Bowfin | May 26, 2025

On Memorial Day Monday May 26, 2025 at 1100 hours, dozens of Bowfin Pearl Harbor Base Submarine Veterans, submarine veteran wives and widows, active and retired military members, and friends of the Submarine Force participated in the annual Memorial Day commemoration at USS Parche and Submarine Memorial Park on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (formerly known as Submarine Base Pearl Harbor.)

The U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II assigned a submarine lost during the war to each state of our great nation as their state submarine.  The USS Growler (SS-215) was designated as the State Submarine of Hawaii. After Growler’s fourth war patrol during which Medal of Honor winner Commander Howard W. Gilmore issued his final order to “Take her down!”, sacrificing all for his country and his severely damaged submarine, the Growler made her way back to Brisbane for repairs. USS Growler was dubbed the “Kangaroo Express” by the Australians when, after the extensive and miraculous repairs to the ship’s bow, the Australian shipyards welded a kangaroo coin to each side of her repaired bow. For the Royal Australian Navy, Bowfin Pearl Harbor Base Vice Commander Tim Sparks, CMDCM(SS) (Retired) Gary Johnson presented a lei.

Among the over 3,500 submariners who lost their lives, we have the names of seventeen Filipino U.S. Army Rangers who were lost with USS Seawolf (SS-197). The U.S. Army’s 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment, represented today by Mrs. Anita Loando-Acohido, once again honors our ceremony as they do every year to place a lei on the special plaque engraved with the names of those seventeen heroic Filipinos who went down with Seawolf.

Honoring our ceremony were several organizations presenting flower wreaths. Representing Bowfin Pearl Harbor Base Submarine Veterans – RM2(SS) Dan Del Monte; representing the Pacific Fleet Submarine Memorial Association – Captain (Retired) Homer Ring; representing the Aloha Chapter of the Naval Submarine League – Captain (Retired) Pete Miller; and representing the Pearl Harbor Submarine Officers’ Spouses’ Association – President Kristen Newman and Vice President Jeanine Banyear

In honor of our submarine widows, a single rose was presented to Nancy Kreis.

Our keynote address was given by Captain Corey A. Poorman, Commander, Submarine Squadron 7.

The ceremony ended with a 3-gun volley by Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Navy Honor Guard Detachment followed by Taps by Bugler MU3 Andrew Gushiken of the U.S. Pacific Fleet Ceremonial Band.

On behalf of the Bowfin Pearl Harbor Base Submarine Veterans, mahalo to all for joining us in commemorating our submarine hero’s.
 
God Bless our Submarine Force, God Bless our Navy, and God Bless the United States of America.  ALOHA!

Following our commemoration, Bowfin Pearl Harbor Base members, families and friends gathered for a Memorial Day barbecue at Lockwood Lanai.

For more pictures of the days events click HERE.