Subject: USS Lapon Skipper Whitey Mack Whitey Mack, the renowned submarine skipper of USS Lapon, [which] made the historic and epic advances into Soviet Waters during the Cold War, is [now] in the final stages of pancreatic cancer and not expected to survive.Pass this info on to other submariners, as many will remember the stories outlined in . . . Blind Man's Bluff. Whitey was our engineering officer on Seawolf, SSN 575, in the late 50's; [he] went on to become one of the youngest submarine captains in American history!Willard Ross Jr., STSCS (SS), USN, Retired.Received from Bob Miller, WD6 Commander Forwarded (and updated) by Mike Hyman, San Diego Base

Branson Boat Reunions October 08 - Oct 7-10 USS PICKEREL SS-524, Oct 15-19 USS RATON SS/SSR/AGSS-270, Oct 22-26 USS CHOPPER SS-342, Oct 26-30 USS BUGARA SS-331 and Oct 30-Nov1 USS DIODON SS-349. All boat reunions are listed in the American Submariner magazine or on line at http://www.ussvi.org Read Max McCoy, journalist and author's commentary on his blog BACKSTORY at http://www.maxmccoy.com/blog

POW/MIA DAY, September 19th. Fly your flag. Today, very few people know that during World War II, some submariners were taken prisoner. Robert (Bob) W. Lents, a member of the Twin Lakes Submarine Base USSVI, Mountain Home, Arkansas is a Charter Member of the US Submarine Veterans POW Survivors Association. He was aboard the USS Perch (SS-176). The USS Perch crew members - fifty-two were saved at the end of the war. Eight died in captivity.

Submarine Veterans in the path of Hurricane Ike. Received from Ralph Luther, crew member of the USS Sennet SS-408, that John McMichael and his wife lost everything except for the motor home they evacuated in. They live in Galveston where he is the curator of the USS Cavalla SS-244 and the USS Stewart which is one of the remaining WWII DE's Museums. They were damaged and moved some. The Navy Historical Ships Association will tend to them. If any shipmates or others would like to help the McMichael, please get in touch with: USS Sennet SS-408 C/O Ralph Luther P.O. Box 864 Summerville, SC 29484-0864

The Subreport correction: http://www.thesubreport.com great website for daily updates on submarine news. Check it out.

Ron Smith, Submarine Veteran of World War II and author went on Eternal Patrol at 0615, Friday, September 12, 2008. He served with Joe Blanchett on the USS Seal (SS-183) and was a friend of Carl Schmidt, Central Region, Regional Director USSWI. Ron had many friends. He was the author of TORPEDMAN 1993 and THE DEPTHS OF COURAGE: AMERICAN SUBMARINERS AT WAR WITH JAPAN 1941-1945) by Flint Whitlock and Ron Smith. To Ron Smith: Calm sailing with blue skies. Thanks for your written words you left behind to help us remember the price you, and all the submarine veterans of World War II paid, so we could enjoy the freedoms we have today.

The Subreport, Batfish and Decks Awash! The Subreport at http://www.subreport.com/ is the most interesting, knowledgeable, submarine updated news website you'll ever read. I was excited to read that the Batfish reunion crew is planning a work week October 19-25 - For more information get in touch with Rick Dennis, War Memorial Park manager 684-6298 in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Read more about it on The Subreport. Also, there is a picture of the USSVI subvets convention in Texas. Thanks to Eric S. Ryle for placing information for WWII submarine stories wanted by Story House Productions on his blog - DECKS AWASH! http://decksawash.blogspot.com/

Bull Shoals Historical Society Meeting - Monday, September 15th, Bull Shoals Presbyterian Church in Bull Shoals, AR at 3:00 p.m. Guest speaker will be Mary Nida Smith sharing stories from her book , SUBMARINE STORIES OF WORLD WAR II for ages ten and up.

website: http://marynidasmith.homestead.com update

Boat Reunions - USS Razorback SS-394 September 7-10, Wyndham Riverfront Hotel, North Little Rock, Arkansas. Robert Opple bopple@aol.com 425-747-1247 USS Nautilus (SSN-571) 50th Anniversary of 1957 & 1958 Arctic Explorations. September 25-28, Groton Motor Inn, Groton, CT. Joe Degnan 860-460-4265 panopo@gmail.com www.users.gotsky.com/cave Melvin Tolbert Smith, STC (SS) USN-RET was aboard for that short time as an extra Sonarman. USS Sea Cat (SS - 399) September 28-October 4, 2008 at Branson, Missouri- Ramada Inn & Conference Center Phone 417-334-1000 Neal Chandler beaufox@aol.com Wayne B. Goodenow ET1 (SS) USN was assigned to the USS Sea Cat in 1944. Wayne's story is in the book, Submarine Stories of World War II by Mary Nida Smith