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Vol.=20 3, No. 4           &nbs= p;            = ;            =             &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;           &nbs= p;            = ;            =             &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;       =20 April 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, = April 12,=20 2007

Social hour = 1800,=20 General Meeting 1900

Location:

Fleet = Reserve=20 Association Branch 269, Low Country Home

99 Wisteria=20 Rd.

Goose Creek, = South=20 Carolina.  Phone=20 843-569-2962

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

843-367-1026

Treasurer

George = Lisle

843-559-4242

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 March 2007 meeting

March 8, 2007, = first=20 meeting held at new location
(Goose Creek FRA Branch 269)

Opening = Ceremony:  Base Commander, Steve = Nelms was=20 not present, Carl Chinn Vice Commander called the meeting to = order.  A Quorum was present and = the=20 meeting was commenced at 1900.

Introductions:  New persons were = introduced;  Ben Woellert, John Camp, = David=20 Wood, John Mackey, Leroy Whirley, Ron Litzenberger, Ed Feidt.  Welcome aboard.

Treasurer:  George Lisle gave the = treasurer=92s=20 report.

Secretary:  Ronnie Kerstetter asked = for a=20 motion to approve the meeting minutes from last month.  A motion was made and = seconded.=20 Minutes approved.

Storekeeper:  Paul Viering has nice = windbreaker=20 jackets for sale with your name on front and Charleston Base on = back.  Also new patches are = available for=20 purchase.

Chaplain:  Bill Kennedy presented = the=20 binnacle list.   = Larry=20 Cox=92s granddaughter, Kyla Lynn Singletary, age 15 that resides = in Beaufort=20 SC was diagnosed with a brain rumor. Keith Schnebel has lost = weight and is=20 home.  Bill Roup is = in Health=20 South and is having trouble getting around. Please call and visit = him. Ron=20 Willis had knee replacement surgery at Trident Hospital and is = home.  Robert Chinn will have = surgery at=20 Trident tomorrow, March 9th to clear blockages in both legs. = Arthur=20 O=92Meally is at home after brain surgery.  Jim Eckles is = recuperating at the=20 Palmetto Nursing Center in North Charleston.  Please keep these = families in your=20 prayers.  Calls and = visits=20 will be much appreciated. If anybody is sick or needs help contact = either=20 Bill Kennedy or Marty Sessler.

Public=20 Affairs:  = Richard=20 Cleeve has more pictures posted on the website.  See Richard for any = changes or=20 additions to our web site.

Sub Vets = WWII:  Sy Mabie reported that = the next=20 Swamp Fox Chapter meeting will be at Ryan's Family Steak House = 1314 North=20 Main Street in Summerville, SC on Thursday  April 19th, at 1200 = (noon).  Any Sub Vets member can = join the=20 Sub Vets WWII as an associate member and are encouraged to do = so.  They hold a lunch = meeting every=20 other month at Ryan=92s. =93A record number turned out for this = year=92s H.L.=20 Hunley anniversary service. =20 This is where the submarine service started=94.

The=20 USS Amberjack Memorial Ceremony will be held 11 am Saturday, March = 24th, at the monument in White Point Gardens (The = Battery) in=20 downtown Charleston.

Veteran=92s = Affairs:  No report

Membership:  Carl says that we = currently have=20 270 Charleston Base members. =20 We still have 19 Dink=92s. =20 We have gotten 26 new members since the first of January. = The=20 Charleston Base is currently the #3 base in the nation for the = number of=20 members.  Lets all = keep=20 recruiting.  If you = change=20 your home address, phone number or e-mail notify Carl Chinn, our=20 membership chairman, so that he can make the revisions.  If you have not gotten = your=20 membership card after 2 months let Carl know.  Also Carl has the 2007 = stickers=20 for the membership cards.

Scholarship:  Jim Yates was not = present.  Need more students to = apply for=20 our scholarships.  = Let=92s get=20 the word out so that we can give more money to help support = students.

Alcohol & = Gaming:  Dave =93No Neck=94 = Mueller introduced=20 himself to the group.  = Social=20 nights are held each Wednesday night at the After Battery.  Five dollars to get = in.  We have beer, wine, = bottled water,=20 soda, and non-alcoholic drinks. =20 A good meal is served at 1730 until 1830.  Whoever cooks, we = reimburse for=20 the food costs.  All = profits=20 go into improvements for the After Battery and back to Sub = Vets.  The room is heated and=20 air-conditioned.  = Who can=20 attend?  You and = anyone that=20 you want to bring.  = We average=20 21 members on Wednesday nights. =20 Why do we do this?  = To=20 promote camaraderie among submariners.  We need your = support.  The After Battery is = located=20 14.538 miles from Summerville.

Fleet = Reserve:  Dave Rein welcomed the = Charleston=20 Base Sub Vets monthly meetings to the fleet.  =93We are so glad that = you are=20 meeting here=94.  = Upcoming=20 events Saturday, March 10th, 11am-3pm fundraiser = bar-b-que=20 dinners, five dollars.  = April=20 14th Elvis show in this room, fifteen dollars, tickets available = behind=20 the bar.  = Applications are=20 available to join the Low Country Fleet Reserve.

Chief of the = Boat:  Marty Sessler thanked Sy = Mabie and=20 Charlie Rook for the great job with the H. L. Hunley / USS = Housatonic=20 memorial service.  A = very=20 impressive anniversary was held at Breech Inlet on February = 17th.  =93For those who did not = attend,=20 don=92t miss next year=92s service=94. =20 Marty thanked Richard Sparger for cooking oysters at our = roast and=20 everyone that helped with all the set-ups, clean-up, etc.

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.  = Registration=20 forms and information on convention available on the national = website:

http://www.ussvi.org/Conventions.asp

Amberjack = Memorial will=20 be held at White Point Gardens (the Battery) downtown Charleston = on March=20 24th at 1100, which is a Saturday morning.  Next month is the St. = George grits=20 festival parade, April 14th in the morning.

Base = Commander:  Buddha was not = present.  Carl Chinn, Base Vice = Commander=20 thanked everyone for the success of the Oyster Roast that was held = February 24th.  The = pole barn=20 and storage shed still need lack about 5% to be complete.  A working party will be = held soon=20 to finish these tasks.

District = Four:  No report.

Old = Business:  We are in the process of = establishing a parade committee. =20 Their duties would include rigging the parade float, = maintenance,=20 help in pulling, etc.  = Need=20 someone to head this up and a committee of 3-5 guys.  Let Buddha or Carl know = if you are=20 interested.

Bill=20 Kennedy is in the process of restarting a flag folding group.  These men would fold = flags at=20 funerals.  If = interested drop=20 Bill Kennedy an e-mail.

The=20 Bylaws committee has completed some overdue revisions for the = Charleston=20 Base.  The proposed = changes in=20 Bylaws will be mailed out in the next two weeks for your = review.  We will vote on the = proposed=20 changes at our regular April meeting.

A=20 memorial is being planned for Riverfront Park in North = Charleston.  Ground was broken in = March with=20 the opening planned for July 2007. =20 Don Wolfe discussed the memorials and contribution = drive.  Engraved pavers can = still be=20 purchased.  For more = information on the memorial, the web site is = www.northcharleston.org

Several = programs are a=20 possibility for us to be involved in:

=B7   Lazy eye test for = pre-school=20 kids, age 4 and 5

=B7   Caps4Kids, giving = hats to=20 little kids that loose hair due to chemotherapy.

If=20 you are interested in getting these programs started contact = Buddha.  Need volunteers to get = these=20 programs off the ground. =20 Would like to see more members involved, we are a growing = base.

New = Business:  None

Good Of The = Order:  Theron Irving read a = heart felt=20 appreciation for all the support given to the troops in Iraq.  He then presented a flag = flown on=20 30 November 2006 by the marines in Iraq to the Charleston = Base.  A video will be adapted = for the=20 web site with pictures from Iraq.

Nick=20 Nichols presented two brass plaques for the After Battery.  AFT BUOY from the Henry = L.=20 Stimston and a Group Six with 4 Polaris missile launches from the = George=20 Washington.

The=20 depth charge drawing was held. =20 The winner was John Gnodle. =20 Bill Roberts suggested that the Sub Vets flag be posted at = our=20 meetings.  Ricky = Collins has a=20 dining room table and chairs, he is only asking for a donation to = the=20 scholarship fund for the furniture. =20 Please let Carl Chinn know about any up coming boat = reunions so he=20 can get the word out.  = Rick=20 Wise has checked on the Little David at the Berkeley Museum in = Moncks=20 Corner.  A working = party will=20 be held to complete some painting on the wood and upkeep for this=20 project.  The group = gave a=20 hymn salute for Jim Eckles who could not be here tonight.

The=20 Base Vice Commander adjourned meeting at 2007.

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

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

Carlson

Cochrane

Comp

Detwiler

Erickson

Giannetto

Gibson

Hill

Hyatt

Little

Oser

Pepper

Rummans

Shoesmith

Smith

Sparger

Vacher

Vlam

Walsh

Wood

Membership=20 and Dues Information:

As of 1 = April we=92re=20 down to 261 members = from a=20 recent high of 276.  = That=20 drops us back to number 4 in base size, behind Groton (2459), San = Diego=20 (331) and Bremerton (266).  = Keep on recruitin=92!

We lost the = following=20 15 members for non-payment of dues:

(13 regular = and 2=20 National Life)

Budde,=20 Jason

Campbell,=20 Gary

Colitte, N.=20 John

Curtis,=20 Robert

Harvey,=20 Manning

Jones,=20 Rick

Lester,=20 Charles

Lucas,=20 Steve

Martinoli,=20 Leonard

Papineau,=20 Larry

Presley,=20 Dale

Radd, = Lucian

Siebert,=20 Jacob

Sosa, = Howard

Valdez,=20 Bernard

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

Started in = November=20 was a membership drive for 2007. =20 The numbers are in!

Since 1 = November we=20 gained 37 new members. =20 Several were transfers from Member-At-Large status, some = found us=20 and some were actually recruited. =20 Not counting the MALs since that was a joint effort by = Buddha,=20 Ronnie Kerstetter and myself it makes Dave Rein the winner with 3 = new=20 members.  = Congratulations=20 Dave!

Here=20 was the deal:  = Recruit=20 as many new members as you can. =20 The guy who recruits the most new members before 1 April = 2007 will=20 get 2 years Charleston Base membership dues paid.  Make sure that you = let me know=20 when you recruit a new guy, if he joins you get credit and I = can track=20 the numbers.

Carl

April = 14 =96=20 World Grits Festival Parade
St. George, Line-up at 1000, starts = 1100

April = 25-29 =96=20 Eastern Region Districts 4&6 Combined Conference, Daytona, = FL

Annual=20 Elections

Officers = are elected=20 at the regular meeting in May each year.  If you desire to run for = one of=20 these positions: Commander, Vice-Commander, Treasurer or = Secretary, please=20 get your nomination to Stan Standrich as soon as possible so your = name=20 will be on the ballot!

From = District 4=20 Commander

What may be = the last=20 combined District 4/6 Convention will be held in Daytona Beach, = Florida=20 from April 25th to 29th. =20 Hotel Rooms are still available and currently only a = handful of=20 Charleston Members are attending. =20 In the past, I have shrugged off attending these events as = I had=20 thoughts of =93Who would I know and would I have a very good = time=94?  Well, the convention = that=20 Charleston Base put on last year changed my opinion.  Since then, I have = attended=20 several others out of the area events and have always had a great=20 time.  This = convention is=20 shaping up to be the same.  = If=20 you have never attended, I am positive each shipmate would have=20 interesting stories to tell and interesting people to listen = to.  The food is great, = including the=20 Hospitality Room.  = During the=20 convention, I will be proposing to split off from our Southern = District 6=20 and will plan to hold our own event, but on a smaller scale in = 2008.  See the Web Site for the = application or call me at 871-9533.

Next is the = USSVI=20 Calendar that is on the National Web Site, a very useful and = powerful=20 tool.  This tool is = on the=20 USSVI.ORG and can be updated. =20 All base events can be listed and are reflected on the = District=20 Commanders Calendar, as well as the Regional Calendar.  If the Regional Director = or the=20 District Commander puts something on their calendars, it gets = pushed down=20 to local base calendars.  = This=20 helps in coordination and scheduling of events and is especially = very=20 useful when scheduling things that will impact on other = bases.  These Calendars are = viewed by any=20 one who looks on the USSVI web page at http://ussvi.org/calendars.asp.  The Web Master has = indicated that=20 the USSVI calendars are very under utilized.  The more information we = as=20 Charleston Base/District 4 place on the calendar, the more in the = know our=20 members will be of our events and the events of other bases around = them.

SUBVETS = Anniversary=20 Celebration will be held in Groton CT.  There are still have = many slots=20 open for the Return to Submarine School and Boat Tours as well as = the Golf=20 Tournament and grand Banquet. =20 Also, Tommy Cox will be performing all of his Submarine = Songs in=20 what he is saying is going to be his last public performance.  If you want more = information about=20 these events for the Anniversary Celebration the=20 registration:

http://subvetsgroton.org/Base=20 = Documents/Anniversary_Registration_2007.doc<= /P>

Terminology = Trivia

=93Slush=20 Fund=94

Slush, a watery = mixture=20 of fats made from scraping empty meat storage barrels, was often = sold=20 ashore by the ship=92s cook, who would pocket the profit.  This money became known = as a slush=20 fund.

=93Wallop=94

Admiral Wallop = of King=20 Henry VIII=92s navy gained notoriety after he and his ships were = sent to the=20 French coast to retaliate for the burning of the town of Brighton, = England.  He so = thoroughly=20 destroyed his enemies that his name now indicates a mighty = blow.

Tricare Help While=20 Traveling:  If you are planning a = trip or move=20 it would be prudent to determine in advance where you will be able = to=20 obtain health care.  = One=20 option is to go to the nearest Military Treatment Facility = (MTF).  You can locate the = locations of=20 all of the 237 existing MTF=92s at www.tricare.mil/mtf/.  Retirees and/or = dependents should=20 verify the MTF will provide them non-emergency treatment if = needed.  Depending on geographic = location=20 and available capacity, routine care may be restricted to active = duty or=20 local residents only.  = If=20 there is no MTF available in the U.S. geographic area you plan to = be in=20 you can use any physician or facility that accepts Medicare.  In the Philippines and = Puerto Rica=20 you will have to locate a Tricare authorized physician or facility = for=20 routine care. If you do not use one that has been already = certified by=20 Tricare do not expect to have your Tricare claim to be paid. For = more=20 specific info on the overseas area you will be in refer=20 to:

 www.tricare.mil/overseas/Overseas.  Most likely you will be = expected=20 to pay the bill in full and submit your own = claim.

For=20 overseas emergency care Tricare beneficiaries may seek medical = treatment=20 from any host nation provider and file a claim with the exception = of those=20 in the Philippines and Puerto Rico. =20 If Tricare agrees it was a valid emergency situation = beneficiaries=20 can expect reimbursement.  = For=20 the Philippines a complete listing of all Tricare authorized = facilities=20 and physicians in the country are available at=20 http://tpaoweb.oki.med.navy.mil. =20 For other countries contact your Tricare regional office = (North,=20 South, or West) for advice on where to go.  If unable to obtain a = plausible=20 recommendation you can always refer to SOS international at=20 www.internationalsos.com. =20 This site will provide contact information on SOS offices=20 throughout the world which should be able to give you a qualified = and safe=20 physician/facility referral. =20 Be sure to inquire if the medical care providers they = recommend are=20 Tricare authorized if you intend to submit a claim for=20 reimbursement.

Reunion=20 News

All Hands = Reunion for=20 the USS Sennet SS-408. April 22-26 at the Holiday Inn, Mt.=20 Pleasant/Patriots Point

POC:  Ralph = Luther

843-851-7064   email:=20 rluther@bellsouth.net

Thank You=20 Received

Charleston Base recently = received a=20 card from Howard and Stella Sparger. =20 They wanted to thank us for the oyster roast and say = =93they had a=20 great time and that we have a great bunch of = guys=94.

Howard is Richard = Sparger=92s=20 brother.

USFSPA Reform=20

The Defense Department has=20 unexpectedly sent recommendations to staff of the House and Senate = Armed=20 Services Committee to be considered as amendments to the Uniform = Services=20 Former Spouse Protection Act including:

=B7        =20 Base = former spouse=20 award amount on member's grade/years of service at the time of = divorce=20 (and not retirement),

=B7        =20 Prohibit = award of=20 imputed income while still on active duty

=B7        =20 Permit = designation=20 of multiple SBP beneficiaries

FRA hosted a strategy = meeting of the=20 Military Coalition's Retired Affairs Committee on the = recommendations at=20 National Headquarters today, and continues to work toward the = introduction=20 of legislation to address the inequities in the onerous law.=20

USS S-28 = Memorial

The granite = monument was=20 recently set in place for the USS S-28 memorial in Battleship Park = near=20 the USS North Carolina BB18, in Wilmington, NC.

A dedication = ceremony is=20 planned for May 5, 2007,
at 1000. =20 This will be in conjunction with the Joint USSVWWII SE = Regional /=20 USSVI District #3 Meeting.  = POC is Wayne Powell, Tarheel Base.

USS S-28 (SS 133), July 4, = 1944 - 49=20 Men Lost

On June 20, = 1944, LCDR J.G.=20 Campbell assumed command of S-28, his first command.  The ship had finished a = normal=20 upkeep period on June 12 and continued on her assigned duty of = training=20 enlisted personnel and engaging in sonar exercises with ships = under=20 control of COMDESPAC.

On July 3, = S-28, in=20 accordance with orders from COMDESPAC, got underway from the = Submarine=20 Base, Pearl Harbor, to conduct a week's normal operations.  During the day on July = 3, S-28=20 acted as a target for anti-submarine warfare vessels until about = 1700=20 local time.  At that = time she=20 made two practice torpedo approaches on the U.S. Coast Guard = Cutter=20 RELIANCE.  On July 4 = S-28=20 again carried out sonar exercises as on the previous day, and at = 1730=20 again undertook a practice approach on RELIANCE.

At 1730 S-28 = dived about=20 four miles distant from RELIANCE. =20 At about 1805 RELIANCE made sound contact with S-28 at a = range of=20 1700 yards.  The = range=20 decreased to about 1500 yards and then steadily increased, as the = bearing=20 drifted aft.  = Although sound=20 contact was temporarily lost by RELIANCE at 3,000 yards, she = picked up the=20 submarine again at 3,300 yards. =20 At 1820, with range 4,700 yards, RELIANCE permanently lost = sound=20 contact with S-28.  = At no time=20 during the approach or the ensuing sound search were distress = signals from=20 S-28 seen or heard, nor was any sound heard which indicated an = explosion=20 in S-28.

When by 1830, = S-28 had not=20 surfaced or sent any signals, RELIANCE retraced her course and = tried to=20 establish communication with her. =20 Although previous tests had showed that no difficulty would = be=20 experienced in exchanging messages by sound gear at ranges up to = 2,000=20 yards, RELIANCE was unable to contact S-28.  The Coast Guard vessel = called in=20 other vessels from Pearl Harbor at 2000, and a thorough search of = the area=20 was instituted, lasting until the afternoon of July 6, 1944.  A slick, which was = unmistakably=20 made by diesel oil, was the only sign of S-28.

The Court of = Inquiry which=20 investigated the sinking determined that S-28 sank shortly after = 1820 on=20 July 4, 1944 in 1400 fathoms of water.  Because of the depth of = the water,=20 salvage operations were impossible. =20 The Court recorded its opinion that S-28 lost depth control = "from=20 either a material casualty or an operating error of personnel, or = both,=20 and that depth control was never regained.  The