volume 10, number 11 • november 2014 sole survivor of uss ......bob conboy ken dorn bach fleming...

THE PERISCOPE • November 2014 1

OCEAN SPRINGS -- The last thing Cliff Kuykendall remembers hearing before the explosion was a crewmate saying, “Well, there they go. We’ll see what happens now.”“We found out about 20 seconds later,” Kuykendall said Monday. “Boom.”When Kuykendall came to -- possibly a few minutes later, he’s not sure -- he watched helplessly as his submarine, the USS Tullibee (SS 284), slowly sank into the Pacific Ocean and out of sight.

USS Tullibee (SS-284)

“I thought, ‘Oh my God, I just lost my home,’” he said. “It was a long way from there to Wichita Falls, Texas.”Kuykendall, the 2014 Gulf Coast Veterans Day Parade grand marshal, was a 19-year-old submariner in the early hours of March 26, 1944, when the Tullibee launched two torpedoes meant for a Japanese transport ship. Instead, the torpedoes ran a circular route and struck the submarine.He was the lone survivor of a crew of 80.“The concussion was terrific. I was on the starboard during lookout. It was a real dark night, drizzling. I was almost unconscious,” he recalled as he stood in front of the USS Tullibee memorial in Ocean Springs. “I remember looking down and I could see the stern of the submarine gradually go below the waves. Those World War II diesel submarines were 312 feet long and I must have been way up there in the air, I don’t know. When I came to, I was submerged in the ocean.“I fought my way to the surface. I had swallowed so much water that I could taste salt and diesel fuel for at least a year after that.”Kuykendall said he could hear voices for about 10 minutes after he regained consciousness. Then nothing.He floated for several hours alone, except for an empty Sunkist orange crate that bumped into him.

Volume 10, Number 11 • November 2014

Sole Survivor of USS Tullibee Speaks About Being a POW - The Sun Herald

November 15th

Meeting

Same location as October meeting, i.e., American Legion Post 295,

Cypress, CA

The renovation of Bldg. 6, regular meeting place for the base on the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station on Seal Beach Blvd., is not yet completed. Ihe interior is done, but exterior amenities are still being installed such as the walkway from street to bldg.

We will meet at American Legion Post 295, 5646 Corporate Avenue, Cypress, CA, same as last month. See page 4 for meeting details.

Marilyn Senior advises us that national and base dues are due NLT 31 December, 2014. Continued on Page 9


Shipmates and Ladies,

Los Angeles/Pasadena Base is among the strongest in the United States Submarine Veterans, Inc. That is largely due to the high level of participation among our members, and to the continuing stewardship by our World War II veterans, many of whom established our Base. During the six years I’ve belonged to LA/Pasadena Base, we’ve also been fortunate to have committed and capable leadership. I have worked directly with them the past four years and have been impressed with their consistent focus on keeping our Base strong and honorable, and on finding new ways to increase membership and our visibility in the community. I join you in expressing thanks to our most recent leadership group as they move on to new adventures; Base Commander Chuck Senior, Vice Commander Rob Fleming, Secretary Phil Jaskoviak, and Memorial Director Ed Barwick. A hearty “Bravo Zulu” to you fellows! Our new leadership group has a fine example to follow, and I assure you we will continue to keep LA/Pasadena Base strong and honorable, and will work to attract new members to help us grow. Recently, George and Valerie Walrath did a marvelous job hosting a reunion of John C. Calhoun SSBN 630, one of the boats on which I invested some of my much younger years. As I renewed acquaintances, and met people who served in other years, I was reminded why I enjoyed the submarine service so much. It was and is made up of solid, capable people of character, most of whom are mindful of the accomplishments and sacrifices made by our submariners in World War II. As we meet to socialize and to do the Base’s work, please keep our World War II brothers and our common legacy in your mind and heart. Whatever your job and the era in which you served on the boats, enjoy being proud that you are a submariner! Have a safe, healthy and Happy Thanksgiving!

Fraternally,

Dave Vanderveen Commander, LA/Pasadena Base, USSVI

From the Wardroom . . .Dave Vanderveen, Base Commander


This month’s meeting was held at the American Legion Hall, Post 295, in Cypress as Building 6 continues to be renovated. Base Commander, Chuck Senior, called the USSVI LA/Pasadena Base general meeting to order at 1205 hours.Thirty-eight members and guests attended our October 18, 2014 meeting, saluted the flag and recited the Pledge of Allegiance led by Chief of the Boat Dennis Bott. Dennis also delivered the invocation prayer followed by a moment of silence for all our departed shipmates and lost crewmen on eternal patrol. Members and guests enjoyed a catered luncheon by Katella Deli. As in the past the food was excellent. A special thanks to Hal Silverman for his assistance with the luncheon.This month’s two $55 - 50/50 drawing winners were Jim Burnett and George Waltath. George kindly donated his winnings to the Flower Fund.Chuck welcomed new member Joe Derrico, MM2 (SS), USS Archerfish (SS 678), and a visitor from Carolina Piedmont Base, Peter Stephenson. Chuck also recognized our Poet Laureate David Rosenfeld who was in attendance.Chuck also presented the first of many longevity pins to fellow shipmates Mike Swanson (1 year), Larry Butler (5 years), Paul Riggs (5 years) and Ben VanDevender (5 years). Congratulations to all.At 1240 hours a call to order was made by USSVI West District Commander, Bob Schive, from the Bonefish Base, to begin the process of installing our 2015 Officers and Board of Directors. The newly elected officers and directors were called front and center. They raised their right hands and were sworn in as they recited the oath of office. Congratulations were extended to all those elected members and again we thank the outgoing officers and directors for their years of service.Bob spoke for a few minutes on better communication between the western bases.Incoming Base Commander, Dave Vanderveen’s first official duty was to thank Chuck for all he had accomplished over the past year especially with the remodeling of Bldg. 6 and leading the base membership to temporary meeting locations. Regarding Bldg. 6, Dave informed the membership the new Sea Lab construction has been delaying our re-occupying Bldg. 6. Most recent information is that a walkway has to be constructed up to Bldg. 6 that will meet ADA requirements.

USSVI LA/Pasadena BaseGeneral Meeting Minutes

October 18, 2014

Continued on Page 6

October 18, 2014Sailing List

Arnold, EdArnold, JudyBolton, Herb “Bo”Bell, BobBott, DennisBurnett, JamesButler, LarryConboy, BobConboy, ElenaDerrico, Joe *Dorn, KenFleming, RobFordham, HankHiga, AnneHiga, SamKoch, JoeMahan, JackMahan, MarleneMaynard, MarkMoak, BillRosenfeld, David *Schive, Bob **

Senior, ChuckSenior, MarilynSilverman, HalSilverman, KarenStaggs, HaroldStephenson, PeterSwanson, MikeTerry, CarlVan Devender, BenVanderveen, DaveWalrath, GeorgeWalrath, ValerieWalsh, DennisWalsh, KathyWhittlesey, DaveWhittlesey, KathyWilson, ArtYolken, Berry

* new members** District Commander


Treasurer’s ReportAs of November 7, 2014 our account balances are: Checking: $ 14,768.32 Savings: 4,699.87 Total: $19,468.19

Revenue for the month was $622.50, and expens was $337.90.All supplier accounts have been paid up-to-date, and all National dues were forwarded to USSVI.

Respectfully submitted,Dave Vanderveen, Acting Treasurer LA-Pasadena Base/USSVI

Ed and Judy ArnoldMike Cailor *Bob Conboy

Ken DornBach FlemingRob FlemingJack HerronSam Higa *

Michael Kish *Kenneth Loveless

Jack Mahan*

Mel Mares *Mark Maynard *

Bill MoakMike Swanson *

Dave VanderveenGeorge Walrath *

Dennis Walsh*Berry Yolken *

* Flower Fund Contributors

November MeetingPLEASE NOTE LOCATION CHANGE: Meeting is at the American Legion Post, 5646 Corporate Avenue, Cypress, CA. (See attached map) - same as last month

Date: Saturday, November 15, 2014 Location: AL Post, 5646 Corporate Avenue, Cypress, CA Time: 1100 – E-Board Mtg. and Social Hour 1200 – Pot luck Lunch A-H - Main Dish I-R - Dessert S-Z - Salad or Vegetable 1300 - General Meeting

Welcome Newest MemberLA-Pasadena Base/USSVI

David Rosenfeld

Welcome aboard, David.

Ship’s StoreOur storekeeper, Berry Yolken, will display available stores during the October meeting such as hats, shirts, belts, pins, etc. Support the base by buying from Berry. Contact him, before you buy any of these items on line or from a source other than your USSVI base. ([email protected])


Wow!! All of a sudden this year is almost over. The nice thing about it, is a chance for family and friends to get together and wish each other good health, happiness and prosperity.

On the downside to the holiday season we are inundated with a million catalogs. I pity the poor mail-man that has to carry all of the stuff around. I have talked to our mail carrier and at the end of the holiday season, he is a beat puppy.

For us at the LA/Pasadena base, I would like to extend a hearty greeting and have us join in some fellowship with our shipmates and family. I know that the Christmas menu is pretty much the same year after year. As I just mentioned, the idea is to sit down with friends and family.

The complexion of the base has changed a bit. We have lost long standing members and we have welcomed new members to the ranks.

We used to have a member that would take up a whole table with his family. Sadly, he has gotten orders to eternal patrol.

Rather than ramble on and on, just join us. Bring your family and friends and enjoy a good time.. The food is good, the price is reasonable. We usually have prime rib or salmon. If you have a taste for something else, let us know and we will try to accommodate it.

We will also have a “Tolling of the Boats” to remember our shipmates on eternal patrol.

See you there!!

Hal

Have A Cup Of Coffee With Me I like mine black and bitter

Hal Silverman, Past-Vcdr LA/Pasadena Base USSVI


Dave requested that all Christmas Luncheon checks be mailed to him during Berry’s transition as the base Treasurer. Dave advised the membership the e-board has re-instituted base life memberships. The requirement is to be a National Life Member and payment of dues for Base Life Membership as follows:

Age National Life Base Life Maturity* Age at Maturity

76+ $100 $100 5 years 81+

66-75 $200 $160 8 years 74/83

56-65 $300 $200 10 years 66/70

46-55 $400 $300 15 years 61/70

<45 $500 $400 20 years <65

*Based on current base dues of $20 per year.

Marilyn Senior, member of the membership committee, reminded everyone that base dues for 2015 are due prior to the end of the calendar year 2014.A clean sweep down fore and aft was piped in by the COB. At 1340 hours a motion was made by Harold Skaggs to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Joe Koch and approved.

Fraternally,Dennis WalshSecretary, LA/Pasadena Base USSVI

USSVI LA/Pasadena BaseGeneral Meeting Minutes

October 18, 2014Continued from Page 3

Virginia Subs to Get Berthing Changes for Female Crew - Navy Times

Sub designers are puzzling out how to fit enlisted women into the berthings on the Virginia-class attack submarines already in the force.“Right now we are doing the work to do the design changes for the in-service Virginias,” said Rear Adm. David Johnson, the program executive officer for submarines, in a Thursday speech.

Virginia Class Attack Submarine

“Frankly the tough part is to integrate the enlisted berthing and the chief 's quarters. The officers are fairly easy to adapt to, but the enlisted berthing and the chief ’s quarters you have to do a little bit of work on the ships and we're trying to do that as affordably and non-disruptively as possible,” Johnson said.Johnson, speaking at the Naval Submarine League’s annual conference in Fairfax, Virginia, said that getting mixed-gender crews on as many subs as possible was a priority. The sub force began its integration in late 2011 with the arrival of female officers — roughly 50 of them now serve aboard 14 boomer crews — and officials are now moving towards the next steps of integrating attack boats and enlisted crews.“We are looking forward to mixed-gender officer, chief petty offi-cers and enlisted on our submarines going forward,” Johnson said. “It's a must, it's the right decision and we're moving forward.”A task force led by the recently disbanded Submarine Group 2 recommended that enlisted women and chief petty officers begin serving on attack boats as the Block IV Virginia-class subs begin fleet service around 2020; these vessels are being designed with fully integrated crews in mind.Rear Adm. Phillip Sawyer, head of Submarine Force Pacific, said retooling the current Virginias would not move up the timeline for getting women into attack boat crews.The first Virginia-class attack subs to be integrated are the Virginia and Minnesota, which are slated to receive female of-ficers in early 2015. Enlisted women will begin serving on the Ohio-class boomers as soon as 2016.


Continued on Page 14

A personal account of a new SSN commissioning. - submitted by Jeff Porteous

Shipmates: Toby Oothoudt attended the commissioning of the USS North Dakota with his daughter Paige. They were invited because Toby’s father, a native of ND, was lost aboard USS Shark II just weeks before Toby was born. They were part of a group of ND veterans/survivors invited to the event. Toby’s report follows:

Shipmates:Superlatives are insufficient to describe the emotional content of the USS North Dakota commissioning weekend. Friday, a chilly and windy day, began with a tour of Nautilus and a visit to the Submarine Force Library and Museum. While there, we paid a visit to the archives, met with the Archivist and her assistant and discovered a few Shark II photos I didn’t have. They scanned those for me and I in turn am sending them a series of photographs taken aboard Shark II on her second patrol.At 1:30, we took a van to pier 17 where USS North Dakota waited patiently for her visitors to arrive. We were in the second group to take the tour and while waiting to go below, met the Captain – Captain Doug Gordon and the XO, Lt. Commander Kristopher Lancaster. Gracious and personable, we liked them immediately.The skipper and the XO were in their blue camo and I asked Captain Gordon if it made them invisible when they went below. His response was that it did not, but it did make it more difficult for his wife to find him around the house.The tour was simply amazing! Once again, I am in awe of the dedication, knowledge and communication skills these sailors demonstrate.(BTW - The namesake boat of the class, USS Virginia, was in drydock next to USS North Dakota)Saturday was a perfect fall day. Deep blue sky, no wind and temperatures in the low 60s.We arrived at the base before ten o’clock, boarded the yellow shuttle bus and got underway. As we passed the brick buildings across the street from the piers, it occurred to me that my father had surely worked inside them while Shark II was being completed. That was enough to create a fine mist.Then on to pier 17, where a large group of attendees were already on hand. The crew were mustered and making ready for the ceremony. USS North Dakota was taking in in the afternoon sun and basking in the glow of admiration from Navy and civilian attendees alike. Of

course, we headed right for the memorabilia tent, bought tee shirts, coffee cups and challenge coins.We took our seats and tried to take it all in. The couple sitting right behind us were, like me, originally from North Dakota, and the husband went to high school with one of my uncles…truly a small world. While waiting for things to get underway, we had a wonderful chat with Captain Cindy Judy, a medical officer attached to the base. She was outstanding!The commissioning ceremony was emotionally charged from the get-go and my daughter and I were damp-

eyed on more than one occasion, particularly so when the crew was ordered to man the ship to the strains of Anchors Aweigh!After the ceremony concluded and USS North Dakota officially joined the fleet, we headed for the hospitality tent for Dunkin Doughnuts and coffee. Paige had decided to start collecting autographs, so this was the perfect opportunity to begin. I spied ComSubLant Vice

Admiral Mike Conner and we made our way over to him. I introduced my daughter and myself, gave a brief plug for COD, then asked if we could have a picture with him. His wife took the picture and he wrote a wonderful tribute to my father in her book. A true gentlemen! She got the autograph of a Rear Admiral (can’t remember who) and we milled about for a bit longer.The crowd began to thin out, so we boarded the yellow bus, got back to the car and drove to the Marriott, where the North Dakota contingent was hosting a party for one and all. We plunged into it once more, Paige with her book and me with my trusty camera phone.Caught up with Captain Gordon, his sister took the pictures, Paige got the autograph and we all had a nice chat. Next on the list was the boat’s sponsor, Katie Fowler. What a super lady! More pictures, another autograph. Paige thought the XO was “cute”, so we cornered him for signing and a photo too.The North Dakota people hired a Teddy Roosevelt impersonator to mix with the crowd and he was amazingly good. We chatted with him for quite a while,


He credited his shipmate, Louis Joseph Hieronimus, for saving his life. Hieronimus had forced him to take a lifebelt before going on lookout. The partially inflated lifebelt kept him afloat long enough to be spotted.Unfortunately, it wasn’t by Americans. About 10 a.m., he saw a destroyer coming in his direction, flying the rising sun flag. “They made a circle around me, to my starboard, and opened up with a machine gun, firing at me,” he said. “Fortunately, they never got a lethal shot in, but bullets were flying all over the place.”The Japanese brought him aboard, pulling him up with a net because he was too weak to climb aboard. That’s when he had his third brush with death in less than 24 hours.A Japanese officer, holding a sword, called him a coward for not drowning himself rather than being captured. The officer swung the sword over Kuykendall’s head four times, missing each time.“Each time he swung it -- there were two Japanese sailors on either side of me holding me up -- I collapsed and fell to the deck and the sword passed over my head,” he said. “I did that intentionally because I knew if that sword hit my neck it would chop my head off.”A short time later, Kuykendall heard something in Japanese over the PA system and the harassment stopped -- for the time being.He was dragged into a deck house and tossed onto a mat.“Another Japanese sailor came in and he was carrying a small cup of sweet tea in his hand,” he said. “He lifted my head and was giving me this sweet tea. He said in English, ‘Don’t worry, everything will be all right.’ I said,

Sole Survivor of USS Tullibee Speaks About Being a POW - The Sun Herald Continued from Page 1

‘Well, they’re not all alike.’”He was taken to a small seaplane base among the Palau Islands. Eventually, he was tied to a tree atop a hill while Americans bombed the island as part of Operation Desecrate. After three days of abuse tied to the tree, he was put into a foxhole behind a Japanese navy commander’s home.“Two days later, the owner of the house came up and got me and they took me to the dock. I could see all of these

hangars had been leveled and it made me feel good. He could speak English. Well, he saved my life. I know he did. They would have killed me if it hadn’t been for him,” Kuykendall said, reenacting several captors punching him while he was tied up. “He took me out on the dock. A Japanese navy plane landed and he told me, ‘There you go. Good luck.’ Just like that. I looked at him and said, ‘Sir, good luck to you. I hope you make it.’ He said, ‘I’ll need it.’”The next 17 months or so, Kuykendall bounced among labor camps until World War II ended.His final days as a captive, he worked in a copper mine in Ashio.He recalled food rations increasing and American planes flying overhead.“They were sending out fighters to locate all of the prison camps so they could drop them food because they knew we were probably starving,” he said.When he returned to Texas, Kuykendall would stare at the ceiling at night and try to figure out how he survived so many brushes with death.

“I’d say, ‘I can’t figure this out. How did this happen?’ That went on for a couple of months, ‘Why little ole me?’ I

suddenly realized that if I kept doing that I’d just worry myself to death. I had to stop. I never did figure it out. I’ve never been superstitious in my whole life -- and I’m still not. What is, is.“To this very day, like I have told many people, I’m just lucky.”

USS Tullibee (SS 284)


October Meeting Photos(American Legion Post 295, Cypress)

THE PERISCOPE • November 2014 11 THE PERISCOPE • November 2009 8

UNITED STATES SUBMARINE FORCE LOSSESON ETERNAL PATROL

“I can assure you that they went down fighting and that their brothers who survived them took a grim toll of our savage enmy to avenge their deaths.”

— Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood, USN

NOVEMBER TOLLING OF THE BOATS

WE REMEMBER For those who gave their lives in defense of our country WE REMEMBER

USS ALBACORE (SS-218)Lost on 7 November 1944 with the loss of 86 men when she was sunk off northern Hokkaido. Winner of two Presidential Unit Citations, Albacore was on her 11th war patrol and struck a mine while running submerged near a Japanese patrol craft that had detected her.

USS GROWLER (SS-215)Lost on 8 November 1944 with the loss of 84 men when she was sunk in the South China Sea. Winner of two Navy Unit Commendations, Growler was on her 12th war patrol, and was lost while attacking a convoy, probably as a result of a depth charge attack or victim of a circular run by one of her own torpedoes.

USS SCAMP (SS-277)Lost on 9 November 1944 with the loss of 83 men near Tokyo Bay. On her 8th war patrol, she may have been damaged by a mine and was trailing oil, which helped Japanese coast defense vessels locate her and destroy her with depth charges.

USS CORVINA (SS-226)Lost on 16 November 1943 with the loss of 82 men when she was sunk just south of Truk. Corvina was on her first war patrol and appears she was lost to the torpedoes of a Japanese submarine.USS SCULPIN (SS-191) Lost on 19 November 1943 with the loss of 40 men near Truk. Severly damaged by depth charges after attacking an enemy convoy, Sculpin continued to fight on the surface. When the captain was killed, the crew abandoned ship and scuttled Sculpin. Forty-one men were taken prisoner; only 21 survived the war. Among those not abandoning ship was CAPT Cromwell, aboard as a potential wolfpack commander, he rode Sculpin down, fearing that vital information in his possession might be compromised under torture. For this, CAPT Cromwell was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

USS ALBACORE (SS-218) USS GROWLER (SS-215)

USS SCAMP (SS-277) USS CORVINA (SS-226) USS SCULPIN (SS-191)


October Meeting Photos(American Legion Post 295, Cypress)


October Meeting Photos (American Legion Post 295, Cypress)


exchanged cards, another autograph, another picture.We met North Dakota WWII sailor, Torpedoman 3rd, George Hansen, who at 89 years old, looks like he is in his 60s and can still wear his WWII uniform! George was serving on USS Ling and transiting the Panama Canal when the war ended.The party was winding down, so after making sure we hadn’t missed any autograph or photo opportunities from among the remaining guests, departed that place and drove to the WWII Submarine memorial outside the base. We took lots of photos there, particularly of the wall that has my father’s name on it, then drove over the bridge to New London for the day’s final activity…finding and photographing the place where mom and dad lived while Shark II was finished and undergoing sea trials.I had found the address on a letter he wrote mom (she had gone to DC to visit her sister) and gave it the Google test. Found the place next door, but no 38 Tilley St. Nevertheless, we drove to the place where the rooming house should have been and took photos. The photo I have of my dad with the place in the background doesn’t match the current building, but a lot of modification can take place in over 70 years.By now, late afternoon was swiftly becoming evening, so we pushed off to find a nice place for dinner.

Sunday morning Paige wanted to make rubbings of my father’s name at the sub memorial, so we made the brief trip over the Thames River to Groton one more time.My patrol report ends with these final thoughts: The United States Navy is the greatest navy the world has

ever or ever will see. The United States Navy Submarine fleet is the greatest the world has ever or ever will see. The officers and sailors who serve on our submarines are the best trained, most highly motivated and highest quality people one is ever likely to meet. Everyone, from ComSubLant Admiral Conner, to our tour guide on North Dakota, LS2 (AW) Kongwing James Lookfong Jr., was gracious, kind and thoughtful.

A day we will never forget.

Toby

A personal account of a new SSN commissioning. - submitted by Jeff Porteous continued from page 7

SUBMARINE VETERANSSILENT SERVICE

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$18.50each

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Make check payable to: Los Angeles/Pasadena Base of USSVIMail to: Hal Silverman, 15142 Vermont Street, Westminster, CA 92683

For information, email: [email protected]

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Continued on Page 16

Some Recollections of Events During the Cuban Missile Crisis:Recollections from USS Spikefish (SS404) PART II - Capt. Richard Fox (USN Ret)

Editor’s Note: Dick sent this to me after the reunion. I scanned it into my computer and it sat there until the last newsletter. The narrative will have to be in installments as it too long for one edition. If anyone wants Dick’s original notes, let me know and I will send it out by USPS or electronically. This installment also contains the original installment. So here goes!!...........Hal (Silverman)

The first couple of days in NORVA were wonderful. There were not many units at the DE piers or NAVBASE, and while I thought it was strange, there did not appear to any restriction on liberty. Since, as mentioned before, our crew had tropical uniforms with them, our division engineer was contacting family mem-bers to collect winter clothes had gone through the barracks to fill a sea bag for each man who lived there. These were later flown to us in NORVA. Until the shore patrol was given orders not to hassle Key West sailors in whites.

USS Spikefish (SS 404)Since my wife is from Portsmouth VA, I had occasion to visit with her parents from time to time. I recall once sitting at the bar at the local Elks Club with her father. Other people were there and of course the business with Cuba and what the bad guys might be up to was being discussed.It came up that I was in the Navy from Key West and so forth. “And where are your wife and children now that you are here?” I could only reply, lamely, that “well I had to leave, and could not take them with me. They are still there”. The silence was deafening. I think one or two people got up and moved. I don’t think I ever went into that building again.A few days after we had, arrived in NORVA, Spikefish was ordered to change locations to the Amphibious Base in Little Creek. One night 15 heavily armed soldiers showed up on the pier under the command of an Army lieutenant. Apparently, none of them except the lieutenant knew where they were and why they were there. The soldiers kept remark-ing how they never knew it got this cold in Miami. It turned

out this was a detachment from Special Forces at Fort Bragg. They were previously in underwater operations and had been sent to us for underway lookout training and covert opera-tions landings, if necessary.Each one of them looked as if they could play running back for a professional football team. Big men, but absolutely no fat. Quiet, respectful, and utterly dedicated to learning as much as possible on how to carry out their assigned mission. And, they had their SCUBA gear with them.Lockout operations were conducted thru the escape trunk in the forward torpedo room. The escape trunk is a cylinder 7 feet tall, and 3 feet in diameter. It has three hatches. One at the top, one on the bottom, and one about midway up the cylin-der. Top and bottom hatches are about 2 feet in diameter and the one on the side a little larger.Inside the trunk are various gages, air fittings and valves to let sea water in and to blow/drain it out. Also there is a light and a speaker system to let people in the trunk communicate with persons in the torpedo room after all of the hatches are shut.The lockout worked as follows: The submarine approaches the objective area at periscope depth. This puts the escape trunk at about thirty feet underwater, when within swimming range of the target, operations commence.

Two men with full SCUBA gear and bottles enter the trunk through the lower hatch. (upper and side hatches are closed before diving), when in, shut the lower hatch and open the sea valve to let sea water in to a level above the upper edge of the side hatch. Then the sea valve is shut and compressed air is introduced inside the trunk until pressure inside the trunk is equalized with sea pressure at that depth (15PSI). This leaves a foot or so of air at the top of the trunk for men to breath while communicating with personnel in the torpedo room and then they shift to SCUBA tanks for breathing (the trunk could be completely flooded full

if desired, but this would require divers to be on the SCUBA gear first and a completely flooded trunk would preclude the use of the speaker system.)The side hatch is undogged, opened, and the men step out, go up a ladder of 2 or 3 steps and then swim to the surface and are their own.The last man out gives a couple of raps on the trunk with a hammer as he is leaving. When hearing the raps, after waiting a few seconds, to be sure the man leaving is clear, personnel in the torpedo room operate a long lever going thru the hull of the submarine to close the side door again.A valve is opened on the bottom of the trunk in the torpedo room to drain the trunk of water and compressed air. This accomplished, the lower hatch can be opened and the lockout process repeated.This process is relatively simple in concept and it does work, but practicalities and circumstances usually prevent it from so simple as I have described. For one thing (unless the sub-marine is sitting on the bottom) flooding in seawater to the


Continued on page 18

Recollections from USS Spikefish (SS404) - Capt. Richard Fox (USN Ret) (continued) Continued from Page 15

trunk will make the boat heavy overall and it will start to sink deeper. To maintain depth control some way must be kept on to give effect to the bow and stern planes while pumping out a compensating amount from the ballast tanks.This is a delicate operation, i.e. staying submerged at a shallow within a foot or so of the ordered depth, and at a slow speed. Surface waves complicate the problem immensely, and a slight mistake can end up with the submarine half on the surface and half submerged.Such a condition might well tear it in a covert operation and would also pose great physical danger for anyone trying to exit the trunk. ( since they would be thrown about in the super-structure of the boat).Plus it is never easy for the men in the trunk. Two men wear-ing SCUBA tanks in a 3 foot cylinder are in close contact to say the least. The light is poor and they can’t bend over or even move their arms freely. Then to flood seawater in to cover yourself up on purpose, just goes against human nature. And it is cold, very cold. Not at all like the movies or the commu-nity swimming pool.After the port drill on procedure, we got underway from Little Creek to the Virginia Capes Operating Area where the water was deep enough foe Spikefish to dive in.Our objective was to submerge the boat and lock the men out, two at a time. On the surface an ASR (small surface ship) with small boats would stand by to pick up the swimmers when they came to the surface. We would be in radio and sonar con-tact with the ASR to keep them informed when the swimmers were locked out.Everything was in order except the weather. It was perfectly awful. The winds were 20-30 knots and the seas were running 10 to 20 feet. It was gray, overcast and cold. (Underlined). I do not remember what the water temperature was, but it must have been in the 40s in the VACAPES.We submerged in the assigned area, but trim as we might us-ing our best planes men and diving officer, it was still neces-sary to maintain 3-4 knots headway to keep reasonable depth control at periscope depth. This meant that a swimmer exiting the trunk was in real danger of getting hung under the deck or swept back or swept back into the superstructure as he exited the trunk and started up.As commanding officer of the submarine, I was in charge of the operation and had to decide whether we should proceed with the operation or not. Due to other factors, we only had this one day to carry it out. It was obvious that the weather was not going to get any better. But the soldiers needed all of the training they could get before going into combat.An extraordinary of time and effort had gone into preparation

for the exercise. Unspoken, but realized, was the knowledge that we as submariners and they as Special Forces had vol-unteered ourselves into organizations where danger was ex-pected on occasion. Not to carry out the operation as ordered would surely call our competence into question.On the other hand I do not think any sane man would proceed with a training exercise wherein reckoned chances were about even that we would lose one swimmer. If it were a combat opera-tion, the question of safety would be moot, but this was not combat. I surely did not to kill a man just to force the issue.I therefore hit upon the following compromise. We would put the swimmers in the trunk, let them down, equalize the pressure open the exit (side) door of the trunk. This would accomplish the major requirement of the exercise, except where the swimmers where the swimmers exited the trunk and swam to the surface.Instead, after the swimmers had opened the side door, they would let us know, and shut the side door again. We would stand by below with the closing lever to assist them if needed. Once the side door to the trunk was closed, the trunk drain to the torpedo room was opened, and the water from the trunk was drained from the trunk to the torpedo room.This also served to equalize the pressure in the trunk with the pressure in the torpedo room. The lower hatch was opened and the swimmers came back into the torpedo rom and the sequence was repeated.This was the way the exercise was carried out. All of the soldiers were cycled through the trunk and all of us learned a lot. What impressed me the most was observing the Special Forces troops when they climbed down from the trunk. They had been submerged in icy water for several minutes and, even though they were wearing wet suits it must have been excruciating. Not one of them spoke a word as they climbed down. Perhaps they were so cold they could not speak, since their eyes had a peculiar cast-all of them. As soon as the men exited the trunk, we pushed them into a shower with the warm water running to get their circulation going again. I forget if we gave them a shot of medicinal booze, but if we did not, we should have.After all had been through the trunk, we secured the exer-cise and returned to Little Creek. I fully expected criticism from higher authority for not carrying out the operation in complete detail, but I really didn’t care since in my own mind, I had done the right thing.Evidently the soldiers were on our side. They and our crew went on liberty together and terrorized the Acey-Deucy Club.As fate would have it, my superiors agreed with the action we had taken. Appended are letters from COMSUBRON SIX (NORVA) and a Special Forces Group from Ft. Bragg which indicates their approval.As things started to quiet down in the Cuban area, we were ordered back to Key West. The trip was uneventful except we passed through, exactly, the center of a hurricane off Cape Hat-


THE LA/PASADENA BASE USSVI ANNUAL CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON

On Saturday December 20, 2014 the LA/Pasadena Base USSVI will hold their annual Christ-mas luncheon for the year 2014. The luncheon will be held at the Los Alamitos Golf Course.

It is a time of year to visit with our submarine friends and their guests. More time will be de-voted to this activity.

This Christmas we will feature a “Tolling of the Boats”

Social Hour: 11:30AM. - Luncheon served 12:30PM This Year’s Menu is as Follows:

Tossed Green Salad (with choice of Ranch or Italian dressing)Entrée Selection:Chicken Piccata Marinated Breast of chicken sautéed with fresh mushrooms and finished with lemon butter and white wine Grilled Vegetables with Herb Roasted Potatoes Dinner Rolls and ButterRoast Beef with Marinated tender tri-tip, flame broiled with mushrooms sauce Grilled Vegetables with Herb Roasted Potatoes Dinner Rolls and ButterVegetarian Option: Mushroom Raviolis and Grilled VegetablesBeverage: Coffee, iced tea Dessert: Cheesecake with Raspberry Drizzle

As always, it is very important that you get your reservations in ASAP so that we can give the Golf Course a firm headcount no later then 7 days before the luncheon.

The cost of the luncheon will be $25.00 per person. Drinks will be available from the Lounge.

Please send your check and reservations (checks made out to LA/Pasadena Base USSVI) to the address shown below. Be sure to indicate your choice of entrée and how many of each.

Name:______________________________ Chicken Picata__________

Name:______________________________ Roast Beef_____________ Vegetarian Option_____________

Guest:______________________________ Total # of dinners______

Guest:______________________________ X $25.00 $_________

Mail to: Dave Vanderveen 6061 Broadstone Circle Huntington Beach, CA 92648 Phone: 714-270-8870


Continued from Page 16After five years of construction, the newest submarine in the US fleet is ready to set sail. But this Virginia-class sub is not like the others — it’s far more deadly and way less expensive to operate.

The USS North Dakota, SSN 784, which was officially commissioned on October 25th at Naval Submarine Base New London, is the first of eight Block III Virginia-class subs. That is, this is the third design iteration of the Virginia-

class submarine platform. The North Dakota maintains the same dimensions as earlier iterations — it’s 115m long with a 11m beam and 10m draft — and like other Virginias, it can dive to more than 240m at 25 knots. What’s more, it won’t need to refuel until 2047, thanks to its nuclear reactor.The North Dakota differs from its predecessors in both its sensory and armament payloads. The spherical sonar array that the US Navy has used in pretty much every one of its subs since the 1960s has been replaced with a modern, horse-shoe-shaped Large Aperture Bow (LAB) sonar array. The new sub also incorporates a pair of Vertical Launch System (VLS) tubes, each packing six missiles; technology borrowed from our Ohio-class subs.These design changes are meant to improve the submarine’s performance and keep the US Navy one stroke ahead of other submersible superpowers. The USS North Dakota is equally well-suited for littoral and deep water operations, regardless of the mission. In fact, the new sub has been cleared for seven core mission types: hunting other subs, hunting surface ships, delivering special ops troops, both strike and irregular warfare, ISR collection and de-mining operations.“From the Arabian Sea to the Polar Ice cap, North Dakota will operate undetected in the harshest environments on the planet as her crew protects the freedom of the seas and the interests of the United States,” Vice Admiral Michael Connor, Commander, Submarine Forces said during the commissioning ceremony. “Leaders around the world around the world continue to ask for more American submarine presence, because they realise that there are some very important things that must be done that only submarines can do.”The North Dakota and its 134-sailor compliment are expected to be hiding under the high seas by year’s end.

Recollections from USS Spikefish (SS404) - Capt. Richard Fox (USN Ret) (continued)

teras. We actually passed through passed through the eye of the storm-blue sky and all-then it started to blow fiercely again. Be-lieve me, a diesel submarine on the surface in a hurricane would teach Chubby Checkers a few things about rock and roll.We got back to Key West for joyful reunion with those we left behind and who had more peril than we ever did. I was very proud to hear how our better halves and families stood firm during the crisis. The smartest thing Fidel and Nikita ever did was not to make a run on Cayo Hueso.In the Spring of 1963 Spikefish was again ordered to Guan-tanamo Bay to render services. While proceeding there on the surface we passed close aboard a Soviet cargo ship with appeared to be canvas covered trucks on deck. I thought that it would be appropriate to take pictures of this so we turned around and tried to get along side for a photo opportunity. Unfortunately he had more speed than we did, even with full on four and the engineering room giving it everything we had. It became obvious we could not catch up, broke off and returned course to GITMO.We arrived the next day the base I called on the base CO, who told me that last night Radio Moscow was complaining that a Soviet ship carrying agricultural equipment to Cuba was harassed by U.S. Submarine 404.Finally we had made the press! I explained to the CO that our actions were legitimate and we couldn’t harass him too much since we couldn’t catch up with him.In the summer of 1963, Spikefish was decommissioned at Key

West. The boat was later used as an underway target for live torpedo firing at New London in 1964.[Note: By 1964 I was stationed in New London, just before Spikefish was going to be used as a target. . I had noticed that someone had painted on the side “Jonah 2:3”. In high um-brage, I called the Squadron Operation’s Office as said as the last commanding officer of Spikefish, I took great effuses at someone being called her a Jonah.The OPS Officer told me to check the reference in the Old Testament, and when I did all was forgiven. He offered me the opportunity to go to sea as a official observer for the last act, but I chose not to do so….Fox ]

Monster Machines: Say Hello To America’s Newest Attack Sub - Gizmodo.com.au


SEALION

S-36

S-26

SHARK I

Perch

S-27

GRUNION

S-39

ARGONAUT

AMBERJACK

GRAMPUS

TRITON

PICKEREL

GRENADIER

RUNNER

R-12

GRAYLING

POMPANO

CISCO

S-44

DORADO

WAHOO

CORVINA

SCULPIN

CAPELIN

SCORPION

GRAYBACK

TROUT

TULLIBEE

GUDGEON

HERRING

GOLET

S-28

ROBALO

FLIER

In memory of the

fifty-twosubmarines

lost in World War II

HARDER

SEAWOLF

DARTER

SHARK II

TANG

ESCOLAR

ALBACORE

GROWLER

SCAMP

SWORDFISH

BARBEL

KETE

TRIGGER

SNOOK

LAGARTO

BONEFISH

BULLHEAD

“This photo (of the USS Segundo, SS 398) was taken in the 1940’s on the Wangpo River in China going to Shanghai.” - Used with permission by Segundo Webmaster, Bob Price

volume 10, number 11 • november 2014 sole survivor of uss ......bob conboy ken dorn bach fleming...

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