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Camille Smith; Myna Miller; Greg Complimentary parking Zonner (USS Von Steuben); Joe Mathis Outdoor Pool (USS Jefferson City) 2 award winning restaurants & lounges on site Helping Veterans for Over 20 Years BOOK TODAY: Scott Sudduth (501) 404-0397 Waters Kraus & Paul: 800-226-9880 222 N Pacific Coast Highway Suite 1900 El Segundo, California 90245 C. Andrew Waters is the attorney responsible for this advertisement 2 Riverfront Place Los Angeles | Dallas | Baton Rouge | Moline (by appt.) | waterskrauspaul.com North Little Rock AR 72114 Call 1-866-657-4458 for more information | | | | 2 American Submariner First Quarter 2020 First Quarter 2020 American Submariner 3 THE AMERICAN SUBMARINER VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE The Official Magazine of the United States Submarine Veterans Inc. is published quarterly Wayne Standerfer by USSVI. United States Submarine Veterans Inc. National Commander is a nonprofit 501(c)(19) corporation in the State Contents of Connecticut. NATIONAL OFFICE Fred Borgmann 12 U.S. Navy Radio Intelligence During the Second World War and the POB 3870 Sinking of the Japanese Submarine I-52 Silverdale, WA 98383 (877) 542-DIVE 20 Death Run ’79 USSVI COMMITTEES Happy New Year Shipmates, 27 MEMBERSHIP From the Submarine Library Short of being in suspended animation, it is difficult for me to realize that we are Steve Bell, NJVC 20 years deep into the 21st century. Where did the time go? (704) 824-3510 [email protected] 28 Boise Base Participates in Local Activities Our membership numbers over this 20-year time frame have increased from 7,232 members in December 2000 to a high of 13,847 in 2011. Since then we have slowly WAYS & MEANS NATIONAL EDITOR 29 USSVI Academic Scholarship Program Currently Accepting Applications declined to plus or minus 12,500 and for whatever reason can’t seem to climb above Jon Jaques, NSVC T Michael Bircumshaw this number. I do not have the final numbers going into 2020, but hopefully we [email protected] POB 892616 will maintain or exceed our current plateau. New members are the lifeblood of any (615) 893-7800 Heroes Among Us Temecula, CA 92589-2616 organization. For USSVI to survive and thrive, it is incumbent upon each of us to do what CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS [email protected] 30 we can to recruit new members. Skip Turnbull (951) 775-4549 Pocono Base Joins State and Local Officials in Dedication of Memorial Over the past year, I had the privilege and honor of personally attending several (Parliamentarian) Fax (951) 239-0522 Highway in Pennsylvania (217) 487-7710 major SubVet functions. The first was in Laughlin, Nevada, in March for the Western [email protected] TREASURER Region Roundup (Conference). In early May, I headed east to Groton, Connecticut, Paul Hiser USSVI Presents Author Dr. Charles Hood With Certificate of Appreciation for USSVI’s 55th anniversary, and returned a month later to attend Groton Base’s very AWARDS (215) 317-5666 impressive Holland Club Induction Ceremony. August found me in Austin, Texas, for the Harold W. (Bill) Scott II [email protected] 31 (512) 826-8876 Community Volunteers Plant Trees at Fresno State in Honor of 2019 National Convention. On September 26, I had the privilege of laying a wreath [email protected] DISTRIBUTION U.S. Submariners at the dedication of the USS Thresher Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery Neal Britner in Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, DC. It was a truly humbling NATIONAL CONVENTION (315) 409-8476 experience. I finished the year by attending the SubVet Panama City Beach Christmas Richard (Ozzie) Osentoski WWII Submarine Veterans Honored at Kings Bay Ceremony (734) 671-3439 [email protected] Party in Florida. Shipmates, I can honestly say we have an outstanding organization of submarine veter- EAGLE SCOUT PROGRAM BOAT SPONSORSHIP CHAIR 32 Guidelines for Submitting Proposed Amendments to the David Farran Jack Messersmith ans all across the country. Meeting so many of you this past year has heightened the pride Constitution and Bylaws I take in serving as your National Commander. The advancement of our organization’s (318) 352-1015 (928) 227-7753 [email protected] [email protected] 33 stated creed is evident everywhere I go. Iowa Submarine Veterans Celebrate Opening of Memorial Highway But as is usually the case, for every positive, there is a downside. We presently have BOAT SPONSORSHIP PROOF TEAM an issue that is rapidly becoming a serious problem. I am referring to the reluctance Jack Messersmith Bill Andrea Does the Crew of USS Segundo (SS-398) Deserve Another Medal? of members to serve in leadership positions, particularly at the base level. Getting (928) 227-7753 [email protected] Neal Britner members to step forward has always presented a challenge, but in recent years it has Dick Kanning 34 Parade Float Wisconsin (SSN-908) Celebrates Eleven Years of Service escalated. I will have more to say on this in the coming months. BOARD OF INQUIRY John Mansfield We presently have three bases on the verge of, or in the process of closing Chairman Joan Miner 37 (including one with 50-plus members), due to non-participation by their members. Ross Sargent (JA) Parades, Picnics, Pinning Ceremonies and More—Western District 4 Bases (703) 629-1119 STAFF ARTIST If this trend continues, USSVI will eventually and prematurely be forced to shut down, Steam Full Speed into Fall Members Tom Denton not due to lack of members, but to a lack of participation by the members. Therefore, Dutch Holland (301) 845-0049 I’m asking you to get out of your recliner or off your behind and volunteer. Guys, 38 Call for Nominations Herbert Orth [email protected] this doesn’t require rocket science brain power, nor does it demand an excessive Bill Windle amount of your time. The information needed to be successful at any level of 39 HISTORIAN WWII SUBVET HISTORIAN The Ink Years leadership can be found in our online manuals or from present or past officeholders. Run Jack Jeffries Peter J. Koester your fingers over that set of dolphins and remember what they represent and what USSVI (704) 254-2423 (978) 500-5085 [email protected] does to ensure it is never forgotten. We are just eight months away from the 2020 National Convention in Tucson, STOREKEEPER AMERICAN SUBMARINER DEADLINES In Every Issue Arizona. Start making plans to support your shipmates at Tucson Base and Perch Barry Commons (925) 679-1744 First Quarter December 1 Base, who are working tirelessly to make your visit a memorable experience. Second Quarter March 1 [email protected] 5 National Commander 10 Mail Buoy Information can be found at ussviconvention.org/2020. Third Quarter June 1 HOLLAND CLUB Fourth Quarter September 1 USSVI Committees 18 Kap(SS) 4 Kid(SS) Stay close to family and friends, and have a great new year. Bud Atkins The American Submariner is not responsible for the 6 Regional and District 26 Classifieds All the Best, (860) 440-3120 claims of its advertisers. The primary focus of this Representatives [email protected] publication is for the benefit and service to USSVI 36 Lost boats Wayne Standerfer members. Issues concerning Advertisers may be 7 National Junior Vice 40 New Members National Commander KAP(SS) 4 KID(SS) sent to the editorial staff for mediation. Commander John Riley The American Submariner is copyrighted under 42 Upcoming Boat Reunions (203) 668-9131 National Treasurer [email protected] the laws of the United States of America. Any re- 44 Eternal Patrol production in any form without the written consent 8 Chaplain’s Corner VETERANS AFFAIRS of the editor is forbidden by law. All authorized reproduction requires acknowledgement of source, 9 National Officers John Dudas American Submariner author, and the . (928) 420-0061 | | | | 4 American Submariner First Quarter 2020 First Quarter 2020 American Submariner 5 REGIONAL and DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE WARDROOM REGIONAL DIRECTORS Steve Bell Medal of Honor National Junior Vice Commander SubmarinerS I hope that everyone had a wonderful and safe holiday season. Western Region Director Central Region Director Northeast Region Director Southeast Region Director We are now in the new year, which means if you have not paid your National JIM DENZIEN WYVEL “TOM” WILLIAMS III LES ALTSCHULER KENNETH W.