Angel Barnes and the family of crewmember Gerald Ahniwake ‘Ahni’ Ray would like to invite you to the 2023 USS Franklin reunion at the USS Lexington in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Corpus Christi International Airport is located just 12 miles away from the hotel. San Antonio Airport is 2.5 hours away.

The highlight of the reunion is the USS Lexington CV-16 Museum (https://usslexington.com/). These dates coincide with the celebration of the USS Lexington’s 80th anniversary, and will include donations of USS Franklin memorabilia and granite plaques that will become part of a new display on the Lexington that will be devoted to the USS Franklin.

The remaining events are being worked out so book your hotel now. A full registration and schedule will follow soon!

Please contact the hotel by calling the number below or using the link below to make your hotel reservations and the USS Franklin reunion group rate of $104/night.

https://www.marriott.com/events/start.mi?id=1662064249967&key=GRP

(361) 851-2000

SpringHill Suites Corpus Christi
4331 South Padre Island Drive
Corpus Christi, Texas 78411

We are very excited for this opportunity to gather again and hope to see you all there!

In 2004, USS Franklin crewman Ray Bailey donated to the USS Midway Museum in San Diego, California a set of granite plaques commemorating the two USS Franklin Medal of Honor recipients, Donald Gary and Joseph O’Callahan, and the Franklin crewmen who lost their lives while serving on the ship. The museum was never able to use the plaques and they rested in storage on the Midway until recently when they were recovered and temporarily stored to await a new home. That home has been found at the USS Lexington Museum in Corpus Christi, Texas.

As part of the documentary about the USS Franklin, Andy Clark will be filming the transport of the plaques from San Diego to Corpus Christi the week of October 3-7, and invites any interested Franklin crewmen and/or their family or friends to meet him and his film crew along and way to become part of the documentary.

The route will be on I-8 from San Diego through Southern California into Southern Arizona, then changing to I-10 at Phoenix, passing into Southern New Mexico and then turning south at Las Cruces, through El Paso and picking up I-37 in San Antonio for the final leg to Corpus Christi, Texas. Anyone near or on this route who wishes to participate can contact Andy at amclarkphotography@gmail.com

You can see a short video here about the USS Franklin at the USS Midway Museum and the recovery of the plaques: