BASE COMMANDER’S CORNER

December 2011

Ahoy Shipmates,

Can you believe it’s December already?  I can’t.  Seems like it was just Spring and my roses were starting to bloom and the grass needed mowing every week.  Now the roses need pruning and the leaves need raking, and I’ll need a 2nd “green” trash can to put everything in.

Bonefish Base has had a busy year, and for the most part a good year.  Before I go into the events of the year, I wanted to let everyone know that if you haven’t noticed our WEBSITE has been inactive for the past few of months.  With Shipmate Box Cox having to relocate to Michigan and Marty Bruce taking over responsibility of the site there were some changes and learning that needed to occur.  I am happy to report that in talking with Marty, the Website will be back up and running by the end of December.  Both Marty and myself want to let you know, that as in most new sites, there may be some things missing or not completely operational yet, but fret not, we will get everything, and even more, on the site. So sometime soon, put it on your bucket list, “check out the new www.bonefishbase.org” website.  

We started out the year by having a number of members participate at Martin Luther King High School (Riverside) in what they call King Remembers.  This is the school’s attempt to have Veterans share their experiences while in the service with members of the Junior Class.  The school has our mailing list from early this year and has been sending out invitations to the event for 2012.  If you haven’t received an invitation yet, and you’d like to participate, let me know. We had 7 members participate this year and I’d like to see more in 2012.

We participated in the Riverside Veteran’s Day Parade in March, while the crowd as not as big as some other parades, it was more than the year before.  We also participated in the Corona 4th of July parade. Now if you want to see a crowd that enjoys a parade you really need to go to Corona’s 4th of July parade.  I believe we were the only Veteran’s group there, and they had us up in front.  Well, we may have been the Silent Service, but the crowd was not as we went by.  You can’t forget the Murrieta Veteran’s Day Parade that we participated in on November 11th.  We were there with Scamp, Trieste, and San Diego Bases.  I’m not sure, but I believe Bonefish had the higher participation of the bases there.  This is also a city that turns out in mass to say thanks to the veterans.  We all had a great time at these events.

In April we were able to tour a 688 class fast attack in San Diego.  25 of us, including members and family thoroughly enjoyed going aboard and seeing how a “new” boat looks.  I can tell you that I know diesels were cramped for space, I thought the 637′s were cramped, but the 688 has so much equipment crammed everywhere that I had to turn sideways, and suck in the gut to get through some spaces.  I can tell you that several of those that went down for the tour were very leery about going below decks, my grandson Shawn included, but once they did, they really enjoyed going through the boat.  I plan to submit a request to tour another boat after the first of the year, so hopefully if you didn’t get to go last time, you will get to this time.

Sadly this year we lost two members, who went on Eternal Patrol, Jacques Abels and William Newman.  We all got to know Jacques very well, but I never had the privilege of getting to know Bill.  I know they are missed by their families and by all of us.

This year we had the immense pleasure of inducting Joe Canchola and George Ozanich into the Holland Club.  George has been qualified in submarines for 59 years having qualified in 1942 on the USS Saury (SS-189).  Joe has been qualified in submarines 51 years now.  He qualified in 1960 onboard the USS Volador (SS-490).  This gives us a total of 11 of our members that are now members of the Holland Club.  George and Joe join the elite group of Don Noyes, George Kinnison, John Raplee, Ray Rockers, Dean Van Leeuwen, Izar Martinez, Johnny Meyer, Howard Carle, and Jack Baker.

Next year is election year.  Elections will be held in March with the new board to be sworn in in April.  We have a nominating committee that will be going through the membership to look for those that would like to serve on the board for the next two years.  Marty Bruce and Izar Martinez volunteered for the committee, and I nominated a 3rd person, but I better talk to him to make sure he’s interested.  If you are interested in being the Base Commander, Senior Vice Commander, Junior Vice Commander, Treasurer, or Secretary you can contact these individuals, or wait for them to contact you.

We still have 2012 calendars available, along with Bonefish Base T-Shirts.  Contact George Riolo to purchase yours.

Our next meeting is January 28th.  I wish each of you and your families a Very Joyous Holiday Season, and a Safe and Happy New Year.  Take Care and we’ll see you next year.

Bob Schive

Base Commander
USSVI – Bonefish Base
www.bonefishbase.org
951-990-2805