Volume 2012 Issue 2 $5.95 AMERICAN SUBMARINER OUR CREED: “To perpetuate the memory of our shipmates who gave their lives in the pursuit of their duties while serving their country. That their dedication, deeds and supreme sacrifice be a constant source of motivation toward greater accomplishments. Pledge loyalty and patriotism to the United States of America and its Constitution” Norfolk 2012 Bird’s eye view of Norfolk Naval Base The sights of the city in daylight and at night. The harbor, the zoo, and the MacArthur Memorial. All worth while to see at the 2012 convention. Receive your American Submariner Electronically - More magazine, delivered earlier. Send an E-mail to [email protected] requesting the change. Page 2 American Submariner If at first you don’t succeed, skydiving is not for you. Volume 2012 - Issue 2 Page 3 “THIS EDITION” AMERICAN 4. National Commander’s Corner 23. Kap(SS) 4 KId(SS) SUBMARINER 6. USSVI Committees 24. Eternal Patrol 7. USSVI Regions & Districts 26. Candidates/Convention Package The Official Magazine of the United 8. Letters to the Editor 40. New Members 10. Eagle Scouts States Submarine Veterans Inc. is 44. American Subvettes/Save our Hertiage published quarterly by USSVI. 12. Days Gone By/ Heroes among us 45. Base News from around the Country 14. Scholarship program/ Haddo base 49. Hell on the High Seas United States Submarine Veterans Inc. 16. US Submarine Losses 50. Boats of Old.. is a non-profit 501 C-19 corporation in 17. Chaplain’s Message/ Fleet news 51. What’s Happening in the World the State of Connecticut. 18. Boat Reunions 53. 2012 Convention Registration Form Printing: A. J. Bart of Dallas, Texas. 21. Convention/ Something to do 54. John Holland’s Death Mailing: Dalton Mailing Service 22. Medal of Honor loss 56. Rosie the Riveteer National Editor Notes from the Editor... Gordon Palmer Editorial Office As you all know, the national convention is right around the corner. This American Submariner year’s convention is in Norfolk and really should be the event of the year. [email protected] This is also an election year and your vote for candidates and amendments 860-730-2871 to our constitution is important for USSVI. Your vote is a voice in what is 35 North Street Manchester, CT 06042 going to be happening for the next two years. Please use that opportunity ADVERTISING to help manage USSVI. Toll Free 951-795-4315 This system is a tad better than on the boats where there was no discus- [email protected] sion about doing something that you were told to do. Use this as a sound- ing board to let the national officers understand what are the needs of the Assistant Editor membership. David Kauppinen The Editor Associate Editors William Fernstrom Joan Peters - Bob Miller VA Information: Gil Shaddock - Kit Carson Marsha Hudson WASHINGTON – Twenty years after the end of the Persian Gulf War, the Depart- Treasurer ment of Veterans Affairs plans to standardize and improve treatment for the one Hugh “Blackie” Blackwell in four veterans who suffer from a multi-symptom illness that could have been Photographer caused by environmental exposures. Robert “Bob” Bissonette Sinise is giving back to veterans and first responders. Actor-director Gary Sinise Staff Artist has touched the lives of thousands of U.S. service members. Tom Denton Gary Sinise often travels overseas to honor and entertain the troops with his Lt. Dan Band, and his Gary Sinise Foundation helps support them when they return The American Submariner is not home.Former military service members who retired from service as the result of responsible for the claims of the medical reasons could have a second chance at obtaining veteran benefits. Some Advertisers, however the primary focus veterans are eligible to reapply for benefits. of this publication is for the benefit and service to USSVI members. Issues concerning Advertisers may be sent to the Editorial Staff for mediation. AMERICAN SUBMARINER SUBMISSION DEADLINES CHANGE OF ADDRESS Change of address is handled by your Edition 2012-2 Feb. 15, Edition 2012-3 May 15. Edition 2012-4 Sept 15, Edition Base Membership Chairman or the USSVI 2013-1 Feb 15 2013. Articles received after the indicated deadlines may be con- Main Office in Silverdale, Washington. sidered for publishing in the next scheduled edition of the magazine. All articles Call: 877-542-DIVE are published at the sole discretion of the Editor. Send E-Mail to: [email protected] if you only have stamps, snail it to: American Submariner PO BOX 3870 AMERICAN SUBMARINER COPYRIGHT 2012 Silverdale, WA 98383-3870 The American Submariner and all material therein is copyrighted under the laws If the above instructions are too of the United States of America and any reproduction in any form, analog or complicated, then send your change of digital, without the written permission of the Editor is forbidden by law. All permitted address to the Editor; but whatever you do, reproduction requires acknowledgement of source; Author and the American send it! Submariner. Thanks for reading the American Submariner. Thank you for your Service. Page 4 American Submariner National Commander’s Corner T. Michael Bircumshaw National Commander PO BOX 892616 Temecula, CA 92589 951-308-6479 [email protected] Shipmates, This has been an interesting and challenging couple of years.. convention. I am assured that the convention committee is doing On the personal side, my health and financial situation have been all it can to bring in as many Vendors as possible into the venue greatly impacted, however, both of those issues are well under so that you and your Ladies will have ample shopping time and control and I am able and willing to re-dedicate my self and my product to choose from. The Honor Navy Vets group will be there time to all things Sub Vet. conducting no-cost (to you) interviews and giving you the CDs for My sincere thanks goes out to all of you, the members of this tre- you to share with your kids and their kids to watch and hear you mendous brotherhood, for your participation and advancement of tell your personal Submarine story. There will be a spectacular Sub Vets. I must give serious recognition to all USSVI officers and “Tolling of the Boats” (weather permitting) ceremony conducted committee appointees, from Base Commanders and their sincere onboard the USS Wisconsin BB-64. efforts to the District Commanders who contributed their time and USSVI has far outgrown the expectations and dreams of our travel, and the Regional Directors who went to extra lengths to founders and I am sure that Joe Negri would be extremely pleased get the job done. and totally amazed at where and how far we have advanced. In None of what we have accomplished could have been anywhere 1964 I remember Joe telling me that he would like to see every near possible without every one of you who made positive contribu- Boat sailor as a member of USSVI and that his reality position tions in time and effort. Lastly, but not least, I heartily commend was to get to 1,000 members and wouldn’t it be great if we could your elected Board of Directors who have worked so diligently for break 2,000 and 5,000 was the impossible dream.. Well Joe, we all of us. The BOD has given a tremendous amount of thought and now have Thirteen Thousand one hundred ninety members and energy to considering, preparing, and then objectively scrutinizing we might crack the 14,000 mark this year. Thank you for sharing and submitting the Proposed Amendments that you will find in the your dream with us, Joe, and thank all of you for lighting the fire. center section of this editon of the American Submariner. Please I clearly remember the day that Joe signed up member number read them over carefully and if you have any questions please take “33”, David “Muskrat” Musgrove EM1 (SS) of the USS Robert E them to your officers and to the BOD to ensure that you understand Lee SSBN-601 and one other un-named shipmate in early ‘64 (ask the ramifications. The BOD has overwhelmingly approved and me about that day sometime.) supported these amendments with the simple objective of doing Best, all that they can to improve and advance USSVI. Michael Along with that, now is a really good time to make your reservations for the USSVI Convention in Norfolk. Rooms in the main hotel are quickly filling up as we look forward to another “Bench Mark” BEWARE OF BOGUS EMAILS Pentagon warns against bogus e-mails The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), which manages accounting and financial operations in the Defense Department, has issued a warning about scam e-mails seeking personal information. The bogus messages appear to come from a DFAS employee with a dot mail address and have been sent to uniformed personnel, retirees, and civilian employees. “The emails indicate that individuals who are receiving disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may be able to obtain additional funds from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS),” says a notice on the DFAS Web site. “These emails are not issued by DFAS and will likely result in a financial loss if you comply with the suggestions in the email. “Bottom line — do not send your personal information or copies of your tax returns and 1099s to the individual listed in the email.” The DFAS warning says the e-mail claims funds can be received from the IRS if the recipients send personal information, such as that on tax forms, “to a so-called retired Colonel at an address in Florida.” “Do NOT follow the suggestions in the email because you will be providing a significant amount of your personal information to a complete stranger,” the notice continues, “which could result in a financial loss to you.” Volume 2012 - Issue 2 Page 5 Jon Jaques Al Singleman Jr.