Volume 10, Number 11 • November 2014 Sole Survivor of USS Tullibee Speaks About Being a POW - The Sun Herald OCEAN SPRINGS -- The last thing Cliff Kuykendall remembers hearing before the explosion was a crewmate saying, “Well, there they go. We’ll see what happens now.” “We found out about 20 seconds later,” Kuykendall said Monday. “Boom.” When Kuykendall came to -- possibly a few minutes later, he’s not sure -- he watched helplessly as his submarine, the USS Tullibee (SS 284), slowly sank into the Pacific Ocean and out of sight.

November 15th Meeting USS Tullibee (SS-284) Same location as October meeting, “I thought, ‘Oh my God, I just lost my home,’” he said. “It was a long way from there to i.e., American Legion Post 295, Wichita Falls, Texas.” Cypress, CA Kuykendall, the 2014 Gulf Coast Veterans Day Parade grand marshal, was a 19-year- old submariner in the early hours of March 26, 1944, when the Tullibee launched two The renovation of Bldg. 6, regular torpedoes meant for a Japanese transport ship. Instead, the torpedoes ran a circular route meeting place for the base on and struck the submarine. the Seal Beach Naval Weapons He was the lone survivor of a crew of 80. Station on Seal Beach Blvd., is “The concussion was terrific. I was on the starboard during lookout. It was a real dark not yet completed. Ihe interior is night, drizzling. I was almost unconscious,” he recalled as he stood in front of the USS done, but exterior amenities are Tullibee memorial in Ocean Springs. “I remember looking down and I could see the stern still being installed such as the of the submarine gradually go below the waves. Those World War II diesel submarines walkway from street to bldg. were 312 feet long and I must have been way up there in the air, I don’t know. When I came to, I was submerged in the ocean. We will meet at American Legion “I fought my way to the surface. I had swallowed so much water that I could taste salt and Post 295, 5646 Corporate diesel fuel for at least a year after that.” Avenue, Cypress, CA, same Kuykendall said he could hear voices for about 10 minutes after he regained as last month. See page 4 for consciousness. Then nothing. meeting details. He floated for several hours alone, except for an empty Sunkist orange crate that bumped Marilyn Senior advises us that into him. national and base dues are due NLT 31 December, 2014. Continued on Page 9

THE PERISCOPE • November 2014 1 From the Wardroom . . . Dave Vanderveen, Base Commander

Shipmates and Ladies,

Los Angeles/Pasadena Base is among the strongest in the United States Submarine Veterans, Inc. That is largely due to the high level of participation among our members, and to the continuing stewardship by our World War II veterans, many of whom established our Base. During the six years I’ve belonged to LA/Pasadena Base, we’ve also been fortunate to have committed and capable leadership. I have worked directly with them the past four years and have been impressed with their consistent focus on keeping our Base strong and honorable, and on finding new ways to increase membership and our visibility in the community. I join you in expressing thanks to our most recent leadership group as they move on to new adventures; Base Commander Chuck Senior, Vice Commander Rob Fleming, Secretary Phil Jaskoviak, and Memorial Director Ed Barwick. A hearty “Bravo Zulu” to you fellows! Our new leadership group has a fine example to follow, and I assure you we will continue to keep LA/Pasadena Base strong and honorable, and will work to attract new members to help us grow. Recently, George and Valerie Walrath did a marvelous job hosting a reunion of John C. Calhoun SSBN 630, one of the boats on which I invested some of my much younger years. As I renewed acquaintances, and met people who served in other years, I was reminded why I enjoyed the submarine service so much. It was and is made up of solid, capable people of character, most of whom are mindful of the accomplishments and sacrifices made by our submariners in World War II. As we meet to socialize and to do the Base’s work, please keep our World War II brothers and our common legacy in your mind and heart. Whatever your job and the era in which you served on the boats, enjoy being proud that you are a submariner! Have a safe, healthy and Happy Thanksgiving! Fraternally,

Dave Vanderveen Commander, LA/Pasadena Base, USSVI

THE PERISCOPE • November 2014 2 USSVI LA/Pasadena Base October 18, 2014 General Meeting Minutes Sailing List October 18, 2014 Arnold, Ed Senior, Chuck Arnold, Judy Senior, Marilyn This month’s meeting was held at the American Legion Hall, Bolton, Herb “Bo” Silverman, Hal Post 295, in Cypress as Building 6 continues to be renovated. Bell, Bob Silverman, Karen Base Commander, Chuck Senior, called the USSVI LA/ Bott, Dennis Pasadena Base general meeting to order at 1205 hours. Staggs, Harold Burnett, James Thirty-eight members and guests attended our October Stephenson, Peter 18, 2014 meeting, saluted the flag and recited the Pledge of Butler, Larry Swanson, Mike Allegiance led by Chief of the Boat Dennis Bott. Dennis also Conboy, Bob Terry, Carl delivered the invocation prayer followed by a moment of Conboy, Elena Van Devender, Ben silence for all our departed shipmates and lost crewmen on Derrico, Joe * eternal patrol. Vanderveen, Dave Dorn, Ken Members and guests enjoyed a catered luncheon by Katella Walrath, George Deli. As in the past the food was excellent. A special thanks Fleming, Rob Walrath, Valerie to Hal Silverman for his assistance with the luncheon. Fordham, Hank Walsh, Dennis This month’s two $55 - 50/50 drawing winners were Jim Higa, Anne Walsh, Kathy Burnett and George Waltath. George kindly donated his Higa, Sam Whittlesey, Dave winnings to the Flower Fund. Koch, Joe Whittlesey, Kathy Chuck welcomed new member Joe Derrico, MM2 (SS), USS Mahan, Jack Wilson, Art Archerfish (SS 678), and a visitor from Carolina Piedmont Mahan, Marlene Base, Peter Stephenson. Chuck also recognized our Poet Yolken, Berry Laureate David Rosenfeld who was in attendance. Maynard, Mark Chuck also presented the first of many longevity pins to Moak, Bill * new members fellow shipmates Mike Swanson (1 year), Larry Butler (5 Rosenfeld, David * ** District Commander years), Paul Riggs (5 years) and Ben VanDevender (5 years). Schive, Bob ** Congratulations to all. At 1240 hours a call to order was made by USSVI West District Commander, Bob Schive, from the Bonefish Base, to begin the process of installing our 2015 Officers and Board of Directors. The newly elected officers and directors were called front and center. They raised their right hands and were sworn in as they recited the oath of office. Congratulations were extended to all those elected members and again we thank the outgoing officers and directors for their years of service. Bob spoke for a few minutes on better communication between the western bases. Incoming Base Commander, Dave Vanderveen’s first official duty was to thank Chuck for all he had accomplished over the past year especially with the remodeling of Bldg. 6 and leading the base membership to temporary meeting locations. Regarding Bldg. 6, Dave informed the membership the new Sea Lab construction has been delaying our re-occupying Bldg. 6. Most recent information is that a walkway has to be constructed up to Bldg. 6 that will meet ADA requirements. Continued on Page 6

THE PERISCOPE • November 2014 3 November Meeting Treasurer’s Report As of November 7, 2014 our account balances are: PLEASE NOTE LOCATION CHANGE: Meeting is at the American Legion Post, Checking: $ 14,768.32 5646 Corporate Avenue, Cypress, CA. Savings: 4,699.87 (See attached map) - same as last month Total: $19,468.19 Date: Saturday, November 15, 2014 Location: AL Post, 5646 Corporate Avenue, Cypress, CA Revenue for the month was $622.50, and expens was $337.90. All supplier accounts have been paid up-to-date, and all Time: 1100 – E-Board Mtg. and Social Hour National dues were forwarded to USSVI. 1200 – Pot luck Lunch A-H - Main Dish I-R - Dessert Respectfully submitted, S-Z - Salad or Vegetable Dave Vanderveen, 1300 - General Meeting Acting Treasurer LA-Pasadena Base/USSVI Ship’s Store Our storekeeper, Berry Yolken, will display available stores during the October meeting such as hats, shirts, belts, pins, etc. Support the base by buying from Berry. Contact him, Welcome Newest Member before you buy any of these items on line or from a source other than your USSVI base. ([email protected]) LA-Pasadena Base/USSVI

David Rosenfeld

Welcome aboard, David.

Ed and Judy Arnold Mel Mares * Mike Cailor * Mark Maynard * Bob Conboy Bill Moak Ken Dorn Mike Swanson * Bach Fleming Dave Vanderveen Rob Fleming George Walrath * Jack Herron Dennis Walsh* Sam Higa * Berry Yolken * Michael Kish * Kenneth Loveless * Flower Fund Contributors Jack Mahan*

THE PERISCOPE • November 2014 4 Have A Cup Of Coffee With Me I like mine black and bitter Hal Silverman, Past-Vcdr LA/Pasadena Base USSVI

Wow!! All of a sudden this year is almost over. The nice thing about it, is a chance for family and friends to get together and wish each other good health, happiness and prosperity.

On the downside to the holiday season we are inundated with a million catalogs. I pity the poor mail- man that has to carry all of the stuff around. I have talked to our mail carrier and at the end of the holiday season, he is a beat puppy.

For us at the LA/Pasadena base, I would like to extend a hearty greeting and have us join in some fellowship with our shipmates and family. I know that the Christmas menu is pretty much the same year after year. As I just mentioned, the idea is to sit down with friends and family.

The complexion of the base has changed a bit. We have lost long standing members and we have welcomed new members to the ranks.

We used to have a member that would take up a whole table with his family. Sadly, he has gotten orders to eternal patrol.

Rather than ramble on and on, just join us. Bring your family and friends and enjoy a good time.. The food is good, the price is reasonable. We usually have prime rib or salmon. If you have a taste for something else, let us know and we will try to accommodate it.

We will also have a “Tolling of the Boats” to remember our shipmates on eternal patrol.

See you there!!

Hal

THE PERISCOPE • November 2014 5 USSVI LA/Pasadena Base Virginia Subs to Get Berthing General Meeting Minutes Changes for Female Crew October 18, 2014 - Navy Times

Continued from Page 3 Sub designers are puzzling out how to fit enlisted women into the berthings on the Virginia-class attack submarines already Dave requested that all Christmas Luncheon checks be mailed to him during Berry’s transition as the base Treasurer. in the force. “Right now we are doing the work to do the design changes for the Dave advised the membership the e-board has re-instituted in-service Virginias,” said Rear Adm. David Johnson, the program base life memberships. The requirement is to be a National executive officer for submarines, in a Thursday speech. Life Member and payment of dues for Base Life Membership as follows:

Age National Life Base Life Maturity* Age at Maturity 76+ $100 $100 5 years 81+ 66-75 $200 $160 8 years 74/83 56-65 $300 $200 10 years 66/70 46-55 $400 $300 15 years 61/70 <45 $500 $400 20 years <65 Virginia Class Attack Submarine

*Based on current base dues of $20 per year. “Frankly the tough part is to integrate the enlisted berthing and the chief's quarters. The officers are fairly easy to adapt to, but the enlisted berthing and the chief’s quarters you have to Marilyn Senior, member of the membership committee, do a little bit of work on the ships and we're trying to do that reminded everyone that base dues for 2015 are due prior to as affordably and non-disruptively as possible,” Johnson said. the end of the calendar year 2014. Johnson, speaking at the Naval Submarine League’s annual A clean sweep down fore and aft was piped in by the COB. At conference in Fairfax, Virginia, said that getting mixed-gender 1340 hours a motion was made by Harold Skaggs to adjourn crews on as many subs as possible was a priority. The sub force the meeting. The motion began its integration in late 2011 with the arrival of female was seconded by Joe Koch officers — roughly 50 of them now serve aboard 14 boomer and approved. crews — and officials are now moving towards the next steps of integrating attack boats and enlisted crews. Fraternally, “We are looking forward to mixed-gender officer, chief petty -offi cers and enlisted on our submarines going forward,” Johnson said. Dennis Walsh “It's a must, it's the right decision and we're moving forward.” Secretary, A task force led by the recently disbanded Submarine Group LA/Pasadena Base USSVI 2 recommended that enlisted women and chief petty officers begin serving on attack boats as the Block IV Virginia-class subs begin fleet service around 2020; these vessels are being designed with fully integrated crews in mind. Rear Adm. Phillip Sawyer, head of Submarine Force Pacific, said retooling the current Virginias would not move up the timeline for getting women into attack boat crews. The firstVirginia-class attack subs to be integrated are the Virginia and Minnesota, which are slated to receive female of- ficers in early 2015. Enlisted women will begin serving on the Ohio-class boomers as soon as 2016.

THE PERISCOPE • November 2014 6 A personal account of a new SSN commissioning. - submitted by Jeff Porteous Shipmates: Toby Oothoudt attended the commissioning of the USS North Dakota with his daughter Paige. They were invited because Toby’s father, a native of ND, was lost aboard USS Shark II just weeks before Toby was born. They were part of a group of ND veterans/survivors invited to the event. Toby’s report follows:

Shipmates: course, we headed right for the memorabilia tent, bought Superlatives are insufficient to describe the emotional tee shirts, coffee cups and challenge coins. content of the USS North Dakota commissioning We took our seats and tried to take it all in. The couple weekend. Friday, a chilly and windy day, began with sitting right behind us were, like me, originally from a tour of Nautilus and a visit to the Submarine Force North Dakota, and the husband went to high school with Library and Museum. While there, we paid a visit to one of my uncles…truly a small world. While waiting for the archives, met with the Archivist and her assistant things to get underway, we had a wonderful chat with and discovered a few Shark II photos I didn’t have. They Captain Cindy Judy, a medical officer attached to the scanned those for me and I in turn am sending them base. She was outstanding! a series of photographs taken aboard Shark II on her The commissioning ceremony was emotionally charged second patrol. from the get-go and my daughter and I were damp- At 1:30, we took a van eyed on more than one to pier 17 where USS occasion, particularly North Dakota waited so when the crew was patiently for her visitors ordered to man the ship to arrive. We were in the to the strains of Anchors second group to take the Aweigh! tour and while waiting After the ceremony to go below, met the concluded and USS North Captain – Captain Doug Dakota officially joined Gordon and the XO, Lt. the fleet, we headed for Commander Kristopher the hospitality tent for Lancaster. Gracious and Dunkin Doughnuts personable, we liked and coffee. Paige them immediately. had decided to start The skipper and the XO collecting autographs, were in their blue camo so this was the perfect and I asked Captain opportunity to begin. I Gordon if it made them spied ComSubLant Vice invisible when they went below. His response was that it Admiral Mike Conner and we made our way over to did not, but it did make it more difficult for his wife to him. I introduced my daughter and myself, gave a brief find him around the house. plug for COD, then asked if we could have a picture with The tour was simply amazing! Once again, I am in awe him. His wife took the picture and he wrote a wonderful of the dedication, knowledge and communication skills tribute to my father in her book. A true gentlemen! She these sailors demonstrate. got the autograph of a Rear Admiral (can’t remember (BTW - The namesake boat of the class,USS Virginia, who) and we milled about for a bit longer. was in drydock next to USS North Dakota) The crowd began to thin out, so we boarded the yellow Saturday was a perfect fall day. Deep blue sky, no wind bus, got back to the car and drove to the Marriott, where and temperatures in the low 60s. the North Dakota contingent was hosting a party for one We arrived at the base before ten o’clock, boarded the and all. We plunged into it once more, Paige with her yellow shuttle bus and got underway. As we passed book and me with my trusty camera phone. the brick buildings across the street from the piers, it Caught up with Captain Gordon, his sister took the occurred to me that my father had surely worked inside pictures, Paige got the autograph and we all had a nice them while Shark II was being completed. That was chat. Next on the list was the boat’s sponsor, Katie Fowler. enough to create a fine mist. What a super lady! More pictures, another autograph. Then on to pier 17, where a large group of attendees Paige thought the XO was “cute”, so we cornered him for were already on hand. The crew were mustered and signing and a photo too. making ready for the ceremony. USS North Dakota was The North Dakota people hired a Teddy Roosevelt taking in in the afternoon sun and basking in the glow impersonator to mix with the crowd and he was of admiration from Navy and civilian attendees alike. Of amazingly good. We chatted with him for quite a while, Continued on Page 14

THE PERISCOPE • November 2014 7 THE PERISCOPE • November 2014 8 Sole Survivor of USS Tullibee ‘Well, they’re not all alike.’” He was taken to a small seaplane base among the Palau Speaks About Being a POW Islands. Eventually, he was tied to a tree atop a hill while - The Sun Herald Americans bombed the island as part of Operation Desecrate. After three days of abuse tied to the tree, Continued from Page 1 he was put into a foxhole behind a Japanese navy commander’s home. He credited his shipmate, Louis Joseph Hieronimus, “Two days later, the owner of the house came up and got for saving his life. Hieronimus had forced him to take a me and they took me to the dock. I could see all of these lifebelt before going on lookout. hangars had been leveled and it The partially inflated lifebelt made me feel good. He could kept him afloat long enough to speak English. Well, he saved be spotted. my life. I know he did. They Unfortunately, it wasn’t by would have killed me if it hadn’t Americans. About 10 a.m., he been for him,” Kuykendall saw a destroyer coming in his said, reenacting several captors direction, flying the rising sun punching him while he was flag. tied up. “He took me out on the “They made a circle around me, dock. A Japanese navy plane to my starboard, and opened up landed and he told me, ‘There with a machine gun, firing at you go. Good luck.’ Just like me,” he said. “Fortunately, they that. I looked at him and said, never got a lethal shot in, but ‘Sir, good luck to you. I hope bullets were flying all over the you make it.’ He said, ‘I’ll need place.” it.’” The Japanese brought him The next 17 months or so, aboard, pulling him up with a Kuykendall bounced among net because he was too weak to labor camps until World War II climb aboard. That’s when he ended. had his third brush with death His final days as a captive, he in less than 24 hours. worked in a copper mine in A Japanese officer, holding a Ashio. sword, called him a coward for He recalled food rations not drowning himself rather increasing and American planes than being captured. The flying overhead. officer swung the sword over “They were sending out fighters Kuykendall’s head four times, to locate all of the prison camps missing each time. so they could drop them food “Each time he swung it -- there because they knew we were were two Japanese sailors on probably starving,” he said. either side of me holding me When he returned to Texas, up -- I collapsed and fell to the Kuykendall would stare at the deck and the sword passed over ceiling at night and try to figure my head,” he said. “I did that out how he survived so many intentionally because I knew brushes with death. if that sword hit my neck it would chop my USS Tullibee (SS 284) “I’d say, ‘I can’t figure this out. head off.” How did this happen?’ That went on for A short time later, Kuykendall heard something in a couple of months, ‘Why little ole me?’ I Japanese over the PA system and the harassment stopped suddenly realized that if I kept doing that I’d just worry -- for the time being. myself to death. I had to stop. I never did figure it out. He was dragged into a deck house and tossed onto a mat. I’ve never been superstitious in my whole life -- and I’m “Another Japanese sailor came in and he was carrying still not. What is, is. a small cup of sweet tea in his hand,” he said. “He lifted “To this very day, like I have told many people, I’m just my head and was giving me this sweet tea. He said in lucky.” English, ‘Don’t worry, everything will be all right.’ I said,

THE PERISCOPE • November 2014 9 October Meeting Photos (American Legion Post 295, Cypress)

THE PERISCOPE • November 2014 10 UNITED STATES SUBMARINE FORCE LOSSES ON ETERNAL PATROL “I can assure you that they went down fighting and that their brothers who survived them took a grim toll of our savage enmy to avenge their deaths.”

— Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood, USN

NOVEMBER TOLLING OF THE BOATS

USS ALBACORE (SS-218) USS GROWLER (SS-215)

USS ALBACORE (SS-218) Lost on 7 November 1944 with the loss of 86 men when she was sunk off northern Hokkaido. Winner of two Presidential Unit Citations, Albacore was on her 11th war patrol and struck a mine while running submerged near a Japanese patrol craft that had detected her. USS GROWLER (SS-215) Lost on 8 November 1944 with the loss of 84 men when she was sunk in the South China Sea. Winner of two Navy Unit Commendations, Growler was on her 12th war patrol, and was lost while attacking a convoy, probably as a result of a depth charge attack or victim of a circular run by one of her own torpedoes. USS SCAMP (SS-277) Lost on 9 November 1944 with the loss of 83 men near Tokyo Bay. On her 8th war patrol, she may have been damaged by a mine and was trailing oil, which helped Japanese coast defense vessels locate her and destroy her with depth charges. USS CORVINA (SS-226) Lost on 16 November 1943 with the loss of 82 men when she was sunk just south of Truk. Corvina was on her first war patrol and appears she was lost to the torpedoes of a Japanese submarine. USS SCULPIN (SS-191) Lost on 19 November 1943 with the loss of 40 men near Truk. Severly damaged by depth charges after attacking an enemy convoy, Sculpin continued to fight on the surface. When the captain was killed, the crew abandoned ship and scuttled Sculpin. Forty-one men were taken prisoner; only 21 survived the war. Among those not abandoning ship was CAPT Cromwell, aboard as a potential wolfpack commander, he rode Sculpin down, fearing that vital information in his possession might be compromised under torture. For this, CAPT Cromwell was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

USS SCAMP (SS-277) USS CORVINA (SS-226) USS SCULPIN (SS-191)

WE REMEMBER For those who gave their lives in defense of our country WE REMEMBER THE PERISCOPE • November 2009 8 THE PERISCOPE • November 2014 11 October Meeting Photos (American Legion Post 295, Cypress)

THE PERISCOPE • November 2014 12 October Meeting Photos (American Legion Post 295, Cypress)

THE PERISCOPE • November 2014 13 A personal account of a new SSN ever or ever will see. The United States Navy Submarine commissioning. - submitted by Jeff Porteous fleet is the greatest the world has ever or ever will see. The officers and sailors who serve on our submarines

are the best trained, most highly motivated and highest continued from page 7 quality people one is ever likely to meet. Everyone, from ComSubLant Admiral Conner, to our tour guide on exchanged cards, another autograph, another picture. North Dakota, LS2 (AW) Kongwing James Lookfong Jr., We met North Dakota WWII sailor, Torpedoman 3rd, was gracious, kind and thoughtful. George Hansen, who at 89 years old, looks like he is in his 60s and can still wear his WWII uniform! George was A day we will never forget. serving on USS Ling and transiting the Panama Canal when the war ended. Toby The party was winding down, so after making sure we hadn’t missed any autograph or photo opportunities from among the remaining guests, departed that place and drove to the WWII Submarine memorial outside the base. We took lots of photos there, particularly of the wall that has my father’s name on it, then drove over SUBMARINE VETERANS the bridge to New London for the day’s final activity… finding and photographing the place where mom and SILENT SERVICE dad lived while Shark II was finished and undergoing sea T-Shirts trials. I had found the address on a letter he wrote mom (she had gone to DC to visit her sister) and gave it the Google test. Found the place next door, but no 38 Tilley St. Nevertheless, we drove to the place where the rooming house should have been and took photos. The photo I have of my dad with the place in the background doesn’t match the current building, but a lot of modification can take place in over 70 years. By now, late afternoon was swiftly becoming evening, so we pushed off to find a nice place for dinner. 50 $18 .each + $5.00 shipping & handling

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Make check payable to: Los Angeles/Pasadena Base of USSVI Mail to: Hal Silverman, 15142 Vermont Street, Westminster, CA 92683 For information, email: [email protected]

A Los Angeles/Pasadena Base Production

Sunday morning Paige wanted to make rubbings of my father’s name at the sub memorial, so we made the brief trip over the Thames River to Groton one more time. My patrol report ends with these final thoughts: The United States Navy is the greatest navy the world has

THE PERISCOPE • November 2014 14 Some Recollections of Events out this was a detachment from Special Forces at Fort Bragg. During the Cuban Missile Crisis: They were previously in underwater operations and had been sent to us for underway lookout training and covert opera- Recollections from USS Spikefish tions landings, if necessary. Each one of them looked as if they could play running back - Capt. Richard Fox (USN Ret) (SS404) PART II for a professional football team. Big men, but absolutely no fat. Quiet, respectful, and utterly dedicated to learning as much as Editor’s Note: Dick sent this to me after the reunion. I possible on how to carry out their assigned mission. And, they scanned it into my computer and it sat there until the last had their SCUBA gear with them. newsletter. The narrative will have to be in installments as it too long for one edition. If anyone wants Dick’s original Lockout operations were conducted thru the escape trunk in notes, let me know and I will send it out by USPS or the forward torpedo room. The escape trunk is a cylinder 7 electronically. This installment also contains the original feet tall, and 3 feet in diameter. It has three hatches. One at the installment. So here goes!!...... Hal (Silverman) top, one on the bottom, and one about midway up the cylin- der. Top and bottom hatches are about 2 feet in diameter and The first couple of days in NORVA were wonderful. There were the one on the side a little larger. not many units at the DE piers or NAVBASE, and while I thought Inside the trunk are various gages, air fittings and valves to let it was strange, there did not appear to any restriction on liberty. sea water in and to blow/drain it out. Also there is a light and Since, as mentioned before, our crew had tropical uniforms a speaker system to let people in the trunk communicate with with them, our division engineer was contacting family mem- persons in the torpedo room after all of the hatches are shut. bers to collect winter clothes had gone through the barracks to The lockout worked as follows: The submarine approaches the fill a sea bag for each man who lived there. objective area at periscope depth. This puts the escape trunk at These were later flown to us in NORVA. Until the shore patrol was about thirty feet underwater, when within swimming range of given orders not to hassle Key West sailors in whites. the target, operations commence. Two men with full SCUBA gear and bottles enter the trunk through the lower hatch. (upper and side hatches are closed before diving), when in, shut the lower hatch and open the sea valve to let sea water in to a level above the upper edge of the side hatch. Then the sea valve is shut and compressed air is introduced inside the trunk until pressure inside the trunk is equalized with sea pressure at that depth (15PSI). This leaves a foot or so of air at the top of the trunk for men to breath while communicating with personnel in the torpedo room and then they shift to SCUBA tanks for breathing (the trunk could be completely flooded full USS Spikefish (SS 404) if desired, but this would require divers to be on the SCUBA Since my wife is from Portsmouth VA, I had occasion to visit gear first and a completely flooded trunk would preclude the with her parents from time to time. I recall once sitting at the use of the speaker system.) bar at the local Elks Club with her father. Other people were The side hatch is undogged, opened, and the men step out, go there and of course the business with Cuba and what the bad up a ladder of 2 or 3 steps and then swim to the surface and guys might be up to was being discussed. are their own. It came up that I was in the Navy from Key West and so forth. The last man out gives a couple of raps on the trunk with a “And where are your wife and children now that you are here?” I hammer as he is leaving. When hearing the raps, after waiting could only reply, lamely, that “well I had to leave, and could not a few seconds, to be sure the man leaving is clear, personnel in take them with me. They are still there”. The silence was deafening. the torpedo room operate a long lever going thru the hull of I think one or two people got up and moved. I don’t think I ever the submarine to close the side door again. went into that building again. A valve is opened on the bottom of the trunk in the torpedo A few days after we had, arrived in NORVA, Spikefish was room to drain the trunk of water and compressed air. This ordered to change locations to the Amphibious Base in Little accomplished, the lower hatch can be opened and the lockout Creek. One night 15 heavily armed soldiers showed up on the process repeated. pier under the command of an Army lieutenant. This process is relatively simple in concept and it does work, Apparently, none of them except the lieutenant knew where but practicalities and circumstances usually prevent it from so they were and why they were there. The soldiers kept remark- simple as I have described. For one thing (unless the sub- ing how they never knew it got this cold in Miami. It turned marine is sitting on the bottom) flooding in seawater to the Continued on Page 16

THE PERISCOPE • November 2014 15 for the exercise. Unspoken, but realized, was the knowledge Recollections from USS Spikefish that we as submariners and they as Special Forces had vol- (SS404) - Capt. Richard Fox (USN Ret) (continued) unteered ourselves into organizations where danger was ex- Continued from Page 15 pected on occasion. Not to carry out the operation as ordered would surely call our competence into question. trunk will make the boat heavy overall and it will start to sink deeper. To maintain depth control some way must be kept on On the other hand I do not think any sane man would proceed to give effect to the bow and stern planes while pumping out a with a training exercise wherein reckoned chances were about compensating amount from the ballast tanks. even that we would lose one swimmer. If it were a combat opera- tion, the question of safety would be moot, but this was not This is a delicate operation, i.e. staying submerged at a shallow combat. I surely did not to kill a man just to force the issue. within a foot or so of the ordered depth, and at a slow speed. Surface waves complicate the problem immensely, and a slight I therefore hit upon the following compromise. We would mistake can end up with the submarine half on the surface put the swimmers in the trunk, let them down, equalize the and half submerged. pressure open the exit (side) door of the trunk. This would accomplish the major requirement of the exercise, except Such a condition might well tear it in a covert operation and where the swimmers where the swimmers exited the trunk would also pose great physical danger for anyone trying to exit and swam to the surface. the trunk. ( since they would be thrown about in the super- structure of the boat). Instead, after the swimmers had opened the side door, they would let us know, and shut the side door again. We would Plus it is never easy for the men in the trunk. Two men wear- stand by below with the closing lever to assist them if needed. ing SCUBA tanks in a 3 foot cylinder are in close contact to Once the side door to the trunk was closed, the trunk drain to say the least. The light is poor and they can’t bend over or even the torpedo room was opened, and the water from the trunk move their arms freely. Then to flood seawater in to cover was drained from the trunk to the torpedo room. yourself up on purpose, just goes against human nature. And it is cold, very cold. Not at all like the movies or the commu- This also served to equalize the pressure in the trunk with the nity swimming pool. pressure in the torpedo room. The lower hatch was opened and the swimmers came back into the torpedo rom and the After the port drill on procedure, we got underway from Little sequence was repeated. Creek to the Virginia Capes Operating Area where the water was deep enough foe Spikefish to dive in. This was the way the exercise was carried out. All of the soldiers were cycled through the trunk and all of us learned Our objective was to submerge the boat and lock the men out, a lot. What impressed me the most was observing the Special two at a time. On the surface an ASR (small surface ship) with Forces troops when they climbed down from the trunk. They small boats would stand by to pick up the swimmers when had been submerged in icy water for several minutes and, they came to the surface. We would be in radio and sonar con- even though they were wearing wet suits it must have been tact with the ASR to keep them informed when the swimmers excruciating. Not one of them spoke a word as they climbed were locked out. down. Perhaps they were so cold they could not speak, since Everything was in order except the weather. It was perfectly their eyes had a peculiar cast-all of them. As soon as the men awful. The winds were 20-30 knots and the seas were running exited the trunk, we pushed them into a shower with the 10 to 20 feet. It was gray, overcast and cold. (Underlined). I do warm water running to get their circulation going again. I not remember what the water temperature was, but it must forget if we gave them a shot of medicinal booze, but if we did have been in the 40s in the VACAPES. not, we should have. We submerged in the assigned area, but trim as we might us- After all had been through the trunk, we secured the exer- ing our best planes men and diving officer, it was still neces- cise and returned to Little Creek. I fully expected criticism sary to maintain 3-4 knots headway to keep reasonable depth from higher authority for not carrying out the operation in control at periscope depth. This meant that a swimmer exiting complete detail, but I really didn’t care since in my own mind, the trunk was in real danger of getting hung under the deck or I had done the right thing. swept back or swept back into the superstructure as he exited Evidently the soldiers were on our side. They and our crew the trunk and started up. went on liberty together and terrorized the Acey-Deucy Club. As commanding officer of the submarine, I was in charge of As fate would have it, my superiors agreed with the action the operation and had to decide whether we should proceed we had taken. Appended are letters from COMSUBRON SIX with the operation or not. Due to other factors, we only had (NORVA) and a Special Forces Group from Ft. Bragg which this one day to carry it out. It was obvious that the weather indicates their approval. was not going to get any better. But the soldiers needed all of the training they could get before going into combat. As things started to quiet down in the Cuban area, we were ordered back to Key West. The trip was uneventful except we An extraordinary of time and effort had gone into preparation passed through, exactly, the center of a hurricane off Cape Hat- Continued on page 18

THE PERISCOPE • November 2014 16 THE LA/PASADENA BASE USSVI ANNUAL CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON

On Saturday December 20, 2014 the LA/Pasadena Base USSVI will hold their annual Christ- mas luncheon for the year 2014. The luncheon will be held at the Los Alamitos Golf Course.

It is a time of year to visit with our submarine friends and their guests. More time will be de- voted to this activity.

This Christmas we will feature a “Tolling of the Boats”

Social Hour: 11:30AM. - Luncheon served 12:30PM

This Year’s Menu is as Follows:

Tossed Green Salad (with choice of Ranch or Italian dressing) Entrée Selection: Chicken Piccata Marinated Breast of chicken sautéed with fresh mushrooms and finished with lemon butter and white wine Grilled Vegetables with Herb Roasted Potatoes Dinner Rolls and Butter Roast Beef with Marinated tender tri-tip, flame broiled with mushrooms sauce Grilled Vegetables with Herb Roasted Potatoes Dinner Rolls and Butter Vegetarian Option: Mushroom Raviolis and Grilled Vegetables Beverage: Coffee, iced tea Dessert: Cheesecake with Raspberry Drizzle

As always, it is very important that you get your reservations in ASAP so that we can give the Golf Course a firm headcount no later then 7 days before the luncheon.

The cost of the luncheon will be $25.00 per person. Drinks will be available from the Lounge.

Please send your check and reservations (checks made out to LA/Pasadena Base USSVI) to the address shown below. Be sure to indicate your choice of entrée and how many of each.

Name:______Chicken Picata______

Name:______Roast Beef______

Vegetarian Option______

Guest:______Total # of dinners______

Guest:______X $25.00 $______

Mail to: Dave Vanderveen 6061 Broadstone Circle Huntington Beach, CA 92648 Phone: 714-270-8870

THE PERISCOPE • November 2014 17 Recollections from USS Spikefish Monster Machines: Say Hello To (SS404) - Capt. Richard Fox (USN Ret) (continued) America’s Newest Attack Sub - Gizmodo.com.au Continued from Page 16 After five years of construction, the newest submarine in the US teras. We actually passed through passed through the eye of the fleet is ready to set sail. But thisVirginia-class sub is not like the storm-blue sky and all-then it started to blow fiercely again. Be- others — it’s far more deadly and way less expensive to operate. lieve me, a diesel submarine on the surface in a hurricane would teach Chubby Checkers a few things about rock and roll. The USS North Dakota, We got back to Key West for joyful reunion with those we left SSN 784, which was behind and who had more peril than we ever did. I was very officially commissioned proud to hear how our better halves and families stood firm on October 25th at during the crisis. The smartest thing Fidel and Nikita ever did Naval Submarine Base was not to make a run on Cayo Hueso. New London, is the In the Spring of 1963 Spikefish was again ordered to Guan- first of eight Block III tanamo Bay to render services. While proceeding there on Virginia-class subs. That the surface we passed close aboard a Soviet cargo ship with is, this is the third design appeared to be canvas covered trucks on deck. I thought that iteration of the Virginia- it would be appropriate to take pictures of this so we turned class submarine platform. TheNorth Dakota maintains the around and tried to get along side for a photo opportunity. same dimensions as earlier iterations — it’s 115m long with Unfortunately he had more speed than we did, even with full a 11m beam and 10m draft — and like otherVirginias , it can on four and the engineering room giving it everything we dive to more than 240m at 25 knots. What’s more, it won’t had. It became obvious we could not catch up, broke off and need to refuel until 2047, thanks to its nuclear reactor. returned course to GITMO. The North Dakota differs from its predecessors in both its We arrived the next day the base I called on the base CO, who sensory and armament payloads. The spherical sonar array told me that last night Radio Moscow was complaining that a Soviet ship carrying agricultural equipment to Cuba was that the US Navy has used in pretty much every one of its harassed by U.S. Submarine 404. subs since the 1960s has been replaced with a modern, horse- shoe-shaped Large Aperture Bow (LAB) sonar array. The new Finally we had made the press! I explained to the CO that our sub also incorporates a pair of Vertical Launch System (VLS) actions were legitimate and we couldn’t harass him too much since we couldn’t catch up with him. tubes, each packing six missiles; technology borrowed from our Ohio-class subs. In the summer of 1963, Spikefish was decommissioned at Key These design changes are meant to improve the submarine’s performance and keep the US Navy one stroke ahead of other submersible superpowers. TheUSS North Dakota is equally well-suited for littoral and deep water operations, regardless of the mission. In fact, the new sub has been cleared for seven core mission types: hunting other subs, hunting surface ships, delivering special ops troops, both strike and irregular warfare, ISR collection and de-mining operations. “From the Arabian Sea to the Polar Ice cap, North Dakota will West. The boat was later used as an underway target for live operate undetected in the harshest environments on the planet torpedo firing at New London in 1964. as her crew protects the freedom of the seas and the interests of [Note: By 1964 I was stationed in New London, just before the United States,” Vice Admiral Michael Connor, Commander, Spikefish was going to be used as a target. . I had noticed that Submarine Forces said during the commissioning ceremony. someone had painted on the side “Jonah 2:3”. In high um- “Leaders around the world around the world continue to ask for brage, I called the Squadron Operation’s Office as said as the more American submarine presence, because they realise that last commanding officer of Spikefish, I took great effuses at there are some very important things that must be done that only someone being called her a Jonah. submarines can do.” The OPS Officer told me to check the reference in the Old The North Dakota and its 134-sailor compliment are expected Testament, and when I did all was forgiven. He offered me the to be hiding under the high seas by year’s end. opportunity to go to sea as a official observer for the last act, but I chose not to do so….Fox ]

THE PERISCOPE • November 2014 18 “This photo (of the USS Segundo, SS 398) was taken in the 1940’s on the Wangpo River in China going to Shanghai.” - Used with permission by Segundo Webmaster, Bob Price

SEALION POMPANO HARDER S-36 CISCO SEAWOLF In memory S-26 S-44 DARTER SHARK I DORADO SHARK II of the Perch WAHOO TANG S-27 CORVINA ESCOLAR fifty-two GRUNION SCULPIN ALBACORE submarines S-39 CAPELIN GROWLER ARGONAUT SCORPION SCAMP lost in AMBERJACK GRAYBACK SWORDFISH World War II GRAMPUS TROUT BARBEL TRITON TULLIBEE KETE PICKEREL GUDGEON TRIGGER GRENADIER HERRING SNOOK RUNNER GOLET LAGARTO R-12 S-28 BONEFISH GRAYLING ROBALO BULLHEAD FLIER

THE PERISCOPE • November 2014 19