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USSVI Thresher Base News November 2010 September 2010 Minutes The September meeting of Thresher the Southern Maine Veterans’ Cem- which is quite impressive - 3 double Base was held at Newick’s Restaurant etery, Springvale, ME on August 24. hangers. He said that 3 hours was not in Dover, NH on Saturday, September •Sub Sailor of the Year, Groton Base - enough time. There is a guided tour 18. The meeting was called to order The base has received thank you notes that takes you through the on base followed by a silent prayer and pledge from all 3 of the sailors. They were hanger that houses 4 Airforce Ones: of allegiance. The Tolling of the Bells very appreciative. Kennedy, Roosevelt (2), Truman. was conducted for those boats lost •The base received a letter and $50 • Peter Joy brought up for discussion in September and October. A silent donation from Jack Hunter for the obtaining a non-descript memorial for prayer was said for those on eternal Thresher Memorial Service. The do- all submarine veterans for the South- patrol. nation was made in honor of Irv Searl. ern Maine Veterans Cemetery. He A sound off of those present was •Peter Joy made a suggestion to ask has been in touch with Tom Conlon conducted - There were 14 members Vice Admiral Emery to speak at the at national. Before making any further and 4 spouses. Secretary’s Report - Thresher Memorial Service. contacts, a sponsor is needed to collect Minutes from the July 2010 meeting and maintain the funds until all mon- were read and approved. New Business - ey is raised. Looking to see if Thresher Treasurer’s Report - •USSVI Convention - Larry Oiler Base in coordination with Maine Base $3490.19 opening balance attended his first convention and he would set up a monument committee. $3480.80 current balance plans on attending mext year. Gordon Bill Tebo has experience with obtain- $3456.10 Memorial Service balance Wentzell also attended. Larry estimat- ing quotes and they vary widely from A motion was made to make a $25 ed that there were about 900 people. $7000 to $100,000. Bill Livendale donation to Groton Base’s Thanksgiv- The facilities were good, the Ohio ing meal which serves 800 people. The River cruise was great, but the ban- continued on page 2 motion was approved. quet was not great. Mike Bircumshaw was elected National Commander. Upcoming Events Thresher Memorial Service - Holland Club bylaws were changed at the convention - you still need to be November 20 - 1200 - Meeting/Lun- • Kevin Galeaz has received feedback qualified for 50 years, but now you do cheon at Flaghill Winery, Lee, NH. from family members regarding the not need to be a USSVI member for 5 Reservations are required for lunch. service date. They wish to hold it on consecutive years. The other change is April 9. that automatic life membership is no January 15 - 1200 - Meeting/Lun- • The website has brought contact longer offered. Due to these changes, cheon at Newick’s, Dover, NH from a new family. there are 4 more base members that • The Submarine Birthday ball has qualify for the Holland Club. Bill been an issue in the past, but they will Niland, Dan Nicholson, Ian Johnson move around our service date. and Mike Remington will be honored • Dennis O’Keeffe told the group that at the November meeting at Flag Hill Table of Contents the town of Kittery is considering Winery. The next covention will be September Meeting Minutes ........... 1 closing Traipp Academy and tuition- in Springfield, MO in 2011, Norfolk, Upcoming Events ................................ 1 ing students to Eliot. This is still up for VA in 2012, Minnesota in 2013 and Lost Boats ............................................... 2 a vote and would not take effect for a starting in 2014 conventions will be To Perpetuate the Memory ............. 3 number of years. held every 2 years. The median age of USSVI Conventions ..........Back Page members is 66 years old. Next Meeting .......................Back Page Old Business - none •Wright Pat Air Force Museum, Day- ton, Ohio. While at the convention, •Peter Joy attended the dedication at Larry was able to go to the museum Page 1 Thresher Base News September 2010 Minutes (continued from page 1) contributed the specifics about how of the base needs to be on the 50th el builder Henry Weiss that is being the Vermont cemetery memorials Memorial Service. sold. This is museum quality piece and needed to look. Discussion on how • Kevin Galeaz received a request Gary has the details about the sale. money has been raised for past WWII from Flag Hill Winery to move the • Jack McNally has been ill and is very monuments. Peter was considering meeting time to 11:00 to accom- interested in hearing from people. placing ads in various magazines and modate a wedding. The group agreed Contact Kevin Galeaz if you need asking for donations of any amount. to move the meeting time. (After Jack’s phone number. Larry Oiler brings up that the 50th the meeting, Kevin was notified that • Base elections were held and the Thresher Memorial Service is in 2013 the wedding was moved to another results were: and that should be the focus of base weekend so the start time will not be Commander - Tom Young fundraising. Peter is willing to get changing.) Sr. Vice - Kevin Galeaz more information for the November • Gary received a call from a gentle- Jr. Vice - Dennis O’Keeffe meeting. Gary says that if he wants to man looking to find anyone who Treasurer - Dennis O’Keeffe get more information then go ahead, might have known his father, George Secretary - Kevin Galeaz but indicated a concern with the idea Alfred Vartek, USS Billfish. Chaplin - Peter Joy that Maine Base be responsible for a • Gary has received information about • The meeting was adjourned. Thresher Base idea and that the focus a Thresher model created by shipmod- Boats Lost in September and October USS S-5 (SS-110) - Lost on Sept. 1, USS S-44 (SS-155) - Lost on Oct 7, USS Shark II (SS-314) - Lost on Oct 1920 when a practice dive went wrong 1943 with the loss of 56 men when it 24,1944 with the loss of 90 when she and she sank bow-first, with her stern was sunk off Paramushiru, Kuriles. was sunk near Hainan. Shark was sunk showing above the water. In a dramat- Two men were taken prisoner and by escorts after attacking and sinking ic adventure, her exhausted crew was survived the war. a lone freighter. Compounding the rescued during the next few days. tragedy, it turned out that the freighter USS Wahoo (SS-238) - Lost on Oct had 1800 U.S. POW’s on board. USS Grayling (SS-209) - Lost on Sept 11, 1943 with the loss of 79 men near 9, 1943 with the loss of 76 men near La Perouse Strait. She was lost to USS Darter (SS-227) - Lost on Oct 24, the Tablas Strait. depth charges dropped by a Japanese 1944 when she became grounded on USS S-51 (SS-162) - Lost on Sept 25, patrol aircraft. Bombay Shoal off Palawan and was then destroyed to prevent her falling 1925 with the loss of 32 men when it USS Dorado (SS-248) - Lost on Oct was sunk after collision with SS City into enemy hands intact. The entire 12, 1943 with the loss of 78 when she crew was rescued by USS Dace. of Rome off Block Island. was sunk in the western Atlantic near USS Cisco (SS-290) - Lost on Sept Cuba. She may have been sunk by a USS Tang (SS-306) - Lost on Oct 28, 1943 on her first war patrol with U.S. patrol plane that received faulty 25,1944 with the lost of 80 men in the the loss of 76 men in the Sulu Sea instructions regarding bombing restric- Formosa Strait. Tang was on her 5th west of Mindinao. tion areas or a German U-boat that war patrol. During a daring night sur- was in the vicinity. face attack, Tang was lost to a circular USS Seawolf (SS-197) - Lost on Oct run by one of her own torpedoes. Nine 3,1944 with the loss of 102 officers USS Escolar (SS-294) - Lost on Oct of the crew were taken prisoner, All and men when she was sunk just 17, 1944 with the loss of 82 men. She survived the war. north of Moritai by USS Rowell, a was on her 1st war patrol and was Destroyer Escort (DE). In this tragic most likely lost to a mine some- USS O-5 (SS-66) - Lost on Oct 29, error, Rowell mistook Seawolf for a where in the Yellow Sea. 1923 with the loss of 3 men when Japanese submarine that had just sunk rammed and sunk by SS Ababgarez off another Destroyer. the Panama Canal. Page 2 To Perpetuate the Memory Billy Max Klier High School and March 4, 1955, he was assigned to the was born on Janu- worked in the oil fields submarine U.S.S. Tunny (SS 282), in ary 26, 1935, the of Elkhart for several which he became qualified as a submari- son of Mr. and years prior to enlisting ner and was awarded the silver dolphins Mrs. Charles Klier in the Navy. on September 19, 1955. of Elkhart, Kans. Billy entered the He also served in the U.S.S. Sea Devil In January 1943, naval service on Sep- (SS 400), and was selected for advance the family moved tember 30, 1954, from training in nuclear power. Successfully to Roslyn, where Kansas City, Mo., and completing the course of instruction at Billy attended local received his basic train- the submarine base, Billy was assigned schools and was ing at the U.S.
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