Volume 2009 - Issue 4 Page 1 Volume 2009 Issue 4 $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 sacrifi ce be a constant source of motivation toward greater accomplishments. Pledge loyalty and patriotism to the United States of America and its Constitution” Just another Sub Vet See Page 2 Receive your American Submariner Electronically - More magazine, delivered earlier. Send an E-mail to [email protected] requesting the change Page 2 American Submariner JUST ANOTHER SUB VET The 22nd of October was the normal meeting day for the San Diego WW-II Sub Vets. The USSVI (United States Submarine Veterans Inc) Sub Vets of LA Pasadena, Bowfi n, Scamp, San Diego, Trieste, and Bonefi sh Bases had arranged a little surprise ceremony for their elder WW-II “Brothers of the Phin”. It was meant to be a simple ceremony with maybe 25 Shipmates in attendance. Back row L-R: Dale Barkley, Harlan DeGood, Warren Krentz, It all came about as a result of Mike Williamson, Base Com- Bob Oswald, Johnny Meyer, Art Carter, Michael Bircumshaw, mander of Bonefi sh Base in Redlands, California feeling that Kent Weekly, Len Heiselt, Bob Cox, Bob Miller, Captain Paul the plaque on the Roncador memorial monument at the Sub Marconi. Front row L-R: George Kinnison, Bob Bissonette, Base in San Diego was not quite adequate. Well, it was the MCPON Rick West, Mike Williamson, C.J. Glassford size of an envelope - does it get any better than that? cret, to the WW-II Sub Vets, about the plaque and its recent Mike set about rallying the Bases in WD6 (USSVI Western placement. Distract Six) with the help of Bob Miller, WD6 Commander and And then it all took a neat turn! Bircumshaw noticed that the end result ended up in an absolutely spectacular 95 pound, there was just another Sub Vet (a member of the Groton Base 2’ by 3’ engraved plaque that clearly gives credit where credit in Connecticut) somewhere on the West Coast; maybe San Di- is due: to the WW-II Sub Vets and others directly responsible ego, or Pearl Harbor, or Bangor Washington, but somewhere for the installation of the magnifi cent memorial in 1971. on the west coast, and so he sent off an e-mail and asked that The first part of the task was raising the $3,000.00 wandering Sub Vet if he could make it to the ceremony. needed for the new plaque, then getting it manufactured, The next thing that happened was that the travelling Sub and transporting it to the Naval Base. It was manufactured Vet told his staff to change his schedule as he was attending in Minnesota and shipped to Mike in San Bernardino. On the ceremony. the 10th of October NJVC Michael Bircumshaw drove In case you didn’t recognize the Sub Vet in question on north from his home 50 miles and picked up the plaque in the front cover; it is time to let you in on the biggest and best Calimesa, California and on the 13th he drove the 65 miles kept secret of the day, because essentially not more than south to the San Diego Naval Base and handed it over to ten people on the Naval Base and none of the assembling BMC Claiboine of Port Operations for installation on the San Diego Sub Vets knew that they would be meeting the monument. Master Chief Petty Offi cer of the Navy, Rick West, at the As an aside Bircumshaw called the CO, Captain Paul ceremony. Marconi (soon to become a Sub Vet) and asked if the WW-II Did the ceremony get out of hand? Just a tad; there were Sub Vets might enjoy lunch at the award winning Sub Base close to one hundred in attendance. The Sub Base arranged galley, The Dolphin Inn, on the 22nd, to be followed by a for a magnifi cent fl ag display, and a podium and speaker sys- short dedication ceremony at the memorial. Bircumshaw tem, to be used by the event MC, Michael Bircumshaw. got in touch with one of his favorite Command Master Chiefs, Captain Marconi graciously made the dedication speech Charlie Grandin of the Sub Base, and the project was rolling (he does good dedications - short and sweet). The gathered along. dignitaries included the Squadron 11 Commodore, Captain No big deal, just a few Submariners being thanked for their Brett Genoble, Squadron 11 Command Master Chief Kurt service and dedication. Maybe 2 dozen shipmates would Saunders, Region Command Master Chief David Chielm- show up. For the most part it was a fairly well guarded se- ieski, and Captain Denver McCune USN Ret. One last item: MCPON (E-10) Rick West is now a Dual member of the USSVI Scamp Base of Escondido, Cali- fornia. * A note about the monument. There is lots of granite, two ships bells, and the sail of the USS Roncador SS- 301(and the running lights come on as sunset), plus two 5’ deck guns, and a WW-II Mk 14 3A steam torpedo all set in a grassy, tree lined mini-park which is central to the facility facing the Submarine piers of the US Naval Submarine Base at Point Loma in San Diego. It is beautifully maintained by the Port Operations Department and is the location of all of the Sub Vet ceremonies are conducted in the area. If at fi rst you don’t succeed, skydiving is not for you. Volume 2009 - Issue 4 Page 3 “This Edition” AMERICAN 2. Just another Sub Vet 30. Hudson Valley Base Treats Vets SUBMARINER 4. National Commander’s Corner Deep Water - Shallow Support 6. BoD - Committees 31. Welcome Golden Corner & Weeki The Offi cial Magazine of the United States 7. USSVI Information Regions & Districts Wachee Bases Submarine Veterans Inc. is published 32. Boat Sponsorship 8. Letters to the Editor quarterly by USSVI. 33. Long Island Base Scholarship 11. Scholarship Notes - Shipmate Lost United States Submarine Veterans Inc. is 12. Albany-Saratoga Base K4K 34. Southerrn Tier Base - $950 Gift a non-profi t 501 C-19 corporation in the 14. US Submarine Losses 35. Carbonero Base K4kK 15. Boat Reunions 36. Central Region Quarterly News State of Connecticut. 16 2009 USSVI Awards & Reognition 38. The Ultimate Dive Printing: A J. Bart of Dallas Texas. 17. The Energizer Bunny 41. USSVI Recrutier of the year Mailing: Dalton Mailing Service 18. USS Tirante SS-420 Patrol Report NJ North K4K 20. Chaplain’s Corner - Eternal Patrol 43. Silversides Museum National Editor 22. It’s About Time - 16 Years on a shelf 44. Eagle Scout Recognition T. Michael Bircumshaw 23. Carbonero Artifacts - Lost Boats Criteria 45. Class Ads 24. Cinncinati Covnention 2010 46. Branson Patch Display Editorial Offi ce 26. 342 New Members SnowBirds American Submariner 47. Change of Address Form. 29. Las Vegas K4K POB 892616 Temecula, CA 92589-2616 Shipmates, 951-541-0900 As we enter the holiday season, I wish you a very merry Christmas [email protected] and the happiest of New Years. At year’s end I tend to refl ect on that ADVERTISING which has passed in the previous 12 months to 70 years and I realize 951-541-0900 [email protected] that I have not come very far. I was born in a town called Alhambra, Assistant Editor California and at the moment reside in Temecula, California. Michael R. Hyman Although I have spent the best part of 32 years living in countries Associate Editors other than my own, including Spain, England, Philipines, Singapore, William Fernstrom Bahrein, Scotland, and Mexico, and travelled extensively throughout Dave Kauppinen - Bob Miller my life, in reality the totality of my travel has only moved me about Gil Shaddock - Kit Carson 70 miles from my point of origin, which works out to about 1 mile per Treasurer year. That seems like something in the range of snail speed. William Fernstrom Photographer Time, on the other hand, moves so fast that I barely get the Trash Robert “Bob” Bissonette Can put away and it is Thursday once again; Trash Day. Staff Artist Best, Tom Denton Michael The American Submariner is not responsible T. Michael Bircumshaw - National Editor & Publisher for the claims of the Advertisers, however the primary focus of this publication is for the EDITORIAL POLICY benefit and service to USSVI members. he views, opinions and comments expressed by individual writers Issues concerning Advertisers may be sent to the Editorial Staff for mediation. within this publication are not necessarily the views, opinions Tand policy of the United States Submarine Veterans Inc (USSVI). Submissions are welcome and all will be read and considered. Published items CHANGE OF ADDRESS are based on merit, entertainment value, applicability to the Sub Vet Creed and Change of address is handled by your Base purpose and at the sole discretion of the Editor. Membership Chairman or the USSVI Main Please write or E-Mail the American Submariner for the current Publishing Offi ce in Silverdale, Washington. Guidelines and Format. [email protected] or see them online at Call: 877-542-DIVE USSVI.org or Send an E-Mail to: [email protected] Thank you for your interest in the American Submariner. and if you only have stamps, snail it to: Sincerely, T Michael Bircumshaw - Editor American Submariner PO BOX 3870 AMERICAN SUBMARINER COPYRIGHT 2009 Silverdale, WA 98383-3870 The American Submariner and all material therein is copyrighted under the If the above instructions are too complicated, laws of the United States of America and any reproduction in any form, analog then send your change of address to the or digital, without the written permission of the Editor is forbidden by law.