Directory:The USS Rankin Association
| The USS Rankin Association | |
 | |
| Type | [[Company_Type:=NPO|Non-Profit Organization]] |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2003 |
| Headquarters | Template:Country data US [[City:=Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh]], [[State_Name:=Pennsylvania|Pennsylvania]], [[Country_Name:=United States|USA]] |
| Key people | Louis 'Skip' Sander, President George R. Berninger, Vice President James P. McCourt, Secretary |
| Contact | ussrankin@aol.com |
| Reference | NAICS: 81341 |
The USS Rankin Association is a U.S. Navy ship reunion group, dedicated to fostering reconnection and comradeship among all persons ever associated with the USS Rankin (AKA-103 / LKA-103). Formed in early 2003, the group has about 1,300 members.
The Association was inspired by the activities of five men who were junior officers aboard the Rankin in the early 1960s: George Berninger, John Feeley, Jack Raso, Bob Reynolds, and Louis "Skip" Sander.
A major goal of the Association is to foster connectedness and comradeship among all persons ever associated with the USS Rankin, either as a warship or as a fishing and diving reef. Its priorities are:
- To identify and connect with all people who ever served aboard the Rankin, as ship's company, embarked Marines, evacuees, passengers, etc.
- To identify and connect with family members of those who served aboard and are deceased.
- To identify and connect with anyone else who is connected to the ship in any way.
- To have successful reunions as often as the membership desires.
In the fall of 2004, the group held a reunion in the Rankin's former homeport of Norfolk, Virginia. It was one of the most successful Navy reunions ever, drawing about 300 people, including 152 former shipmates and a similar number of guests.
The 2005 reunion was held from September 29 - October 2 in San Diego, California.
The 2006 reunion was held from September 21-24 in Washington, DC.
The 2007 reunion will be held from November 1-4 in New London, Connecticut.
Until then, the group will continue to look for other shipmates, and to foster comradeship and connectedness among those who have already been found.
