The oldest generation of U.S. Coast Guard servicemen from all over the U.S. connected with the newest last week when seven surviving crewmen and families of the USS Centaurus (AKA-17), a World War II attack cargo ship, chose to spend their 18th reunion here in southeastern Connecticut, the home of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.The Centaurus served in the Pacific Theater and was engaged in six major invasions including Guam, Saipan, and Okinawa. The ship earned six battle stars for service in the theater-two of which were for shooting down two kamikaze suicide planes in Okinawa.

The Centaurus served in the Pacific Theater and was engaged in six major invasions including Guam, Saipan, and Okinawa. The ship earned six battle stars for service in the theater-two of which were for shooting down two kamikaze suicide planes in Okinawa. Of the original crew, numbering between 350 and 400, only about 80 members are still alive. Each year that number-and the number of those who are able to attend the reunions-decreases.

Of the original crew, numbering between 350 and 400, only about 80 members are still alive. Each year that number-and the number of those who are able to attend the reunions-decreases.But they are an enthusiastic bunch that attended this year's reunion with spouses, children, and grandchildren. Ben Rappa, John Casas, and Don DeSorcy traveled from Florida; Richard Gluth from Wisconsin, Hubert Johnston from Michigan; Stan Maltzman from New York; and Bill Christie came in from Massachusetts.

But they are an enthusiastic bunch that attended this year's reunion with spouses, children, and grandchildren. Ben Rappa, John Casas, and Don DeSorcy traveled from Florida; Richard Gluth from Wisconsin, Hubert Johnston from Michigan; Stan Maltzman from New York; and Bill Christie came in from Massachusetts.Maltzman and DeSorcy are the two most senior crewmen-Maltzman likes to chide DeSorcy about being oldest. Maltzman was born on July 4, 1921, and DeSorcy on July 5, 1921.

Maltzman and DeSorcy are the two most senior crewmen-Maltzman likes to chide DeSorcy about being oldest. Maltzman was born on July 4, 1921, and DeSorcy on July 5, 1921. During their stay at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Mystic, the group visited the U.S. Navy Submarine Base and toured the USS Nautilus in Groton, dined at Skipper's Dock in Stonington, and cruised on the Sabino steamship in Mystic Seaport.

During their stay at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Mystic, the group visited the U.S. Navy Submarine Base and toured the USS Nautilus in Groton, dined at Skipper's Dock in Stonington, and cruised on the Sabino steamship in Mystic Seaport. A highlight of the trip included a presentation of the ship's battle flag to the U.S. Coast Guard Museum. The flag, which flew from the main mast of the Centaurus, was flown over the U.S. Capitol on Aug. 14, 1996, to commemorate the surrender of the Japanese forces exactly 51 years earlier, ending World War II.

A highlight of the trip included a presentation of the ship's battle flag to the U.S. Coast Guard Museum. The flag, which flew from the main mast of the Centaurus, was flown over the U.S. Capitol on Aug. 14, 1996, to commemorate the surrender of the Japanese forces exactly 51 years earlier, ending World War II. The flag joins an original pastel painting of the ship by Maltzman, a professional artist, which was donated to the Coast Guard Museum in 2006 in honor of all who served aboard her, along with a Japanese surrender letter donated by George McCabe Jr.-the reunion organizer-whose father, George Sr., was the ship's captain.

The flag joins an original pastel painting of the ship by Maltzman, a professional artist, which was donated to the Coast Guard Museum in 2006 in honor of all who served aboard her, along with a Japanese surrender letter donated by George McCabe Jr.-the reunion organizer-whose father, George Sr., was the ship's captain.During the closing banquet at Seamen's Inn on Sept. 30, Coast Guard Academy cadets presented the colors and dined with the Centaurus crewmen. Coast Guard Academy Commanding Officer Captain Michael J. Lopez was the evening's speaker, thanking the crew for their contributions in bringing World War II to a close, and asking them to "continue keeping us in your thoughts as we take care and pride in carrying the Centaurus flag for years to come."

During the closing banquet at Seamen's Inn on Sept. 30, Coast Guard Academy cadets presented the colors and dined with the Centaurus crewmen. Coast Guard Academy Commanding Officer Captain Michael J. Lopez was the evening's speaker, thanking the crew for their contributions in bringing World War II to a close, and asking them to "continue keeping us in your thoughts as we take care and pride in carrying the Centaurus flag for years to come."In his host remarks, George McCabe Jr. thanked the Coast Guard in return, for being "the highlight of the reunion and for the wonderful way we've been treated here and the New England hospitality."

In his host remarks, George McCabe Jr. thanked the Coast Guard in return, for being "the highlight of the reunion and for the wonderful way we've been treated here and the New England hospitality." Desorcy also spoke at the banquet.

Desorcy also spoke at the banquet."It's been a delightful world for us guys, having these meetings for years," he said. "Let's hope tomorrow is a happy day and the future is all that we desire."

"It's been a delightful world for us guys, having these meetings for years," he said. "Let's hope tomorrow is a happy day and the future is all that we desire." Tim Barry of Branford served as the co-host of the reunion. His father Eugene Barry, who died in 1977, was a crewmember.

Tim Barry of Branford served as the co-host of the reunion. His father Eugene Barry, who died in 1977, was a crewmember. "These reunions are a connection back to my father by proxy through these guys," he said. "He didn't talk a lot about his wartime experiences-they've filled in the blanks and told me things about him I didn't know. By talking to them about their wartime experiences-particularly the invasions of Guam and Okinawa, and how horrendous it was for these young men in their teens and twenties to go through that carnage-it gives me insight into the experiences that molded my father's life."

"These reunions are a connection back to my father by proxy through these guys," he said. "He didn't talk a lot about his wartime experiences-they've filled in the blanks and told me things about him I didn't know. By talking to them about their wartime experiences-particularly the invasions of Guam and Okinawa, and how horrendous it was for these young men in their teens and twenties to go through that carnage-it gives me insight into the experiences that molded my father's life."Barry has tremendous respect for the bond these men continue to share.

Barry has tremendous respect for the bond these men continue to share."After 64 years the events that shaped their lives has held them together," he said. "I've seen that the surviving members have a great sense of humor and are still sharp as tacks."

"After 64 years the events that shaped their lives has held them together," he said. "I've seen that the surviving members have a great sense of humor and are still sharp as tacks."Although the men had decided before the reunion that this was to be their final one, they enjoyed themselves so much they've changed their minds and are already planning their 20th in two years in San Antonio, Tex., where their first reunion was held.

Although the men had decided before the reunion that this was to be their final one, they enjoyed themselves so much they've changed their minds and are already planning their 20th in two years in San Antonio, Tex., where their first reunion was held.