August 17 by BOB and GLORIA WOLA- Try Will Start at 11:30 A.M
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
USS Orion (AS-18) Veterans Historical Organization AUGUST 2010 VOLUME 22 NUMBER 3 Reunion Registration Deadline — August 17 By BOB and GLORIA WOLA- try will start at 11:30 a.m. — leaving NIN plenty of time for church and a little The 2010 reunion deadline is relaxation in the morning. Then there quickly approaching. For those of will be an evening out at the Tommy you who may not be up-to-date on Gun’s Garage which is a Roaring this exciting event, the registration Twenties musical comedy and dinner deadline is August 17, 2010. theater. We know you would enjoy We have procured some of the both but if you prefer to attend only best prices that you will ever see in one event, then we have made ar- Chicago for hotel, shuttles, and rangements to get people back and tours. This is a great opportunity, forth to the hotel depending on their especially for those of you who choices (promise not to leave anyone have never attended a reunion be- stranded). fore. Just ask those of us who have Monday, September 27, break- been there and done it all. At any fast and business meeting in the rate, whether or not it is your first morning and a dinner banquet in the time or not, we are looking to have evening starting at 6:00 p.m. This a fabulous time in Chi-town. Here will be a good time to reminisce is a recap of the information that about our exciting time together and was originally sent out in the De- make plans for next year. The “Early cember 2009 and April 2010 issues Bird” drawing will take place at the of the Scuttlebutt. banquet on Monday evening. Friday, September 24 at 7:30 a.m. We start out with an early The hotel accepts only credit card tour to Great Lakes Naval Training reservations. If this method of pay- Center and Baha’i Temple — you ment is a problem, please contact us at 630-561-4617. remember the Navy never lets you sleep late. For those of you flying into Chi- Saturday, September 25, we cago-O'Hare Airport, the hotel will are off to a full day’s tour of the provide a $3 each way shuttle ser- sights and sounds of Chicago. With vice. For a schedule of shuttle times, the Ship and Shore Bus Tour we please contact Shara Gerber at the will view the most popular sights of hotel phone number 847-908-2653 or email at Chicago on land and then cruise along Lake Michigan while eating [email protected] lunch. Come and renew acquaintances Sunday, September 26, the tour and pass on your “sea stories.” to the Hancock Building and Museum of Science and Indus- More Reunion Notes on Page 2 Inside Notes . 2 Chaplain Dusty . 4 Taps . 5 The sub that sank a train Stories & Pictures . 3-8 Page 3 Hancock Building PAGE 2 AUGUST 2010 THE SCUTTLEBUTT Notes From Shipmates I am searching for James R. Ray from St. Joseph, Mo., who was aboard from 1957-62 or 63. He was a TM2 in SR Div. – John Poland, TM1, SR USS Orion (AS-18) Veterans Div., [email protected] Historical Organization * * * Founded in 1988 by George Waibel Trying to reach Bill Lillard, IC Chief from 1962-65(?), George Jolly, Char- lie Reostreak, Bill Theriault. – Bob Evens, IC3, [email protected] Jack Dulaney President 760 E. Greene St. Reunion Notes Waynesburg, PA 15370 If you have an emergency or become ill and cannot attend after sending in (724) 627-7797 your reunion form, your money will be refunded. So go ahead and get your John Klena form in. Vice President Hotel reservations must be cancelled by 4 p.m. on the scheduled arrival 5629 Holly Ave. Harvey Cedars, NJ 08008 date. (609) 361-7787 e-mail: [email protected] Here’s Who’s Coming So Far Dave Peckinpaugh Secretary/Treasurer As of July 26, the following shipmates have already Hosts 4300 E. Maple Manor Pkwy. made their reservations. Muncie, IN 47302 (765) 284-1746 Ernie Baynum and guest (47-50) e-mail: [email protected] Richard and Lucille Broadfoot (53-55) Ron “Dusty” Rodes John Casey and guest (51-53) Chaplain Carl and Carol Clauson (64-66) 92 S. Heather Dr. John and Aliff Dulaney (51-54) Nampa, ID 83651 John and Bernie Filipczak (55-56) (208) 466-5312 John Bellis e-mail: [email protected] Mitchell and Beverly Gearhart (59-63) Robert and Shelva Hendrickson (52-55) Storekeeper Larry Snyder Filiberto and Elda Islas (56-58) 308 Oak St. John and Joan Klena (49-52) Rowley, IA 52329 Art and Carol Mager (60-61) Phone: (319) 938-2852 David and Mary Peckinpaugh (57-60) e-mail: [email protected] John and Beverly Prendergast (55-56) Glenn and Joyce Pierce (61-61) Auditing Committee Don Brewer Gene and Virginia Plunkett (53-56) Bob Bob Podgorski Bob and Phyllis Podgorski (55-57) Wolanin Bob Pritchard (59-63) Dennis and Pat Rose (58-62) Truman Sieck and Hilda Jacobsen (43-46) Editors: Dave and Mary Peckinpaugh Wally Stebbins and Arlene Alercia (54-56) 4300 E. Maple Manor Pkwy. Ted and Martha Swenson (54-56) Muncie, IN 47302 Richard and Patsy Tisdale (59-61) (765) 284-1746 Rene and Helene Van Hulle (49-52) e-mail: [email protected] Nathaniel and Maurvene Williams, (52-56) Gloria Wolanin The Scuttlebutt is published in Harold and Frances Wright (61-63) April, August and December by the USS Orion (AS-18) Veterans Historical Organization Inc., a non-profit organi- zation, and has no official affiliation Editor’s Note: with the U.S. Navy. Pictures and written articles are con- A reminder that the election of officers will take place at Mon- tributed by members and depict activi- day’s business meeting and, if you can, bring a gift for the raffle to ties of the USS Orion, its crew mem- be held during Monday night’s festivities. Also, we need stories bers, or persons affiliated with the USS Orion (AS-18). about your time aboard for the next Scuttlebutt. — Dave THE SCUTTLEBUTT AUGUST 2010 PAGE 3 USS Barb: The Sub That Sank a Train In 1973 an Italian submarine named Enrique Tazzoli was buzzing excitedly about bagging a train. was sold for a paltry $100,000 as scrap metal. The subma- The rail line itself wouldn't be a problem. A shore pa- rine, given to the Italian Navy in 1953, was actually an trol could go ashore under cover of darkness to plant the incredible veteran of World War II service with a heritage explosives … one of the sub's 55-pound scuttling charges. that never should have passed so unnoticed into the grave- But this early morning Lucky Fluckey and his officers yards of the metal recyclers. USS Barb (SS-220) was a were puzzling over how they could blow not only the pioneer, paving the way for the first submarine launched rails, but also one of the frequent trains that shuttled sup- missiles and flying a battle flag unlike that of any other plies to equip the Japanese war machine. Such a daring ship. In addition to the Medal of Honor ribbon at the top feat could handicap the enemy's war effort for several of the flag identifying the heroism of its captain, Com- days, a week, perhaps even longer. It was a crazy idea, mander Eugene "Lucky" Fluckey, the bottom border of just the kind of operation "Lucky" Fluckey had be- the flag bore the image of a Japanese locomotive. USS come famous … or infamous … for. But no matter how Barb was indeed, the submarine that "SANK A TRAIN". crazy the idea might have sounded, Barb's skipper would July, 1945 (Guam). Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz not risk the lives of his men. Thus the problem ... how to looked across the desk at Admiral Lockwood as he fin- detonate the charge at the moment the train passed, with- ished the personal briefing on U.S. warships in the vicini- out endangering the life of a shore party. PROBLEM? ty of the northern coastal areas of Hokkaido, Japan. Not on Commander Fluckey's ship. His philosophy had "Well, Chester, there's only the Barb there, and probably always been "We don't have problems, only solutions". no word until the patrol is finished. You remember Gene 11:27 a.m. "Battle Stations!" No more time to seek Fluckey?" "Of course. I recommended him for the Medal solutions or to ponder blowing up a train. The approach of of Honor," Admiral Nimitz replied. "You surely pulled a Japanese freighter with a frigate escort demands tradi- him from command after he received it?" tional submarine warfare. By noon the frigate is laying July 18, 1945 (Patience Bay, off the coast of Karafuto, on the ocean floor in pieces and Barb is in danger of be- Japan). It was after 4 a.m. and Commander Fluckey coming the hunted. rubbed his eyes as he peered over the map spread before 6:07 p.m. Solutions! If you don't look for them, you'll him. It was the twelfth war patrol of Barb, the fifth under never find them. And even then, sometimes they arrive in Commander Fluckey. He should have turned com- the most unusual fashion. Cruising slowly beneath the mand over to another skipper after four patrols, but had surface to evade the enemy plane now circling overhead, managed to strike a deal with Admiral Lockwood to make the monotony is broken with an exciting new idea.