Twin Lakes Base USSVI: Carl Schmidt, Central Region Director sent an email to wish the Twin Lakes Base USSVI, Mountain Home, Arkansas congratulations on their 5th year (August 30) as part of the USSVInc.

Photo by Mary Nida Smith - June 2009 Twin Lakes Base yearly picnic Front roll L-R: Melvin T. Smith (USS Snapper 185), Duane Goodlett (1c1 (SS) 1CC (SS), Larry Noker (USS Pampanita SS-383). Back roll L-R: Sorry, I don't know the first subvet's name. Loyal Huson (USS Tinosa SS-283), Charles (Chuck) Davis, Curtis Grant (USS Pintado SSN-672), Frank Kaye (USS Sea Devil SSN-604), Bob Hozapfel (USS Medregal SS-480), and Commander Wayne (Kirk) Smith (USS Benjamin SSBN 649).

Military Conferences: Please check the ones in an earlier blog below that are highlighted. 2009 Military Writers Society of America MWSA Conference October 9-10 at Orlando, Florida. http://www.militarywriters.com

Beware of comments listed below. Cash on Line - I didn't approve of this ad comment. It was placed on my blog without my knowledge. Mary

USS Dorado Memorial in Wichita (KS) Veterans Park Submitted by: Pat Householder on 7/28/2009 When visitors to Veterans Memorial Park on Saturday discovered a memorial knocked down, some immediately thought it was a case of vandalism. But on Monday, the story of what happened became more clear, and it appears the memorial was not intentionally damaged, according to Wichita police.They said it was an accident ...due to the condition of the aged and decayed grout that held the 1,000 pound memorial to it's concrete base. Two women who were in town for a church convention were taking pictures at the park Thursday, when one leaned against the 6-foot tall memorial and tipped it over, according to Wichita police.The memorial that was damaged last week pays tribute to the men who were lost aboard the USS Dorado on Oct. 12, 1943.Blake (Blake is project manager for Operation Ensign, a project of Veterans Memorial Park of Wichita Inc.) said that it is owned by the Dry Docked Dolphins, the Kansas chapter of the U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II. On Monday, he continued to try to contact members of the Kansas chapter to let them know about the damage. He estimated the damage at about $10,000.Blake said people who want to help with repairs may send donations to: Veterans Memorial Park of Wichita Inc.; P.O. Box 4754, Wichita, KS 67204. He said donations should be marked for: "Dry Docked Dolphins repair. "NOTE: USSVI Memorials Chair Ray Wewers is making contact with the USSVI Dorado Base to see how they can assist, and the SVWWII leadership has been advised of the problem.Go to the link for the story and a picture. http://www.kansas.com/196/story/907790.html

PRESUMED LOST-- The book is about 7 submarines that were lost in WWII and some of the crew were taken prisoner by the Japanese. It tells the story of the Submarines USS Perch - USS Grenadier- USS S-44-USS Sculpin- USS Tullibee and USS Tang. It is the true story of the the men who were captured, tortured and used as slave laborers by the Japanese. You can order by going to www.stephenlmoore.com. Steve Moore is the author. I, Robert Lents was a crew member of the USS Perch.

USS SNOOK BASE to host the closure ceremony for Arkansas Diamond Chapter Submarine Veterans World War II. Pete Rathmell USS Snook Base Commander has asked for all who are planning to attend the Diamond Chapter WWII closure ceremony to please send in their registration forms. The completed registration forms are needed to make the finalized ceremony and meal plans. Remember the W/E of October 9th and 10th is a Razorback football W/E. The USS Snook base has rooms blocked for this ceremony. These blocked rooms will soon be released back to the hotel. A POC message was recently sent by National Commander Pat Householder outlining the program planed for this ceremony. This will be the first time a WWII Chapter closure has been hosted by a USSVI Base. If you need more information or registration forms please contact Pete Rathmell USS Snook Base at cprsk@gmail.com

Navy – U.S. Submarine Veterans Schedule The U.S. Submarine Veterans of WWII will hold their 55th National Convention Monday, August 31- Saturday, September 5, 2009 at Green Bay, Wisconsin. To learn more call 262-679-4496 or Email diamond7@rocketmail.com Next year they will hold a joint convention with the USSVI in Ohio. The USSVI 2009 National Convention will be held 8-12 September, 2009 at the Town & Country Hotel and Convention Center in San Diego, Ca. Shipmates will be gathering from all over the world. For more information http://www.ussvisanddiego.org/Convention2009/index.htm The Convention is being hosted by the San Diego and Scamp Bases of USSVI. The USS Snook Base Pete Rathmell Base Commander of the United States Submarine Veterans, INC will host Arkansas Diamond Chapter World War II Submarine Veterans Annual meeting and Decommissioning Ceremony October 9-11, 2009 at the Clarion Hotel, Bentonville, Arkansas. For more information Email cprskr@gmail.com or phone 479-359-2689 or Terry Fallatt 479-986-9180 or Email tefallatt@aol.com Dick Jarenski and Sue Rainey produced, assembled and labeled six displays to honor the submarines of World War II. Jarenski is a member of the USSVI White Mountain Base and a life member of the U.S. Submarine Veterans. He is commander of the USS Sterlet (SS392) Association, which funded this project. The unveiling ceremony will be approx 1400 during their reunion in Branson October 7-11. Everyone is invited to attend the event. On October 8, an unveiling of six displays honoring all submarines and their crews that served during World War II will be held. It will be permanently housed in the Veteran’s Memorial Museum in Branson, Missouri. For more information 928-535-5405 or Email rjarenski@aol.com