202105 USSVI GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER

FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER Issue 17

USSVI

Golden Corner Base
Newsletter

Issue 017
May 2021

Hea IN THIS ISSUE

ARTIST RENDITION OF ADVANCED NUCLEAR ATTACK SUBMARINE USS IDAHO (SSN-799)

Who Knew a Newsletter Could Hmmm, this is new…page ?
Quench Your Thirst…

Hello Shipmates, Thank you to Art and Tom for participating in USSVI News…page 3
another Veteran’s Last Patrol honor
Our attendance at the April meeting was ceremony, this time down in Greenwood. If
terrific! So great to see so many of our you are able to go, this is a meaningful
brothers in good health and spirits. demonstration of appreciation for our fellow
veterans in their later days. Watch for the
Our ship’s library is back on board and I will emails from the base commander who will
start to organize and setup a checkout get the word out. See Art if you have any
system. If you have a book from the library, question on the program.
please turn it back in if you are done or let me
know you have it. And if you have a donation The base minutes from April will be attached
or know someone who does, we would be with this May newsletter.
happy to add to the library.
Look forward to seeing you at the May
Slowly building out the newsletter with a meeting!
little bit added whenever I can. This month I
added “Today in Naval History” which will be Stay safe and healthy!
a random day of the month the newsletter is
published. And a surprise addition – which Fair Winds & Calm Seas,
you will have to read to discover. A frosty
cold one may be in your future. Brett

Thank you to those who have sent me ideas EDITOR
and content. This helps me, and it makes for Brett Shone, [email protected]
a better newsletter for all of us. If you are at
an event where you are representing the
base, if it all possible, get pictures and send
me a short description of the event so we can
share with the base.

FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 17 2

Tolling of the Boats USS Lagarto (SS-371) underway,
probably in Lake Michigan during
Honoring our fallen submarine heroes is trials, c. late 1944. Public domain.
fundamental to our creed as members of
U.S. Submarine Veterans (USSVI), which
is…

“To perpetuate the memory of
our shipmates who gave their
lives in the pursuit of their duties
while serving their country.”

 USS Lagarto (SS-371)  USS Stickleback (SS-415)

Lost on May 3, 1945 with the loss of 86 Lost on May 28, 1958 when it sank off
men near the Gulf of Siam. On her 2nd Hawaii while under tow after collision
war patrol, she is believed to have been with USS Silverstein (DE-534). The
lost to a radar equipped minelayer. This entire crew was taken off prior to
minelayer was sunk by the USS Hawkbill sinking.
(SS-366) 2 weeks later.

 USS Scorpion (SSN-589)

USS Scorpion (SSN-589) was returning
to Norfolk, VA. from a Mediterranean
deployment. On May 22,1968 she
reported her position to be about 50
miles south of the Azores. Scorpion was
never heard from again. The exact cause
of her loss has never been determined.
99 officers and men were lost.

 USS Squalus (SS-192)

On May 23, 1939 USS Squalus suffered a
catastrophic valve failure during a test
dive off the Isle of Shoals. Partially
flooded, the submarine sank to the
bottom and came to rest keel down in
240 feet of water. Commander Charles
Momsen and Navy divers on the USS
Falcon (ASR-2) rescued 33 survivors use
the diving bell he invented. 26 men
drowned in the after compartments.
Later Squalus was raised and
recommissioned as the USS Sailfish. In
an ironic turn of fate, Sailfish sank the
Japanese aircraft carrier carrying
surviving crew members from Sculpin,
which had located Squalus in 1939. Only
one of survived after spending the rest
of the war as slave laborers in Japan.

FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 17 3

USSVI NEWS • Use only one space following periods, Submariner harmless and assumes full
commas, semicolons, colons, responsibility for permission to publish all
4/19/2021: American exclamation points, question marks, and content, including photos and graphics.
Submariner Magazine quotation marks. Use no spaces on either Be aware that much of the content found
IMPORTANT side of a hyphen. on the internet (written material, photos,
graphics, etc.) is subject to copyright
All bases, all members, now hear this: • Use the final comma in a series of three protection and should not be used unless
or more elements: (i.e. cat, dog, and determined to be in the public domain, or
The gmail account for the American mouse). permission to use is granted to the
Submariner magazine is no longer used American Submariner in writing by the
for magazine submissions. Effective • Spell out numbers below 100 (i.e. five, copyright holder.
immediately, ALL submissions intended eight, thirty-two, seventy-five, etc.)
for the magazine should be sent Fraternally,
exclusively to: • Format dates as October 5, 2021 rather Chuck
[email protected] than 1 October 2021. —
Senior Editor American Submariner
Please refer to the attached publication • The period and comma always go within
guidelines before submitting your the quotation marks. The dash, 5/6/2021: USSVCF
material. All other correspondence related semicolon, question mark and Scholarship information
to the publication should be sent to: exclamation point go within the quotation IMPORTANT!
[email protected] marks when they apply to the quoted
matter only. They go outside when they Shipmates, Scholarship Applicants:
Other pertinent contact information is apply to the whole sentence.
listed quarterly in the publication sidebar "The Scholarship application window
on page 4. Below is copy of the • Ship names should not be in all caps. closes on 19 May. As of today, we have
publication guidelines. USS Virginia, not USS VIRGINIA. only 25 applicants who have completed
their applications. Normally we would see
The American Submariner is published • Hull numbers should be placed in about 75 applicants at this point. We
quarterly. Submissions are accepted on parentheses and be hyphenated. USS normally award about 50 scholarships. It
an ongoing basis, but submissions for Texas (SSN-775). would be sad if we cannot even get that
consideration in specific issues must be many applicants. Many students have
received on or before these deadlines: • Subvets should be one word, all started but have not completed their
lowercase except when starting a applications. I have reached out to nearly
Spring Issue: December 1 Summer Issue: sentence. every applicant reminding them to finish
March 1 Autumn Issue: June 1 Winter their application."
Issue: September 1 Photos: Images should be supplied
digitally and in high-resolution, preferably This link is important:
Submission does not guarantee the original unedited image from the http://subforcescholarships.smapply.io
publication. All submissions should camera.
include the author’s name, telephone Time is running out and we are
number, and email address at the top of Send images as separate attachments— encouraging everyone to complete their
the first page. do not include them within the body of the applications. Go to the link shown above
article. Both color and black and white are to complete or begin your application
Document Format: Articles are accepted acceptable. Please include a brief process. Do not delay. Any questions or
in the following formats: .doc, .docx .odt, description identifying who and what is concerns, please contact me ASAP. Time
rtf, or .txt. depicted. is rapidly running out.

Style: The American Submariner does not Editing: The American Submariner Thank you.
require many specifics, but we do strive reserves the right to edit submissions for
for correctness and consistency. publication due to space constraints, Robert Frick
grammatical correctness, writing quality, National Scholarship Committee
Please observe the following when typing clarity, etc. Chairman
your document: [email protected]
Submitting your Article: Contributions 703-754-4959
should be emailed to
[email protected]. Files
and images too large to email can be sent
via sendthisfile.com. Hard copy
submissions are discouraged.

By submitting material for publication, the
writer agrees to hold American

FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 17 4

JIM FROM THE WARDROOM… to see what they do in the
community.
MAY MILESTONES I want to thank the members who I will be contacting our base
are attending the meetings at members who are having some
USSVI Anniversary Merrel’s Pizza in Easley. We had a health issues. I will send separate
James Bright 2020 very good turnout for the month of correspondence with their
GOLDEN CORNER BASE Anniversary April 2021. Merrel’s was a little permission to the base over the next
John Jefferies 2007 disappointing because they did not few days.
Tom Vaughan 2011 have a waitress to take food and I was really pleased to have Sam
Art Allum 2018 drink orders. However a little bit of Smucker, Paul Sandy and Norm
James Bright 2020 submariner ingenuity corrected the Garrett at this months meeting. The
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! course. I wish to thank our base message is come to the meetings
Bob Sullenberger 1937 secretary for the solution to the when you can. Please keep our friend
Bill Doe 1939 problem and for the implementation Jack Jeffries of the Carolina Piedmont
Brett Shone 1959 of the solution. I told Dave he Base in your prayers. He is putting up
needed to show a little more leg if he quite a fight with cancer. Ed
GOLDEN CORNER OFFICERS: expected tips for his service from this
Base Commander: Ed Evering group. Golden Corner Base
Sr. Vice Commander: Wayne Hensarling We are getting closer to being able Honors Veteran’s Last
Secretary: David Rocheville to live our lives a bit more normal. Patrol in Greenwood, SC.
Treasurer: Richard Franklin None too soon for my liking. I t
C.O.B.: Tom Vaughan would be good to get our float out Tom & Art of Golden Corner base
Eagle Scout Chair: Luis Garcia and about this Spring and Summer. I honored Frank Glenn, WWII Navy
Newsletter Editor: Brett Shone am sure it may get us more interest veteran.
Librarian: Brett Shone from local submariners and help us
build our base. "Bringing friendships to veterans in
I would again like to thank Lloyd hospice care"
(Willy) Wilson and Sherman Swofford
for their significant efforts and www.veteranlastpatrol.org
donations to make the float happen. 864-580-8005
I know most people at the meeting
when Willy presented the idea were
skeptical that he could pull it off. But
wow did he ever make it happen.
Some of our members have been
participating in the Veterans Last
Patrol visits to vets in hospice care.
Walker Bousman, Art Allum and Tom
Vaughan have all participated to
date. If I missed someone, I just did
not know you did it.
Our association with Adaptive Golf
has received some support from
Base Members and I would like to
discuss a base donation at our May
meeting. This is one of our charity
projects and is well worth going out

FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 17 5

SUBMARINES IN THE

NEWS

Construction great state stand with them as The Big Spud was
continues on USS they carry out their roles in our decommissioned on July 3,
IDAHO, Navy's nation's defense," Kempthorne 1946.
most advanced said in a statement.
nuclear attack "With the help of Idahoans and
submarine The ship, designated as SSN our businesses, the legacy will
799, is the Navy's 26th continue throughout the
Author: KTVB Staff Virginia-class attack submarine's lifespan as we are
Published: 2:35 PM MDT May 6, 2021 submarine. working to establish a
Updated: 10:55 AM MDT May 7, 2021 scholarship endowment to
The USS IDAHO is expected to advance the education of USS
BOISE, Idaho — After its be christened in the summer of IDAHO sailors and their family
construction was formally 2022 and after it completes sea members," Kempthorne said.
started in late 2020, the U.S. trials, the vessel will enter
Navy is beginning to build its active service. Today in Naval
most advanced nuclear attack History
submarine, the USS IDAHO. The USS IDAHO is also the May 10
first ship named after the Gem
The keel-laying ceremony for State since 1919, when 1960
the fifth ship to ever bear the Battleship BB42 or "The Big
Gem State's name happened Spud," was commissioned. USS Triton (SSRN 586), commanded
in August 2020, with former by Capt. Edward L. Beach,
Idaho Governor Kirk Battleship BB42 was, at the completes a submerged
Kempthorne in attendance. time, the largest battleship circumnavigation of the world in 84
afloat. Her service during days following many of the routes
Now, Kempthorne and others World War Two, including her taken by Magellan.
have started a plan to decorate role in the Battle of Iwo Jima,
the submarine with artwork and would earn her seven battle CONTACT THE EDITOR
memorabilia from Idaho to stars.
remind sailors of what the USS [email protected]
IDAHO represents, according Later in April of 1945, she was
to the USS Idaho assigned to a bombardment
Commissioning Committee. station off Okinawa, also
providing major fire support for
"I was honored to participate in that invasion.
the keel-laying ceremony last
summer. Now we have the
opportunity to help customize
this state-of-the-art submarine
with Idaho memorabilia,
artwork, photographs and other
reminders to the officers and
sailors that the people of our

FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 17 6

SUBMARINES ON

STAMPS

Postage stamps of the first submarine
postal service in the world, carried out
during 2nd Spanish Republic (1938).
The service was conducted between
Barcelona and Menorca, breaking
the block of the Italian fleet during the
Spanish Civil War (1936-1939).

What is it? First person to tell
Luis Garcia, in person, at the
May meeting will get a free
beer. Be specific!

FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 17 7

Armed Forces our modern dining facility, a wellness
Retirement Home now program and deluxe fitness center, movie
welcoming retired theater, bowling center, and numerous
enlisted Reserve, hobby shops, clubs, and social activities.
National Guard
members Services include recreational activities and
resident day trips, a full-service library,
Are you seeking to live in a vibrant and barber shop, beauty salon, 24-7 security,
affordable independent-living retirement computer center, mailboxes, ATM, campus
community with other military retirees? Are PX/NEX and convenient transportation
you retired from the service, with the available to local hospitals and
majority of your duty time spent as an appointments. Residents also have access to
enlisted member or warrant officer? Then additional services such as on-site physical
the Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) and occupational therapy, in-room internet
may be just for you! and cable TV, podiatry, and counseling.

With locations in Washington, D.C., and In Washington, D.C., AFRH offers residents a
Gulfport, Mississippi, the home now also scenic, wooded campus just minutes from
welcomes retired reservists and National downtown - home to museums, monuments,
Guard members to apply for residency. and a host of local entertainment, sports and
other cultural options. In Gulfport, residents
Experience the same camaraderie you have a beautiful view of the Gulf of Mexico,
enjoyed during your time in uniform, and join with an outdoor swimming pool, walking
your fellow retirees in a dynamic community path to the beach, reflecting pool, art studio
that also offers exceptional care and and modern media room.
extensive services!
Veterans who are not retired may also be
Rooms are currently available at both eligible to live at AFRH if they have a service-
locations with no waiting period, down connected disability of 50 percent or greater,
payment or contract required. The monthly or if they served in a war theater (such as in
rate for independent living is just 46.7 Vietnam, Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan) and
percent of the resident’s gross monthly now have an injury, disease or disability.
income or $2,050, whichever is less.
Married couples are welcome to apply for
All residents must be able to live residency at AFRH:
independently upon moving to AFRH. We ◆ If both individuals meet all military and
also provide advanced levels of care to our other eligibility requirements in their own
current residents as they age in place. right, or
◆ If the eligible veteran is retired and
Many veterans choose to live at AFRH for the married their current spouse prior to military
superior medical, dental and vision care retirement.
offered, with amenities that include private
rooms with a shower, three delicious daily Call for details regarding married couples’
meals prepared by licensed nutritionists in fees – discounts are available.

Veterans convicted of a felony or who are not
free of drug, alcohol, or psychiatric problems
are ineligible.

For further information or to request an
application visit https://www.afrh. gov/apply
or contact the Office of Public Affairs at
[email protected] or (800) 422-9988

FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 17 8

BOOK HIGHLIGHT: NON FICTION MOVIE HIGHLIGHT

BOOK HIGHLIGHT: FICTION

Iron Coffins: A Personal Account of the Crimson Tide (1995)
German U-boat Battles of World War II Rated R | 1h 55min | Suspense,
Action, Drama |
By: Herbert A. Werner
IMDb: 7.3
Goodreads: 4.31 · 2,059 ratings · 133
reviews On a U.S. nuclear missile sub, a young
First Officer stages a mutiny to prevent
The Battle of the Atlantic was one of the his trigger happy Captain from launching
most savage and strategically significant his missiles before confirming his orders
campaigns of World War II: 28,000 out of to do so.
39,000 men in the German U-boat force
Attack of the Seawolf disappeared beneath the waves. Herbert
By: Michael DiMercurio A. Werner, one of the few surviving
German U-boat commanders, served on
Goodreads: 4.28 · 741 ratings · 27 five submarines from 1941 to 1945. From
reviews the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, from
the English Channel to the North Sea, he
DiMercurio, a submarine expert and takes the reader with him through the
author of Voyage of the Devilfish, offers triumphant years of 1941 and 1942,
a second riveting techno-thriller. when German U-boats nearly strangled
Captain Patch Pacino returns to the England, to the apocalyptic final years of
helm of his state-of-the-art nuclear destruction, disillusionment, and defeat.
submarine, when hard-line Chinese
forces capture the U.S.S. Tampa on a
covert mission.

FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 17 9

SUBMARINE ART
Watercolor print by the artist Tom Denton of the side launching of a Manitowoc built boat.

FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 17 10

Support official base charities:

Upstate-Carolina Adaptive Golf