USS America CVA News

Just before 10 pm on February 18, 2025, the CVA lost a Charter Member, and I lost a good friend.

Harry Rodriquez, ADJ3, VAH10, 1966-67, passed a few minutes before 10 tonight. Harry had a Kidney transplant this past summer. Everything seemed ok until late October. Some heart issues and then repeated infections.

Linda and their son Adam were there with him at the end.

One night thirty years ago, I came home to find a message on my "answering machine". Some voice yelling "Hi Tommy". And then talking about the America. I had no idea who it was or when he served onboard. But for the next thirty years, whenever we would call, or see each other. it was always, "Hi Tommy". I got the last one about two weeks ago in the ICU at our local VA Hosp.

Fair Winds and Following Seas My friend

Say Hi to Ray and save me a seat at the table.

Tom Tramantano Sr.

President

USS America Carrier Veteran's Assoc. Inc.

We have our winners of this year's Scholarship

Congratulations to

Audrey Miller, Grand Daughter of CDR Jan Spitzer (1968-69)

Laura Lamp, Grand Daughter of LCDR Thomas Duke (1972-73)

Good luck in your future endeavors

The online registration page for the 2024 Reunion is now live. You can find it on the top bar (2024 Reunion). There are two parts to it - one is to register for the reunion and any excursions you wish to participate in and two, register with the hotel to reserve your room for the duration of your stay.

If you wish to register by mail, you can also download the Reunion package from a link on the Reunion page.

Also - T-shirts and other reunion swag is being managed through the Shipstore this year. Don't forget to head over to the Shipstore and grab your commemorative T-shirt, tumbler or mug. These will be waiting for you at the Shipstore at the reunion -saving shipping costs!

See you there!

DJ Kenney

Vice President - CVA

Great turnout for the parade

Congratulations to this years winners of the 2023-2024 CVA Scholarship

Gavin A. Doan, Grandson of Plankowner William Doan, ETN3, OE Div. 1964-1967

Good luck at Colorado University

Brett E. Colon, Grandson of Eddie Colon, AN, V-1 Div. 1967-1970

Good luck at the University of Wisconsin

Ship's Store

New

Brought back by request

It was a little wet this year on Fifth Ave in NYC

MEMORY BOOK PHOTOS- we're looking for photos that can also be included in the Memory Book. Our President is collecting as many as he can get to view and select for the book that the photographer is assembling for us. We'd like these ASAP to be able to get submissions into the photographer for publishing. 

If you attended our 2022 Reunion in Warwick and have some photos you wish to share with CVA, we're interested in seeing them! 

To ensure those who are sharing are getting photo credit, anyone who wishes to share photos should contact me at seadog1975@gmail.com and let me know about how many photos you have. Share as many or as few as you'd like.

PLEASE DO NOT SEND PHOTOS VIA EMAIL!!!

Email servers are limited in capacity and may not send large files - plus, I have to extract each one from the email which is VERY time consuming.

After I receive your email, I will set up a Dropbox folder just for your photos. I will send you a link just for you to upload photos to a dedicated folder. It is a VERY simple process. Once they are uploaded I'll confirm I have them. 

Your photo will be tagged with your name for credit and we'll post them up on the 2022 Reunion photo album on our website. 

CDR, USN-Ret.
Vice President - CVA

Many may have already noticed the new look and feel of our website. We hope that you'll find it easier to navigate. Some changes to note:

1) Drop down menu is now on the right vice the left. Just mouse over the elipsis (...) on the right of the top bar and the drop down will pop up.

2) Color blocks and menus are cleaner and more in line with current website standards.

3) Allows us a better support experience from our hosting company, Wild Apricot. 

4) New page header with hull number and a "navy steel" background motif. 

We'll continue to work page by page to make improvements along the way to the look/feel/style to make it more appealing and hopefully easier to find things. 

Regards,

DJ Kenney

CVA - Vice President

PLANKOWNER AND CREWMEMBER PLAQUES

These Plaques are available to Plankowners and Former Crewmembers of the USS AMERICA,

who are members of the CVA.

The Plaques feature the ship name USS America CVA 66 and Plankowner or Crewmember engravings.

The Steel is from elevator #2 of the USS America.

To order your plaque, contact Tom Tramantano, President

mailto:tomato46@aol.com