Requin Base Meeting Minutes
February 13, 2016
Leetsdale, PA
Base Commander Huey Dietrich called the meeting to order.
Attendees: Valentine & Sally Bolcato, Lee & Patsy Bookwalter, Don & Dorothy Bright, Tom Calabrese, Joe & Jill Campisi, Huey & Edie Dietrich, Rick Elster, Peter & Stephanie Foster, Gerry & Linda Gaylor, Dick & Beverly Geyer, Mark Hoag, Jimmy List, Bob MacPherson, Vince Metz, Bob Meyers, Frank Nicotra, Jeff Sammel, Harry Sills, Jeff & Eileen Simon, Carl Stigers, Jack & Genny Sutherin, Rob & Joanne Welts.
Base Commander Huey Dietrich gave the quote of the day: “We shall never forget it was our submarines that held the lines against the enemy while our fleets replaced losses and repaired wounds.”
Requin History: February 1, 1969, Requin was towed to Florida where she served as a Naval Reserve training ship. February 21, 1990 Senator John Hines introduced Senate Bill S2151 which allowed Requin to be transferred as an exhibit at the Carnegie Science Center in 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 BARBEL (SS 316) February 4, 1945
USS SHARK (SS 174) February 11, 1942
USS AMBERJACK (SS 219) February 16, 1943
USS GRAYBACK (SS 208) February 27, 1944
USS TROUT (SS 202) February 28, 1944
We also honor our departed shipmate of the Requin Base lost in February, Richard Claypoole, Chuck Dreer, John Mills and Robert Vaughn. Finally let us remember all 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.
Base Secretary Jeff Simon 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 last meeting were published in the SVD.
Treasurer Lee Bookwalter’s report was presented and approved by the members present.
Other Reports:
Binnacle List: Doc Stoner, Mike Markel, Aaron Ellis, Edie Dietrich
Membership stands at 174 (8th largest USSVI base)
Memorials & Ceremonies
Carnegie Parade May 29
Sewickley Parade May 30
Veterans Day parade if possible
Old Business:
A motion to approve advertisement in the 2016 National Convention magazine was approved by the members present.
Members who attend a base meeting between January and June of 2016 will automatically be entered into a drawing for a 40 inch television and a stay in Cincinnati Hotel. These prizes are left over from the USSVI Convention.
Minutes from the Requin Base Executive Board Meeting held on January 17, 2016 were discussed.
New Business:
June meeting will be in Columbiana OH.
Arrangements are underway to hold the July meeting at the Carnegie Science Center
September meeting will be at Rodney’s Road house.
2016 Christmas Luncheon will again be held at the German Club in Pittsburgh and will feature the North Star Kids
Don Bright discussed how to become a member of his local submarine veteran’s motorcycle group.
A motion to pay for supplies for the Base Chaplain was approved by the members present.
A ceremony is being planned for the USS Pittsburgh in the local area sometime this year.
For The Good Of The Order:
Possible memorial on December 7th to honor WWII veterans, location to be determined.
Letters from several shipmates were read.
Members are invited to attend the West View VFW spaghetti dinner being held on March 13th.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned.
Next meeting: Dawson PA VFW at 1230 hours on March 12, 2016.