CORVINA BASE. September Newsletter of the Year Awards Class 2 First Runner Up Western Region Class 2 Winner

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1 CORVINA BASE September 2014 Newsletter of the Year Awards 2014 Class 2 First Runner Up 2013 Western Region Class 2 Winner 2012 Western Region Class 2 Winner 2011 Class 1 Honorable Mention SHIPMATES ON ETERNAL PATROL Harry Wellman CS1 (SS) Harry Sembagh EN3 (SS) Newsletter index Base Officers Pg. 2 Creed Pg.2 Commanders Log Pg.3 Secretary Report Pg.4 Treasures Report Pg.4 Chaplain s Corner Pg.5 Memorial Service Pg.7 Melvin Phillips ET1 (SS) Russel Scofield TMCS (SS) Donald Campbell TM2 (SS) Harold Lister EN3 (SS) James Avitt RM1 (SS) Charles H. Massie TM1 (SS) Elvin L. Morrison FTC (SS) Erick Bjorum CWO(SS) Norm Snyder EM1(SS) Boyd Tieslau TM3 (SS) Robert Rich EN1 (SS) Francis Signore CSC (SS) Stanley Blair ICC (SS) Richard Burdette LT. (SS) Wayne F. Garrett ET2 (SS) Larry Garrelts ETCS(SS) Melvin Schreckengost ET2 Charles Hyman MM2(SS) New Member Pg.8 James T. Wright III Gordon Lane RMC(SS) Calendar of Events Pg.8 Chester E. MacDowell TMI (SS) Edwin V. Schalbert TMC (SS) Birthday List Pg.8 Jerry D. Noma MM2(SS) Richard Ekenberg, ETC(SS) Booster Club Pg.9 Gerald Stratton ENC(SS) Richard C. Barringer SOSN(SS) USS Recruit Pg.9 Lowell Wapelhorst MOMM2(SS) Jack Quade SMSN(SS) Classified Holland Club Pg.11 Pg.12 Meetings are held on the first Saturday Of each month at Denny s Coffee Shop, 205 E. Nugget Ave. Sparks NV At 1400 hours. 1

2 Base Commander Vice Commander Secretary Teasurer Dave Aunkst Dennis Wiley Pete Akerson Robert Talbert COB POC Chaplain Newsletter/WEB Bob Heaps Stephen Salzman Paul Allen Norm Peterson MAL MAL Assistant Chaplain Past Base Commander Terry Bolen MarkHogan Marcedes Parsons Dan Moran 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. 2

3 Well, the USSVI National Convention in Burlingame is history. Several of our members attended. It was nice to put faces to some of the people you see in the American Submariner, from the National s, and we got an overview of Convention Planning 101. Terry Bolen (and wife-carol) are to be commended for setting-up an informational table there for our 2016 Reno Convention. There was a lot of interest in Reno, and it appears we will have a good turn-out. The Base Newsletter didn t win first in it s class this year, but we were the first runner-up. Good job, as always, to Norm Peterson! Speaking of the 2016 USSVI Convention, we have to have a great deal accomplished before the next Convention in Pittsburgh, which starts on Labor Day, September 7, This includes at a minimum: a POD schedule, the available tours for the sign-up forms, and other information. By this reading, we will have had the first Convention Planning Meeting at the Grand Sierra Resort (GSR). This will be an on-going process from now on, and we will need All Hands to be involved. The Annual Fernley Cemetery Memorial Service was held on September 13 th. The new DG and modifications/engraving to the granite pedestal look great. We had a decent turn-out, and some guests from the War Veterans Memorial Association of Western Nevada (Honor Guard) that we have supported over the years. Richard Cook, a representative of the KIA Honor Flag Organi- zation, presented the Base a KIA Flag, which they use to memorialize those Killed in Action. Thanks to them for the flag, and their continued partici- pation in memorial services for all veterans going on Eternal Patrol (EP). Welcome to a new member Jack Ely (Frank Ely s brother) of Silver Springs. He was a QM2(SS), and qualified on the USS Archerfish (SS-311) in We now have a total of 92 members, with the following breakdown: 59 National Life Members; 54 Base Life Members; 48 Holland Club Members; 6 WWII Members; 4 Associate Members; and 15 Plank Owners still active. We also have 29 members on EP, and interestingly 83 members with . Keep in mind, the next Base Meetings is at Denny s on October 4 th. Think about candidates for the upcoming Base elections. The November Base Meeting and elections has been moved to November 8 th, due to the November 1 st Nevada Day Parade in Carson City. 3

4 Our secretary got another months reprieve. Sounds like that job is a good as being a politician in Washington. ================================================================================================= 1. All account balances are available at Base meetings. 2. Deposits: None ==== $ Checks issued: $ Granite Mtn. Marble Inc. Marble Etching Mark Hogan CG for memorial War Veterans Memorial Assn. Quarter 2 & 3 Donation USSVI 2014 Dues for Jack Ely ====== $

5 Binnacle List Frank Kenyon: Good News! When I talked to Frank on Sunday, Sept. 21, he has greatly improved and feels much better. His cracked pelvic bones have healed enough that he can use a walker and sometimes just a cane. His outlook for the future is much better and he is thankful for the get well cards sent by the Corvina Base members. David Porras: David s right shoulder replacement in April was successful, but still guarded because the recovery time is several months. In the future he needs the left shoulder replaced also but has to make a decision because his left knee needs replacing also. He s going to be a man with new joints by the time he is done. Primo Quarisa: After much testing, doctor examinations, and attending information classes over the last few months, Primo was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Then he had to make a choice for what kind of treatment he wanted to receive and he chose 43 radiation treatments. The clinic is very close to his house in South Reno which was good and by the time you read this newsletter he will be almost finished. The outlook for recovery is good, the doctors say, because he was diagnosed early. The side effects from treatment has not been too harsh, but still has limited his activities. Mailing address: Arbor Way, Reno, NV Hellcats of the Navy: Last month I wrote about Frank Kenyon on serving in 1945 on the USS Skate (SS-305) in a submarine wolfpack called Hydeman s Hellcats. This may have resulted in a 1955 novel Hellcats of the Sea by Vice Admiral Charles A Lockwood, nicknamed Uncle Charlie who in 1943 became commander of submarines in the Pacific. In 1957 the movie Hellcats of the Navy was released, starring Ronald Reagan and Nancy Davis, which was the only movie they starred in together. The submarine used for this movie was the USS Besugo (SS-321) shot at San Diego. A personal note here, the USS Blackfin was (SS-322) built about the same time by Electric Boat. The executive officer on the Besugo during filming was Lloyd Bucher who later commanded the USS Pueblo during its capture by North Korea in One event the Besugo is noted for also is the sinking of a German submarine the U-183 in the Java Sea in The USS Besugo had a snorkel added in 1966, loaned to Italy and then later returned to the US and cut up for scrap in There is more to this story involving another submariner, Fleet Admiral, Chester Nimitz. While I write this, the PBS Television channel is showing the Ken Burns seven part series on the Roosevelt s. All of us submariners owe our hazard duty pay to President Theodore Teddy Roosevelt, being the first president to go aboard a submarine and to make a dive. Roosevelt ventured beneath the waters of Long Island Sound aboard the USS Plunger (SS-2) on March 25, Plunger was the United States second submarine, commissioned in Sept Roosevelt boarded the Plunger and stayed aboard for almost two hours while she made a series of dives in Oyster Bay and after mooring he visited for another hour. To a correspondent he declared that never in his life had he experienced such a diverting day... nor so much enjoyment in so few hours. The Naval hierarchy in 1905 considered submarine duty, neither unusual nor dangerous and paid them 25 per cent less than surface sailors. After Roosevelt spent two hours on the Plunger he directed that submarine officers pay be made equal with surface officers and qualified enlisted boat sailors were to be paid ten dollars extra per month with non-quals receiving five dollars. Also, they were to be paid one dollar every day in which they submerged while underway. Thank you, Mr. President! Now for more history on the Plunger. On May 3, 1909, Ensign Chester Nimitz, the future fleet Admiral of WWII, who would say he considered the submarines of the time a cross between a Jules Verne fantasy and a humpbacked whale, assumed command of the Plunger. The Roosevelt s had ships named after them. USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42) an aircraft carrier, commissioned in 1945 and decommissioned in

6 Next was the USS Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN-600), part of the 41 for Freedom, commissioned in 1961 and decommissioned in Three of our Corvina Base members served on that Roosevelt, Jerry Atkins, Wesley Rece, and Stephen Salzman. Then in 1986 the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) was commissioned with the nickname Big Stick after Teddy Roosevelt s famous saying speak softly and carry a big stick. This aircraft carrier is still active. Doing research for this article I discovered what CV and CVN stands for. C is for cruiser, V is for Voler (French for aviation) and of course N is for nuclear. Trident Missiles: Early morning, dark hours, on Sept. 12, some people that were outside early, saw a bright light moving across the N. Nevada skies. It wasn t until late afternoon that the Navy confirmed it was rockets. They say that three Trident II missiles were launched from a submarine off the coast of Southern California just before 6 A.M. They did not reveal where the missiles target was located or which submarine launched them. Interesting? Scripture: Psalm 18:16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me: He drew me out of deep waters. Prayer: Eternal Father, As of today we have members and family members of the Corvina Base in the deep waters of life. Like the scripture preceding says, you reached down and took hold of us we are trusting you to do that for those in need of healing. Thank you, God, for helping our country, also, with wisdom and we re thankful that we live in the land of the free and the home of the brave. Thank you Lord for your blessings! Amen! Thank you to all the Corvina Base members that participated in the Annual Memorial Service in Fernley on Sept. 13, It was a beautiful day at the memorial site and thanks to Mark Hogan and crew, it was in perfect condition. Paul Allen, Corvina Base Chaplain ========================================================================================================== 6

7 September 13th, the members from the Corvina Base-Reno, held their Annual Memorial Service at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Fernley, Nevada. 7

8 A hearty welcome to our newest member, Jack Ely (Frank's brother) from Silver Springs. He was a QM2(SS), and qualed on the Archerfish in ================================================================================= OCTOBER 4- Base Meeting 1400hrs 13- US Navy 239 th Birthday 17- Lunch Bunch 1130hrs 28- BOD Meeting 0900hrs NOVEMBER 1- Nevada Day Parade/Carson City 1000hrs 8- Base Meeting & Election 1400hrs 11- Veteran s Day Parade/Reno 1100hrs 21- Lunch Bunch 1130hrs Birthday List for October 1 Robert Talbert 2 Robert Salling, Steve Warner 5 Leif Larsen 6 Russ Noragon 16 Clyde Webber 18 Douglas Davis 25 Daniel Joseph 27 Wayne Levie 31 Donald Johnson 8

9 2014 BASE BOOSTER CLUB LIST Lon Schmidt Dan Moran Jim Gibson Leif Larsen Don Brown Harry Cousins Harvey Hudson Chester MacDowell Family Paul Young Rick Dentino Dale & Esther Poe Dennis Wiley Bill Desomier Dave Aunkst Norm Peterson Dennis Wiley In memory of Jack Quade Pete Akerson In memory of Jack Quade Gene Murphy USS Recruit The Corky McMillan Companies along with volunteers from the USS Midway Museum and the U.S. Navy have joined forces in an effort to get the USS Recruit at Liberty Station back in shape. A little history of the USS Neversail. What is 6,910 sq. ft., has both State and National historic designation, stands out like a sore thumb, served a tremendous purpose starting in 1949, and is called by some as Ship Neversail? Drive along Harbor Drive toward Point Loma, pass the airport, go over the bridge, and you'll see on your starboard (right) side, the USS Recruit. It has been sitting and keeping watch over NTC (now Liberty Station) since The USS Recruit was built of a wooden frame covered with sheet metal. She was built to scale at 1/3 the size of a destroyer escort that typically has four "decks" used for training. She is 225-feet long, has a 24-foot, 4-inch beam and a 41-foot mast. She was built with standard Navy materials found from salvaged and mothballed ships. She was commissioned Rear Admiral Wilder D. Baker, Commandant, Eleventh Naval District. This landlocked vessel served its time in the U.S. Navy as a training facility. After World War II, she and two other training or non-sailing ships were built for training, but the other two ships left port long ago. The USS Recruit was the first built and the only remaining of the three. She stands as an historic tribute to all who trained on her decks. During her 18 years of service, over 50,000 U.S. Navy recruits were trained annually. The ship was an exact replica. The ship, however, has no engine, boilers or screws. Recruits were put through traditional shipboard drills and they learned to use all the standard ship equipment and procedures except for engine-related practices. Recruits were also trained to stand watch from 8pm-8am as if aboard an operational ship. In 1967, the USS Recruit was decommissioned. Why? She could not be classified in the computerized naval inventory. She was a square peg in a round hole and the Naval computer system rejected her as it had no way to classify this hybrid of not a boat, not a building. Practically speaking, she was out-dated and technology had surpassed her ability to train recruits with modern equipment. However, she remained as a training facility. 9

10 In 1982, she was cleaned up and converted from a training destroyer escort to a training guided missile frigate. In her next incarnation, she was outfitted with a wooden anchor, three-inch wooden guns, and a wooden depth charge launcher. The updated classrooms were made bigger to allow for nearly 80 training recruits at one time. It was these recruits who named her USS Neversail. For decades, the USS Recruit has been anchored along side Harbor Drive, just inside the gates of NTC (Liberty Station). There were calls to demolish her back in 1996 and to use the space for something else. Still, she has remained. Since then, she has gained both National Historic and State Historic designation. USS Recruit's Log entry poem From Jan. 1, 1963 By George E. Johnson, BMC Time 0000, Day #1, year 1963, The, watch has begun. Moored port & starboard at NTC On this very quiet New Year's Eve Six hawsers to starboard, Seven hawsers to port, Starboard chain to Buoy 1, We're really held taut. Concrete and black-top Her make-believe sea, She strains her moorings In a ten-knot breeze. Draft nine feet forward Ten feet aft, It's never change on this Naval craft. All services received Direct from the pier, She's had no engines For many a year. Electricity, steam, fresh water too, Furnished by Public Works Power Plant Two. North Island to starboard, A beautiful sight. To port lies Gate Six, All's quiet tonight. Dead ahead lies Camp Nimitz Where training begins, Astern lies Point Loma And the Bali Hai Inn. Anchor lights burn bright No stars are in sight, The decks are silent, On this New Year's night. She's made of plywood, Sheathed in steel. Her deck guns are wooden. Her "K" guns real. Recruits look forward To a trick at her wheel, To them her helm Has a magic feel. She's been in commission Thirteen long years. Started thousands of Sailors on Naval careers. Admirals and Generals Civilians too, Have trod her decks and met her crew. She's a famous old ship, A Training Aid too, She's open for tours. To all of you. Happy New Year To all officers and men. Past, Present and Future From an old wooden friend: USS Recruit (TDE-1). Parade Float Our submarine float has new tires thanks to the generous donation of one our classified sponsors, Sid s Alignment and Brake. If you need tires, alignment, brakes, or muffler please consider using him. 10

11 Classifieds The following business have generously donated to defray the costs of printing and distributing the Corvina Base Newsletter. Please consider them if you need one of their services. Let them know you saw their ad in the newsletter. 11

12 Holland Club members are those submarine veterans of USSVI (United States Submarine Veterans, Inc.) that qualified on a submarine 50 or more years ago. When qualified, a sailor earns the right to wear, and responsibility of, the dolphin insignia of submarine service. Russell Noragon MMC (SS) USS Segundo SS-398 Qual Date 1963 James Tiernan QMC(SS) USS Irex SS-482 Qual Date 1958 Frank Urbani EN2 (SS) USS Gudgeon SS-567 Qual Date 1958 Elmer Hopson USS Pomfret SS-391 Qual Date 1963 Clyde Webber ETNSN (SS) USS Trumpefish SS-425 Qual Date 1954 Phillip Zeddies ENFN (SS) USS Caiman SS-323 Qual Date 1960 Arthur Akerson LCDR USS Carbonero SS-337 Qual Date 1949 Gerald Baer ENFN (SS) USS Charr SS-328 Qual Date 1959 Bill Conklin MMCM(SS) USS Barb SSN-596 Qual Date 1964 Joseph Casten EM3 (SS) USS Baya AGSS-318 Qual Date 1954 Dave Craig ETC (SS) USS Croaker SS-246 Qual Date 1961 Terry Critchett EM3 (SS) USS Bluegill SS-242 Qula Date 1955 Richard Dentino EM3 (SS) USS Tigrone SS-419 Qual Date 1955 Paul Allen EN1 (SS) USS Blackfin (SS-322) Qual Date 1963 Bruce Hedrick EM2 (SS) USS Sea Dragon SS-584 Qual Date 1961 Donald Johnson RMC (SS) USS Charr SS-328 Qual Date 1958 James Jordan TMSN (SS) USS Toro SS-422 Qual Date 1948 Frank Kenyon EM3 (SS) USS Skate SS-305 Qual Date 1944 Walter Lewis IC1 (SS) USS Rasher SS-269 Qual Date 1961 Frank Lipera EM2 (SS) USS Greenfish SS-351 Qual Date 1960 Kenneth Anderson EMC (SS) USS Perch USS-313 Qual Date

13 Holland Club Members (cont) Kenneth McCray EN1 (SS) USS Blackfin SS-322 Qual Date 1951 Daniel Moran EN3 (SS) USS Jallao SS-368 Qual Date 1959 Raoul Noland EM2 (SS) USS Trutta SS-421 Qual Date 1945 William Parsons RM1 (SS) USS Thresher SS-200 Qual Date 1941 James Gibson LCDR(SS) USS Conger SS-477 Qual Date 1949 Primo Quarisa EN3 (SS) USS Aspro SS-309 Qual Date 1952 Oscar Rambeau Qm3 (SS) USS Carp SS-338 Qual Date 1954 James Saunders SOS3 (SS) USS Greenfish SS-351 Qual Date 1960 Dennis Wiley E9 MMCM(MDV/SS/SW USS Medregal (SS-480) Qual Date 1963 Lionel Schmidt STS1 (SS) Jon Schoenfeld ET2 (SS) Delmar Schwichtenberg CWO3 (SS) USS Seafox SS-402 USS Sea Cat SS-399 No USS O6 SS-67 Qual Date 1955 Qual Date 1960 Patch Qual Date 1941 Albert Skidmore YN2 (SS) USS Diodon SS-349 Qual Date 1947 Herbert Starmer HMC (SS) USS Cobia SS-245 Qual Date 1944 Leonard Stefanelli QM3 (SS) USS Catfish SS-339 Qual Date 1954 David Aunkst ET1 (SS) USS Rasher SS-269 Qual Date 1962 Rod Friedline STS1 (SS) USS Pomfret SS-391 Qual Date 1962 Gabriel Fretias SK3 (SS) USS Wahoo SS-565 Qual Date 1962 Harry Cousins LT USS Chopper SS-342 Qual Date 1962 Norman Peterson IC2 (SS) USS Growler SSG-577 Qual Date 1962 Robert Heaps IC2 (SS) USS Grampus SS-523 Qual Date 1962 Bill Desormier SK3 (SS) USS Plunger SSN-595 Qual Date 1963 Wayne Levie SN (SS) USS Bashaw AGSS-241 Qual Date 1963 Thomas Bonner IC22 (SS) USS Bonita SSK-3 Qual Date

14 Holland Club Members (cont) Don Brown FTGC(SS) USS Blackfin SS-322 Qual Date 1964 Leif Larsen ST1 (SS) USS Greenfish SS-351 Qual Date