RR Layout 1 - USS Rasher

the
RasheR RepoRt
2nd Quarter • June 2011
http://www.ussrasher.org
NeWSLeTTeR
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USS RasheR (SS/SSR/AGSS-269)
USS Rasher Association
Business Meeting
In This Issue
Ship’s Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Editor’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
21 May 2011 • Branson, Missouri
Chaplain’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Reunion Photos . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–5
Financial Statement . . . . . . . . . . 6
Reunion Recap . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Membership Roster & Dues . . . . . 7
More Reunion Photos
Building Scorpion II
........8
.........9
Last of a Good Time . . . . . . . . 10
Front Row: WWII crewmembers Ken Tate, Frank “Ziggy” Zieglemann,
Charlie Reuff; 2nd Row: Jack Lively, Snuffy Smith, Bob Bidon, Hugh Rood,
Nelis VanderPol; 3rd Row: Bill Stoel, Garret Onderdonk, Richard Moore,
Trevor Hughes, Jess Daniel, Gene Olander, Greg Fessler
A
ttending Crewmembers: Jess
Daniel, Garret Onderdonk,
Nelis Vanderpol, Charlie Reuff, Ken
Tate, Trevor Hughes, Greg Fessler,
Hugh Rood, Bill Stoel, Gene Olander,
Richard Moore, Bob Bidon, Jack
Lively, Howard Hughes, Frank
Ziegelmann
AGeNDA:
Disposition of Rasher Bell
Rasher Conning Tower
WWII Museum
Senior Rasherman
Next Reunion
Ships Stores
Member Dues
Steering Committee
Disposition of Rasher Bell: Motion
by Richard Moore, seconded by Jess
Daniel that the Steering Committee
research to find a place (museum) to
care for the USS Rasher bell. Motion
carried. In the meantime, the bell has
been placed in the care of Gene
Olander.
➠
USS RasheR — FIRST AMONG eQUALS
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Rasher Conning Tower: Ken Tate to
locate and report on the whereabouts
of the Rasher conning tower in
Manitowoc. The conning tower was
last observed about five years ago
languishing in a corner of the
Wisconsin Maritime Museum parking lot. The Rasher #1 attack
periscope is also located in storage
with the Wisconsin Maritime
Museum.
WWII Museum: Gene Olander will
look into and report on the WWII
museum in New Orleans as an
option for Rasher items.
Senior Rasherman; A few months ago
it was suggested that a WW II crew
member be appointed as Senior
Rasherman. Motion made by Nelis
Vanderpol and seconded by Frank
Ziegelmann to nix the idea “as we
are all equal” and this would create
confusion as Rasher members go on
Eternal Patrol. Motion carried.
Next Reunion: Discussion of timing
and location of next reunion. Garret
Onderdonk volunteered to head up
the next reunion. Motion by Nelis
Vanderpol and seconded by Richard
Moore to hold the next reunion late
spring/early summer 2013 in New
Orleans. LA. This would be in conjunction with the 70th anniversary of
the commissioning of the USS Rasher.
Motion carried.
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meeting to act fully on behalf of the
Rasher Association on all matters in
lieu of having to wait until the next
reunion crew meeting. Motion carried.
Submitted by Bob Bidon
RasheR ReUNION ATTeNDeeS
WW II Frank Ziegelmann
WW II Kenneth Tate & Mimi Johnson
WW II Charles Reuff
Bob & Tammy Reuff
Carl & Midge (Reuff) Culig
Hugh Rood & daughter Karen
Henninger
Trevor & Verna Hughes
Richard “Yogi” Moore
Greg & Connie Fessler
Bill & Ruth Stoel
Gene & Judy Olander
Jack & Joleen Lively
Jess & Judy Daniel
Garret & Jill Onderdonk
Howard “Snuffy” & Charlotte
Hughes
Nelis “Van” & Shirley Vanderpol
Bob & Carol Bidon
From the Rasher
Storekeeper
Snuffy Hughes
W
e sold $322.00 worth of Tshirts, caps, etc. We still have
in stock:
Ships Stores: Report by Howard
Hughes, accepted as reported. See
elsewhere within this newsletter.
Member Dues: Discussion of
crewmembers “dink” in dues.
Anyone that hasn’t paid their Rasher
membership dues for over two years
will be moved to the Rasher
“Inactive” database. Motion carried
Steering Committee: No one volunteered to take a place on the committee so the current committee
members agreed to continue serving.
The Steering Committee was authorized by crew members present at this
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USS RasheR (SS/SSR/AGSS-269)
Starting bank account on April
2011 was $927.07. New caps cost
$118.14, new t-shirts cost $338.94. I
got $50.00 for reunion change, leaving a total in the account of
$419.99. The Reunion netted us
$322.00 + the $50.00 returned reunion
change; the total amount in our bank
account is $791.99. If all items were to be sold, we
would have $1,294.99 (not including
the cups. Not sure how they will sell
due to being dated “2011”). CREDITS
Editor: Richard Moore
9177 Davenport Road
Gloucester, VA 23061-3141
E-mail: drifterpilot@cox.net
Phone: 804-815-0730
Treasurer: Bob Bidon
86 Riverview Terrace
Cannon Falls, MN 55009-5277
E-mail: rjbdonsr@rconnect.com
Phone: 507-263-3882
Graphics/Layout & Production:
Peter & Karen Sasgen
157 W. Village Drive
St. Augustine, FL 32095
E-mail:ksasgen@bellsouth.net
Phone: 904-823-9436
T-shirts: 22 @ $12.00=$264.00
Caps: 12 @ $12.00=$144.00
Jacket patches: 29 @ $4.00=$116.00
Vest Pins: 3 @ $3.00=$9.00
Total: $503.00
I have 13 cups that Bob
brought. They are marked “Branson
2011” priced at $7.00. They are for
sale too. That would put our total
inventory value to $594.00. Total Reunion sales: $322.00 all
items sold. USS RasheR — FIRST AMONG eQUALS
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Editor’s Corner
hello shipmates and guests,
asher Reunion, Branson, Missouri
2011 is over and logged accordingly. It was a great weekend and
while we had a little rain, it didn’t
dampen our party. Sixteen shipmates
of various time periods on the boat
attended with spouses, family members and friends. Branson is truly a
great place to hold a reunion. The
reunion package that Bob Bidon
worked out with the Branson people
was well worth the money spent. The
Grand Plaza Hotel did a fantastic job
in meeting our needs and then some.
They were very accommodating in
every aspect. Please see Garret
R
Onderdonk’s article for a great dayby-day write up sequence of events.
Thank you Garret!
Member Dues—Within this
newsletter is a listing of where everyone stands on their dues. Please take
a moment to check your dues status
and if in arrears, please send a check
off to treasurer Bob Bidon to bring
yourself up-to-date. His mailing
address is located under CReDITS.
Membership dues were discussed at
the Crew Meeting and anyone who is
two years behind in their dues will be
moved to the Rasher Association inactive file of the crew database before
the next newsletter in September.
Don’t fall beside the wayside, please
get your dues in.
Something new for your newsletter
that could prove to be very interesting
reading—I would like to publish a
biography on any (and maybe eventually all) Rasher crewmembers. The
biography could start with where an
individual was born, where he spent
his growing up years, his military
service time, and what he did upon
discharge from the service. What better way to learn more of your Rasher
crewmates? A great start would be
with the WW II guys and then go
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USS RasheR (SS/SSR/AGSS-269)
from there. I will, however, be glad to
receive any submittals anytime. If it
helps, I’ll accept the article in long
hand and type it myself. Just get it to
me, please.
As you will see in this newsletter,
our next reunion will be in New
Orleans, Louisiana in 2013. Garret
Onderdonk has volunteered to pull
the reunion together. Let’s help him
where we can. A few months down
the road, the exact dates of the
reunion will be published for your
planning purposes.
A BIG THANKS from all of us to
Bob and Carol Bidon for pulling this
reunion together.
Best regards,
Richard Moore
The Chaplain’s
Corner
On Eternal Patrol
Herbert L. Runge, 86, of Delta
Township, MI, retired U.S. Postal
Service mail carrier, died August 6
2010. Served as TM2(SS) on USS
Rasher SS-269, WWII patrols 1–5. Mr.
Runge’s military service span included
WWII, Korea, and Viet Nam.
There was a memorial gathering at
VFW Post 269, Haslett, MI.
Arrangements by Palmer, Bush and
Jensen Family Funeral Homes, Delta
Chapel, MI. Interred at Ft. Custer
National Cemetery, Augusta, MI.
Section P2, Site 173.
Maria elena Saenz Alvarado, of
Weaverville, CA passed on to the next
life at the age of 75, on May 14, 2011
after a yearlong battle with pancreatic
cancer and living 50 full years with
multiple sclerosis. She lived in
Weaverville for the past 25 years and
was a loving and supportive homemaker, mother, grandmother, greatgrandmother, and friend. She chose to
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live her last days in her home surrounded by her loving family.
Maria Elena was born in
Chihuahua, Mexico. She moved to
the United States in 1951, at the age
of 15. She met her husband while he
was attending college in El Paso,
Texas, and married him in 1954.
Maria accompanied her husband as
his career led him to Carson, CA for
19 years, and Mapleton, OR for 11
years, before finally moving to
Weaverville, where they enjoyed
retirement together. Her full life
allowed her travels to Mexico,
Hawaii, Canada, Alaska, Eastern
Australia, and all of Eastern and
Western United States.
She is survived by her husband of
57 years, ernesto Alvarado; sons,
Ernesto Roy of Santa Ana, CA, and
Frank (and Mary Lou) of San Diego,
CA; daughters Martha Zuniga (and
Tim) of Stanton, CA, and Irene
Alvarado of Bonita, CA; her grandchildren: Sammy Samkerr (and
Patricia), David Andrew McCune,
Francisco Alvarado Jr. (and Susan),
Esteban Ismael Alvarado, Randolph
Zuniga, Amber Zuniga, Ricardo
Alvarado, Nicholas Alvarado (and
Eva), as well as four great-grandchildren; her sister Irene Ramirez of
Carson, CA, brother Humberto Saenz
of Compton, CA, and many nieces,
nephews, and extended family members. She joins our Lord and those
preceding her in death: daughter
Librada McCune, mother Ysydra
Morales, father Jose Saenz, and
brother Jose Saenz.
Services were held in her honor at
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Fort
Davis, Texas.
editor’s Note: Mrs. Alvarado’s
spouse is Ernesto Avarado,
crewmember of USS Rasher.
USS RasheR — FIRST AMONG eQUALS
Sailors, Rest your oar,
and Rest in peace.
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USS RasheR (SS/SSR/AGSS-269)
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USS Rasher Association
Financial Statement
(June 7, 2011)
Projected (Waiting Branson Refunds)
Beginning Balance . . . . . . .$6385.42
INCOMe
Dues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .495.00
Contributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46.00
Reunion 50-50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66.00
Reunion Reg (Walker) . . . . . .400.00
Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1007.00
exPeNSeS
Newsletter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(151.36)
Reunion Reg (Walker) . . . .(1352.92)
Hospitality Room Snacks/
Beverages . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(192.10)
Repair Subs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(41.17)
Reunion Welcome
Packages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(313.50)
Cups to Ships Stores . . . . . .(110.50)
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(2161.55)
Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5230.87
PeNDING ReFUNDS:
Branson Reg Deposit . . . . . .1500.00
Branson Reg Refund
(Walker) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1352.92
Refund to Walker . . . . . . . .(400.00)
Projected Balance . . . . . . . .$7683.79
USS RasheR (SS/SSR/AGSS-269)
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Branson Rasher Reunion
Garret D. Onderdonk III TM2/SS
I
f you didn’t have fun at the Rasher Branson reunion, it’s
because you weren’t there. I polled everyone there and
they had a fabulous time.
“Branson, Missouri is known today as the “live music
capital of the world”. With over 40 theaters with 60,000 theater seats, over 70 live theater shows, over 200 lodging facilities with over 23,000 lodging rooms, 5,000 camping spaces,
over 350 restaurants, three lakes, 9 golf courses, over 200
retail outlets, numerous attractions, caves to explore and
year round activities and entertainment.”
(http://www.branson-missouri.com/history.asp)
Thursday night: Meet and greet. Great food, better company and a chance to say howdy to some I have not seen in
48 years. Yes, a few of us have aged a little.
The Grand Plaza hotel was shipshape and treated us
well. I will miss eating those large breakfasts, probably a
good thing.
Friday: Breakfast and off to the Red, Hot and Blue for a
musical remembrance tour. They flashed “Welcome Rasher”
on their video screens. Wandered off to lunch and buying
souvenirs just like tourists. On your own time was fun for
all with more than enough to enjoy. Friday evening,
Montana Mikes for Steak dinner and off to Presley’s Jubilee
for the show. The Presley family opened the first theater on
“the Strip,” Hwy. 76 in 1957. The entire family is multitalented and put on a great performance that we will all be
talking about for a long time. This was truly family oriented
and good for all ages.
Saturday: More breakfast buffet. Off to the Veterans
museum. Some great and interesting displays, over 2000
rare military artifacts the world’s largest war memorial
sculpture is tremendous. It is a 70 foot long, 15 ton bronze
sculpture, consisting of 50 life-size soldiers storming a
beach. After lunch we went to the showboat for a memorial
with Bob Biden speaking some kind words and a moment of
silence. We boarded the Showboat Branson Belle for a tasty
dinner and show. The emcee/comedian asked for volunteers to assist him. Our own volunteer, Doc Culig as the
drummer was a riot. You had to be there.
Sunday: Breakfast buffet, more food mmmmmm. Crew
meeting at hotel and then the day for church, sightseeing or
too many things folks did here to cover. That evening, the
tolling of the bells ceremony and our farewell banquet was a
very touching but certainly rewarding moment.
Spent the rest of the evening saying our goodbyes and
looking forward to our 2013 reunion on New Orleans. You
got to be there.
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RASHeR ASSOCIATION
MeMBeRS & DUeS PAID
THRU JUNe 7, 2011
Lowell Addis
Ernesto Alvardo
Chase Anderson
Donald Anderson
Corky Anton
Robert Banister
Wayne Barger
John Beatty
Paul Benton
Vic Bergado
Karl Bjorn
Bill Bonosho
Larry Boone
David Brown
Ken Brown
Joseph Bruzzo Jr.
Len Cardwell
W. Carter
Dale Chamberlain
Ralph Comp
Earl Confar
James Clooney
Jess Daniel
Virgil David
Wayne Day
Richard DeLozier
Alex Demitropoulos
Albert Demptster
John Desousa
Alexander Drewry
Barry Enticknap
Edward Fein
Gregory Fessler
Peter Fitzwilliam
Nickolas Frank
Bud Fuechtmann
Gilbert Gallardo
Sam Gascon
Joseph Gilbert
Leland Glaser
James Gonzales
Richard Gonzales
John Goodyear
Wendell Harden
Bert Harley
Cecil Hatcher
John Hayden
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USS RasheR (SS/SSR/AGSS-269)
Richard Hillary
Howard Hughes
Trevor Hughes
Thomas Innocente
Charles Kates
Richard Keily
Lonnie Kutil
Glenn Kyotani
Earl LaDassor
Arnold Lambrook
Jack Lively
George Lockwood
Luke Louzelle
Patrick Lyon
George Lyon
Richard McAvene
James McCullough
Sheldon McGuire
Alan McKay
Gerald Melcher pre
William Meteraud
Rod Middleworth
James Mitchell
Darcel Moffett
Robert Montross
Richard Moore
Ralph Nachtigal
Jessie Nichols
Gene Olander
Garret Onderdonk
Doug Parish
Leonard Pavelka
Jack Pavlidis
Kenneth Plank
Charles Platt
Ralph Rakich
Frank Raymond
Rufus Reaves
Charles Reuff
Howell Rice
Bobby Robison
Thomas Rogers
Hugh Rood
Alex Roos
Jay Rowberry
Desmond Rowe
Peter Sasgen
James Salinas
William Schoessel
Ben Schultz
Paul Schultz
James Severson
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Nolan Sexton
Donald Simonson
Frank Slayton
Frederick Small
Clifford Small
Nicholas Stazione
Al Stevens
William Stoel
Dickson Stoker
Edgar Strauss
Kenneth Tate
Francis Traser
Peter Trump
Robert Turner
Oneil Vanderhorst
Russ Van Moppes
James Van Vranken
Nelis Vanderpol
Hestel Walker
Don Walsh
Allen Watkins
Wayne Weflen
Mike Wenum
David Wesley
William Williams
Neil Wollam
Richard Young
Frank Ziegelmann
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FRIeNDS OF RASHeR
John Goodyear
Donald Longmuir
Robert Reuff
Roger Schroeder
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USS RasheR (SS/SSR/AGSS-269)
USS RasheR — FIRST AMONG eQUALS
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NeWSLeTTeR
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USS RasheR (SS/SSR/AGSS-269)
Building Scorpion II
Snuffy Hughes
T
his submarine model was built and commissioned
by the Southern Colorado Sub Vets Base. We even
used real champagne to christen her with. Starting in
2010, it took about 5 mos. to complete.
We started with precut slugs of Styrofoam 4 foot long
X 32 inches in diameter. As my lathe can hold 8’ long
pieces, we glued two slugs together to form an 8 foot
long piece. Lathe speed was approx. 350 rpm and I used
wood lathe cutting tools. To machine the correct diameter
and correct hull shape, I had to make a large set of
calipers. The plans we used were to make a model that
was only 36 inches long. We had to scale it up to 1 inch =
1 foot. The plans did have bulkhead lines to help get the
diameters right, but we had to do a lot of eye-balling to
get the shape right. We had to glue the (3) 8 foot long
shaped pieces together and then
sand smooth the glued joints. After
sanding with 100 grit sandpaper
and filling any imperfections, we
covered the Styrofoam with a paper
towel product (Rags in a Box) with
wood glue. Sort of like paper
mache. We then covered this with
clear epoxy and fiberglass cloth;
then finished with 3 coats of latex
flat black exterior paint.
The model ended up being 21
feet long X 31 inches diameter. It is
light enough that 3 people can easily lift it.
The trailer started out as an 18
foot camper trailer. Another sub-vet that lives in Pueblo
added 10 more feet to the trailer to make it 28 foot long.
He made benches and removable handrails to accommodate riders. He and I designed and built an elevating
platform to raise the boat approximately 3 feet above the deck using a
boat winch for better viewing display. We also have a diesel boat
klaxon horn (powered by an inverter
12 V to 110 V) to sound the “Diving
or Surfacing” alarm.
To date, this sub model has been
in the Veteran’s Day Parade and the
St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Colorado
Springs, Colorado and in the
Christmas Day Parade, Pueblo,
Colorado.
USS RasheR — FIRST AMONG eQUALS
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NeWSLeTTeR
the Rasher Report
USS Rasher Association
9177 Davenport Road
Gloucester, VA 23061-3141
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USS RasheR (SS/SSR/AGSS-269)
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