to shipmate Dennis Teremi, EN3 74-76, for sharing these with the crew. Go to the Photos page. Some new shipboard photos from the 64-65 Westpac Cruise have been added. Thanks to shipmate Tom Sales, BMSN 64-66, for sending them along. Go to the Photos page. |
![]() Thumbin' a ride home |
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Thomas Jefferson
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| The USS Oklahoma City website is published daily for the benefit of the crewmembers of all ships named Oklahoma City. Editor and Publisher, Joe Caruso; Graphics Editor, Phil Gerini; Editorial Contributors, Jack Kemejuk, John Baker, Paul Dillon, Frank Zacarro, T.C. Lamson & Jim Blackburn. All rights reserved. Copyright 1997 to date. |

