There were fourteen LST 519 veterans present for this
first reunion, including eight plank owners. There have
been annual reunions and numerous mini-reunions held
around the country since this initial event.

Seafaring tradition dictates that each member of the
original crew of a ship shall be known as a plank owner
and shall be given title to a plank in the deck of
that newly commissioned ship. This ancient
custom is well documented in Davy Jones Log
Book. Plank Owner certificates are available
from the U.S. Naval Institute, Annapolis, MD.

Much time is spent trying to locate former members of
the ship's company. We have an active organization,
and our members have been fortunate in locating well
over 150 former LST 519 sailors. Of course, we also
learn about and mourn many of our shipmates for whom
TAPS has already sounded.

Among the more useful tools that have been
used in finding these men are postcards and
the telephone. Successful programs that we have
at our disposal are ANYWHO and
SWITCHBOARD, internet sites available to
all. These are national telephone directories of
every listed telephone subscriber in the country.