AIMM: Staff at AIMM and some volunteers raised the attack scope on the Razorback this morning. Given all past "plans" on doing this, it all went very well. Mark Taylor, a member of the Razorback Base, along with some of his crew provided the 600 pounds of hydraulic pressure and a special fitting to raise the mast. Took them about 30 minutes to raise it slowly as there was a lot of cleaning going on as it came up. The scope is set on a pedestal on a rotating bearing in the Conning Tower. This allows you to turn the mast as you look out the scope. Optics are great - low mag and high magnification. See the picture below and the link to additional pictures. May have to cut and paste the link. John John C. Barr Membership Chair Razorback Base - USSVI 9 Broadview Drive Little Rock, Arkansas 72207-5113 501-663-6622 (H) 501-993-3953 (C) jcbarr@aristotle.net

USS Snook and USS Razorback:

James W. Barnes, Associate Vice Commander of the Arkansas U.S. Submarine Veterans WWII, Diamond Chapter sent some photos to be placed in the next newsletter and my blog. The picture shows the improvements going on at the USS Snook (SS-279) U.S. Submarine Veterans W.W. II Memorial near the USS Razorback (SS-394) at Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum at 100 Riverfront Drive, North Little Rock, AR http://www.aimm.museum/ or http://www.razorbackbase.com/

James said, " The city is making some upgrades around the memorial. They are putting up a wrought iron fence and sod." Photos were taken August 18, 2008. More photos will be placed in the next newsletter with some of the background of the USS Snook.

I have so much information I would like to share, of all the hard work the Diamond

Chapter did to have this memorial in Arkansas. But, space is limited. They also are involved with the Razorback Base and continued work on repairs on the USS Razorback.

Twin Lakes Base meeting and lunch at the Elks Club in Mountain Home , AR is Tuesday, August 26. The membership continues to grow, so don't miss out in supporting your buddies. They are a fun group.

A story was published in the Polaris/August issue of one of Melvin T. Smith submarine experiences.