Requin Base Meeting Minutes
February 11, 2017
Baden, PA
Base Commander Huey Dietrich called the meeting to order.
Attendees: James & Jennifer Beachler, Tino & Sally Bolcato, Eric Bookmiller, Lee & Patsy Bookwalter, George Brown, Thomas & Deneen Calabrese, Ron & Nita Campbell, Joe Campisi, Huey & Edie Dietrich, Rick & Judy Elster, Peter & Stephanie Foster, Jerry & Linda Gaylor, Dick Geyer, Bill & Donna Greenlee, Ric & Joan Guntang, Lou Hamil, Bill & Brian Lindsey, James & Sandra Messer, Bob & Jude Meyers, Fred Nelson, Frank Nicotra, Chip & Sharon Porter, Harry Sills, Jeff & Eileen Simon, George Stass, Carl Stigers, Jack & Genny Sutherin, Bob Weismantle, Mike & Tina Wyckoff.
Base Commander Huey Dietrich: Quotes of the day: “We shall never forget the submariners who held the lines while we replaced our losses and repaired our 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, Devern Pyatt 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.
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 last meeting were published in the SVD and the base website. Executive Board meeting minutes will be published on the base website. With no objections, the minutes were approved as published.
Treasurer Lee Bookwalter gave an accounting of base assets, expenditures, and deposits. With no objections, the report was approved.
Other Reports:
Binnacle List: Aaron Elis, Bernie Sigler, Sandra Messer, John Yaksich
Tom Stewart went on eternal patrol in January.
Membership stands at 222 making Requin the sixth largest USSVI base
Arrangements are being made for a Kap(ss)4Kid(ss) group on the USS Requin
Chaplain Carl Stigers reported on Eagle Scouts presentations.
Memorials And Ceremonies:
USS Requin SS-481 will be inducted in the submarine hall of fame on May 25, 2017 in Norfolk, VA.
New Holland Club members will be inducted at the April meeting.
Memorial service on USS Requin, May 28th
Carnegie parade, May 28th
Sewickley parade, May 29th
Coraopolis parade, May 29th
Leetsdale parade, July 4th
Cannonsburg parade, July 4th
Pittsburgh parade, November 11th
Social Events:
Navy Week, June 19-25 in Pittsburgh, PA
Navy Ball, October 20th in Harmorville, PA
Christmas Luncheon, December 9th at the German Club in Pittsburgh, PA. Entertainment provided by the North Star Kids
Old Business:
Possible move from Leetsdale VFW was discussed. Motion to enter into discussions with American Legion in Baden, PA was approved by the members present.
New Business:
Motion for Requin Base to take over PA submariner’s license plate program was discussed.
Requin Base budget for 2017 was reviewed and approved by the members present.
For The Good Of The Order:
Letters to the base were read.
Chaplain Carl Stigers gave the Benediction and blessing of today’s meal.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned.
Next meeting: Dawson PA VFW at 1230 hours on March 11, 2017.