BOAT_NOTES_Apr-Jun-2012

Transcription

BOAT_NOTES_Apr-Jun-2012
BOAT NOTES
GROTON BASE “FIRST AND FINEST”
QUARTERLY NEWS LETTER
ISSUE 2012-2
USSVI Groton Base, 40 School Street, Groton, CT 06340-3940
Apr/May/Jun 2012
Groton Base Officers, Committee Chairs, & Points of Contact
Base Commander
John Carcioppolo
Vice Commander
Stan Mathis
Secretary
Stuart Temple
Treasurer
Charlie Clark
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
House Committee
Stan Mathis
Board of Trustees
Al Atkinson
Webmaster/Membership
Robert Perritt
Chaplain
Tom Russell
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Ships Store/Building Committee
Club Manager
HOLLAND Club
Memorial
Karen Torkelson
Phil Marshall
Dick McGirr
Tom Connors
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
CT License Plates
Veterans Affairs
Scholarship
SUBSCOL Graduations
Harrison Solt
Brian Turley
Joe Bialek
Jack Gallimore
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
SFLM Docent
Public Affairs
Westport Satellite Group
Ladies Auxiliary
Gary Schmid
Ray Hamilton
Paul Grammar
Dee Carcioppolo
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Kap(SS) for Kid(SS)
John Riley
Boat Notes Editor
Hope Maruzo
Boat Sponsorship
P.W. Louthain
Color Guard
Charlie Starratt
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
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 sacrifice be a constant source of motivation toward
greater accomplishments. Pledge loyalty and patriotism to the United States of America and its Constitution.”
Inside This Issue
Item
Page
Item
Page
Item
Page
Item
Page
USS THOMAS A. EDISON (SSBN/SSN 610)
Reunion
17
National Scholarship
Applications
17
Submarine Qualification
Recognition Program
18
Color Guard
18
Submarine Excellence
19
Shipmate in the Spotlight: Mark Wiggins
19
Upcoming Events
2
National Submarine
Memorial East
8
Well Connected
Bubblehead
13
US Submarine Force
Losses
3
Submarine School
Graduation Program
8
Clubhouse Cleanup
13
Ship’s Store
13
Membership
14
HOLLAND Club Report
9
Scholarship Program
9
Year of the Chief
14
House Committee
10
Kap(SS) for Kid(SS)
15
Submarine Homecomings
10
Guest Speaker Program
15
SubVets 48th Anniversary Celebration
11
USSVI National News
16
7
Board of Trustees
16
7
Newsletter Boat Sponsorship Program
12
Memorial Services
16
SFLM Docents
17
49th Annual USS THRESHER Memorial Service
17
Eternal Patrol
3
Chaplain’s Offerings
4
Commander’s Corner
5
USSVI Groton Base
News
6
Newsletter Donations
6
Westport Satellite
Group
Bar News
Building Committee
Silent Services Plates
7
7
Shipmate in the Spotlight Runner-up: Mike
“Jersey” Wanca
12
2012 Anniversary Celebration Registration
Form
SIGN UP A NEW MEMBER TODAY!
MidIssue
Insert
Page 2
SubVets Groton Base Boat Notes
Issue 2012-02
Upcoming Events See website for updates at www.subvetsgroton.org
MARCH 2012
MARCH is National Women's History Month
Sun 25
Brunch
Mon 26
Holland Club Planning Meeting
Sat
31
Sun 01
Mon 02
Wed 04
Thu 05
Fri 06
Sun 08
Tue 10
Fri 13
Sat 14
Sun 15
Mon 16
Tue 17
Wed 18
Thu 19
Sun 22
Mon 23
Sat 28
Sun 29
Mon 30
10am–12pm
5:30am –
6:20pm
E-Board Meeting
6:30–8pm
CT VIET NAM VETERANS WELCOME HOME
Day
APRIL 2012
Palm Sunday
Steak 'n Eggs Brunch
10am–12pm
Monthly Meeting; Plan for SUB6:30pm
FEST Booth & Crew
48th Anniversary Planning
6:30–8pm
Meeting
Scholarship Planning Meeting
6pm
Passover begins at sunset
Sunset
Good Friday
Passover
Easter Sunday
Brunch
10am–12pm
SVWWII Meeting/lunch
10:30am–1pm
SVGB Dinner Veal Parmesan
6–9pm
THRESHER Memorial Service:
1pm
Portsmouth, NH
Submariners' Birthday Ball at
5:45pm–12am
Foxwoods Resort MGM Grand
Ballroom
Brunch
10am–12pm
Submarine Birthday Memorial
12pm
Service and 48TH anniversary
of lost USS THRESHER at National Submarine Veterans
WWII Memorial East
USSVI National and SVGB
Scholarship applications due
Sea Scout Workshop at Club6:30–8:45pm
house
GB Westport Satellite Group
7pm
Meeting
Holland Club luncheon
11:30am–1pm
Anniversary Planning Meeting
6:30–8pm
Holocaust Remembrance Day
Scholarship Planning Meeting
Board of Trustees
6pm
Brunch
10am–12pm
Sea Scout Workshop at Club6:30–8:45pm
house
Spring Field Day at Clubhouse
9am–12pm
Brunch
10am–12pm
1730 Holland Club Planning
5:30–6:20pm
Meeting
1830 E-Board Meeting
6:30–8pm
MAY 2012
MAY is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
Tue 01
Submit annual report to Historical Center for USS SEA OWL
Ship's Bell
Wed 02
48th Anniversary Planning
6:30pm–8
Meeting
Thu 03
Fri 04
Sat 05
Sun 06
Mon 07
Tue 08
Wed 09
Sun 13
Mon 14
Tue 15
Thu 17
Sun 20
Mon 21
Wed 23
Sun 27
Mon 28
Tue 29
Wed 30
Fri 01
Sat 02
National Day of Prayer
48th Anniversary Scholarship
Golf Tournament
48th Anniversary: Return to
Subscol
Welcome Reception at Groton
Inne & Suites
0815 Boat Tours;
48th Anniversary Memorial Service
48th Anniversary Grand Banquet
Steak 'n Eggs Brunch
Monthly Meeting
SVWWII Social/lunch
48th Anniversary Warp-up
Meeting
Mother's Day
Brunch
Sea Scout Workshop at Clubhouse
Holland Club luncheon
Armed Forces Day
Board of Trustees meeting
Brunch
Sea Scout Workshop
GB Westport Satellite Group
Meeting
4th July Parade Planning
Brunch
Memorial Day 1100, Memorial
Service and USS SCORPION
remembrance at Natl Sub Memorial East
E-Board Meeting
Holland Club Planning Meeting
JUNE 2012
SVGB Dinner Summer Steak
Night
Holland Club Ceremony at Dealey Center, Subase; Holland
Club reception at Clubhouse
9am
8:30am–3pm
6pm
8:15am
1pm
6pm
10am–12pm
6:30pm
11:30am–1pm
6:30pm–8
10am–12pm
6:30pm–8:45
11:30am–
1:00pm
6pm
10am–12pm
6:30pm–8:45
7pm
6:30–7:30pm
10am–12pm
11:00am
6:30–8pm
6:30pm
5:30pm–9pm
9:00am–
approx
11:30am
Sun 03
Mon 04
Steak & Egg Brunch
Monthly Meeting
10am–12pm
6:30–7:30pm
Wed 06
D-Day
4th July Parade Planning
Brunch
Sea Scout Workshop at Clubhouse
SVWWII Meeting/lunch
6:30–7:30pm
10am–12pm
6:30pm–
8:45pm
10:30am–1pm
Sun 10
Mon 11
Tue 12
Thu 14
Sun 17
Flag Day
Board of Trustees
Father's Day
Brunch
6pm
10am–12pm
Mon 18
E-Board Meeting
6:30–8pm
Wed 20
Thanksgiving Planning
6:30–7:30pm
SUBVETS ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION 3- 5 MAY!
Issue 2012-02
Page 3
SubVets Groton Base Boat Notes
U.S. Submarine Force Losses Apr/May/Jun
APRIL
USS Pickerel (SS-177) was lost on
3 April 1943 with the loss of 74 officers and men when it was sunk within
lume of Shiramuka Light off Honshu
(AKA Shiramuka Light). USS Grenadier (SS-210) was lost on 22 April
1943 with the loss of 4 officers and
men when it was sunk near Penang,
~ 10 Miles West of Lem Voalan Strait
(61 officers and men were taken prisoner, 57 survived the war).
USS Snook (SS-279) was lost on 8
April 1945 with the loss of 84 officers
and men when it was sunk within
100 miles East of 18 40N 111 39E,
near Hainan Island < 300 feet.
USS Thresher (SS-593) was lost on
10 April 1963 with the loss of 129
officers and men when it was sunk
while on sea trials near Isle of
Shoals.
MAY
USS Lagarto (SS-371) was lost on 3
May 1945 with the loss of 88 officers
and men when it was sunk off Malay
Coast in or near the Gulf of Siam 7
55N 102 00E.
USS Gudgeon (SS-211) was lost on
12 May 1944 with the loss of 80 officers and men when it was sunk off
Saipan near Maug Island. USS
Squalus (SS-192) was lost on 23
May 1939 with the loss of 26 officers
and men when it flooded and sank
off Portsmouth,NH.
USS Scorpion (SS-589) was lost on
27 May 1968 with the loss of 99 officers and men when it was sunk while
in transit from Med, West of Azores.
USS Stickleback (SS-415) was lost
30 May 1958, when she sank off of
Hawaii while under tow after a collision with the USS Silverstein (DE534). The entire crew was taken off
prior to the boat sinking.
JUNE
USS 0-9 (SS-70) was lost on 20
June 1941 with the loss of 34 officers
and men when it foundered off Isle of
Shoals, 15 miles from Portsmouth,
NH, 42 59' 48N 20 20' 27W.
USS S-27 (SS-132) was lost on 19
June 1942 after grounding off Amchitka Island, 400 yds off island
Near St Makarius Point (near Constantine Harbor), all the crew were
rescued.
USS R-12 (SS-89) was lost on 12
June 1943 with the loss of 42 officers and men when it foundered off
Key West, 24 24'30N 81 28'30.
USS Herring (SS-233) was lost on
1 June 1944 with the loss of 80 officers and men when it was sunk
within shore battery range of Point
Tagan, Matsuwa Island, In Kurlies.
USS Golet (SS-361) was lost on 14
June 1944 with the loss of 82 officers and men when it was sunk hear
41 04N 14?13E.
USS Bonefish (SS-223) was lost
on 18 June 1945 with the loss of 86
officers and men when it was sunk
in Toyama Wan, near Suzu Misaki;
37 18N 137 25E.
Shipmates on Eternal Patrol
The gift for which our departed
Shipmates laid their lives on the line
is our freedom today. We express
our gratitude for their service by our
remembrance of them.
Take a moment now . . . and in silence breathe a prayer for our absent Shipmates.
James H. Bowen, age 72, passed
away 9 October 2011 at Doctors Hospital, Augusta, GA. James qualified
onboard USS Perch SS 313 in 1965.
He also served aboard USS Francis
Scott Key SSBN 657, USS James K.
Polk SSBN 654, USS George C. Marshall SSBN654, USS Benjamin Franklin SSBN 640, and USS George Bancroft SSBN 643. He was QMC(SS)
when he retired from the Navy with
twenty plus years of service. James
joined us at USSVI Groton Base in
2002 and was a Life member.
Robert E. Law, age 76, passed away
25 November 2011. Robert qualified in
submarines onboard USS Skate SSN
578 in 1958. He also served aboard
USS Scorpion SSN 579 and USS Sailfish SSR 572. Robert joined us at
USSVI Groton Base in 1996 and was
a Life and Holland Club member. He
was also a member of Chesapeake
Base where he served as Base Commander and Chaplain.
Ronald G. Trahan, age 75, passed
away 4 December 2011 at his home
in Gales Ferry, CT after a lengthy illness. Ronald qualified in submarines
onboard USS Tench SS 417 in 1956.
He also served onboard USS Robert
E. Lee SSBN 601 Blue. Ronald
joined us at USSVI Groton Base in
2004 and was a Life and Holland Club
member. He was also a member of
the USS Robert E. Lee Association.
Stanley F. Alexander, age 86,
passed away 6 December 2011 at
Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, Charlotte, NC. Stanley qualified in submarines onboard USS Blueback SS 326
in 1944. He served in the U.S. Navy
from 1943-1946. Stanley joined us at
USSVI Groton Base in 2001 and was
a Life and Holland Club member.
Martin C. Kichar, age 73, passed
away 6 February 2012 at VA Medical
Center in West Haven CT after a courageous battle with leukemia. Martin
SIGN UP A NEW MEMBER TODAY!
qualified in submarines onboard USS
Bluegill SS 242 in 1960. He joined us
at USSVI Groton Base in 1991 and
was a Life and Holland Club member.
Martin was also a member of Tin Can
Sailors, AMVETS, DAV, Vietnam Vets
of America, American Legion Post 25,
VFW Post 1236.
Charles R. Schofield, age 76,
passed away 8 February 2012 at
Lawrence & Memorial Hospital in New
London, CT. Charlie qualified in submarines onboard USS Trigger SS564
in 1958. He also served aboard USS
Dogfish SS 350, USS Grampus SS
523, and USS Seawolf SSN 575.
Charlie retired from the Navy as RMC
(SS) in 1977. He joined us at USSVI
Groton Base in 1992 and was a Life
and Holland Club member. Charlie
was also a member of Mystic VFW
Post and active with Preston VFW
Post. He was also a member of Fishers Island American Legion and Fleet
Reserve Assn Br. 20.
”There is a port of no return, where
ships may ride at anchor for a little
space.
Page 4
SubVets Groton Base Boat Notes
Issue 2012-02
Shipmates on Eternal Patrol Continued
And then some starless night the
cable slips, leaving only an eddy
at the mooring place.
Gulls veer no longer, Sailor rest
your oar. No tangled wreckage will
be washed ashore.”
Shipmates Bowen, Law, Trahan,
Alexander, Kichar, Schofield, –
Rest your oar.
Chaplain’s Offerings: Tom Russell, Base Chaplain
I’m starting off a
bit differently for
this quarter as I
am currently at
our daughter, Suzanne’s, home in
Dillon, Colorado. The day is
Ash Wednesday, 22 February, with more snow coming.
The subject for this issue is
an activity that is relatively
new to SubVets, the recognition of the passing of close
family members of Groton
Base SubVet members. To
the best of my memory, it was
Buck-o Padgett who circulated a poem on email entitled
Eternal Light. It was the following Monthly Meeting that
the subject of having Honors
for wives and children of
members was taken up.
Without all the ins and outs of
discussion and with the Officers’ and Chaplain’s backing, it
was moved, seconded, and
unanimously voted that Eternal Light Services for close
family members be offered
and made available to all
SVGB members.
Here is the poem that inspired
this inclusive addition to our
Honors Services:
ETERNAL LIGHT
Those we love must someday
pass beyond our present
sight,
Must leave us and the world
we know without their radiant
light.
But we know that like a flame,
their lovely light will shine,
To brighten up another place,
more perfect, more divine.
And in the realm of Heaven
where they shine so warm and
bright,
Our loved ones live forevermore in God’s eternal light.
(author unknown)
This poem alone was what
brought the pieces that we
were missing in the Honors
Services we were performing
before. It didn’t take long to
modify our regular Honors Service format to include close
family members, wives and
children of SubVet members,
into the formal and wellreceived service that had begun some eight years ago.
The opening prayer just needed the name(s) of the deceased and their gender is
added. The SubVet Creed is
omitted. The Words of Remembrance are delivered by a
Base Officer or the Chaplain.
The Detail turns to the front
and the salute is made and
held. The poem Eternal Light
is recited by the Chaplain and
The Last Order is given,
“(name), wife, mother, and
friend (or son/daughter), with
our love, may you rest in
peace”. In lieu of Taps, a
ship’s bell is slowly tolled three
times. The salute is returned
and the Detail turns to the
gathering. The closing prayer
is given and the Honors Detail
meets the family with their individual condolences.
In early May 2009, shortly after this had all been put together, Leona Hochstetler
passed away and Carl contacted me directly, asking if
we could do a complete Memorial Service for Leona.
This was accomplished in
short order and Byles Memorial Home in Groton had a full
house. This was the first time
that the Honors Service described above was introduced
to the public. All I can say is,
there were tears. Since then,
several of these Eternal Light
services have been done either alone or as a part of a
Memorial Service. Jack Gallimore, our Alternate Chaplain, has also done one and it
was very well received. The
Eternal Light Service is available to you all, alone or within
a memorial service. It will be
automatic for all Calling
Hours.
Blessings on thee, my Shipmates, these are among the
best things I do in my life.
Tom Russell, Chaplain SVGB
[email protected]
860-536-7733H 860-8856144C
SUBVETS ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION 3- 5 MAY!
Issue 2012-02
Page 5
SubVets Groton Base Boat Notes
Commander’s Corner
Hello, shipmates at
Groton Base and a
hearty welcome
aboard to any new
members. We thank
you for joining us,
and we hope that
you are just as
proud of being a member of Groton
Base as the rest of us are.
A special welcome to our shipmates
on the USS CALIFORNIA (SSN 781);
our membership chairman tells me we
have a lot of members from CALIFORNIA joining us.
We spent a lot of time and effort during the winter months getting members to renew their dues for 2012.
Through the hard work and efforts of
so many people we significantly reduced the number of non-renewals.
The membership reports continually
show us that members who were
dropped are still rejoining us. Our focus should now be on recruiting new
members for our continued growth.
We ended 2011 with 2281 members.
We are sitting with 2062 members for
2012. Let’s make a concentrated effort to end 2012 with even more members. It would be great if we could end
the year with 3000 members. It could
easily be done if each regular member signed up one new member.
As we move into spring and closer to
June we move into the busiest time of
the year for us. We need your support
financially with donations, and we
need members to get involved. We
continually need volunteers to help us
put on these events and we need you
to support our events and functions.
We also need your support to bring
business into the club. Having a clubhouse is special and we are still the
only SubVets with a clubhouse. But
we need your business to help pay
the bills, to help our club grow and
most importantly to keep the doors
open.
We are in the middle of Anniversary
Celebration planning and accepting
registrations for the SubVets Anniversary Celebration. We are also conducting our fundraising for both the Groton
Base Scholarship Fund and the annual
Memorial Fundraising. I know I can
always count on the members of
Groton Base to give generously, and I
thank you. Speaking of fundraising,
well done and many thanks to all of the
Holland Club members who supported
the Holland Club Appeal. I don’t have
the figures exactly but Bud Atkins tells
me we did very well and have received
enough donations to carry us through
this year’s ceremony and next year too.
Holland Club is another item on our todo list. Counting Groton Base, RI Base,
and Jersey Shore Base we will honor
65 new Holland Club members at our
annual Holland Club Ceremony to recognize the newest group of members
inducted into the prestigious Holland
Club on 2 June. The success of the
ceremony depends on the responses
of those being inducted. We try to
make the Holland Club Ceremony
more memorable than the day you actually received your dolphins. To those
being inducted, please help us make
this a great event by providing the
needed information in a timely manner.
For the rest of you, you can help us
make this a great event by turning out
at 9am on 4 June to honor the shipmates who have reached this significant milestone.
Also on our to-do list are various Memorial Services scheduled at the National Submarine Memorial East. These Memorial Services are truly why we
exist. To perpetuate the memory of our
shipmates who gave our lives in the
pursuit of their duties…. That’s the first
line of our creed, and our primary purpose. I hope that is important enough
SIGN UP A NEW MEMBER TODAY!
for many of you to join us for these
time honored ceremonies where we
remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
And don’t forget our House Committee functions—brunches, dinners,
and special events for the morale of
the crew. These functions take support of our customers and our volunteers who bring these events to you.
What makes Groton Base so special? The answer is always the
membership. It’s not one person;
it’s all the members and their families who make it special. It’s our volunteers help put on our programs,
and the members who support these
programs. It’s those who donate,
those who renew their dues, and
those who bring in new members
that help Groton Base continue to
be the leader in USSVI. What can
you do to help us? Maybe it’s just
something as simple as getting the
newsletter via the internet and saving us a few dollars. Or maybe it’s
just supporting the club now and
then. Whatever you do for SubVets
Groton helps. Without you, we are
nothing but a name of an organization started almost 50 years ago.
In closing I continue to be proud to
be the Base Commander for SubVets Groton Base. Aside from being
a COB I can think of no better job in
the submarine community where all
of the members are all pulling together in the same direction to make
SubVets Groton Base the premier
organization for submariners, and
their families.
If there is something that I or your
EBOARD can to help Groton Base,
please let us know. Do your part.
Bring those ideas forward and get
involved!
STRAIGHT BOARD!
John “Gumba” Carcioppolo
Base Commander
Page 6
Issue 2012-02
SubVets Groton Base Boat Notes
USSVI Groton Base News
First of all welcome home to USS
SAN JUAN (SSN 751) who recently
returned from a maintenance period
in Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. It’s
great having you back in the area.
Welcome to USS CALIFORNIA (SSN
781). CALIFORNIA was commissioned in December and changed
homeport back to Groton, CT. It’s
great having you here with the other
boats home-ported in the Submarine
Capitol of the World. Thanks for what
you do and for the sacrifices you’ll be
making serving our country.
By mid June you will be joined by the
USS MISSISSIPPI (SSN 782), scheduled for commissioning on 2 June.
We have watched the MISSISSIPPI
grow over the last few years, and as
new crew members joined the MISSISSIPPI, many of them also joined
SubVets. They have been great supporters of not just SubVets Groton
Base but other elements in the community as well. We wish them the
heartiest of congratulations on their
commissioning. They have worked
very hard in getting to this point.
We also welcome the crew of the
PCU NORTH DAKOTA who is starting their march to commissioning.
With changes several months ago to
the Base Bylaws we will now be having elections each year. Even years
will be for the Base Vice Commander
and Secretary. Odd years will be for
Base Commander, Treasurer and all
of the Board of Trustees.
We had nominations open from January 1st till the March meeting. The
incumbent Vice Commander Stan
Mathis and Secretary Stuart Temple
were the only ones nominated and
they accepted the nominations.
Since there were no additional nominations it was voted by the membership present to vote the current slate
of officers in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order and they were re
-elected.
We spent a lot of time in December,
and January pushing membership.
Thanks to all those who renewed
and thanks also to the many members who have paid ahead.
At the February meeting, the EBOARD announced the candidates
for the Chris Quijada Distinguished
Member of the Year. The following
members were considered by the EBoard: Dave Bergstrom, Rick Boorman, Jack Gallimore, Paul Grammer, PW Louthain, Phil Marshall,
Robert Perritt, Harry Solt, and Mark
Wiggins. All of these members were
top contributors in 2011, and there
are no losers in this group. After a
great deal of deliberation the EBoard picked Mark Wiggins as the
2011 recipient of the CQDMOY
Award.
Looking ahead we are working on
our Anniversary Celebration. We
hope many of you will join with us in
this annual celebration of the incorporation of our organization. At the
same time we are raising funds for
our Scholarship Program so that we
can give meaningful scholarships to
those chosen this summer. Give
generously.
We have three Memorial Services
before Summer arrives, followed by
the July 4th parade. We hope to see
you at some of these events.
We have restarted two programs
that have been inactive for some
time. First is our Boat Sponsorship
Program, and second is our Guest
Speaker Program.
Our House Committee continues to
provide great breakfasts, dinners and
special events with support from our
volunteers, and customers. WE STILL
NEED A VOLUNTEER TO CHAIR
THE HOUSE COMMITTEE.
Finally we have our Holland Club Ceremony honoring the newest group of
senior citizens of the submarine force.
We have three items as a base we
need to work on. First is new members. We need you out there recruiting your shipmates who aren’t members to join SubVets. Second we
need to improve business at our clubhouse. Tell us what you as the members want and need to improve our
clubhouse. We need your inputs on
how we can improve business and
bring in more customers. You can
give your input to the Board of Trustees or the Executive Board. Third we
need to decrease the number of
members receiving a mailed copy of
the newsletter so that we can further
cut expenses for printing and mailing
Boat Notes.
Enjoy this edition of Boat Notes which
includes coverage of all our events,
all of the things we’ve mentioned, and
many more. When you are done
reading it, pass it on to a shipmate
who isn’t a member to enjoy and recruit him to join SubVets Groton
Base.
If you get an opportunity, come down
and visit your club. It’s a great place
to share submarine camaraderie with
shipmates new and old.
Newsletter Donations
Newsletter Donations: Thank you
to all who've made recent donations
to the newsletter fund or sponsored a
boat to receive our newsletter.
Boat Notes Online: Thank you to
the 801 people who receive the
newsletter online only, further reducing the cost of printing and mailing by
about $6,400 a year. It's also an
easy way of letting potential new
members see what SubVets Groton
Base is all about. The newsletter is
posted at our webpage, http://
subvetsgroton.org, To stop receiving
Boat Notes by mail, contact [email protected] or call Robert
Perritt at 860-961-8327.
Boat Notes Sponsorship: Printing
and mailing Boat Notes is one of our
larger expenses at about $8 a copy. To
reduce this cost we offer members and
local businesses the chance to sponsor the newsletter by placing their business cards in a space 2” x 3” throughout our newsletter.
We reach over 2200 members The
cost is $50/edition or $150/year (4 editions). If you are interested in becoming a sponsor just email [email protected] or call the
clubhouse at (860) 445-5262. Leave a
message and Stuart will contact you.
SUBVETS ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION 3- 5 MAY!
Issue 2012-02
SubVets Groton Base Boat Notes
Page 7
Westport Satellite Group
The Westport Satellite Group (WSG)
is a group of Groton Base SubVets
who live in the southwest corner of
CT. They enjoy the benefits of being a
part of the First and Finest, provide a
great deal of support to us here at
Groton Base and have the added advantage of getting together as shipmates for good times and submarine
camaraderie even though they live 70
–100 miles away from the clubhouse.
The group as a whole are great supporters of SubVets Groton Base. They
cook brunch once a month, and are
big supporters of the Kaps for Kids,
Scholarship and Thanksgiving programs.
WSG meets on the 3rd Monday of the
month at the Westport VFW at 7pm.
If you live down below New Haven
check them out. If you are interested
or just want some additional information about what they do, you can
contact either Paul Grammar
[email protected] (203) 386-9742 or
Mike Deleo at [email protected]
203-878-7522.
Bar News: Karen Torkelson
Your clubhouse is staying busy. Our
lunches are going well. We now have
several Chief’s Quarters that are having their lunches and meetings at the
clubhouse, as well as the WWII and
Holland Club luncheons.
Our Karaoke nights are lots of fun.
We have great singers and everyone
has a good time.
The clubhouse is hosting several reunions in the next few months. We already have a number of holiday parties booked for December.
If your group is looking for a place to
hold your functions, SubVets is the
place!
In June we will be starting our summer hours. If you plan on visiting the
club after 9pm, please call ahead
(860)445-5262 to insure that we are
still open.
If you have any suggestions or questions, please feel free to call Karen at
(860)445-5262
Building Committee: Tom Connors
I would like to
thank all of you
for supporting
the fund in the
past few years.
Next we would
like to replace
the smoke eaters in the bar
and dining areas. The current
smoke eaters have been in place
here for a long time and they had
been used when we received them.
Their effectiveness has been decreasing, even with George Torkelson’s fantastic job cleaning
them. They are just wearing out.
Currently, new up to date smoke
eaters will cost $2600.00 each. We
need three units. All donations will
be accepted and if anyone donates
one we will put your name on it, as
we did when we replaced the windows.
If you decide you can help with a
donation, please mark the envelope “Smoke Eaters,” attn. Tom
Connors.
As we are a 501-C19(veteran) approved by the IRS, your donation is
tax deductible. We will provide you
with a letter, if you require one.
“Silent Service” Plates: Harrison Solt
The SubVets creed,
in part, is “To perpetuate the
memory of our
Shipmates who
gave their lives in
the pursuit of their duties while
serving their country. “ The requirements for the Connecticut “Silent Service” license plate are (1), you are a
member, in good standing, of SubVets,
(2) you have a CT registered vehicle,
and (3) you are listed on the registration. If you satisfy items 1-3, the process is simple. Email me at
[email protected], or call
(860) 464-9540. I will send you everything you will need, including member-
ship information if necessary.
Fees for this specialty license plate
are quite reasonable. Transferring
an existing vanity or marker plate is
$65.00. Taking the next “off the
shelf” Silent Service plate is $65.
Establishing a new vanity plate on
the Silent Service plate is $130.
Once the completed application and
your check made payable to DMV is
returned to me, your membership
SIGN UP A NEW MEMBER TODAY!
status is validated. The application
and check is then forwarded to the
Department of Motor Vehicles.
After about 4-8 weeks, your plates
arrive in the mail with instructions
regarding the disposal of your old
plates. If there any interim problems,
I will work with DMV to ensure every
one is happy.
I continue to get inquiries from submariners who didn’t know about
USSVI but spotted a Silent Service
plate or were referred to me by DMV,
so SubVets plates on our roads are
making a difference!
Be the next one on your block to
have the Silent Service license plate
on your vehicle.
Page 8
SubVets Groton Base Boat Notes
Issue 2012-02
National Submarine Memorial East: Dick McGirr
The Memorial
Committee is
responsible for
the care and
maintenance
of the U.S.
SubVets WWII
National Memorial East. All
of the funds to
do this work
come from either donations or the
Annual Appeal and Raffle. Your
support is truly in keeping with our
creed “To perpetuate the memory of
our Shipmates who gave their lives
in support of our country…”
Those funds were certainly needed
this year as we have done some
major structural work at the National
Submarine Memorial. Without your
support we would not have been
able to accomplish this.
The Memorial has been in layup for
the winter months. By the time that
you read this article, things will be happening around the Memorial. We start
holding our annual Memorial services
in April for the Submarine Force Birthday/Anniversary of the loss of USS
THRESHER. Then we have one for
the SubVets Anniversary and Memorial
Day.
During the summer time we have
many visitors who tour the Memorial
and associated grounds. As the
weather gets warmer we start our work
again in maintaining the Memorial.
There’s always lots of work to do in
maintaining the grounds and the Memorial in the standards deserving of a
National Memorial to our war dead.
There is also a lot of work in preparing
the Memorial for the various Memorial
Services and functions held there.
This takes volunteers and donations to
support this work. The Memorial Committee could always use more volunteers, especially younger volunteers.
As far as donations, they can be made
at any time. But again that’s what
the Annual Memorial Appeal and
Raffle is for. The Appeal and Raffle
information will be mailed out in
early spring and the raffle is pulled
at the July meeting.
As we move into the warmer seasons, we encourage you to visit our
Memorial and to use it for various
functions. All that we ask is that if
you are planning on using the Memorial for a function that you contact us first just to ensure that it
doesn’t conflict with the plans of
someone else, and that we are not
doing major work on the day and
time that you want to use it.
To volunteer to assist the Memorial
Committee, for arrangements to
use the Memorial or for any questions or comments regarding the
Memorial please contact Dick
McGirr at [email protected] or by phone
at (860) 445-2161.
SUBSCOL Graduation Program: Jack Gallimore
Every time Naval
Submarine School
graduates a class of
BESS, SOBC, or
SOAC, Sub Vets
Groton Base is an
active participant.
Our part in those
graduations is to conduct a Tolling of
the Boats, often referred to as the
Shipmates Remembrance Ceremony,
so that the students and future submariners as well as the family members
present are exposed to this time honored ceremony of the submarine
force. Upon completion of the Tolling
of the Boats, the designated Sub Vet
for that week has a brief opportunity to
talk to the students to tell them the
significance of this ceremony, what
Sub Vets is about, and why, once they
are Qualified in Submarines, they
should become a member of our organization. We also provide guest
speakers for the SCERF, SECF “A”,
and Torpedo "A" Schools.
These programs are very important
for us as an organization and for the
students learning an important piece
of their heritage. We did a total of 25
BESS (Basic Enlisted Submarine
School), 6 SOAC (Submarine Officer
Advanced Class), 6 SOBC
(Submarine Officer Basic Course),
plus we provided speakers for the 3
"A" schools. They are MMA ( Machinist Mate, Weapons) what we commonly call TMA, SCERF (Submarine
Communications Electronic Rating
Field), and SECF (Submarine Electronic Computer Field). Totals for these classes for 2011 are TMA (5),
SCERF (8), and SECF (5). Thanks to
the shipmates who have been recent
participants in the Tolling of the Boats
and/or as Guest speakers. Through
the support of these volunteers and
others we are able to man the watch
bill and provide this valuable service
to Submarine School.
The BESS Graduations are usually
every other Friday at 9am at Wilkinson Hall. SOBC and SOAC
graduations are held at Bledsoe
Hall when scheduled. It doesn't
take a professional speaker to conduct either of the remembrance
events, just the ability to read and
communicate. The Advanced
courses do require a little more involvement from the speaking perspective. A sincere willingness to
provide words of motivation and
commitment to the students is all
that is necessary. Shipmates who
have past experience as an instructor or as COB are excellent choices.
To get involved with the Tolling of
the Boats or be a guest speaker for
one of these graduations please
contact me at (860)464-8367 or
[email protected] to
be put on the schedule.
SUBVETS ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION 3- 5 MAY!
Issue 2012-02
Page 9
SubVets Groton Base Boat Notes
The HOLLAND Club Report: Phil Marshall
Our 2012 Holland Club
Ceremony is Saturday
02 June at 09:00 am at
Dealey Center Theatre
on Naval Submarine
Base.
The following are the 62
members of Groton Base and RI
Base being inducted into this prestigious group who Qualified in 1962 or
earlier: William O. Allread; Peter H.
Andersen; John Paull Anderson; Michael Angelo, Jr.; Alexander M. Angus Jr.; T. Michael Bircumshaw; Sterling L. Blankenship, Jr.; David Harry
Boyd; Kenneth Brannin; Frederick L.
Briggs; Robert P. Carl, Jr.; Frank Conahan; Martin E. Davis; David D.
Dlugo; Andrew J. Elnicki; Thomas E.
Farnon; David G. Ferrell; Robert M.
Folks; Charles Franklin; Edwin L.
Gibbons; William J. Glueck Jr.; Philip
E. Griffith Sr.; Nicholas Gudz Jr.;
Robert J. Haff; Aubrey G Hall; Wayne
M. Harding; Carl D. Hill; Richard F.
Hillman; Carl H. Hochstetler; John E.
Hogan; Norman Holiman; Dennis W.
Hopkins; Rolland B. Jackson Jr.;
James E. Jinks; Ronald Kadlecik;
Diederick E. Kanning; Jerry A. King;
Richard J. Kvietkus; David W. Lane;
Robert MacGregor; Norman A. Main;
Peter W. Martin; Stephen Mitchell;
Abraham Mozeak; Thomas F. OBrien; Gerald J O'Neil; William H Oswald; Walter A Patrick; James H. Patton, Jr.; Robert D. Perdue; Michael G.
Riegel; Abraham Sanchez; David R
Seavers; Charles J. Sladky; Dennis
C. Staley; Richard E. Tomac Sr.; Pe-
ter J. Toppa Jr.; Philippe Turgeon;
Earle B. Van Camp; James C.
Weitlauf; Russell J. Woodworth;
James Zimble.
Each of the prospective Holland Club
members should have received a
sheet to list all of your guests who will
be attending the ceremony. Please
get this back to us as soon as possible and no later than 18 May so the
list can be provided to SUBASE Security to arrange for Base Access for you
and all of your guests.
If you will be in town the night before
why not bring your guests down to the
Steak Dinner?
The ceremony will be held at Dealey
Center Theatre and will start at 9:00
am on 2 June. Don’t be late. Inductees and guests will be able to check
in by 7:30 am. Following the ceremony there will be a reception at the club
with light hors d'oeuvres and cash bar
for all attendees.
Present members of the Holland Club
and other interested members are
also welcome to attend the ceremony
and encouraged to join us to recognize these senior citizens of the submarine force. To attend, simply contact us with your full name and last
four digits of your SSN for access to
the base and so we have an idea how
many will be attending.
The Holland Club is a prestigious
group within SubVets. The minimum
requirement is to be Qualified in Submarines for 50 years. That is a very
significant milestone. The Holland
Club members are a huge part of our
proud submarine
force heritage.
Each month the
Holland Club
members get
together at the
club for lunch.
Wives and
guests are welcome to accompany
their Holland Club member. The cost is
usually $6 each, and the luncheons are
held the third Tuesday of every month.
The next Holland Club luncheons are
scheduled for 16 April; 22 May, and 19
June.
We try to invite a CO and COB as
guests at our Holland Club luncheon.
They are interesting and enjoy the
company of being with the Holland
Club members. The attendees are enjoying this and having the guests enhances the luncheons. We have recently had as our guests (DEC) RDML
Rick Breckenridge COMSUBGRU
TWO (JAN) Center Captain Casciano
and his Command Master Chief
CMDCM(SS) Drake of Submarine
Learning. (FEB) RADM Sandra Stosz,
the Superintendent of the USCG Academy, and her CMC CMDCM(SS),
Lloyd Pierce from the USCG Academy,
(MAR) CMDCM(SS) Gaylord Humphries and CMDCM(SS) Scott Brody
from Basic Enlisted Submarine School.
Many thanks to all of them for taking
the time to join us.
If you have any questions about the
Holland Club, please don’t hesitate to
contact me at (401) 783-4525, or email
at [email protected]
Scholarship News: Joe Bialek
Groton Base is accepting scholarship
applications for 2012 until 15 April
2012. Application, resume, essay and
all supporting documentation must be
addressed to U.S. SubVets, Attention
Scholarship Committee, 40 School
St., Groton, CT 06340. Applications
must be received by the closing date.
Information about the Scholarship
Application procedures will be promulgated by the Base Commander on
the weekly broadcasts and will be
updated on the Scholarship web page
at http://subvetsgroton.org/
scholarship/default.aspx .
The Anniversary Celebration and
primarily the Golf Tournament are
the principal fundraisers for the
Groton Scholarship Program. Groton
Base members have always given
generously in the past to support this
program, and we look forward to
your continued support and another
successful year with the Groton Base
Scholarship Program.
Last year with your help we gave out
approximately $18,000 in scholarships. We’d like to give out the same
SIGN UP A NEW MEMBER TODAY!
or more this year, but we can only do
that with your help. We cannot have a
Scholarship Program without funds.
Please give generously.
Donations to the Groton Base Scholarship Program are tax deductible as the
Groton Base Scholarship Fund comes
under the USSVI Charitable Foundation which is a 501 (c) (3) IRS recognized charitable organization.
You can contact me at [email protected] or by phone
at home 860-535-0849 or work (860)
433-6647.
SubVets Groton Base Boat Notes
Issue 2012-02
Page 10
Vice Commander/House
House Committee:
Committee:
Stan Mathis
Stan Mathis
It has become apparent that the task
of House Committee Chairman far
exceeds that talent of most Submariners so I will repeat the requirements here:
The Chairman of the House committee shall be appointed by the Base
Commander with the approval of the
Executive Board. He shall inherit the
right to vote with appointment to his
position.
Responsibilities:
a) He shall have a working fund on
hand no less the five hundred
dollars ($500).
b) He shall administrate all activities
and functions of the base as directed by the Executive Board.
c) He shall appoint chairmen for the
Building Committee, Ways and
Means Committee and Activities
Committee, or any other committees as deemed necessary for
the fulfillment of his responsibilities.
d) He will make himself and his committees available to the permittee
for special occasions whenever
needed.
e) He shall submit a report to the
Executive Board by the 15th of
each month. This report will reflect what has been completed
and what is planned for the ensuring months.
It is time for a talented submariner to
relieve the watch as I can no longer
serve in this post.
Every Sunday we serve brunch from
10AM to 12PM, with the first Sunday
being Steak and Eggs. As we continue
to serve our membership we maintain
a waitstaff to support the 1st, 2nd, and
3rd Sundays. The 4th and 5th Sundays are for special events and allow
membership organizations to come in
and grace us with an exceptional
brunch. Donations/tips to the wait
staff are normally for those serving
you, but that does not stop you from
donating to one of Groton Base’s donor organizations, i.e., Kap(SS)4Kid
(SS), Groton Base Scholarship Fund,
Building Fund, etc.
Monthly Dinners/Special Events:
April: 8 Submarine Birthday Memorial
Service and 48TH ANNIVERSARY of
lost of USS THRESHER at National
Submarine Veterans WWII Memorial
East reception
April: 13 SVGB Veal Parmesan
May: 3-5 Anniversary celebration
May: 28 Memorial Day reception
June:1 SVGB Summer Steak Dinner
June: 2 Holland Club reception
There are a number of events at our
clubhouse and we need to maintain it
through our all volunteer work force,
the membership. When there is a field
day/clean-up planned plan on helping
Building and Maintenance spruce up
our building and its grounds.
Contact me either directly at (860)884-8857, or email at
[email protected].
Submarine Homecomings
SubVets now welcomes home submarines returning from deployment
to Groton, CT, the Submarine Capitol
of the World. It is always great to be
a part of these events. They also
provide great opportunities for SubVets to support our Active Duty shipmates and to promote SubVets.
Usually our Homecoming detail musters at the historic ship NAUTILUS.
The saluting battery fires off seven
rounds in salute to the returning de-
ployer while our SubVets man the
rails. The crew scrambles down to
the pier and joins the family and official parties in welcoming them home.
Because of security classifications
the word of returning deployers cannot be put out in advance. Therefore,
notification will predominantly be
done by email.
If you want to be part of these events
and do not have email capability con-
tact the Base Chaplain, Tom Russell
and he will put you on our list. Tom’s
telephone number is (860) 536–7733.
He will let you know about these events
when the information about the returning deployer is no longer classified.
If you want to be part of future homecomings please contact Tom Russell.
Many thanks to the Squadron Staffs
who keep us informed and allow us to
be involved in these submarine homecomings.
SUBVETS ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION 3- 5 MAY!
SubVets Groton Base Boat Notes
Page 11
Issue 2012-02
SubVets 48th Anniversary Celebration
The USSVI Groton Base 48th Anniversary Weekend is rapidly approaching.
It is scheduled for 03-05 May. Groton
Base, the First and Finest, is proud to
continue to host this great event with
the support from Naval Submarine
School and various entities from Naval
Submarine Base. This event is a
great opportunity for all submariners to
come back to where we all got started,
both in submarines and in USSVI and
to see the advances we have made in
submarine technology, to perpetuate
the memories of all submariners and
to share each other’s company as
submariners. There are no politics or
meetings normally conducted at the
National Convention, just good times
and great memories.
Be part of the action and gather. Attend our events and tell your stories
and listen to others. Come and enjoy
the camaraderie of your “Brothers of
the Phin.”
We would like all of our members to
gather often, but if you can only do it
once in a while the Anniversary Weekend is one you should consider.
Everything you need to know about
this event including registrations, accommodations, sponsorships etc. is
on our web page at http://
www.subvetsgroton.org/anniversary/
default.aspx.
A registration form is again included in
this edition of Boat Notes. Check the
registration form or web page for the
listing of scheduled events, start
times, etc.
Events include: Scholarship Golf Tournament, SubVets Anniversary Luncheon; Return to Submarine School ,
Welcome Aboard, Submarine Tours,
Tolling of the Boats Ceremony and the
Anniversary Banquet Dinner Dance.
In addition to celebrating the anniversary of our great organization and
having a great time in sharing camaraderie with our shipmates, the other
purpose of this event is to serve as the
principal fundraiser for the Groton
Base Scholarship program. There are
opportunities to provide sponsorships
and donations on the registration form.
For more details and a registration
package visit the Groton Base web
page listed above. If you do not have
internet and want a registration form
contact or if you have specific questions contact John Carcioppolo directly at (860) 514-7064 or email
[email protected].
ANNIVERSARY/CONVENTION
PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP
As a fundraiser for this event we are
putting together a program book and
allowing individuals or businesses to
place ads. Ads may be welcoming
or congratulatory in nature or advertisements for your business in hopes
that our guests will visit your business.
The costs for the different ads are as
follows: Name $5; 1/4 Page $25; 1/2
Page $50; Full Page $100; Center
Page/Front Inside Page/Back Inside
Page $150; Back Page $250.
If you would like to purchase an ad in
the program, checks should be written to U.S. SubVets and mailed to
U.S. SubVets; Anniversary Committee; 40 School St.; Groton, CT
06340.
You may include your ad for the program either on paper or on a CD.
2012 USSVI GROTON BASE
SCHOLARSHIP GOLF TOURNEY
The Scholarship Golf Tournament on
May 3, 2012 will once again kick off
our Groton Base USSVI Anniversary
Weekend Celebration. This is our
major fundraising event for the
Groton Base Scholarship Fund.
We have moved to the River Ridge
Golf Course located in Jewett City
with a scramble format. The cost is
$120. which includes greens fees,
coffee and pastries for breakfast,
turn-around lunch, cart, awards banquet, and prizes at the course clubhouse. We have worked to make
this golf tournament better than in
the past. For all of our members
and friends that donate money each
year, we will have signage displayed
at the greens and tees with your
name or the name of your company. We must limit the golfers to 36
four person teams (144 people). Check in must be completed
before by 8:30 with shotgun start at
9:00 am.
Be generous, get involved, and
please make the commitment today.
SIGN UP A NEW MEMBER TODAY!
Come have a great time and help us
raise the funds necessary for our
Scholarship Program.
We are looking for volunteers to assist
with the golf tournament. We prefer to
have previous Groton Base Scholarship recipients and their parents or
sponsors as our volunteers.
If you have any questions or to volunteer to assist with the golf tournament
please don’t hesitate to contact Al
Kinsall at [email protected] or
call 860-460-0027. .
SCHOLARSHIP DONATIONS/GOLF
TOURNAMENT SPONSORSHIP
Our Annual Anniversary Celebration/
Golf Tournament serves as the principal fundraiser for our Scholarship Program. Last year between the golf
sponsors and the anniversary raffles
almost $23,000 was raised. Our goal
for this year is $25,000.
By the time you are reading this article, you should have already received
the annual scholarship appeal letter. It
is our hope that you will take the time
to support us this year either with a
donation or as a sponsor for the golf
tournament.
We have not only sent sponsorship
appeal letters to the entire Groton
Base Membership but also to many
local businesses and others as well
asking them to be sponsors or make
donations. Before we can depend on
outside sources to support our golf
tournament and our Scholarship Program, we have to depend on our own
membership first.
Sponsors can be individuals or the
sponsorship can come from a group or
another organization that you may be
a member of. If you own a company,
sponsorship can come from your company. If you know someone who would
be interested in sponsoring a tee or a
green, you can certainly pass this on.
Donations can be made online, at the
club or by mail to the club. There is no
donation too small. They all count.
Your support and donations go towards helping our membership build
the pot and give meaningful scholarships to children, grandchildren, and
stepchildren of members of SubVets
Groton Base. Having a scholarship
program for Groton Base kids is a
SubVets Groton Base Boat Notes
Page 12
Issue 2012-02
SubVets 48th Anniversary Celebration
great thing, but you can’t give out
scholarships without funds.
The Groton Base Scholarship Fund is
established under the USSV Charitable Foundation, making all donations
charitable donations which are tax
deductible under IRS Code 501(c)(3).
Many companies you work for or re-
tired from have charity programs in
place; if you make a donation to a
qualified charitable organization such
as ours, they will match your donation.
That doubles anything you might consider sending.
If you are interested in donating or
being a golf tournament sponsor,
please either bring in or mail your
donation to U.S. SubVets; Attn:
Scholarship Chairman; 40 School
Street; Groton, CT 06340. The check
should be made out to U.S.
Submarine Veterans Inc. and
marked for Groton Scholarship Fund
in the memo section.
Newsletter Boat Sponsorship Program: PW Louthain
COMMAND
Homeport
Copies
USS CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI (SSN 705)
Hawaii
1
Maureen McClarrin
2013 Mar
San Diego
1
Maureen McClarrin
2012 Jun
USS PROVIDENCE (SSN 719)
Groton
1
Maureen McClarrin
2012 Oct
USS ALEXANDRIA (SSN 757)
Groton
1
Maureen McClarrin
2013 Mar
USS ANNAPOLIS (SSN 760)
Groton
2
Edward E. Berry
2012 Jun
USS SPRINGFIELD (SSN 761)
Groton
1
Maureen McClarrin
2012 Oct
USS VIRGINIA (SSN 7 74)
Groton
2
George Schalk
2012 Jun
USS ALBUQUERQUE (SSN 706)
The Newsletter Boat Sponsorship
Program is in the process of reconstruction. We previously had 6 copies
of our newsletter going to every command in the Groton area. We have
not had anyone to manage this program since last July and it has fallen
apart until recently. I have been appointed as the Chair of our Newsletter Boat Sponsorship Program by the
E-Board and we have set up an email
for that program which is
[email protected]. My first
assignment is to see where we are
and then manage this important program that helps get copies of Boat
Notes out to the local commands
here in Groton, CT. We should be
back on line listing the Boat Sponsorships by the next newsletter.
I am looking for sponsors to bring us
back up to 6 copies per boat. The
cost for sponsorship will be $10 for
one year of sponsorship for each
command. We have a special in
place to get the program off the
ground. If you sponsor a command
for 3 years or if you sponsor one
command for 3 copies it will only cost
you $25 vs. $30.
I have compiled a list of all local submarine commands so that we can get
back to meeting our goal of 6 copies
of each newsletter to each command. Our first goal is to get the
boats home-ported here sponsored
first, and then work the shore commands afterwards.
Although our primary goal is getting
the local commands sponsored, you
may also sponsor commands out of
the Groton area.
SPONSOR
EXPIRES
By the time you read this I will have
attempted to contact everyone to let
them know the status, current or expired, and give everyone a chance to
renew for the commands that they
previously sponsored. I know that
this will not meet our Base goals so
we will need many more members to
step up and help. For this newsletter
I will only list the people whose expiration is March 2012 or after though
many of you may step up before we
go to press. Thanks to everyone in
the past that has contributed to this
program and welcome to all of you
that will soon be joining their ranks.
If you are interested in being a boat
sponsor please contact me at
[email protected] or you can
call me at (860) 575-0417.
Shipmate in the Spotlight Runner-up
Receiving honorable mention for the
Shipmate in the
Spotlight is Shipmate Mike “Jersey”
Wanca. Mike has
been an active
contributor to the House Committee.
He has helped put on many dinners
and brunches for SubVets Groton
Base. Any time he was asked, he
stepped up and bailed us out. In his
last four months here prior to transferring to Kings Bay he put together
crews for the January Steak Dinner, the February Mongolian BBQ,
and the April Veal Parmesan Dinner. We wish Mike and his wife
Traci well in his next assignment in
Kings Bay. Thank you for all the
support and can-do attitude.
SUBVETS ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION 3- 5 MAY!
Page 13
SubVets Groton Base Boat Notes
Issue 2012-02
The Well Connected Bubblehead
We provide a lot of e-mail information about SubVets Groton Base.
If you have e-mail and aren't on the
Base Commander’s email list, you
should be. If your email address is
incorrect or has changed we can't
reach you. Garbage in, garbage
out!
GROTON BASE WEB PAGE:
Thanks to shipmate Robert Perritt,
the Groton Base Web Page is located at http://subvetsgroton.org Anyone with any questions should contact Robert at [email protected]
GROTON BASE NEWSLETTERS:
Boat Notes is posted on the Groton
Base webpage under the News and
Features tab and Boat Notes tab.
USSVI NATIONAL: http://
www.ussvi.org Visit the new National
web page. Check it out & pass it on
to shipmates in other areas who might
be interested in joining.
AMERICAN SUBMARINER: http://
americansubmariner.us
CONTACTING THE BASE OFFICERS: Base Officers and Committee
chairs can be contacted via email as
follows:
Base Commander: Snail Mail U.S.
SubVets Inc; Attn: Base Commander;
40 School Street; Groton, CT 06340
Email: command-
[email protected] Phone: Cell:
(860) 514-7064; Club: (860) 445-5262
Leave a message at either one.
Vice Commander: Stan Mathis at
[email protected]
Base Secretary: Stuart Temple at [email protected]
House Committee: Stan Mathis at
[email protected]
Ladies’ Auxiliary: Dee Carcioppolo at
[email protected]
Membership Committee: Robert Perritt at [email protected]
All other committee chairs can be
reached via email as noted on page 1
of this newsletter. Don’t hesitate to
contact us if you are interested.
Clubhouse Cleanup
Perhaps you wondered how our clubhouse gets cleaned. We don’t pay
someone for that. Our club gets
cleaned thanks to our shipmates on
the Saturday Morning Cleanup Crew,
who continually donate time every
weekend to clean our clubhouse and
keep it looking good for our members
and guests. The club belongs to the
membership, but cleanup of the club
is done by only a small handful of hard
-working, dedicated volunteers. We
can always use more volunteers on a
regular basis to clean. You don’t have
to be there every Saturday, just when
you can. Extra bodies are always
helpful, especially during the winter.
Cleanup starts around 7am and is
usually completed by 10am so it is
done for our 11am opening.
The Clubhouse belongs to the membership, and at Groton Base we are
very fortunate in that we are the only
USSVI Base with its own clubhouse,
even 48 years after the organization
was formed. That is special. Please
pitch in to keep your club clean and
looking good for all of us.
In addition to the usual Saturday
cleanups we schedule two Field Days
during the year for deep cleaning.
The next field day will be on Saturday
28 Apr from 0900–1200. This is just in
time for our club to look its best for
our guests attending the Anniversary
Celebration. The more members who
attend, the more that we can get
done. If you can be there to help us
out, please let the House Committee
Chairman know in advance. If he
knows in advance who’s coming he
can plan a little better. The House
Committee chairman can be contacted via the contact information on the
front page.
Groton Base Ship’s Store
I’m Tom Connors, and I’ve relieved
Charlie Starratt as the Base Storekeeper.
We have lots of small stores merchandise in stock, such as golf shifts,
sweatshirts, ball caps, and license
plate frames. We also have dolphins,
DBF Pins, and rating
patches in stock.
How about mats?
Did you know that
SubVets Groton
Base is the only
place you can get
truck mats, car mats
and house welcome
mats. They are a very high quality
rubber mat that will easily outlive
you, your car or your house.
We can also order individual patches, vests, and garrison hats. Are you
in the Holland Club? If you are we
have Holland Club coins, patches,
shirts and ball caps. Plus you can
special order Holland Club garrison
hats.
Small stores items can be purchased
from the bartender, or if you can’t get
to the clubhouse you can purchase
through me. We can ship items to
you as well. Checks should be made
out to U.S. SubVets, and orders
SIGN UP A NEW MEMBER TODAY!
mailed to U.S. SubVets; Attn: Ships
Store; 40 School
Street; Groton CT
06340. If there is
something you want
don’t hesitate to contact me.
In addition we can do
special orders from the USSVI National
Storekeeper. Go to the USSVI National
web page at http://ussvi.org and select
Storekeeper. If you see something that
you like, let me know at
[email protected] or call(860)
445 - 5262 and we’ll order it.
Issue 2012-02
Page 14
SubVets Groton Base Boat Notes
Membership Committee: Robert Perritt
Together with Rick Boorman and Brian Turley as
the Membership Committee
we have three primary
goals: Retention, Recovery
and Recruitment. These
goals should not just be the
Membership Committee’s
Goals because retention,
recovery, and recruitment
are the responsibility of ALL
HANDS. We need to retain
the members we have, recover the ones we have
lost, and recruit new members whenever we have the
opportunity.
Renewal Notes:
It’s never too early to pay
your dues in advance. We
have members paid out till
2049.
If your mailing address
should change please let us
know about it as soon as
possible. The importance
of this cannot be overemphasized. On average every time we mail the newsletter approximately 100
newsletters get returned
because of changed addresses and people on vacation. It’s very costly for us
and National when addresses are incorrect to get our
newsletters and American
Submariners delivered.
Boat Notes and the American Submariner are sent
via Bulk Mail. This is at a
reduced rate. Bulk rate mail
is not forwarded to any new
addresses. The sole responsibility for correct addresses is the member’s
responsibility. More important than the cost is that
when you don’t get your
newsletter you miss information about your organization, and we lose contact
with you.
For all renewals, address
changes, and updates of
information that you have,
please use the form on the
As of 26 Feb 2012
Year
Associate
Life / Holland
Regular
Total
2010
2011
2012
2013
197
192
164
53
1223
1197
1185
923
936
892
684
181
2,356
2,281
2,033
1,157
back page.
To all who renewed, thanks
for staying with us and renewing early!
To all new members of
USSVI Groton Base, welcome aboard!!!
The following is a listing of
all who have joined/rejoined
since the Jan/Feb/Mar edition of Boat Notes:
NEW LIFE MEMBERS:
William J. Glueck Jr., USS
TROUT SS 566
NEW REGULAR MEMBERS:
Matthew Bart, USS HENRY
M. JACKSON, SSBN 730
Scott P. Biden, USS AUGUSTA SSN 710
Mike Blizzard, USS WEST
VIRGINIA SSBN 736
Richard Bond, USS SEAWOLF SSN 21
Warren Bowman, USS
GEORGE BANCROFT
SSBN 643
Benjamin Brumm, USS
RHODE ISLAND SSBN 740
Danny Chaney, USS
PENNSYLVANIA SSBN
735
Samuel M. Daley, USS ALEXANDRIA SSN 757
Gregory W. Deveau, USS
OKLAHOMA CITY SSN
723
David J. Dorn, Sr., USS
LAPON SSN 661
David A. Dudley, USS AUGUSTA SSN 710
David B. Fairman, USS TECUMSEH SSBN 628
John Faulkner, USS FLORIDA SSBN 728
Ryan Michael Gallinat, USS
HARTFORD SSN 768
Richard J. Gamache, USS
SKIPJACK SSN 585
Michael Gregory, USS
PROVIDENCE SSN 719
Dale J. Gump, USS MEMPHIS SSN 691
William Haussler, USS
SEAWOLF SSN 21
William Jankawski, USS
ANNAPOLIS SSN 760
Randy J. Kitano, USS
JACK SSN 605
Michael T. Miner, USS VIRGINIA SSN 774
William Drew Nagel, USS
ALBANY SSN 753
Louis Russell, USS SUNFISH SSN 649
Christopher Shannon, USS
LAPON SSN 661
Robert D. Sutton, USS
GEORGE W. CARVER
SSBN 656
Joshua D. Wissinger, USS
LOUISIANA SSBN 743
REINSTATED MEMBERS:
Robert Angelo Adonizio
(R)
Maura Atkinson (A)
Tim Bartlett (R)
Robert G. Becher (R)
Dennis Burrows (R)
Rick Carrender (R)
Norman Clarke (R)
Tim Cochran (R)
Todd W. Cramer (R)
Patrick J. Deeghan (L)
Phil Dipaolo (R)
David A. Douglas (L)
Jackie Feingold (A)
Franklin D. Gillis (R)
Keith Goodman (R)
Samuel Howerton (R)
Jason Johnson (R)
Travis Jones (R)
Hank Jusko (L)
Jeff Kelly (L)
John E. Koeppe (R)
SUBVETS ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION 3- 5 MAY!
New
Members
385
297
29
0
Eternal
Patrol
29
46
4
0
David LeJeune (R)
John H. Leonatti (R)
Timothy Lough (R)
Edward Lowe (R)
Steve Ludwiski (R)
William Lyles (R)
David C. Lynch (R)
James R. Nault (R)
Russell Neal (L)
Ronald L. Primeaux (L)
Christian Schmid (A)
Jimmey R. Schweitzer (L)
Robert Smith (R)
Reinhard Sponseller (R)
Pat Steacy (L)
Chris Strohl (R)
L.T. Suitor (L)
Raymond G. Tripodina (L)
Harry V Truitt (R)
Gregory D. VanOverloop
(R)
Michael Watson (2) (R)
Joseph J. Wilt (R)
NEW ASSOCIATE MEMBERS:
Kelly Chufo
Alexander Hiller
Year of the Chief
2012 has been
designated as the
Year of the Chief
(YOTC). The purpose is to shine a
nationwide spotlight on the
history and contributions of
our Navy’s Chief Petty Officer
Mess – highlighting the group
of leaders with a direct impact
on every Navy and Coast
Guard Community.
To all of you who have served
or are still serving as Chief
Petty Officers, thank you for
your service and years of
leadership as “The Chief.”
Page 15
SubVets Groton Base Boat Notes
Issue 2012-02
Kap(SS) for Kid(SS): John Riley
"No one stands so tall as when they
stoop to help a child" - Abraham Lincoln
The Groton Base’s K4K shipmates
brings comfort and joy to sick children
by giving them caring attention and
making them honorary submariners.
We give them an embroidered honorary submariner cap or doo rag of their
choice, an Honorary Submariner Certificate, and a submarine photo
signed by us SubVets.
We also give them brochures from
the Groton, Connecticut Submarine
Force Museum and USS Nautilus
Submarine. We let them know that
they will get special treatment from
SubVet docents if they wear their
caps when they visit.
submarines, submariners, and our
history with the children and all who
are in attendance, which significantly
advances the USSVI Creed.
During our visit to The Connecticut
Children’s Medical Center, K4K Shipmates Paul Dillon, Norm Kuzel, Charlie Murray, Stuart Temple, Ella Mae
Kuzel, Jackie Riley and I made honorary submariners out of 18 children.
The staff at the child care facilities
that we visit routinely request that we
visit their children as often as we can!
We visit as often as possible because
our goal is to bring comfort and joy to,
and make honorary submariners out
of children who are fighting for their
health.
In 2012 we look forward to visiting the
children at The Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, The Yale New
Haven Children’s Hospital, The
We share lots of information about
Smilow Cancer Hospital, Saint Rafael Hospital’s Child Psychiatric Inpatient and Outpatient Programs,
The Bridgeport Hospital’s Child Attention Deficit Program,
The Connecticut Hospice
We are also exploring visits to other
child care facilities in Connecticut and
Rhode Island.
"We began by imagining that we
are giving to them; we end by realizing that they have enriched us" Pope John Paul II
Please contact me if you have questions or need more information about
our program. We greatly appreciate
any support you can provide us. I
can be reached by email at
[email protected] or by
phone at 203 668-9131. If you’d like
to see our K4K Video, just click this
link: DaHOrDe4U5E.
Guest Speaker Program
It’s been a long time since we have
had our guest speaker program active. The Guest Speaker Program lets
us have a Guest Speaker combined
with a lunch or dinner at our clubhouse.
The program allows our members to
get together for something of an interesting nature and to have a good
time. We are kicking this off with a
luncheon on 21 Apr. The program will
start with a social period from 1-1:30
PM, followed by lunch. and our guest
speaker will be Groton Base member
Jim Streeter.
Jim is a forensic scientist as well as a
Groton historian. He will give an interesting talk on forensics. The cost for
the program is $10 each.
The cutoff is 19 Apr so that we can
order the food. Advanced paid reservations are required. The luncheon
SIGN UP A NEW MEMBER TODAY!
and presentation is open to all members of Groton Base and their guests.
We will try to hold this program on a
quarterly basis. We will rotate between luncheon and dinner gatherings.
We hope
you will be
able to join
us.
Issue 2012-02
Page 16
SubVets Groton Base Boat Notes
USSVI National News
AMERICAN SUBMARINER: The
National magazine is now available
on the internet in its entirety at http://
americansubmariner.us. If you would
like to get the magazine online and
not mailed contact Robert at [email protected] to save
the organization printing and mailing
costs.
NATIONAL WEB PAGE: The National Web Page for USSVI is at http://
ussvi.org. You can update your personal information by logging in, reviewing the information held in the
national database and making changes as required. Contact information
has been blocked for all USSVI mem-
bers to prevent spammers from contacting you and allow you to make the
decision if you want your information
made public. Other members can see
who you are but will not be able to
contact you. If you want others to be
able to contact you, you must go to
the USSVI web page and unblock
your information. If you need help or
you don’t have internet you can contact one of the Base Officers or the
Membership Committee.
NATIONAL CONVENTION The 2012
National Convention is in Norfolk, VA.
The web page is http://ussvi2012convention.com/default_files/
Page472.htm. You can find information about events, lodging, registration, etc. there. The primary hotel
for the convention is the Norfolk Waterside Marriott, 235 E Main Street
Norfolk, VA 23510 (phone 800-8740264). They are accepting reservations now; we strongly recommend
making your lodging reservations as
soon as possible. This will be a big
convention, so the longer you wait the
harder it will be to get reservations.
Information will also be in the next few
editions of the American Submariner. For additional information
about the convention please contact
Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees (BOT)
members are Al Atkinson; Bob
Bentley; David A. Bergstrom; William T. “Doc” McCance; Charlie
McMullin; Mike Munhall; Ray Powell; Charlie Starratt; and John Tippett. The Chairman of the Board
of Trustees is Al Atkinson.
The Board of Trustees meets at a
minimum on a quarterly basis as well
as if there are pending issues. The
meetings are open to the membership.
The primary duty and function of the
Board of Trustees is to set policy
and procedure for operation of all
clubhouse facilities including bar and
galley, not to conflict with or violate
any CT state liquor laws and regulations.
If you have any input, suggestions,
compliments, complaints or recommendations as to the methods of
operation of the clubhouse they must
be submitted in writing to this Board
only.
In cases of complaints the person
making the complaint must appear
before this board; if unable to do so,
a written and witnessed statement
must be submitted. The Board reviews the complaint in the presence
of all persons involved. If a decision
is unobtainable at that time all persons involved are notified in writing.
The bar needs your business to
survive. If you have ideas or suggestions on how the Bar at your
club can be improved please submit them to
[email protected]
Memorial Services
Our first Memorial Service of the year
will be held on Sunday 15 April 2012
at 1pm. It will be held at the U.S.
SUBVETS WWII National Submarine
Memorial East. This Memorial Service will be held in commemoration of
the 48th Anniversary of the loss of
USS THRESHER (SSN 593) and the
112th Birthday of the Submarine
Force. Our guest speaker will be Commander, Submarine Group Two RDML
Rick Breckenridge. The Memorial Service will include the Tolling of the
Boats. In the event of inclement weather the Memorial Service will be moved
indoors at the Groton Municipal Building on Meridian Street in the City of
Groton.
We will have a Memorial Service on 05
May as part of the SubVets Anniversary Celebration starting at 1pm with
Guest Speaker Captain Roberts from
Naval Submarine School and on Monday 28 May for Memorial Day at 11am
SUBVETS ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION 3- 5 MAY!
(Guest Speaker undetermined).
We hope that you will be able to
join us for one or all of these Memorial Services as we pay tribute
to our shipmates on Eternal Patrol.
Remember these Memorial Services are truly what we are about.
“To perpetuate the memory of our
shipmates who gave their lives…”
Following the Memorial Services
(Apr 15 and Memorial Day only)
we will host a reception back at the
clubhouse. These are always potluck receptions. We ask you to
bring a dish to share. We also
need volunteers to help prepare,
serve and cleanup.
Page 17
Issue 2012-02
SubVets Groton Base Boat Notes
SFLM Docents: Gary Schmid
DOCENTS NEED- your submarine experience with an
eager, interested audience. Watches
ED!
To make our scheduling easier and to
enhance the visitors
experience at the
Submarine Force
Library & Museum
(SFLM) and the HISTORIC SHIP
NAUTILUS we need more docents.
What is a docent? For us at SubVets
Groton Base it is a great way to share
are only for 4 hours and you can
stand as few as one or as many as
you like per month.
The intent of the program is to assist
the SFLM by having a smiling face at
the door. Once you have the watch
it’s up to you what you want to do in
passing on your personal knowledge
and experiences to the public.
To be a docent you need: interest,
time on your hands, friendly, outgoing
personality, and a desire to help out.
You do not have to be Qualified in Submarines, a SubVet, or a veteran to be a
docent. We have several non Sub Vets
as docents, and even some spouses
who do it with their husbands.
As submariners, you’re the experts. It’s
really what you make of it.
So why not give me a call at (Cell) (860)
823-9806 or (Home) (860)245-0418
E-mail at: [email protected]
49th Annual USS Thresher Memorial Service
USSVI Thresher
Base invites all
USSVI members to
join us in perpetuating the memories of
those lost aboard
USS Thresher at the 49th Annual
USS Thresher Memorial Service.
This year’s service will be held on
April 14, 2012 at 1300 at the R.W.
Traip Academy, located at 12 Williams Avenue, Kittery, Maine. Doors
will open at 1130.
This year’s guest keynote speaker
will be Vice Admiral Kevin M.
McCoy, Commander Naval Sea
Systems Command. Opening Remarks will be given by Captain L.
Bryant Fuller III, Commander, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, followed by
former USS Thresher crew member
Fern Wagner, Lieutenant Commander, USN Retired, who will
"share some stories of everyday life
and times" during his time aboard
USS Thresher.
Additional memorial service program details can be found on the
Thresher Base website http://
www.thresherbase.org.
Submarine Birthday Ball
The Submarine Capitol of the World
will celebrate the submarine force
birthday Saturday, 14 April 2012, at
the MGM Grand Premier Ballroom at
Foxwoods Casino. Join us as we celebrate the 112th birthday of the world's
finest submarine force. Tickets will be
available at the clubhouse for $50 per
person. Make checks payable to Submarine Birthday Ball. Tickets can be
purchased either in person at the club
or by mail by sending a self ad-
dressed stamped envelope with your
check. Special rate hotel rooms at
the MGM Grand can be reserved
now at https://resweb.passkey.com/
go/subball112th
USS THOMAS A. EDISON (SSBN/SSN 610) Reunion
Dates:27 June - 1 July 2012
Place: Bremerton, WA.; Hotel: Hamp-
ton Inn Bremerton, WA.
Contact: David Epstein; Telephone:
206-285-6222; Email: [email protected]
National Scholarship Applications: Paul Orstad
The National
Scholarship
Committee is
pleased to
announce
that they are
accepting
applications
for 2012
scholarships now and will be accept-
ing requests for scholarship applications from now until 15 March 2012.
All scholarship applications are to be
in the hands of the Scholarship Chairman by 15 April 2012. You can
download the application from the
USSVI Web page at: https://
www.ussvi.org/Documents.asp?
Type=Scholarship|Application The
three documents there must be
SIGN UP A NEW MEMBER TODAY!
downloaded to complete the package.
If you cannot download the application or do not have internet access,
please email me or call and I will send
you the missing part(s). I can be
reached on my cell phone at [860-334
-6457] or 30 Surrey Lane, Norwich,
CT 06360-6541. If you need any help
please get in touch with me and I will
assist you.
Issue 2012-02
Page 18
SubVets Groton Base Boat Notes
Submarine Qualification Recognition Program
Attention COs and COBs!
Do you know about our Submarine
Qualification and Recognition Program (SQRP)? The last time we
recognized a boat for their Submarine Qualifications was the USS
PITTSBURGH back in Jan 11. So
it’s been a long while since we recognized any Active Duty Submariners for their Qualification in Submarines. If you are not familiar with
our program, perhaps this will provide you the information you need
about this program. If you are familiar with this program our hope is that
it will remind you and maybe we can
recognize your sailors.
We would like the opportunity to
recognize your sailors as well with
our SQRP, but in order to do so we
need your support and involvement.
What we need is for you or one of
your Chief Petty Officers to contact
us that you would like to recognize
crew members who recently Qualified in Submarines at an upcoming
meeting. We need a list of the individuals including their full names,
and Rates/Ranks at least one week
prior to the meeting that we will be
recognizing your sailors so that way
we can prepare a certificate for
them.
On meeting night (First Monday of
every month except when it falls on
a holiday), the crew members show
up before the meeting starts at
1830. Usually the COB, CO, other
crew members and family accompany them. We conduct the SQRP at
the very start of the meeting. The
CO and COB also say a few words if
desired. Then we all sound off our
names, and boat and year that we
qualified. When the Sailors hear
some of the Qualification years it really hits them. We are usually completed by 1900 allowing all to either depart, or to enjoy our facilities downstairs. Any one is welcome to stay for
the duration of the rest of the meeting
if desired.
You guys who just returned from deployments before the holidays are the
ideal candidates with numerous crew
members who received their dolphins
for us to recognize. We look forward
to recognizing your sailors.
The upcoming meetings are 2 April, 7
May, 4 June and 2 July. So take a
look at your schedules. If you are in
port when our meetings are scheduled, give the Base Commander a
call and allow us to recognize your
sailors.
The SQRP reinforces the significance
and importance of being Qualified in
Submarines to your sailors.
When we received our Dolphins that
was a significant milestone for each
of us because we were fully accepted
as true submariners. We know that
Dolphins are not given away. They
are earned as the result of hard
work, studying, and demonstrated
performance.
Being Qualified in Submarines has
the same prestige and recognition as
it did when Submarine Dolphins
were first authorized in the early
1900s.
At our SQRP the command brings
both Enlisted and Officer Personnel
who recently completed their Qualification in Submarines to one of our
monthly meetings. We explain to them
in the presence of our members the
significance of their Qualifications and
how they are now part of the legacy of
the Submarine Force and part of a
much larger fraternal group of
“Brothers of the Phin” consisting of
thousands of submariners who have
completed the same Qualifications
that they have recently completed.
As we explain this, your sailors are
looking out into the faces of SubVets
who have served in submarines from
before WWII, to the present. It is easily several hundred years of submarine
experience there who appreciate the
new guys who have taken their places
at the pointy end of the spear.
We emphasize that submariners may
have Qualified on different classes of
Submarines, but the high standards
required to get their Dolphins are still
the same. We then tell them that it is
now their responsibility to train and
Qualify those who follow them. The
program is purely about recognition
for them and how significant their
Qualification in Submarines really is.
Color Guard: Charlie Starratt
The Groton Base
Color Guard participates in all Groton
Base ceremonies
and parades presenting the colors.
We also get requests for other outside events.
We were recently invited to present
the colors at the COMSUBRON
TWO Deactivation/COMSUBRON
FOUR Change of Command. Additionally we presented the colors at the
Groton CPOA Dining In. What an honor for all who were in the Color Guard
to participate in these two events. Our
sincere thanks to all those who made
that possible
We are always looking for additional
members to expand the Color Guard.
A few more members would allow us
more flexibility to support our events
and the outside events that we are
invited to. Requirements are that you
have the Groton Base vest, garrison
hat and tie.
As we move into spring our scheduled
upcoming events include participating
in the Submarine Force Birthday/USS
THRESHER Memorial Service; Anniversary Celebration Memorial Service;
Memorial Day Memorial Service and
then the July 4th parade.
If you are interested in being part of
the Color Guard please contact me.
SUBVETS ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION 3- 5 MAY!
Issue 2012-02
Page 19
SubVets Groton Base Boat Notes
Submarine Excellence at SubVets Groton Base
Congratulations to the SubmaWest, and a free membership
rine Force Battle E winners.
for a 1 year period at Groton
Winning the Battle E means
Base.
your boat is the best of the
Congratulations and well
best. Being on the receiving
done to the individuals selectend of that award is an honor
ed as JSOY and SOY in their
and a privilege for the entire
respective categories:
crew. The submarines homeJSOY SHORE BM2(SW) Alported here in Groton that were
exander Hiller and his wife
the winners are as follows:
Nani - Presently assigned to
SUBRON 2
NSSF New London.
Pictured left to right Base Commander John Carcioppolo; FT2
USS PROVIDENCE (SSN
JSOY SEA FT2(SS) Mike
(SS) Mike Blizzard; BM2(SW) Alexander Hiller; YN1(SS) Scott
719)
Blizzard and his wife Brittany
Biden; EM1(SS) William Drew Nagel; Bud Atkins
CDR MICHAEL QUAN (R)
- Presently assigned to USS
CDR RAY GABRIEL (D)
WEST VIRGINIA (SSBN 736) homenized at this time of year for many
LCDR MICHAEL DELANEY (R)
ported in Kings Bay, GA
other things with other awards ConLCDR BRETT GRABBE (D)
SOY SHORE YN1(SS) Scott Biden
gratulations to all commands that
ETCM(SS) TROY DEMERS
and his wife Misha. Presently aswere award recipients.
SUBRON 4
signed to COMSUBGRU TEN Kings
This quarter’s recognition for SubmaUSS NEW HAMPSHIRE (SSN 778)
Bay, GA
rine Excellence goes to our shipCDR JOHN MCGUNNIGLE
SOY SEA EM1(SS) William Drew
mates who were selected as the
LCDR JEFF ANDERSON (R)
Nagel and his wife Amy. Presently
Submarine Force Atlantic Junior SailLCDR ED BYERS (D)
assigned to USS ALBANY (SSN
or of the Year (JSOY) and Sailor of
STSCM(SS) JOHN DANCIK
753) home ported in Norfolk, VA.
the Year for 2011. The JSOY and
SUBDEVRON 12
Petty Officers Biden and Nagel went
SOY recipients represent the very
USS ANNAPOLIS (SSN 760)
on to compete at the next level of
best sailors from within our submaCDR JOHN GEARHART
competition, the LANT FLEET level
rine force.
LCDR ANDRE LESTER (R
for SOY and we wish them the best.
Groton Base provided each finalist
LCDR MELVIN SMITH (D)
While at the Banquet both COMSUBwith a Groton Base plaque, cash
STSCS(SS) GREG CORDRAY (R)
LANT VADM Richardson and
awards totaling $350 each that came
CMDCM(SS) ANDREW SMITH (D)
FORCM Saunders were very apprefrom Groton Base, Long Island Base,
The Battle E award is just one award.
ciative of the support that SubVets
Marblehead Base, and Bay State
There are many other boats recogprovides to the SOY program.
Shipmate in the Spotlight: Mark Wiggins
Mark initially Qualified in
Submarines in 1983
aboard USS HONOLULU
(SSN 718). In his 24
years service he also
served onboard USS
LOUISVILLE (SSN 724);
USS PUFFER (SSN 652); USS
RICHARD B. RUSSELL(SSN 687);
USS FINBACK (SSN 673); USS COLUMBUS (SSN 762); USS OLYMPIA (SSN 717); USS JIMMY
CARTER (SSN 23) and USS SANTA
FE (SSN 763). He left the Navy as
an ET1(SS) in 2006 as an ETC(SS).
Mark has been a member for 6
years, joining Groton Base in 2006
and upgrading to Life Member in
2007. Mark has worked very hard in
his efforts to improve Groton Base
and his outstanding efforts and
support of Groton Base deserve
significant recognition. Mark
served as the Base Treasurer during a critical time. After assuming
the position, he devoted hours and
demonstrated tireless effort in recovering 18 months of records. He
determined the exact
Status of the Base Treasury and
what bills needed to be paid. He
worked closely with the Club Manager and committees to ensure the
solvency of Groton Base and to
stabilize the financial position of
Groton Base. Without his personal
efforts and involvement, Groton
Base would have suffered additional taxes and severe penalties.
This proved vital in accomplishing
SIGN UP A NEW MEMBER TODAY!
the financial rescue of our Base
Chapter and avoided potential
foreclosure on our clubhouse.
He was responsible for establishment of the Base Finance Committee and served tirelessly on the
Anniversary Committee and the
Thanksgiving. Mark was instrumental in the establishment of the
Sub City Chapter for the Silent
Service Motorcycle Club (SSMC)
and continues to serve in a leadership role in that organization.
Mark Wiggins was recognized by
being selected as the recipient of
the Chris Quijada Distinguished
Member of the Year for 2011.
Thanks for all that you do. Keep it
up. We need more active members
like you in our programs!
US Submarine Veterans Inc.
40 School Street
Groton CT 06340-3940
Read inside how you can get this plate.
Visit us online:
www.subvetsgroton.org
Check your address label above! If your PTD is 2011,
you need to renew by 31 January 2012. Or better yet
renew for multiple years.
NOTE: RENEW Your Membership Today
for 2012 or for Multiple Years!
Apr/May/Jun 2012
UNITED STATES SUBMARINE VETERANS, INC. GROTON BASE MEMBERSHIP/RENEWAL APPLICATION FORM
THIS FORM CAN BE USED FOR NEW MEMBERS, RENEWALS, TO PAY ADVANCE DUES, OR FOR ADDRESS OR INFORMATION UPDATES. PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY! UPDATE THIS FORM AND ENCLOSE IT WITH YOUR DUES (AND DONATION IF DESIRED).
Name:
Present/Highest Rank/Rate (i.e. TM2, LCDR, etc.):
Address:
Qualification Rate (i.e. MM, ET, EN, etc.):
City:
State:
Zip:
Active Duty or Retired:
Email:
1st Boat Qualified in Submarines: (Name; Hull; Date)
Name of Spouse/NOK:
Boat Name:
Phone:
Year Qualified in Submarines (YYYY):
D.O.B. (MM/DD/YYYY):
Document Proof or Sponsor's Name:
Prospective Associate Members: Are you a Veteran?: YES / NO
Military Service Dates (YYYY-YYYY):
Hull Number:
*If you served on additional Submarines, please list all Boat Names/Hull Numbers/Dates Served on separate paper.
I subscribe to the creed of the U.S. Submarine Veterans, Inc. and agree to abide by all laws and regulations governing the U.S. Submarine
Veterans, Inc. so long as they do not conflict with my Military or Civil obligations. I will furnish further proof of my eligibility for membership if
required by proper authority.
Signature:___________________________________________________Date:_______________________
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DUES
New/Renewal
NATIONAL LIFE MEMBERSHIP COST
National Dues
$20
Age 76 and up
$100 (Plus Groton Base Dues 15 / yr)
Groton Base Dues
$15
Age 66-75
$200 (Plus Groton Base Dues 15 / yr)
Total
$35
Age 56-65
$300 (Plus Groton Base Dues 15 / yr)
Age 46-55
$400 (Plus Groton Base Dues 15 / yr)
Under Age 45
$500 (Plus Groton Base Dues 15 / yr)
MULTIPLE YEAR RENEWALS
2 YEARS NATIONAL/BASE DUES - $70
3 YEARS NATIONAL/BASE DUES - $100(saves $5)
5 YEARS NATIONAL/BASE DUES - $165 (saves $10)
TOTAL AMOUNT PAID: $________ Includes $_________ Donation for:
Groton Base Scholarship
Caring & Sharing
Kap(SS) 4 Kid(SS)
GROTON BASE RENEWAL FOR LIFE MEMBERS $15 / yr
Building Fund
Memorial Preservation Fund
Newsletter
Other (Please Specify): ________________________________
SUBVETS ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION 3- 5 MAY!