USS Witek EDD 848

                      16th Reunion

                      October 3-7, 2007

                      Radisson Hotel Northbrook

                      2875 N. Milwaukee Ave.

                      Northbrook, IL 60002

                      847-298-2525

April 2007

Dear Shipmates:

The 16th annual Reunion of the USS WITEK will be held this year at the Radisson Hotel Northbrook in Northbrook Il from 3-7 October 2007. This three diamond full service hotel is 9 miles from O'Hare Airport and 20 minutes from downtown Chicago. The room rate is $89.00 plus 11% tax. The rate includes a free hot breakfast buffet and is effective for 3 days before or 3 days after, based on availability. Be sure to mention the USS WITEK Reunion when making reservations to ensure this rate. The toll free number is 800-333-3333 or 847-298-2525. You can go online at www.radisson.com to book your room and get WITEK Reunion information. The cutoff date is September 21st so make your reservations early. Gold points rewards are also available for members, ask the hotel for details.

All rooms have sleep number beds, iron and ironing boards, hair dryers, 25" web tv with infrared keyboard capabilities, computer games and movies. Our rate includes free high speed internet access, and free parking, an outdoor pool and jacuzzi, and a 24 hour fitness center is available. There is also free shuttle service within 5 miles of the hotel.

The hotel has a restaurant on site open for all three meals and the "Scoreboard Pub" open from 4PM to 1AM daily. 24 hour room service is also available.

On Wednesday evening October 3 from 5-6PM we will have a one hour complimentary wine an dcheese reception.

Our Saturday evening banquet menu is:                  TIME 7PM

Northbrook Salad

Fresh baked rolls & butter

Iced tea or water

Chicken cordon bleu w/sauce

Marinated flank steak w/sherry mushroom demi glace

Baked cod

Oven roasted red potatoes

Seasonal Vegetables

Hot coffee & tea

Chef's choice of dessert

Also shipmate Joe Rozelle and Betty have graciously agreed to entertain us after the banquet with music for dancing.

The cost of the banquet is $30.00 per person

               USS WITEK REUNION ITINERARY IS

Wednesday, October 3, 2007....... Arrivals, Check In time is 3:00PM

1 hour complimentary wine and cheese reception 5-6PM

Thursday, October 4, 2007 ...... 9AM depart Radisson Hotel:

 On-going Chicago Highlights Tour, including Museum of Science & Industry. This is where the U505, the only captured German U-boat in the United States is located. The submarine, which was only built to last four years, has been moved from an outdoor exhibit to a new spectacular underground interactive exhibit space. This showcases the history of the U505, from its capture on June 4, 1944 off the coast of West Africa to its magnificent new home at the museum.

We will also travel to the top of the John Hancock Observatory and be awed by its stunning views. We will stop at the Navy Pier, a former Navy Training Center and now the top attraction in Chicago. Here we will have lunch on our own.

After lunch we will tour the Magnificent Mile, the stunning new Millennium Park and the landmark water tower that survived the Great Chicago Fire. We will also see the new Memorial Wall, a veterans memorial at Soldier Field and see statues of General Grant and President Lincoln set in the beautiful parks along the magnificent lakefront.

We will have a tour guide on each bus for the entire day.

5:00PM    Arrive back at Hotel Radisson. Hospitality room opens

Cost for this tour is $66.00 per person. A little pricey and a long day but considering the amount of time and the admission costs for the exhibits, it is well worth the money.

Friday October 5, 2007 ..... 7:15AM    Depart Hotel Radisson 

Arrive Great Lakes Naval Training Center to attend graduation ceremony as special guests. After the graduation program we will have a guide as we tour the center, including the Naval Museum,  where we will have a short memorial service. We will then proceed to the "Port of Call" for an on base lunch. This will be an american deli buffet to include rolls, bread, soup of the day, potato salad, deli meats, cheeses, condiments, desserts and beverage.

2:15PM arrive back at the Hotel Radisson.....hospitality room opens

Cost for this tour is $54.0 per person which includes lunch.

6:00PM  Business Meeting and Raffle

All attendees are asked to bring a wrapped gift not to exceed $20.00 Please keep gift in your room until raffle time. As you know, our fund raisers help keep our WITEK account solvent. The cost of the newsletters, mailings and the web site eat up a large part of this fund raiser. Plus the association pays for the refreshments in the hospitality room as well. Also, the hotel and tour company require deposits well in advance of the date. So bring your gift and help the association.

Saturday, October 6, 2007 ......  9:00AM Depart Hotel Radisson

Visit "Cantigny First Division Museum" and house tour. This museum was one of the favorites that the Noonans had toured. It is dedicated to the Big Red 1st Division and shows the 16th Infantry as they invade Omaha Beach in a landing craft. You will hear the sounds of exploding shells and the diving planes overhead. Audio visual displays throughout the exhibit hall allows you to ask a soldier questions or learn about equipment used in the field. You can also hear actual radio transmissions over Viet Nam era handsets. There are many life-like exhibits set up throughout the museum as well as short movies detailing different campaigns.

1:00PM Arrive back at the Hotel Radisson   ... Hospitality Room Opens

The cost for this tour is $35.00 per person.

Sunday, October 7, 2007 ........  12:00PM   Check Out.

We realize the tour costs are pricey, but they were the best John could do after spending many months of bargaining with tour companies. John and Shirley have visited Chicago twice to check tours. They have personally visited every site except the graduation one at the Naval Training Center. The tour of Great Lakes Training Center will be very nostalgic for all the men who received their basic training there. Also the memories will continue at the Navy Pier and downtown Chicago.

I promise to get "updated" rosters to all of you whose dues are paid up. I have been somewhat remiss in this area.

For the information of new members, the Witek Association by-laws

call for a CO, XO,a Chief Yeoman and Historian to be elected every year at the reunion.

Our current officers are: CO  Ray Sylte (8552 Pineway Ct., Laurel, MD 20723-1238 Tel. 301-483-4370).

Our XO is John Noonan ( 925 North St. Weatherly, PA 18255-1224 Tel. 570-427-4652).

Our Chief Yeoman is Leon (Desi) Desarmeaux (222 Yorktown Blvd, Lake of the Woods, VA 22508 Tel. 540-972-7639).

Our Historian is Ron Blais (69 Valley Road, Southhampton, MA, 01073 Tel. 413-527-2313).

Please check your membership rosters and send John Noonan any

changes to addresses, phone numbers and especially  E-mail

addresses. Also send missing info such as rank/rate and years

on board. Please pay your dues each year, ($10.00) to ensure that you

receive a copy of the annual reunion letter and membership rosters.

We hate to put shipmates on our inactive list.

Again this year we will be selling Witek baseball caps for $15.00

(Both DD-848 and EDD-848) as well as Witek lapel pins for $4.00

each. If you cannot make the reunion but want a Witek cap, ($20.00)

please contact John Noonan. John also has 4" round Witek (Des Div 602) patches.

The Witek Association's web site URL is http://usswitek.org/.

It is imperative that you send me your monies for the banquet

($27.50 per person)  and tours ($22.00) by  1Sept to satisfy the vendors.

For the info of new members our shipmate Tony Camerota makes

Witek badges with a photo of the ship and historical data.

Just let Tony know your "years on board" and he will make your

badge. He has graciously agreed  to donate the $2.00 fee to

the association fund. What a great shipmate! Tony can be

reached at TEL: 508-477-4251... FAX 508-539-0857 or e-mail at

tcamerota@verizon.net . Badges are also available for spouses and

friends.

Remember next year we will be in the St Augustine, FL 1-5 October 2008..

Looking forward to seeing everybody in Chi-town October 3, 2007

P.S.   Our shipmate, Larry Rauch, a professional fire fighter has volunteered to be

our banquet speaker, we are looking forward to hearing about his experiences.

                               Leon (Desi) J. Desarmeaux

                              Chief Yeoman, USN RET

                               USS WITEK ASSOCIATION

                                225 Yorktown Blvd.

                                Lake of the Woods, VA

                                22508-5113

                                TEL: 540-972-7639

                                E-mail: hld48@att.net

                                FAX: 540-972-7639