Issue #101 Fall Quarter 2019 The Official Newsletter of the Association of Minemen In This Issue: 2019 Reunion Review Mining Campaigns (Cont.) MIW Articles Navy Munitions Command Reports TAPS and Binnacle List Miscellaneous MN Stuff Notable Quotable From The President MNCM John Epps, USN (Ret.) “Change is not a four letter word… but I’d like to pass on my condolences to the families of our recently departed shipmates and often your reaction to family members. I also want to wish those on the Binnacle List a speedy and pain free recovery. You are in our it is!” – Jeffrey Gitomer thoughts and prayers. Along with their other duties, Don Moody accepted the Communica- tions Chair and Nate Miranda accepted the Membership Chair posi- tions. Phil DeChene and Tom Hoffman were approved by the membership for another term on the Board of Directors and Denson Rivers is officially our new Chaplin. Doug Delong volunteered to take on the photographer role from Gary Cleland. I’d like to thank Don, Nate, Phil, Tom, Denson, Doug and Gary for their past, new and continued support. If you didn’t attend the San Antonio Reunion, you missed out on a “Blind belief in authority is great time; reminiscing with friends & family, great food and drink the greatest enemy of truth.” along the River Walk and many historical sites within walking distance of the hotel. We met new people, reacquainted with old shipmates ― Albert Einstein and thanks to the membership, had a very successful Scholarship Auction. Our guest speaker, CDR Nicole Schine’s presentation was Awesome!! She gave us a very candid look at our US Navy and Mine Warfare readiness. Congratulations to the 2019 Minemen of the Year awardees; MN1 (SW) Robert K. Shimonek, MN1 (SW) Edson F. Villarreal and MN1 Matthew C. McPaul. The Facebook page continues to boom. There are currently 682 members. Welcome aboard Shipmates. Your input and participation is making the page a success. God bless our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines and God bless the USA! 244 Years—alwaYs strong John From the Editor... Dedicated to Serving the U. S. Mine Force committees The Dashpot, published quarterly, is the newsletter of the Association of Minemen (AOM), a non-profit organization A.O.M. Historian incorporated in the State of South Carolina...to perpetuate a knowledge of undersea mine warfare, necessary to America’s first line of defense Don Moody (18-) 2559 King Richards Rd. Melbourne, FL 32935-2932 officers PH 321-223-5337 [email protected] President Scholarship Chair John Epps (17-20) 231 Silverwood Ct. Ron Glasen (12-) Richland, WA 99352 540 Cambridge Ct. (1-D) The Holidays are approaching fast Ph.509-366-0214 Munster, IN 46321 [email protected] Ph. 219-678-3228 and our 45th annual Reunion and [email protected] business meeting was a great Vice President Membership Chair success. A big BZ and thanks to Eddie Atkins (17-20) CDR Schine for her excellent talk. 117 Quaker Meeting House Rd. Nate Miranda (18-) Williamsburg, VA 23188-1851 5728 N. Gladys Ave. I ’ m sorry my wife and I couldn’t Ph.757-565-3333 San Gabriel, CA 91775-2466 [email protected] (626) 824-0727 attend this year, but we’ll shoot [email protected] for Charleston in 2020! Secretary/Treasurer Communications Chair Congratulations to our Minemen Nate Miranda (18-) of the Year: MN1 (SW) Robert 5728 N. Gladys Ave. Derick Hartshorn (08-) Shimonek, MN1 (SW) Edson San Gabriel, CA 91775-2466 1204 4th Street Dr., SE (626) 824-0727 Conover, NC 28613-1827 Villarreal and MN1 (SW) Mathew [email protected] Ph. 828-464-4981 [email protected] McPaul. Bravo Zulu!! Board of Directors Now to indulge in a bit of Chaplain Philip DeChene (17-19) editorializing: as I prepared the 1827 Broadway Dr. Nominee Denson Rivers History article for this issue, Graham, NC 27253 Ph.336-229-1951 (the analysis of Operation Parliamentarian [email protected] Starvation) , I was struck by the Warren Savage (19-21) Warren Savage similarities between our current 10331 Settle Rd. 10331 Settle Rd. Santee, CA 92071 Santee, CA 92071 fleet Mining and Mine Counter- Ph.619-258-1478 Ph.619-258-1478 measures readiness picture and [email protected] [email protected] that of both the WWII U.S. Tom Hoffman (17-19) Reunion Committee 2019 mining forces and the Imperial 2266 East Hurd Rd. Chairperson Monroe, MI 48162 (San Antonio TX) Japanese Navy’s mine sweeping Ph.734-289-2279 capability. There are many [email protected] Gary Cleland 12201 Sunrise Ct lessons our Navy leadership Charles Humbard (19-21) Poway, CA 92064 - 2865 111 Calhoun Ave Cell: 858-848-4030 should to take to heart as we Goose Creek, SC 29445 Home: 858-747-3835 sundown the aging MCM-1 Class PH 843-425-9932 [email protected] [email protected] and move to the LCS; also “The DASHPOT” Editor (hopefully) work to improve our Danny Epperly (18-20) 123 Yorkshire Dr. Ron Swart (16-) mining capabilities. I hope you Yorktown, VA 23693 305 Fairview Dr. take some time to read about this Ph. 757-870-1376 Canton, GA 30114 [email protected] Ph.678-880-9008 pivotable operation toward the [email protected] end of WWII. Gary Cleland (18-20) 12201 Sunrise Ct Please send input to: All the best! Ron Poway, CA 92064-2865 dashpot [email protected] Cell: 858-848-4030 Home: 858-747-3835 [email protected] Input for Fall 2019 Dashpot #102 is due NLT: 1 February 2020 2 Membership Committee Report I am happy to report for the month of October 2019 we welcomed 6 new or reinstated members. Thanks to the This year the Scholarship Committee Fund is not without limits , and a little shot efforts of our AOM Facebook page and has awarded 4 Scholarship Awards. in the arm would be greatly appreciated. current members reaching out to old Each scholarship was worth $750, for We need to continue the proud and great shipmates! Last year’s stats are equally a total of $3,000. Since 1996 the tradition of the Association of Minemen impressive and can be found in the Association of Minemen have awarded Scholarship Awards Program. Reunion Meeting Minutes on pages 4-7. 233 scholar ships totalling $155,900 In Now for the not so good report! We 2017, the number of scholarships The 2019 Awardees are: have 68 members that have passed do awarded was 5. In 2016, we had 4 Catlin Clark Ivy Tech Community dues! 6 are from 2017, 9 from 2018 and Scholarship Awards, in 2015, we had College 53 from 2019! The way to identify if you 12 Scholarship Awards, and 2014, we Hailey Healer Flagler College are one of the 68 is by looking at the had 10 Scholarship Awards. As in Olivia Dow Erwin Limestone College mailing label on your Dashpot. If that 2018, all of our applicants just graduat- Mackenzie Franklin Midlands Technical date is circled or highlighted, please ed high school or are already in College remit your dues by mailing your check or college. This year we received 4 via PayPal at this link: https:// applications. Of the 4 applications all form.jotform.com/90215855401148. were from women, and none were Also, if you have moved since the last from men. One of the applications was mailing, send me a note at from a PAST AWARD recipients, and Scholarship Committee Chair [email protected] so I can three were from first time applicants update our mailing list. It cost us .65 for just graduating high school and are returned mail and another $1.30 to entering college for their first time. Any resend to your new address. apathy to the rules and instructions Thank you! when filling out the application, will be Membership Chairman, Nate Miranda taken into consideration by your committee when making our decisions Secretary Treasurer Report for any scholarship award. The rules I’d like to thank all that had the for completing an application must be opportunity to attend this year’s reunion strictly adhered to as they were written. in San Antonio. And for those who were These rules are published on the AOM not able to attend, we missed you! I was Web Page. Under Section G. Para- able to meet and talk to new members graph 2 of the AOM Published Rules. and get reacquainted with old ship- To Receive An AOM Scholarship. mates, some of which I have not seen (1) The Candidate must complete the since the late ‘70’s! Our auction this year application forms S-land S-2. (2) Pro- was a blast! Many, many thanks to all vide a current transcript of credits the bidders! Great times! earned from applicable schools. (3) Having completed my first year as Provide two letters of recommendation. your Sec/Treas, I can report that the (4) Provide a study plan covering the Association is moving forward with all of scholarship term, which provides a your support! We are continuing to synopsis of the field of study he or she improve our abilities towards making it plans to complete, and (5) any other AOM Membership Reminder easier to pay your dues and donations to pertinent information the candidate the Scholarship Fund via PayPal. While feels might enhance their chances of As a reminder, your membership it does cost us a service fee to do this, it receiving the Scholarship AWARD. expiration/due date can be found on is a small price to pay for ease and Failure to follow these rules will make the DASHPOT mailing label just convenience for those who choose to us the application incomplete, and will not above your name.