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Andrew Waters is the attorney responsible for this advertisement Los Angeles | Dallas | Baton Rouge | Moline (by appt.) | waterskrauspaul.com 2 | American Submariner | Third Quarter 2020 Third Quarter 2020 | American Submariner | 3 AMERICAN SUBMARINER THE The Official Magazine of the United States Submarine Veterans Inc. is published quarterly VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE by USSVI. United States Submarine Veterans Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(19) corporation in the State Wayne Standerfer of Connecticut. Contents National Commander NATIONAL OFFICE Fred Borgmann POB 3870 Silverdale, WA 98383 (877) 542-DIVE 8 USSVI Charitable Foundation Quarterly Report USSVI COMMITTEES Boat Model Giveaway Winner Announced Shipmates, MEMBERSHIP Anyone of us that has been a member of USSVI for any length of time recognizes Steve Bell, NJVC 11 USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN-795): that our bases are where almost everything in USSVI starts, stalls or stops. The base (704) 824-3510 Report From the Commissioning Committee commanders and the officers that report to them are the ones that have a finger on [email protected] NATIONAL EDITOR the pulse of our members’ likes and (even more importantly) their dislikes. This reali- WAYS & MEANS T Michael Bircumshaw 12 AmazonSmile—A simple way to support the USSVI Charitable Foundation zation prompted me to announce during our 2019 National Convention in Austin that Jon Jaques, NSVC POB 892616 whenever you shop on Amazon… I would be giving each of our base commanders an opportunity to talk directly with [email protected] Temecula, CA 92589-2616 me sometime during the year 2020. To follow through with this (615) 893-7800 [email protected] From the Submarine Library commitment, between February 6 and April 24 of this year, I scheduled and conducted (951) 775-4549 CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS individual teleconferences with the base commanders for each of our 24 districts. Skip Turnbull TREASURER 13 The Japanese Submarine Force and the Legacy of Strategic and NJVC Steve Bell was also present for all 24 conferences to help address any (Parliamentarian) Paul Hiser Operational Doctrine Developed Between the World Wars questions that pertained to his areas of responsibility. (217) 487-7710 [email protected] (910) 691-5778 As with any scheduled event involving volunteers, we had our share of no-shows, [email protected] 17 MK 48 Heavyweight Torpedo but roughly 80 percent of our bases participated, and overall, it was very well AWARDS Harold W. (Bill) Scott II DISTRIBUTION received by those that did. These phone conferences allowed me to talk directly with each base’s leadership, rather than forwarding an email down through the chain of (512) 826-8876 Neal Britner 19 Base Activities Around the Country [email protected] (315) 409-8476 Albany-Saratoga Base SubVet Salutes the Air Force command and introducing the possibility of losing or misinterpreting information. In addition to having open-floor sessions that allowed any questions or comments NATIONAL CONVENTION [email protected] Keystone Base Members Adapt to COVID-19 Pandemic (both positive and negative) to be discussed, I was able to offer some clarification Richard (Ozzie) Osentoski BOAT SPONSORSHIP CHAIR Blueback Base Hosts Virtual Tolling the Boats Ceremony as to why compliance with some of the operational reports and requests that are (734) 671-3439 Jack Messersmith (928) 227-7753 The Ears Have It! sent to the bases is so essential. EAGLE SCOUT PROGRAM [email protected] David Farran 2020 National Convention: (318) 352-1015 PROOF TEAM 20 Return to Squadron 11 None of you could be any more disappointed than I am that we had to reschedule [email protected] our 2020 National Convention. Like many of you, I was anxiously awaiting August Bill Andrea BOAT SPONSORSHIP and our planned gathering in Arizona. But for reasons out of our control, we will have Neal Britner 22 Henry Breault TM2(SS)—Medal of Honor Submariner Jack Messersmith John Mansfield to wait until 2023 to enjoy the fruits of our Tucson and Perch Base shipmates’ labor. (928) 227-7753 Joan Miner 23 The Type VIIC U-Boat They have been working extremely hard to assure that all of us enjoy a great [email protected] convention, and I know that we will, just a bit later than initially planned. STAFF ARTIST BOARD OF INQUIRY Tom Denton 28 Thank You Members and Bases Upcoming Conventions — Dates to be announced: Chairman (301) 845-0049 2021 Orlando, Florida 2022 Buffalo, New York 2023 Tucson, Arizona Ross Sargent (JA) [email protected] I continue to receive calls asking what COVID-19 guidelines should be used for (703) 629-1119 31 2020 Election Ballot Members WWII SUBVET HISTORIAN our members’ social gatherings (base meetings, ceremonies, etc.). In response, I will repeat what I posted as a bulletin previously, which was that in light of the frequently Dutch Holland Jack Jeffries 32 Candidate Statements Herbert Orth (704) 254-2423 changing guidelines that may vary widely from one area to another, USSVI National’s Bill Windle [email protected] recommendation is to do what you feel is necessary to protect the health of yourself, 34 Proposed Bylaws Amendments your family, and friends. Of course, also stay within a goal has been and will remain HISTORIAN Peter J. Koester that all of us emerge from this pandemic in the same or better health than we were (978) 500-5085 AMERICAN SUBMARINER DEADLINES several months ago when it began. First Quarter December 1 STOREKEEPER Second Quarter March 1 All my best, hold your family and friends close, and please take care, Barry Commons Third Quarter June 1 Wayne Standerfer (925) 679-1744 Fourth Quarter September 1 [email protected] National Commander The American Submariner is not responsible for the In Every Issue HOLLAND CLUB claims of its advertisers. The primary focus of this Bud Atkins publication is for the benefit and service to USSVI 5 The View From the Bridge 10 Mail Buoy (860) 440-3120 members. Issues concerning Advertisers may USSVI Committees [email protected] be sent to the editorial staff for mediation. 18 Kap(SS) 4 Kid(SS) On the Cover The Ohio-class fleet guided-missile submarine USS Florida (SSGN-728) transits KAP(SS) 4 KID(SS) The American Submariner is copyrighted under 6 Regional and District 36 Lost Boats the laws of the United States of America. Any re- Representatives the Mediterranean Sea, August 27, 2019. Florida, the third of four SSGN plat- John Riley 40 New Members production in any form without the written consent forms, is capable of conducting clandestine strike operations, joint special (203) 668-9131 7 From the Wardroom [email protected] of the editor is forbidden by law. All authorized 42 Upcoming Boat Reunions operation forces operations, battle space preparation and information opera- reproduction requires acknowledgement of source, 8 Chaplain’s Corner tions, SSGN/SSN consort operations, carrier and expeditionary strike group op- VETERANS AFFAIRS author, and the American Submariner. 44 Eternal Patrol erations, battle management and experimentation of future submarine payloads. 9 National Officers John Dudas Printed and mailed by Southwest Offset Printing, (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jonathan Nelson) (928) 420-0061 Gardena, CA [email protected] 4 | American Submariner | Third Quarter 2020 Third Quarter 2020 | American Submariner | 5 REGIONAL and DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE WARDROOM REGIONAL DIRECTORS Jon Jaques Medal of Honor National Senior Vice Commander Shipmates, SubmarinerS 2020 has proven to be a challenging year for all of us. I hope you and your families are staying well and safe. I am encouraged by the stories of shipmates checking on the well-being Western Region Director Central Region Director Northeast Region Director Southeast Region Director of their fellow shipmates and offering assistance where needed. One of the JIM DENZIEN WYVEL “TOM” WILLIAMS III LES ALTSCHULER KENNETH W. NICHOLS primary functions of individual bases around the country is to provide support (623) 547-7945 (512) 632-9439 (609) 395-8197 (352) 465-7732 and resources for shipmates in need. We saw this during the last hurricane and [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] flood, and now during the pandemic. I want to give a shout-out to those in our organization who have reached out with offers of help! You are heroes. As you know, the pandemic caused the cancellation of the 2020 convention and many boat reunions. We appreciate your understanding and support for this decision. Remember to vote in our election, and be safe. Jon DISTRICT COMMANDERS WESTERN DISTRICT ONE CENTRAL DISTRICT ONE NORTHEAST DISTRICT ONE SOUTHEAST DISTRICT ONE (AZ, NM) (AR, KS, MO, OK) (New England) (VA, NC) Steve Bell VIC VAN HORN EDMOND L. IRWIN JEFFREY R. WALSH DAVE CAMPBELL National Junior Vice Commander (708) 609-9840 (573) 230-7120 (860) 449-2103 (919) 803-1842 Henry Breault TM2(SS) CAPT John P. Cromwell [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] USS O-5 (SS-66) USS Sculpin (SS-191) 1923 1943 Shipmates, WESTERN DISTRICT TWO CENTRAL DISTRICT TWO NORTHEAST DISTRICT TWO SOUTHEAST DISTRICT TWO (CO, UT) (WI, IL) (Lower NY, NJ, Philadelphia) (SC,GA) MAL—Members at Large.