Gertrude Check

Dear Base Commander:

Your base is invited to contact all SVWWII members in your area and invite them to join USSVI at a special rate. When you recruit them, AT MINIMUM get their qual boat and year they qualified, plus date of birth and current next of kin.

The SVWWII records do not show their qual boat or year, and their NOK info is often outdated.

The special $ 20.00 offer for USSVI life membership is extended to both annual and life Regular members of SVWWII instead of limiting it to just their regular Life members.

I suggest that you focus on their receiving the American Submariner Magazine and that their grand-kids will be eligible to compete for USSVI scholarships as these aspects will probably be of more interest than attending base meetings.

As part of the closure process for SVWWII as a national organization, the USSVI Board offered a special $ 20.00 life membership to all REGULAR MEMBERS of SVWWII.

(A Regular member of SVWWII is one who served in Submarines or in a Relief Crew between 1941 and 1946. As provided for the the USSVI Constitution, ALL REGULAR members of SVWWII are entitled to join USSVI as a REGULAR member, dolphins or not. Please note, however, that without dolphins, they are NOT eligible to be inducted into the HOLLAND CLUB. Don't ask for an exception.)

All submarine qualified WWII men brought in under this program will automatically be enrolled in the Holland Club.

The more complete the info you collect, the better their permanent personal record will be when they sail on eternal patrol, so please extend an extra effort in this regard.

If the NOK is not their spouse, please at least get their address or at minimum a phone number for the NOK, since we will need to contact them when they pass.

The primary reason for making this offer is so the WWII member of SVWWII can continue to recieve a SubVet magazine with the eternal patrol info listed after the POLARIS magazine is discontinued, and so we have as complete a record of their service as possible for posterity.

This is a limited time offer, to expire Dec 31, 2008.

In some cases, SVWWII members have joined local chapters but not their national organization. It's not supposed to work that way, but they have been lax in enforcing that rule. If they are NOT SVWWII NATIONAL regular members, they are NOT automatically eligible for this special rate. However, if you have prospective members in this category, contact me as we may make special exceptions.

You will know they are NOT a National member if when you try to add them, they do not appear in your member search.

As always, any questions or comments, call or email me.

Fraternally:

Patrick Householder
Issaquah WA
Natl Membership Chairman
NJVC@ussvi.org
425 392-0440

May 5, 1931 ~ April 18, 2008- LCDR Lowell Stuart Taylor, USN (Ret), fondly known as "Stu", 76, passed away on Friday, April 18, 2008 of complications due to congestive heart failure. Stu was born in Rockford, Illinois and resided there until 1948. The day after he graduated from high school, at the age of 17, he enlisted in the Navy and was assigned to Submarine Duty. He was destined to join the submarine service from birth..... more

Stu’s full obituary is in The Columbian today with a couple of wonderful photos of him. You can leave your ‘personal message’ in the Guest Book:

http://www.columbian.com/obituaries/viewObit.cfm?obit=6490

Reminder:
A graveside service for Lowell Stuart (Stu) Taylor will be on:
Friday, May 2nd, 3:00 pm
Fort Vancouver National Cemetery
(across from VA on 4th Plain)
There will be a gathering at the Pearson Air Museum,
immediately following the service.
“Dearly missed by all”

Scholarship update

Many thanks for this year’s response to the Lt. William ‘Willie” Spoon Memorial Scholarship fund drive through the generosity of your raffle ticket donations. Many have given over and above the book value of the raffle tickets, mailed to you in January, and some have also given generously to the scholarship fund with direct donations. I would also like to acknowledge the individuals, to date, who have sold extra ticket booklets:

· Bud Berg – 19 booklets

· Ed Foskett - 1 booklet

· Bill Hipp – 3 booklets

· Lynne Ryan – 2 booklets

· John Gardner – 3 booklets

The following status report, to date, for the 2008 Scholarship fund drive:

· Total donations from all sources…………$5634.00

· Total of 22 gift certificates valued at…..$~900.00

· Total of 7 scholarship applications received to date

Jim Thompson (Navy Federal Credit Union) has also pledged $1,000.00 to the scholarship fund this year, and with other donations coming in, the total should top $7,000.00.

It is anticipated that there will be 22+ applications received by the May 15^th deadline.

The scholarship selection committee is in place and will meet at the FRA on May 20, 2008 @12:00 Noon to select the eleven (11) applicant winners. The scholarship winners will be notified well in advance of the June 17^th awards ceremony at the FRA, starting at 7:00 P.M. Refreshments and snacks will be served after the awards ceremony.

Also the raffle ticket drawing will take place on June 17^th and the winners will be notified by mail or telephone soon after.

As a reminder to those of you who have a Son, Grandson or Daughter, Granddaughter applying for a scholarship, the deadline for receiving applications is May 15, 2008.

The scholarship winners will be published in the July/August issue of the Puget Soundings along with the gift certificate donors for raffle prizes.

V/R

Bob Webster – 2008 Scholarship Chairman, USSVI Bremerton Base

Call or e-mail Chairman Robert G "Bob" Webster for applications and any questions. Tel # 307-9012.

Please pass the word along.

Please review the 2008 Convention Web site at this site: http://ussvi2008.com/. It will be held in the Dallas/Ft Worth area of Texas.

The Lone Sailor Statue Project Bremerton Base has forwarded a check to the Lone Sailor Statue Project for $1000 and received a thank you note. According to Co-chairman, Tim Thomson, the base will get permanent recognition. Hopefully you will consider contributing to this project's success. See Donor list here and recently updated.

NEW SKED You can still make your submarine experience count! Trident Training Center (TTF) Command Master Chief Scott Fusco and USSVI Bremerton Base Past Commander John Gardner have a program that lets you share your submarine experience and lessons learned with young sailors graduating from the TTF ET course. Each one of the classes has been named after one of the "Forty One for Freedom". On graduation day Master Chief Fusco invites a team of two Bremerton Base members (preferably that has served on that class's name sake boat) in, to give a short talk on their experiences, etc. We have been involved in two or three of these graduations to date.

Coming up on the following dates are graduating classes with the boat names with members names that served on those boats. TEAM UP! Then/or e-mail John (jgardner@donobi.net) or call him at

360-692-8994.

NAVET Radioman

USS John Marshall - 17 JUN 08 @ 1100                  USS Thomas Jefferson - 02 SEP 08 @ 1100
USS Alexander Hamilton - 19 AUG 08 @1100         USS Lafayette - 10 DEC 08 @ 1100
USS Andrew Jackson - 15 OCT 08 @ 1100

USSVI SubVet News : #2008-013 http://www.ussvi.us:80/POCNotices.asp

Date: 4/28/2008
To: Distribution List

NEWS-01: What's happening with Silversides?
NEWS-02: Batfish needs our help
NEWS-03: Touring Growler - a missile boat
NEWS-04: SubVet Computer School: Misc Tips and going Green
NEWS-05: Taking a trip. Here is a map to all submarine memorials.
NEWS-06: USS Drum Museum Boat Progress Report
NEWS-07: Another special computer tip
NEWS-08: Museum Subs and maintenence requirements
NEWS-09: Sub Sunk!
NEWS-10: Life below the waves ~~ History of submarines at St Marys museum
NEWS-11: USSVI Eastern District #3 meeting Recap
NEWS-12: Touring USS Torsk
NEWS-13: What's happening with Cavalla at Seawolf Park???
VET-01: Free Audio Books/movies/music for Retirees/Reserve/Active-duty
VET-02: Jobs for Vets
CHARITABLE-??: no Charitable news this time .....

Bremerton Base nominations for 2008/2009 elected officers is open. A base member (if he agrees) in good standing may be nominated by another base member in good standing. All 5 base offices, Cdr, Vcdr, Secretary, Treasurer and Chief of the Boat are open for nominees.

Duties of officers are sighted in the Base bylaws.

Today, I announced I would be a candidate for Base Cdr for the 2008/2009 session.

You make take action on this note by calling nomination chairman Fred Borgmann at 360-377-2978 or e-mailing him at ussvi@telebyte.net Nominations shall be made prior to May 1, 2008. Additonal nominations from the floor may be made at the election night, normally at the June meeting.

Paper ballots will be made available after May 1.

Western District Commander 4 nominations are open:

U.S. SUBMARINE VETERANS INC.
WESTERN REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Dave Harnish
6509 West Devonshire Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85033-3350
Home: 623-846-0367
Cell 602-526-6100
daveharnish@cox.net

April 1, 2008

Shipmates;

Effective immediately nominations are open for USSVI District Commander for USSVI WD’s 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Nominations will remain open until the close of business May 31, 2007. Base Commanders are encouraged to contact me at any time via email or cell phone, to discuss the nomination process. Those nominated must accept and agree to serve if elected. Election procedures will be discussed under a separate cover.

Any member desiring to nominate a member in good standing may do so via their Base Commander or via email, phone, or US Postal service to the Western Regional Director. The member making the nomination should ensure that the member being nominated is willing to serve as a district commander.

Duties of USSVI District Commanders as defined in Section 7 of the USSVI By-Laws: (B3/02)
The District Commander is directly responsible to the Region Director for the conduct of organizational business within his district.

The duties of the District Commanders shall include but not be limited to:
A. Assist the Base Commanders within their respective districts in the performance of their duties, to include providing assistance as required to insure the proper operation of base meetings and events, recruiting and retention.
B. Appoint all District committees, committee chairman and appointed officers as required to conduct District business.
C. Represent his respective District at official functions.
D. Assist the Regional Director with the oversight of the performance of all Base Commanders within his district; the performance guidelines having been established by the Region Director.
E. Approve Base bylaws, insuring compliance with National and State laws regulating the operation of the organization within his district (i.e. charting, maintaining non-profit status, etc.)
F. Actively promote the establishment of new bases with the assistance of the Base Development Committee.
G. Perform as liaison with other veteran organizations including SVWWII in their respective areas.
H. Annually prepare a written report on the ‘state of his district’ to be given to his Regional Director with copies for publication in each of the District’s Base Newsletters.
I. Serve as a member of the Board of Directors in an advisory capacity but without voting privileges.
J. Serve as a member of the Base Development Committee.
K. Serve as a member of the Awards Committee, as outlined in Article VI Section 15 (B4-02)
L. Prepare a “Turn Over” folder for his relief, containing all information and correspondence relative to his office.

Current Western District Commanders:

WD1, Jim Dunn, Perch Base
WD2, Dave Linker, Rocky Mountain Base
WD3, Charles Riley, Farragut Base
WD4, Bud Berg, Bremerton Base
WD5, Rocky Rockers, Dolphin Base
WD6, T. Michael Bircumshaw, Scamp Base

It is requested that all addressees acknowledge receipt of this communication via email, phone or US Postal service and ensure that it is made available to all voting members of your bases via base newsletters or as the Base Commander desires.

Fraternally,

Dave Harnish
USSVI Western Region Director

Don "Red" Bassler

Commander

USSVI Bremerton Base

360-479-1642

down-scope@comcast.net

More News of Interest to Submariners

Good Day To Remember Those US Submariners
By David Clemow, New Zealand Herald, April 25, 2008

On Anzac Day thoughts turn to those who gave their lives during various wars over the last century. But there is one group which has never been given recognition for what they achieved in World War II and that is the United States submariners, 3505 of whom lost their lives, including 374 officers.

When one analyses what they achieved there is no doubt they did more than any other group to defeat the Japanese and save Australia and New Zealand from being invaded.

The reason is simple - they sank more than 60 per cent of the Japanese merchant marine fleet. Without these ships, not only was the Japanese advance stifled, their occupying troops lost their supply lines and they virtually could not be evacuated like the British were at Dunkirk to fight in other battles.

Additionally with the loss of shipping, Japan found it very difficult to supply the home land with raw materials from the conquered territories.

After the Japanese invasion of Manchuria, the US instigated a policy of restricting supplies to Japan. This ultimately led to the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbour on December 7, 1941.

The Japanese advance over the next five months was nothing short of staggering _ Hong Kong, the Philippines, Burma, Borneo, Malaya, Thailand, Indo-China (Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam) and Singapore on February 15, 1942 where 80,000 troops surrendered (the largest surrender of British military personnel in history) were occupied. Ships played a most important part in this role.
The Dutch East Indies (Indonesia ) was occupied in March and Darwin first bombed on February 15, 1942. The farthest Japanese advance was Guadacanal in the Solomon Islands by July 6. The farthest advance in Burma was on May 8, 1942, which was the second day of the Coral Sea battle - their first setback, followed by the Battle of Midway on June 3-6.
Without a huge marine fleet this advance would never have been possible. Over the next two years the US Navy submarine fleet went to work.

Fortunately they had cracked the Japanese naval code so they virtually knew their every move. The Japanese had also failed to destroy the enormous naval fuel-oil installations at Pearl Harbour when Admiral Nagumo did not go ahead with the third wave of air strikes.
Admiral Nimitz, Commander in Chief of the US Navy Pacific Fleet, said that had the tanks been destroyed the war would have been prolonged by two years as it would have immobilized every ship in the Pacific Fleet.

The Japanese had no long-range anti-submarine aircraft and probably their destroyers were not that well equipped to deal with submarines. The problem for the American Navy was where to base the submarines. Darwin was ruled out because the harbour was considered too shallow. Finally Fremantle (near Perth) was chosen and obviously that was too far away for the Japanese to attack with aircraft. It was a long haul for the submarines to the areas where Japanese ships were active to the north but on the surface, diesel-powered submarines have a tremendous range.

Obviously they would sail on the surface for most of their operations to and from Fremantle. Evidently Japan never found out where the submarines were based. The Fremantle base had 125 American, 31 British and 11 Free Dutch submarines. The Americans deployed 288 submarines during the war so nearly half operated from the Fremantle base.

Japan started the war with six million tonnes of shipping and of course built more as the war went on. US submarines sank 1314 of their ships of more than 1000 tons each, plus 700,000 tons of naval ships including eight aircraft carriers, a battleship and 11 cruisers.
They did 416 patrols and fired 14,500 torpedoes. Out of a total of 52 subs lost, 48 were lost operating from the Fremantle base. American submariners made up only 1.6 per cent of the US naval manpower but they had the highest loss rate of US Armed Forces with 22 per cent killed.

New Navy 4th Fleet Command To Call Mayport Home

By Timothy J. Gibbons, Florida Times-Union, April 25, 2008

The Navy's re-created 4th Fleet will operate from Mayport, the Navy announced Thursday, bringing more stature to the area, although no increase in personnel or equipment.

The command will be headed by Rear Adm. Joseph Kernan, who is now commander of the Naval Special Warfare Command.

Kernan, the first Navy SEAL to lead a numbered fleet, will also lead the U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command - known as NavSouth - located in Mayport.

The existing command and the new fleet have almost identical missions, which is why additional manpower won't be dispatched to the area. However, having a two-star admiral lead the command will help with a large component of that mission: coordinating with the navies of allies in the area.

"It recognizes that operations in the Caribbean and on both sides of South America are important for security and stability," said Rear Adm. James Stevenson Jr., a one-star admiral who now heads up NavSouth. "The navies of our partner countries see this as a significant increase in stature."

It will also increase the stature, and therefore the influence, the officer in charge wields while dealing with the Navy and with other branches of the military. NavSouth coordinates with the other branches for a variety of operations in the area, but the Army component of that coordinated effort is led by a two-star general and the Air Force component by a three-star general.

The decision was heralded by national and local politicians.

"This decision underscores and enhances the significant role Mayport plays in the national security strategy for our nation," U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., said in a statement.

The move has no bearing, however, on the ongoing push for a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to be based at Mayport. The resolution to that fight is not expected until the end of this year.

The new command is expected to be in place this summer, although Kernan's move must be approved by Congress. Stevenson, who assumed command in September 2005, has planned to retire before the end of the year. Back to top

VETERANS; ACTIVE DUTY, RETIRED, all Era’s…SPOUSES, WIDOWS, DEPENDENT CHILDREN, Reservists, National Guard…

SEMINAR ON VA BENEFITS

HOW TO HELP YOURSELF and OTHERS….REGARDING VETERANS BENEFITS!

SATURDAY 10 MAY 2008 10:00AM til 4:00PM

Breakfast or Lunch available 7AM-2PM

LOCATION:

FLEET RESERVE ASSOCIATION BRANCH 29

521 National Ave. South

Bremerton, Washington

Questions: How to reopen your claim for increase?

What does “aggravation” mean relating to a service related problem.

What documents are necessary when filing a claim?

Are you aware you are entitled to dependent allowance when you receive 30% service connected disability?

Has your service connected condition changed?

When did you last update your claim?

Learn how to help each other.

Where to get help?

For more information Contact:

Lena Swanson (360)-377-7011

NAVAL SUBMARINE LEAGUE MEETING MAY 21st, 2008--MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW!!!

COLONEL BILL REEDER, USA (RET), WILL SPEAK TO THE MEMBERSHIP. COLONEL REEDER WAS A POW DURING THE WAR IN VIET NAM.

WHEN: Wednesday, May 21st, 2008 at 11:30 for lunch at noon.

WHERE: Olympic Lodge, Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton (Please note that this is a change of Venue)

COST: $12 at the door. Please consider contributing an extra $12 to go toward our fund for active duty submariners (LT and below) at lunch. Please note that this really helps our chapter defray the cost of having members of individual ships Wardrooms and CPO Quarters to our monthly meetings as our guests. Hosting our active duty shipmates gives tremendous support to increasing name recognition for the Naval Submarine League among active duty submariners and submarine supporters. Many, many thanks to those of you who have contributed to this initiative in the past.

MENU: Chef’s Choice Buffet

RESERVATIONS: Make reservations with Paul Ogg at 360 692 6032 or E-mail him at kjoggpr@aol.com by close of business on Friday, May 16th, 2008.

SPOUSES AND FRIENDS OF THE SUBMARINE FORCE ARE WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND:

This is a “one-of-a-kind” opportunity to hear from a genuine “HERO” of the War in Viet Nam. Colonel Reeder had the unique experience of being a “guest” of the North Vietnamese at the “Hanoi Hilton,” spending 11 months as a POW. Some of you were on the recent SUBVETS Cruise to Alaska and had the opportunity to hear the Colonel speak. I was there and I know that I speak for many who heard the Colonel talk: it was a fascinating story, inspiring and well worth the time.

Biography

William S. Reeder, Jr., Ph.D.

Colonel, U.S. Army (retired)

Dr. William Reeder is the Chief of Leader Development at the Battle Command Training Center at Fort Lewis, Washington, and the former Deputy Director and Professor at the U.S. Army School of Advanced Military Studies at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He retired from the United States Army in 1995 as a colonel, and subsequently earned a Ph.D. in history and anthropology from Kansas State University. His military service included assignments in cavalry, aviation, and special operations, and he has extensive combat experience.

William Reeder is a thirty year Army veteran with two tours of duty in Vietnam, flying armed OV-1 Mohawk reconnaissance airplanes and AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters. He participated in deep reconnaissance and surveillance operations throughout Southeast Asia and was involved in special operations with SOG (Studies and Observations Group). He has in excess of 3,000 hours of flight time including over 1,000 hours in combat. During his second combat tour, he was shot down and captured by the communist North Vietnamese, spending nearly a year as a Prisoner of War.

Subsequent Army assignments included various command and staff positions, and a stint at the U.S. Air Force Academy. He commanded at all levels, platoon through brigade (including command of an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter squadron). His last assignment before retirement in 1995 was as the Deputy Chief of Staff, de facto Chief of Staff, for the United States Southern Command in Panama.

His military awards and decorations include the Valorous Unit Award, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, and three Bronze Star Medals, three Purple Hearts for wounds received in action, the POW Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star, and numerous Air Medals (one with “V” device). In 1977 he was named Army Aviator of the Year. He was featured in the PBS documentary, “The Helicopter Pilots of Vietnam,” and has provided military commentary on CNN and the Discovery Channel.

Dr. Reeder is married to the former Melanie Lineker of Westminster, Maryland, who is also a retired Army colonel and works as the Public Affairs Officer for the U.S. Navy Northwest Region, headquartered at Bangor Submarine Base, Washington. They have four children.

2008 Soup Down Sked

11:45 Start Time

1-4	Sunset Grill, 4926 Point Fosdick Dr NW, Gig Harbor
11	Keeper's Cove Restaurant,7989 Salish Lane NE, Kingston
18	Pats Restaurant, East Bremerton
25	Aztecca, Silverdale
2-1	Harbor Rock Cafe, 6565 Kimball Dr , Gig Harbor
8	Boat Shed, Bremerton, under the Manette Bridge
15	Azteca, 19045 Highway 305, Poulsbo
22	Tony's, 4908 Kitsap Way, Bremerton
29	Clear Water Casino, Suquamish
3-7	Silver City Brewery, 2799 NW Myhre Rd, Silverdale
14	JJ's Fish House, 18881 Front St NE, Poulsbo
21	Red Robin, 10455 Silverdale Way Nw, Silverdale, WA 98383
28	Cloverleaf Sports Bar and Grill, 1240 Hollis St, Bremerton
4-4	FRA #29, 521 National Ave, Bremerton
11	Brother Don's, 4200 Kitsap Way, Bremerton
18	Whiskey Creek, 1918 Washington Street, Keyport
25	Sunset Grill, 4926 Point Fosdick Dr NW, Gig Harbor
5-2	Sizzler, 3558 Wheaton Way Bremerton, WA
9	Mandarin, 2928 Nw Bucklin Hill Rd, Silverdale, Next to Azteca
16	Ceasar's Restaurant, 3621 Wheaton Way, East Bremerton
23	Airport Diner, Bremerton Airport
30	Aztecca, Silverdale
6-6	2 Margaritas, 10600 Silverdale Way, Silverdale
13	Pats Restaurant, East Bremerton
20	Whiskey Creek, 1918 Washington Street, Keyport
27	Brother Don's, 4200 Kitsap Way, Bremerton