Navy vet Ronnie Bland and the USS New Jersey
Friday, September 28, 2018
Photos courtesy of Kasidee Stahl
At the end of July 2018, Bloomfield Navy veteran Ronald "Ronnie" Bland was gifted with a trip to visit the battleship he served on during the Korean War. The trip was made possible by the fundraising efforts of Bloomfield's NJROTC unit, the Bloomfield American Legion and by his best friend and granddaughter Kasidee Stahl and other family members. Bland, his sweetheart Carolyn and Kasidee flew to New Jersey to see the ship, which is now a maritime museum.
-
Sailor Ronnie Bland during the Korean War.
(Courtesy K. Stahl )
-
Bland among the thousands of sailors on the USS New Jersey
(Courtesy K. Stahl)
-
NJROTC Chief Petty Officer David Hultberg, Bland and LCDR Mike Cluver at the ceremony where Bland was informed he would be traveling to New Jersey to see his ship.
(Courtesy K. Stahl )
-
Carolyn Bland, Kasidee Stahl and Ronnie Bland en route to New Jersey.
(Courtesy K. Stahl )
-
Bland and his wife stand on the deck of the massive battleship
(Courtesy K. Stahl )
-
Bland stands in the left gun turret, looking down the barrel of the same gun he fired during the Korean War
(Courtesy K. Stahl )
-
Bland near the mighty guns he once fired.
(Courtesy K. Stahl )
-
The look on his face says it all...
(Courtesy K. Stahl )
-
Bland on the deck of the USS New Jersey.
(Courtesy K. Stahl )
-
Again, one look at Ronnie Bland's face tells the story.
(Courtesy K. Stahl )
-
Kasidee Stahl walks on the deck with her grandparents.
(Courtesy K. Stahl )
-
The Blands with the newspaper issue containing the story of the fundraiser.
(Courtesy K. Stahl )
-
Bland gazes at the USS New Jersey.
(Courtesy K. Stahl )