Newsletter

August 2002 Newsletter

25 August, 2002

Shipmates:

Welcome to the August USSVI Buffalo Base Newsletter.

Meeting Notice:

The September meeting will be held at 1000 hrs, Saturday, 14 September aboard USS Little Rock at the Buffalo Naval Park.

As Vice Cdr. Dennis Staley and I will be underway on the 14th at a high rate of fuel consumption to the USSVI convention in Duluth,

Secretary Sherman, and Treasurer Bellenger will conduct a short Base membership meeting. Following adjournment of the meeting ShipSupt Don Smith will commence a work /inspection party tour for volunteers aboard Croaker.

This is a good opportunity to attend a meeting and get aboard Croaker to identify a project to work on aboard Croaker. Find a project you would like to do by yourself or assist someone with what they are doing. Don and his committee will coordinate all work so check your suggestions out with him. Please make every effort to attend this meeting and volunteer your help in some way. If you have a family member or friend who may be interested in this kind of work please invite them to attend. All help is needed and appreciated.

***Welcome Aboard new Members:

We welcome seven new members who have recently joined Buffalo Base. Among them are two USN active duty shipmates;

Gerald “Jerry” Nicholson, MMCM (SS), Honolulu, HI, is currently COB of the USS Buffalo. Jerry qualified in USS Georgia SSBN 729 in 1983. Also on active duty is James “Jamie” Curran, YNC (SS), Gales Ferry CT. “Jamie” qualified aboard USS Jacksonville SSN 699 in 1986. Patrick Hurley, STCS USN (Ret.), Henrietta, NY qualified aboard USS Halfbeak SS 352 in 1957. Charles “Bud“ Meighan, Walworth, NY qualified in USS Sam Rayburn SSBN 635 in 1982. John O’Toole also of Walworth, NY also qualified in USS Sam Rayburn in 1978. Timothy Sissel, LeRoy, NY qualified aboard USS Indianapolis, SSN 697 in 1985. Welcome aboard Buffalo Base shipmates. We look forward to your participation! Buffalo Base Membership now stands at 120 Members!

***Croaker News:

As you probably are aware by now, Croaker returned to her temporary docking on 8 August with the assistance of two tugs. She is tied up just outside of the Naval Park about 300 yards ahead of Little Rock. Thanks to the entire 25 or so Sub Vets who were on hand to greet her. The return voyage went off perfectly. The boat is now connected to shore power and open for visitors. She is in need of cleaning, some painting and correction of a 4-degree port list. Pictures of the move are on the new Base web site at ussvibuffalo.org

***USS Croaker 2002 Lottery Calendar:

Those of you who have unsold lottery calendars are encouraged to make a last ditch effort to find new owners for them. I know it ain’t fun and you don’t like to infringe upon friendships but you’d be surprised how well they are received by the purchaser if you make them aware of the good odds of winning and how important their contribution is to the preservation of a WWII memorial submarine. There is no shame in supporting a good cause!

***New Base Web site:

Base COB John Farrell and web master Bob Philips have completed the framework of the new Base web site and launched it under the web address of USSVIBuffalo.org Additional items to be added soon include the Base Ships Store and a page of information about the USS Boston sail project. John and Bob are open to suggestions as to content, subjects to present and links. Contact COB Farrell at jfarrell59@msn.com with your suggestions. Every effort will be made to keep the site updated with all information by Base officers and committee chairs. You’ll just need to go to the site to find out what’s up with the Croaker progress, meeting dates, locations or small store items etc. Please take some time to check it out and learn to use it as your main source of Base information. Your frequent use of the site and cooperation will lighten the load of the management.

Below is a repeat notice that I’ve updated:

***USSV WWll National Convention: Hosted by our Grenadier chapter shipmates. About twelve hundred conventioneers are expected to attend this annual gala to be held in Buffalo beginning 26 August and ending 31 August. (Yes, that’s this week) Host hotel will be the Adams-Mark. Buffalo Base USSVI has volunteered to lend a hand to our WWII shipmates in assisting them during the convention wherever we can. (No registration is needed to visit the convention)

Shipmates, this is the best opportunity you will ever have to meet and talk with these men who crewed the boats that decided the course of the War in the Pacific.

Beginning Wed., 8-28 we will be set up in the hospitality room to sell USS Croaker items in support our fund-raiser efforts in the hospitality room at the Adams Mark. We will be the only vendors on site, outside of their own National storekeepers, Mike & Phyllis Geletka.

Some of Ken Szablewski’s Croaker Sailors Assn. members here for a Croaker reunion have volunteered as Croaker tour guides on an “as available” basis.

Admiral Al Konetzni, Deputy Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet is slated as principal speaker at the convention banquet to be held Saturday evening, Aug, 31. I’ve heard Admiral Al speak before. He is truly inspiring in his enthusiasm and dedication to rebuilding our submarine force to a more reasonable number.

Plan to spend a day at the convention visiting with these guys if at all possible. Consider making it an evening out with your spouse to attend the banquet, listen to the speakers and enjoy the music and dancing.

NOTE: Banquet reservations must be made by Thursday 8-29. Call my cell phone only at 1-585-202-0304 & I will handle it for you.

*** USSVI Convention 2002:

Keep in mind the USSVI annual convention is scheduled for Sept. 16-22 in Duluth MN. All you need to know to register is in the American Submariner magazine. More details at the National website at USSVI.org We would like Buffalo Base to be well represented. Governor Jesse Ventura is expected to make an appearance. Also it’s a good opportunity to tour a retired Great Lakes ore carrier. (No submarines in Duluth!)

*** USS Boston sail and Rudder:

Shipmate Bruce McCausland reports that the USS Boston sail and rudder has been removed from the hull at Bremerton.

The navy yard cut them into transportable pieces for shipment to the Buffalo Naval Park to be reassembled for display. The pieces were loaded aboard four tractor-trailers last week and are now in Buffalo awaiting assembly at the new site. Shipmate Bruce McCausland (Boston plankowner) has taken the lead in securing the sail for the Naval Park. No doubt he will soon have pictures on the new web site.

*** USSVI-WWII Picnic:

Eight Holland club members were inducted into the USSVI Holland Club on 4 August at our family picnic. HC Club Cdr. Bill Britt and Eastern Regional Director Pat Ulmen presented membership certificates to the inductees. National Cdr. Jack Ensminger added his congratulatory comments. Shipmates Inducted were: George Brauch, Sterlet, 1944 - William Bruckel Toro, 1944 - James Greene, Sarda, 1949 - Bob Kerbis, USS O2, 1944 - Tom Mangus, Seadragon, 1941 - Phil Matuzic, Blenney, 1944 - Fred Moorhouse, USS S-38, 1944 - Robert Stoll, Irex, 1947.

Commander’s Kudos:

“Atta Boys” for the month of August:

Don Schubert and Lyle Doody for their continued hard work on the Croaker calendar fund raiser. (Also, to those of you who have sold or purchased a calendar). Neil Bellenger for refurbishing the Croaker mess deck benches and tables.

COB John Farrell and Webmaster Bob Phillips for their excellent work on our new web site.

You can see that our Base is becoming more active. I invite you members who have been thinking about joining in to give me a call and see what you can do to help out those who have assumed the load.

Elections are in December. We need a Relief for Base secretary John Sherman. John has served at least four years. A nominations committee will seek candidates in October.

Fraternally,

John Trubee

Buffalo Base Cdr.

(585) 533-9341 jatrubee@aol.com