SPANISH FORT, Ala. — Ask Dave Schmidt, Bill Lister and Phillip “Willy” Williamson about life aboard the USS Drum and they’ll recount stories of camaraderie and tell what it’s like to consider 290 other men family.

Ask them about World War II heroics or what it’s like to be part of such an important chapter in U.S. history, and they shrug nonchalantly and steer the conversation back to any other topic of discussion.

“I don’t think anything like that ever crossed our mind at the time,” said Lister.

The trio is among six former Drum crewmembers being honored at 11 a.m. June 18 in the USS Alabama Pavilion at Battleship Memorial Park for service during World War II on what remains a unique wartime vessel.

“It was the first built and the last remaining,” said Robert Williamson, son of the elder Williamson and organizer of the 41st annual gathering of the submarines crewmates.

The trio gathered Wednesday evening at the Hampton Inn Mobile East Bay in Daphne, along with Gerald DeRosa, Robert “Bob” White and Rosamond Rice, daughter of the vessel’s first commanding officer, Robert Rice, to reminisce and remember fallen friends and those unable to attend.

“The families are going to keep this going until there’s nobody left to do it in their honor. It’s such a huge part of our lives,” Robert Williamson said.

Schmidt said he remembers as many as 70 crewmembers making the cross-country trek for the annual reunion at one point, but the numbers are dwindling. Eight made the trip in 2009 and only six this year.

“You gotta remember, I’m one of the young ones,” said Schmidt, 86, who was only 19 when he first boarded the Drum.

By comparison, White, 93, made 11 of the vessel’s 13 patrols and Williamson made 10.