June Meeting Reminder

The next Seattle Base meeting is this coming Wednesday, June 19.

We will meet at VFW Post #2995 (4330 148th Ave N.E., Redmond WA 98052). Social hour starts at 6 PM with business meeting at 7PM. Don't forget to review the previous meeting minutes, you can find them here on the blog or on the Seattle Base website, just click the Minutes button on the left.

On the Agenda: preparations for the Smokey Point event and Kirkland Independence Day Parade, and USSVI District 4 Commander Election.

Smokey Point: On June 28 to July 1 we will be at the coffee booth at the southbound Smokey Point rest stop. Be sure to mark the dates on your calendar. Steve Shelton will have sign-up sheets available at the meeting to pick your spot. We will post schedule information on the blog.

SSMC and other SubVets at last year's parade

Kirkland Independence Day Parade: We will be participating in the Kirkland parade on July 4. The City of Kirkland goes all out for veterans and always has treats, a pizza lunch and boutonnieres for all military members and veterans in the parade. Additionally, WWII Subvets and members of the Silent Service Motorcycle club, including the Snorkel Schnauzer, will all be there.

We will muster near Heritage Hall, the large white two-story building on the north side of the street, at the corner of Central Way and Market Street. The float will be in place before 10:15 and all members should be in place by 10:30. If you run into problems at any street barricades, just tell the police that you are marching in the parade.

DIRECTIONS: To get there, you take Exit 18 off of Hwy 405, head west toward Kirkland. This road turns into Central Street. Follow Central until you reach Market and turn right to find parking at Heritage Park. You'll pass Heritage Hall while looking for parking.

The Children’s Parade starts at 11:30, followed by the main parade at noon.

USSVI District 4 Commander Election: It is time for submarine qualified Seattle Base members to cast their vote for District 4 Commander. There is one declared candidate, Al Durkee, but write-ins are allowed. You can make your choice and let Base Commander Doug Abramson know or you can email your choice to him. Doug will tally up the votes and forward total to Western Region Director John Mansfield. Voting closes on 30 June 2013.

Brief Biography of Albert W. Durkee:

I am a member of Bremerton Base and the Barbel Base. I have held all elected offices of the SubVets Yuma – Barbel Base except Vice Commander. I have been a member of the Board of Directors of the SubVets Yuma - Barbel Base for all 10 years of its existence. I now live in White Salmon Washington, toward the eastern end of the Columbia River Gorge. I winter in Yuma Arizona.

Born 24 March 1930 in Acton Massachusetts to Albert P. and Florence White Durkee. Raised and attended schools in Acton. Upon High School graduation in 1947 worked as a clerk for a New England grocery chain for four years.

On 28 February 1951, I joined the Navy and attended recruit training in Newport R.I. followed by Machinist Mate A School at Great Lakes. Assigned to USS Cape Esperance (TCVE-88). Cape Esperance was an aircraft transport ship ferrying aircraft from Alameda California to Yokosuka Japan. We made 18 round trips across the North Pacific in 24 months. Tiring of the North Pacific, I transferred to USS Neches (AO-47). Neches was in the process of changing its homeport from Alameda to New York City. We never saw New York City, and deployed directly to the Mediterranean for a one year tour. While assigned to Neches, I was selected as a MM3 to join the Submarine Force.

While a Submariner, I was assigned to the following Commands:

• 1954 USS Pickerel (SS-524) As a MM3 I was assigned as the only underway watch stander in the after engine room on my first day aboard! A snorkel boat yet. The qualified throttleman in the forward engine room was busy keeping track of me!
• 1954 – 1961 USS Seawolf (SSN-575) I was assigned duties in both M and A division as MM3 through MMC SS. Qualified in Submarines in 1957. Detached as LDO Ensign in 1961.
• 1962 – USS Becuna (SS-319) I was assigned duties as Assistant Engineer, Assistant Ops and Sonar Officer.
• 1963 – 1964 USS Seawolf (SSN-575) Assigned duties as Communicator and Assistant Ops.
• 1964 - Instructor Submarine School New London Ct.
• 1965 -1966 COMSUBDIV 72 Engineer, Pearl Harbor Hawaii
• 1967 – 1968 Instructor, Fleet Submarine Training Facility Pearl Harbor Hawaii
• 1969 -1970 – Staff, COMSUBLANT Material
• 1970 – 1974 USS Hunley (AS-31), Assistant Repair Officer, Repair Officer, Navigator
• 1975 – 1978 - Staff, COMSUBLANT Material Officer for SSN’s prior to SSN 637
• 1979 Assistant Repair Officer for Submarines, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton Washington
• 1980 – 1981 SUBMARINE BASE BANGOR, Silverdale Washington, Operations and Security Officer.
• On 1March 1981 I Retired upon completion of 30 years Naval Service. After retiring from the Navy, I worked for two Engineering Services Companies on various US Navy and Washington State Department of Transportation projects. I declined to accept more assignments after 1985.

I was married in 1961 to Olive Trefethern. We raised two children. She passed away in 1985. I was remarried in 1989 to Jean Ury. She passed away in 2005.

We hope to see you at the meeting and all our other events.

Reminder: June Schmidt Memorial Service

Shipmates,

June and Ervin Schmidt

We wanted to remind you that a memorial service for June Schmidt, WWII Veteran and Seattle Base member Ervin Schmidt’s wife, will be held on Saturday, June 8th at 1:00 pm at the First Baptist Church, 22800 56th Ave W, Mountlake Terrance (the church just about a block from the Seattle Fleet Reserve Association Branch 18 building).

Everyone is encouraged to attend.

Thanks,
Dave Schueler
Seattle Base Newsletter Editor

Documentary Project: Twice Forgotten - The Story of the USS R-12

During our May meeting we learned about a project to produce a documentary film about the loss and location of the hulk of the USS R-12 (SS-89). The USS R-12 (SS-89) was lost during World War II off Key West, Florida. The sunken remains were discovered in 600 feet of water in 2010. You can read more about the R-12, her crew and exploration of the hulk at the USS R-12 Submarine website.

The documentary project, called “Twice Forgotten – The Story of the USS R-12” is being funded through the Kickstarter online funding platform. The organization behind the project is trying to raise $89,000 to move forward. Projects on Kickstarter have a limited time to raise funds and the Twice Forgotten project is currently closing in on $25,000 with only 31 days to go.

The USSVI Board of Directors has endorsed the project by pledging $1,000 to it and encourages all USSVI bases and base members to join them. Our collective participation will help empower them to finally tell the story of the USS R-12 Submarine's tragic sinking, the families left without any information and the quest to solve the mysteries that have been unanswered after all this time.

Here is a short video explaining the project:


You can participate in funding the project by going to the Kickstarter page for the “Twice Forgotten – The Story of the USS R-12” project, reviewing the information about the project, and clicking the BACK THIS PROJECT button.

Then you can select you level of support and enter your information for payment (payments are handled through Amazon Payments).

When you've completed your pledge information, you will get a email notification thanking you for the pledge. At the end of the pledge drive on June 30, the donor list will be reviewed by us so that USSVI gets recognition for all our collective donations. This project will be funded and your pledge converted to a donation ONLY if at least $89,000 is pledged by Sunday, June 30.

Note: If you are a Seattle Base USSVI member and do not wish to pledge using the above online method, there is still a way you can support the project. Seattle Base is gathering information to make a collective pledge on the behalf of members. To make a pledge through Seattle Base, please email Seattle Base Newsletter Editor Dave Schueler (you can also call him at his home number listed on page 10 of the newsletter), give him your name and the dollar amount of your pledge by June 15.

When the project exceeds $ 89,000, Dave will get back with you requesting reimbursement of the pledge amount. If the project falls short of the $89,000 goal, all pledges will be cancelled.

The following Seattle Base members have already pledged to the R-12 project:
Larry Abbott, Doug Abramson, Pierre Bruneau, Fred Ensslin, Dick Gonzales, Bob Haslan, Lois Mezek, Bob Morris, Ken Murray, Robbie Robertson, Steve Shelton, Ralph Sterley, Art Thompson, and Keith & Judy Watson.

Thanks for your support.

Cabela's Report and Memorial Day Events

We got a lot of attention and donations, got to practice a lot of our sea stories and blow the klaxon lots of times. We explained our organization purpose to a great many visitors and we also surfaced close to a dozen submariners in the area that didn't yet know USSVI even existed.

Here are a few pictures from the event. (Thanks to Ric Hedman and John Mansfield for sending the photos). 

We set up the float near the entrance

Our table at the forward end of the float

We even got a few donations

Here is the crew

USSVI Seattle Base members pictured above:
Back row - left to right: Jerry Jonason CSMC(SS), Ken Murray MT1(SS), John Roberts ET1(SS), Ralph Sterley ETM2(SS) - WWII veteran, John Bush EN3(SS), Steve Shelton IC2(SS), Ric Hedman TN(SS), Art Thompson EM1(SS), Doug Abramson EN2(SS) - Seattle Base Commander, Bill Giese SK2(SS)
Front row - left to right: John Mansfield RM2(SS) - West Reg Director, Bob Opple EM2(SS), Bob Morris QM2(SS), Pat Householder EM1(SS) - Past Natl Commander

Others who participated but are not in the picture include: Cliff Nutter EM2(SS), Andrea Geisler (daughter of WWII Subvet), Karl Pederson ETN2(SS), Keith Watson IC3(SS), Lee Trunkhill EMCS(SS), Larry Abbott FN(SS), Don Dufour EMC(SS), and Robbie Robertson CDR (SS) - WWII veteran.

It was great fun and we'll have to do this again!!!

Memorial Day Events 
We will be at Tahoma National Cemetery for the Memorial Day Ceremony on May 27. The ceremony starts at 1:00 PM. The guest speaker will be Washington state Governor Jay Inslee, the Veteran's Speaker will be CSM William McLeroy, and the Veteran's Administration speaker will be Mary Elder.

We will have a booth at the annual Cruzin' to Colby Car Show. If you are near downtown Everett on Memorial Day, be sure to stop by. 

May Meeting Notes

We began the May meeting with the Tolling of the Boats for May, birthday wishes for our members, introductions, and officer reports. Then we moved right into the meeting business.

Old and New Business:
Armed Forces Day Weekend at Cabela's - On Saturday May 18, Armed Forces Day, and Sunday May 19 we will set up the Seattle Base float in the parking lot of Cabela's Tulalip store (9810 Quil Ceda Blvd Tulalip WA 98271). We will be there both days from 10 AM to 4 PM. If you are planning on attending, please contact Doug Abramson or Steve Shelton (or you can just show up). For Cabela’s event, all vendors (that’s us) get the employee discount up to 25% as well as free lunch at the store deli.

Bremerton Armed Forces Day parade - If you can't make it to the Cabela's event, please consider attending the Bremerton Armed Forces Day parade on Saturday, May 18. The Silent Service Motorcycle Club and other local bases will be at the parade.

Smokey Point Rest Stop Event - The Smokey Point event is back for 2013! This year we will be at the southbound rest stop June 28 - July 1. Steve Shelton will have sign-up sheets available at the next meeting or you can contact him directly to sign up for a time. Additionally, we can use donations of cookies (or donation to buy cookies) to hand out at the event.

Holland Club Committee Donation – The Holland Club Committee has requested donations from all USSVI bases. To help support the efforts of the Holland Club Committee, Seattle Base passed a motion to donate a dollar to the committee for every Seattle Base member, for a total of $118.00. We also passed the hat for anyone wishing to make an additional personal donation. We collected $90.00 bringing the total to $208.00.

May Program:
Pat Householder gave a short presentation about Lloyd Manes, an Electricians Mate who served on the USS Squalus when the boat sank during trials off the Isle of Shoals in May 1939. Lloyd survived that tragedy and continued on submarines, including volunteering to serve on USS Sailfish (the renamed Squalus) before World War II. During World War II, Lloyd served on several different submarines. His last patrol was aboard the USS Growler, which was lost with all hands aboard in the Sea of Japan in November 1944. It was an interesting, but sad, story about one of our lost shipmates.

Ric Hedman told us about a project to produce a documentary film about the loss and location of the hulk of the USS R-12 (SS-89). The USS R-12 (SS-89) was lost during World War II off Key West, Florida. The sunken remains were discovered in 600 feet of water in 2010.

The documentary project, called “Twice Forgotten – The Story of the USS R-12” is being funded through the Kickstarter online funding platform. The organization behind the project is trying to raise $89,000 to move forward. The USSVI Board of Directors has endorsed the project by pledging $1,000 to it and encourages all USSVI bases and base members to join them.

Here is a short video explaining the project:


Your participation, via Kickstarter, will enable the completion of the documentary "Twice Forgotten". Our collective participation will help empower them to finally tell the story of the USS R-12 Submarine's tragic sinking, the families left without any information and the quest to solve the mysteries that have been unanswered after all this time.

How you can help:
1. Go to the Kickstarter page for the “Twice Forgotten – The Story of the USS R-12” project.
2. Review the information about the project.
3. Click the Green BACK THIS PROJECT button.
4. Choose your support level and click the CONTINUE button.
5. Complete the Log-in information and enter info for AMAZON Payments.

When complete you will get a email notification thanking you for the pledge. At the end of the pledge drive on June 30, the donor list will be reviewed by us so that USSVI gets recognition for all our collective donations. This project will be funded and your pledge converted to a donation ONLY if at least $89,000 is pledged by Sunday June 30.

Note: Some members may not be able to or will not wish to PLEDGE using the above method. The alternative is to have them pledge to the Seattle Base and then have the base make a collective pledge on their behalf before June 30. If this is your situation, please email David Schueler giving your name and the dollar amount of your pledge by June 15. When the project exceeds $ 89,000 David will get back with you requesting reimbursement of the pledge amount. If the project falls short of the $ 89,000 goal, all pledges are cancelled.

Good of the Order
John Mansfield, District Four Commander, gave us an update of what is happening in the district. He also let us know that he will be appointing Al Gurkee to take over his position. Finally, he showed off a stained glass window with a submarine silhouette attached that was presented to him by the Olympia base.

John with his window. BZ to John for all his hard work ad District Four Commander

A memorial for June Schmidt, base member Irv Schmitt’s wife, will be June 8th at 1:00 pm at the First Baptist Church, 22800 56th Ave W, Mountlake Terrance (just about a block from the Seattle Fleet Reserve Association Branch 18 building). Everyone is encouraged to attend.

Binnacle List:

• Gene Posel is still recovering from a torn back muscle.
• Robbie Robertson is still battling prostate cancer, but is doing better with some new drugs.

We hope to see you at the next meeting.

May Meeting Reminder

The next Seattle Base meeting is this coming Wednesday, May 15.

We will meet at VFW Post #2995 (4330 148th Ave N.E., Redmond WA 98052). Social hour starts at 6 PM with business meeting at 7PM. Don't forget to review the previous meeting minutes, you can find them here on the blog or on the Seattle Base website, just click the Minutes button on the left.

On the Agenda: We have a lot to do for the Cabela’s and Smokey Point rest area events. We need volunteers to help out for both of these events.

Cabela's: On Saturday May 18, Armed Forces Day, and Sunday May 19 we will set up the Seattle Base float in the Cabela's parking lot. We are hoping to raise some funds for the base through donations from shoppers. We need plenty of volunteers to help man the float on both days. If you would like to help out with this event, please contact Base Commander Doug Abramson or any of the other base officers. For Cabela’s event, all vendors (that’s us) get the employee discount up to 25% as well as free lunch at the store deli. Sounds good to me!
You can find more information about, and directions to, the store here. 

Smokey Point: On June 28 to July 1 we will be at the coffee booth at the southbound Smokey Point rest stop. Be sure to mark the dates on your calendar. Steve Shelton will have sign-up sheets available to pick your spot.

So, if you have not been out to a meeting lately, please come out for sea stories and help us raise some funds for our base.

Thanks for your support and we hope to see you at the meeting.

Doug Abramson
Commander, Seattle Base

May - June Newsletter Posted

The May – June issue of the Dolphin Brotherhood has been posted to the Seattle Base website.

This issue has some information about displaying our float at the Marysville Cabelas on Armed Force Day, the upcoming Smokey Point Rest Stop event (we still need volunteers for both events). There is also the usual base news, upcoming events, and other submarine related articles.

Due to some scheduling issues, hardcopies of the newsletter will go out late next week. I hope you all enjoy it.

As always, don't forget to check back here for base updates and other articles of interest. You can find old issues of the newsletter at: Dolphin Brotherhood Archives, which is also a link on the right side of the blog.

Dave Schueler
Seattle Base Newsletter Editor