World War II veterans gather in Longmont for reunion – Longmont Times-Call

Camaraderie is the only word Don Rifenberg can think of to describe the deep connection he still shares with other seamen who served aboard the USS Wesson DE-184, a destroyer escort the U.S. Navy relied on during World War II to guard against submarines and air attacks on U.S. convoys throughout the Pacific Theater.

“It’s a brotherhood,” said Rifenberg, 84, of Vancouver, Wash., who was a radioman on the vessel, which was about 300 feet long and 60 feet wide and carried about 120 men.Eight World War II veterans who served on the Wesson, including Rifenberg, gathered in Longmont earlier this week for what may be the group’s final reunion.

Although efforts to organize a reunion started a fewDE-184 USS Wesson, a cannon class destroyer escort.years after the end of the war, the first gathering wasn’t until 1988 in Atlantic City, N.J. Since then, the men, their wives and children have met every 18 months in different cities around the U.S. The men and their families said this weekend’s reunion will likely be the last one because travel is becoming increasing difficult for the veterans.

via World War II veterans gather in Longmont for reunion – Longmont Times-Call.