June 2015 Commander's Corner

Greetings,

So far this year we kicked off our first Base tour at the Museum of Flight Restoration Center and on August 29th we will visit the Blueback (SS 581) in Portland. I, for one, am looking forward to this field trip since I haven’t stepped onto a smoke boat for a few years. If I could find the time, I would also like to see 78’ Kaiser built torpedo boat PT-658 at Swan Island on the Columbia River. Clifford McCarty, A former WWII submariner who incidentally was my mentor as a boy scout, served on PT-115, a 77’ Elco boat, in Squadron Six as a Motor Machinist Mate. Cliff transferred to the USS Rasher and made numerous war patrols out of Fremantle. The irony is I also served on the same boat and as an engineman like Cliff did.

As you know at every meeting we make an attempt to include interesting and engaging speakers. Fortunately for us several of our own members fill this need. Ric Hedman, Bob Opple, Dave Schueler, and Keith Watson have provided some great material. Kerry Ryan, an Associate member, tentatively plans to speak at our October meeting. We want to thank these members for their good work and commitment, they help to make this Base a fun and successful one to be a member of.

Early fund raising events at Cabela’s Spring Great Break and Armed Forces Appreciation Day were well worth the effort, as we managed to collect $676.00 over a three-day period. For those that could show up to support these venues we are most appreciative. At least four more like fundraisers like these might be just the ticket to really make a difference in the Base treasury. I don’t think I am being to optimistic, but it is within reason we may meet or exceed $2000.00 for the year.

I also want to mention the Seattle Base Submarine float is indeed a “Cash Cow” and I want to thank those members who have kept it in good order for us. Later this year the float will be relocated to Arlene Ritzhaupt’s property in Redmond for storage between usages. We thank Arlene for her generous offer to provide this space. Sometime in the August we will relocate the float to Arlene’s from Jim Harpers place. We will need to ask for a few volunteers to help prepare the site and set up the portable shelter for it’s storage.

Winston Churchill once said "Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference."

Dick Gonzalez
Commander Seattle USSVI Base