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SEA POACHER ASSOCIATION
DEDICATED TO THOSE WHO SERVED ON THIS INCREDIBLE SUBMARINE!
VOLUME 17, ISSUE 3 JULY 2019
EDITOR and PUBLISHER: BILL BRINKMAN EM 60-62
____________________________________________________________________
Hello Shipmates , wives and friends,
Be sure to register for our joint Three submarine Reunion
September 25-28 , 2019 at Manitowoc, Wisconsin!
So far we have 34 sailors and wives or relatives and friends signed up as follows:
SS 405 & SS 406 : Bill & Lin Brinkman
SS406 : Bob & Caroline Acor, Dick Carney & Lois Koval , Richard & Nancy Clubb, Cal Cochrane &
Vince Sottile , Meryln & Shirley Dorrheim , Hubert & Linda Jackson ,Chuck & Bobbie Killgore, Joe Murdoch & Linda Machado , Karl Schipper & Joan Carpenter, John and Annette Snook , Rick Socha and Sharon Lyon
SS 407: John & Sherriyll Burke , Joe Palmer & Jordan Darrah , Ron & Peggy Plumlee , Paul & Mary Lou Roggemann, and Tony & Clara Ucci
Manitowoc Side Trips ( From Karl Schipper )
A. Crossing Lake Michigan
If you want to spend more time on the water here is an adventure ( 2 ferries )
Take the ferry Badger out of Manitowoc on either Saturday or Sunday afternoon across Lake Michigan to Ludington, Michigan. It is a 4 hour trip. Spend the night in Ludington. Next morning drive south to Muskegon, Michigan and visit the Submarine Silversides and the museum. Then take the Lake Express car ferry across Lake Michigan to Milwaukee.
This is a 2 ½ hour trip. Schedules and fares are on the respective web sites.
www.ssbadger.com/ and www.lake-express.com/
B. In and around Manitowoc/Two Rivers
West of the Lake Gardens Rahr-West Museum and Mansion
Pinecrest Historical Village Historic Washington House
Hamilton Wood Type Museum & Printing Museum
Henry Schuette Park London Dairy Alpacas
C. Longer Get Aways
14 Must-Visit Harbor Towns in Wisconsin Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame
New Submarine Book
Our own Bob Sumner BT 1960-1963 is one of 17 Subvets that tells their stories in the new book “ Standing Watch: American Submarine Veterans Remember the Cold War Era” by Johnathon Leung. The book is available in book stores
and on-line. I bought my NOOK copy on-line with Barnes & Noble . Right now , the hard cover book for $ 66 isn’t available, but the paper copy for $ 30 and the NOOK version to download to the tablet is $ 17. Hint : Get the book and
see how Bob reported on board to Captain Stahl and his 1st impression he made with the Captain !
September 15 , 1945 Article:
Reunion Keynote Speaker
Rear Admiral Gerald W. "Jerry" Clusen
Retired 1 Oct 2013
Rear Adm. Clusen assumed duties as Reserve deputy commander, U.S. 10th Fleet in October 2010. An information dominance warfare officer, he is also the Reserve component leader for the Information Warfare and Cryptology community. A native of Manitowoc, Wis., he enlisted in the Navy Reserve in January 1971. Upon completion of recruit training and Electronics Technician "A" school, he reported to USS Oklahoma City (CLG 5), flag ship for commander, U.S. 7th Fleet. Clusen served in Vietnam combat operations and was awarded the Combat Action ribbon and various unit commendations. Follow-on Navy Reserve assignments included service in naval air and surface reserve units in Wisconsin and Minnesota in support of communication stations, submarine bases, and naval air stations.• Shipboard tours included USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) and USS Richmond K. Turner (CG 20). Clusen was promoted to the rank of chief petty officer in 1981. Receiving a direct commission in 1983 as a special duty officer (cryptology), now information warfare officer, Clusen was assigned to the Naval Security Group Reserve (NSGR).•He completed commanding officer assignments in San Diego, Minneapolis, and Oshkosh, Wis., and an executive officer assignment in Great Lakes, Ill.• He served as deputy commander, Reserve Cryptologic Area Central, Fort Sheridan, Ill., and then as commander, Reserve Cryptologic Area East, Fort Dix, N.J. After completing a net-centric warfare support officer assignment for Navy Information Operations Command Reserve component units located in Norfolk, Va.; North Island, Calif.; and Pensacola, Fla.,• he served as Navy Net-Centric Warfare Group chief of staff in 2007. In 2011, Clusen completed a three-year active duty recall assignment serving as Naval Network Warfare Command special assistant for Reserve Affairs (N03R) and as deputy commander, and then commander of Navy Net-Centric Warfare Group through disestablishment in September 2011. Active assignments included tours with the Naval Security Group Command and the National Security Agency, Fort George G. Meade, Md.; Naval Security Group Activities in Adak, Alaska and Hanza, Okinawa; Joint Analysis Center, Molesworth, England; and the Fleet Information Warfare Center Headquarters, the Naval Network Warfare Command and the Navy Information Operations Command in Norfolk, Va. Clusen has completed the National Security Agency Senior Cryptologic Officer course, the Naval Information Warfare Staff and Operations course in Information Operations Planning and the Naval Intelligence Reserve Senior Intelligence Leadership Course. Clusen retired from Kimberly-Clark Corporation after more than 28 years in manufacturing operations, engineering and maintenance management; and project leadership in information technology, manufacturing computer security and product and technology development. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin – LaCrosse. Clusen’s personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two gold stars, and various unit and campaign medals and ribbons.
Hurricane Gracie September 1959
Bill Brinkman USS Sea Owl SS 405
In 1959 , while stationed on the USS Sea Owl SS405 , we were conducting a big
NATO Exercise Fishhook off Bermuda. The Exercise was cancelled due to the
development of Hurricane Gracie. We were attempting to avoid its course as we headed
back to New London. But if we went left , Hurricane Gracie went left.
We were in heavy seas on the surface going directly into the prevailing waves.
We eliminated one lookout on the bridge and instead had one lookout ( me ) and one
Conning Officer strapped to the bridge with chains and belts and wearing foul weather
gear. The Conning Officer was 5 feet 2 inches tall which was the minimum height
allowed for submarine duty. He was on the port side and I was on the starboard side.
To give you an idea of how rough the Atlantic Ocean was , we had a US Navy Destroyer one mile away from us on our starboard side. Normally, you can see about 20 miles.
The ocean was so rough that I only saw the destroyer every 30 minutes as we both would be on top of equal height waves. Now that’s rough!
Another measure of roughness is that of the crew of 100 , only 10 of us were not sea sick. Other crew members were offering me
$ 100 ( three weeks pay ! ) to stand their 4 hour watch so that they could stay in their bunks. Another measure of roughness is how many crew members begged you to shoot them!
So we were on the bridge when we rolled 50 degrees to the port side. We were standing only 7 feet above the nominal water-line and I looked down and saw the whole Atlantic Ocean rising up! With my 6 foot height and standing on my tippy- toes and arch-ing my back and tilting my head back , I was able to keep only my lips out of the water. While gulping down the precious air , I saw the poor Officer completely underwater for about 30 –45 seconds. Mercifully, the sub started rolling back to my side , elevating the Officer as the ocean drained away.
This Officer then asked me if I knew what to do if he was washed overboard. Normally, we would steam ahead , make a 180 turn , and go back for him. But in these heavy waves , turning would capsize us and kill all 100 men and of course , lose the ship.
I told him these facts and that besides throwing him a life preserver , that all we would do is wave "Good Bye " to him! So he then called the Captain and received permission for us to go below , dog down the Conning tower hatch , and do our lookout duties on the periscopes ( remaining on the surface).
Many have wondered , why didn't we submerge? Well , the rough seas last longer than we can stay down. If we had to make an emergency surface ( fire for example ), then we could possibly surface 90 degrees to the prevailing seas and capsize. So all things considered , our diesel sub was safer on the surface.
During this ten days of rough seas , we experienced a most amazing event. We ended up in the Eye of Hurricane Gracie!
It was wonderful. It was as though we were in the bottom of a huge soup bowl 20 miles in diameter. We were in the 20 mile flat part of the Ocean in extremely smooth water , as smooth as a still lake , and all around the 20 mile diameter was a rim of water 50 feet high! In the 20 mile eye looking straight up , the sky was perfectly Blue . But extending all the way up above the 50 foot water wall was the swirling black cloud which you could not see through.
A most un-pleasant side effect of the extremely smooth water of the Eye of the hurricane was that the 90 sea sick sailors recov-ered. Their color came back from green to normal , their cockiness returned , and they ate . Unfortunately our brief one hour time in the eye actually is at the 1/2 way point of our rocking and rolling. The poor lads got even sicker when we were back in the 50 foot waves!
Editors Note : Hurricane Gracie was the 3rd Category 4 Hurricane to hit South Carolina in 194 years ( 1824 to 2018 ) as in 1954 Hazel hits Myrtle Beach ,SC :1959 Gracie hits Beaufort , SC and in 1989 Hugo hits Charleston, SC.
Sherman Tank Drive and Firing the 76 MM Cannon...Bill Brinkman
On April 20 , 2019, I drove a Sherman Tank at Uvalde , Texas ( See Drivetanks.com for their website).
I had my two sons , Andrew & Bob and nephew Tony and my three grandchildren Emma ( 12 ) , Gogi ( 11 ) and Ben ( age 9 ) and you can see we had a Blast !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05ibHXdeJ2U&feature=youtu.be
TREASURY REPORT – HUBERT JACKSON
BEGINNING BALANCE ON 1 NOVEMBER 2018
Memorial Fund........................ $1,723.21
Humanitarian Fund.................. $1,503.00
General Fund...........................$13,266.19
Bank Balance......................... $16,492.40
Debit Activity Check # Amount Purpose
November 2018 416 $110.37 Reunion Beverages from General Fund
November 2018 417 50.00 Reunion Prize from General Fund
November 2018 418 50.00 Reunion Prize from General Fund
November 2018 419 50.00 Reunion Prize from General Fund
November 2018 420 50.00 Reunion Prize from General Fund
November 2018 421 50.00 Reunion Prize from General Fund
November 2018 422 50.00 Reunion Prize from General Fund
November 2018 423 50.00 Reunion Prize from General Fund
November 2018 424 50.00 Reunion Prize from General Fund
December 2018 425 868.39 $847.74 Newsletter from General Fund
$ 20.65 Memorial Fund
Deposit Activity Date Amount From / To
November 2018 5 $902.00 Reunion Proceeds to General Fund
November 2018 13 83.50 Ships Stores to General Fund
December 2018 12 14.00 Ships Stores to General Fund
December 2018 13 300.00 $200.00 Donation to Memorial Fund
$ 50.00 Donation to General Fund
$ 50.00 Ships Stores to General Fund
January 2019 28 1,115.50 $1,000.00 Reunion Fees to General Fund
$ 110.00 Dues to General Fund
$ 5.50 Ships Stores to General Fund
February 2019 4 1,000.00 Reunion Fees to General Fund
February 2019 11 1,520.00 Reunion Fees to General Fund
February 2019 20 550.00 $480.00 Reunion Fees to General Fund
$ 10.00 Dues to General Fund
$ 60.00 Donation to General Fund
April 2019 16 1,500.00 Reunion Fees to General Fund
April 2019 23 960.00 Reunion Fees to General Fund
ENDING BALANCE ON 1 MAY 2019
Memorial Fund........................ $1,902.56
Humanitarian Fund.................. $1,503.00
General Fund...........................$19,653.08
Bank Balance......................... $23,058.64*
*Includes $ 6460.00 in Reunion Fees
MEMBERSHIP JULY 2019
Robert Acor
Charles Ahler
Dewey Akins
Paul Allers
Pamela Amposta
Peter Amunrud
Ted Anthony
Ed Ashedon
Charles Auclair
Les Axford
Russell Bauer
Harvey Benson
Carol Bergs
Truman Bernhard
Charles M. Birck
Douglas Bishop
Stanley Bissen
James Blackmon
Kenneth Bonnell
Bob Bradley
Fred Brattain
John Brill
Deidre Bridewell
Bill Brinkman
Leroy Broadbent
William Buckley
James Burgett
Warren Burkett
Ruth Burrows
Joyce Calderone
Richard Carlson
Dick Carney
Helen Carr
Kent Carroll
Dolores Clark
Norm Clark
Richard Clubb
Joyce Cobb
Cal Cochrane
Ron Coe
Joyce Colwell
William Cook
June Cooney
Billy Cowart
Jolene Darnold
Hershel Davis
James Demming
Shirley Dempsey
Tom Deuley
Floyd Dickerson
William Dietrich
William Donnelan
Charles Donnelly
Merlyn Dorrheim
Jack Dubbs
Bill Dukacz
Dan Dybala
Richard Earl
Martha D. Easley
Daniel Eberhardt
Richard Elliott
David Elmore
Jack Ensminger
Francis Evans
John Fischer
Buster Flaskas
Robert Ford
Dante Fortini
Richard Fox
Ron Fraley
Dorothy Gall
Larry Garrett
Barbara Geddes
Louise Gentry
Ed Gibbons
William Gibson
Lyle Gillette
Ron Godwin
Billy Gorsuch
Jack Graham
John Greenville
Lillian Guilbault
Tom Haire
James Halbert
Carol Hale
John Hallam
Dave Harms
Patricia Hayes
Carl Headland
Frances Heckroth
Bill Hellmer
Bob Henry
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
Ray Krivascy
Richard Laake
Earline Law
Robert Lawrence
Jan Lawson
Gail LeBlanc
James Lemmerman
Byron Lennox
John Love
Betty Lundy
Bill Luttrell
JJ Lynch
Anita Mach
Ken Manion
Kay Markham
James Marshall
Ann Matheny
Earl Mathews
John Mazjun
Doris McClanahan
Buster McCollum
Karen McCommas
Carl McCutcheon
Daniel McLaren
James McNerney
Ty Merritt
Mark Mordecai
Joe Murdoch
Lester Murray
Joe Musgrave
Gary Nagle
Jon Nagle
Jack Nims
Judy O’Baker
Julius O’Bannon
James Ochs
Paul Ogg
William Parhamenko
Reba Patterson
Charles Peppler
Dale Petersen
Tom Polen
James Powers
Henry Primeaux
Jeanne Rabuse
Dottie Reed
Michael Regner
Gloria Reiche
Zelda Richwine
David Richter
Dick Riggar
Linda Riley
David Ringland
Robert Ritz
Nick Romano
Agnes Romeo
Salvatore Rosina
Robert Roth
Martin Ruch
Marcelle Rull
Kathy Saeli
John Savory
Mary Scallan
Bob Schindhelm
Karl Schipper
Ron Schnars
Russell Schondorf
Donald Schwartz
William Sharp
Ben Sheldon
Harry Sherman
Delvin Smith
Ellen Smith
Rick Smock
John Snook
Fred Socha
John Sohl
Bill Sokoloski
Vincent Sottile
Richard Stickney
Marty Stokes
Chuck Strand
Evelyn Strunk
Robert Sumner
Karen Suttle
Terry Tague
Chester Taylor
Ed Thompson
Ron Thompson
Thomas Thompson
Richard Trench
James Tryon
Elizabeth Tulodeski
Albert Turbeville
Tony Tuttobene
Ed Urban
Fred Vavra
Edward Voloka
Don Waldrop
John Walton
Arne Weinfurter
Larry Weinfurter
Jacque Wengrzyn
Linda Weston
Richard Whitmire
Olin Williams
Lanny Yeske
Hope Young
Jerry Young
Robert Young
PRESIDENT’S REPORT-BILL BRINKMAN
1. Dues. We have 200 Life and 29 Regular members (including 41 widows). If you’re a Life Member or have paid your 2018 dues, thank you. If not, please pay $10 for each year or become a Life Member for $100. Life Members no longer get reminder 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 3042 Alton Place, Round Rock, TX 78665-2119 or email me at [email protected] with any questions you may have.
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. Next Reunion ?
As you know, at our reunion in Manitowoc our main business is to select the next Reunion. If you want to go to a
specific place, and time , its best to do some homework before our September 27, 2019 business meeting. You will
present the proposed events, hotel costs, approximate overall reunion cost , and so on.
( Note that Karl Schipper had done a lot of research and had the Manitowoc 2019 proposal well scoped out at our
Pensacola Reunion in November 2018 whereas other proposals didn’t have the research and/ or costs figured out. )
Note that after we select the next reunion, that the entire USS Sea Poacher and USS Sea Owl and USS Sea Robin
Associations joins in with promoting and running the next reunion.
Also everyone at the reunion is urged to come to the Business Meeting as all those that attend the reunion get to vote
on when and where the next reunion will be .
Please call / e-mail me ( 512-255-0285 / [email protected] ) and let me know that you are working on a reunion
proposal as I can assist you. However, for two or more proposals, I must remain neutral until after we vote at the
Business meeting.
5. 7 5 th Anniversary of our Submarines Commissioning !
Sub Laid Down Commissioned First Commanding Officer
USS Sea Owl 7 Feb 1944 17 July 1944 LT. Commander Carter L. Bennett
USS Sea Poacher 23 Feb 1944 31 July 1944 LT. Commmander Francis M. Gambacorta
USS Sea Robin 1 March 1944 7 August 1944 LT. Commander Paul C. Stimson
6. Target Submarine List
Bill Buckley TM 50-56 has sent us the list of US Subs sunk as targets. See the URL
http://www.seapoacher.com/target%20submarine%20list.pdf
Or our website www.seapoacher.com
SEA POACHER SHIP’S STORE In addition to our normal items, we have Richard DeRosset paintings depicting Sea Poacher in a 1945 WWII gun battle with the Japanese. There are also two other paintings showing us with the Step Sail and during the Cuban Missile episode with the North Atlantic Sail. Ray Krivascy TM 1952-53 has also painted the 406 at the pier in 1952 which he gave to Captain William Gibson at his change of command in 1953. We have prints and high quality can-vas copies of these. All come unframed and prices include shipping. There is also a nicely made stained glass piece of Sea Poacher (10.5 by 17 inches) created by Annette Snook, wife of John Snook QM 59-62. This will be crafted by her as requests are received. To order, fill in the below form with your items (specify shirt size), make a check payable to Bill Brinkman, and mail to him with a copy of this form to 3042 Alton Place, Round Rock, TX 78665. Check out the other items also available from our Ship’s Store. Revised May 2019.
DeRossett –WWII 1945 Surface Action 18” X 44” DeRosset-Step Sail 10” X 23” Print or 12” X 28” Canvas
DeRossett-N. Atl. Sail 10” X 23” Print or 12” X 28 “Canvas Krivascy-Step Sail 15” X 18.5” Print or 18” X 21
Annette Snook Stained Glass
Items Quantity Price Total__
Painting DeRossett 18x44 canvas WWII 1945 ____ 65.00 _____ Painting DeRossett 10x23 print Step Sail _____ 25.00 _____ Painting DeRossett 12x28 canvas Step Sail _____ 40.00 _____ Painting DeRossett 10x23 print N. Atl. Sail/Cuba _____ 25.00 _____ Painting DeRossett 12x28 canvas N. Atl. Sail/Cuba _____ 40.00 _____ Painting Krivacsy 15x18 print Step Sail _____ 25.00 _____ Painting Krivacsy 18x21.5 canvas Step Sail _____ 45.00 _____ Stained Glass Sea Poacher _____ 110.00 _____ Ship Patch _____ 5.50 _____ Golf Shirt Sizes M, L, XL & 2XL (no pockets) _____ 22.00 _____ Golf Shirt Sizes M, L, XL & 2XL (with pockets) _____ 25.00 _____ Ball Cap _____ 14.00 _____ CD-We Remember Sea Poacher Book 15.00 _____ Dolphin Vest chain, gold or silver 25.00 _____ DVD-Where is Your Boat Today? ______ 20.00 _____
TOTAL ______
Memorial Plaques
Charles O’Baker SN 1961
Charles was born on April 29, 1940 and passed away on Thursday, March 29, 2018.
Charles was a resident of Friedens, Pennsylvania at the time of passing and is survived by wife Judy.
He was a Veteran of the U.S. Navy serving as a Seaman on USS Sea Poacher in 1961.
Interment at the Somerset Co. Memorial Park.
Memorial contributions may be given to Viaquest Hospice, 607 Georgian Place, Somerset, PA 15501, or St. Peter's Catholic Church, 433 W. Church St., Somerset, PA 15501.
James Clark FA 1952-1953
Jim passed away August 1, 2018. He had observed his 90th birthday the day before. Jim loved telling stories of his subma-rine days on USS Sea Poacher.
Survivors , wife Dolores , 3 sons , Michael ( Anita ) , Jay ( Janell ) , Tim ( Tara ) , 9 grandchildren and 6 great grandchil-dren.
His ashes were interred at the Abraham Lincoln VA Cemetery in Elwood , IL.
Dick Carney , EN 64-66 , presenting Dottie Reed with our USS Sea Poacher Memorial Plaque April 2, 2019
Dewey Reed
SO 1962-1963
Perch Base Life Member and Holland Club Member Dewey Reed, STC(SS) departed on Eternal Patrol on March 4, 2019. Dewey enlisted in 1957 and was assigned to his first boat, the Blenny (SS-324) out of Key West, FL, where he quali-fied and married Dorothea (Dottie) Soley in 1957. He was assigned to the Picuda, (SS-382) in 1961 and the Sea Poacher (SS-406) in 1962. He told us that serving on Sea Poacher was one of his finest experiences. He made second class and reenlisted in 1962 just prior to the Cuban crisis. During the crisis Dottie stayed in Key West believing that for a missile to hit her it would have to be defective. After the crisis was over, Dewey received orders to Sonar "B" School. After completing his training, he was assigned to the Grenadier (SS-525) and then 1966 was assigned back to school in San Diego as an instructor. During his 2 years in San Diego, he was promoted to STC(SS), an accomplishment to become a Chief in 7.5 years. His last assignment in 1969 was to help place the Tench SS 417 out of commission. After the Navy, Dewey and Dottie settled in San Jose, CA and he worked in various posi-tions in the electronics industry and started his own company. Dewey and Dottie retired in in 2007 and became full time RVers. They sold everything they had, purchased a long fifth wheel recreational vehicle and lived in it full time. They visited 22 submarine museums, done all of Route 66, been to nearly all the Sport Halls of Fame in America, been in all 48 contiguous states, visited numerous "War of 1812" sites, explored dozens of Civil War sites centered in Virginia, in one year alone attended 54 baseball games up and down the East Coast, attended nearly all the Sea Poacher reunions and most USSVI Conventions . Those of us at Perch Base would see Dewey in the winter months until he would hit the road when the weather be-came too hot. The memorial service and urn placement for Dewey Reed at the Arizona National Memorial Cemetery was held on April 2 , 2019 in Phoenix.
Oliver Ross EN 1958
Oliver was on board USS Sea Poacher from 28 July to 19 August 1958 and was a WW II SubVet. He died in 1983.
Donald Dunn YN 1959-1960
Donald was born 25 July 1936 and died 4 January 1979 in Moss Point , MS.
Carroll Lawson QM 1962-1963
Carroll died May 22 , 2019 in Perry ,OK.
Cedric Grant Chase 1944 Commissioning Crew to September 1944
Born 1913 Died 26 February 1980 Shreveport ,LA
SEA POACHER ASSOCIATION Bill Brinkman, President and Publisher
3042 Alton Place Round Rock, TX 78665-2119
