2012 USSVI Convention Report

Here is a short update on the 2012 USSVI National Convention and the closing of the Submarine Veterans of World War II as a national organization. Thanks to Pat Householder for providing the reports and John Carcioppolo for the photos.

2012 National Convention in Norfolk a Rousing Success 

Norfolk Convention patch

Close to 1,200 submariners of all eras and their mates attended the 2012 Convention in Norfolk this year. There was a moving “Tolling the Boats ceremony on the fantail of the Battleship Wisconsin, as well as submarine and ashore facility tours, dinner cruises, trips to Historic Williamsburg, and a lot of shipmate to shipmate yarn spinning and sharing sea stories in the hospitality room adjacent to the Vendor spaces.

Tolling ceremony on the battleship Wisconsin

Sea Stories in the Hospitality Room

Bittersweet was the final meetings and closure of the Submarine Veterans of World War II, but to the credit of the 62 SVWWII members in attendance, they went out with style, wit and grace.

The new USSVI officers were announced at the Business Meeting and were then duly sworn by Rich Nelson, National Parliamentarian.

USSVI Officers being sworn in

Nat Cdr: Michael Bircumshaw, NSVC Carl Schmidt, NJVC Al Singleman, Nat Sec Tom Conlon, Nat Treas Richard McPherson, Immed Past NC Pat Householder, Region Directors Mike Naughton (NE), Dick Kanning (SE), Wayne Standerfer (Central), John Mansfield (West) and Vic Van Horn, Natl Dist Cdr of the year. Outgoing officers Jon Jaques, John Markiewicz, Paul Orstad, Bill Andrea, Jim Dunn and George Petershaugen were recognized and thanked for their service to USSVI.

End of an era - Submarine Veterans of WWII disbands 

The National SVWWII organization, established in 1955 to honor WWII SubVets and remember the submarine men lost in WWII, formally closed its national organization at the joint USSVI-SVWWII Convention in Norfolk this year.

Walter "Gus" Kraus at the closing ceremony

Walter "Gus" Kraus, final President of SVWWII, said the WWII sub veterans considered themselves a unique group and that uniqueness forged a strong bond. The end of the organization, he said, also represents the "end of an era where we were able to get together and blow our own horn, remembering the circumstances under which we fought."

"There are memorials all over this country they've built," said retired Vice Adm. Al Konetzni, who has long been close with the World War II veterans even though he is not of that era. "These guys started in 1955 doing this for their buddies, so they would not be forgotten. It's a wonderful story of self-image. They said, 'Hey, we're going to do it, and we will do it.'"

"They will never be forgotten, ever, ever, ever," said Konetzni, a former deputy commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command and the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. "They gave us our traditions and our spirit. They were our leaders." (Shown here in picture with the Australian Naval Attaché and Ret ADM Mark Kenny.

Of the remaining 2,146 WWII members, due to the passage of time and the ravages of age, only 62 were able to attend. 1,102 of these WWII men are also members of USSVI. Each of the SVWWII Chapters has the option to continue meeting as a local 'sub club' and all World War II Submariners are always welcome to attend USSVI meetings in their area.

The photos below show the WWII Subvets who attended the 2012 Closing Ceremony for SVWWII in Norfolk, VA.