Gertrude Check

Next event, Submarine Anniversary Run at Bangor, Sat, Apr 12 at 10 AM. behind Gym. Bremerton Base, under Immediate Past Cdr John Gardner, administer run. It is a recruiting and profit making opportunity for the base.

Details of the 2008 Enlisted Submarine Birthday Ball have been announced. three free tickets, and three $65 tickets remain. They are offered to you, first come, first serve. Call me/Don (One stipulation, One free ticket per couple)

It will be held on Friday, April 25th at the Seattle Sheridan Hotel. As you are well aware this is an annual event organized by active duty personnel. This year the Sub Ball committee has been kind to allot 20 slots for USSVI members. For details: click on http://gertrude-check.up-scope.org/subball.pdf. Call me (Don, 360-479-1642) for Sub Ball tickets before making hotel reservations.

Longevity Awards. Today, the Bremerton Base E-board approved a policy of awarding longevity award lapel pins to members who pass 10 year increments in continuous base membership, which will include dual & associate members. That is 10, 20 & 30 year awards. That is, starting in 2008, those members passing the 10, 20 and 30 year mark in continuous USSVI Bremerton Membership will receive their awards at the annual Christmas Dinner/Holland Club Induction event. A quick look at the data base indicates that about 20 members joined in 1998 so they would receive the 10 year lapel pin this year. No continuous base members joined in 1988, so no 20 years pins will be awarded. Of course the base was not in existence in 1978. This policy has been instituted to encourage continuous USSVI Bremerton Base membership.

For those members that steadfastly continued membership and fall in between the milestones noted above can purchase, as I have, a USSVI pin, or pins in 5 year increments through 40 years from the base SK, Tommy Robinson.

WD4 Commander Bud Berg announced that the WD4 logo patch you see here, 4" in diameter, is available from SK Tommy Robinson for the rock bottom price of $3 each, normally a $5 item. Bud also announced that the price will go up to $5 after the 2008 national convention.

WD4 Bases should contact Tommy or Bud to obtain patches.

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.

PS: At least one base member, Shane Foraker, with wife, Janet, will be attending Mariners game, Sept 1 in Texas.

Take a look at the lower end of the right column for WRD4 Base newsletter links

UPDATE_-The Submarine Association of Canada (SAOC West) is putting on an International Gathering of Submariners in Victoria BC from 2-5 May 2008. They are celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the commissioning of the HMC submarines Okanagan and Rainbow . We are invited. Please look at this web page for details and a registration form. (141 registered, expect total of 160-170) http://members.shaw.ca/saocwest/2008.htm: Look at attendee list:

.http://members.shaw.ca/saocwest/2008attendees.htm

The registration fee covers a Friday meet and greet event, the Saturday evening Banquet and Dance and the Sunday brunch plus a tour or two. ( Saturday mens day is a go with a visit to the base museum, a tour of one of the new destroyers and dockyard. (Sub is drydock) and a light lunch with beers at the Submarine complex)

Some of our members have registered, including myself. I suggest others consider this opportunity reunite or meet with our Canadian hosts. Several supported us on our cruise convention and you will find them very delightful and friendly.

UPDATE

Ahoy All,
Arrangements are progressing nicely for our 2008 Submariners Gathering, May 2-3-4, in Victoria, BC.
Ray Hunt, commanding officer of both Rainbow & Okanagan, has confirmed as our Guest of Honour and recent registrants include Keith Nesbit & Brian Fisher ... this is shaping up to be quite the party !!! ... all look forward to visiting Victoria and catching up with their Grilse / Rainbow shipmates.
A reminder that registrations received prior to February 29th are eligible for our Early Bird Draw for refund of one person's registration fee ... on-line details & a downloadable Registration Form are available at http://members.shaw.ca/saocwest/2008.htm
Yours Aye & We look forward to seeing you this coming May.
2008 Gathering Committee,
Submariners Association of Canada West

2008 Lt William "Willie" Spoon Memorial Scholarship Program Update

In mid-January of this year the 2008 Lt. William "Willie" Spoon Memorial scholarship raffle tickets were mailed out to the Bremerton Base membership and, to date,133 members have responded with donations which represents 45% of the membership base. Other members have also responded with generous donations in lieu of raffle tickets.

There are still ~800 raffle tickets at the National Office if anyone wants to sell them to friends and neighbors. Bud Berg has personally sold well over110 tickets.

V/R
Bob Webster - 2008 Scholarship Chairman

Raffle Prizes (gift certificates) are solicited from local restaurants that we visit 2 or 3 times a year each. Listed to the right are the ones that made contributions in 2007. Also individual members are encouraged to solicit prizes or cash contributions from businesses that you trade with. It is suggested that you go back to the ones you solicited last year for a donation. Here is a pdf file that appeared in last July/August's Puget Soundings that could be used to show what we did. Also this letter (word file) could be used to solicit prizes.

GO GET EM!

As many know, Base Storekeeper Tommy Robinson has really revved up of the Bremerton Base Ships Store. His sense of business has really made the store a profitable venture for the base. His enthusiasm and constant updating of products available for you to purchase is remarkable. He has even started up a webpage for the store and is taking vest orders via an order form. Please take a look here. The page is just a starter and I am sure he will have more info on it later on. His reputation has Subvets around the country ordering from him. Great job Tommy!

The Lone Sailor Statue Project Bremerton Base has forwarded a check to the Lone Sailor Statue Project for $1000 and received a thank you npte. 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 Sam Houston - 15 APR 08 @ 1100 USS Thomas Jefferson - 02 SEP 08 @ 1100

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

USSVI SubVet News : #2008-012 http://www.ussvi.us:80/POCNotices.asp

Date: 4/10/2008
To: Distribution List

NEWS-01: SubVet Computer School: Misc tips
NEWS-02: The EPA nails USN Subase Groton!
NEWS-03: A WWII Story...
NEWS-04: USS Ohio Shipmate a Hero
NEWS-05: Defense Department to Phase Out Full Social Security Numbers on IDs
NEWS-06: Quick Bytes
NEWS-07: Silversides needs some financial lovin...
NEWS-08: Time to make reservations for the 2008 USSVI Convention!
NEWS-09: Military Salute for Veterans is now LAW!!!
NEWS-10: The US Flag code has been amended in a positive way...
NEWS-11: Thresher Remembrance Day
VET-01: Bring the Wall to your desktop
VET-02: Need Work?
VET-03: Drugs on Wheels
VET-04: Fisher House program increasing
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 News of interest to Submariners

down-scope@comcast.net

Date: 4/10/2008
To: Distribution List
USS Thresher Plunges to Her Doom
FLASH-01: Remember THRESHER! 45 Years ago on this date USS Thresher was lost.

=========================================================
FLASH-01: Remember THRESHER! 45 Years ago on this date USS Thresher was lost.
Submitted by: Pat Householder on 4/10/2008
---------------------------------------------------------
45th Anniversary Of The Loss Of USS Thresher
Rear Admiral Thomas Eccles, NAVSEA 07

Forty-five years ago today, on April 10, 1963, while engaged in a deep test dive, USS THRESHER (SSN 593) was lost at sea with 129 Officers and men on board. Based on the findings of a Court of Inquiry and the Joint Congressional Committee on Atomic Energy hearings into the loss, it was concluded that a flooding casualty in the engine room, resulting from a piping failure in one of the seawater systems, was the most probable cause of the loss.

From this tragic event, the Submarine Safety (SUBSAFE) Program was established on December 20, 1963 to ensure implementation of recommendations resulting from findings of the THRESHER Court of Inquiry and THRESHER Design Appraisal Board. Today, the technical and administrative requirements of the SUBSAFE Program continue to evolve, and the most current are contained in the Submarine Safety Requirements Manual, NAVSEA 0924-062-0010 Revision C.

Simply stated, the purpose of the SUBSAFE Program is to provide maximum reasonable assurance that seawater is kept out of the submarine and that the submarine and crew can recover if there is a seawater casualty.

Our challenge today, 45 years after the loss of USS THRESHER, is to maintain the standards established by the SUBSAFE Program and to avoid ignorance, arrogance, and complacency.

The culture of the SUBSAFE Program needs to be continually reinforced at all levels of our community. The rigorous compliance with SUBSAFE requirements and attention to detail begin with design and extend through every aspect of construction, maintenance, and operations. The ability of our submarines to continue to operate successfully and return home depends on the vigilance and integrity of each one of us who works in this community. The ability of USS NEWPORT NEWS (SSN 750) and USS SAN FRANCISCO (SSN 711) to survive collisions at sea and to return home is testimony to the success of the SUBSAFE Program and the training of the personnel who operate our ships.

Recent findings regarding weld wire problems at a new construction shipyard with a long-standing successful submarine construction history demonstrate the need to be forever vigilant, particularly on well-established programs. We must continually re-examine our established practices and processes to ensure that we are doing the right things the right way. Every aspect of everything that we do needs to be approached with an attitude of "trust but verify."

Our outstanding submarine safety record since THRESHER is a direct result of rigorous compliance with the technical and administrative requirements of the SUBSAFE Program. This success has not gone unnoticed. The Columbia Accident Investigation Board used the SUBSAFE Program as a model of an organization that successfully operates a high-risk program.
We must continue to maintain our vigilance, intensity, and integrity in all matters involving the SUBSAFE Program.

The supreme sacrifice of those lost with USS THRESHER can best be remembered by never letting it happen again.

REMEMBER, SUBSAFE IS A REQUIREMENT...AN ATTITUDE...AND A RESPONSIBILITY.

USS THRESHER (SSN 593)...Let us pause today to remember.

http://www.csp.navy.mil/othboats/593.htm

Ahoy All,

The Submariners Association of Canada West current on-line Newsletter is available for your perusal ... http://members.shaw.ca/thesubmariner/2008o3p1.htm

Yours Aye & Cheers,

Bob Emery (for SAOC West)

NAVAL SUBMARINE LEAGUE MEETING APRIL 16th, 2008--MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW!!!

CAPTAIN “BUTCH” HOWARD, USN, COMMANDER SUBMARINE DEVELOPMENT SQUADRON 5, WILL SPEAK TO THE MEMBERSHIP.

WHEN: Wednesday, April 16th, 2008 at 11:30 for lunch at noon.

WHERE: Bangor Plaza, Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor

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, April 11th, 2008.

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

This will be a wonderful opportunity to hear about the latest developments in Submarine Development Squadron 5, now fully-fleshed out by the arrival of USS SEAWOLF (SSN 21) and USS CONNECTICUT (SSN 22). Commodore Howard’s biography is attached.

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

Veterans Affairs: Wasted dollars

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER EDITORIAL BOARD

April 8, 2008

While some lawmakers, such as Sen. Patty Murray, have been pounding on doors and rattling cages to get more money for veterans' health care, it's alarming to learn that employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs are living it up.

According to an investigation by The Associated Press, VA employees "last year racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars in government credit-card bills at casino and luxury hotels, movie theaters and high-end retailers." VA Secretary James Peake will be defending the department's 2009 budget before Murray on Thursday, and the senator, we're told, will be demanding answers.

Auditors are investigating one of the government's largest departments, as they did in 2004 (when they found the VA wasted $1.1 million). While some of the 3.1 million purchases made in 2007 reflect frugality, investigators will be looking at the $21,000 in movie tickets, the nearly $8,500 spent at Sharper Image and stays at fancy hotels.

We sincerely hope the VA can explain each and every one of these expenses, because they're coming to light at a time when thousands of veterans wait weeks or months before seeing a doctor. Referring to $3.8 million in bonuses paid out by former VA Secretary Jim Nicholson, Rep. Harry Mitchell, chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs subcommittee on oversight, told the AP that he worried about "a growing culture of wasteful spending at the VA." No kidding.

Those bonuses were given shortly after the VA budget experienced a $1.3 billion shortfall. Clearly, major changes need to be made there. Our veterans ought to be top priority.

Dolphin Scholarship Foundation (DSF) is sponsoring the “Race to the North Pole,” a virtual submarine race in honor of the 50^th anniversary of the historic voyage under the Arctic ice by USS NAUTILUS (SSN 571) in 1958.

Money raised through this event will be used to fund our sole mission of providing undergraduate financial assistance to children of submarine families.

We believe members of the Naval Submarine League will have a strong interest in the historic naval connections of this “race,” as well as in supporting our scholarship program. We would greatly appreciate your assistance in helping us by emailing the attached race brochure to members of the Pacific Northwest Chapter of NSL.

The race “officially" begins this Friday, April 11, 2008, the 108^th birthday of the Submarine Force. Over 40 submarines have already been entered and are on “sea trials” awaiting the official start. The race ends on August 3, 2008, the 50^th anniversary to the day of NAUTILUS’s polar crossing. We are very pleased that Vice Admiral Eugene Wilkinson, USN (Retired), first commanding officer of USS NAUTILUS, has given us his strong personal support; also attached is a letter from him.

You may know that Dolphin Scholarship Foundation awarded its first scholarship of $350 in 1961. Currently, DSF sponsors 137 students who will receive an annual grant of $3,450 each for the 2008-2009 academic year. Recipients may receive a total of $13,600 for up to four years of full-time undergraduate study. The goal of the DSF Board of Directors is to award 140 scholarships of $4,000 each annually. DSF is proud to have awarded a total of $7 million to almost 1000 students since our founding.

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	Ponderay Café , Callow Ave Bremerton
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