STATE June 6, 1944, D-Day in Europe, June 7, COMMANDER’S CORNER 2003, D-Day in North Carolina, Dedication .U.S. SUBMARINE VETERANS OF of the Submarine Memorial at Moonshine NORTH CAROLINA Mountain Estates, in memory of our lost Submarines and Shipmates, and of the late Shipmates, Harrell Flowers, CTM, who constructed the site. And what a day it was!! And, except This has been an eventful few months. The for the weather (again), it was wonderful. USSVWWII Maryland/DelMarVa chapter After months of planning, everything fit and USSVI, Chesapeake Base, hosted the together perfectly. It would take a whole South East Regional meeting at Ocean City, issue of the "All Clear" to describe the event Md. in May. Jim Woomer, Md. State completely. The SubVets of N.C. hosted the Commander is lucky to have such fine help memorial service. We are most grateful for as Mary Mullaney, Ramona Yost and Cheryl the efforts of Joe and Susan Martin and Yost. The Dunes Manor provided the space Wayne and Marie Paul, residents of and the girls did the rest with plenty of Burnsville, without whose efforts we liquid refreshments and too many calories couldn't have pulled it off. Mac McCarty, of in solid food. The hotel provided "Tea and Chapter 57, DAV, Burnsville, provided the Crumpets" every afternoon. The weather Color Guard, (without the 21 Gun Salute). was not very cooperative with heavy fog Arnold McIntosh is the caretaker of the most of the time but that didn't dampen any grounds on which the Memorial is situated spirits. As usual at a Regional meeting a and we are grateful to him for providing the Regional Director is flags and the bell and maintaining the "elected/selected/rejected/or just plain property. Because of the rain, Burnsville railroaded" into office. For the second year Mayor Michele Lawhern very kindly agreed in a row that's what happened, so you will to let us use the courtroom of the County have to put up with me as your illustrious building for the meeting. This was a perfect Director for another year. alternate location. Wayne Paul obtained an excellent sound system setup and operated Rose Mary and I attended the Memorial by Lyn Small. The NU WRAY Inn (est. 1833) Service at SubTra Fac at the Navy Yard in was the perfect place for us to gather with a Norfolk on May 23rd. Except for the large common room and porch overlooking weather, it was a beautiful event, hosted by the town square. This place is a bed and the Tidewater Chapter USSVWWII and the breakfast so we had grits and eggs for Navy. The guest speaker was Adm. M. breakfast. The hostess, Rosemary Rindskopf, who gave a stirring account of Chandler, kept us well supplied with cheese his command of the Drum during WWII. and crackers besides serving excellent Katherine McHone, Ladies Chapter meals. There were 72 lunch guests before Historian, SubVets WWII, and Don Small, the Memorial service. S.E. Regional Director, presented the Memorial wreath to Master Chief Royal of Briefly, the ceremony went like this: the USS Hampton (SSN-767) to be committed to the sea on their next patrol. The usual goodies were served after the Welcome by Joe Martin who assumed service, and the rain had fortunately the MC duties, and Blaine Whitson, who stopped by then. represented the Yancey County Commissioners. Opening introduction, Don Small. Presentation of the Flag/Colors, Beki spectacular to conclude a near perfect Taylor, representative for US Congressman weekend. Charles Taylor. This flag was flown over the Capitol Building in Washington, DC. Wayne Paul accepted the flag as the Yancey County ___________________________________ Veterans Officer. The National Anthem was There were a number of members who sung followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led regularly attend SubVet functions who were by Sub Service recruit Joseph Murry. absent from our recent event and some Chaplain Bill Whelan gave the Invocation members who we haven't seen recently were followed by a minute of silence for our there. Charlie and Grace Brockhausen have troops overseas. Mac McCarty, DAV, spoke recently moved to Florida and we wish them briefly after which Blaine Whitson read a well. Their new address is published in this letter from Governor Mike Easley which is All Clear issue. It was too far for Jean printed elsewhere in this issue of "All Clear". Parker to come to and she didn't have Command Master Chief Jeff Hudson from anyone to drive her. She hates to miss SubGru 10, Kings Bay, Ga., gave an meetings. We have not seen Len and Lee excellent talk on the role of the submarine Jackson in quite some time but try to keep in today’s navy. Bill Whelan gave a "I had a them up to date on "doings" by All Clear, e- dream" speech which is presented elsewhere mail and phone. Rose Mary and I stopped by in this issue. Preamble of Tolling of the Mocksville for a short visit with Jim and Boats read by Chuck Jensen and Mike Evelyn Harbin. Jim's legs are giving him Burkholder read the list of Lost Boats trouble but he has still got it all together followed by a minute of silence. The "upstairs"! We are going to try to get his courtroom in which we had this meeting memories written up. Joe Howard Clark was was equipped with a LARGE BELL, which not able to attend but we appreciate his very was "Donged" after each boat name was generous contribution. We missed the wit of read. Bill Bradburn and June Kracker Ben Grimes. Ed and June Kracker from (National Chaplain, Wives of SubVets WWII) Tidewater Chapter represented our friends presented the wreath. Bill recounted the from Virginia. We enjoyed the company of Patrols of the Gato (SS212) on which he and Mary McCrary after so long in not seeing Chief Flowers served. Howell (Howie) Rice, a her. Gene McCrary was a long time member radioman aboard the S-29, recounted how and recently was called on Eternal Patrol. he got the message of Unrestricted Warfare And we made a new acquaintance with after Pearl Harbor. The program was closed Ramona Keays, recently moved to Western by playing Taps, closing Prayer and singing N.C., from the Submarine Museum at Kings the Navy Hymn. Bay/ St. Mary's, Ga. All those other members of the NC SubVets who were not there, we missed you. I have a picture slide Then the sun came out!!! Numerous show on CD with many scenes of the recent people took advantage of the beautiful activity that I will be distributing to everyone afternoon weather to visit the Memorial site. who has the facility (computer) to view it. Don Small The formal wreath presentation at the Memorial site was done on Sunday, June 8. At about 11AM 11 members and their families gathered to leave the wreath and pose for "Photo Ops". It was a beautiful day and the view from the property was USSVI COMMANDER CORNER communication within our organization. This can easily be accomplished with the use of e-mail on the Internet. Although the majority of our members have e-mail capability, there are some members that do LT Chuck Jensen not. I am proposing to assign those members without e-mail to a members who USN (RET) does. It will be the responsibility of these members having e-mail to pass on important information they received via e- mail to their assigned member without e- Photo mail by telephone or mail. Assignment will be within the same city or town wherever not possible but at least within the same telephone area code. Bob Werner and I have Available reviewed our sailing list to verify the accuracy of the members’ listed e-mail This Shipmate is addresses. We have found some that are no longer valid. To make this initiative work, Camera Shy we all need to do our part in keeping the base sailing list accurate. Whenever you have a change in your address, phone number, or e-mail address, it is Shipmates, important that you notify Bob Werner or myself in a timely manner so corrections The dedication of the NC Sub Veteran can be made. I am also requesting Dave Memorial at Burnsville was a complete Thommarson (our webmaster) to keep the success. Although the dedication of the information on our web site accurate. With memorial had to be held indoors because of everyone’s cooperation, I am confident that the weather, it was a very impressive this initiative will be a success. service. Many thanks to Don Small, Joe & It has been over a year since Mike Susan Martin, and Wayne Paul (Yancy Burkholder, Pat Collins, Ed Galaviz, and Bobby County Veteran Affairs Officer) for their Harvell went to Baltimore to get our parade great effort to make this event happen. submarine. Due to the outstanding efforts of Bobby Harvell, Joe Clark, and his friend Ed Upcoming events include marching in Bare the parade submarine has been completed. Greensboro’s 4th of July Parade where I We will be using it in the upcoming 4th of July Parade in Greensboro. Attached are some expect our parade submarine will make its photos of our new submarine. Note it has two debut. Our next meeting will be on hull numbers (S 28 & SSN 777) to th Saturday August 9 at Errico’s Restaurant commemorate our memorial boat and the new located at 132 Kilmayne Drive, Cary, NC. USS North Carolina. We will have available to The meeting will be from 11:30 a.m.