SEA POACHER ASSOCIATION

DEDICATED TO THE MEN WHO SERVED ON THIS SUBMARINE!

VOLUME 12, ISSUE 3 JULY 2014

EDITOR: LANNY YESKE LTJG 61-63 PUBLISHER: BILL BRINKMAN EM 60-62 ____________________________________________________________________

AN INCREDIBLE SS-406 REUNION

Staged by Chairman Jon Nagle, Cal Cochrane, Vincent Sottile, and Photographer Gazie Nagle with help from Bill,

Hubert, Terry, and Lanny on 29 Apr-3 May 2014 in Charleston. Here are some of us on the USS Yorktown (CV-10).

Our 103 attendees included Bill and Lin Brinkman EM60-62; Hubert and Linda Jackson EM66-69; Lanny and Fran

Yeske LTJG61-63 and banquet/dinner cruise guests Milo and Shirley Fuller-CO Trumpetfish (SS-425); Deidre

Bridewell (wife of James ET63-66); Joe and Stella Murdoch ET62-63; Merlyn and Shirley Dorrheim TM64-67;

John (JJ) and Sonja Lynch CS59-62; Terry Kopansky-Honorary SS and Lorelei Aden; John and Annette Snook

QM59-61; Chuck and Bobbie Killgore EM63-65; Calvin and Joyce Cochrane MM55-56 and guests Cal Cochrane,

Danny McKay, Tom Hirsch, and Sherrill Almes; Vincent and Sharon Sottile-Honorary SS; Banquet Speaker Major

General Michael Regner, USMC; Jon and Gazie Nagle MM62-63; Carroll and Jan Lawson QM61-63 and son Mark;

Ron Godwin ST58-61 and ENS66; Arne and Evonne Weinfurter MM63-66; Marty and Enola Stokes EN54-57; Bob

and Martha Schindhelm ET62-63; Richard and Shirley Fox CO63-64 and guests Martin and Susan Fox Sorensen;

Karl Schipper QM58-60 and Joan Carpenter; Tom and Polly Polen EM62-65; James and Rose Ann Halbert MM62-

64; Mike and Marjorie Kassinger EN64-66; Richard Carney EN64-66; Tom and Roberta Thompson IC55-56 and

daughter Lynne; Richard and Karel Earl EN63-65; Charles and Mary Ahler EM57-59; Aggie Romeo wife of John

IC68-69), her two sons Mick and Kurt Tonjes, John’s daughter Jacquie Romeo Miller and husband David Miller, and

their youngest daughter Lydia Miller; Robert Lawrence ET62-63; Jack and Sandra Merrill TM61-63; John (Hap) and

Sandra Hallam EM68-69 (cruise and banquet); Mary Jennison (wife of Richard EM60-64) and daughters Amanda

Reed and Dawn Brandges; Ken and Jean Manion EM63-66; Richard and Ruth Ann Carlson TM66-69 (cruise and

banquet); Ted and Fay Anthony SO55-57; Byron and Margaret Lennox FN62-64; Jim and Lillian Wilson CO64-66;

Carl and Pat Headland CO68; David (Buster) and Kaye McCollum QM62-63; Roy (Luke) and Linda Riley LTJG60-

62; Frank and Jayne Evans IC63; Rick Socha STS64-66 and Sharon Lyon with her daughter Sally Lyon; Don and

Avis Waldrop TM51-54; Troy Law FN52 and son Bill and Karen Law (30th and 1st); and Richard Clubb QM62-63.

There were last minute cancellations from Ivan and Marjorie Joslin LT60-63; Arnold and Eileen Johnson EM63;

Fred Brattain EM44-45 and son Gary; and Gerald Farr QM62-64 Sea Owl (SS-405) for various health and family

reasons. Many others expressed regrets on not being able to attend.

We were first met at the Holiday Inn in Mount Pleasant on April 29 with hugs and hellos from the locals that

included welcome bags on the event and personal letters from the Governor of South Carolina and the Mayor of

Charleston. Cal had also provided wonderful Sea Poacher challenge coins and lapel pins. There were Charleston

pins, magnets, maps, and everything needed for the perfect reunion stuffed in the bags. The hospitality room was

open and well stocked. At 1700 we used private cars to go to Gold Bug Island (of Edgar Allen Poe Fame) for a su-

perb barbeque dinner, complete with beer and wine, hosted by Cal and two of his Marine Corps friends.

Lanny and Terry were busy getting the hospitality room set up for the over 100 items contributed for the si-

lent auction that included donations from Snook, Earl, Romeo, Brinkman, Fox, Merrill, Lennox, Kopansky, Coch-

rane, Yeske, and Zimmerman. Joe Murdoch had his 1944 memorabilia (silver bowl, christening bag with broken

champagne bottle, and tags) from the Sea Poacher launching on display. Bill Brinkman’s Ship’s Store was open and

Cal had a gigantic display of plaques for bidding. Lanny provided a folder on the Sea Poacher final resting spot in

Peru. Dick Fox had an original Sea Poacher launching ribbon on display given to us by his niece LT Virginia Ann

Chase. It goes to the last one of us standing and then to the Submarine Museum in Groton.

On April 30, we first toured interesting Fort Moultrie (shown below) with lunch at the Boathouse Restaurant.

Then the rains came down heavily and our City of Charleston tour had to be cancelled. So it was back to the

Holiday Inn Hospitality Room, where the Sea Story Competition was held. Shortly thereafter, we were on buses to

our Charleston Harbor dinner cruise which was outstanding. Guests Milo and Shirley Fuller, CO Trumpetfish (SS-

425) were there. When asked about his boat, or the John Adams (SSBN-620), which he and Lanny sailed together for

over three years, Milo said “The boat did not make any difference - we are all one. We are Sea Poacher.” Returning

to the Hotel at 2200, a lot of activity continued in the Hospitality Room.

On May 1, buses took us to Patriot’s Point where we took a wonderful boat ride to Fort Sumter. The weather

was perfect, seas were calm, and the Fort with its museum were extremely interesting. See the next photo.

Upon completion, we ventured to the Aircraft Carrier Yorktown and a superb lunch in the CPO Mess. We

could tour the Carrier, Destroyer Laffey, or Submarine Clamagore where most of us went. It was not a pretty sight.

The inside was okay, but the rust and deterioration externally spoke of years of neglect. She has been sold to

Reefmakers, Inc. and once environmentally clean she will make a final dive offshore Florida. However, local subma-

rine veterans are still fighting this and say the battle to save and move her to the Hunley area is not over.

Then it was on to our business meeting. Lanny set up an authentic Peruvian Pisco Bar (including egg

whites and bitters) which received some attention. The main order of business was choosing a site for the next re-

union. Excellent presentations were given by Jim Halbert on Annapolis-Baltimore, JJ Lynch on Groton-New Lon-

don, and by Joe Murdoch on Branson. On a split vote, Branson was selected for November 2016, but was later

moved to 2015 on a large majority vote after the reunion by email. A motion was passed to fund up to 10 percent

from our Treasury for each reunion to help shipmates with expenses. This will be done confidentially and at our

Boards discretion. A motion was also passed to give the Brinkman’s and Jackson’s local banquet checks for San

Antonio which had been overlooked there. Jack Merrill gave a report on the Sea Poacher Base and a raffle to sup-

port the Roy Gallemore Memorial. Rick Socha offered a $1000 challenge donation.

On May 2, we departed early for Magnolia Cemetery and the Tolling of Bells Ceremony at the CSS

Hunley submarine gravesite for all three crews. It was a long walk, but with a bagpiper and our three groups of

veterans at the half step, it was not bad. We recognized 54 boats and 37 shipmates who had passed away since our

last reunion. Memorial plaques to Mary Jennison by CO Richard Fox and to Aggie Romeo by CO Carl Headland

were given. Taps were done by an active duty sailor. There were many tears.

Then we left for the CSS

Hunley itself. Immersed in sea

water for nearly 14 years, they

added Sodium Peroxide to the

tank the day before to remove

more of the hull concretion, and

unexpectedly the water turned

cloudy. We could only see the

conning towers, but no big deal.

However the day was not over, and we were off to Magnolia Plantation and a great lunch in a garden envi-

ronment. There was first a wonderful tram tour of the oldest plantation in America including 16 foot alligators.

Next, it was on to the Citadel for marriage vow renewals in the beautiful Summerall Chapel. Fourteen couples par-

ticipated with Vince Sottile and Episcopal Minister Reverend Frank Seignious presiding in a very moving cere-

mony. Roses were presented to the brides and there was press coverage from the Charleston Post and Courier and

ABC WCIV TV Channel 4 with both airing the next day. Vince gave credit to Cal and Joyce’s oldest daughter

Shirley for the renewal idea and who passed away shortly after our San Antonio Reunion from cancer. She told

him "you know you'll have to do this cause you know I won't be around." That's what he told Joyce on Thursday

afternoon at her house as a parting gift to her parents.

So, we finally returned to the hotel for the banquet. With an open bar and superb dinner, President Bill an-

nounced that Cal won the Sea Story Contest with the hand grenade in the wardroom involving Ted Anthony. Cal

also won the Peruvian SAPO game toss. We took in $934 from the silent auction. The longest distance travel

awards of $150 each went to Bob Lawrence, Tom Polen, JJ Lynch and Dick Carney. Bob also won the 50-50 raffle

and $220. Jon had the banquet room set up with Skype, and we all had an opportunity to talk directly with Ivan and

Marjorie Joslin in Florida who were missed.

Our keynote mystery banquet speaker was Major General Michael J. Regner, Chief of Staff to the Com-

mandant of the Marine Corps. With 38 years of active duty, he participated in Operation Desert Storm, Somalia,

Yugoslavia, Bosnia, and Iraq including the liberation of Najaf and Fallujah. He was also Commander of the First

Marine Division in Operation Enduring Freedom Afghanistan, as well as Commander of Marine Forces Korea.

The General was in full dress uniform and delivered a dynamic and inspiring speech. He noted the Marines

were part of the Navy and HE WAS NAVY. It made all of us proud to be veterans. We were honored by his atten-

dance. Sea Poacher made him an Honorary Submariner and Bill presented him with a large engraved submarine

dolphin plaque from the Association. His wife Mary is the sister of our own Vincent Sottile. Here are our three

Honorary Submariners - Terry Kopansky, the General and Vincent. We are proud to have them aboard the 406.

Then there was the main auction. Jack Merrill, courtesy of Ken Henry had a large set of mounted brass

dolphins that sold for $130 by auctioneer Terry to Jan Lawson and benefited the Gallemore Memorial. Ken also

donated 600 books to the Sea Poacher Base. Leo and Helen Carr of Gautier, MS, and Aggie Romeo of St. Peters-

burg, donated two 10 year old, but never opened Sea Poacher Afghans that sold for $260 and $250 to Dick Carney

and Chuck Killgore with proceeds to the Memorial Fund. Finally, Terry donated a three foot long metal model of

the Hunley. MajGen Mike presided over the coin tosses in a 50-50 elimination event that unbelievably was won by

donator Terry who generously opted not to accept it. So, with $320 already contributed it went up for bidding

again. It was won by Bill Brinkman and the Memorial Fund gained $500 for this one item. Many thanks to all you

silent and main auction contributors.

Again, the reunion was exceptional. Bill was right in saying that our reunions just get better and better. It

went perfect and was full of surprises. Everyone did a magnificent job. The amount of effort and detailed coordina-

tion given by Jon, Gazie, Cal, and Vincent was worthy of commendation. A few days later we received from Maj

Gen Mike an email from the Pentagon stating: “Thank You Sea Poachers! I am honored to be associated with such

a strong and patriotic group of heroes! FYI - this Friday May 8, the CNO (ADM Jon Greenert) will honor us with a

photo which I'll send to the Ship's Log via Bill Brinkman. Semper Fi Shipmates!” See the last page.

Finally, from Reunion Chairman Jon Nagle: “What can I say? To all of you who attended the Charleston

Reunion – Thank You. Your participation made the event a complete success. To those who could not attend, you

missed a big one. To my Reunion Committee of Cal Cochrane and Vince Sottille, thanks for your ideas and all the

hard work that made it all come together. From the opening barbecue to the closing banquet everything, except the

Hunley tour with cloudy water, went off without a hitch. Even the rain out was good as we held the Best Sea Story

Contest that afternoon. The videos of that contest will be put on the web shortly so your stories will go on forever.

Gazie is busy, as we speak, collating and identifying the more than 800 photos she took. These will also go on the

web. We are planning a special hard copy WEDDING ALBUM for those who renewed their vows. It will include

photos of the entire ceremony, and we are checking into the costs for doing this.”

OKAY – OUR NEXT STOP FOR THE SEA POACHER - BRANSON – NOVEMBER 2015

REPORT FROM 406 ASSOCIATION

TREASURER HUBERT JACKSON

BEGINNING BALANCE ON 6 NOVEMBER 2013

Memorial Fund........................ $1,903.89

Humanitarian Fund.................. $1,420.00

General Fund...........................$22,453.53

Bank Balance......................... $25,777.42

Debit Activity Check# Amount Purpose____ __

Dec 2013 342 $119.73 Reunion Welcome Bags

Jan 2014 343 122.76 Postage for Newsletter

344 423.27 Printing of Newsletter

Feb 2014 345 75.00 Sewing of Ship’s Patch on Welcome Bags

346 1,000.00 Holiday Inn Deposit

Mar 2014 347 832.75 Ship’s Stores $693.52 and $139.23 Memorial

348 700.00 Boat Club Rental for Reunion

349 81.38 Reunion Golf Cart Rental

350 93.59 Postage for Newsletter

351 412.69 Printing of Newsletter

352 245.00 Reunion Reimbursement

Apr 2014 353 570.00 Reunion Reimbursement

354 4,590.00 Reunion Tour Buses

355 4,268.48 Fort Sumter Tours and Cruise

356 1,232.50 Reunion Boat House Lunch

357 1,275.00 Fort Sumter Tours

358 761.25 Lunch USS Yorktown

359 28.00 Reunion Tour Bus Parking

360 1,118.00 Patriot’s Point Tour

361 1,334.00 Magnolia Gardens Lunch and Tour

362 48.29 Office Supplies

363 900.00 Barbeque Lunch on 29 April 2014

364 150.00 Reunion Longest Distance Award

365 Voided

366 150.00 Reunion Longest Distance Award

367 150.00 Reunion Longest Distance Award

368 89.00 Fort Moultrie Tour Tickets

369 Voided

370 1,335.00 CSS Hunley Tour

371 536.46 Lunch Boathouse Restaurant

May 2014 372 3,507.47 Holiday Inn Banquet

373 150.00 Best Sea Story Contest Award

374 55.00 Banquet Host Dinner

375 55.00 Banquet Host Dinner

376 55.00 Banquet Host Dinner

377 55.00 Banquet Host Dinner

378 1,077.28 Banquet Drinks

379 914.71 Hospitality Room Drinks and Snacks

380 570.00 Reunion Refund

381 25.00 Vest Chains

Deposit Activity Date _ Amount _ _ Purpose _______________ ______ To_ _____ ___

Nov 2013 8 $1,140.00 Reunion fees General Fund

19 1,140.00 Reunion Fees General Fund

Dec 2013 9 612.00 Reunion Fees and Ship’s Store General Fund

13 570.00 Reunion Fees General Fund

28 670.00 Reunion Fees 570.00 General Fund

Donation 100.00 Memorial Fund

Jan 2014 6 570.00 Reunion Fees General Fund

14 1,720.00 Reunion Fees and Dues General Fund

Feb 2014 3 626.00 Reunion Fees, Ship Stores & Dues General Fund

6 1,995.00 Reunion Fees General Fund

10 570.00 Reunion Fees General Fund

21 800.00 Reunion Fees General Fund

25 1,481.00 Reunion Fees 1431.00 and Ship Stores General Fund

Memorial Fund 50.00 Memorial Fund

Mar 2014 3 1,380.00 Reunion fees and Dues General Fund

3 1,205.00 Reunion Fees and Ship’s Stores General Fund

45.00 Donation Memorial Fund

19 2,246.00 Reunion Fees and Dues General Fund

25 845.00 Reunion Fees 395/Caterer Refund 450 General Fund

Apr 2014 8 595.00 Reunion Fees and Ship’s Stores General Fund

May 2014 6 3,352.00 Reunion Raffles and Other Proceeds General Fund

Note: $403 were transferred from the General Fund to the Humanitarian Fund to meet the 10 percent criteria for shipmate future reunion support as approved at the Charleston Reunion Business Meeting on 1 May 2014.

ENDING BALANCE ON 10 MAY 2014

Memorial Fund........................ $1,959.66

Humanitarian Fund.................. $1,823.00

General Fund......................... $14,450.15

Bank Balance………………..$18,232.81

DUKE, our Newsletter Publisher, Association Secretary and Shipmate resigned effective March 31 due to

family commitments requiring more of his time. His service for these past four years in having the newsletters

printed at his son-in-law’s business in Connecticut was outstanding in quality, price, and every detail.

This also involved the time consuming job of he and his family members having to fold the sheets, collate,

address, stamp and send to an average of 200 shipmates by snail mail every three months. Duke never complained,

and he and his family have our deepest thanks for a job well done. As Editor, you were truly a pleasure to work with.

Recent quotes from several commercial printers find the publishing rate to be much higher than Duke pro-

vided. With 90 percent of our membership having paid life time dues this would be a major drain on our treasury.

Bill Brinkman was also emailing the newsletter to 70 others members and Jon Nagle posted it on our website. Thus,

it could read on-line and/or a hard copy printed. Still, this was not going to be enough to defray costs, so we pur-

chased a $300 printer which allows us to print the newsletters at a much lower price for the next couple of issues.

President Bill and Lin, assisted by Treasurer Hubert and Linda, have graciously volunteered to do the printing in

Texas, as well as the mail out. Bill has asked snail mail subscribers to switch to email or the website and the response

has been outstanding. So, we are now down to printing 120 copies. It could get even lower if you respond! In any

case, we need a volunteer to be both Newsletter Publisher and Association Secretary to take over this task and be a

voting member. Bill and Hubert are already overloaded with work for the Association, and we are asking for some-

one to step up to the plate and take the watch. We know there is expertise out there!

THANK YOU WILLIAM DUKACZ

AND FAMILY FOR YOUR SERVICE

THE AMAZING SUBMARINE S-4

From Karl Schipper QM58-60 (SS) who researches family history and came across a 31 August 1929 article

in the Ironwood (Michigan) Daily Globe on the S-4 that is unbelievable. Nearly two years earlier on 17 December

1927, the boat had just finished a submerged run on the measured mile and was surfacing to return to Provincetown.

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Paulding (CG-17) was making 18 knots when a lookout spotted the periscopes and

shears of the S-4 coming up close aboard.

The OOD ordered the engines all back

full and the rudder hard to port, hopefully

to pass over the still submerged stern of S

-4. Paulding, however, struck her half-

way between the forward and aft battery

compartment bulkheads with a 2.5 by 1

foot long hole in the pressure hull. Paulding got on her radio and announced she had just collided with a submerged

object, probably a submarine and gave her position. She stopped and waited for the sub to surface. It didn’t. The men

inside the boat were thrown about by the impact. Some in the battery compartment started to jam whatever was

handy into the stream of water to stem the flow. The in rush was too great and it was obvious that the battery com-

partment would have to be abandoned. Six men were in the torpedo room and slammed the door shut. The remainder

of the 40 man crew made it back to the control, engine, and motor rooms and dogged the doors. The boat was not in

too bad of shape at this point and they settled to a depth of 110 feet. Certainly, this depth was not out of the reach of

divers and they weren’t too far away. No one was badly hurt. Then things got worse. Ventilation lines collapsed, and

water flooded into the battery space releasing chlorine gas and water spray shorted out electrical switchboards, and

the boat went dark. The air was foul and it was getting cold very fast. There was nothing to do except to wait for

help. The USS Falcon was underway from New London within two hours of the Paulding message, and moored over

the site the next morning and put down divers. They rapped on the torpedo loading hatch. Slowly, their six taps were

answered by Morse code from the S-4: “Is there any hope?” The diver responded “No” and the S-4 response was

“We Understand.” Six men were still alive. The diver moved aft and rapped on the conning tower bulkhead but no

answer. These men had already succumbed. The boat had been down for 24 hours when a terrible nor’easter blew up.

Very dangerous but the divers went down. They rapped again on the torpedo

room hatch and received a plaintive reply "Please hurry". While they tried to

force air into the space, the CO2 level was too high, the weather very bad, and the

entire crew died after three days on the bottom. Three months later S-4 was raised

and towed to Boston with her crew still onboard and flag at half mast. Several

Navy Crosses and a Medal of Honor were awarded to the crew of Paulding and

Falcon divers for their extreme heroism in the rescue attempt. The drama of the

attempted rescue hit the papers all over the country. The failure was devastating.

Then questions were asked. Just how is it that you cannot rescue submariners

who are stuck on the bottom? The answer coming from the Navy was not satis-

factory. The S-4 was to change all that. She was recommissioned in October

1928 and used for submarine salvage experimentation including diving bells and the Momsen Lung, which became

standard equipment for future boats. Submarine hazardous duty pay was also authorized in 1928. Here is the 1929

article Karl found with a good-looking photo I coaxed out of him. Thanks Karl! He and Joan were in Charleston.

The S-4 was a pivot point in the story of submarine design. The death

of her crew and the painful inability of the Navy to be able to rescue them be-

came the basis for an effort to make submarine escape and salvage a viable

option. Forty men died but the legacy they left saved the life of many others

(33 from the Squalus alone) because they used the S-4 devices and may have

saved an untold number more because of the improved safety and navigation

required after the accident. That they died is indeed tragic. However, they did

not die in vain. A memorial service to the men of the S-4 is held every year at

the Church of Saint Mary of the Harbor in Provincetown, MA. The S-4 was decommissioned in 1933 and scuttled

with most appropriate honors in deep water off Pearl Harbor on 15 May 1936. Details on S-4 are on the Internet!

PRESIDENT’S REPORT-BILL BRINKMAN 1. Dues: We have 214 Life and 28 Regular members. If you’re a Life Member or have paid your 2014 dues, thank

you. If not, please pay $10 for each year or become a Life Member for $100. Life Members no longer get annoying

letters from me or our Treasurer Hubert Jackson, receive a free patch, and we continue Life Membership status for

your widow. Make checks payable to Sea Poacher Association and mail to me at 4500 Tiffany Nicole Street, Round

Rock, TX 78665-9466 or email me at seapoacher@austin.rr.com with questions.

2. Address and e-mail changes: Please send us changes. Remember, we do not show your mailing address and tele-

phone number on our newsletters or our website. When shipmates request them, we do put them in touch with you.

3. Sea Poacher Memorial Fund: When a shipmate passes on, we present to the next of kin a Memorial Plaque. The

framed and matted picture of Sea Poacher underway at sunset includes a Final Prayer and service years. Funding for

this stands alone, so we appreciate check contributions made out to Sea Poacher Association and mailed to me.

Please indicate “Memorial Fund” on your check.

4. USAA and Auto Insurance Discounts: From Bill Buckley. If you take a computer safe driving course you can

save about $100 a year on your premium. Procedures vary by state and this is worth your time checking it out.

5. Das Boot: From Lanny. Arguably this 1981 produced submarine movie is the best one ever done and received 6

Oscar nominations. The original was a 5 hour film, but only 2 hours 9 minutes were released. There is a new Direc-

tor’s Cut in 2014 on Netflix that is 3 hours 28 minutes in length. It is good and presents a different perspective on the

crew and the U-boat. Good viewing. One can only wonder what remains in the other 92 minutes.

6. Trident Submarine Basics: From Hubert Jackson. This is a fine 26 minute presentation from the USS Pennsyl-

vania on how things work. Find it at http://www.chonday.com/videos/pen1usnav1

7. A New Submarine Book: From Bill Buckley. Called The Trident Deception by CDR Rick Campbell, it is claimed

to be the best new submarine novel since The Hunt for Red October. Check online or at bookstores.

8. VA Veteran’s Benefit Assisted Living, Home Care, and Nursing Home: From Jack Ensminger. This benefit is

little known of. If you are on limited income, check for benefits of over $2,000 a month at www.veteranaid.org. Then

go to the A&A Program. Apparently very few vets have ever taken advantage of this program.

9. New Sea Story Book: We have been contacted by James Schenk, Chaplain, USSVI Nathanael Green Base, who is

doing subject book and would like to include some of our sea stories. Lanny and I have no objection. Let either of us

know if you have any problems with this no later than August 1. Otherwise, we will give him a go to use whatever.

10. Key West Maritime Historical Society: From JJ Lynch. Hundreds of articles on Key West history and many on

submarines. Search on the Society, click on Journal Archive, and again on Index to Topics.

11. Submarine Collisions: From Jack Ensminger. An excellent summary of these events can be found at http://

www.everything2.com/title/Submarine+Collisions.

12. May 2014 San Diego Fires: With 15 shipmates in the area, JJ Lynch and I contacted them to ascertain any prob-

lems or needed assistance. We are pleased to report they were not impacted.

13. Ships Store: Because of space needed for coverage of the Charleston Reunion, we are eliminating this page from

this issue only. Check an earlier newsletter if you have anything you wish to order.

14. Memorial Plaques: Besides the Jennison and Romeo plaques presented at the Reunion, plaques were mailed

following the Reunion to the families of William Dougherty QM47-48 who went on Eternal Patrol 24 April 2014

and James McClanahan IC/ENS59-63 on 26 August 2013. Both families have sent back thank you letters.

15. Reunion Photos: Again, we greatly appreciate the photography provided by Gazie Nagle and the 800 photo-

graphs she took including several outstanding panorama shots.

RICHARD DENNING ACTOR & SUBMARINER

Not many submariners were actors, but we have one who wore silver dolphins and made at least

four WWII Patrols. Richard Denning (1914-1998) was in 150 films including Creature from the Black

Lagoon and An Affair to Remember. He was the Governor on TV’s Hawaii 50, Mr. and Mrs. North, and

had a lead radio role with Lucille Ball. Richard held an MBA, was a Yeoman First Class, and earned

three medals. He was also a Lutheran Minister. He remained in B movies because he looked too much

like Errol Flynn. Richard is on Eternal Patrol at the Maui Veterans Cemetery with wife Evelyn Ankers, a

WWII pin-up and Queen of the Screamers in Wolfman and Frankenstein movies. Bravo Zulu-Richard!

MEMBERSHIP JULY 2014

Robert Abbott

Robert Acor

Charles Ahler

Dewey Akins

Paul Allers

Joey Amposta

Peter Amunrud

David Andres

Ted Anthony

Ed Ashedon

Charles Auclair

Les Axford

Vernon Barnett

Russell Bauer

Amelia Beers

Harvey Benson

Carol Bergs

Truman Bernhard

Richard Bernoteit

Charles M. Birck

Douglas Bishop

Stanley Bissen

James Blackmon

Kenneth Bonnell

George Boyajian

Bob Bradley

Fred Brattain

John Brill

Deidre Bridewell

Bill Brinkman

Leroy Broadbent

William Buckley

James Burgett

Warren Burkett

Russell Burrows

Joyce Calderone

Richard Carlson

Dick Carney

Leo Carr

Kent Carroll

John Chaich

James Clark

Norm Clark

Richard Clubb

Ralph Cobb

Cal Cochrane

Joyce Colwell

William Cook

James Cooney

Billy Cowart

Bill Crismon

Walter Culp

Jolene Darnold

James Demming

Richard Dempsey

Tom Deuley

Floyd Dickerson

Betty Dickey

William Dietrich

William Donnelan

Charles Donnelly

Merlyn Dorrheim

Peggy Dougherty

Jack Dubbs

Bill Dukacz

Dan Dybala

Richard Earl

Martha D. Easley

Daniel Eberhardt

Fred Edwards

Leon Eggleston

Richard Elliott

David Elmore

Jack Ensminger

Marge Erickson

Garl Eubank

Francis Evans

Buster Flaskas

Robert Ford

Dante Fortini

Richard Fox

Ron Fraley

Harold Gall

Larry Garrett

Barbara Geddes

Louise Gentry

Ed Gibbons

William Gibson

Lyle Gillette

Ron Godwin

Billy Gorsuch

Jack Graham

David Green

John Greenville

Lillian Guilbault

Tom Haire

Jim Halbert

Carol Hale

John Hallam

Dave Harms

William Hayes

Carl Headland

Frances Heckroth

Bill Hellmer

Bob Henry

Marjorie Hickman

Dick Holtz

Billy Howerton

Jerry Houchens

Harry Huggins

C.R. Humphries

Rodney Ihrig

William H. Jackson

Mary Jennison

Arnold Johnson

Gerald Joseph

Ivan Joslin

Mike Kassinger

Allen Katen

David Keffeler

Gerald Keffer

Kenneth Kile

Chuck Kilgore

Terry Kleineweber

Terry Kopansky

Ray Krivascy

Richard Laake

Troy Law

Robert Lawrence

Carroll Lawson

Gail LeBlanc

Frank Lederer

Ted Lee

James Lemmerman

John Love

Jerry Loveless

Nathan Lundy

Bill Luttrell

JJ Lynch

John Mach

Charlann Madsen

Ken Manion

Mark Markham

Ann Matheny

Earl Mathews

John Mazjun

Doris McClanahan

Buster McCollum

Karen McCommas

Carl McCutcheon

Daniel McLaren

James McNerney

Jack Merrill

Ty Merritt

Mark Mordecai

Joe Murdoch

Lester Murray

Joe Musgrave

Gary Nagle

Jon Nagle

Jack Nims

Charles O’Baker

Julius O’Bannon

James Ochs

John O’Grady

Paul Ogg

William Parhamenko

Ron Patterson

Charles Peppler

Dale Petersen

Tom Polen

James Powers

Henry Primeaux

Jeanne Rabuse

Dewey Reed

Michael Regner

Larry Reiche

Zelda Richwine

David Richter

Dick Riggar

Roy (Luke) Riley

David Ringland

Robert Ritz

Nick Romano

Agnes Romeo

Salvatore Rosina

Robert Roth

Martin Ruch

Marcelle Rull

Kathy Saeli

John Savory

Herman Scallan

Bob Schindhelm

Karl Schipper

Ron Schnars

Russell Schondorf

Donald Schwartz

William Sharp

Ben Sheldon

Harry Sherman

Delvin Smith

John Smith

Rick Smock

John Snook

Fred Socha

John Sohl

Bill Sokoloski

Vincent Sottile

Richard Stickney

Marty Stokes

Chuck Strand

Evelyn Strunk

Tom Sugden

Robert Sumner

Glenn Suttle

Terry Tague

Chester Taylor

Ed Thompson

Ron Thompson

James Thompson

Thomas Thompson

Richard Trench

James Tryon

John Tulodeski

Albert Turbeville

Tony Tuttobene

Ed Urban

Fred Vavra

Edward Voloka

Don Waldrop

John Walton

Arne Weinfurter

Larry Weinfurter

Ray Wengrzyn

James Weston

Richard Whitmire

Olin Williams

Lanny Yeske

Lee Yonts

Hope Young

Jerry Young

Robert Young

SEA POACHER ASSOCIATION

Bill Brinkman, Publisher

4500 Tiffany Nicole Street Round Rock, TX 78665-9466

MAJGEN MIKE REGNER AND THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS

Our Banquet Guest Speaker - Honorary Submariner received his dolphins at the Reunion on 2 May 2014 and proudly shows his Sea Poacher plaque to CNO Admiral Jon Greenert in the Pentagon six days later.