United States Submarine Veterans

Mid-Atlantic Base

January Regular Meeting

January 17, 2009

Sheraton Hotel, Dover, DE

USSVI Mid-Atlantic Base
January 2009 Meeting Agenda
January 17, 2009
Dover Sheraton Hotel
Dover, Delaware

COMMANDER: Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to welcome you to January Mid-Atlantic Base Regular Meeting. Please rise for the Invocation.

CHAPLAIN: ROY GIVES THE INVOCATION

COMMANDER: It is my sad duty to inform you that shipmate Harry Henry departed on Eternal Patrol on December 20, 2008. He was 80. Harry was a member of the Holland Club and a member of Mid-Atlantic Base since June 2000.

Born on November 22, 1928 in Parnassus, Indiana County, Pennsylvania, Harry grew up on the Shore and lived in Talbot County for a number of years. He graduated from St. Michaels High School class of 1945. Mr. Henry served his country in the United States Navy Submarine Service. In his early Navy Career he served as an Underwater Swim Instructor, and part of the UDT (precursor to the Navy Seals) in Groton, CT. Harry served aboard USS Redfin during its search for USS Thresher in 1963. Towards the end of his military career, he recruited many young men into the U.S. Navy, at his post in Annapolis, MD.

After his departure from the military, he worked within Government Service, where one of his jobs involved ensuring the smooth sailing of “Fat Albert” (the blimp which surveilled Cuba and spotted drug runners). Later in his Government Service career he developed a specialized piston for the high pressure air system used in modern day submarines, and was bestowed with the nickname of “Mr. Trident”.

During his Navy career, he received the Good Conduct Medal (Six Awards), WW II Victory Medal, Navy Occupation Service Medal (Europe), the National Defense Service Medal (Bronze Star), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Korea), Vietnam Service Medal (2 Bronze Stars), Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation, He served on the following submarines: USS Dace (SS-247), USS Cutlass (SS-478), USS Sea Lion (AP (SS) 315) and the USS Redfin (SS-272). He was honorably discharged as Chief Engineman after twenty-five faithful years of service to the United States Navy.

Harry is survived by two daughters, two sons, Harry Herman Henry and his wife, Kim Mitchell-Henry of Myakka City, FL, Bud Henry and his wife, Sheri Henry of Sarasota, FL, six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and one on the way. He derived much pride and joy from the fact both of his sons were submariners, and his daughter, Dorothy, served in the Navy, as did his grandson, Jesse.

A Memorial Service was held on Friday, January 9th, 2009 in Federalsburg, MD. Internment with Military Honors was held at the Eastern Shore Veterans Cemetery in Hurlock, MD.

Sailor, Rest Your Oar.

COMMANDER: Those who have served and those currently serving in the uniformed services of the United States are ever mindful that the sweetness of enduring peace has always been tainted by the bitterness of personal sacrifice. Please direct your attention to the chair to my right, a physical symbol of the thousands of American service men and women still unaccounted for from all foreign conflicts. The chair is empty, as they cannot be with us today. Let us always keep them in our memory and our prayers.

COMMANDER: Chief of the Boat, please lead the assembled members in the
Pledge of Allegiance to Our Flag.

ED SIMPSON LEADS THE MEMBERS IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

COMMANDER: We will now hear the USSVI Creed

PHIL PUSCHEL COMES FORWARD TO READ THE CREED

 

"To perpetuate the memory of our shipmates who gave their lives in the pursuit of 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." 
COMMANDER: The Secretary and Chief of the Boat will now conduct the Tolling of the Boats Ceremony.

VICE COMMANDER: The following Boats and men were lost in January:

USS E-2 [ex-Sturgeon] (SS-25) - 15 Jan 1916 - Four Men Lost
USS L-10 (SS-50) - 24 Jan 1919 - One Man Lost
USS S-34 (SS-139) - 11 Jan 1934 - One Man Lost
USS S-36 (SS-141) - 20 Jan 1942 - No Men Lost
USS S-26 (SS-131) - 24 Jan 1942 - 46 Men Lost
USS Argonaut (SS-166) - 10 Jan 1943 - 105 Men Lost
USS Scorpion (SS-278) - 5 Jan 1934 - 76 Men Lost
USS Torsk (SS-423) - 5 Jan 1945 - One Man Lost
USS Swordfish (SS-193) - 12 Jan 1945 - 89 Men Lost
USS Grayback (SSG-574) - 14 Jan 1982 - One Man Lost
USS San Francisco (SSN-711) - 8 Jan 2005 - One Man Lost

325 Men Lost in January

Sailors, Rest Your Oars
 COMMANDER: Everyone please be seated. Chief of the Boat, please sound “Dive”.

< CHIEF OF THE BOAT SOUNDS DIVE >

COMMANDER: Everyone please be seated. We will now recognize the war veterans and Holland Club members among us.
World War II veterans, please stand.
Korean War veterans, please stand.
Vietnam War veterans, please stand.
Holland Club Members, please stand.

COMMANDER: Are there any new members or guests in attendance? Is there anyone who has not been to a meeting in a while that would like to stand and reacquaint yourself with the members and guest present?

COMMANDER: Everyone has received a copy of the minutes of our recent meetings in the newsletter. Are there any corrections or additions? Is there a motion to bypass the reading of the minutes?

COMMANDER: We will now receive reports from the Officers.

< COMMANDER’S REPORT >
Roadhouse Steak Joint SubVets 10% Day: Our annual fund raiser at the Roadhouse Steak Joint in Rehoboth will be held on Wednesday, January 21? During this fundraiser, the Roadhouse will donate 10% of all of the proceeds of the night to Mi-Atlantic Base. This has been very successful in the past. We will need three or four volunteers from 1700 to 1900 as act as hosts.
UNO 20% Night: We’re gonna do it again! Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, by popular demand, Mid-Atlantic Base is again registered with the Dover Uno Chicago Grill for a 20% Night on Friday February 27, 2009 from 1500 to 2100 hours. You all know how it works. We will be hosting a dinner from 1500 to 2100 on February 27, 2009. 20% of sales generated from the people we bring into the restaurant on that day will be donated back to Mid-Atlantic Base. There are five coupons included with the handouts on the tables. Hand them out to anyone you like, and ask them to please come dine at Uno on Friday February 27, 2009. Ask them to bring their coupons with them and give them to their server when paying their check. Uno will total all of the checks paid by the people we bring in at the end of the night and cut Mid-Atlantic Base a check for 20% of the total. This is a great fund-raiser for the base and is tremendous fun for everyone.

< VICE COMMANDER’S REPORT > NTR

 

< TREASURER’S REPORT > Bill reports MAB netted $48.00 on the Christmas party. Balance in both accounts reported and the statements were on each table for members perusal.

 

< SECRETARY’S REPORT > NTR

 

< STOREKEEPER’S REPORT > Phil reported the deposit made for November’s sales and that he had a few calendars left for sale.

 

< CHIEFS OF THE BOAT’S REPORT >

 

< CHAPLAIN’S REPORT >

< MEMBERSHIP CHAIRMAN’S REPORT > Roger reports we have 79 members with the re-joining of Ernie Schwartz.

 

< BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ REPORT >

 

 

< TRUSTEES’ REPORT >

COMMANDER: Is there any Old Business?

< OLD BUSINESS >

 

 

 

COMMANDER: Is there any New Business?

< NEW BUSINESS > Bill Galloway reports 2009 Sterlet Association reunion will be held in Bransons.

 

 

COMMANDER: Chaplain, please give the benediction.

ROY GIVES THE BENEDICTION

COMMANDER: The next meeting will be held on Saturday February 21, 2009 at 1130 hours here in the Sheraton.

COMMANDER: Do we have a motion to adjourn?

< MOTION TO ADJOURN >

COMMANDER: Chief of the Boat, please sound “Surface”.

< COB SOUNDS SURFACE >

COMMANDER: And now, the moment we have all been waiting for. The Mystery Man will be unmasked. The Mystery Man qualified aboard USS Benjamin Franklin as a Machinist Mate in 1968. He also served aboard USS Seadragon and USS Flasher. He was in Pearl Harbor during the filming of Tora! Tora! Tora! and is here with photos to prove it. Ladies and Gentlemen, our Man of Mystery, shipmate Frank Pollack.

Not too many shipmates, at least those I spoke to recognized Frank as the Mystery Man. Frank gave us a look at the life of a boomer sailor stationed in Hawaii during the late ‘60’s early ‘70’s. I have to tell you after viewing his wonderful collection of slides and with the support of three other Franklin sailors two of whom signed his qual card, the duty in Hawaii looked pretty nice. I actually asked him during his presentation if they ever went to sea and he immediately flipped to a slide with him at sea in a sailboat with a few of his Franklin shipmates. Darn good duty. The slides of some areas of the machinery spaces were very interesting in that, there seemed to me, (a diesel boat sailor) that there was less “people space” on the Franklin, maybe with the exception of the missile compartment & the mess hall than we had on my Tench class boat. There was equipment shoved in every available corner. But we didn’t get to see photo’s of the swimming pool or the weight room. Those areas were at that time classified. It was a wonderful presentation in which Frank was able to tell us exactly what was happening. Indications that Frank still has a very good memory. You missed a terrific presentation by our shipmate if you weren’t at the meeting.

< SOCIAL TIME, MEAL, 50/50 >