November - December 2018 Dolphin Brotherhood Posted

The November – December 2018 issue of the Dolphin Brotherhood has been posted and is ready to view and download.

SubVets at the 2017 Auburn Veterans Day Parade

This issue has information about the upcoming Auburn Veterans Day Parade, the registration form for the Seattle Base December Holiday Luncheon, and the usual submarine related articles. You can also find a copy of the luncheon registration form at this link.

Hardcopies will be mailed out later this week. I hope you all enjoy the newsletter.

As always, remember to check back here for base updates and other articles of interest.

We hope to see you at the Auburn parade!

Dave Schueler
Seattle USSVI Base Newsletter Editor

October Meeting Notes

We started the October meeting with Tolling the Boats lost in October, followed by birthday wishes for our members. We followed that up with the Officer Reports and introductions.

Old and New Business:
2019 Submarine Calendars – The Base Storekeeper has 2019 USSVI calendars in stock. The calendars are $11 each. Be sure to get yours before they are all gone!

2019 USSVI Calendar cover

Holland Club – Tim F. missed last month’s meeting but was on hand to receive his Holland Club challenge coin this month.

Base Commander Ric hands Tim his challenge coin

Auburn Veterans Day Parade – The Auburn Veterans Day Parade is set for Saturday, November 10, 2018. Seattle Base, Bremerton Base, and the Silent Service Motorcycle Club will be at the parade. We will meet at the staging area on K Street NE. You should plan on arriving between 10:00 and 10:30. The parade starts at 11:00. We are looking for someone to tow the Seattle Base float. Please contact one of the Base Officers if you can help. We will get out reminders and more information in the newsletter and blog.

Holiday Luncheon - Seattle Base Holiday Luncheon is schedule for December 8, 11 am to 2 pm, at the Nile Shrine Center (6601 244th St. SW Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043-2750). The cost this year is $25 per person for a lunch buffet. Registration forms will be in the next newsletter and posted online. We have limited seating this year, so be sure to get your reservations in early.

Reminder American Submarines Throw Raffle – Don’t forget about the raffle for the American Submarine. Raffle tickets are on sale now and will be sold throughout the year. The drawing will be done at the Holiday Luncheon on December 8. Raffle tickets cost $1 per ticket.

October Program:
This month Base Commander, and webmaster at PigBoats.com, Ric Hedman gave a presentation on some recently discovered photos of the interior of USS Dolphin (SS-196). USS Dolphin was commissioned in 1932 and was one of the transitional submarines from the S-class to the World War II fleet boats. The photos were taken on Sunday July 2, Monday July 3 and Tuesday July 4, 1933 at Portsmouth Navy Yard, but then hidden away in the National Archives.

Ric went through the photos, pointing out the different details of the sub. Ric walked us through the boat from the forward windlass and torpedo rooms, to the conning tower, the engine rooms, and to the aft torpedo room. In addition to familiar items, there were a few unknown items in the photos. Be sure to go over to the Dolphin page on PigBoats.com for a look at the photos.

Ric is always great at showing off the pre-World War II boats and it was interesting to see how subs were transitioning and incorporating new technology.

Good of the Order: VFW Post 2995 has remodeled the meeting room under the post bar. Starting in January, our meetings will shift to this meeting room.

We hope to see you at the Veterans Day Parade!

Eternal Patrol: James R Davis

James R Davis, Seattle Base and Holland Club member, departed on eternal patrol on September 19, 2019.

Jim was born December 7, 1934 in San Francisco, CA, and raised in Ellensburg, WA. He joined the U.S. Navy when he was 17 for the adventure and travel and enjoyed a 20-year career, retiring in 1971. Jim qualified on USS Raton (SS-270) and also served on USS Volador (SS-490). While in the Navy, his primary job was a cook because he was told "as a cook you will never go hungry and everyone is your friend." In 1968 he came back to Everett, WA and finished out his service as a Navy recruiter.

After retiring from the service in 1971, Jim worked for the Alpine Restaurant in Everett for three years. In 1974 he joined Pepsi Bottling Co., working as a driver, salesman and eventually into management before retiring in 1995.

In his retirement Jim traveled with his family and friends and worked part-time for St. Vincent De Paul. Throughout his life, Jim enjoyed camping, fishing, hunting, and a good boxing match. His pride and joy was his custom-made Harley Davidson motorcycle. He was involved for years with scouting and was Scout Master of Troop 18. Jim also loved to take pictures and even started a photography business shooting weddings and special events. Jim had a terrific sense of humor - always quick to make you laugh. More than anything, Jim was a man who loved his wife, children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. His love expanded beyond his family to those whom he unofficially adopted over the years and knew him as "Uncle Jim". Anyone lucky enough to have known him felt his love and support. He will be deeply missed.

A mass celebrating his life will be held on October 22, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary Magdalen in Everett, where Jim was an active parishioner for 51 years. After the service there will be a reception in the parish hall followed by burial services with military honors at Holyrood Cemetery in Shoreline, WA.

Jim and Barbara at the 2012 Holiday Lunch

Jim is survived by the love of his life and wife of 58 years, Barbara Jo, daughters Tamara, Beth (Alex), Tina (Karina), and Barbara (Ed); grandchildren, Kailey (Kris), Chelsea (Trevor), Nadia, Logan and Tabitha, great grandchildren, Kristelyee, Grayson, Tyson, Gavin and Dahlia. He is preceded in death by his sons, David (2017) and Jamie (2009).

Sailor, Rest Your Oar

October Meeting Reminder and National USSVI Election Results

The next Seattle Base meeting is this coming Wednesday, October 17, 2018. We will meet at VFW Post #2995 (4330 148th Ave N.E., Redmond WA 98052). Social hour starts at 6PM with business meeting at 7PM.

Our normal messcook Steve will be out-of-town for the meeting, so we a looking for a volunteer to cover mid-rats for the meeting.

During the business meeting we'll cover upcoming events for the year. We are also looking for a volunteer to tow the Seattle Base float at the Auburn Veterans Day Parade on November 10.

The program for October will be a presentation by Base Commander Ric Hedman of an interior walk-through of the USS Dolphin (SS 169) AKA Submarine D1.

USS Dolphin (SS-169) courtesy of NavSource

We hope to see you at the meeting.

USSVI National Election Results

National Commander:
Wayne Standerfer: 1293 votes
Write-in Candidates: 21 votes
Elected: Wayne Standerfer

National Senior Vice-Commander
Jon Jaques: 1284 votes
Write-in Candidates: 16 votes
Elected: Jon Jaques

National Junior Vice-Commander
Steve Bell: 1291 votes
Write-in Candidates: 17 votes
Elected: Steve Bell

National Treasurer
Paul Hiser: 1292 votes
Write-in Candidates: 15 votes
Elected: Paul Hiser

National Secretary
Ray Wewers: 1281 votes

Write-in Candidates: 9 votes
Elected: Ray Wewers

Northeast Regional Director
Les Altschuler: 241 votes
Write-in Candidates: 4 votes
Elected: Les Altschuler

Southeast Regional Director
Ken Nichols: 278 votes
Write-in Candidates: 2 votes
Elected: Ken Nichols

Central Region Director
Tom Williams: 383 votes
Write-in Candidates: 13 votes
Elected: Tom Williams

Western Region Director
Jim Denzien: 383 votes
Write-in Candidates: 8 votes
Elected: Jim Denzien

Approve Proposed Revision to Constitution and Bylaws
Yes: 1181 votes
No: 156 votes
Proposal passes

Congratulations to the candidates. Thank you to all the members who voted.

Voting statistics will be available on the USSVI web site.

Eternal Patrol: Al Harwood

Al Harwood, Seattle Base and Holland Club member, departed on eternal patrol on August 14, 2018. A military graveside service was held for family members and friends at Washelli Abbey View in Brier.

Al was born in Portland on November 28, 1939 and moved to Seattle area as a young child, living in what is now Shoreline area. Al was in the first class to graduate from newly opened Shoreline High School in 1958. Al signed up for a combination of reserve and active duty in the U.S. Navy’s submarine service on his 17th birthday and was called up for Sub School and active duty in June of 1958. He qualified on USS Greenfish (SS-351) in 1959 and served on USS Kraken (SS-370) and USS Sterlet (SS-392). Al married his High School sweetheart Lois in September 1958 and they spent a year and a half in Hawaii after he returned from a long patrol to the Orient. They returned to the Seattle area in 1960.

Al was a king of toys and hobbies with many interests over the years. He was the President of the Shoreline Hot Rod Club, involved in Ham Radio, built model boats, airplanes, and built and played with radio-controlled airplanes too. There were also camping trips with friends and family, sports with the kids and grand-kids, working with the Shoreline High School reunions, and he loved traveling overseas, especially to Europe and the South Pacific.

Al's career led him into the video industry, where he worked with many local industries and individuals during his years. After retiring, Al regularly played golf with his neighbors, friends, brothers, and sons (when they could get away). He enjoyed working on puzzles and playing with the family cats and dogs. He also volunteered at the Heritage Restoration Center, working on restoring the vintage planes.

In remembrance of Al, the family asks that you a consider donation in his name to your favorite charity or to one of ours (Make a Wish, Seattle Area Feline Rescue 14717 Aurora N, Shoreline WA 98133), or physical or monetary help to the homeless in the greater Seattle area.

Sailor, Rest Your Oar