From: Subject: Date: Tue, 1 May 2007 16:02:28 -0400 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/related; type="text/html"; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0000_01C78C0A.1E04A150" X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.2180 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0000_01C78C0A.1E04A150 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: file://C:\Documents and Settings\nnichols.OFBC\Local Settings\Temp\eud2E.htm

Vol.=20 3, No. 5 &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; =20 May 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, = May 10,=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

John=20 Nichols

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 April 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; Dave=20 Hanson, Madison, Boyce Williams, Larry pepper, associate member, = Chuck=20 Hines, Ernest Culbreath. =20 Welcome aboard.

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

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

Storekeeper: Hats are in. Available: gold = dolphins, magnet=20 for cars, gold dolphin ties, one jacket left $40.00.

Chaplain: The flag we received = last meeting=20 from Mark in Iran will be hung in an appropriate place. Our thanks for the flag = and your=20 sacrifice for our freedom, please sign the card that is being sent = around,=20 there is also an invite for him to stop and visit us, and if you = want to=20 email a response send it to Bill Kennedy.

Nick=20 Nichols will step in and relieve me as Chaplin. We are not getting much = response=20 in flag folding, =930=94 is where we stand - need more input.

Public=20 Affairs: = Web page,=20 check on the links, = If you go=20 to one of our functions and take pictures, send them to me so I = can=20 publish them on the web. =20 Remember our web page is www.ussvicb.org

Sub Vets = WWII: Amberjack memorial = service went=20 good, our thanks to all who helped.

Lee=20 Allison: I have some 2007 WWII calendars for sale and also some = Polaris=20 magazines.

Veteran=92s = Affairs: Nick covered some = topics, medical=20 fraud for TriCare For Life, check your billing and question what = you don=92t=20 understand. Base = decal will=20 no longer be issued at the air base. =20 Check the web site for other services. With the web site you = can find=20 just about any information you want.

Since I=92m = taking over the=20 Chaplin duties we will need a new VA Officer.

Membership: Membership as we stand = now is=20 262. Dave Rein won = the new=20 member recruiting drive. = He=20 received 2 years Base membership dues. Congratulations = Dave!

National issues = membership cards, if you are having problems see Carl Chinn.

Scholarship: Jim Yates was not = present. Scholarship award is on = May 22, at=20 Summerville School at 1900.

Alcohol & = Gaming: Wednesday social, April = 18, for=20 new members, a free ticket and one beverage. Come out and join in the = camaraderie, dinner 1730-1830. =20 Walt Deal donates a lot of goodies along with Smitty and = his=20 =93Twinkie=94 run

Next=20 meal is Buddha burgers and hot dogs. =20 One time Buddha was sick I went to the house and got $5.00 = from=20 him.

Attendance: best we had is 28, we = would like=20 more. Our average = is 7.63%=20 from our base, math class is one hour prior to social night. Cans, so far around 403=20 dollars Other items = discussed: Dept head parking, verbiage on how to talk to some one = with a=20 better education than you and how to read poetry. This falls under this = department=20 head responsibilities.

Fleet = Reserve: Parking is still a = problem. Just push the entry = button and get=20 buzzed in. A way to = resolve=20 this is join the FRA, but David Johnson will hold the door = open. The FRA Branch 269 = President gave=20 all hands a welcome.

Chief of the = Boat: Keith is still having = problems,=20 please keep him in your prayers. =20 Good to see Rodney walk into the meeting. It was a hard battle and = he won=20 along with Bill Roup who is still recouping.

Working party = this week,=20 our thanks to all who helped out, all went well and everything was = accomplished, the pole barn and shed are now electrified.

Grits Parade - = St=20 George-leave the barn at 0930, line up at 1000, spot 36-37, parade = at 1100=20 hours.

Pole=20 Barn electrical and odd and ends, we need $137.00 appropriated, = motion=20 made and seconded. = Motion=20 carried.

Does=20 any body know anyone that does specialty painting? We need and artist that = could=20 paint a submarine on the pole barn.

Base = Commander: Mike Emerson, Ben Heber = are=20 helping with the float. =20 Contact Mike if you are willing to help on our continual = PMs that=20 have to be done.

American=20 Submariner magazines are being sent to the nuclear power = school. They are receiving 18 of = them and=20 are getting distributed to the right people.

District 4 =96 = 6 convention=20 in Daytona, Florida, April 25- 29

Plaques: Had a box of them = donated to the=20 base, so we have more of them.

District = Four: No report.

Old = Business: Bylaws discussed first, = changes=20 and wording, everyone has had a chance to review all changes put = forth and=20 had ample time to notify the board of any issues the changes were=20 covered. Motion was = made by=20 Bill Kennedy that we accept this revision, this was seconded by Ed = Simokat, motion carried.

Frank Evans is = the Lazy=20 Eye Screening Program chairman. =20 Please volunteer to help Frank.

New = Business: June 9^th, = picnic, hot=20 dogs hamburgers, bring a covered dish. More info to follow.

Good Of The = Order: Memorial for the Hobson = at=20 Patriot=92s Point.

Jim=20 Eckles is doing good, using a cane now.

John=20 Mc Cain at the VFW at 1800 Wednesday.

Rodney - Thanks = to all=20 for showing thoughtfulness and kindness during recovery. Along with him was Bill = Roup who=20 is recovering from his accident.

Neck, April = 11th we need=20 to do something for our submarine birthday. Rodney McKanna appointed = chairman=20 for submarine birthday.

December 15th = is our=20 Christmas party, more info to come.

Don=92t forget = the=20 elections next month; let Stan know if you want to run for an = elected=20 office: Commander, Vice Commander, Secretary, Treasurer.

Depth Charge = drawing=20 winner: Larry Pepper.

The=20 Base Commander adjourned meeting at 2007.

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

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

Birdwhistell

Clarkin

Cline

Conrey

Fuhr

Fuqua

Gallagher

Habhegger

Heber

Houck

Houston

Lufkin

Mullins

Nichols

O'Meally

Paris

Sparks

Sutton

Upchurch

Wieda

Membership=20 and Dues Information:

We are = currently the=20 third largest base in size. =20 We have 269 members behind Groton (2,199) and San Diego = (329). Keep on=20 recruitin=92!

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 = want, I can=20 make the changes for you...just let me know. If you have changes, = please let me=20 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. I update the COB and = others with=20 contact/personal information.

May 5 = =96 Dedication=20 of the Uniformed Services Memorial
1000 at 1255 Yeamans Hall = Rd.

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!

Terminology = Trivia

=93Irish=20 Pennant=94

A=20 stray or unnecessary piece of line, fabric, or anything else of an = untidy=20 appearance. The = Navy's=20 insistence on neatness is sometimes irritating to the = uninitiated.

Parking at the=20 Fleet

Below is=20 a map to shows where parking is allowed at the Fleet Reserve for = our=20 meetings.

Basically=20 there is the Fleet parking lot and the streets around it. You can park on = both sides of=20 Wisteria Rd. and Gardenia=20 Rd. Gardenia Rd is = the street=20 in front of the 84 Lumber.

Just be=20 sure to leave about 3 car lengths in front of stop=20 signs.

FRA

&= nbsp;

Reunion=20 News

If you have=20 information about a boat reunion that you want posted in the = newsletter,=20 please give me the details.

Last meeting = I=20 received some information from someone, but I lost the scrap of = paper it=20 was written on. = E-mail may be=20 better, but I will strive to keep all info given to=20 me.

The boat=20 may be the James Madison.

USS=20 JAMES MADISON SSBN-627 Jun 20-23, 2007=20 Location: Groton,=20 CT

POC: = Fred&Charline=20 Huwe Phone: = 715-794-2842=20 Email: fchuwe@cheqnet.net

POC: Gil Raynor=20 Phone: = 800-424-8372=20 Email: mailto:elt627@raynorassoc.com =

From the District=20 Commander

The combined District 4/6 = Convention=20 was held in Daytona Beach, Florida from April 25th to 29th. All who attended from = Charleston=20 Base had a great time with all the activities and socials that = were=20 occurring. There = were in=20 excess of 150 shipmates in attendance. I finally met with John=20 Carcioppolo, the Eastern Region Director. He spoke at the Men=92s = Luncheon and=20 gave feedback from the National Level. In June, I will be = attending a ERD=20 conference in Groton, CT. =20 If any members have other issues, other than retention, = recruitment=20 and meeting management, I will be happy to take your input. At the D4/D6 Convention, = we=20 covered several subjects that all members will be receiving = feedback=20 on. =

New Business: As will be promulgated = during the=20 next regular meeting of Charleston Base, the Eastern Region = Director will=20 be soliciting all members that desire to be nominated for District = Four=20 Commander. As the = National=20 Bylaws read, this position must be elected each year. My last year has been a = great=20 learning experience and I will desire to nominate again for = another year=20 term. I have enjoyed representing the 12 bases in District Four = and am=20 very proud to be part of the Charleston = Base!

Worlds Largest Commissary=20 Opens

SAN DIEGO = --=20 The world's largest commissary opened April 20 after a grand = opening=20 ceremony at Naval Station San Diego. =20 The new commissary has two entrances, one for the Grab-N-Go = shopper=20 and one for the pantry loader.

According=20 to Patrick Nixon, director and chief executive officer of the = Defense=20 Commissary Agency (DeCA), the new store signals a paradigm shift = for=20 commissaries.

"Today, = we're all=20 about the health and wellness of our customers," he said. " And San Diego, with its=20 health-minded population, seemed the perfect place to roll out our = new=20 health and wellness initiatives."

Produce is = the store's=20 signature department, offering an enormous variety of fresh fruit = and=20 vegetables -- with a special focus on Hispanic and Asian = products. Continuing the emphasis = on=20 nutrition is the ample and well-stocked health and wellness = center,=20 located next to the produce section. =20 A special information kiosk provides customers with = science-based=20 information on diet and nutrition. =20 Nearby is a "mini cooking school" where customers can watch = cooking=20 demonstrations.

With 75,000 = square=20 feet of sales area, the San Diego commissary offers plenty of room = to=20 spread out and shop. = There is=20 a vast meat and seafood department. =20 The deli and bakery has a special gourmet olive bar. There is even a special=20 self-contained Grab-N-Go store for customers who want to pop in = and grab a=20 few necessities.

Die-hard = commissary=20 customers know the best reason to shop the commissary is the = average=20 savings of 30 percent or more as compared to retail grocery = stores.=20

Eastern = Region=20 Districts 4 and 6 Combined Conference

Charleston Base = was=20 represented at the conference by several members. The conference was OK, = but was=20 nowhere near as fun and successful as the one last year in=20 Charleston. Almost = everyone=20 at this year=92s conference made that same comment over and over = again. Imagine the Hospitality = Room=20 closing at 1600 on Saturday afternoon!

In addition to = the=20 Commander, Vice Commander and COB, attendees included Rick = Sparger, Clyde=20 Peters, Bill Roberts, Dave Mueller, Ed Simokat, Beetle Bailey, = Jerry=20 Stout, Marvin Miller, Sam Vlam and Jim Williams.

There was a = contest for the=20 best ad for the conference booklet. =20 Votes were submitted by attendees and Charleston Base came = out on=20 top as the winner, just like we planned!

VA Veterans Pride=20 Initiative

Wearing earned = medals=20 reflects the deep pride veterans have in their military service = and=20 reminds all American citizens of the sacrifices our veterans have = made.=20 Veterans are again being encouraged to wear their wear their = medals or=20 miniature replicas on Memorial Day 28 MAY, the Fourth of July, and = Veterans Day 11 NOV. Information about the Veterans Pride = initiative is=20 available on the VA Web site at www.va.gov/opa/veteranspride , as = well as=20 where veterans can obtain information about how to replace lost or = mislaid=20 medals, how to confirm the decorations to which they are entitled, = the=20 manner in which they should be displayed, and the precedence by = service of=20 how they should be worn.

May=20 Submarines Lost:

USS=20 Runner

SS=20 275

May=20 28, 1943

USS=20 Lagarto

SS=20 371

May=20 3, 1945

USS=20 Squalus

SS=20 192

May = 23,=20 1939

USS=20 Scorpion

SSN=20 589

May = 27,=20 1968

There is=20 a port of no return, where ships

May ride=20 at anchor for a little space

And then,=20 some starless night, the cable slips,

Leaving=20 an eddy at the mooring place . . .

Gulls,=20 veer no longer. = Sailor, rest=20 your oar.

No=20 tangled wreckage will be washed ashore.

Oklahoma City = First Sub=20 with New VMS

NORFOLK = (NNS) -- USS=20 Oklahoma City (SSN 723) took the next step in technological = advances this=20 April, adding the Navy=92s newest navigational tool to its=20 arsenal.

The Voyage = Management=20 System (VMS) -- a combination of digital charts, constant global=20 positioning system fixes, environmental sensors and electronic = command and=20 control -- will allow the submarine to eliminate many of the = constraining=20 aspects of navigation when using paper charts. =

ETC (SS) = Robert=20 Jacques, Submarine Force assistant navigator, explained VMS will = provide=20 greater benefits than paperless navigation.

=93VMS will = reduce=20 manpower workload by almost 40 percent and it will allow for plans = to be=20 utilized at a future date or shared with other units in the same = ports,=94=20 said Jacques.

=93The = computerized=20 voyage plan safety checker assists the operator in finding hazards = to=20 navigate around and the integration of contact data from various = sources=20 including BPS-15 Radar, fire control, Automatic Identification = System=20 (AIS) onto the electronic chart will allow for easier situational=20 awareness for the contact management process,=94 he=20 continued.

The new = system will=20 save space, which is a valuable commodity on submarines. All charts are stored on = compact=20 discs.

"Imagine the = entire=20 world=92s charts in your CD holder," said = Jacques.

A wide range = of=20 associated publications such as sailing directions and an atlas of = pilot=20 charts, normally kept on subs, will also be converted to CDs. The = digital=20 nautical charts can be downloaded or ordered from the National=20 Geographical Intelligence Agency (NGA) web site along with other = data=20 provided by NGA which add needed bottom contour features necessary = for=20 safe navigation.

Capt. Mike = Brown,=20 force navigator for Submarine Force, says the many different = features VMS=20 offers will be vital to efficient = navigation.

=93In the = past the=20 quartermaster would do all of this work that could take anywhere = from 10=20 minutes or more just to plot our position. By the time you = completed that=20 task you would already be 10 minutes beyond that plot. With VMS, = it=92s=20 plotting for you as you are moving along which allows the = quartermaster to=20 look ahead more,=94 said Brown.

Brown = describes the=20 whole process of VMS much like that of using newer computer = software,=20 saying that at first many will be frustrated at the newer=20 technology.

=93I would = compare it to=20 using Mapquest instead of conventional maps. In the past you would = get out=20 your map and physically plan the route you were going to take. = These days=20 you can just pull up Mapquest, type in where you want to go and = follow the=20 directions given by the computer," said Brown. "It just takes a = different=20 way of thinking. I happen to think this way is much=20 easier.=94

Brown says = training is=20 a key factor to get the submarine crews ready for the = implementation of=20 the VMS.

=93There = [are] really=20 two steps to certifying the sub. Making sure the submarine meets = the=20 requirements and training the crew for certification,=94 said=20 Brown.

Training for = VMS is=20 well underway said Jacques.

=93There is = a formal=20 two-week school taught by Submarine Learning Center (SLC) for the = VMS=20 operator and a weeklong school for the assistant navigator,=94 he = said. =93The navigator = pipeline school at=20 SLC is also dedicated to VMS operation. Of course there will = always be=20 on-board training. = It=92s=20 conducted as part of qualifications as quartermaster of the=20 watch.=94

According to = Brown,=20 once the system is installed and the crew is fully trained it=92s = really up=20 to the squadron to clarify it certified for = use.

=93The = process is really=20 given to Fleet Forces Command but they delegate the process down = to the=20 Submarine Force. Once the crew is certified the submarine is = deemed ready=20 for paperless navigation,=94 said Brown.

Oklahoma = City is the=20 first submarine to operate on this version of VMS. USS Cape St. = George (CG=20 71), the first naval vessel to use the system, has been navigating = paperless since May 2005.

Brown = believes the=20 system could be fully implemented on all submarines by 2009. USS = Norfolk=20 (SSN 714) is the next submarine scheduled to implement the = program, and is=20 scheduled to be certified later this year. In May, USS Florida = (SSGN 728),=20 in conjunction with Operational Test and Evaluation Force will = begin the=20 first phase of testing followed closely by USS Virginia (SSN 774) = later in=20 the summer.

Navy = Announces=20 Christening of Submarine North Carolina

WASHINGTON = -- The=20 Navy's newest attack submarine, North Carolina, was christened = Saturday,=20 April 21, during an 11 a.m. EDT ceremony at Northrop Grumman = Newport News=20 Shipyard, Newport News, Va.

The fourth = submarine=20