TABLE OF CONTENTS THE SILENT SERVICE……………………………………………………………………x THE CREW OF SUBMARINE SEA POACHER………………………………………….xi DEDICATION……………………………………………………………………………...xxix DOLPHINS…………………………………………………………………………………xlii WHY THIS BOOK…………………………………………………………………………xliii HISTORY OF THE BALAO (SS-285) CLASS SUBMARINE……………………………xlv HISTORY OF THE SEA POACHER ……………………………………………………...xlix CHAPTER 1 FRANCIS M.GAMBACORTA WWII PATROL ONE 1 CHAPTER 2 FRANCIS M. GAMBACORTA WWII PATROL TWO 21 CHAPTER 3 CHARLES F. LEIGH WWII PATROL THREE 36 CHAPTER 4 CHARLES F. LEIGH WWII PATROL FOUR 50 CHAPTER 5 RALPH COBB 1944 – 1945 65 CHAPTER 6 BLISS NISONGER 1944 – 1945 72 CHAPTER 7 WARDEN GASKINS 1945 74 CHAPTER 8 BOB COOLEY 1945 78 CHAPTER 9 ROBERT SMIDUTZ 1945 81 CHAPTER 10 DAVE GREEN 1945 – 1946 83 CHAPTER 11 KENNETH CRAGO 1946 84 CHAPTER 12 MORRIS EZELL 1946 86 CHAPTER 13 JOHN SOHL 1946 87 CHAPTER 14 LEON EGGLESTON 1947 – 1948 88 CHAPTER 15 RICHARD FERRIS 1947 – 1949 89 v CHAPTER 16 CHARLES DONNELLY 1948 – 1951 91 CHAPTER 17 JOHN (JACK) DUBBS 1948 – 1951 94 CHAPTER 18 GEORGE WYSE 1948 – 1952 97 CHAPTER 19 G.D. (BILL) HELLMER 1949 – 1950 99 CHAPTER 20 LEO CARR 1949 – 1951 100 CHAPTER 21 PETER AMUNRUD 1949 – 1952 102 CHAPTER 22 BOB ABBOTT 1949 – 1952 105 CHAPTER 23 WILLIAM BUCKLEY 1950 – 1956 109 CHAPTER 24 BILL MCKINNEY 1950 – 1951 123 CHAPTER 25 WILLIAM PARHAMENKO 1951 – 1953 126 CHAPTER 26 STEVE KURKJIAN 1952 129 CHAPTER 27 BOB MATHENY 1952 – 1956 130 CHAPTER 28 GLENN TRUMBLE 1953 – 1955 131 CHAPTER 29 ED THOMPSON 1953 – 1955 134 CHAPTER 30 DON SCHWARTZ 1954 – 1855 137 CHAPTER 31 THOMAS THOMPSON 1955 – 1956 141 CHAPTER 32 WILLIAM LUTTRELL 1955 – 1956 143 CHAPTER 33 COLVIN COCHRANE 1955 – 1956 145 CHAPTER 34 MARVIN SCHENKER 1955 – 1957 149 CHAPTER 35 TED ANTHONY 1955 – 1957 152 CHAPTER 36 JIM POWERS 1955 – 1959 158 CHAPTER 37 DONALD (WILKIE) WILKINSON 1956 – 1957 160 CHAPTER 38 BEN SHELDON 1956 – 1958 163 vi CHAPTER 39 KEN BONNELL 1957 – 1958 170 CHAPTER 40 DAN EBERHARDT 1957 – 1959 177 CHAPTER 41 CARL DAVIS 1957 – 1959 182 CHAPTER 42 JACK NIMS 1957 – 1963 185 CHAPTER 43 LARRY COLWELL 1958 – 1959 189 CHAPTER 44 G. BRACEY AND E. FORNI 1958 – 1959 190 CHAPTER 45 KARL SCHIPPER 1958 – 1960 195 CHAPTER 46 FREDERICK EDWARDS 1958 – 1960 207 CHAPTER 47 RON GODWIN 1958 – 1961 211 CHAPTER 48 JOHN LOVE 1958 – 1961 218 CHAPTER 49 JOHN SAVORY 1958 – 1961 225 CHAPTER 50 JAMES W. WESTON 1959 233 CHAPTER 51 BOB (DEX) ARMSTRONG 1959 – 1960 238 CHAPTER 52 JOHN SNOOK 1959 – 1962 243 CHAPTER 53 RALPH FRENCH 1959 – 1960 245 CHAPTER 54 ROBERT ACOR 1959 – 1960 247 CHAPTER 55 LAWRENCE STAHL 1959 – 1961 248 CHAPTER 56 WILLIAM J. (STAGGER) LEE 1959 – 1963 253 CHAPTER 57 JOHN (JJ) LYNCH 1959 – 1963 256 CHAPTER 58 DALE LIGGETT 1959 – 1963 260 CHAPTER 59 EDWARD LIEFFRING 1960 267 CHAPTER 60 IVAN JOSLIN 1960 – 1963 269 CHAPTER 61 BOB HENRY 1960 – 1961 284 vii CHAPTER 62 JEROME DAVI 1960 – 1961 295 CHAPTER 63 DON KAMUF 1960 – 1961 299 CHAPTER 64 MARSHALL POOLE 1960 – 1961 306 CHAPTER 65 BILL (JIGGER) BRINKMAN 1960 – 1962 308 CHAPTER 66 JERRY HOUCHENS 1960 – 1962 320 CHAPTER 67 RICHARD (GENE) DEMPSEY 1960 – 1962 321 CHAPTER 68 BOB SUMNER 1960 – 1963 326 CHAPTER 69 DANIEL MCLAREN 1960 – 1962 332 CHAPTER 70 ROY (LUKE) RILEY 1960 – 1962 335 CHAPTER 71 JACK ENSMINGER 1961 340 CHAPTER 72 DAVID ELMORE 1961 342 CHAPTER 73 PAUL ALLERS 1961 – 1962 343 CHAPTER 74 TOM DEULEY 1961 – 1963 347 CHAPTER 75 CARROLL LAWSON 1961 – 1963 351 CHAPTER 76 JACK MERRILL 1961 – 1963 352 CHAPTER 77 LANNY YESKE 1961 – 1963 362 CHAPTER 78 LEONARD R. KOJM 1961 – 1965 380 CHAPTER 79 GERALD (JOE) JOSEPH 1961 – 1963 381 CHAPTER 80 JEROME (JERRY) YOUNG 1962 383 CHAPTER 81 DEWEY REED 1962 – 1963 386 CHAPTER 82 SHAUN HICKS 1962 – 1963 387 CHAPTER 83 DAVID (BUSTER) MCCOLLUM 1962 – 1963 389 CHAPTER 84 JOE MURDOCH 1962 – 1963 394 viii CHAPTER 85 JON NAGLE 1962 – 1963 396 CHAPTER 86 H. LAWRENCE GARRETT III 1962 – 1963 399 CHAPTER 87 LARRY WEINFURTER 1962 – 1965 401 CHAPTER 88 JAMES HALBERT 1962 – 1963 403 CHAPTER 89 DAN DYBALA 1963 405 CHAPTER 90 CLYDE (DICK) RIGGAR 1963 – 1964 407 CHAPTER 91 RICHARD (DICK) T. FOX 1963 – 1964 410 CHAPTER 92 RICHARD HOLTZ 1963 – 1965 417 CHAPTER 93 ARNE WEINFURTER 1963 – 1966 419 CHAPTER 94 FREDERICK (RICK) SOCHA 1964 – 1966 421 CHAPTER 95 RONALD FRALEY, SR. 1964 – 1967 429 CHAPTER 96 MERLYN DORRHEIM 1964 – 1967 431 CHAPTER 97 JOHN R. SAELI 1965 – 1967 432 CHAPTER 98 DAVID (RINGO) RINGLAND 1965 – 1967 440 CHAPTER 99 TY MERRITT 1965 – 1968 452 CHAPTER 100 CARL HEADLAND 1966 – 1968 454 CHAPTER 101 WILLIAM (DUKE) DUKACZ 1967 – 1968 463 CHAPTER 102 WILLIAM HUBERT JACKSON 1967 – 1969 465 CHAPTER 103 HARRY HUGGINS 1968 – 1969 469 CHAPTER 104 JOHN (HAP) HALLAM 1968 – 1969 475 CHAPTER 105 DEWEY AKINS 1969 477 CHAPTER 106 RESERVE FLEET BY YESKE 1969 – 1974 485 CHAPTER 107 JUAN DEL CAMPO RODRIGUEZ 1974 – 1996 486 ix CHAPTER 108 HUMANITARIAN FUND 2003 – PRESENT 491 CHAPTER 109 MEMORIAL FUND 2003 – PRESENT 492 SEA POACHER EPILOGUE 495 I AM A SUBMARINER 502 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 503 REFERENCES 504 THE SILENT SERVICE A SUBMARINE AT SEA IS A DIFFERENT WORLD IN HERSELF AND THE MEN WHO TAKE SUCH SHIPS TO SEA ARE AN ELITE GROUP. WE DEMONSTRATED A COHESIVENESS AND INTERDEPENDENCE WHILE CONFINED TO THE INNARDS OF THE USS SEA POACHER. WHILE RELYING ON EACH OTHER TO DO IT PROPERLY THE FIRST TIME, WE ALL RETURNED HOME. x THE CREW OF THE SUBMARINE SEA POACHER Abbott, Robert EM 49-53 Éclair Charles MM Abiva,Theodorie TN 63-65 Austin, John EN 69 Ackernan, John TM 55-56 Austin, Willie EM 49-56 Acor, Robert QM 59-60 Axford, George LTjg 68-69 Acree, Samuel ET 57 Ayers, Robert EN 60 Adams, Bonner SN 47-49 Bail, Robert SA 49 Adams, Bruce MoMM 44 Bailey, Noal EN 50-60 Adams, George EN 55-56 Bailey, Raymond SN 44-45 Adams, Horace EN 63-64 Bailey, Willford SM 44-46 Adams, Norman ET 62-63 Bain, Frank RT 45-46 Adcock, Raymond SN 47 Bain, William SA 55-56 Agness, Ernest TM 64 Bainbridge, James ET 68 Ahler, Charles EM 57-59 Bainer, Frank MoMM 44 Ailes, Morton QM 52 Baird, Jack CS 48-49 Akins, Dewey EM 69 Baker, G.E. ET 63 Allen, Donald EM 60-62 Baker, R.L. YN 60 Allen, Robert Lt 63-66 Baker, Robert MM 63 Allers, Paul QM 61-62 Baldwin, Kenneth ET 55 Alqueza, Felix TN 60 Baldwin, Michael SB 58 Alvis, Frank LCDR 53 Ballard, Kelly SSMB 45 Amargo, Isidoro SD 52-53 Banks, Kenneth EN 67-69 Amos, Charles ET 63-64 Banting, Felicano SD 68-69 Amposta, Anastacio (Joey) TN 61-62 Barber, Vincent EN 49 Amunrud, Peter FC 49-52 Bardwell, Quitman FN 60 Anderson, George FT 54-55 Barker, Charles TM 65-66 Anderson, John SN 58 Barker, Gilbert ET 63-64 Anderson, Louis SM 61-62 Barkhurst, Kenneth SN 51 Anderson, Richard MM 45 Barnett, Vernon COB 60-64 Anderson, Richard ET 65 Barnes, Billy QM 45 Anderson, Ronald TM 56 Barnes, Don EM 46-49 Andres, David EM 49-52 Barry, Robert CS 50 Anthony, Bernard TM 59-60 Bartlett, Donald FT' 67 Anthony, Ted SO 55-57 Bartlet, Bruce EM 54-56 Antolin, D.P. TN 61 Barton, Wayne TM 47-48 Argenbright, Ronald CS 61-62 Bartorelli, Ralph GM 49 Arnold, John QM 61 Bartz, Jarold LTjg 68 Armstrong, Ted F. SOS 59-60 Bassett, Raymond FT 64 Anz, John TM 45-46 Bath, George ET 63-65 Arbuckle, William, RM 54-55 Battle, lrwin MoMM 45-46 Archbold, John 52-53 Bauer, Earl SO 54-56 Arvidson, David CS 52-53 Bauer, Russell TM 62-66 Ashenden, Edward TM 63-64 Baumgartner, Harold SK 63-64 Atkins, Robert TM 45 Bautista, Jose TN 64-65 Atkins, Stephen QM 55 Baybutt, Richard FN 44-46 Atkinson, William MM 45 Bayans, Ray EN 49 xi Baylor, Clyde TM 65-68 Blonshine, Richard ENS 66 Beach, Joel SK 62-63 Blount, Edward SN 68 Beard, Allen MM 45 Bludau, Gerald MM 61-62 Beard, James (Milt) EM 58-59 Boczon, Fredrick EN 48-5O Beard, Jimmie ET 68-69 Bohara, Stanley EN 49-50 Beardslee, Ralph QM 49 Boland, Dennis RM 68-69 Beaumont, Malcolm RM 64-65 Bole, Joseph ET 50-51 Becker, James IC 67-69 Boley, C!yde (Junior) EN 58 Becker, Jerome EN 67-68 Bolton, Harry FT 59-6O Beers, Howard TM 50-56 Booker, David TM 54-56 Beers, Robert (Bob) LT 68-69 Bonnell, Kenneth COB 57-58 Belden, Edwin EM 44-46 Bornowski, John TM 54-56 Bendo, Francisco TN 65-66 Boscarelli, Joseph CS 50 Benefield, Rodney QM 61-62 Boulton, W. D. 44 Benjamin, Marion TM 51 Bour, John EM 48-49 Benniston, Casey LTjg 55-57 Bovyn, Thomas QM 67-69 Benson, Harvey MM 63-68 Boyajian, George EM 46-49 Berg, Frederick SN 69 Boyd, Jerry (Smiley) SO 62-66 Berg, Robert XO 55 Boyd, Pat SN 58-60 Bernhard, Truman MM 61-64 Boyd, William MM 61-62 Bernotiet, Richard IC 6O-63 Boyett, Leroy TM 45 Berry, Earl MM 44-45 Boyle, Kenneth FC 48-49 Berry, Francis EN 6O Boyle, Thomas LTjg 6O-63 Berry, Robert CS 48-50 Bracey, George SO 58-59 Bertshinger, Alton TM 49 Bradford, Gordon MM 62-63 Bigalow, Harris FN 65 Bradley, Norris SN 44-45 Binder, Reynold MoMM 46-47 Bradley, Robert TM 58-62 Binns, Raymond FN 52-53 Bradshaw, John EM 67-69 Birck, Charles EN 68-69 Brattain, Fred EM 44-45 Birkle, Joseph SA 49 Branson, Robert EN 52 Birnie, Al YN 67 Breeden, Norman TM 49-50 Bishop, Clarence EN 50-56 Brenglemen, Henry EM 49-54 Bishop, Douglas IC 63 Brennen, Derwin SA 50 Bissen, Stanley EM 63 Breyman, Charles HM 55-58 Blackmon, James FT 62-63 Bridewell, James ET 63-66 Blackwell, Cecil STS 68-69 Briggs, Hubert FN 63 Blanco, Charles SO 48-49 Brill, John FN 52-53 Blangiardi, Salvator EN 61 Brinegar, Halbert EN 62-63 Blain, William H SA 55-56 Brink, J.J.