USS Caron reunion in Middleboro, MA

Twenty eight former crew members of the USS Caron DD 970 attended the ships annual gathering which was staged for the first time here in Middleboro over the weekend of October 5th. It was billed as a "Hometown Reunion". Lunenburg resident Mike Chappell organized the event with assistance from Paul Provencher, Middleboro's former Veterans Service Officer.

As most local residents know, the destroyer was commissioned in October. 1977 and named in memory of Middleboro's Medal of Honor recipient Navy Hospital Corpsman Wayne M. Caron. The ship was placed in an inactive status on October 15, 2001. It was sunk during training exercises on December 4, 2002 in Roosevelt Roads near Puerto Rico.

Presently, the town displays the ship's bell, ribbon board and builders plate of the USS Caron in the office of the Veterans Service Officer in the town hall annex. All 3 items were on display for photos with the visiting crew members.

John Nay, a high school friend of Caron purchased a photo of the USS aron at auction and it was framed by Bob Smith, a woodworker and member of Post 64. The picture was signed in May, 1980 by CDR D.P. Yonker, the ships CO and many other crewmen of the Caron. Photos are included in the Caron reunion photo gallery.

At a buffet held at Lorenzo's Restaurant, the visiting group heard about Wayne Caron from Middleboro residents, John Nay and David Marzelli, both close high school friends, and from Bob Lessard, Commander & historian of the Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64 of the American Legion. Jim Hocking, another close friend, also attended.

Crew members who attended the reunion, came from all parts of the nation. Traveling the farthest was Bernie Holland, who hails from Happy Valley in Portland, Oregon.Here is the roster in alphabetical order of the crew attendees and hometowns.

Brain Beckwith, Cottage Grove, MN; Michael Biegert, Lansdale, PA; Allan Broome, Peabody, MA; Bruce Carlson, Hopkins, MN; Mike Chappell, Lunenburg, MA; Frank Desouza, Tiverton, RI; Rodney Dodd, Rocky Face, GA; Doug Doxsee, Little Compton, RI; David Dykstra, Mcleansboro, IL'

Also, Pete Fariez, Rockport, MA; Kurt Fowler, MN; Rich Foxwell, Bellport, NY; Mark Gagnon, Dummer, NH; Robert Harden, Fall River, MA; John Helm, Nebraska City, NE; Steve Henke, Alhambra, IL; Bernie Holland, OR; Steven Johnson, Williamsburg, VA; John Mawhinney, Philadelphia, PA; Michael Newcomb, Linthicom, M; James Polk, Silver Springs, MD; Jim Schroeder, Wichita, KS; AJ Settlemyer, Altoona, PA; Jeff Ratliff, Speedwell, VA; Marc Rothberg, Milford, MA; Jim Vadino, Woodstock, GA and Patrick Vandegrift.

Many members of the reunion stopped to visit Middleboro's Veterans Memorial Park. Bob Lessard spoke of the parks history and especially the Wayne Caron Living Memorial section and that of Middleboro's other Medal of Honor recipient, WW1 Army Lt Patrick J. Regan. Mikddleboro residents would be proud of the many complimentary remarks from the Caron reunion visitors.