USSVI Th resher Base News July 2005 USS Thresher Memorial Service The 42nd anniversary memorial After Reverand Mi- service of the loss of the USS Thresher chael M. Stephens’ was held on April 9, 2005. The wel- Benediction, the service coming address was given by Captain continued down at the Jona- than C. Iverson, Com- mander, Por- smouth Naval Above and Below: The family members of Ports- mouth Shipyad employee Paul C. Currie. Ship- yard. His address was followed by Guests listen to the remarks of Captain Iverson and remarks by Com- Commande Davis. mander Mark E. Davis, Commanding Officer, USS Montpelier.Then Lori waterfront. Reverand Arsenault, daughter of ENCA(SS) Stephens led us in a Tilmon Arsenault, perform the Navy prayer which was fol- Hymn. This set the stage for the lowed by a gun salute somber Tolling of the Bells for the from the Portsmouth 129 men who lost their lives on April Naval Shipyard Rifle Team. While the 9, 1963. While Kevin Galeaz and Bill wreath was being prepared, George Tebo read the names and Tom Young Stevens, US Submarine Veteran, tolled the bell, the melodic sounds of played taps. The family members of Table of Contents a bagpipe, played by Patrick Boyle, Portsmouth Shipyard employee Paul USS Thresher Memorial ................... 1 could be heard in the distance. C. Currier were pleased to participate Commander’s Message ...................... 2 in the releasing of the wreath over March Meeting Minutes .................. 2 the bridge railing into May Meeting Minutes ....................... 2 the outgoing tide. Piper New Member ........................................ 2 Boyle concluded the Memorial Day at Albacore Park .... 3 ceremony with the Promoting Membership .................... 3 Navy Hymn. Base News .............................................. 4 To Perpetuate the Memory ............. 5 Member Profile .................................... 6 Lobsterbake Invitation ....................... 7 Subvet WWII News ........................... 8 USSVI News ......................................... 9 Reverend Michael M. Stephens leads guests in a Next Meeting .......................Back Page praye at the aterfront. Upcoming Conventions ...Back Page Page 1 May Meeting Minutes Commander’s Message The May meeting of Thresher Base in other parts of the state. Carpool- was held at the Portsmouth VFW on ing could be an option. January, May Greetings, May 21, 2005. The meeting was called and November meetings will stay in Like many of you, I am looking for- to order followed by a prayer and Portsmouth. July’s meeting remains a ward to the Lobster Bake at our next pledge of allegiance. The Tolling of the joint meeting with Subvets WWII in meeting with our WWII shipmates. Seabrook. If you’ve never been, it’s a meet- Bells was conducted for those boats • Kevin apologized for his computer ing not to be missed. Even though lost in May and June. A sound off of around here we can have lobster any- all those present was conducted. The crash. time we want, it just seems to taste minutes of March’s meeting were read • Subvet WWII Auxillary has dis- better when you’re sharing sea stories by Kevin Galeaz. Roy Pierce gave the banded and their funds have been with friends and shipmates. Like the treasurer’s report. We have $5009.54 donated to Subvets WWII for lost hotdog at the ballpark or popcorn at in checking account. boat plaques. the movies – there’s none better. • Bob Bryant is just out of the hospital The Memorial Day service at Old Business – due to doule pneumonia. Not feeling Albacore Park went as planned and • Albacore Park – renovations are the weather again cooperated with complete and will be ready for Memo- well enough to attend the meeting. us this year. If you were unale to rial Day. Thesher Base portion of the • Carl Weber showed examples attend, then you probaly haven’t expenses is $1200. of grave markers availale for $45 had the opportunity to view the im- • Mike Geletka has finally submitted each. They have been donated to the provements made at the Memorial his bio. families of Roy McCool and Gerald Gardens. Our money was well ent, McLees. as the area is now visually opened New Business - up and welcomes Albacore Park • Thresher Service was excellent. • The 50/50 raffle was won by Bob visitors to wander over and view the Appreciationwas given to Kevin and Pomella. Memorials. Also the overcrowding Robin Galeaz for work done on the • Meeting was adjorned. of expanding foliage has been taste- program. fully pared back and the old fountain • Memorial Day Service will be at Al- area has a fresh look with the addi- New Member tion of some new shrubs. Overall, the bacore Park with Commander Neu- Welcome aboard TMC(SS) John J. gardening improvements provide for bert as a eaker. All arrangements Kondrat, USN, Retired. John resides a much nicer environment for our are made. It is on Monday, May 31 at in Freedom, New Hampshire and annual service and visiting guests. I 1000. joined USSVI and THRESHER Base received numerous compliments that • Next meeting is the Lobster bake in Chapter on 20 April. He qualified in day about the service, but similar to at the American Legion in Seabrook submarines in 1942 on USS PICUDA our Thresher Memorial Service, the on July 23 at 1200. efforts and contributions of many (SS 382) and retired from the Navy in make these events happen and I am • Future Meetings - Looking into 1961. John also served on USS BANG appreciative to all who help. meetings being held in Manchester (SS 385), USS FLYING FISH (AGSS As I am sure you are aware, organi- twice a year, March and September, to 229), USS HALFBEAK (SS 352) and zations like ours survive on the vol- try and accommodate people who live USS TROUT (SS 566). unteer efforts by our members. I’m bringing this up because Thresher Base still needs a Storekeeper. I have March Meeting Minutes been asking at all the meetings for The March meeting of Thresher Shipyard. The minutes of January’s over a year now for someone to take meeting were read by Kevin Galeaz. over this office. There is really not a Base was held at the Portsmouth Roy Pierce gave the treasurer’s report. lot involved with this position, and VFW on March 19, 2005 The meet- it would be nice to have availale to ing was called to order followed by a We have $5138.55 in checking and our members the items that show off prayer and pledge of allegiance. The $5516.41 in the money market ac- our pride as an organization. Think Tolling of the Bells was conducted for count. about it and if you would like to vol- those boats lost in March and April. unteer, please let me know. Have a Old Business – A sound off of all those present was safe summer and we’ll see you at the – due to harsh winter conducted. A ecial introduction Albacore Park next meeting. very little work was done. It is intend- was made for Randy Shoe who is the ed to be done by Memorial Day. Gary Hildreth new Command Master Chief at the continued on page 4 Page 2 Memorial Day at Albacore Park Everyone Commander Donald J. Neubert Jr., who attended Commanding Officer, USS Annapolis. the Memorial These eakers were followed by the Day Service at Tolling of the Bell conducted by Da- Albacore Park vid Cahill, President, Squalus Chap- was treated ter; Kevin Galeaz, Thresher Base and to a beauti- Dick Dent, Bay State West Base. ful day and a After the Tolling of the Bell, wreaths newly refur- bished Memo- rial Garden. David Cahill, Squalus Chapte, Opening US Subvets WWII remarks and rifle salute by the Porstmouth Naval introductions Shipyard Rifle Details, services were were done by Eileen Foley, Ambasado closed with a Benediction by Reverend of Goodwill, City of Ports- Michael M. Stephens. Gary Hildreth. mouth; We were then honored with remarks by Eileen Foley, Ambas- sador of Goodwill, City of Ports- mouth; Kevin Galeaz, Evelyn Threshe Base, USSVI Sirrell, were laid at the various submarine Mayor of memorials in the garden. A number of Ports- family members were present to par- mouth; ticipate in this ceremony: Ms. Julianne and Vogt, Daughter of Gerald McLees, Squalus crew member and Mr. Peter Charron, son of Robert Charron, M. Pete Charron, son of Robert Portsmouth Naval Shipyard employee Charron, Portsmouth Naval Ship- Commande Donald J. Neubert J., yad employee on the USS Threshe Commanding Office, USS Annapolis on the USS Thresher. Following a Promoting USSVI Membership The USSVI is a unique group for interested in furthering the interests obtained by containg Larry Oiler, many reasons: of the Navy in general and submarines telephone (207) 656-5864, or by ac- • Its composite membership of civil- in particular. cessing the Thresher Base Web Site at ians and aive duty personnel benefits Since membership includes persons http://www.thresherbase.org/. Only not only the members themselves but with first-hand knowledge of prai- qualified submariners are eligile for the United States Navy as well. cally every phase of submarine devel- regular membership, but our base has • It enales veterans, no longer on ac- opment, the United States Submarine provisions for Associate Membership. tive duty, to maintain an aive inter- Veterans is an unsurpassed repository We strongly encourage those that are est in the Navy and Submarines. of submarine history and tradition. not qualified submariners, but who • It provides the younger men with Its self-perpetuating nature ensures are related to the Submarine Service the fellowship, aive encouragement that this priceless heritage will be by their deeds or aions (i.e., shipyard and moral support of older, more handed down intact through future employees, support contractors, etc.), experienced submariners.