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Vol.=20 3, No. 2           &nbs= p;            = ;            =             &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;           &nbs= p;            = ;            =             &= nbsp;           &n= bsp; =20 February 2007

Newsletter of Charleston Base, United = States=20 Submarine Veterans,=20 Inc.

           &nbs= p;            = ;            =             &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;   =20            &nbs= p;            = ;            =             &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;       =20

           &nbs= p;            = ;            =     =20 USSVI=20 Creed

=93To=20 perpetuate the memory of our shipmates who gave their lives
in = the=20 pursuit of their duties while serving their country.  That their dedication, = deeds, and=20 supreme sacrifice be a constant source of motivation toward = greater=20 accomplishments.  = Pledge=20 loyalty and patriotism to the United States = Government=94

Base web = page:      = http://www.ussvicb.org/

National web = page: www.ussvi.org

Base = Meeting:=20

Thursday, = February 8,=20 2007

Social hour = 1800,=20 General Meeting 1900

Location:

VFW Post = 3433, 10154=20 Bellwright Rd.

Summerville, = South=20 Carolina.  Phone=20 843-871-0607

Base=20 Officers

Phone=20 Number

Commander

Steve=20 Nelms

843-563-7115

Vice=20 Commander

Carl=20 Chinn

843-875-3098

Secretary

Ronnie = Kerstetter

843-553-9235

Treasurer

George = Lisle

843-559-4242

Happy=20 Valentine=92s Day!

Special=20 Officers

Phone=20 Number

Chief = of the=20 Boat

Marty=20 Sessler

843-871-1536

Public = Affairs

Richard=20 Cleeve

843-899-4563

Sub = Vets=20 WWII

Barnwell=20 Chaplin

843-762-6945

Nuclear=20 Historian

Ed=20 Simokat

843-873-1709

Veterans=20 Affairs

John=20 Nichols

843-873-5897

Chaplain

Bill = =93Friar Tuck=94=20 Kennedy

843-875-3109

Membership

Carl=20 Chinn

843-875-3098

Holland=20 Club

Bob=20 Lowe

843-573-9045

Little = David=20 Project

Rick=20 Wise

843-875-5559

Roving = Reporter

Rick=20 Wise

843-875-5559

Scholarship

Jim=20 Yates

843-873-0246

Newsletter

Carl=20 Chinn

843-875-3098

Storekeeper

Paul=20 Viering

843-797-2623

Alcohol &=20 Gaming

Dave=20 Mueller

843-553-2775

Minutes=20 of the January 2007 meeting

Opening = Ceremony:  Base Commander, Steve = Nelms,=20 called the meeting to order. =20 A quorum was present and the meeting was commenced at = 1900.

Introductions:  New persons were = introduced;  Ralph Wieland, Jon = Simmons, Joe=20 Lookabill, Kevin Dygert, Donald Coy, George Wells Jr., and Wayne=20 Hensarling.  Welcome = aboard.

Treasurer:  George Lisle was not = present.  Buddha gave a brief = treasurers=20 report.

Secretary:  Ronnie Kerstetter asked = for a=20 motion to approve the meeting minutes from last month.  A motion was made and = seconded; no=20 discussion.  Minutes = approved.

Storekeeper:  Paul Viering gave the = storekeepers=20 report.  USSVI = calendars are=20 available for purchase.  = USS=20 Silversides teak decking pieces are available with donation.   Ten aprons for the = cooks on=20 future roasts were presented.

Chaplain:  Bill Kennedy presented = the=20 binnacle list as follows. =20 Betty Rogers passed away on 21 December. She was the past = South=20 Carolina Commander of the Wives of Submarine Veterans of World War = II.   Betty = will be=20 cremated and her ashes along with her husband=92s ashes will be = taken to=20 Kings Bay Submarine Base for burial at sea.  John Kratz had surgery = to remove=20 his gall bladder.  = Walter=20 Zeigler=92s mother passed away here in Summerville.  Rodney McKanna is = recovering from=20 a serious traffic accident and looks good.  Gary Semler=92s mother = passed away=20 up in Maryland.  = Mike Stuffle=20 had part of his leg removed and is doing well.  Robert Chinn had a=20 defibrillator/pacemaker implanted and is resting at home.  Bill Roup had foot = surgery and=20 also damage to vertebrae and a broken hip and pelvis.  Tom Wieda=92s wife = passed away in=20 Scotland.  Vern Hill = had=20 prostate surgery.  = Larry Sims=20 had a pituitary gland tumor removed.

If=20 anybody is sick and needs help contact either Bill Kennedy or = Marty=20 Sessler.

Public=20 Affairs:  = Richard=20 Cleeve has the Christmas Party pictures and Walterboro VA Hospital = visit=20 activity pictures ready for the website.

Sub Vets = WWII:  Sy Maybie, Swamp Fox = Chapter=20 president, reported that the next Swamp Fox Chapter meeting will = be 15=20 February at Ryan's at noon. =20 The Amberjack Memorial preparations are being made for the = March=20 2007 event.  = Southern Region=20 WWII Convention in Chattanooga in May.  H. L. Hunley Memorial = Service 17=20 February (contact Charlie Rook for details and participation in = the Hunley=20 service).

Veteran=92s = Affairs:  John Nichols discussed = the=20 following.  Always = verify the=20 Tricare provider as well as the specific procedure that also must = be=20 approved beforehand to insure coverage.

Membership:  Carl Chinn reported the=20 following:  Annual = dues are=20 payable by 1 January every year. =20 We have over 50 members that are currently DINK.  For those that paid for = this year,=20 Carl has the 2007 stickers for USSVI membership cards.  If you change your home = address,=20 phone number or e-mail notify Carl so he can make the = revisions.

Scholarship:  Jim Yates was not = present.   A hand made Afghan = was=20 raffled out with the proceeds going to the scholarship fund.  The Afghan was red, = white, and=20 blue and was made by Clyde Peter=92s sister-in-law.  This raffle benefited = our=20 scholarship fund.  = Thanks to=20 all.

Fleet Reserve = News:  Dave Rein reported the = following=20 events at the new FRA facility. =20 Saturday =96 Presidents Day Dinner.  Jan 20 -Oyster Roast, = Feb 4 =96=20 Super Bowl party.

Chief of the = Boat:  Marty Sessler presented = the=20 following report.  = Thank yous=20 to Carl and Paul for the success of last years Christmas Party and = plans=20 for the 2007 event.  = Please=20 let Carl Chinn know if you change your e-mail/phone etc.

International = Submarine=20 Association forms are available. =20 Dues are $5 per year or $25 for life membership.  Next meeting in = France.

Eighteen = national=20 scholarships are available this year ranging from $500 to $ = 1,500.

Need=20 volunteers for Hunley Memorial service on 17 February contact = Charlie=20 Rook.

The=20 Andrew Jackson is having a cruise out of Tampa Bay in = October.  COB has details.

February 24th = is the=20 oyster roast to be held at the after battery.  Bring dessert only.

Base = Commander:  Buddha read a Christmas = card from=20 John Clarkin, Holland Club member. =20 John is a distant member of our local base from Conneaut,=20 Pennsylvania.

2007=20 USSVI National Convention Alaskan Cruise Sept 15-22, 2007 aboard = the=20 Holland America=92s MS Oosterdam.

2007=20 Eastern District 4/6 & Sub Vets WWII Conference Wednesday = April 25 =96=20 Sunday April 29, 2007, Daytona Beach, FL at the Holiday Inn = Express=20 Speedway Resort. (If you would like to attend let Buddha know as = he is=20 trying to get a group together to make this trip).

Registration = forms and=20 information for both conventions available on the national website = http://www.ussvi.org/Conventions.asp

Annual election = for=20 Charleston Base officers will be held at the regular meeting in = May.  We are beginning to = solicit names,=20 if interested in serving submit your name to Stan Standrich.

District = Four:  No report.

Old = Business:  Boat Sponsorship =96 = Motion made and=20 approved for Charleston Base Sub Vets to provide 21 American=20 Submariner  = magazines four=20 times per year to the local commands (Nuke School, Prototype, = Weapons=20 Station).  Cost = $175.

New = Business:  Consideration of = proposal from=20 Lowcountry Home Fleet Reserve Association to move our monthly = Charleston=20 Base Sub Vets meeting location from Ladson VFW to Goose Creek FRA = Branch=20 269.  =96 No = discussion allowed=20 at this meeting tonight. =20 Everyone should take the next month to consider and = evaluate this=20 invitation from the Lowcountry Fleet Reserve to use their new = eight=20 thousand square feet facility in Goose Creek for our base meetings = on the=20 second Thursday of the month. =20 Be prepared for discussion and a vote on this proposal at = the=20 regular February meeting.  =20 Voting will be by paper ballot.

Good Of The = Order:  The depth charge drawing = was=20 held.  The winner = was Joe=20 Lookabill.

City=20 of North Charleston Recreation Department to provide an excursion = to visit=20 our WWII Veterans Memorial in Washington DC, March 25-27, = 2007.  There will be a WWII = Veterans Golf=20 tournament held at Wescott Plantation on March 9th as a fund = raiser for=20 this visit to Washington DC.

The=20 Base Commander adjourned meeting at 2045.

**=20 End of the minutes for January 2007 **

"Don't tell mom I'm = a=20 submariner, she thinks I play piano in a = whorehouse."

Acton

Barwick

Burke

Drentlaw

Gilmer

Jennings

Jones

Koebel

Koehler

Lavergne

Massey

Minaudo

Poole

Rash

Rogers

Rook

Sickle

Siebert

Stout

Waller

Van=20 Swearingen

Wickenhoffer

Membership=20 and Dues Information:

We=92re up = to=20 256 = members!  As of publication we are = number 3=20 in base size, and less than 100 fewer than number 2.  Groton and San Diego are = larger.  Keep on=20 recruitin=92!

Only = problem is we=20 have 26 dinks!  We = need them=20 to keep growing.  = Check with=20 your buddies and make sure they have paid their=20 dues.

If you = haven=92t yet=20 paid, when you read this newsletter your 2007 dues are past = due.  If you are unsure of = what you owe=20 (regular base and/or national) please ask me!  See me at the meeting, = e-mail or=20 call.

Dues were=20 payable no later than January 1, 2007.

We dropped = 8 members=20 last year=85let=92s not let that happen = again!

Annual dues = are $20=20 for National and $15 for Charleston Base.

If you have = any=20 changes to your membership info (address, phone, e-mail, etc.) you = can now=20 make those changes directly on-line in the Sub Vets national=20 database.  If you = make=20 changes, please let me know at chasbasemembernews@sc.rr.com = or carlc@sc.rr.com or call = 875-3098.  This is = so we can=20 keep our local information current and accurate.  If you want, I can make = the=20 changes for you...just let me know.

Membership=20 Drive

Target:  New=20 Members

Started in = November=20 was a membership drive for 2007. =20 We have the potential of becoming the second largest base = in the=20 country with just a little bit of work.  It will be easy to be = number 2=20 =92cause we=92re less than 100 behind them.  Who knows, we might = someday=20 surpass Groton Base!

Here=92s = the deal:  Recruit as many new = members as you=20 can.  The guy who = recruits the=20 most new members before 1 April 2007 will get 2 years Charleston = Base=20 membership dues paid.  = If that=20 guy is already a Charleston Base Life member he will get $30 = cash.  In case of a tie, there = will be a=20 random drawing for the winner. =20 Make sure that you let me know when you recruit a new = guy,=20 if he joins you get credit and I can track the=20 numbers.

Carl

**February=20 Happenings!**

February 17 =96=20 Hunley Memorial, 1900 (Arrive 20 to 30 minutes early)
Sunrise=20 Presbyterian Church
3222 Middle Street,
Sullivans Island

February = 24 =96=20 Oyster Roast, After Battery
1300. =20 $10 per person.  = RSVP=20 COB no later than 14 February. =20 Bring a dessert.

Terminology = Trivia

"Bravo = Zulu"

This=20 is a naval signal, conveyed by flag hoist or voice radio, meaning = "well=20 done"; it has also passed into the spoken and written vocabulary. = It can=20 be combined with the "negative" signal, spoken or written NEGAT, = to say=20 "NEGAT Bravo Zulu," or "not well done."

There are some = "myths and=20 legends" attached to this signal. The one most frequently heard = has=20 Admiral Halsey sending it to ships of Task Force 38 during World = War II.=20 He could not have done this, since the signal did not exist at = that time.=20

"Bravo Zulu" = actually=20 comes from the Allied Naval Signal Book (ACP 175 series), an = international=20 naval signal code adopted after the North Atlantic Treaty = Organization=20 (NATO) was created in 1949. Until then, each navy had used its own = signal=20 code and operational manuals. World War II experience had shown = that it=20 was difficult, or even impossible, for ships of different navies = to=20 operate together unless they could readily communicate, and ACP = 175 was=20 designed to remedy this.

In=20 the U.S. Navy signal code, used before ACP 175, "well done" was = signaled=20 as TVG, or "Tare Victor George" in the U.S. phonetic alphabet of = that=20 time. ACP 175 was organized in the general manner of other signal = books,=20 that is, starting with 1-flag signals, then 2-flag and so on. The = 2-flag=20 signals were organized by general subject, starting with AA, AB, = AC, ...=20 AZ, BA, BB, BC, ... BZ, and so on. The B- signals were called=20 "Administrative" signals, and dealt with miscellaneous matters of=20 administration and housekeeping. The last signal on the = "Administrative"=20 page was BZ, standing for "well done."

At=20 that time BZ was not rendered as "Bravo Zulu," but in each navy's=20 particular phonetic alphabet. In the U.S. Navy, BZ was spoken as = "Baker=20 Zebra." In the meanwhile, the International Civil Aviation = Organization=20 (ICAO) had adopted English as the international air traffic = control=20 language. They developed a phonetic alphabet for international = aviation=20 use, designed to be as "pronounceable" as possible by flyers and = traffic=20 controllers speaking many different languages. This was the "Alfa, = Bravo,=20 Charlie, Delta..." alphabet used today. The Navy adopted this ICAO = alphabet in March 1956. It was then that "Baker Zebra" finally = became=20 "Bravo Zulu."

Echo Taps=20 Worldwide

Hundreds=20 of volunteer brass players are being recruited to perform the 24 = notes of=20 =93Taps=94 on 19 May 07, in recognition of Armed Forces Day at = National=20 Cemeteries, State Veterans Cemeteries and American Battle = Monuments=20 Cemeteries overseas.  = The=20 event, called =93Echo Taps Worldwide,=94 is being organized by the = VA National=20 Cemetery Administration and Bugles Across America to honor and = remember=20 American veterans through a worldwide performance of Taps.  Organizers also hope the = event=20 will interest brass players in volunteering to perform Taps at the = military funerals of veterans throughout the year.  Each day, America loses = about=20 1,800 of its veterans, primarily those who fought in World War II = and=20 Korea.  In honor of = them and=20 the service they provided, it is important that our Nation = preserves the=20 tradition of a live bugler to play final military honors.  During the event, = players will=20 form a line through the cemetery and perform a cascading version = of=20 Taps.  Brass players = of all=20 ages are encouraged to perform at the cemetery of their = choice.  Schools and other = organizations=20 are also invited to participate in the tribute as performers or = support=20 volunteers.  More = information=20 and a sign-up sheet are available at www.echotaps.org.

The=20 first large =93Echo Taps=94 event occurred in May 05, when 674 = brass players=20 from 30 states lined 42-miles of road between Woodlawn National = Cemetery=20 in Elmira, NY, and Bath National Cemetery in Bath, NY.  Playing =93Taps=94 in = cascade, it took=20 nearly three hours from the first note played at Woodlawn to the = final=20 note of Taps sounded at the National Cemetery at Bath.  In 2006, players = performed =93Echo=20 Taps=94 at 52 National Cemeteries and State Veterans Cemeteries = across the=20 Nation on Veterans Day in preparation for the upcoming = effort.  The Armed Forces Day = event in 2007=20 will involve buglers around the world to include participants at = American=20 Battle Monument Cemeteries overseas. =20 Thomas Day, a Marine veteran who founded Bugles Across = America in=20 2000 said, =93A live bugler performing Taps is an expression of = the Nation=92s=20 appreciation for the service of each veteran.  With more than 600,000 = veterans=20 dying each year, we are always looking for new volunteers to = perform this=20 valuable service.  = Echo Taps=20 Worldwide will honor America=92s 40 million veterans who have = served over=20 the course of our history and draw attention to the need for more = buglers=20 to perform =93Taps=94 as part of final military honors.

Letter of=20 Invitation

The=20 following is the letter sent from FRA Branch 269 in its = entirety:

December 11, = 2006

Steve Nelms

Base = Commander

USSVI = Charleston Base

Steve:

It was a little = over a year=20 ago that the Fleet Reserve Association Branch 269 voted to change = our=20 meeting night from the second Thursday of each month to the third=20 Thursday, to afford the opportunity for Submarine FRA members to = become=20 active in the Submarine Veterans Association.  Since then, I have = become an=20 active member in the USSVI Charleston Base.  What an experience it = has=20 been!  I now have = deep=20 allegiance to both organizations.

In July, the = FRA completed=20 a vision we have held since we organized in 1999.  We built a beautiful new = 8000 sq.=20 ft. facility located at 99 Wysteria Road in Goose Creek.  We now have a banquet = hall that=20 comfortably seats more than 150 people.  We can accommodate = meetings and=20 group gatherings while continuing to serve our members and guests = in the=20 bar without interruption.  = We=20 have adopted a policy that allows service organizations the use of = our=20 banquet hall free of charge to hold their meetings.  Several have already=20 accepted.  This is = the focus=20 of this correspondence.  = As=20 the Home Committee Chairman, I have tentatively reserved the = Second=20 Thursday of each month for the USSVI Charleston Base meeting.

The FRA = Lowcountry Home=20 extends this invitation to the USSVI Charleston Base to utilize = our=20 facilities for your monthly meetings.  Since the FRA exists to = serve our=20 sea services (Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard), it is only = fitting that=20 the SUBVETS would choose to =93Come Home=94.  We offer a full service = bar 7 days=20 a week, with lunch served Monday thru Friday, and dinner served = Monday=20 thru Saturday nights.  = We want=20 the SUBVETS to utilize our facilities.

I am quoting a = current=20 member of the FRA and SUBVETS. =20 =93The most important reason I would be in favor of moving = the=20 location of the SUBVETS meeting, is that I FEEL AT HOME at the = Fleet=20 Reserve.  It=92s as = simple as=20 that.  I=92ve = belonged to the=20 VFW and American Legion long before ever becoming a member of the = FRA. But=20 I always felt like a guest at their facilities.  Even today when going to = a SUBVETS=20 meeting, I don=92t feel at home at the VFW.  I enter the VFW, go the = meeting,=20 and as soon as the meeting is over, I leave.  At the Fleet, it=92s = quite the=20 opposite.  Is it = this =93Sea=20 Services=94 thing, a Shipmate thing, or something called = Brotherhood of the=20 Sea? Probably!  I = have served=20 with a dozen or so members of the Fleet as I have with members of = the=20 SUBVETS.  I feel at = home at=20 the Fleet, I feel at home with the members and I believe our = SUBVET=20 shipmates would too.=94

David E. = Rein

FRA LOWCOUNTRY = HOME

Home = Committee=20 Chairman

February=20 Submarines Lost:

USS=20 Shark

SS=20 174

February=20 11, 1942

USS=20 Amberjack

SS=20 219

February=20 16, 1943

USS=20 Grayback

SS=20 208

February=20 26, 1944

USS=20 Trout

SS=20 202

February=20 28, 1944

USS=20 Barbel

SS=20 316

February=20 4, 1945

Old=20 Salt

Old salt,=20 Tar, Sailor been called

Through=20 time stood watch

in rough=20 seas and calm.

In steps=20 of those who's gone before;

In=20 vessels of mast and vessels of oar.

The great=20 ships have changed

in number=20 and size;

Sliding=20 under the sea, and above in the sky.

In times=20 of peace they sharpen their skills;

for the=20 call of Battle Stations! Battle Stations! =

This is=20 no drill.

Gone are=20 the cannons and muskets of old;

replaced=20 by rockets, missiles, and jets on = patrol.

Their=20 battle ground different, yet still the same; =

atop the=20 brine, open to fire and flame.

Shipmates=20 are many that rest 'neath the foam;

Last full=20 measure given for family and home.

RSVP the COB no later than 14=20 February!