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Vol.=20 4, No. 5 &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; =20 May 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

May 8,=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

Terry=20 Trump

843-873-9563

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 2008 meeting

Attendance for = the April=20 10, 2008 meeting was 108

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; John=20 (Jack) Ilgenfritz, Rodger Dalton (skimmer who worked on subs), = Mike=20 McLochlin, George Scharf, Doug Huffman, Steve Morris. Welcome aboard.

Guest = Speaker: Ken Sewell, author of = Red Star=20 Rogue and All Hands Down, spoke at the meeting. He had copies of his two = books=20 with him. Ken was a very interesting speaker and he signed copies = of his=20 books.

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: Ken Sewell=92s books are = for sale at=20 the meeting.

Chaplain: April Report: Cards were = sent to=20 Bob Chinn during his hospitalization and blood transfusion wishing = him=20 well and a quick recovery.

A=20 card was sent to Richard Cleeve wishing him a speedy recovery from = surgery=20 to replace both his knees. Note from Richard: =93I=92m getting = better each day=20 and using a cane now but can't go a long time yet because then the = knees=20 start hurting. This is a good way to loose weight as I lost 18-20 = pounds=20 so far. Don't recommend it unless you're a sadist and enjoy = pain.=94

Jimmy Williams = informed=20 us that Steve Obermann who is not a base member was having surgery = to=20 relieve an aneurysm and he came through the surgery with no = problems. The=20 base sent him a card wishing him a speedy recovery.

The=20 base received a card from Bill Roberts=92 wife, Becky, thanking us = for our=20 thoughts and prayers during her hospitalization and recovery.

Buddha = continues to have=20 some health problems. Continue to remember him in your = prayers.

A=20 condolence card was sent to Gloria and Julian Villegas on the = death of=20 Gloria=92s niece.

A=20 card was sent to MTC Dennis Barto in North Carolina wishing him a = speedy=20 recover from hip surgery and quick healing for his upcoming eye = surgery.=20 Dennis is not a member of our base but his name was given to me by = Rick=20 Collins.

George Munoz = who served=20 on the USS Grampus 523 had back surgery on April 8th. The operation included = replacing=20 rods and screws and extending his fusion up to L-2 and down to the = sacrum. His back = had actually=20 been in two separate pieces with spinal cord exposed with no bone = to cover=20 it. The surgery = went well and=20 George is doing well. = He=20 sends his love and thanks for all your prayers and calls.

Ralph Smalls = pasted away=20 (not a member of the base)

Carol Hix has a = hard time=20 getting up.

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

Scholarship: Jim Yates was not = present. Julian Villegas said = that=20 applications have been sent out to schools in the area with only = two=20 inquires, we may need to extend the deadline. Challenge coins are = being=20 sold by the base to support the scholarship fund.

Public=20 Affairs: No = report

Sub Vets = WWII: Sy Mabie invited = everyone to the=20 next Swamp Fox Chapter meeting at Ryan's Family Steak House 1314 = North=20 Main Street in Summerville on Thursday on April 17, at 1200 = (noon). The Amberjack memorial = held on=20 Saturday March 22nd @ 1100 at White Point Garden downtown = Charleston at=20 the Battery went very well.

Veteran=92s = Affairs: Jim Morrison is our VA = contact but=20 was not here tonight. = Nick=20 Nichols talked about the DD2860 claim form for those with VA = pensions.=20 Need to organize paperwork in the right place. Shift Colors has a good = section on=20 this. Details and = other=20 information on the VA web link.

District = Commander: Jerry Stout said that = 149 members=20 were signed up for the District 4/6 meeting in Kings Bay. Jerry Stout will appear = as a=20 candidate on the ballot for the Eastern Region Director.

Vice Commander=20 Report: No=20 report

Fleet = Reserve: No report

Holland = Club: Bobby Lowe presented the = Holland=20 Club awards to boat sailors qualified in 1958 to get their = certificates on=20 April 10th. George = Burton,=20 John Camp, Fredick Daughtery, Roger Gibson, Henry Gilmer, = Sylvester Mabie,=20 William Roberts, John Spear (not present), and Frank Young. This represents 450 = years of=20 qualification between the 9 men. =20 After 2 years and 8 months service Bobby Lowe was relieved = by Terry=20 Trump as the new Holland Club coordinator.

Membership: 288 members

Little = David: Working party set up for = April 15=20 and 16 for prep and painting at Santee Canal Park in Moncks Corner = of the=20 replica torpedo boat. = Rick=20 Wise will need 3 or 4 men at 10 am April 15 to prep and as many as = can=20 turn out for the painting on April 16 starting at 11am at the = park.

Newsletter: If you are not getting = your=20 newsletter call Carl Chinn. =20 Paper copies to non e-mailers were not sent out this = month.

Alcohol & = Gaming: No-neck welcomed back = Beetle=20 Bailey and Gary Semler and congratulated George Lisle on his = computer=20 skills. No-neck = told a story=20 on having to pump Buddha back with up a Red Devil Blower at the = hospital=20 with a 7 inch hose to bring him back. Neck noted some good = things that=20 we do as an organization, but noted they we are not always good = listeners=20 to the new guys that are speaking. =20 He noted that we should let the guy speak and be polite. = Sometimes=20 good manners do apply.

Chief of the = Boat: Marty Sessler gave the = following=20 report: The 23rd = annual World=20 Grits 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. Submarine Day April 11 = Memorial=20 service at Patriots Point 1130. =20 A Color Guard will be there. =20 It will include in invocation, tolling of the bells, and=20 speech. Lunch will = be=20 available at the Point Grill. =20 The buffet is $6.50 sign up tonight so that we can get a = head=20 count.

Upcoming = District 4/6=20 convention to be held in Kings Bay. Dates are Wednesday April 24 = =96=20 Saturday April 26, 2008. = The=20 convention will be held at the Ramada off I-95 and Georgia Exit = 3. Registration fee is $35 = (this will=20 include some food). = Room=20 rates are $49 a night, nightly entertainment, boat tours, BBQ, = shrimp=20 boil, banquet, submarine museum/swamp tours are planned. The memorial service = will be held=20 outside of the St. Mary=92s submarine museum along the = waterfront.

April 11 = Submarine Day=20 Memorial Service at Cold War Memorial (National Submarine = Day), lunch=20 afterwards. Cost about $6.50 per head

April 12 St. = George Grits=20 Festival Parade line-up at 1000

April 15 Little = David=20 working party to prep

April 16 Little = David=20 working party to paint

April 17 WWII = Lunch at=20 Ryan's 1200

April 23-26 = D4/D6=20 Convention at Kings Bay

May=20 10 base picnic.

Base = Commander: Buddha said that we = would be=20 taking the float and cooker to the VA home in Walterboro to serve = the=20 Victory House guests a meal and provide entertainment sometime = after the=20 picnic and before the end of the month of May. Details to follow.

Nuclear = Historian: No report

Old = Business: None

New = Business: None

Good Of The = Order: The depth charge drawing = was=20 held. The winner = was Terry=20 Trump. Terry gave = $100 back=20 to Sub Vets scholarship fund. =20 George Wells won the 2nd drawing for $100. Jim Eckles was given = hymn=20 salute

The=20 Base Commander adjourned meeting at 2030.

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

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

Birdwhistell

Clarkin

Conrey

Douglas

Fuhr

Fuqua

Habhegger

Heber

Houck

Houston

Job

Lufkin

McCollem

Medert

Mullins

Nichols

O'Meally

Paris

Pickett

Sparks

Steffen

Sutton

Upchurch

Wieda

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.

May=20 8 =96 Monthly = meeting

May=20 10 =96 Picnic at the After = Battery=20 Bring side dish or dessert plus lawn chairs. $5.00 per head

May=20 16 =96 Dedication of glass = sculpture=20 honoring Royal Navy submarines for the Cold War. 1400 at the Cold War = Memorial, Mt.=20 Pleasant

Military Treatment Facility = &=20 TRICARE Service Center Locater

Click on the = following=20 link:

https://www.hnfs.net= /TSCLocator/search.aspx

Find=20 a Military Treatment Facility (MTF) or TRICARE Service Center = (TSC) and=20 get driving directions from your location.

Simply enter = your address=20 information, search and locate your destination.

You=20 can view maps, driving directions and additional clarifications = where=20 available.

Meeting Night=20 Parking

Linda=20 Bailey, the director of the rehab center across the street from = the FRA,=20 will allow the Sub Vets to use their parking lot as overflow on = our=20 meeting nights.

Please, no = parking on the=20 grass and she pointed out that it is a children=92s rehab = center.

Tricare Provider = Availability Update=20 01

According=20 to the DoD Survey of Civilian Physician Acceptance of Tricare = Standard,=20 findings show that in fiscal 2007, almost 93% of responding = physicians in=20 53 hospital service areas were aware of the Tricare program, with = 84% of=20 physicians in those 53 HSAs accepting new Tricare Standard = patients. Overall this indicates = the number=20 of providers in the program is increasing. The 2007 survey was the = final=20 installment of a three-year national effort to measure awareness = of=20 Tricare and to determine the number of physicians who accept new = Tricare=20 Standard patients. DOD officials randomly surveyed physicians in = 20 states=20 in both FYs 2005 and 2006. The 10 remaining states and Washington, = D.C.,=20 were surveyed in FY 2007. =20 Physicians in local HSAs also were surveyed each year. Approximately 40,000 = physicians=20 from a variety of medical specialties were randomly picked. The aggregate results = show that=20 civilian provider awareness and acceptance is generally high, but = may vary=20 depending on location. = In=20 addition, the survey revealed a need for increasing both Tricare = awareness=20 and acceptance among psychiatrists; a specialty critical in = meeting the=20 behavioral health needs of veterans of the war on terrorism. Specifically, the = three-year=20 findings across all states and HSAs show:

=95 Approximately 87% of all = physicians=20 surveyed are aware of the Tricare program.

=95 About 81% of physicians = that accept=20 new patients also accept new Tricare Standard patients.=20

=95 Of those accepting new = Tricare=20 Standard patients, almost 91% do so for all patients, rather than = on a=20 case-by-case basis.

=95 Reimbursement rates were = among the=20 most commonly cited reasons for not accepting Tricare Standard.=20

Army Maj. = Gen. Elder=20 Granger, deputy director of the Tricare Management Activity (TMA) = said,=20 "In some locations, access to Tricare Standard providers remains a = major=20 concern for family members and retirees. Some doctors limit the = number of=20 Tricare patients they see or refuse to see them altogether. This leads to fewer = choices for=20 beneficiaries. = While active=20 duty service members receive the bulk of their medical care at one = of the=20 more than 500 military treatment facilities, family members, = National=20 Guard and Reserve members, and retirees often rely on civilian = physicians=20 for their health care needs.=94 =20 The survey findings exceeded TMA=92s expectations. The surveys provide TMA = with a=20 reliable measurement as to our effectiveness in expanding access = to=20 Tricare providers and the challenges of getting more doctors on = board.=20 Congress has given additional guidance to continue the survey = process=20 through 2011. = States showing=20 a need to increase acceptance and awareness of Tricare include = Alaska,=20 Maryland, Colorado, Hawaii, Oklahoma, New York, New Jersey and = Texas. Hospital service areas = with lower=20 than average Tricare acceptance include Washington DC; Raleigh NC; = Seattle=20 & Olympia WA; Lihue/Kealakekua/Wailuku HI; Dallas TX; and = Falls Church=20 VA. Tricare = officials, with=20 support from their managed care support contractors, are working = to=20 overcome these challenges.

TMA has an = outreach=20 program that reaches out to state officials, medical associations = and=20 individual physicians to educate them and appeal to their sense of = patriotism in accepting Tricare. =20 One positive result of the program is that the Oregon = legislature=20 approved incentives including a one-time tax credit for new = providers in=20 the Tricare network, plus an additional annual credit for treating = patients enrolled in Tricare. =20 Since 2004, Oregon's Tricare provider network has increased = by=20 35%. In addition, = the=20 governors of 20 western states have supported TMA=92s efforts to = encourage=20 more health care providers to accept new Tricare patients. Their combined efforts = led to an=20 overall increase in western region Tricare network doctors from=20 approximately 80,000 in 2004 to more than 125,000 today. Overall, there are = presently more=20 than 220,000 men and women Tricare = providers.

ID Card Numbers Update=20 02

On 2=20 APR a senior DoD official said as a means of combating identity = theft, the=20 Defense Department will issue identification cards without full = Social=20 Security numbers printed onto them. =20 Mary Dixon, director of the Defense Manpower Data Center = based in=20 Arlington VA told Pentagon Channel and American Forces Press = Service=20 reporters, =93The Defense Department cares about protecting = personal=20 information as well as increasing database security, identity = theft is a=20 very real problem today. =20 Criminals who pilfer SSN-bearing identity cards can = virtually=20 assume someone=92s identity through a few computer keystrokes and = clicks of=20 a mouse.=94 = Tricare, the=20 military services=92 health maintenance organization, already has = removed=20 Social Security numbers from its members=92 identification cards, = Dixon=20 said. Plans are to = remove the=20 Social Security numbers from identification cards issued to = military=20 family members by the end of this year, Dixon said, noting that = those=20 cards still would display the sponsors=92 SSN, for now. Between 2009 and 2010, = all=20 department-issued identification cards will feature only the last = four=20 digits of a holder=92s Social Security number. About 3.4 million people = now have=20 department-issued common access cards. Around two-thirds of = those card=20 holders are military members, and some civilians who deploy = overseas, who=20 have full Social Security numbers printed onto the back of their = CACs.=20 Dixon pointed out that modern information technology precludes the = need to=20 have full social security numbers printed onto employee and family = member=20 ID cards. Today, = all of our=20 (computer) systems can =91talk=92 to each other, so we don=92t = necessarily need=20 to know all of that information printed on your card. New identification cards = will be=20 issued as they reach their expiration dates, Dixon said.

Armed Services Blood=20 Program

Blood and blood = products=20 are used for patients of all ages for many reasons =96 from those = undergoing=20 cancer treatments to those with battlefield injuries. Military members depend = on blood=20 donors every day and rely on the he Armed Services Blood Program = (ASBP) to=20 fulfill these needs. = To=20 schedule a donation appointment or to contact your local blood = donor=20 center visit the ASBP website http://www.militaryblood.dod.m= il/. Donors can select a = location from=20 more than 20 ASBP blood donor centers (BDCs) on the website=92s = drop down=20 menu, or click on their location on a map. The nearest donor center = will=20 appear, as well as scheduled blood drives for the next two = months. If an online appointment = is=20 available you will be able to select the blood drive and sign up = to give=20 blood on any of the dates listed. =20 If a blood drive does not appear after choosing a donor = center, the=20 drive dates have passed and new dates will be added as drives are=20 scheduled. Many = centers=20 conduct mobile blood drives at nearby installations. ASBP has implemented a = new policy=20 regarding tattoos on 30 NOV 07 that may allow more donors to give = blood to=20 the military. This = new policy=20 allows donors with new tattoos to give blood again after just one = week,=20 instead of the previous one-year deferral period, provided the = tattoo was=20 acquired in a state-regulated tattoo parlor. A total of 20 states = regulate=20 tattoo facilities and donors are encouraged to contact their = nearest=20 military blood donor center for more details.

In=20 addition to whole blood donation, some BDCs offer platelet = apheresis=20 donation. Apheresis = takes=20 longer than whole blood donation; however, one apheresis donation = provides=20 as many platelets as six to ten whole blood donations. In addition, donors can = give=20 platelets more frequently than the 56 days required between whole = blood=20 donations. Most = healthy=20 adults are eligible to give blood. =20 However, there are some reasons a person may be deferred = from=20 donating =97 temporarily indefinitely, or permanently. Deferral criteria have = been=20 established for the protection of those donating and those = receiving=20 transfusions in accordance with the Food and Drug Administration = (FDA)=20 guidelines, AABB standards, and Department of Defense (DoD) = policies. A temporary deferral = should not=20 discourage donors from coming back. Donors are always needed. In general, to donate = blood you=20 should:

=95 Weigh at least 110 pounds =

=95 Be at least 17 years of = age

=95 Have been feeling well = for at least=20 three days

=95 Be well hydrated

=95 Have eaten something = prior to=20 donating

=95 Conform to travel and = medical=20 restrictions listed at=20 www.militaryblood.dod.mil/Donors/can_i_donate.aspx

Admiral Osborne Scholarship = Fund

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

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

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

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

Buy=20 several for great gifts!

Woodstock Redneck=20 Style=85

Recently=20 some Charleston Base members had the pleasure of playing at a = party on=20 Wadmalaw Island. = The guest of=20 honor was Lauren Hutton.

In=20 the photo (l. to r.): = Carl=20 Chinn, Christopher Johnson, Larry Pepper, Lauren Hutton, Dana=20 Johnson.

Remember Mom!

More Information Than You=20 Need?

Here=92s = something to=20 picture in your mind=85

Our=20 illustrious leader, Buddha, and his trusty sidekick Ed Simokat = were=20 roomies at the recent District 4 and 6 combined conference in = King=92s=20 Bay. The motel was = not quite=20 up to the five star level that is usually expected by diesel boat=20 torpedomen.

One=20 of the tales that came out is like something out of a poorly = financed B=20 movie. Picture = this=85

The=20 toilet in these two comrades=92 room was, to say the least, a bit = loose in=20 its connection to the floor. =20 Now you have to understand that our legendary leader Buddha = has not=20 yet (even in his advanced years, or maybe due to his TM training = and=20 background) been able to train his right hand to handle the = portentous=20 task of swabbing his derriere in the manner that it deserves.

On=20 the other hand, =93Big Ed=94, as he is so lovingly called, has = mastered the=20 swab process so well that he is considered the champion = ambidextrous swab=20 jockey of the southeast and possibly the whole country. As he is so eloquently = quoted,=20 =93Boys, in this world sometimes you gotta be able to sway both = ways.=94

Now=20 to the crux of what happened and to burn this image in your mind=20 forever. When Big = Ed had to=20 use the facilities in a womanly manner (i.e. he had to sit down = relieve a=20 certain portion of his alimentary canal), he was OK until he had = to finish=20 his business. = However, since=20 he is ambidextrous in performing this mission he had no problem = assessing=20 the situation and making the decision to use his right hand so he = would=20 fall into the wall next to the toilet rather than the = alternative.

Buddha the = Rocket=20 Surgeon, however, could not partake of this procedure since he is = only=20 half trained as a swab jockey. =20 He had no choice but to use his left hand and suffer the = inevitable=20 consequences. With = paper in=20 hand he took on the momentous task on a regular basis and braced = himself=20 for the inescapable outcome. =20 As all of us know, in a typical facility at a motel the = layout is=20 that the toilet sits between a wall and the bathtub. Since Ed fell into the = wall wiping=20 with his right hand it obviously follows that Buddha was destined = to go=20 the other way. Look = out tub,=20 here I come!

TM = Division Working=20 Party

May = Submarines=20 Lost:

USS = Runner

SS = 275

May 28, = 1943

USS = Lagarto

SS = 371

May 3, = 1945

USS = Squalus

SS = 192

May 23, = 1939