Requin Base Meeting Minutes
August 11, 2018
Baden, PA
Base Commander Huey Dietrich called the meeting to order.
Attendees: Mike Allen, Tino & Sally Bolcato, Eric Bookmiller, Lee & Patsy Bookwalter, Clare & Nancy Bouts, George & Cindy Brown, Ron Campbell, Joe Campisi, Huey & Edie Dietrich, Rick Elster, Reno Farina, Jerry & Linda Gaylor, Dick & Beverly Geyer, Rick & Joan Guntang, Bob & Lynn Gurley, Mark & Adriana Hoag, James Kontir, Jim & Charlene Lift, Bill & Sandy Lindsay, Charles & Nancy Loskoch, Allen Lukasik, Bat Masterson, Jim & Sandra Messer, Vince Metz, Frank Nicotra, Mike Pellegrino, Chip & Sharon Porter, Jeff & Eileen Simon, George Stass, Carl Stigers, Jack & Jenny Sutherin, John Swords, Chad Underkoffler, Mike & Tina Wyckoff
Base Commander Huey Dietrich: Quotes of the day: “Submariners are a bunch of intelligent misfits that somehow seem to get along, understand each other and work well together”
Requin History: August 24, 1944 keel laid at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. August 14, 1945 two weeks after her arrival and three days before starting her first war patrol, WWII ended and the Requin was recalled and ordered back to the Atlantic. August 1, 1952 Requin was back in European waters, during September she visited the United Kingdom, then in October the submarine transited the Straits Of Gibraltar for regular 6th Fleet duty. August 15, 1959 upon her conversion to fleet snorkel configuration, the Requin was given hull classification SS 481 and rejoined Subron 6 in Norfolk VA for operations as a normal attack submarine, a role she retained until her decommissioning. August 7, 1990 Requin left International Ship Repair in Tampa FL under tow to Baton Rouge LA. August 11, 1990 Requin was lifted onto barges and began her ride up the Mississippi River and Ohio River to Pittsburgh PA.
Base Commander Huey Dietrich: Let us at this time, with a moment of silent prayer, remember our Shipmates who made the supreme sacrifice that we may gather here in Peace. We dedicate this meeting to our Shipmates on Eternal Patrol, to perpetuate their memories in our lives and to honor our Shipmates on active duty in the service of the first line of defense of our Nation.
Boats Lost:
USS BULLHEAD (SS 332) August 6, 1945
USS FLIER (SS 250) August 13, 1944
USS S 39 (SS 144) August 16, 1942
USS HARDER (SS 257) August 24, 1944
USS COCHINO (SS 345) August 26, 1949
USS POMPANO (SS 181) August 29, 1943
We also wish to remember our shipmates of the Requin Base: Robert Campbell, Sam McGrew, Neal Sever, Frank Gogul, John Irons, Louis Kleinlein, Ed Yoder. Let us also remember the brave submariners who died performing their duties aboard submarines, some individually and some in groups, but where the submarine itself was not lost.
Chaplain Carl Stigers gave the Invocation.
Chief Of The Boat Chip Porter led the Base in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Members introduced themselves and the boats they qualified on.
Base Secretary Jeff Simon reported that Minutes of the previous meeting were published in the SVD and on the Requin Base website. With no objections, the minutes will stand as published.
Treasurer Lee Bookwalter reported an accounting of base assets, expenditures, and deposits is available upon request.
Other Reports:
Binnacle List: Lois Stewart, Lee Bookwalter, Clair Bouts
Membership stands at 188
Storekeeper Frank Nicotra reported on items available for sale at each meeting and on the website
Memorials, Parades And Ceremonies:
Washington parade – Saturday November 10, 1400 hours
Beaver Veterans Day parade – Sunday November 11, muster 0900 hours
Old Business:
None
New Business:
Base received a contribution from the VFW Aux Post 9199
Good Of The Order:
E-mail from Andrew Blate was read
Guest Speaker Marian Miller, fiancée to George Ronald Kroner a sailor lost on the Thresher, spoke to the members.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned.
Next meeting: Baden PA American Legion at 1230 hours on September 8, 2018