Over the last couple of years, I’ve joined forces with shipmates who served aboard USS Thomaston (LSD-28) in celebrating our hard-working and noble old ship’s service from 1954-1984, during which time she earned 11 Battle Stars. It was she that truly took the innocence of most of us and, as they say, she was none too gentle about it neither.
Since 1993, the crew of our proud if humble vessel (she was no greyhound - we carried U.S. Marines) have met annually an amazing 31 times to honor her memory - longer than she was in commission - creating in the process a strong and vital fellowship that continues hell-bent-for-leather to this day, with Reunion XXXII scheduled for St. Augustine, Fla., in September.
In honor of what I believe may be our best gathering yet, I’ve penned a few verses to the jauntiest and proudest tune I know in hope that the group might consider it a sort of unofficial anthem, though the lyrics could apply to just about any Navy ship. I hope you might find it worthy of sharing as a shoutout and an invitation to all who might be considering joining us at the 32nd Annual USS Thomaston Reunion in St. Augustine and seeing what a real Navy reunion is all about. King Neptune reigned in Tucson last year, and it was an affair to remember. Semper Fortis.
Respectfully yours,
Jim Sides
Post 36, Tucson, Ariz.
ANTHEM, REUNION, USS THOMASTON LSD-28
By J.D. Sides
When Thomaston comes pullin’ in, hurrah, hurrah!
Who knows how many months it’s been, hurrah, hurrah!
But it’s been a while since liberty call,
Let’s blow some cash and have a ball
And we’ll all feel swell when Thomaston pulls in.
When Thomaston comes pullin’ in, hurrah, hurrah!
One thing’s as sure as sailor sin, hurrah, hurrah!
We’ll soon refit and patch our gear;
We make a Wespac every year
And we won’t be home for very long when Thomaston pulls in.
A sailor leads a noble life, hurrah, hurrah!
But save a cheer for a Navy wife, hurrah, hurrah!
Alone they carry on the fight
To keep the home fire burning bright
And they all deserve a medal too, when Thomaston pulls in.
Our Thomaston, she sails no more, hurrah, hurrah!
But her memory’s worth our gathering for, hurrah, hurrah!
We steamed her hard for thirty years;
She took our blood and sweat and tears
And left a bit of her steel in our spines
When Thomaston pulls in.
