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

SEASON GREETINGS WORLD WAR II POSTCARD U.S.S. SNAPPERPainting by l. R. Lloyd (PASSED BY NAVAL CENSOR psa)

CHRISTMAS BELOW THE SEA

Housed in small quarters
shut off from the outside world.
Deep, deep below the sea,
thoughts of survival keeping watch.
The cook roast a chicken or turkey,
to celebrate this special season.
Fifteen minutes time out to eat
back to the work station

keeping watch deep below
or above the unpredictable seas.
No time to remember Christmas.
A moment of weak emotions
makes a difference of life or death.
Christmas as other holidays are hidden
deep inside each man who choose to serve
 aboard a World War II submarine.
© By Mary Nida Smith

December 7, 2008 is Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was 67 years ago in 1941. There are about 5,000 members living today that survived that attack. To learn more of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Project click on http://www.pearlharborstories.org/ . Ervin o. Schmidt RM1/C (SS) USN-RET who lives in Washington State was aboard the USS California at that time. Ninety-eight crew members were lost and sixty-one wounded. A motorized launch pulled Mr. Schmidt from the sea. In the confusion he was listed as missing in action. Before his family learned differently, they held a funeral in his honor. Later he joined the USS Submarine Service where he served on the USS Saury and the USS Torsk. He is a member of the USS Submarine Veterans WWII. Mr. Schmidt allowed his story to be in my book, Submarine Stories of World War II. I am most grateful to all the men who shared their stories with me. Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day December 7, 2008 Arkansas State Capital 3 p.m. Lite lunch served after the ceremony Please attend with your Legion cap on (USSVI vest/hats). There will be several Pearl Harbor survivors in attendance. Submitted by Frank and Suzan Kaye Commander Kirk Smith, USSVI Twin Lakes Base and I had a wonderful welcome as we spoke at the Baxter Country Library November 26th. I’ll be at Baxter County Library, Mountain Home, AR Sunday, December 7 from 2-4 p.m., during “Authors Day” book sale & signing.

George McMinn served on the USS Haddo (SS-255) during World War II.

Mr. McMinn has been an active member of the Arkansas Submarine Veterans of World War II, Diamond Chapter since the beginning. This year Mr. McMinn, as many other USS Veterans WWII have been battling health problems. They are in our thoughts and prayers.

Interesting website http://www.subsim.com/ lots of information - games, books and articles.

The Sub Report.Com has moved to Blogger -http://thesubreport.blogspot.com/ Your daily source for submarine news and events.

Submarine Veterans of World War II Convention 2009 will be at Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Woody Byrd USS Sennet and member of the Arkansas Submarine Veterans of WWII -Diamond Chapter sailed on his last patrol the last week of October 2008.

My heroes . . . The Submarine Veterans of World War Two by John (Gumba) Carcioppolo, May 12, 2007 First presented at the US Submarine Veterans of WWII North East Regional Convention 2007 (Please forgive me for adding commas and periods to your most thoughtful poem to allow it to fit in this space.)

As you take her down, and take her deep And level off at 400 feet.

Remember well those who went before who rest in peace on the ocean floor.Their boats rust in silence, and yearn to tell their story of how the crew died defending Old Glory. It's up to us to always remember how you fought the war after 7 December"The Submarines are all we have left" it was told. As boats departed on war patrols. It was to the Submarine Force that we turned after the Pacific Fleet was sunk and burned. While the fleet rebuilt you held the lines and kept sinking targets time after time. From Pearl out to Midway and the Sea of Japan you all were committed down to a man. Slowly but surely and one by one. You sank the ships with the Rising Sun. All enemy ships you did attack. Sadly one in five boats did not come back.You cleared the seas of enemy shipping. And their mighty warships were also slipping beneath the waves to the ocean floor to attack Americans never more.You did great things in that long war, as you filled the history books with your lore. If things went well a broom you’d fly. But if things went wrong shipmates would wait and cry.You won this war with nerves of steel and veins of ice. But our Submarine Force paid a heavy price. It started with SEA LION in late forty one and ended with BULLHEAD before it was done. PERCH, TRITON and KETE to name a few. And don’t forget others like TROUT and WAHOO. Names like Morton and Dealey were some of the best. But just as important are all the rest. Lockwood said "they went down fighting"to depth charge attacks that were always frightening. We lost 52 boats during World War Two. Over 3600 men, but none of you. You are the ones who did survive. And have always kept their memories alive.For 60 years you have tolled the bell. For all your shipmates who fought like hell. And now as you all turn gray and old. We will tell the stories that we’ve been told.We have the watch and will always remember the Submariners who served after 7 December. We will toll the boats and tell the story of our Brothers of the Phin who went down in glory. Today as our Submarines put out to sea. We reflect on your impact on history. On every boat and on every day, we’ll always remember you paved the way for you are our heroes and there is no doubt living up to your standards is what it’s about. When we wear our dolphins with pride on our chest it’s because of you that we are the best. Like the Marines you are the Proud and the few who served your country in a Submarine Crew you are shining examples of our great Nation and reverently called the Greatest Generation. This poem is my humble tribute to you. My heroes . . . The Submarine Veterans of World War Two (Forward by George Arnold USS Sea Fox)