Clete Ring – Last Man Standing Bottle

Flash back to 1969 at the USS Gambier Bay’s first reunion, held in St. Louis, Missouri – – – Clete won the “Last Man Standing Bottle”, which at that time was already a 16-year old bottle of Scotch.  It was presented to him by Harry Rouse.  After Clete crossed the bar in 2014, his children:  Steve/Nancy, June/Charlie, Gail, Betty/John, Karen/John, Mike/Nancy, and Jim/Peggy donated the bottle back to the Association to hold until their last reunion, which was the Taffy 3 – 75th Anniversary of the Battle off Samar, held in San Diego, California (October 24-27, 2019).

So, flash ahead 50 years and  at the 2019 Dinner Banquet we opened that bottle, which now is a 66-year old bottle of Scotch, in memory of Clete, and toasted to him and all of the USS Gambier Bay/VC-10 sailors.

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Elbert “Bert” Ausley

USS Gambier Bay survivor, Elbert “Bert” Ausley crossed the bar on Tuesday, January 14, 2020, at the age of 95 years old in Chicago, Illinois where he had lived for many, many year.

Bert loved to karaoke and was well known at every karaoke bar in the northwest suburbs of Chicago.  Bert was well-loved for his crooning and his love of dancing with any girl willing!  He was a kind and caring person, a loving family man, and a very good friend to many.  During his life he was a painter and a photographer.

Bert and his daughter Alyssa

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John Lemirande

John crossed the bar in February 2007
Info submitted by his grandson, Brian DeBoth

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Lt. Charles Russell Ellwood

Charles was in the air when the Gambier Bay went down and he landed on a small strip in the Philippines

Charles crossed the bar in December 1996
Photo submitted by Andy Ellwood, son of Lt. Russ Ellwood