202104 USSVI GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER

FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER Issue 16

USSVI

Golden Corner Base
Newsletter

Issue 016
April 2021

Hea IN THIS ISSUE

APRIL 11 – THE 121ST BIRTHDAY OF THE US NAVY SUBMARINE FORCE

National Submarine Day! Golden Corner Base Members
Honor Vets…page 4
by The Editor
USSVI News…page 3
Hello Shipmates, Photos, articles, announcements, jokes,
trivia. Preferably original content, relating to
Hope this newsletter finds you doing well our base and members. It’s my greatest
and once again beginning to enjoy the challenge in putting this together. My aim is
company of family and friends. to keep it interesting and not just another
boring newsletter. Hopefully I will be getting
Happy 121st birthday to the United States ahead enough to publish on a more timely
Navy Submarine Force. There are plenty of basis.
tributes on various websites and on social
media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. I I have carved out some space on the last
found these celebrating pooches rather page for Upstate-Carolina Adaptive Golf,
humorous… which we voted as an official charity of our
base. Check it out.

Look forward to seeing you next week.

Stay safe and healthy!

Fair Winds & Calm Seas,

Brett

Submawiener dogs… EDITOR
Brett Shone, [email protected]
Now you know how low I will go to find
content for your newsletter. On the topic of
content, I welcome any submissions.

FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 16 2

Tolling of the Boats

Honoring our fallen submarine heroes is
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 Pickerel (SS-177) men SE of Iwo Jima, but may have been plane. While she shot down the plane.
sunk on May 12, 1944 in another attack When enemy ships arrived, the CO
Lost on April 3,1943 with the loss of 74 on an unidentified submarine and heard abandoned ship and scuttled the boat.
officers and men, while on her 7th war by several other submarines in the area. Of the 76 crew members taken prisoner,
patrol. She was lost off Honshu. The Winner of 5 Presidential Unit Citations, 72 survived the war.
exact cause of her loss has never been Gudgeon was on her 12th war patrol and
determined, but her OP area contained most likely due to a combined air and USS Grenadier (SS-210), 29 November
numerous minefields. surface antisubmarine attack. Gudgeon 1940, USN photo courtesy of
was the first US submarine to go on ussubvetsofworldwarii.org
 USS Snook (SS-279) patrol from Pearl Harbor after the
Japanese attack. On her first patrol, she
Lost on April 8,1945 with the loss of 84 became the first US submarine to sink
officers and men. Snook ranks 10th in an enemy warship, picking off the
total Japanese tonnage sunk and is tied submarine I-173.
for 9th in the number of ships sunk. She
was lost near Hainan Island, possibly  USS Grenadier (SS-210)
sunk by a Japanese submarine.
Lost on April 22,1943 near Penang, with
 USS Thresher (SSN-593) no immediate loss of life. She was on her
6th war patrol. While stalking a convoy,
Lost on April 10, 1963 with the loss of she was spotted by a plane and dove.
112 crew members and 17 civilian While passing 130 feet, Grenadier was
technicians during deep-diving bombed, causing severe damage. She
exercises. 15 minutes after reaching test was lodged on the bottom 270 feet and
depth, she communicated with USS the crew spent hours fighting fires and
Skylark that she was having problems. flooding. When she surfaced, she had no
Skylark heard noises "like air rushing propulsion and was attacked by another
into an air tank" - then, silence. Rescue
ship Recovery (ASR-43) subsequently
recovered bits of debris, including gloves
and bits of internal insulation.
Photographs taken by Trieste proved
that the submarine had broken up,
taking all hands on board to their deaths
in 1,400 fathoms of water, some 220
miles east of Boston.

 USS Gudgeon (SS-211)

USS Gudgeon (SS-211) was probably
lost on April 18, 1944 with the loss of 79

FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 16 3

USSVI NEWS Nominations as of 3/31: 1 – Negri Award, a number between 1 and 100. Any boat
24 – Link Awards, 2 – DCOY, 3 - reunion coordinator who would like a
4/2/2021: USSVI Nat Awards Meritorious Individual Awards, 1 – chance to win the use of one of those
Nominations Reminder Meritorious Base Award, and 2 – NLOY. suites also needs to choose a number
between 1 and 100. You will then send
Another reminder for you about USSVI I am looking for someone familiar with the an e-mail to National Commander Wayne
National Awards Nominations and Awards program that might be interested Standerfer [email protected] with the
important deadlines. in assisting me at the convention to number you choose by no later than April
organize the awards (plaques, patches, 30,2021. On May 1st, Wayne Standerfer
April 30 – All nominations except the certificates, etc.). Thanks go out to those will find the four numbers closest to
NLOY awards are due to me NLT close of members at the last BOD meeting for Ozzie’s number and those will be the
business on that day. volunteering to help me at the convention. winners. An email will be sent to all
participants showing the drawing results.
May 15 - All NLOY nominations are due Honored to Serve,
to me NLT close of business on that day. Harold W (Bill) Scott II, STSCS(SS) USN Any boat reunions who have not made
I will then send all nominations to the on RET. arrangements to have your reunion during
committee chairs for tabulation and USSVI National Awards Chair the convention, but who would like to do
selection of award winners. Refer to the 512-826-8876 so, can contact Ozzie prior to the April
Awards Manual for other deadlines. 30th deadline if you would like to
4/4/2021: 2021 2nd Qtr participate in this raffle.
Nominations received after those American Submariner
deadlines will not be considered, and the Magazine now on line The convention room rates will be valid
sender will be notified. If mailing August 28 thru September 5, 2021.
nominations via snail mail, they must be The 2021 2nd Quarter Edition of our
postmarked no later than that day to be American Submariner Magazine is now Contact Ozzie Osentoski at
considered. posted on our National Website. [email protected] with comments or
questions.
When preparing your nominations, be Open the USSVI website
creative and don’t use the ‘cookie cutter’ https://www.ussvi.org/home.asp Current boat reunions at the convention
method of taking a previous write-up, are: Andrew Jackson, Gato, Hardhead,
changing the names of previous Log On with your Login Name and John Marshall, Los Angeles, Pintado,
nominations and adding new activity. This Password. Ronquil, Sam Rayburn, Skate and
applies particularly for those shipmates Theodore Roosevelt.
who were previously nominated, but did Click on the blue “USSVI Magazine”
not get selected and who are still button about half-way down the left-side Jay D Mack
deserving of that particular award, or for a menu 2021 Convention Chairman
different award this year. Remember, no
photos and font size 12pt, and preferably Click on the top left button “Current
in Word Document format for all Edition”.
nominations except for NLOY. See the
Awards Manual for any additional 4/10/2021: USSVI Convention
guidance. Boat Reunions info

When sending your nominations, be sure Attention Boat Reunion Coordinators!
to include the nominee’s base, base
position, BC’s name and address. In At the present time we have 10 boat
addition for the NLOY award nominations, reunions tying up at the Rosen Shingle
include the editor’s name. I’m also Creek Resort during the 2021 USSVI
suggesting the inclusion of the District National Convention. The Rosen has
Commander’s name and address also for graciously offered four complimentary
mailing awards to the recipients in case suites to be used by those boat reunions.
they aren’t at the convention. Obviously, we can’t reasonably divide
those four suites between ten reunions.
So, we are going to have a raffle of sorts.
Our Convention Boat Reunion
Coordinator, Ozzie Osentoski, will choose

FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 16 4

GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWS The Golden Corner Base April Marines/Army/Air Force/Navy
meeting will be held on Wednesday that were there that day. It was
APRIL MILESTONES April 21, 2021 at Merrill's Pizza in great to see the smiles on the
Easley South Carolina. We will hold a faces of the 2 gents and their
USSVI Anniversary social hour starting at 1800 hours familys when we showed up.
Peter Graef 2009 and the business meeting will follow So if you're up for these visits,
GOLDEN CORNER BASE Anniversary at 1900 hours. they are a nice way to spend an
Recruit a new member! I will be out of town until April 18 , hour or 2 if you'd like to go, I
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 2021. Please respond to me if you typically will go to the ones that
Art Allum 1938 are planning on attending. You may are closer to me in the Easley
not get a response until I arrive back area, but an extra bit of driving
home home on the 18th. isn't out of the question for me.
We are still looking for candidates for
the Office of Base Commander, Vice
Base Commander, Treasurer and
Secretary . I have been informed that
we have candidates for Commander,
Vice Commander , Treasurer but not
Secretary as of the last time I spoke
to our Election Committee Chairman.
We need support from the base to
keep it running so do not hesitate to
step forward. Do not fear putting
your hat in the ring for one of these
offices. If you are at all interested
please contact Luis Garcia
[email protected].
Ed

GOLDEN CORNER OFFICERS: Golden Corner Base "Bringing friendships to veterans in
Honors Veteran’s Last hospice care"
Base Commander: Ed Evering Patrol www.veteranlastpatrol.org
Sr. Vice Commander: Wayne Hensarling 864-580-8005
Secretary: David Rocheville by Walker Bousman
Treasurer: Richard Franklin CONTACT THE EDITOR
C.O.B.: Tom Vaughan I (as well as Art) went to a couple [email protected]
Eagle Scout Chair: Luis Garcia of the Veteran's Last Patrol get
Newsletter Editor: Brett Shone togethers the other day.
Someone got a picture of me
FROM THE WARDROOM… saluting one of the Navy
Veterans being honored that
Meeting and election day. I'm retired and am able to
notice. attend these. There were

FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 16 5

SUBMARINES IN THE

NEWS

Russian-Navy-
Submarines-
Surface-In-Artic

Sat 27 March 2021
By H I Sutton

updated with fresh
intelligence

Spy Sub Among Russian boat, and it is unlikely to be any event is not particularly special,
Navy Submarines Which of the positions shown above. more of a publicity opportunity.
Surfaced In Artic (marker sticks are visible in the But it does underscore the fact
video, before the submarine that, after a period of decline
The Russian Navy's ICEEX, ' surfaces). The ice depth is and neglect (with some years
Umka-21 ', is taking place in around 1.5 meters. without any deterrence patrols)
the Arctic. As part of the Umka-21 is more than just the Russian navy strategic
exercises, three nuclear submarine operations. Around submarine force is back. And
submarines surfaced within 600 personnel are involved and competently captained. The
300m of each other. They some exercises support the fact that this isn’t actually that
surfaced in pre-marked Russian Geographical Society. special is special in itself.
locations. They were widely Around 200 models of weapon As someone pointed out on
reported (including here!) as and special equipment were Twitter, the ice on the sail of
ballistic missile subs (SSBNs); involved, including MANPADS, the K-549 Knyaz Vladimir looks
the two DELTA-IVs and a snow mobiles and MiG-31 like a skull:
single Borei-II (K-549 Knyaz FOXHOUND fighters. The
Vladimir) were within 300m. exercises are centered on
Actually one of the DELTAs Franz Josef Land, Alexandra
was BS-64 Podmoskovye Land island and
(Подмосковье), a "special adjacent waters.
mission" submarine (read: spy The average
sub). temperature is
minus 25-30
All three boats have been degrees Celsius
provisionally identified as BS- (minus 13-22
64 Podmoskovye, either K-18 degrees
Karelia or K-407 Fahrenheit).
Novomoskovsk, and K-549 Wind gusts can
Knyaz Vladimir. reach 32 meters
According the the Russian per second (72
MoD press reports a nuclear mph).
submarine used a torpedo to In some
create a hole to surface respects the
through. It is unclear which

FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 16 6

SUBMARINES ON

STAMPS

Israel
Philately Day - Submarines in
Israel
December 19, 2017
The stamp set features S Class
(1959), T Class (1967), and Gal
Class (1976) Submarine.

FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 16 7

VANotify gives updates Other uses
with new digital feature
Most recently, VA used the feature to notify
Story courtesy of VA Office of Information Veterans about COVID-19 vaccinations. Over
and Technology 200,000 Veterans received communications
around vaccination planning through
Veterans, their families and caregivers can VANotify.
now receive digital notifications through
VANotify, a new paperless platform. There are plans to expand the use of
VANotify to include:
While Veterans already receive appointment
notifications through VEText, VA sends most ◆ Sending monthly SMS notifications about
notifications via postal mail. With VANotify, benefit payments
Veterans can now receive even more VA
notifications by email and text. ◆ Sending information about debt
acquisition
Veterans do not have to sign up for
VANotify. VA automatically uses it on the ◆ Expanding VANotify features to enable
back-end to streamline communications to push notifications (automated messages
Veterans who receive services from VA, as sent by VA applications to a user)
long as the Veteran’s contact information
with VA is up to date. VA’s investments in digital applications such
as the COVID-19 Chatbot, “I am Here”
Mail delivery is a slow and expensive process. texting solution, the Digital Screener tool,
It can lead to Veterans amassing piles of and now VANotify, ensure Veterans have
letters related to their health care, benefits, more options and flexibility in accessing the
and other services. Challenges can also arise benefits and services they have earned.
when Veterans change addresses or do not
have easy access to a mailbox. With the Charles Worthington, VA’s chief technology
launch of VANotify, which was developed officer, highlighted the technologists,
using open source software, VA further analysts, and partners across VA and private
expands the Department’s capability to industry who collaborated to deliver this
effortlessly send Veterans emails and texts to innovative IT solution.
support the following functions:
“At VA, our number one priority is delivering
◆ Confirming Veterans’ receipt of benefits excellent customer service to our Veterans,”
applications Worthington said. “It has been incredible to
see so many VA staff from across the agency
◆ Notifying Veterans of changes to their VA come together and quickly deliver creative
accounts Story courtesy of VA Office of solutions to new problems. VANotify is a
Information and Technology great example of VA’s commitment to using
new technologies to improve our services.”
◆ Helping Veterans track their VA Pharmacy
deliveries

FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 16 8

BOOK HIGHLIGHT: NON FICTION 1945, but they had revealed nothing to
the Japanese-not even the greatest
secret of World War II.

With the same heart-pounding narrative
drive that made The Bedford Boys and
The Longest Winter national bestsellers,
Alex Kershaw brings to life this
incredible story of survival and
endurance.

BOOK HIGHLIGHT: FICTION MOVIE HIGHLIGHT

Red Storm Rising Escape from the Deep: The Epic Story The Enemy Below (1957)
By: Michael DiMercurio of a Legendary Submarine and her Approved | 1h 38min | Action,
Courageous Crew Adventure, Drama | 17 January 1958
Goodreads: 4.17 · 943 ratings · 43 (West Germany)
reviews By: Alex Kershaw
IMDb: 7.5
Commander Michael Pacino is ordered Goodreads: 4.08 · 1,906 ratings · 210
on a mission of revenge to sink his reviews During World War II, an American
father's killer, Admiral Alexi Novskoyy, destroyer discovers a German U-boat,
who is aboard the Russian supersub By October, 1944, the U.S. Navy thus ensuing in a deadly duel between
Omega under the polar icecap about to submarine Tang was legendary-she had the two ships. The American Captain
deliver a surgical strike on the United sunk more enemy ships, rescued more must draw upon all his experience to
States. The Russian Magnum nuclear downed airmen, and pulled off more defeat the equally experienced German
torpedo dooms Pacino's USS Devilfish, daring surface attacks than any other commander..
which is trapped under thick polar ice Allied submarine in the Pacific. And
and sinking fast. then, on her fifth patrol, tragedy struck-
the Tang was hit by one of her own
faulty torpedoes. The survivors of the
explosion struggled to stay alive in their
submerged “iron coffin” one hundred-
eighty feet beneath the surface. While
the Japanese dropped deadly depth
charges, just nine of the original eighty-
man crew survived a harrowing ascent
through the escape hatch. But a far
greater ordeal was coming. After being
picked up by a Japanese patrol vessel,
they were sent to a secret Japanese
interrogation camp known as the
“Torture Farm.” They were close to
death when finally liberated in August,

FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 16 9

SUBMARINE ART

NH 86727 USS JOHN MARSHALL (SSBN-611)

Title: USS JOHN MARSHALL (SSBN-611)
Caption: Oil painting by Kemp Dowling.

FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 16 10

Support official base charities:

Upstate-Carolina Adaptive Golf