Subject: 2009 USS STERLET SS392 Reunion resounding success/WWII displays in Branson
The 2009 Sterlet Reunion is now over and was a great success - mark your calendars now the 2011 Reunion will be in Tucson, Arizona November 8-12. The main theme will be BRING A SHIPMATE with you. There were 10 new Sterlet crew that had not been to a reunion at this one. The displays are now in the Veteran's Memorial Museum which will be their permanent home (they get 1.5 million visitors a year). You Commander made about 30 Honorary Submariners that are proudly displaying their dolphins in businesses and social venues in Branson. Imagine until now dolphins were not even shown there.

Your new officers for 2009-2011 are - Richard Jarenski YN1(SS)- Commander/Secretary - Jim Tipton ICC(SS) Vice Commandeer - Susan Rainey Treasurer/Storekeeper - Ron Wagner EM3(SS) Board Member - Jim Christley EMC(SS) Historian (non voting)

We will be doing a major membership drive to all non life members this Fall. Membership applications are on the web site www.usssterlet.com as well has hundreds of pictures of our reunion now posted. If you are not yet a member please join. We are glad to report that due to the generous donations of our Association members and our drawings for the Sterlet paintinigs/quilt/knitted hat/misc items our treasury is healthy to support our activities through the next two years. Current balance approx $5,000.00. Special thanks to Bill Brewer and Eric Steinig for their generous donations to the USS STERLET SS392 paintings.

Here is our press release from Branson:

Friday, October 16, 2009

Submarine vets reunite

A display honoring Submarine Veterans was unveiled at the Veterans Memorial Museum on Thursday. Phil Surratt | Branson Tri-Lakes News A display honoring Submarine Veterans was unveiled at the Veterans Memorial Museum on Thursday. Phil Surratt | Branson Tri-Lakes News

By Phil Surratt
Staff Writer
Originally published Oct. 10, 2009

During World War II, 266 submarines saw action.

Those vessels and the men who served aboard them were honored at the Veterans Memorial Museum on 76 Country Boulevard on Thursday.

A display of arm patches from each of the submarines was unveiled and dedicated.

Richard Jarenski, a veteran submariner who served aboard the USS Sterlet and is now active with the SS 392 Association, came up with the idea to honor the submarine veterans.

"When I was here a couple of years ago planning a reunion, I went through all of the places in Branson and the museum here. There weren't any dolphins, no mention of submarines anywhere in town," Jarenski said.

"We brought Japan to their knees in World War II. Our guys need to be remembered. So I came up with an idea of displaying patches of all of the submarines. I made a plea for veterans to send them to me,"he said. "The next thing I know my mailbox is full. By last February I had every one of the 266 patches to complete the project."

It took Jarenski and his friend Sue Rainey, who lives in Tucson, Ariz., seven months to put the project together.

Rainey researched all of the submarines to make sure everything was accurate and then meticulously glued every patch into place.

After that, the display needed a home. That's when Jarenski came up with Branson. The Veterans Memorial Museum welcomed him with open arms.

"It was back in June, when Fred Hoppe said bring the display to our museum. So we now have a home and this is where the display will stay," Jarenski said.

Branson Mayor Raeanne Presley was on hand for the unveiling. Presley was also made an honorary submariner by the veterans group. Presley welcomed them to make Branson their home away from home.

"In some small way I hope we can create a place of comfort, a place that you can feel free to talk about your service and know that we always can never say enough thank yous to you for your service," Presley said. "We consider it a great honor for you to pick Branson."

The submarine veterans also honored double Purple Heart recipient Ludwig Schneibel, from Littleton, Colo.

The 89 year-old World War II veteran was in Branson with his wife, Phyllis, for a visit.

"Ludwig was injured by a gunshot and later by a grenade while fighting the Japanese in Manila," Phyllis Schneibel said.

Schneibel did not receive his Purple Hearts until 2005.

"I ran into Ludwig in a hotel here in Branson and I invited him to be a part of our dedication," Jarenski said. "We are honored to have him here today."

Jarenski said bringing the submariner's display to Branson will be a lasting memorial to the many servicemen who bravely defended our country.

"I picked Branson to be our honor city because I was so impressed with the people here and the way they pay tribute to veterans," he said.