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Subject: Charleston Base March=20 Newsletter

Vol.=20 4, No. 3 &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; =20 March 2008

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

March 13,=20 2008

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

Publicity

Larry=20 Starland

843-863-8474

Sub = Vets=20 WWII

Barnwell=20 Chaplin

843-762-6945

Nuclear=20 Historian

Rick=20 Carlson

843-875-4030

Veterans=20 Affairs

Jim=20 Morrison

843-832-9716

Chaplain

John=20 Nichols

843-873-5897

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 February 2008 meeting

Attendance for = the=20 February 14, 2008 meeting was 83

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

Introductions: New people were = introduced; Carl=20 Miller (new member), and David Bonow. Welcome aboard.

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

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

Storekeeper: Paul Viering says that = the silver=20 dolphin magnets are here. Paul still has calendars. Jackets are $54 and can = be=20 ordered. District 4 = patches=20 will be available.

Chaplain: February Report: Cards = were sent=20 to the following people since the last meeting:

Ernie Barwick = is having=20 cancer issues.

Gary=20 Semler had the flu.

Arthur = O=92Mealy has been=20 having some health problems.

Keith Schnebel = was=20 medically evacuated to the hospital and unable to walk.

Connie = Chinn=92s mother=20 passed away in January.

Jim=20 Eckles had successful brain surgery on 29 January to relieve = bleeding and=20 pressure on the brain. He is now at Heartland Health Care Center = of=20 Charleston on 1800 Eagle Landing Blvd. off of Rivers Ave. The = phone number=20 is 553-0656 and he is in room 201A. Sue said he can have guests = but they=20 should come by later in the day after his therapy.

Sue=20 Eckles as she continues to support Jim in the nursing home.

COB=20 Marty Sessler had knee surgery.

Bill=20 Kennedy had knee surgery.

Base=20 Commander Buddha is undergoing additional tests in preparation for = his=20 spine surgery.

Dave=20 Rein had a successful 5-way bypass heart surgery on Feb. 1st and = is at=20 home recovering and by last report is doing well. Dave is here=20 tonight.

Several = follow-ups were=20 made on those who=92ve had surgery or illnesses in the last couple = of months=20 along with the base sending additional cards.

If=20 you know of shipmates or spouses from other bases who are having a = difficult time, had surgery, etc. and would like for USSVI = Charleston Base=20 to send them a card please send their name and address to the = Chaplain via=20 email or phone call.

Bob=20 Chinn sick

Soupy=20 Campbell has pneumonia.

Scholarship: Jim Yates was not = present. Julian Villegas has = scholarship=20 coins for sale tonight. = Coins=20 have the Charleston Base logo on one side and the back side has = dolphins=20 and the US submarine service.

Public=20 Affairs: = Any member=20 that has not gotten their picture taken, see Richard Cleeve = tonight so we=20 can have your mug shot for the Charleston Base records.

Sub Vets = WWII: Lee Allison invited = everyone to=20 the next Swamp Fox Chapter meeting at Ryan's Family Steak House = 1314 North=20 Main Street in Summerville on Thursday February 21st, at 1200 = (noon). The meal cost has been = reduced to=20 half price by the manager to compensate the Sub Vets WWII group = for the=20 mix up in meeting rooms at the December meeting.

Sy=20 Mabie reminded everyone to come out for the Hunley memorial = service at the=20 Sunrise Presbyterian Church on Sullivans Island. This service is in honor = of the=20 first successful submarine attack that occurred at this same = location and=20 same approximate time in 1864.

Veteran=92s = Affairs: Jim Morrison is our new = VA contact=20 but was not here tonight. = We=20 will update the webpage with Jim=92s contact information. Nick Nichols highlighted = some=20 updates which include; mileage reimbursement, VABS (volunteers), = shingles=20 immunization now covered, tri care forms only once per month. Medicare - eye care. = Caregiver=20 information. = Details and=20 other information on the VA web link.

Hunley Memorial=20 Service: = Charlie Rook=20 discussed the annual H.L. Hunley memorial service to be held on = Sunday=20 February 17, 2008 @ 1900 hours. =20 The Confederate Trust committee invites CB Sub Vets and = WWII=20 submarine veterans to attend a memorial service honoring the 8 man = crew=20 lost on the confederate submarine H.L. Hunley along with the 5 = crewmen=20 lost on the USS Housatonic during the night of February 17, = 1864. The service will be held = at the=20 Sunrise Presbyterian Church on Sullivans Island. Please make an effort to = be there=20 and bring your wives, girlfriends and children.

District = Commander: Jerry Stout Eastern = Region=20 District 4 Commander introduced himself. His January visits = included the=20 Grayback meeting in Atlanta and the Tulibee gathering. February visits included = the=20 Huntsville, AL base with 12 members and a visit to Florence, AL = with Floyd=20 Skipper Mathews for his birthday. =20 Floyd qualified in 1925 and is 105 years old. The Palmetto Base was = chartered in=20 Lexington, SC with 18 members (they have a web site). Several bases were = represented at=20 the chartering ceremony. = The=20 guest speaker was Lee Allison, State Commander of Sub Vets = WWII. Jerry has hard copies of = the=20 upcoming District 4/6 convention to be held in Kings Bay. Dates = are=20 Wednesday April 23 =96 Saturday April 26, 2008. Registrations for the = boat tours=20 must be in by April 1st to get your name on the base access = list. The convention will be = held at the=20 Ramada off I-95 and Georgia Exit 3. =20 Registration fee is $30 (this will include some food). Room rates are $49 a = night,=20 nightly entertainment, boat tours, BBQ, shrimp boil, banquet, = submarine=20 museum/swamp tours are planned. =20 The memorial service will be held outside of the St. = Mary=92s=20 submarine museum along the waterfront. See Jerry or Buddha for=20 Registration form hard copies. =20 Forms also available on the computer.

Vice Commander=20 Report: No = report

Fleet = Reserve: No report

Holland = Club: No report

Membership: Membership dues are due = 1 October=20 for 2009 (you can pay anytime before that). We lost 26 members this = year (for=20 non renewal of membership). =20 Carl encouraged us to help out any guys that cannot come to = the=20 meetings. One guy = lives in=20 Foxborough and needs a ride (wheelchair bound), and some can=92t = drive at=20 night, etc.

Little = David: No report

Newsletter: No report

Alcohol & = Gaming: No-neck Mueller talked = about the=20 need to always have a cover story and suggested that Buddha=92s = hospital=20 stay was really a cover for something other than spine/neck = surgery.

$72=20 in recycled can money was turned over to the base from social = nights.

Neck=20 presented 3 nominations for the loudest #$%& whiner = award. As an example of a = #$%&=20 whiner, Neck mentioned the all meat Oscar Mayer wieners that are = sold with=20 condiments at the after battery for $1.25 (someone said to Neck = that you=20 are gouging the troops at this price). The nominations were: = #1) Edward J=20 Simokat, #2) Ed = Simokat, and=20 #3) Ed J Simokat. = And=20 the winner of the loudest #$%& whiner award was Ed = Simokat. Neck also said that an = award=20 should be presented to Clyde Peters for putting two sets of brake = shoes on=20 his wife=92s car backwards.

Neck=20 asked the group - how do we get our money? Richard Sparger answered = with=20 social night and depth charge funds. =20 Neck added another $100 from the social night profits to = tonight=92s=20 depth charge drawing winner.

Chief of the = Boat: The 23rd annual World = Grits=20 festival will be held in St George on 12 April. We will pull the = float. Float leaves the after = battery at=20 0930, line-up at 1000, the parade starts at 1100.

Hunley memorial = service =96=20 You need to go if you=92re never been. =20 Please join us at the Sunrise Presbyterian Church, 17 Feb @ = 1900. There will be = Bag Pipe=20 music this year at waterfront/breach inlet area as part of the = events.

CB=20 has submitted an application to be in the Savannah St. Patrick=92s = Day=20 parade.

Tim=20 Baker is looking for someone with the job skills of an EM, some=20 fabrication, electronic, electrical, and mechanical skills for a = 7-4,=20 40-hr/week job at the Comings Plant on Leads Ave. See Marty for details if = interested.

Oyster Roast = Saturday 23=20 Feb at the after battery. Bring side dish or dessert, lawn chair = and=20 oyster knife. = Set-up for the=20 roast will be held at 0830 on Wednesday 20 February. Take down on Sunday = following=20 roast at 0830. Come = out and=20 help us with this task.

Base = Commander: Buddha discussed the = following=20 items:

Annual base=20 elections. = Charleston Base=20 officers are elected at the regular meeting in May each year. If you desire to run or = have a=20 nomination for one of these positions: Commander, Vice-Commander,=20 Treasurer or Secretary, please get your nomination to Stan = Standrich soon=20 so your name will be on the ballot.

Buddha asked = us to think=20 about some new ideas and or insight that anyone can come up with = to=20 attract younger members into our organization. We are getting older and = we will=20 be in the same shape as the WWII Sub Vets group unless we can = recruit and=20 keep younger guys involved.

Holland Club = changes are=20 in the works with National. =20 We are getting support from other bases. There are so many hoops = to jump=20 through to be the National Commander of USSVI. We need some common = sense to keep=20 the USSVI organization afloat.

Nuclear = Historian: Rick Carlson made his = way to the=20 podium (he is even starting to walk and swing his arm like No-neck = after=20 working with him for so long). =20 ---- Rick = told a story=20 about the Buddha and how he almost went belly up and the doctor = explaining=20 where Democrats come from.

Old = Business: Taking nominations for = Base=20 Officers election in May. =20 Give all nominations to Stan Standrich.

New = Business: Rodney McKanna talked = about=20 Submarine Day events that will take place on Friday 11 April, at = the Cold=20 War Memorial in Mt. Pleasant 1000-1200 with the ceremony @ = 1100-1200. Lunch buffet will follow = at Point=20 Grill at the Shrine Club. = We=20 will need to provide our PA system and chairs. Motion was made, = seconded, and=20 approved for CB to pay cost of meals for the Chaplin and the Color = Guard=20 from the Nuke school (estimated to be under $50).

Rusty Picket = has=20 requested help from the CB to help fund the granite base for the = new=20 British Sub etched glass monument to be installed at the Cold War=20 Memorial. The board = of=20 directors has recommended approving $250 for this purpose. Motion was made, = seconded, and=20 approved by the membership to provide this money for the granite = base=20 set-up.

Good Of The = Order: The depth charge drawing = was=20 held. The winner = was Harry=20 Kirk. Harry gave = $100 back to=20 Sub Vets. Lee = Allison is=20 collecting old eyeglasses for the Summerville Lions Club. Any old glasses if you = don=92t need=20 them, give them to Lee so they can be fixed up for the needy. Nick Nichols reminded us = of=20 shipmates helping shipmates on the web. Also the Old Fort = Baptist Church=20 will be holding their 21st annual Passion Play, dates are March=20 14,15,16,and 21,22,23. =20 Nightly @ 7 pm and 3 pm on the weekend afternoons. This is a great = presentation; you=20 must call the church for your free ticket which is required. Dave Rein asked if = the=20 Gaming Position is an appointed job, what could he be = suggesting? Stacy Powers mentioned = the nice=20 form in the calendar that came in the mail (this is the form put = out by=20 National for Chaplin services)

The=20 Base Commander adjourned meeting at 2000.

**=20 End of the minutes for February 2008 **

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

Allegretto

Anderson, H

Baciocco

Corcoran

Dale

Hix

Hodges

Horton, = R

Johnson, D

Kopacka

Luther

McLuskey

O'Saben

Przyborowski

Rosselot

Sessler

Smith, = M

Snyder, = Robert

Spear

Wieland

Yates, = G

Need a Ride to the = Meetings?

If you need = help getting=20 to a meeting please let The COB or Carl Chinn know. We should be able to = arrange for=20 someone to pick you up and take you home.

Happenings!

March 13 = =96 Regular=20 meeting

March = 14 =96 St.=20 Patrick=92s Parade, Savannah, GA. =20 Parade starts at 1015

March = 22 =96=20 Amberjack Memorial, starts 1100,
White Point Gardens, = Charleston

Eternal = Patrol =97 LAW,=20 Myron (John)

CPO Myron Wilbur Law, = USN=20 (Ret.), 71, of Ridgeville, SC, husband of Toshiko Hamada = Law, died=20 suddenly Sunday, February 24, 2008 in Dorchester, SC. He was = born on=20 September 19, 1936 in Yorkshire, NY the son of Woodrow = Wilson Law=20 and Lucy Kettle Law. He was known by all his friends as John = Law. He=20 was a lover and fan of Bluegrass Music. He is survived by = his wife=20 of 46 years, Toshiko Hamada Law, of Ridgeville, SC; = daughter, Joann=20 R. Law-Champine of Summerville, SC; brothers, Gerald Law of = Doven,=20 NY and Ricky Law of Mt. Juliett, TN; and sister, Sally Law = Quinter=20 of Geneva, NY. The funeral service with military honors will = be held=20 Wednesday, February 27, 2008 at 11:00 AM at J. HENRY STUHR, = INC.,=20 NORTHWOODS CHAPEL, 2180 Greenridge Road, North Charleston. = Flowers=20 will be accepted or memorials may be made to Frances R. = Willis,=20 SPCA, 136 Four Paws Lane, Summerville, SC 29483. A memorial message = may be=20 written to the family by visiting our website at=20 www.jhenrystuhr.com. = Visit our guestbook at=20 = www.charleston.net/deaths.

TriCare as Secondary=20 Insurance

If you have = other company=20 provided health insurance, TriCare becomes your secondary = insurance. If your primary = insurance does not=20 cover all of a claim, TriCare will pay its share after the primary = insurance pays.

Here=92s = where there could=20 be a problem. Not = all health=20 care providers automatically submit secondary claims to = TriCare. Make sure you read in = detail your=20 Explanation of Benefits (EOB) when you receive it from TriCare to = insure=20 they have paid the remainder up to their limit. If they have not paid = you will be=20 paying out of pocket if a claim is not submitted. Also, check with your = health care=20 provider to see if they are submitting claims to TriCare.

This is not a = concern if=20 you are on TriCare for Life.

Passport Fee=20 Increase

On 1 FEB 08 = the U.S.=20 Government increased its fees for their U.S. citizen passport = services.=20 For adult applicants renewing a passport, the total fee is now = $75. For=20 first-time, applicants age 16 and over, the total fee increases to = $100.=20 The fee for minors under 16 years of age will be $85. = Effective 1=20 FEB 08 passport applicants who are U.S. citizen minors under the = age of 16=20 must appear personally with their parents to establish identity, = proof of=20 citizenship and proof of relationship. For parental application=20 permission, both parents must appear together and sign or one = parent may=20 appear to sign and submit the other parent=92s notarized = statement, or one=20 parent may appear, sign, and submit primary evidence of sole = authority.=20 Minors age 16 and 17 may apply in person with their own = identification,=20 but for security reasons, parental consent may be required. If = your child=20 does not have identification of their own, a parent will be = required to=20 accompany the child and present identification. =

Refer to the = Department of State=92s website at http://www.travel.state.gov/ = for=20 complete information on all new requirements, including = downloadable=20 revised forms that must be used as of 1 FEB, and the U.S. Embassy = website=20 at manila.usembassy.gov, for complete U.S. passport application=20 instructions.

Americans = traveling=20 abroad should regularly monitor their Embassy=92s and the U.S. = Department of=20 State's travel website at http://www.travel.state.gov/ , = where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel = Alerts=20 can be found. The U.S. Embassy also encourages U.S. citizens to = review to=20 "A Safe Trip Abroad," found at http= ://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1747.html=20 , which includes valuable security information for those both = living and=20 traveling abroad. In addition to information on the Internet, = travelers=20 may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by = calling 1(888)=20 407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada, or outside the U.S. and = Canada=20 on a regular toll line at 1(202) 501-4444.

Makin Island Sailors = Prepare WWII Sub=20 for Big Screen

MOBILE, Ala. = (Jan. 29.=20 2008) =96 Information Systems Technician 1st Class Joshua Shepard = works=20 inside a torpedo tube aboard the decommissioned World War II-era = diesel=20 submarine USS Drum (SS 228) to help prepare the submarine for the = upcoming=20 film "USS Seaviper." Mighty Moments Motion Pictures will begin = filming in=20 March 2008 and later plans to highlight Drum in a documentary. = U.S.=20 submarines =96 which made up only 2 percent of the U.S. fleet = during the war=20 =96 were responsible for 65 percent of all Japanese ships sunk. = Drum sank 15=20 enemy ships.

MOBILE, Ala. = (NNS) --=20 Sailors from the Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Makin Island (LHD 8) = continued to restore one of the oldest existing U.S. submarines at = Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile, Ala., Jan. 30 in order to = prepare the=20 World Ward II era vessel for its appearance in an upcoming = film.

Fire = Controlman 1st Class=20 (SW/AW) Jonathan Davis and Fire Controlman 1st Class (SW/AW) Levi = Miller=20 took the lead on the restoration project several months ago after = hearing=20 that the decommissioned USS Drum (SS 228), which sank 15 Japanese = ships=20 during World War II, would be used for filming in March 2008.

"It's = rewarding to help=20 return a World War II vessel to its original seagoing condition -- = especially since there is only one worker and volunteer working at = the=20 moment," Davis said.

When the pair = found that=20 there was little funding for repairs and only one staff member = assigned to=20 maintaining Drum, they led a group of Makin Island Sailors in = donating=20 their time to bring the submarine back to her former glory through = sanding, painting, and general cleaning so the whole world might = see the=20 submarine in a way that no one has in more than 30 years.

"I wanted to = contribute=20 my time and energy to restore a historical piece of our military = and=20 assist my community," said Information Systems Technician 2nd = Class George=20 Kraynak, one of the Drum volunteers assigned to Makin Island. "I = found the=20 experience very rewarding and would recommend anyone to donate = some of=20 their time and come out to see a piece of history."

Makin Island = is currently=20 under construction at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems with a planned = delivery date to the U.S. Navy of Nov. 14, 2008.

H.L. Hunley Memorial =96 17 = February=20 2008

Admiral Osborne Scholarship = Fund

How about = helping out the=20 scholarship fund? = We are=20 offering a Charleston Base Challenge Coin for sale. ALL proceeds go into the = scholarship fund.

Coins only = cost $7=20 each. Available for = an=20 additional $1 is a protective plastic capsule.

To get your = coin(s) see=20 Jim Yates, Julian Villegas or Carl Chinn.

Make sure you = have one=20 for =93when you get challenged=94!

Buy several = for great=20 gifts!

March = Submarines=20 Lost:

USS=20 Perch

SS=20 176

March=20 3, 1942

USS=20 Grampus

SS=20 207

March=20 5, 1943

USS=20 Triton

SS=20 201

March=20 15, 1943

USS=20 Tullibee

SS=20 284

March=20 26, 1944

USS=20 Kete

SS=20 369

March=20 20, 1945

USS=20 Trigger

SS=20 237

March=20 26, 1945

USS = F-4

SS = 21

March = 25, 1915

USS = H-1

SS = 28

March = 12,=20 1920