UNITED STATES SUBMARINE VETERANS INCORPORTATED PALMETTO BASE NEWSLETTER July 2013
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OUR CREED: To perpetuate the memory of our shipmates who gave their lives in the pursuit of 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. UNITED STATES SUBMARINE VETERANS INCORPORTATED PALMETTO BASE NEWSLETTER July 2013 1 Lost Boats 3 Picture of the Month 10 Members 11 Honorary Members 11 CO’s Stateroom 12 XO’S Stateroom 14 Meeting Attendees 15 Minutes 15 Old Business 15 New Business 16 Good of the Order 16 Base Contacts 17 Birthdays 17 Welcome 17 Binnacle List 17 Quote of the Month 17 Word of the Month 17 Member Profile of the Month 18 Traditions of the Naval Service 21 Dates in U.S. Naval History 23 Dates in U.S. Submarine History 28 Submarine Memorials 48 Monthly Calendar 53 Submarine Trivia 54 Advertising Partners 55 2 USS S-28 (SS-133) Lost on July 4, 1944 with the loss of 50 crew members. She was conducting Lost on: training exercises off Hawaii with the US Coast Guard Cutter Reliance. After S-28 dove for a practice torpedo approach, Reliance lost contact. No 7/4/1944 distress signal or explosion was heard. Two days later, an oil slick was found near where S-28. The exact cause of her loss remains a mystery. US Navy Official Photo BC Patch Class: SS S Commissioned: 12/13/1923 Launched: 9/20/1922 Builder: Fore River Shipbuilding Co Length: 219 , Beam: 22 #Officers: 4, #Enlisted: 34 Fate: Brief contact with S-28 was made and lost. All attempts to establish communications failed. A Court of Inquiry NavSource.org was unable to determine the cause of the loss of S-28. 50 men lost. 3 USS Robalo (SS-273) Lost on July 26, 1944 with the loss of 84 crew members while on her 3rd Lost on: war patrol. She struck a mine about 2 miles off the coast of Palawan. Three men survived and swam ashore, then imprisoned by the Japanese. 7/26/1944 Unfortunately, they were put on a Japanese destroyer and lost when that destroyer was sunk. US Navy Official Photo NavSource.org Class: SS 212 Commissioned: 9/28/1943 Launched: 3/9/1943 Builder: Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co Length: 311 , Beam: 27 #Officers: 6, #Enlisted: 54 Fate: Sunk by Japanese mine in South China Sea 26 July 1944. 78 lost, 4 more lost in captivity. NavSource.org 4 USS Grunion (SS-216) Lost on July 30, 1942 with the loss of 70 crew members while on her first Lost on: war patrol near Kiska Harbor. She radioed that she sank two sub-chasers 7/30/1942 and damaged a third, but was never heard from again. Her loss remains a mystery. US Navy Official Photo BC Patch Class: SS 212 Commissioned: 4/11/1942 Launched: 12/22/1941 Builder: Electric Boat Co (General Dynamics) Length: 312 , Beam: 27 #Officers: 6, #Enlisted: 54 Fate: Ordered back to Dutch Harbor after reporting intense ASW activity off Kiska (Aleutians).Grunion was never heard from nor seen again. Reported overdue, assumed NavSource.org lost with all hands 5 Oct 1942. Probably lost Aug 1942. 70 men lost. 5 S-24 (SS-129) , S-25 (SS-130) & S-28 (SS-133) at Groton, CT, 4 May 1923. Source: http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08233.htm 6 Brian Steffen Senior Vice CDR : Tom Paige Junior Vice CDR : Randy Browning Secretary : George “Scram” Kokolis Treasurer : J. P. Watson Chaplain : Bob Miller Chief of the Boat : Jim “Snake” Stark Webmaster : Mark Basnight Storekeeper : Ken Fuhr Kap(SS) 4 Kid(SS) Chair : Don Van Borsch Events Chair : Allen “Buzz” Danielson Fund Raising Chair : Ted R. Schneeberg Committee Chair : Tom O’Brien Ship’s Photographer : Jim Null Newsletter Editor : Randy Browning Bereavement Chair : Randy Browning Milt Berkey John J. Krause James L. Charbonneau Harold R. Lane Tracy R. Charbonneau Charles Mink D. W. Eggleston Bob Molchan Ronald Friend Mark Morgan Julian Galloway David Nates Joseph E. Gawronski John Nesbitt Joseph L. Geiger Larry Peay Glenn E. Harris Tommy Richardson William “Bill” Hicks James P. Scott Stoney Hilton Vince Seay Michael Hoadley Leonard M. Snell John Jeffries John Solis Kenneth Johnson L. E. Spradlin James N. Kirby Jerry Stout Arnold Kirk Thomas N. Thompson Ross Kline Jeffro M. Wagner Judy Cline Charlie MacKenzie Medal of Honor Recipient, Holland Club, Plankowner, Past District Commander, Past Base Commander, Past Senior Vice Commander, Past Junior Vice Commander, Past Secretary, Past Treasurer, Past Chaplain, Palmetto Base Hall of Fame, Palmetto Silver Star Award 7 Good Afternoon Gentlemen, It’s July, half the year over with, our fourth of July parade a total success. Had a good show of Palmetto Base, and a great crowd of well wishers, with many thank yous for our service. We are in contact with the children’s hospital in regards to visiting during a weekday to handout teddy bears and spreading some good cheer. We will be putting out word about that later. Our annual “Three Hour Cruise” is upcoming yet again. Our old float is no longer. A dignified decommissioning ceremony was held and promptly disposed of on the burn pile. Our elected officials are yet again attempting to balance the budget on the backs of the military by proposing that all hazardous duty pay is not necessary for ANY branch. TriCare is not necessary nor needed, and if all that is not good enough they are contemplating redesigning the retirement programs amongst the services. We MUST let our elected officials our feelings about these and all the other issues facing us as veterans. Without knowing or being aware of our presence, and the fact we vote, cuts will take place until it does damage to each and every one of us. We are losing benefits, and potential aide and assistance through all the different sources. The VA is being cut, almost weekly, congress implies many thing about it, not knowing what or who the VA serves. Enjoy, and see you at the meeting. Respectfully, Brian 8 Brothers of the Fin, It is good to be back from vacation and off of the sick list. 7,652 miles with stops in SD at the Bad Lands; Mt. Rushmore; Crazy Horse; the Black Hills; Custer St. Park… Then on to WY to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone… continuing on to MT to Glacier National Park…. then to UT to Bryce Canyon and Arches National Parks… continuing on to CO to Mesa Verde… and last stop before heading home was Albuquerque, NM for a week (which included an emergency root canal). It was my first vacation in 17 years that I did not have any conference calls, net meetings or keeping up with projects and my office. Retirement life is good. Unfortunately, shortly after I got home I caught some kind of bug and lost 10.5 lbs in 4 days (I would not recommend that diet) which caused me to miss another meeting. But I am back and ready to get down to business. We had a good turnout for the Peach Festival Parade despite the weather, which did hold out for us, with only a very short little sprinkle at the start. However, we did run into some problems getting ready for the parade. Our submarine for the float must have hit a mine and broke its back and now is on eternal patrol. This can be a good thing, since now we have greater incentive to work on our new sub for the parade float. Thank you and Take Care Here is my contact information if you need it: Thomas E. Paige 522 Oxford Court Lexington, SC 29072 (H) 803-808-1801 (C) 803-413-7437 [email protected] Thank You and Take Care, Thomas E Paige 9 Mark Basnight Jim Null Milt Berkey Ted R. Schneeberg D. W. Eggleston John Solis Ken Fuhr L. E. Spradlin Julian Galloway Jim “Snake” Stark Savannah Griggin Thomas N. Thompson Bill Hicks Don Van Borsch Michael Hoadley Jeffro M. Wagner George “Scram” Kokolis J. P. Watson Mark Morgan • Call to Order : 1900 hours by the Base Commander • Invocation : Mark Basnight • Pledge of Allegiance: Base Commander. • The Tolling of the Boats : Base Commander and Treasurer. • Member Introduction : 17 members and 2 guests were present. • Base Secretary’s Report : Approved as written in the newsletter. • Treasurer’s Report : $7,093.00 (Kap(SS) 4 Kid(SS): $4,222.00, Float Fund: $1,434.00 and Operating Fund: $1,366.00) was accepted. • Buzz is having heart work done • Vice Commander has a stomach bug • Camp Kemo/Chemo visit was a success, a good time was had by all 10 • SK says that he assisted COB and Jeffro with the Scrap metal drive, which yielded $345.00 which will go into the float fund • Honor Flights are happening, they mean a great deal to the veterans and guardians. • • Jeffro’s son took his last Sub School test today • The base sent $50.00 to national to support the Holland Club and we received a certificate of appreciation • En route to Camp Kemo/Chemo, COB was given $30 as a donation to the program • Base Commander informed the membership about: • the New London SubVets issues • possible legislative actions, including taxing VA canes, wheelchairs, braces, and changes to TriCare • Base Commander urged the membership to contact their politicians about these matters • Base Commander reminded the membership that we will be participating in the Peach Festival • Motion made and seconded to adjourn • None Benediction : Mark Basnight Depth Charge ($70.00 and a candle donated by Jon Solis) : Mark Basnight 11 Commander : Brian Steffen (803) 897-2480 [email protected] Vice Commander : Tom Paige (803) 808-1801 [email protected] Junior Vice CDR .: Randy Browning (803) 808-7065 [email protected] Secretary : George Kokolis (803) 460-5882 [email protected] Treasurer : J.