CORVINA BASE. Newsletter index. January Newsletter of the Year Awards Western Region Class 2 Winner Western Region Class 2 Winner

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1 CORVINA BASE January 2014 Newsletter of the Year Awards 2013 Western Region Class 2 Winner 2012 Western Region Class 2 Winner 2011 Class 1 Honorable Mention Newsletter index Base Officers Pg. 2 Creed Pg.2 Commanders Log Pg.3 SHIPMATES ON ETERNAL PATROL Harry Wellman CS1 (SS) Harry Sembagh EN3 (SS) Melvin Phillips ET1 (SS) Russel Scofield TMCS (SS) Donald Campbell TM2 (SS) Harold Lister EN3 (SS) Boyd Tieslau TM3 (SS) Robert Rich EN1 (SS) Francis Signore CSC (SS) Stanley Blair ICC (SS) Secretary Report Pg.4 James Avitt RM1 (SS) Richard Burdette LT. (SS) Treasures Report Pg.5 Chaplain s Corner Pg.5 New member Pg.7 Sub moving pictures Pg.8 Charles H. Massie TM1 (SS) Elvin L. Morrison FTC (SS) Erick Bjorum CWO(SS) Norm Snyder EM1(SS) James T. Wright III Wayne F. Garrett ET2 (SS) Larry Garrelts ETCS(SS) Melvin Schreckengost ET2 Charles Hyman MM2(SS) Gordon Lane RMC(SS) Classified Pg.9 Chester E. MacDowell TMI (SS) Edwin V. Schalbert TMC (SS) Holland club Pg.10 Jerry D. Noma MM2(SS) Richard Ekenberg, ETC(SS) Gerald Stratton ENC(SS) Richard C. Barringer SOSN(SS) 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 Don Brown 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 We had a well attended first meeting for the year 2014, and we are looking forward to another successful year for the Base. Again, many thanks to everyone who remained in their elected and appointed positions. It should make for a seamless change in leadership and direction. During the meeting we were able to make a better-late-than-never presentation: Congratulations to Tom Bonner for his induction into the Holland Club. The Base is sponsoring a black granite memorial plaque for the USS Corvina at a new memorial being established by the Sea Poacher Base at the Summerlin Military Academy in Bartow, FL. They plan on having 65 plaques to depict all the submarines lost throughout U.S. history. We have firmed up the 2014 Base Events Calendar. It will appear in the Newsletters as the year progresses. Two major changes are: we will not attend the Hawthrone Parade in May; and the Annual Fernley Memorial service has been moved to the second Saturday in September (9/13), due to the conflict with the USSVI National Convention in Burlingame, CA. The Corvina boat model (one solid puppy, we almost had to rent a crane) has finally been moved from the VA Hospital to the Sparks Heritage Museum at 820 Victorian Avenue. They were very grateful to receive it as a display, and will be planning future media and public exposure events. It will continue be a great Base member recruiting tool. Stop by and support the museum. Thanks to all that helped with the move! Just another reminder, many of our members only have the basic information entered on the National Database. To mention a few, there are fields for all the boats you served on, shore duty stations, and other military organizations to which you may belong. You can go on-line and update your own information. Go to and select the Member Login tab. The Login Name is your first initial and last name (Like- jsmith); it will then prompt you to get a temporary Password via . Also, please keep the Base advised of any changes in your mailing addresses, phone numbers, spouses, or addresses. We are still in the process of collecting member dues for this year, and are hoping for a 100% renewal. If you owe 2014 dues, please remit now so we can keep you as an active member. The deadline is 31 January, or you will go to an inactive status. =========================================================================== Please excuse the short newsletter this month. I have had a busy time the last few weeks and am trying to get back into the routine. Thanks for your understanding. Editor 3

4 The meeting was called to order by Commander Aunkst at 1400, as COB Heaps began the new year with a very passable version of two blasts on the klaxon. After an Invocation by Chaplain Paul Allen, the Pledge of allegiance, reading of the USSVI Creed, Tolling of the Bell Ceremony and moment of silent prayer for all departed fellow submariners, shipmates, friends and family took place in their usual order. There were 23 members and guests present. With no new members present, there was no need for an Introduction session. No Minutes of the Christmas Party were taken, posted or published. Our deep thanks to Terry Bolen for another marvelous menu and a memorable gathering. Recruiter and Vice Commander Dennis Wiley reports that no new members have been added to the roster and that his devoted and diligent efforts will continue unabatedly. Secretary Pete Akerson reports no new mail that requires any action by the Base. Treasurer Robert Talbert has not assumed the full duties of Treasurer yet, but outgoing Treasurer Don Brown reports that the base is still in very sound financial condition. Storekeeper Frank Urbani has relinquished his duties and closed the Ship s Store. There will be no future Storekeeper s reports. Chaplain Paul Allen reports no additions to the Binnacle List. Newsletter Editor Norm Peterson reports no new problems or concerns for the Newsletter or Website. The January Lunch Bunch gathering will be at Bella ltalia restaurant in the Scolari s Shopping Center in Reno on South Virginia at 1130 on January 1 7th1 There was no Member-at- large report. After a brief recess for personal relief and ticket sales, the monthly raffleldrawing was held with the following results: Laser level - Gene Murphy Wine - Frank Ely Knife - Gene Murphy Magnet - Steve Salzman Flashlight - Ken McCray File Markers Pete Akerson Brandy Terry Bolen Air Force Calendar - Steve Salzman Submarine History Book - Frank Ely - Goo David Porras. The $67.00 cash prize was won by Harvey Hudson, who very generously donated a substantial portion of his winnings to the base. Thanks, Harvey!! 4

5 After a Benediction by Chaplain Allen, Commander Aunkst adjourned the meeting as COB Heaps sounded a fairly easily identifiable three blasts on the klaxon. Respectfully submitted, Pete Akerson, Secretary ================================================================================= Our new treasurer is getting settled into his position and will have a report next month. ================================================================================= Binnacle List Oscar Rambeau: Oscar and his wife, Roberta, are expatriates living in San Miguel De Allende, Mexico by the city of Leon about 165 miles north of Mexico City at an altitude of 6200 feet which is about the same as Lake Tahoe but being in Mexico it has great weather. On New Year s Eve, while taking a shower, he fell and was taken to the hospital in Leon. He had bleeding in the brain but doctors don t know if the bleeding was caused by the fall or if the bleeding caused him to fall. Surgery was performed and a shunt installed to stop the bleeding. Oscar is conscious of whom Roberta is but total rest is required. At the present time his right arm doesn t cooperate but hopefully when he is able to have physical therapy it will heal. Oscar always ends his s with keep the bubble so we want you Oscar to bring it back to 0 bubble. No down bubble! Oscar qualified on the USS Carp (SS-338) in 1954 and also served on the USS Nereus (AS-17) and the USS Tilefish (SS-307). 5

6 Mailing address: 220 N. Zapata Hwy. #11/PM , Laredo, TX Primo Quarisa: Primo was at Lunch Bunch on Friday, Jan. 17, recovering from a problem created by antibiotics that are given to certain patients before seeing a dentist. He had to spend 3 days in the Elko Hospital at Christmas but is doing fine after 3 weeks recover. Norm Peterson: Norm started January with what the doctors thought was pneumonia but instead of getting well he got worse and had to be admitted to St. Mary s Hospital for 3 days and received 4 units of blood. He was anemic but has recovered enough to help move the Corvina model submarine on Saturday, Jan. 18. Doctors said the anemia was caused by a peptic ulcer caused by Aleve and aspirin but Norm said he is feeling much better. There is some submarine history about Norm that many of our members don t know about. He qualified on the USS Growler (SSG-577) in The Growler is now part of the Intrepid Museum in New York City. His 2 nd boat was the USS Scorpion (SSN-589) of which he served on for almost 4 years and had just left the Scorpion before it s last deployment to the Med. It was a sad day when the Scorpion went down in 10,000 feet of the Atlantic Ocean 400 miles south of the Azores on May 28, Norm went down to the pier at Norfolk, Virginia, along with another Scorpion sailor to meet the boat on its arrival back home. The other sailor had been put on an airplane in the Azores to go home and be with his wife who had twins still born. Norm went to greet his buddies on the Scorpion because he and a cook friend had plans to be discharged from the Navy and go to Australia. It was pouring down rain in Norfolk that day so the USS Orion (AS-18), a submarine tender, invited all the families and friends to come aboard and get shelter from the rain. As the day went on, finally people started leaving because no word had been heard from the boat. The next day the US Navy declared the Scorpion was missing with a crew of 99. Needless to say, that was a huge loss to all the families and the US Navy, but we re glad Norm, that you were not on the Scorpion when it went down. Norm never made it to Australia, but he did get married to Peggy. The attached pictures are the last known pictures of the Scorpion in April 1968 at Claywall Harbor, Naples, Italy with the USS Tallahatchie County (AVB-2). New: Since I have this platform to write I felt we should honor each month one of Corvina Base family members who are serving our country in the military. The first one is David, the youngest son of Pete and Nancy Akerson, and is currently a Staff Sergeant (E-6) in the US Air Force, serving as an all risk fire-fighter at Anderson AFB, Guam where he has been assigned since Born in Reno, NV, David enlisted in the Air Force in 2006 through the Early Entry Program prior to his graduation from Damonte Ranch High School where he was quite active in the NJROTC program. 6

7 After completing his basic training at Lackland AFB, TX he received technical training as a fire-fighter at Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo, TX and was assigned to Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, NV. David has also served in Iraq and United Arab Emirates prior to his current assignment. In addition, his Air Force travels have taken him to Kuwait, Germany, Spain, Qatar, Japan as well as a temporary assignment on Shemya Island, Alaska, at the far end of the Aleutian Island chain. Thank you, David, for your service to our country! Scripture and Prayer: Isaiah 40:29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Lord God, We pray for all the Corvina families that have physical needs. We ask for healing, strength, and power for the weak, especially for Oscar and Roberta Rambeau. We ask you to be alongside our military men and women serving our country and keep them and their families in your care. Thank you Lord for hearing our prayers. Amen Everly Brothers: While I was in the US Navy Boot Camp at San Diego from Nov Feb. 62, I found out that both Don and Phil Everly were Marine recruits at the MCRD next door. One Sunday afternoon, sitting in the sun, writing a letter home to mom, by orders of our Company Commander, we saw some Marines with backpacks out in the sand dunes. The Everly Brothers could have been part of that group. Phil Everly died on Jan. 3, 2014 at the age of 74 from complications of COPD and emphysema. I remember listening to the old rock-n-roll songs on the USS Blackfin juke-box during the 60 s. Five songs for a quarter and was maintained by the sonar gang below the mess deck. Paul Allen, Corvina Base Chaplain ================================================================================= Please welcome our newest member Vincent (Bill) Conklin MMCM(SS) retired from Fallon. He qualified on the Barb in 1963 and served on a few boomers 7

8 Moving the submarine 8

9 Classifieds The following business have generously donated to defray the costs of printing and distributing the Corvina Base Newsletter. Please consider using them if you need one of their services and let them know you saw it in the newsletter. 9

10 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 James Tiernan QMC(SS) USS Irex SS-482 Qual Date 1958 Frank Urbani EN2 (SS) USS Gudgeon SS-567 Qual Date 1958 Lowell Wapelhorst MOMM2(SS) USS Angler SSK-240 Qual Date 1944 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 Richard Barringer SOSN (SS) USS Bang SS-385 Qual Date 1952 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) 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

11 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 Jack Quade SN (SS) USS Skipjack SS-184 Qual Date 1943 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) 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 Wayne Levie SN (SS) USS Bashaw AGSS-241 Elmer Hopson USS Pomfret SS

12 Holland Club Members (cont) Thomas Bonner IC22 (SS) USS Bonita SSK-3 Qual Date 1958 James Gibson LCDR(SS) USS Conger SS-477 Qual Date