USSVI Thresher Base News

March 2007 2007 Holland Club Induction Jane Simpson, Wife of Jr. Thresher Base nominated David Vice Commander Don Dickey and Herman Stolzenburg for Simpson, Passes induction into the Holland Club. Jane A. Simpson, age 69 of Stoneham David V. Dickey - Qualified in subma- and Melbourne, FL, died February 9, rines in 1944 aboard USS PICUDA 2007, in Florida surrounded by her (SS 382). Herman H. Stolzenburg family. She was the beloved wife of - Qualified in in 1957 Donald V. Simpson. Born in Boston, aboard USS CONGER (SS 477). The MA; she was the daughter of the late 2007 Holland Club Ceremony was Dennis and Ethel (McNeil) Flor. Jane held during the January 2007 meet- was raised in Stoneham and graduated ing, followed by a potluck luncheon. from Stoneham High School in the Congratulations shipmates! class of 1954. In 1957, she graduated from the Lawrence Memorial Hospi- tal School of Nursing. For many years she worked as a pediatric psychiatric nurse at New England Memorial Above: Gary Hildreth presents Hospital. Herm Stolzenburg with his Jane was honored Stoneham’s Out- Holland Club Certificate. standing Woman of the Year in the mid 70’s, and with good reason. For years, she was the volunteer chairman of Stoneham’s Red Cross Blood Drive and chairman of the Girl’s Table at continued on page 3 Left: Gary Hildreth presents David Dickey with his Holland Club Certificate.

Table of Contents Holland Club Induction...... 1 Jane Simpson Passes...... 1 January Meeting Minutes...... 2 Boats Lost in March...... 3 USSVI E-gram #33...... 3 WWII Subvets...... 3 John McCarthy...... 3 Base Chaplin Needed...... 3 Thank You...... 3 Thresher Service Update and Invitation...... 4 To Perpetuate the Memory...... 5 Next Meeting...... Back Page USSVI Celebration...... Back Page Above: The new inductees join their fellow Holland Club members who attended the ceremony. Page  Base and USSVI News

January Meeting Minutes The January 2007 meeting of this year’s event. tended the last dinner Thresher Base was held at the VFW Gary has heard meeting with Com- in Portsmouth. The meeting was from a number manding Officer of USS called to order followed by a silent of people. One New Hampshire was prayer where we were asked to keep in family is travel- the guest speaker. Gave our thoughts the two sailors who were ling out from presentation on the Vir- recently lost on a . Our Arizona and ginia Class construction. silent prayers were followed by the Anne Metcalf It is done in sections and pledge of allegiance. has stated she shipped up by barge. No The tolling of the bell was sounded will be attending. Gary added that periscope - all electronics and video. for those boats lost in January and maybe it is a good thing having a The CO walked around the room February followed by a silent prayer small number and trying out this new with a wireless mike talking with for all those shipmates on final patrol. A location. Send out invitations with everyone in the room. Boat patch was sound off of all those present was conducted. directions and we are confirmed for designed by some local school chil- Thresher Base minutes of Novem- April 14th at the Elks Club. Larry dren. This is a multi-mission design ber’s meeting were read by Kevin says to hold the 44th this year and with a universal module mast where Galeaz. Dennis O’Keefe followed by then next year at the 45th to make electronics can be switched out for reading the Treasurer’s Report - cur- the announcement that annual events each mission. This is the first subma- rent balance is $6470.70 will no longer be held, but rather every rine build under a dual contract w/ five years. Gary is taking care of rifle Newport News working on the front Old Business - salute, Kevin will contact Piper Boyle, section and Electric Boat works on the 1) Thresher Service - John Cook George Stevens and the media. back section and the two sections are has contacted Kevin Galeaz. At the 2) Newsletter Award - Honorable slipped together with tolerances of 1/4 moment, just under 20 people have Mention for Thresher Base News. inch. Herm had the chance to use the expressed an interest in traveling this Larry will make a .pdf file of the award Virginia Class Simulator in Groton. year. He does expect to hear from a and send the original to Robin. The New Hampshire will be commis- few more, but it does not look like sioned in 2008. The Navy League has more that 30 family members. Travel New Business - to take the lead on forming a commit- is getting difficult for many and are tee to fundraise for the commission- waiting until the 45th. John Cook 1) USS Dolphin, the last diesel sub- ing, not the Navy or shipyard. Gary is considering attending an event marine in commission, was decomis- has passed along Bruce Clark’s infor- closer to home in NY. Still has not sioned on January 12, 2007. Larry mation to Senator Snow’s office. heard from some families, including presented Roger Miller, who served 5) Bill Tebo announced the WWII the DiNolla’s, who would probably on board the Dolphin, with a hat that NE Regional Convention will be May attend. An estimate of 150 people for lists the dates it was in service. 2) It is suggested that the Holland 9, 10, 11 in Groton. Club Ceremony, which has been held 6) USS Minneapolis-St.Paul lost two in January for the past few years, be sailors taking the pilot off leaving Eng- moved to the July Lobsterbake due to land. COB Tom Higgins just finished better attendance. Passed. up here in Portsmouth. He was a great 3) Albacore Park Road - Since the guy and it is a great loss. This is a re- bridge is working, they have closed minder of how dangerous a job it is. down the road due to the difficulty in 7) Groton Anniversay Celebration to turning, lack of light and turning lane. be held May 3-6. It will be a few years before this will be Meeting was adjorned to hold the completed. Holland Club Ceremony and Potluck dinner. 4) Navy League - Tom Young at- Page  Base and USSVI News

Jane Simpson (continued from page 1) the Christmas Fair for St. Patrick’s. her nursing school classmates. Not Northwood, New Hampshire. Besides She was very active in St. Patrick’s only did she donate her crafts to good her husband, she is survived by her Mothers’ Club. Jane was a talented causes, but she shared her talents by loving children, Denise M. Simpson artist and fabulous cook. Her prized instructing others how to sew, paint, of Derry, NH, Donald Victor Simp- acrylic and oil paintings have been cook and enjoy the hobby of photog- son, Jr. and his wife Ellen of Gray, auctioned at the WGBH raphy. ME and Heidi Ann Simpson of W. Public Television Auctions and her Jane and her husband were ball Roxbury. She was the mother of the family has her treasured paintings room dancing partners and they also late Laura J. Simpson; sister of Nancy in their homes, as well as her festive enjoyed bowling at the Sunlight Bowl- Powers of Stoneham, Susan Higgins cermanics, crocheted afghans and ing Alleys. They shared their love for of Derry, NH and the late Kathy volumes of photos that she had taken travel, as well, and sailed on several Flor-Motoshige and grandmother of and recorded through the years. Caribbean cruises; flew to London, Nick Morse and his wife Sara, Daniel Jane was also known for her sump- Vegas and Hawaii. Jane will also be re- Morse and Kyle Simpson. tuous Portuguese cooking and her membered for her personal Christmas Memorial tributes may be sent to famous meatballs prepared for the letters each year to her many friends the Joslin Diabetes Center, One Joslin neighborhood parties. and her beautiful singing voice. Place, Boston, MA 02215 or the Jane was always giving to others; she Since their retirement, Mr. and Mrs. American Heart Association, 20 was the neighborhood nurse; she loved Simpson have spent winters in Mel- Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701. to entertain and hosted reunions for bourne, Florida and their summers in WWII Subvets USSVI E-gram #33 - Member on Mail Hold Status As of February 21, 2007 1,130 WW The National Membership Chair- These members are marked as mail II Subvets currently belong to USSVI, man, Pat Household, recently issued HOLD, TEMP AWAY, SNOW but the attrition rate is high. (We E-gram #33 concerning the impor- BIRD, First Class Mail, Internet Edi- have lost 52 WWII subvets just since tance of notifying USSVI or you tion and Foreign Mail, depending on Sept 4 2006) Base Membership Recordkeeper of the circumstances. While there is still time, seek them member address changes. The E-gram IMPORTANT: The member WILL out and thank them for their service advises that “Each quarter the Editor NOT receive his American Submari- in WWII, at a time when one of four of American Submariner pulls down ner so long as the CLASS field is set to did not return from Patrol. from the database the latest and most MAIL HOLD.” Honor them while they are with us accurate listing of member addresses You can update your address yourself to hear your thanks. to mail the magazine. via the USSVI On-Line database or They will appreciate it and you will After each mailing, the Editor re- by contacting Thresher Base Trea- be glad you did. ceives back a listing of the Addresses surer, Dennis O’Keeffe, or Thresher in the database which are suspect or Base Membership Recordkeeper, are no longer valid for various reasons. Larry Oiler. Boats Lost in March 3/26/45 USS Trigger (SS-237) Base Chaplin Needed John McCarthy 3/20/45 USS Kete (SS-369) The base president has sadly accept- Our best wishes go out to John and 3/26/44 USS Tullibee (SS-284) ed the resignation of the base chaplin, his family after he recently suffered a 3/15/43 USS Triton (SS-201) Jack McNally. If anyone is interested stroke. He is recovering at home. 3/5/43 USS Grampus (SS-207) in taking on this position, please con- 3/13/43 USS Perch (SS-176) tact Gary Hildreth, (207) 676-9649 or Thank You 3/12/20 USS H-1 (SS-28) [email protected] Thank you to Larry Oiler his time 3/25/15 USS F-4 (SS-23) and hard work on maintaining the Thresher base database. Page  Base and USSVI News

44th USS Thresher Memorial Service Update by Kevin Galeaz, 44th Memorial Service Planning Committee Chairman On Saturday, April 14, 2007 a me- administrative staff who guided me Robin and I designed the Memorial morial service will be held at the R.W. through the process of writing a letter Service Invitation. A special thanks Traip Academy honoring the loss of of request to the Kittery School De- to Robin for printing and mailing 368 129 crew members, US Naval Sub- partment and R.W. Traip Academy. invitations on March 7. You should marine Officer Observers, and civilian It was approved within a day, pend- have received your invitation by the support personnel aboard the USS ing receipt of event liability coverage. time you are reading this. Please RSVP Thresher during sea trials off of the USSVI Eastern Region Director, John with the number attending in your New England coast on April 10, 1963. J. Carcioppolo approved a USSVI party to me by calling 603.268.0420 The Memorial Service will begin at event insurance policy rider which I or sending email to webmaster@ 1300. All SubVet WWII and USSVI faxed to the Academy administrative staff. thresherbase.org. If you have not yet members are invited along with their Commander Gary Hildreth and received an invitation and would like spouses and family members. The Vice Commander Larry Oiler toured to join us, please contact me with your R.W. Traip Academy is located in the R.W. Traip Academy and were postal address. Kittery directly across from Ports- both very impressed with the layout. John Cook, USS Thresher Crew- mouth Naval Shipyard (PNS) at 12 Larry commented on the ease of ac- member, USS Thresher Family Mem- Williams Avenue. cess for parking and walking to the au- ber Coordinator & USSVI Member, As discussed at the last meeting, ditorium as well as the much shorter will be using a laptop computer and holding the memorial service at the walk to the waterfront for the Wreath portable projector to display the pho- PNS was becoming too difficult from Laying Ceremony as the ramp lead- tos of those lost as the names are read a security perspective in this current ing to the River facing PNS is located during the Tolling of the Bell. This war time posture. We had hoped to directly behind the Academy. will greatly enhance the impact of this use the Elks Club in Portsmouth; Thresher Base extends our deepest section of the Memorial Service. however a wedding was booked for gratitude to Patricia Garnis, R.W. Once again, we are honored by the April 14th. Traip Academy Principal and to Larry attendance of Piper Pat Boyle and Having sea kayaked past the R.W. Littlefield, Superintendent of Schools, Trumpeter George Stevens. Gary Traip Academy a number of years Kittery School Department for host- Hildreth is locating Guest Speakers. ago, I remembered that the location ing the 44th USS Thresher Memorial Robin and I will generate the Memo- and layout could be ideal to hold the Service. rial Service program as soon as the Memorial Service. I contacted the details have been worked out.

44th Anniversary Memorial Service for USS Thresher (SSN 593)

Saturday, April 14, 2007 1:00 p.m.

R. W. Traip Academy 12 Williams Avenue, Kittery, Maine

RSVP to Kevin Galeaz, (603) 268-0420 or [email protected] Page  To Perpetuate the Memory

Philip Harcourt Allen was born on petfish (SS 425). Philip was qualified mander, 4, January 24 1924, in Milton, Mass., the as a submariner and received his gold where he served as engineering and son of Addie Rudd dolphins while serving later material officer. and the late Otis in the Trumpetfish. From May 1958, to June 1960, W. Allen. In April 1950, he Philip was assigned to the Bureau of Prior to enter- attended the Navy’s Ships, Washington, D.C., in the Sonar ing the U.S. Naval electronic school in Branch. In June, he was reassigned to Academy in 1942, California, and com- the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. After Philip was gradu- pleting the course in a tour in the planning department, he ated as salutatorian December, he re- became the assistand design superin- from Easthampton ported to the U. S. S. tendent at the shipyard, and project High School. A Requin (SS 481). officer for Thresher-class submarines. graduate with the He served in that During his naval career, he was class of 1945, at the command until April awarded the American Campaign, acadamy, he was 1952, when he was World War II Victory, National De- comissioned an en- Philip Harcourt Allen selected for graduate fense Service, and the Navy Occupa- sign, and assigned Lieutenant Commander study in electronics tion Service with Asia Clasp, medals. to the NAVY engineering at the He was also qualified to command U.S.S. Ault (DD Navy’s Postgraduate submarines. 698). School, Monterey, Lieutenant Commander Allen is While serving in Ault, Philip volun- Calif. He was graduated second in his survived by his widow, the former teered for submarine duty, and upon class, and also earned his master’s de- Jane Whitham; three children, Scott being accepted, he was enrolled in the gree in applied physics at the Univer- Philip, William W., and Christian Submarine School at the U.S. Naval sity of California in Los Angeles. Allen, all of North Hampton, N.H. He Submarine Base, New London, Conn., Philip returned to the sea and also leaves his widowed mother, Mrs. in January 1947. Successfully complet- submarines, and served in the U.S.S. Otis W. Allen of Easthampton, Mass.; ing the basic officers course if instruc- Cavalla (SS 244) and the U.S.S. Sea and an aunt, Miss Fanny G. Allen of tion in June 1947, he was assigned to Cat (SS 399), and in February 1957, Northampton, Mass. his first submarine, the U.S.S. Trum- he reported to the staff of the com-

Donald Clifford Day, the only son of instruction, and came qualified Mr. and Mrs. Herschel Day, was born was graduated in as a submariner on September 12, 1942, in Kansas May, 1960. He and was award- City, Mo. was then assigned ed his silver He spent his early boyhood there, to the U.S. Naval dolphins. and attended local public schools. Submarine Base, He is survived Donald enlisted in the Navy on Sep- , by his widow, tember 18, 1959, at Chicago, Ill., and Hawaii. Mrs. Jane Day completed his basic training at the On February 27, and a daughter, U.S. Naval Training Center, Great 1961, Donald was Anita Dawn Lakes, Ill. assigned to the Day, of New- He volunteered for submarine duty, nuclear-powered buryport, Mass., and upon being accepted, he was submarine, U.S.S. and his parents, enrolled in the Navy’s Submarine Thresher (SSN Donald Clifford Day Mr. and Mrs. School at the U.S. Naval Submarine 593). In October Engineman Third Class Herschel Day of Base, New London, Conn. Donald 1962, Donald be- Oak Lawn, Ill. successfully completed the course of Page  THRESHER Base United States Submarine Veterans, Inc. c/o Kevin Galeaz 1465 Hooksett Road #239 Hooksett, NH 03106

Next Thresher Base Meeting Saturday, March 17, 2007 @ 1300 Portsmouth VFW • Deer Street, Portsmouth

USSVI Thresher Base Groton Base USSVI Celebration States Government.” This event begins with the Scholar- USSVI Thresher Base was chartered The base newsletter, on 15 November 1989 in the memory of Thresher Base ship Golf Tourney on Thursday May , and base website, those 129 gallant men who at 9:17 AM News www.thresher- 3 and ends with Steak N Eggs break- , are used to inform the mem- on 10 April 1963 lost their lives in the base.org fast Sunday May 6. There will be bership and community about meet- performance of their duties aboard USS golf, tours of Submarine School, most ing happenings and upcoming events. THRESHER (SSN 593). Any member who has information to likely a tour of an active submarine Our mission is “to perpetuate the share with the membership is encour- and much more. There is a chance for memory of our shipmates who gave aged to submit articles to the editor your spouse or friend to get all dressed their lives in the pursuit of their duties for publishing. Send submissions to while serving their country. That their up to attend the Banquet on Saturday. Kevin Galeaz, Editor, 1465 Hooksett dedication, deeds and supreme sacri- Registration forms will be available on Road #239, Hooksett, NH 03106 or fice be a constant source of motivation the Groton website. [email protected]. toward greater accomplishments. Pledge loyalty and patriotism to the United Page