Crew of USS Wilson reunites

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - Although the USS Wilson was decommissioned 38 years ago, the ship and the memory of those who served are kept alive by a dwindling, yet dedicated group of alumni.

The names of the deceased were read and a wreath was thrown over the side and into the Elizabeth River. Shipmate Robert Bondreau was honored for his heroic actions when he was 18 and abroad the Wilson.

"We just left, came out of the Mediterranean by the Rock of Gibraltar when we ran into a really bad storm," Bondreau said.

The rough seas caused several live rounds of ammunition to pull loose from their storage and begin rolling around in the compartment just below the deck. Bondreau volunteered to go below and secure the loose shells.

"Some of them were rolling pretty fast, they were hard to catch but I did finally catch them," Bondreau said.

The Wilson was commissioned in March of 1946.