Shipmates,

Well I did spend time checking out places and things to do during our reunion in April of 2009.  Most of you may think this is a bit far in advance but believe me we will need to start making reservations in March of 2008.  I have not locked on to a hotel just yet but hopefully I’ll get a deal shortly.  I know that Stan has told everyone over and over to save your money for this trip and he is right on target.

When I do get a hotel to block rooms I am thinking based on the prices I already know about that we will be paying in the $130 to $140 per night.

I can tell you that the military hotel is not cheap anymore, I paid this time $113 which included parking the car.  They quoted be prices for 2008 at $122 without parking and said add about 10% for 2009.  It would be very hard to block rooms there as they will only take retired folks and a lot of our folks are not retired.

As far as places to hold the welcome aboard party and dinner we can use many places plus the military hotel as well as the Bowfin Memorial park would work.
I also had a chance to meet with ComSubPac and asked him if he would be our guest speaker and he said yes if he is still there.  I also made contact with their Staff Executive Officer and can use him for any tours that we want to arrange.

Now what I want to know is there anything special that you want to do in Hawaii.  Please let me know.

In addition I just want to be clear on this, once we block a hotel you are going to have sign up.  This will mean a year in advance so it will be a commitment on your part.

Regards,

Tom

Good Day Wahoo Shipmates,

I have just returned from the Wahoo Ceremony and I must say it was the best Memorial Service I have ever attended. The guest speaker was Rear Admiral Joseph Walsh ComSubPac. He did an outstanding job. Those in attendance included the 3 living crew members who had just gotten off the boat before her final patrol. The Navy band played for the ceremony and there was a 21 gun salute on board the the USS Bowfin. I will have Stan post a couple of pictures from the ceremony. I did present two painting to the families of the 238, one of both Wahoos’s and one of the 238 from the crew of the 565. I also let them know that there will be a Memorial bench being made for both boats that will be in Charleston.

During the ceremony they had the tolling of the bell for all those lost on the boat. This was done by family members. I had a chance to meet Doug Morton the son of Mush Morton the Wahoo’s Captain. His sister and the rest of the family were also in attendance.

There were about 200 people at this ceremony. I think I will talk about our upcoming reunion in a separate writeup.

Below are a couple of pictures.

Regards,

Tom

Jim Allen on the left and Carl Hood on the right in 1st pic
Tom Young, Carl Hood, Mr Logue sitting, his
brother went down with the Wahoo in 2nd pic.

click picture to see full size

Hi Shipmates,

Well it has been several months since I last wrote and there is some news, but not a great deal.   I have been contacted by a couple of people about their fathers who served on the Wahoo.  The first was about Eric v Anderson who was aboard in the 50’s.  He has passed away but his son is sending me some pictures and other things.  I’m sure some of you remember him.  The second shipmate was part of the commissioning crew.  His name was E.R. Barcewski ENC(SS). He also passed away but his son is looking for any info he can get, so if any of the commissioning crew remembers anything about him please let me know.

On the Subvets cruise to Alaska in September Bob(Spider) Spides ashs were buried at sea off the cruise ship.

Also an update on our Memorial bench, it should be completed some time within the next month.  Bud Atkins, Joe Birkle and I plan on flying down for the dedication.  I will send email  out when I know the exact dates.   I hope some of  you will be able to attend.

Now I will be leaving next Tuesday the 9th of October to attend the Memorial Service for the first Wahoo in Pearl.  I am hoping some of the local Wahoo shipmates plan on attending as well.  I have a print that is framed of the first Wahoo and another of both Wahoo’s.  I plan on either presenting them to the Bowfin Museum or the family of Mush Morton, which ever turns out to be the right thing to do.  They will be donated in the name of shipmates from the 565.

While in Pearl I plan on checking out the sites for our reunion in April of 2009.

Shipmates if you want a newsletter more often you need to send me information on what you are doing.

Oh last thing, we just had another shipmate find us. Michael Beatty Engineman in 1966.   Who knows him.

Regards,

Tom

Shipmates,

2009 Hawaii Reunion
Now being planned for April 16,17 and 18, 2009. Check back from time to time for more info.

Check your email for information coming soon.

Tom Young is making a trip to Hawaii in Oct 2007 to begin setting up the 2009 reunion hotel and locations.

As the Wahoo SS238 has been found now, a memorial service is planned for Oct 11 2007 in Pearl Harbor at the Bowfin Museum.

There will 2 days of other activities prior to the official service.  This information will be passed on as I receive it.  I plan on attending if at all possible and if there are any others that plan on attending please let me know so I can inform those running the service.  There are 5 known 238 sailors still living and depending on their health some will attend

Tom