United States Submarine Veterans
Mid-Atlantic Base
The Holland Club
MId-Atlantic Base Holland Club members pose with Holland Club Commander Bill Britt (center) and USSVI Past Eastern Regional Director Pat Ulmen (right) in December of 2004.
The Holland Club is an exclusive group within the USSVI. Named for the first commissioned U.S. submarine, USS Holland (SS-1), which was named for its builder, John P. Holland. Membership in the club is restricted to USSVI members who have been qualified in Submarines for 50 or more years and are either a Life Member in good standing for one year, or an annual member in good standing for 5 consecutive years.
Eligible USSVI members may request membership in Holland Club through their Base Commander who verifies eligibility and submits the member's name to the National Junior Vice Commander for action. The request for membership may be submitted at any time during or after the member's first year of eligibility.
Upon induction into the Holland Club, each member is issued a distinctive Holland Club membership Card, a Holland Club Patch and a certificate of membership.
At the present, due to the time factor only, all Holland Club members served on diesel electric submarines. Many of the group are veterans of the Second World War, and a number of members have served on both Diesel and Nuclear boats. They are all dedicated to honor those who have served before, as stated in the USSVI Creed. Holland Club members are part of the group that bridges the different eras of the Submarine Force and help make the connection between the generations of Submarine veterans. From fossil fuel to Nuclear power, all are proud members of USSV and all are proud to have the title "Submariners."
At the current time, the Holland Club gathers once a year for a Holland Club breakfast meeting at the USSVI National Convention. Information of interest to the members is shared, officers are nominated and elected, and old friendships and acquaintances are renewed. The Holland Club breakfast is more a social rather then a business meeting.
Mid-Atlantic Base is fortunate to have many Holland Club members among its membership:
- Roy J. Anstead
- Charles T. Cooper
- Herbert J. Crowe
- William R.Galloway
- John J. Grohowski
- Joseph Haase
- Edward E. Henifin
- George F. Hunt
- William J. Kraus
- Thomas Massey
- David W. Napier
- Thomas J. Nevins
- Larry L. Rash
- Roger A. Reeves
- Darden R. Rodden
- Walter J. Rutter
- Frank Sklodowski Jr
- Edison G. Updike
- Willard Ventro
- Charles W. Walker
- George Warner