January 27th USSVI Twin Lakes Base, Mountain Home, Arkansas will hold their meeting and lunch at 11 am-1pm at the Elks Lodge on Highway 52 East. All 80 newsletters (10 pages) that I just finished will be in the mail Monday for the Arkansas Submarine Veterans of World War II - Diamond Chapter.

This Day in Naval History January 17, 1955First Nuclear-Powered Submarine Gets Underway“Underway on Nuclear Power!” – On this day in 1955, the first nuclear-powered submarine, USS Nautilus (SSN-571), got underway for the first time. With these words, Nautilus cast off her lines, steamed out of New London and into history! See the classic newsreel that showed off her new capabilities to the U.S. public in cinemas nationwide. See the birth of nuclear submarines, here on NavyTV.

Here is another place to get patches, and at a good price. The museum email address is: submus@tds.net This is a great offer from John at the St.Mary's Museum and John wanted me to share it with you. George Scheer CS1(SS) was a curator there for many years (went on EP last year) -- Any support you can give them would be appreciated by the Museum. Ski

U-Boat History – Sharkhunters International, Inc http://www.sharkhunters.com publishes the monthly KTB Magazine that is filled with history and stories of WWII veterans of the US Navy, USSR, Royal Navy, IJN and other nations using submarines. There is no propaganda. To learn more check out their website, the Official Worldwide publication of U-Boat History. Information provided by Harry Cooper at sharkhunters@earthlink.net Melvin Tolbert Smith, STC (SS) USN-RET has been reading non-fiction U-Boat History books. His most interesting one was The Admiral’s Wolf Pack by Jean Noll. He has been very fortunate to find several non-fiction submarine history books at the county library book sales. He found the U-Boats’ interesting as he was the top Sonarman 1st Class during World II. He was assigned aboard the U-505 (displayed at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago), U-2513 and the U-3008 to check out their Sonar after WWII. His story while serving aboard the USS Snapper (SS-185) is in Submarine Stories of World War II by Mary Nida Smith. During his Navy career he was also was a member of the historical HS-7 Anti-Submarine Squadron for about five years earning his “WINGS.”

Submarine Stories of World War II by Mary Nida Smith This book was written to record what the Submarine Veterans of World War II endured. Written for children ten and up. Most of the veterans entered the service when they were teens and it was their first time away from home. Nine submariners share their stories. William Dreher USS Boarfish SS-327 Melvin T. Smith USS Snapper SS-185 Marion Shinn USS Guavina SS-362 James Davidson USS Guitarro SS-363 Wayne Goodenow USS Sea Cat SS-399 Billy Grieves USS Thresher SS-200 Gail Diamond USS Scorpion SS-278 Joseph Blanchett USS Seal SS- 183 Ervin O Schmidt USS Saury SS-189 Included in the book are WWII Submarine patches & battle flags, submarine memorabilia, statistics, a glossary and photos. A poem by Irma, wife of Wayne Goodenow. They were married for 59 nine years before he rested his oars. He didn't get to see the book in print, he passed away shortly after I received his story. A limited addition has been published. To order one or more send $12.00 each, plus $2.00 each for postage to Mary Nida Smith 162 Stamford Drive, Lakeview, AR 72642

NEWS-03: Russian Sub Headed For Scrap YardSubmitted by: Pat Householder on 12/29/2008---------------------------------------------------------PROVIDENCE RI - A submerged submarine is seldom cause for alarm - unless it's a floating museum, painstakingly preserved by history buffs and educators.When the Juliett 484 started sinking in the Spring of 2007 after a storm blew through the Providence River, many feared the Russian Cold War Relic would be lost for good.Those fears may now be realized.The military was able to raise the sub in July, but the damage had been done. Now, members of the non-profit group that operated the former museum believe there are very few options left."The cost of rehab is prohibitive, at least to us," said Russian Sub Museum president Frank Lennon.Museum leaders welcome any outside organization that could save the sub from the scrap yard.While the museum was open, it offered an intriguing glimpse of the cold war era, says Lennon.By the end of January, Rhode Island Metals Recycling will move the vessel down river and dismantle it for scrap if someone or some organization doesn't come forward to buy the sub intact.Reported By Kelley McGee, Turnto10.com NBC News, December 28, 2008Office=========================================================

WWII ship, small boat united by Hurricane Ike Associated Press GALVESTON -- An unnamed 25-foot boat displaced by Hurricane Ike is now pinned under a World War II-era destroyer on Pelican Island, complicating efforts to return the popular tourist attraction to its berth. The USS Stewart, one of only three remaining U.S. Navy destroyers built during World War II, was moved out of its resting place at Seawolf Park after Ike made landfall Sept. 13. When floodwaters subsided, members of the Cavalla Historical Foundation who maintain the Stewart discovered another boat wedged underneath it. Foundation curator John McMichael said the boat has a green hull, an 11-foot stern and bumpers hanging over its side, but work crews have been unable to find a name or any other identifying markings. On Tuesday, Galveston's Park Board of Trustees, which manages Seawolf Park and partners with the foundation to keep the Stewart open to the public, will hire a company to separate the boats. The Cavalla, a World War II submarine, is also permanently berthed at the park on Pelican Island and was only slightly moved by Ike. Ernie Connor, a member of both the park board and the historical foundation, said that once crews finish righting the Stewart, the foundation will build a new gangplank to the Cavalla and open the hatch again for tours. The Stewart was added to the National Register of Historic Places last year. The ship commenced North Atlantic convoy operations in 1944 and made 30 crossings. It was decommissioned in January 1947. Local officials hope the Federal Emergency Management Agency will help pay to right the Stewart and make repairs to the rest of the display around the ship. http://www.theeagle.com/PrintFriendly/WWII-ship--small-boatunited-by-Hurricane-Ike Submitted by Carl Schmidt