The Periscope is a monthly publication of the Los Angeles-Pasadena Base of USSVI.
What’s Inside
General Meeting Minutes
Tolling the Boats
New Chinese Sub
USS Iowa Commissioned
Fishermen Cath Drones
“For Those Who Dived”
Dex Armstrong
Chapter News
Calendar Events
E-Board Meeting Minutes
New Gen.Dyn./EB Contract
Breaking News: Brick Project
Red October in Seal Beach
Read full newsletter HERE.
Volume 71
To perpetuate the memory of our shipmates who gave their lives while voluntarily serving in submarine warfare in the pursuit of their duties while serving their country. That their dedication, deeds and supreme sacrifice be a constant source of motivation toward greater accomplishments. To further promote and keep alive the spirit and unity that existed among submarine crewmen during World War II. To promote sociability general welfare and good fellowship among our members. To pledge loyalty and patriotism to the United States of America and it’s constitution.
1. Bowfin Pearl Harbor Base
Bowfin Meeting – We conducted our June meeting at Clean Sweep Bar, Lockwood Hall. The following members attended – Base Commander Paul Jurcsak, Vice Commander Tim Sparks, Secretary Brett Kulbis, Treasurer Carl Tatro, COB Gary Johnson, and members Dave Atkins, George Barlett, Jim Bazemore, David Bilek, Allen Clemons, Dan Del Monte, Karl Dye, Nelson Greer, Ben McGowan, Ace Parker, Crichton Roberts, Thom Sousa, Pat Suenaga, Wade Thode, Ken Voorhees, and Joe Winzenried.
Mahalo to Carlton Tatro for your dedication to the base as our Treasurer for the last 6-years. Good luck on your move to the mainland this month and your future endeavors.
Congratulations to Pat Suenaga for being appointed as the Bowfin Treasurer to complete the term of Carlton Tatro.
Welcomed Guests – Dolores Brown, Mi-ye Bilek, Sandra Parker, Edie Clemons, Judy McGowan, Thomas Schmidt, Wesley and William Thode, and Eric Moore.
Binnacle List – Please keep the all our members and their families in your good thoughts and prayers, especially Chris Cunha, Paul Ferguson, John Hatch, and Charley Womack.
Hauʻoli Lā Hānau! Bowfin Birthdays for the month of June.
Patrol Reports
2025 Memorial Day Commemoration
Bowfin Holland Club Members
This Month in Base History
1997 – United States Submarine Veterans Inc. Bowfin Pearl Harbor Base Chartered.
1963 – Pacific Region Caucus (Milwaukie, OR), Hawai’i State Commander Len Crane was voted in unanimously as Pacific Region Director.
Base Officers & Staff
Commander | Vice Commander |
Secretary | Treasurer |
Chief of the Boat | Storekeeper |
Base Committees
USSVI Committee | Aloha Committee |
Boy Scout Troop 97 | Boat Sponsorship Program |
Binnacle List |
2. U.S. Submarine Veterans Inc.
News and Bulletins
American Submariner
USSVI Officers & Staff
USSVI National Commander | USSVI Western Region Director |
USSVI Western District 6 Commander | USSVI Office Manager |
3. Information of Interest
VA News Releases
Defense News – Early Bird
4. Still On Patrol
Tolling of the bells for boats lost in the month of June.
5. Important Links
Bowfin Base Pearl Harbor
Plan of the Day
Bowfin Pearl Harbor Base Photo Album
USSVI Bowfin Base Facebook (Like Us, Follow Us and Share with your shipmates)
Past Bowfin Base Eblasts
Friends of the Submarine Memorial Chapel Facebook (Like Us, Follow Us and Share with your shipmates)
USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park
American Submariner Magazine
Pearl Harbor Dolphin Store (Your one stop shop for submarine merchandise.)
6. Submarine Humor
7. Submariners Prayer
Our mailing address is:
USSVI Bowfin Base Pearl Harbor
94-219 Wehena Place
Waipahu, Hawaii 96797
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.
Established in 2011, the Stanley K. Nicholls Award is awarded to the Bowfin Pearl Harbor Base member who, by his personal individual efforts and participation during the preceding years contributed the most to the advancement and embodiment of the USSVI Creed and Agenda, and by his dedicated service and support to the Bowfin Pearl Harbor Base and his fellow Submarine Veterans exemplifies the meaning and spirit of the word, “Shipmate.”
Send your nomination to Secretary Brett Kulbis bkulbis.bowfin@use.startmail.com or complete our online nomination form HERE NLT July 15, 2025.
Ahoy, from the from the Dominic “Joe” Negri clubhouse, home of the only brick and mortar building owned by USSVI. The Executive Board, and I send our well wishes to all U.S. Submarine Veterans and hope you have a fantastic month of June wherever you drop anchor. Some very significant events happened in the month of June for the U.S. Submarine service and with Boat Notes.
Read Boat Notes HERE.
Boat Notes Archive
The Periscope is a monthly publication of the Los Angeles-Pasadena Base of USSVI.
What’s Inside
General Meeting Minutes
Tolling the Boats
New Block V Virginia Class
Submarine Drills in Pacific
New North Korean Nuke Sub
Dex Armstrong
Chapter News
Calendar Events
E-Board Meeting Minutes
Gen’l Dynamics Contract Mod
Late-Breaking News…Memorial Day Ceremony
Read full newsletter HERE.
Museum Executive Director Chuck Merkel Wraps Up Nine Years Heading the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum
The Pacific Fleet Submarine Memorial Association’s annual meeting every May 1 commemorates the commissioning of the USS Bowfin submarine into service. This year’s meeting held extra special meaning as the evening served as a farewell to Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum (PFSM) executive director Charles “Chuck” Merkel, his last day leading the organization. Read full story HERE.
What’s Inside
Honoring Our Heroes on Memorial Day
Make the Most of Summer Break with a Visit to the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum!
Read full Newsletter HERE.
Bowfin News | May 23, 2025
As a Navy veteran living in Hawai‘i, Memorial Day carries a profound significance for me—far beyond backyard barbecues or the unofficial start of summer. Here in the islands, reminders of sacrifice are everywhere, from the solemn USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor to the rows of headstones at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Each year, ceremonies at these sites and others bring together Gold Star families, veterans, and the community to honor those who gave their lives in service, making the meaning of this day deeply personal and ever-present.
Read Full Story HERE.
USNI News | May 22, 2025
May 22, 2025 5:04 PM
The naval reactors program for the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines and updated Virginia-class attack boat are “in progress,” the senior civilian overlooking these programs in the Department of Energy told the Senate Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee this week.
James McConnell, acting principal deputy administrator at National Nuclear Security Administration, wrote in prepared testimony, “Naval Reactors is advancing naval nuclear propulsion capabilities to keep the U.S. Navy on the cutting edge of warfighting capability, maintaining the assured second-strike capability of the sea-based leg of the nuclear triad, and building the next generation of naval nuclear propulsion infrastructure for continued operational success.”
Read Full Story HERE.
Bowfin Pearl Harbor Base 