Requin Base Meeting Minutes
January 14, 2017
Leetsdale, PA
Base Commander Huey Dietrich called the meeting to order.
Attendees: Martin Abel, Mike Allen, James & Jennifer Beachler, Rick & Claudia Bistyga, Eric Bookmiller, Lee & Patsy Bookwalter, Clair & Nancy Bouts, George Brown, Thomas & Deneen Calabrese, Joe Campisi, Huey & Edie Dietrich, Dick & Beverly Geyer, Bill & Donna Greenlee, Ric & Joan Guntang, Lou Hamil, Mark & Adriana Hoag, Bill & Sandra Lindsey, Bob McPherson, Vince Metz, Frank Nicotra, Chip & Sharon Porter, Harry Sills, Jeff & Eileen Simon, Gary Snail, Carl Stigers, Jack & Genny Sutherin, Don & Dolly Taskey, Mike & Tina Wyckoff.
Base Commander Huey Dietrich: Quotes of the day: “Submarine life is not a service it’s a religion”
Requin History: Launched January 1, 1945. January 20, 1948 given hull classification OSSR-481 and modified to the Migrain II radar picket configuration. January 15, 1951 entered Mediterranean until May when she returned to normal operations on the US east coast and in the Caribbean. January 1, 1953 maintained her schedule of Second and Sixth Fleet operations but at the end of the year put into Philadelphia PA for extensive modernization overhaul that among other things removed her last remaining anti-aircraft cannon.
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 SCORPION (SS 278) January 05, 1944
USS ARGONAUT (SS 166) January 10, 1943
USS SWORDFISH (SS 193) January 12, 1945
USS S 36 (SS 141) January 20, 1942
USS S 26 (SS 131) January 24, 1942
We also honor our departed shipmate of the Requin Base, John Good and Robert Goodley. 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. 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: Edie Dietrich, Rick Elster, Judy Elster, Bob Gourley
Charles Tolbert and Matt Holzer went on eternal patrol in 2016
Membership stands at 222 making Requin the sixth largest USSVI base
Storekeeper Frank Nicotra reported on small stores available.
Old Business:
USS Requin SS-481 will be inducted in the submarine hall of fame on May 25, 2017 in Norfolk, VA.
New Business:
Meeting of Requin Board Of Directors will be held January 21, 2017 to adopt and approve our 2017 budget and the base meeting and activities schedule for 2016.
Possible new location for base meetings was discussed.
Motion to donate $500 to USS Pittsburgh kid’s deployment party was approved by the members present.
Motion to donate $250 to Quilts Of Valor was approved by the members present.
Joe Campisi and Mike Allen to form a committee and report on purchasing a memorial for submarine veterans at the Cemetery Of The Alleghenies.
For The Good Of The Order:
Reports were presented regarding the Groton Base and Dallas Base.
Next Christmas luncheon is scheduled for Sunday December 3, 2017 and the North Star Kids will perform.
Base Officers for 2017 were sworn in
Chaplain Carl Stigers gave the Benediction and blessing of today’s meal.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned.
Next meeting: Leetsdale PA VFW at 1230 hours on February 11, 2017.