u  5-18-2009  USSVI OFFICIAL BUSINESS: SubVet News - #2009-018

NEWS-01: Museum Submarine Update from Lance Dean
Submitted by: Pat Householder on 5/6/2009
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There are many things to share in related matters with the museum submarines across the nation.

USS Batfish will be hosting their annual reunion May 12 through May 16. 

For more information on that, please visit http://www.ussbatfish.com/reunion.html and let anyone know about this event that you think would be interested.  And of course, the Batfish is still looking for more volunteers to work on work weekends.  The next work days are Saturday, May 16 and May 30, from 9 AM until.

USS Cavalla was reopened to the public sometime in latter April.  A work weekend will be held this coming weekend, May 8, 9, and 10.  Volunteers will be busy giving the Cavalla some cleaning in preparation for the Memorial Day service to be held later this month.  See http://www.cavalla.org for more details.  Oh and don't forget that you can see the Cavalla live by visiting http://www.cavalla244.org/PicnicGrounds.htm anytime.

USS Clamagore, located in Patriots Point, SC, may be in trouble.  It has been said since at least 2007 that there was simply not enough revenue to go around to maintain all of the vessels located at Patriots Point. 

There are 4 museum vessels there, and reducing that number to focus on the aircraft carrier Yorktown may become a reality.  I have heard that the exterior of the Clamagore is in bad condition with no plan for help anytime soon.

USS Cod managed to get one of her GM diesel engines to run recently, Paul Farace reports.  Cod will have a 50th year in Cleveland celebration sometime this summer and they plan to fire up the diesel engine as part of the festivities.  Hopefully Paul will share a video of the smoke and excitement soon via YouTube.

USS Dolphin was moved to the San Diego Maritime Museum on April 29th.  She is being made ready for the public and will eventually be moved to a different pier when opening time nears.  G-Man has a wonderful site with many links and photos of what's going on with the Dolphin, check it out at http://agss555.blogspot.com and keep an eye open for what's to come.

USS Drum was the host of the film crew for the upcoming fictional submarine movie "USS Seaviper" last month.  The crew filmed for 2 weeks straight at night after the Park had closed to visitors.  Take a look at http://tinyurl.com/c2wtrp to read about the film and meet Tom Bowser and Lesley Waters, the caretakers of the Drum.  If you want to read more about the "USS Seaviper" movie, take a look at http://www.ussseaviper.net for further details.  Tom says that he and Lesley are currently finishing up the sandblasting and painting of the periscope shears and they hope to move back to working on the stern by the end of the week.

USS Growler will reopen to the public on May 21st at 11 AM.  I'm sure she will be immaculate from the recent drydocking.  I understand that many former crewmembers will be at the ceremony, including her last skipper, Cdr. Robert Owens.  If you are near the NYC area, a visit to the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum on the 21st would be a great visit no doubt.

USS Marlin will hopefully be ready to be opened to the public once again very soon.  Bill Lee, BC of USSVI Lockwood Internet Base, says that volunteers to clean and staff the Marlin have been organized and will begin work around the middle of this month.  Get in touch with Bill if you are near the Omaha, Nebraska area and want to help out with the Marlin.

Well folks, that's about all the news that I'm aware of at this time.
 
It is so wonderful to see many of the museum submarines moving forward with the help of volunteer efforts.  Please take time to do something for your museum submarine of choice this summer.  They all need your help.

With Memorial Day weekend coming up at the end of this month, I'm sure there will be festivities at all of the museum submarines.  Feel free to share the upcoming events with the rest of the forum members on the SUBMARINEMUSEUMS.ORG forum located at http://www.submarinemuseums.org/forum/ anytime.

Please let me know of any upcoming events that will be happening with any museum submarine.  I'd be more than happy to share your news via email or the website.

Thanks to all of you for your continued support.  Come on back by the SUBMARINEMUSEUMS.ORG website and forum, we want to hear from you!

Sincerely,
Lance Dean
http://www.submarinemuseums.org

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NEWS-02: St Marys Submarine Museum
Submitted by: Pat Householder on 5/10/2009
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Let John Crouse, Curator and retired MMCM(SS) take you on a walking tour through this submarine museum.

Visit www.ussvi.org, then click the VIDEOS button and select the Memorials button.  The St Marys tour will be first video.

Enjoy!


www.ussvi.org

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NEWS-03: Yo! Bikers, Lissen Up!
Submitted by: Pat Householder on 5/15/2009
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Silent Service Motorcycle Club, "SSMC", started when a group of Subvet riders in the Seattle area decided to form a Qualified Submarine Veterans only club. 

We wanted a club where Subvets and their friends and families could ride together plus participate in local parades and possibly form a SSMC honor guard, when requested, as an escort service for our fellow shipmates who have gone on eternal patrol.

We've designed the club patch with emphasis on the dolphins we all proudly earned. 

Submarines Veterans and Silent Service with MC on the patch says it all. We also have a standard look for our vests with a USSVI and American Flag patch on the front pockets. We wanted a uniform look and do not want anyone to bastardize the look or the intent of the club.

Just from word of mouth the level of interest from other USSVI MC riders has been very high. 

We have done little promotion to-date but I have requests from several states for info on membership. We have no problem accepting membership from any qualified rider but the objective is to ride with other subvets. 

As such, we have re-written our by-laws so charted chapters outside of the Seattle area can be formed. We are close to signing our first two chapters. Our only requirement is that you have five riders. We will supply the patches and give each club support with a national web site, by-laws and support as needed.

Full members must own a motorcycle with an engine displacement of 500cc or more and must also be a national submarine qualified member of United States Submarine Veterans, Incorporated (USSVI) at the time of application.

If you are interested in joining with us, give me a call and we can talk about your joining.

The application form is located on our web and that is www.silentservicemc.com. I would also like to talk to you about a chapter, let me know and I can send you a copy of our club charter.

Look forward to hearing from you and other USSVI riders in your area.

Bob Opple, President SSMC
bopple@aol.com or Tel (425) 747-1247
http://www.silentservicemc.com

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NEWS-04: Groton Base 2010 Anniversary Celebration 4-29 thru 5-01 2010
Submitted by: Pat Householder on 5/18/2009
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It's never too early for members to know the schedule for next years event:

If you missed this years SUBVETS Anniversary Celebration, or have never attended one you are missing a great time not to mention some great tours, and great Submarine Comeraderie. The  weekend consists of several events listed below. The dates have already been set for 2010 as indicated so mark your calendars and more information will be forthcoming.

SUBVETS Groton Base 2010  Anniversary Celebration
April 29, 2010 - May 1, 2010

Thursday, April 29, 2010, 10am - Groton Base Scholarship Golf Tournament. Pequot Golf Course. Price $90.00 each.

Friday, April 30, 2010, 9am. - Annual Return to Submarine School - Includes participation in Basic Submarine School Graduation, tours of  Submarine School Trainers, lunch at the Galley, and a reception at the Groton Base Clubhouse afterwards. All SUBVETS, Wives, and kids are welcome.

Saturday, May 1, 2010, 9am. Submarine Tour - Tour one of the Submarines home-ported here in Groton CT. Wives, kids, guests and non-Submariners are welcome.

Saturday, May 1, 2010, 6pm. Grand Banquet  - Port and Starboard Banquet Facility in New London, CT. Banquet includes performance by the Mystic Highland Pipe and Drunk Corps, Guest Speaker COMSUBFOR FORCM(SS) Jeff Garrison, and a great meal and program. All are welcome to attend.

For additional information please contact John Carcioppolo at (860) 514-7064 or house@subvetsgroton.org

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NEWS-05: Get a souvenir of the famous USS Batfish; Japanese Submarine Killer from WWII.
Submitted by: Ken Recoy on 5/18/2009
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The historic museum boat USS Batfish (SS-310) is undergoing renovation and the original deck is being replaced.  She killed three Japanese Submarines in four days in Feb 1945!

We are raising money to help paint the Boat!

Your donation in any size for this cause is appreciated, but if you would like to own a piece of the old  USS Batfish SS-310 Deck, (They are a great gift!!), while they last..., send your check for $9.00 or more to:

The Batfish Muskogee War Memorial Park
PO Box 253
Muskogee, OK  74402
Phone 918-682-6294

Each piece is about six inches in length and features the name and an image of the Batfish burned into the wood.
http://www.ussbatfish.com/

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CHARITABLE-01: BZ to Bremerton Base!
Submitted by: Pat Householder on 5/7/2009
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On behalf of all our USSVI submariner brothers, I offer my thanks to the Bremerton Base membership for the $ 1,250.00 contribution made to the US Submarine Veterans Charitable Foundation Scholarship Fund, Al Packard Endowment.

Our Scholarship Fund supports the children and grand-children of our USSVI shipmates and I am sure our late shipmate Al Packard would be proud and honored by the Bremerton Base's support.
 

u   Soup Down: Fri, May 22,  Tony's, 4908 Kitsap Way, Bremerton


     

Don "Red" Bassler                

Commander

USSVI Bremerton Base

360-509-0250                                                                                                                               

down-scope@comcast.net