CORVINA BASE. Newsletter index. May SHIPMATES ON ETERNAL PATROL Harry Wellman CS1 (SS) Harry Sembagh EN3 (SS)

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1 CORVINA BASE May 2013 Meetings are held on the first Saturday Of each month at Denny s Coffee Shop, 205 E. Nugget Ave. Sparks NV At 1400 hours. Newsletter index Base Officers Pg. 2 Creed Pg.2 Commanders Log Pg.3 Secretary Report Pg.4 Treasures Report Pg.5 Chaplain s Corner Pg.6 Hawthorne Parade Pg.7 Calendar of Events Pg.8 Birthday List Pg.8 Booster Club Pg.8 Memorial Day Pg.9 Freedom in America Pg.10 Classified Ads Pg.11 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) James Avitt RM1 (SS) Charles H. Massie TM1 (SS) Elvin L. Morrison FTC (SS) Erick Bjorum CWO(SS) Norm Snyder EM1(SS) James T. Wright III Chester E. MacDowell TMI (SS) Jerry D. Noma MM2(SS) Gerald Stratton ENC(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) Gordon Lane RMC(SS) Edwin V. Schalbert TMC (SS) Richard Ekenberg, ETC(SS) Holland Club Pg.12 1

2 Base Commander Vice Commander Secretary Teasurer/POC Dave Aunkst Dennis Wiley Pete Akerson Don Brown COB Storekeeper Chaplain Newsletter/WEB Bob Heaps Frank Urbani 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 The meeting attendance for May continues to be great. If you haven t been able to make an effort to attend meetings, please do, the more the merrier. If nothing else, the 50/50 raffle prize should be much more of a draw. May is/was a busy month. On May 10 th we had Corvina Base s seventh annual Pride Runs Deep awards ceremony at the Damonte Ranch High School, Mustang Battalion NJROTC in Reno. This years Cadet was SN Joshua Dimaano, picked by the Unit Commander as having pride in self, unit, school, community and country. Also, he was recently Cadet of the Quarter, seems like a fine young man, and was appreciative of the award. The past recipients of the PRD award, have done very well according to their accomplishments and awards this year. We also prepared the Sub Float for the first parade of the year at the Hawthrone Armed Forces Day celebration. The Parade on May 18 th, was great and the weather couldn t have been better. We had a very good turn-out of 12 members and at least four ladies. The parade must have lasted for two hours and was well received by the crowds along the way. Governor Sandoval attended along with many military, police and fire units. I had heard that there would be no fly-over at the beginning due to the sequester, but aircraft managed to show up anyway. Thanks to all who attended, and many thanks to Pete and Nancy Akerson for pulling the float and donating the fuel costs. Their shiny new truck should be all broken in now. Hopefully some of you make it to the Fernley Veterans Cemetery for the Memorial Service on May 27 th. In past years, I was impressed how the attendance has grown; you have to get there early to get a close parking space. The new Vietnam War Monument was also dedicated, honoring those Nevadans Killed in Action, built by the Ghost Riders Motorcycle group. It s a great addition to the memorials there. Don t forget the Western District 5, joint base meeting on Saturday, June 22 nd. The purpose is to improve the communications among the district bases, and will include a tour of the Sub memorial at the nearby San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery at Santa Nella. It is open to all USSVI members, and they will meet at Espana s Southwest Bar and Grill in Los Banos, CA at 1100hrs. ============================================================================ OLDEST U.S. MILITARY AWARD The Navy's Medal of Honor, authorized December 21, 1861, is the oldest continuous use military award in America. Source: US Military Medals: 1939 to Present. Foster and Borts, Medals of America Press. 3

4 The Meeting was called to order by Commander Aunkst as COB Heaps sounded this month's version of two blasts on the klaxon. After the Invocation by Chaplain Paul Allen, The Pledge of Allegiance, reading of the USSVI Creed, Tolling of the Bell and moment of silent prayer for all departed shipmates, friends and family followed in their usual order. There were 26 members and guests present. Since none of the attending members or guests were new, there were no introductions. The minutes of the April meeting were accepted as published in the Newsletter. XO/Recruiter Dennis Wiley reported no new members for this month and urged all members to carry a few Corvina Base Cards with them to hand out to submariners they might meet who sre not members of Corvina Base or USSVI. Please see Dennis if you need any Base cards. Secretary Pete Akerson reported that we have not received any new mail requiring action by the Base. Treasurer Don Brown reported that the Base is still in very sound financial condition. Storekeeper Frank Urbani reported that no new items have been added to the Ship's Store and that he is still seeking someone to relieve him as SK. Chaplain Paul Allen reported no additions to the Binnacle list. Newsletter Editor Norm Peterson reported that with the addition of one more ad in the Newsletter, the ads will have provided enough funds to cover the Newsletter postage for the current year COB Heaps reported that the May Lunch Bunch gathering will be at Black Bear Diner, 2323 S. Virginia St., Reno on May 17, There was no Member-at-large report. THe Seventh Annual "Pride Runs Deep" Award will be presented to a worthy NJROTC Cadet in the gymnasiun at Damonte Ranch High School at 1900 on Fiday, May 10, Corvina Base proudly supports the Damonte Ranch NJROTC Mustang Battallion throughout the year. Corvina Base will be participating in the annual Armed Forces Day parade in Hawthorne, NV on Saturday, May 18, THe parade starts at 1200, but we are required to be in place by 1000 for judging. Info regarding car-pooling will be published as it becomes available. 4

5 Thus far, Corvina Base is the only bidder to host the 2016 USSVI Convention. Don Brown will keep us advised on the status of our bid. Please be prepared to offer some assistance in this effort. After a brief recess, the monthly 50/50 raffle was conducted with the following results: First Aid Kit - Primo Quarisa Car Magnet - Marcedes Parsons Flashlight - Primo Quarisa Wine - Dan Moran Lithograph - Frank Urbani Brandy - Dave Porras Wine - Yerry Bolen Lap Robe Mary Ellen Schwichtenberg Cash ($52.00) - Frank Kenyon. After the Benediction By Chaplain Allen, the meeting closed at 1444 as COB Heaps sounded his newest version of three blasts on the klaxon. Respectfully Submitted, Pete Akerson - Secretary ============================================================================ 1. All account balances are available at Base meetings. 2. Deposits for May From May meeting $ Checks issued in May Bob Heaps (website fee) $41.94 Frank Urbani (stores) $57.95 =========================================================== NAVY MASCOTS - The navy mascots name is Bill XXVIII (28), there has been 2 cats, 1 dog, 1 carrier pigeon. Goats have been the mascot since

6 Binnacle List Lowell Wapelhorst: Lowell, one of our WWII Corvina Base members, had a birthday on May 18, and is now 87 years old. He qualified on the USS Angler (SS/SSK/AGGSS-240) in Lowell was on the Binnacle List in the December newsletter after an over-night trip to the Carson City Hospital and finally agreed with his family that he would move into an assisted living facility in Carson City. His third floor room has a big window facing west toward the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains which he loves. Also, there s a dining room with three meals a day and no dirty dishes which he appreciates. New mailing address: The Lodge, Lowell Wapelhorst, #351, 2200 E. Long St., Carson City, NV Jack Quade: Jack is one of our WWII Corvina Base members who qualified on USS Skipjack (SS-184) in 1943 and on May 7, celebrated his 87 th birthday. In April he broke his hip and had to spend three weeks in Manor Care Rehab in Reno after having two screws put in his hip to help it heal. He is driving himself to therapy and doing great. Jack is thankful for the cards that you have sent and appreciates your friendship. Mailing address; 646 Riverview Circle, Reno, NV Don Brown: A follow-up on Don Brown s blood tests for congestive heart failure are still being analyzed by the doctors to determine his future treatment. So far it appears the doctors do not agree on the type of treatment, but it doesn t seem to be holding Don down because he just made a trip to Las Vegas. NEWS FLASH! We just found out that Don Brown is going into surgery tomorrow (Mon. May 26) to have his gall bladder removed. Our prayers are with you Don. Mailing address: Algonquin Trail, Reno, NV A few notes about music and the military. During the Revolutionary War when the British General Charles Cornwallis surrendered to the new United States military under General George Washington on October 17, 1781, Cornwallis sent a young drummer boy onto the field to play a song of truce. One soldier recorded that a British unit played bag pipes while they waited for the surrender terms to be completed and a French unit responded to the 6

7 bagpipes by playing their own song. I remember one time when the USS Blackfin (SS-322) pulled into Pearl Harbor, about 1964, after a six month Westpac and meeting us on the pier were Hawaiian hula dancers and a Navy Band. To see and hear this event as a young submariner made me feel proud to be a US Navy sailor defending the freedom of the United States of America. As an engineman I still wonder how I got to see this but we probably had time to shut down our Detroit Diesel rockcrushers and go topside and see part of the ceremony. Of course we probably looked at the hula girls with more interest than the Navy Band. Scripture: Isaiah 38:20 The Lord will save me, and we will sing with stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the temple of the Lord. Prayer: Our loving Father, thank you for creating music for us to enjoy and soothe our souls. As we celebrate the coming 4 th of July, maybe with music such as the Star Spangled Banner or America the Beautiful, we are thankful to you God for our freedom we have here in America, paid for by the blood of many patriots. We pray for our members on the Binnacle List that you will walk with them through healing and restoration. Thank you Lord for hearing and answering our prayers. Amen! ============================================================================ The following 12 members were at parade. Hawthorne Parade Bill Desormier, Robert Talbert, Pete Akerson, Dan Moran, Dave Aunkst, Wes Rece, Terry Bolen, Ed Brandenburg, Frank Urbani, Norm Peterson, Dennis Wiley, Mark Hogan. (Plus at least four ladies) 7

8 JUNE 1- Base Meeting 1400hrs 21- Lunch Bunch I 130hrs JULY 2- BOD Meeting 0900hrs 4- Independence Day Parade (Reno/ Alt. Virginia City) 6- Base Meeting 1400hrs l9- Lunch Bunch I 130hrs 30- BOD Meeting 0900hrs Birthday List June 11 Dave Miller 15 Harry Cousins 17 Primo Quarisa 18 Fred Hamilton 27 Jeffery Woodward 28 William Parsons 28 Dan Steele 2013 BASE BOOSTER CLUB LIST Steve Warner Leonard Stefanelli R. Dennis Wiley Mark Hogan Jim (Smokey) Jordan Dan Moran (2) Jack Quade Bill Parsons Dave Aunkst Terry Bolin Bob Heaps Don Brown Oscar Rambeau Terry Sheldon-Brown Bill Desormier Scott Stanfill Pete Akerson Frank Kenyon ========================================================================================= CLOTHES STOPS - A small diameter cord, approximately 12 inches, used to tie laundry to a clothes line -- the early Navy clothes pin. Issued in recruit training until

9 Stop To Salute On Memorial Day EAGLE BASE, Bosnia and Herzegovina -- It was raining "cats and dogs" and I was late for physical training. Traffic was backed up at Fort Campbell, Ky., and was moving way too slowly. I was probably going to be late and I was growing more and more impatient. The pace slowed almost to a standstill as I passed Memorial Grove, the site built to honor the soldiers who died in the Gander airplane crash, the worst redeployment accident in the history of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). Because it was close to Memorial Day, a small American flag had been placed in the ground next to each soldier's memorial plaque. My concern at the time, however, was getting past the bottleneck, getting out of the rain and getting to PT on time. All of a sudden, infuriatingly, just as the traffic was getting started again, the car in front of me stopped. A soldier, a private of course, jumped out in the pouring rain and ran over toward the grove. I couldn't believe it! This knucklehead was holding up everyone for who knows what kind of prank. Horns were honking. I waited to see the butt-chewing that I wanted him to get for making me late. He was getting soaked to the skin. His BDUs were plastered to his frame. I watched-as he ran up to one of the memorial plaques, picked up the small American flag that had fallen to the ground in the wind and the rain, and set it upright again. Then, slowly, he came to attention, saluted, ran back to his car, and drove off. I'll never forget that incident. That soldier, whose name I will never know, taught me more about duty, honor, and respect than a hundred books or a thousand lectures. That simple salute -- that single act of honoring his fallen brother and his flag -- encapsulated all the Army values in one gesture for me. It said, "I will never forget. I will keep the faith. I will finish the mission. I am an American soldier." I thank God for examples like that. And on this Memorial Day, I will remember all those who paid the ultimate price for my freedom, and one private, soaked to the skin, who honored them. ~ Captain John Rasmussen ~ 9

10 Freedom in America Freedom in America Isn't really free; We often pay a price To keep our liberty. Remember those we loved, Who fought for us, and died; And those we never knew For whom others mourned and cried. At home our "war" for freedom Is sadly overdue; We've let corruption stage A sad and grievous coup. No longer can we brush off Dishonesty and greed, Lust for wealth and power; We can't, we won't concede. Complacency is weakness Patriots can't afford; We have to act on wrongs That cannot be ignored. We must give up some time, Spent on other pleasures, To restore America's freedom, To keep America's treasures. Money spent on trifles Must now go to our cause: Get rid of the offenders, Constitutional outlaws. Freedom in America Isn't really free It's up to American patriots; It's up to you and me. By Joanna Fuchs 10

11 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. 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 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

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 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 (AGSS-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