The USS Rankin Association
Home
Previous Changes to This Web Site
This is a running record of changes to this site since the day it was created. In some years the record is rather incomplete, due mostly to inattention by the Webmaster. Nevertheless, it is a pretty good overall record.

2020
5/4/20 Major upgrade to all pages on the site. Upgraded pages are dated 5/14/20

2019
4/12/19 Hopefully fixed some pointer problems
1/28/19  Added 2019 reunion to home page, added preliminary 2019 reunion page

2018
2/24/18 Added 2018 Reunion page, put reunion at top of Home Page

2017
4/19/17 Added Wikipedia links for Captains Ramage and Wendt
4/17/17 Updated Ships Store page
3/31/17 Added Mewsletter 25, updated TOC
3/30/17 Added 2017 Reunion
1/3/17 Activated Lottery Pool #38 as the current pool

2016
10/2/16 Activated Lottery Pool #37 as the current pool
7/1/16 Activated Lottery Pool #36 as the current pool
5/22/16 Added 2013 reunion Memory Book & 2015 Photos
5/20/16 Added 2015 reunion Memory Book
5/3/16 Added photos to 2016 reunion page
4/21/16 Added 2016 Reunion
4/1/16 Activated Lottery Pool #35 as the current pool
1/2/16 Activted Lottery Pool #34 as the current pool

2015
11/24/15 added link to CAPT George Cook video
9/30/15 Removed Nashville reunion notice from the home page; added Newsletter #24
9/2/15 Activated Lottery Pool #33 as the current pool
7/2/15 Activated Lottery Pool #32 as the current pool
4/1/15 Activated Lottery Pool #31 as the current pool
1/2/15 Activated Lottery Pool #30 as the current pool

2014
12/28/14 Added Newsletter #23
12/5/14 Added reunion dates
10/18/14 Added preliminary information about the 2015 reunion in Nashville
10/17/14 Added Rhode Island reunion recap
8/21/14 Added Newsletter #22
7/1/14 Activated Lottery Pool #28 as the current pool
4/1/14 Activated Lottery Pool #27 as the current pool
3/15/14 Added Rhode Island reunion material
1/15/14 Added 1967 Amphibious  Training Film
1/1/14 Activated Lottery Pool #26 as the current pool

2013
12/13 Updated the 2013 reunion page
11/22/13 Reformatted images on Reunion pages; updated 2012 reunion page
9/30/13 Made Lottery #25 the lottery subdirectory homepage
6/30/13 Moved all lottery pages to the 'lottery' subdirectory
5/1/13 Added 1954 Gibraltar Photos
4/1/13 Activated Lottery Pool #23 as the current pool
1/30/13 Added a page for the 2013 reunion
1/1/13 Activated Lottery Pool #22 as the current pool

2012
12/13/12 Updated Newsletters
11/21/12 Culled dead links from Other Interesting Stuff
11/21/12 Fixed table borders on pages reached from Home. Updated Ship's Store page
10/2/12 Activated Lottery Pool #21 as the current pool
7/2/12 Activated Lottery Pool #20 as the current pool
5/17/12 Added hotel and transportation information for 2012 reunion
5/1/12 Activated Lottery Pool #19 as the current lottery
3/19/12 Put comprehensive navigation tools into "Other Photos" pages
3/18/12 Polished reunion pages, put photo strips at their tops
3/13/12 Added 2011 Memory Book and announcement of New Orleans reunion
2/26/12 - 3/4/12  Organized, improved, and expanded  the reunion pages  
2/25/12  Modified home page to show cleaner links, hopefully without confusing anybody
2/23/12 Cleaned up Home page and vetted links on "50 Years of AKAs" and its branches. Polished reunion pages.
2/22/12 Vetted links on the items under "About the ship..." and their branches
2/21/12 Added reunion material for 2004-2007, tweaked home page
2/19/12 Added reunion material for 2008, 2009, 2011
2/2/12 Updated statistics for past lottery pools
2/1/12 Activated Lottery Pool #18 as the current lottery, added new Ports of Call
1/31/12 Added new Ports of Call
1/29/12 Updated all links on 'Ports of Call' page to Wikipedia links
1/29/12 Updated 'Her Officers' page to show current Status
1/29/12 Tweaked 'How to optimize your experience of this site' page
1/28/12 Brought Newsletter page up to date through Newsletter #18

2011
11/2/11 Activated Lottery Pool #17 as the current lottery
In between these dates, activated Lottery Pool #15 and Lottery Pool #16
2/1/11 Activated Lottery Pool #14 as the current lottery

2010
11/2/10 Activated Lottery Pool #13 as the current lottery
10/23/10 Optimized home page and the links on the top line for viewing on the iPad
8/3/10 Activated Lottery Pool #12 as the current lottery
5/2/10 Activated Lottery Pool #11 as the current lottery. New format for page.
1/31/10 Added lottery statistics   
1/28/10 Activated Lottery  Pool #10 as the current lottery

2009
10/31/09 Activated Lottery Pool #9 as the current lottery
9/6/09 Added headlines to all newsletter links, posted back issues
8/2/09 Activated Lottery Pool #8 as the current lottery
7/5/09 Polished Lottery Pool pages
4/27/09 Added Military Reunions Meeting page
3/21/09 Added 2009 Reunion Information
3/20/09 Reformatted Home Page. New table, more images.
3/19/09 Added Twitter gadget
2/5/09 Activated Lottery Pool #6 as the current lottery
1/17/09 Posted all back issues of USS Rankin News

2008
11/5/08 Activated Lottery Pool #5 as the current lottery
8/2/08 Activated Lottery Pool #4 as the current lottery
5/5/08 Activated Lottery Pool #3 as the current lottery
3/12/08 Added viewable and downloadable copy of Newsletter #9
2/3/08 Added new Lottery page, made old one an archive page

2007
12/23/07 Added "Rankin Song," "The Amphibious Sailor," and Newsletter #8
11/11/07 Finalized Lottery Pool page, linked to it from Home Page
9/15/07 Added Lottery Pool Page. Still under construction.
9/11/07 Added Newsletters
7/22/07 Discontinued online registration, deleted counter
4/28/07 Added "The Snipe's Lament"
3/13/07 Polished Deceased Shipmates
3/7/07 Added links to obituaries of deceased Captains
3/4/07 Reconfigured Crewmember Rosters and Shipmate Finder
2/25/07 Updated Shipmate Finder to include status of entire roster
2/21/07 Added Mailing Lists
1/28/07 Added 2007 Reunion Information

2006
12/31/06 Updated list of Shareholders
12/18/06 After the board meeting, removed the notice
12/6/06 Added notice of 12/18 board meeting
12/6/06 Added page about tax exemption
10/29/06 Updated Navy Crew Lists paper
10/27/06 Added links to reunion web sites in 51 Years of AKA's
10/22/06 Added Wikipedia links to ship lists in 51 Years of AKA's
10/4/06 Add Marines and other passengers to Her Organization
10/1/06 Added home page link to shipmate profiles
9/26/06 Added reunion photos
9/25/06 Updated reunion information and list of Shareholders
8/13/06 Added much info about the upcoming Reunion
About 300 obituaries posted in the Discussion Forum
4/22/06 Updated Finances page to show incorporation and tax-exempt status
4/17/06 Posted Bylaws in the About Us section
4/12/06 Created Wikipedia article and linked to it from Other Interesting Stuff
3/17/06 Added 250+ short obituaries from Social Security Death Index
3/12/06 Added links to Burial at Sea and Veterans Burial & Memorial Benefits
3/3/06 added link to ML&RS, Inc's USS Rankin web site
1/26/06 Updated '51 Years of AKAs'
1/22/06 Added User Forum
1/20/06 Added SOS Recipe
1/17/06 Added financial information
1/9/06 Added page on Finding and Organizing Navy Reunions
1/4/06 Added page about Navy Logs in Verse

2005
12/10/05 Added PDF of photos from Reunion 2004
12/8/05 Added names to 2005 reunion pictures, updated About Us
12/5/05 Added 2005 Reunion pictures and downloads
11/26/05 Updated and improved Shareholders list in About Us
11/24/05 Updated reunion info, added downloadable "How to Get Copies of Navy Crew Lists"
11/15/05 Added 20+ items to Naval Terminology: roach coach, vampire liberty, shore line, etc.
11/7/05 Completed the list of change of command dates
10/11/05 Added change of command dates in 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957
8/16/05 Added change of command dates in 1960, 1963, 1967, 1969
7/22/05 Added New Year's Logs book to Ship's Store
7/19/05 Added alternate airport information to Reunions page
7/6/05 - 7/10/05 Added shirts to ship's store, polished the page
7/6/05 Added Image Verification to the Guestbook
7/5/05 Added links to the attractions on the reunion page
7/4/05 Posted preliminary reunion schedule, added Image Verification to guestbook
6/23/05 Updated list of Shareholders, added patches and order form to ship's store
5/27/05 Updated list of Shareholders
5/26/05 Added Armed Forces Retirement Home to Other Interesting Stuff
4/12/05 Added Signal Flags Flash Cards to Other Interesting Stuff
3/18/05 Added Capts Harllee/Gabbert & Harmon/Howe change of command dates
3/6/05 Added photo of Captain Ferguson, polished reunion information
3/5/05 Updated About Us and Contact Us
3/2/05 Rearranged Other Interesting Stuff
2/27/05  Redesigned Guestbook
2/24/05 Repaired corrupt Guestbook
2/19/05 Added full obituaries for CAPT Harllee
2/18/05 Added From Sea to Shining Sea link
1/24/05 Added link to Library of Congress Veterans History Project

2004
12/28/04 Added 2005 reunion information & a few more names to the reunion photos
12/12/04 Updated Shareholder list
12/4/04 Added some names to the reunion photos
12/2/04 Added reunion photos
11/12/04 Improved Ship's Store
10/14/04 Added Ship's Store page: 9 photos and a print
10/13/04 Polished and expanded "Other Interesting Stuff"
9/17/04 Added ribbon images and two additional awards to Honors and Awards
9/14/04 Added Photos to Her Captains page
Early September - Added Reunion Bulletin page, which is frequently updated
9/6/04 Added Crewmember Rosters
8/31/04 Moved many photos from New Items to main Photo Gallery
8/29/04 Polished the Photo Gallery
8/24/04 Added many new photos to New Items, moved others around
8/20/04 Added slide show to home page
8/17/04 Combined officer & enlisted rosters in Shipmate Finder. Added online Registration Packet.
8/16/04 Added names of people to whom Reunion Packets were sent
8/12/04 Added scrolling by name or first year aboard  to crewmember roster page
8/10/04 Updated "Where They Live" to show the 1100+ former shipmates in our database
8/1/04 Updated the Roster of Officers. Added 425 men to the Roster of Crew Members.
7/30/04 Added a Reunion Bulletin
7/2/04 Updated the Roster of Officers. Added 175 men to the Roster of Crew Members.
6/1/04 Updated the Roster of Crew Members. 200 men on it as of today.
5/3/04 Updated "Her Officers" to include those not found yet
4/18/04 Updated officer lists to include all officers ever on board
3/14/04 Added many new officers from 1953-1954
3/5/04 Added New Items section to Photo Gallery
3/2/04 Added photos from 1955
2/29/04 Added many photos from 1945-1946
2/25/04 Added commissioning photos from 59 years ago
2/21/04 Added keywords from all cruise books to index page
2/18/04 Technical: kept the cruise book search page from finding itself
2/17/04 Added many new officers
1/30/04 Special Keywords
1/26/04 Updated Roster of Crew Members
1/10/04 Added Paul Hopkins Obituary
1/2/04 Added "Where They Live Now"
1/3/04 Greatly updated Missing Officer List
12/17/03 Added reunion information

2003
12/3/03 Updated Crew List - 12/4/03 Updated "About Us"
11/22/03 Expanded Naval Terminology by adding many terms from Bluejacket's Manual
11/6/03 Added 1968 Officer Photo to Photos of the Ship
10/9/03 - 10/24/03 Expanded and improved Naval Terminology section
9/30/03 Updated list of crew members
9/20/03 Added 1966-67 Jim Cusick photos and 1970 Cruise Book
9/17/03 Updated Missing Officers list, added officers from 1970 Cruise Book
9/13/03 Rearranged the Home Page, added several officers
9/11/03 Added 'How You Can Help Us', added Index links to Naval Terminology. Rewrote '51 Years of AKAs'.
8/9/03 Moved Photos of the Ship & Misc Photos to subdirectories, shortened their listings in Photo Gallery
8/8/03 Added Dick Mohun's 1960 photos, and photos from Deland NAS museum
8/6/03 Added site search, added searchable text to Cruise Books, etc., added and trimmed site map
8/1/03 Added registration forms for Officers and Crew Members
7/26/03 Added Crew Members page
7/24/03 Added 42 photos: "Gary Kortkamp Polaroids"
7/23/03 Moved Cruise Books to subdirectories. Users should not see any changes.
7/21/03 Added 46 photos from the ship's first cruise in 1952
7/20/03 Added "What She Was" - 7/19/03 Added tour of recent changes, officer map, three new photos.
7/16/03 Added Officer Location Map and sections for Captains and Missing Crew Members
7/14/03 Many new Missing Officers, two new photos
7/10/03 Updated List of Missing Officers - 7/6/03 Added Organization page
7/5/03 Put photos on About Us page - 7/1/03 Improved the "Optimize Your Experience" section.
6/24/03 Revamped "51 Years of AKAs" and associated pages.
6/22/03 Added L. Ron Hubbard info to "51 Years of AKAs" in Photo Gallery. Lots of other small stuff.
6/17/03 Added sound checks, etc. to Site Optimizer
6/13/03  Added 1953 ship's photo, made all linked sites open in their own window
6/12/03  Improved "Optimize Your Experience," made About Us & Contact Us compliant w/other pages
6/9/03 Further polished navigation in the Photo Gallery, changed color & style of many links
6/7/03 Added two photos, added Table of Contents to Photo Gallery, improved navigation
6/3/03 Improved navigation through the Cruise Books, added cover copy
6/1/03 Added many sounds and a few photos, combined some Landing Craft pages
5/31/03 Fixed bug that sometimes blacked out  links
5/29/03 added "51 Years of AKAs" to Photo Gallery - 5/28/03 added photos of WWII AKAs and WWII landing craft
5/27/03 added ENS/LTJG Del Osborn - 5/26/03 tweaked the photo gallery, added some photos & captions
5/25/03 added 1969 Cruise Book - 5/24/03 added Photo Gallery - 5/20/03 added nine WWII links to Ship's History
5/19/03 added to Ship's History, added 1959 Cruise Book, added three new officers

3/12/03 First publication of this site. Various improvements were made until this record of changes was started.

3/11/03 The last of the 28 officers from the 1963 San Juan photo is reunited with the group.
2/27/03 (approx.) George Berninger and Jack Raso joined the leadership team.
2/23/03 Skip Sander, John Feeley, and Bob Reynolds began to reconnect with shipmates.
2/63 A photo of USS Rankin officers is taken on a pier in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
10/31/44 Rankin's keel was laid in Wilmington, North Carolina