Navy Sailors On USS Carr Reunite In Checotah To Honor Man The Ship Was Named After

The town of Checotah hosted a reunion this weekend for sailors who served on a ship named for one of its own. The USS Carr was named for Paul Henry Carr, who died in a battle in World War II.

For many of the sailors, this was the first time they'd seen each other since being aboard the ship, allowing them to visit with one another and dig up old memories.

“To see them again and talk about the old days, it’s really been rewarding," said Robert Threlkeld.

Threlkeld spent 20 years in the US Navy and was the Chief Engineer aboard the USS Carr in 1988 & 1989. He traveled from Alabama to attend the reunion and rekindle old friendships with members of his crew.

"This is a way of kind of giving back but also getting to revisit with old shipmates and tell sea stories,” Threlkeld said.

Fifty-five sailors from the ship's 27 years of service attended Saturday's reunion, along with members of Paul Henry Carr's family who also shared in the special moments.

Carr's nephew Jeffrey Rush enjoyed the reunion.

“I think a lot of memories are being jogged right now, a lot of stories are going to be told, a lot of things are going to be shared, I'm just glad that they could rekindle old friendships, make new friendships,” Rush said.

Rush was able to spend time on the USS Carr before its decommissioning in 2013 and even got to honor his uncle during the ship's final homecoming in Norfolk.

“Uncle Paul, I know you died and went down with your ship in 1944 and never got a homecoming, so I’m going to ride this in for you because you didn’t get that chance," said Rush.

During the reunion, navy sailors and family members honored shipmates that had passed and were reminded of what being a USS Carr crewmember means.

USS Carr crewmembers said they had more sense of belonging to this ship than any other and are hopeful to have more reunions in the future.