Volume 2010 - Issue 1 Page 1 Volume 2010 Issue 1 $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” Receive your American Submariner Electronically - More magazine, delivered earlier. Send an E-mail to [email protected] requesting the change. Page 2 American Submariner right path! All the Best, GROTON LAUNCHES John Riley Chairman - Kap(SS)4Kid(SS) Program K4K PROGRAM AT YALE Sub Vets - Groton Base [email protected] 203 668-9131 to us and our making them Honorary Submariners. There were parents with around 60% of the children, and they were very vocal in their appreciation of the joy we were giving their kids. Many of the parents and the staff voiced their appreciation of us as Veterans and what we have done for our country! When noon came we all kept visiting rooms. It seemed that no one wanted to stop the wonderful experience we were all sharing. Finally around 12:30 we were forced to stop due to overlapping schedule commitments. We agreed with the staff that no mat- Groton’s K4K Gang a & Colin Kaps for Kids ter what other days during the year we visit them we need to make sure we On Veterans Day, Paul Dillon, Paul reserve Veterans Day each year to visit Grammer, Mike DeLeo, Roy Wilkes, my YNHCH! Wife Jackie and I paid a Sub Vets, Gro- When we got to the lobby we dis- ton Base, Kap(SS)4Kid(SS) visit to the cussed what we had just experienced. Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital. We all shared that we had an over- Paul G., Mike & Roy are members of the whelming feeling of joy and satisfaction. Groton Base Westport Satellite Group. It was indeed Magical! (Thank you K4K Shipmates, you were The Pope John II quote was judged all Great!) as fully reinforced: By all measurements it was a Magi- “We began by imagining that we are cal visit! giving to them; we end by realizing that Colin designed a new SSN for us We saw around 50 children, ranging in they have enriched us.” age from 9 days to 19 years old! Our Vision for the Groton Base In a tight hospital schedule we were allotted 2 hours, from 10 AM till Noon. The fi rst hour was spent in the children’s Activity Room, where we shared info on Submarines and got to know the children. We gave out Honorary Sub- mariner Certifi cates, Caps & Doo Rags, as well as photos of Submarines. We also took photos to give to the children. It was very gratifying seeing the children enjoy our offerings. The second hour was spent visit- Christine, Erica, Janice, and Leah, John & Angelina ing children, and their parents, room our hostesses, were all made to room. We and the staff (Janice, Honorary Submariners Christine, Leah and Erica) split up into two groups to maximize the number of Kap(SS) 4 Kid(SS) Program is to imple- rooms visited. ment ongoing K4K activities throughout Many of the children in the rooms Connecticut, in hospitals and other lo- obviously had greater challenges in cations, where children are fi ghting for their fi ght for health than the children their health. The visit to the Yale New in the activity room, however, they Haven Children’s Hospital supercharged Groton K4K Banner were equally (if not more so) receptive us and confi rmed that we are on the If at fi rst you don’t succeed, skydiving is not for you. Volume 2010 - Issue 1 Page 3 “This Edition” AMERICAN 2. Groton K4K 22. Chaplain’s Corner - Eternal Patrol SUBMARINER 4. National Commander’s Corner 24. Cinncinati Covnention 2010 6. BoD - Committees - Smoke Boat Sisters 26. 246 New Members The Offi cial Magazine of the United States 7. USSVI Information Regions & Districts 28. USSVI Charitable Fund Submarine Veterans Inc. is published 8. Letters to the Editor 30. USS TANG Flags & Patches quarterly by USSVI. 9. 26’ Level 31. Kursk Tribute United States Submarine Veterans Inc. is 10. Pride Runs Deep 32. Boat Sponsorship a non-profi t 501 C-19 corporation in the 11. Grayback Base Dedicates Memorial 34. Ted Hussy Update 12. Veteran’s Day Remebered 35. Snook Base Hosts State of Connecticut. 13. Haddo Base & Kids 36. Central Region Quarterly News Printing: A. J. Bart of Dallas, Texas. 14. US Submarine Losses 38. Honor & Remember Mailing: Dalton Mailing Service 15. NC Sub Vets put on the plates 39. Iowa Base & the Barn Carbonero Base Visits Vets 41. Running Guns to Fighting Fires National Editor 16 Boat Reunions 44. Eagle Scout Court of Honor T. Michael Bircumshaw 17. USS Maine Base K4K 45. Class Ads 18. USS Sawfi sh - 8th Patrol Report 46. Senior Members - SnowBirds Editorial Offi ce 20. Lost Boats Criteria 47. Change of Address Form. American Submariner 21. Submarine Memorial Dedicated POB 892616 Temecula, CA 92589-2616 . 951-541-0900 Shipmates,. [email protected] Once more we enter an election year and are challenged to select our leaders and direction for the future of USSVI. ADVERTISING 951-541-0900 I realize that I have a dog in the fi ght, but I would be remiss as Editor of this [email protected] publication if I did not impress on you that the next two years of USSVI will be determined by you. I implore you to exercise your right to vote and to be actively Assistant Editor involved in the future of USSVI. Michael R. Hyman In the next edition of the American Submariner there will be letters written by Associate Editors the candidates who will be asking for your vote. Please take the time and interest William Fernstrom to read what they all have to say and then vote for whom you believe will best David Kauppinen - Bob Miller serve our organization. Gil Shaddock - Kit Carson I have heard that some of our Shipmates have already made up their minds Treasurer without giving consideration to each candidate and their capabilities as leaders William Fernstrom and National Offi cers. Photographer There may be more Shipmates stepping up to run since nominations do not close Robert “Bob” Bissonette until the 30th of April, and I am trusting that this edition of the AS will be in your hands long before that date. Staff Artist Tom Denton Most importantly, take the time and effort to vote. It is a very simple evolution The American Submariner is not responsible either electronically or by paper ballot which will be in the third edition (2010-3) of for the claims of the Advertisers, however the the American Submariner. Your vote could be the one that makes the difference. primary focus of this publication is for the There is no “Electoral College” here; every vote counts! benefit and service to USSVI members. Best, Issues concerning Advertisers may be sent Michael to the Editorial Staff for mediation. T Michael Bircumshaw - National Editor & Publisher CHANGE OF ADDRESS AMERICAN SUBMARINER SUBMISSION DEADLINES Change of address is handled by your Base Membership Chairman or the USSVI Main Edition 2010-2 March 15, Edition 2010-3 June 15, Edition 2010-4 October 15 Offi ce in Silverdale, Washington. Edition 2011-1 December 15. Articles received after the indicated deadlines may Call: 877-542-DIVE not be considered for publishing in the next scheduled edition of the magazine. or Send an E-Mail to: All articles are published at the sole discretion of the Editor. [email protected] and if you only have stamps, snail it to: American Submariner AMERICAN SUBMARINER COPYRIGHT 2010 PO BOX 3870 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. All Editor; but whatever you do, send it! permitted reproduction requires acknowledgement of source; Author and the American Submariner. Thanks for reading the American Submariner. Thank you for your Service. Page 4 American Submariner National Commander’s Corner America. Jon Jaques Pat Householder There is a special POW fl ag to honor National Commander those men listed as missing, and right- Senior Vice Commander fully so, but there is no special ‘offi cial’ fl ag to honor our fallen young military men and women who died in service to us all since the founding of our nation. A USSVI shipmate, Stan Handley, (Qualifi ed 1962 in USS Von Steuben SSBN 632) came to me with with the good news that there now is a flag created for this purpose. The “Honor and Remember” movement’s purpose is “To create, establish and promote a nationally recognized fl ag that would fl y continuously as a visible reminder to all Americans of the lives lost in defense of our national freedoms. All Military lives 25003 SE 146th St. lost not only in action but also in service, 752 S Church St. Issaquah, WA. 98027 from our nation’s inception.” Murfreesboro, TN 37130 425-392-0440 This fl ag and the purpose behind the 615-893-7800 [email protected] movement is in perfect ‘synch’ with our [email protected] own USSVI mission of rememberance, Shipmates, although on a larger scale.