A Navy sailor assigned to a nuclear submarine scaled the wall of a burning apartment building to save multiple people, including an entrapped woman and her son Tuesday, an act captured on video by a bystander.
The video shows Petty Officer 1st Class Gabriel Journey, an Electronics Technician Nuclear, assigned to the USS Albany fast attack submarine in Norfolk, climbing to a narrow ledge on the exterior of an apartment as a woman calls for help from a window and as smoke and flames close in. Journey pulled the woman and her son from the flames, easing them into the arms of the crowd beneath.
Journey also helped rescue two more people from a different window using a ladder before the apartment was fully engulfed.
As we go about our busy lives tomorrow, let’s not forget to take a moment to celebrate the service of all U.S. military veterans past and present.
Originally known as Armistice Day. In 1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in World War I, then known as “the Great War.” Commemorated in many countries as Armistice Day the following year, November 11th became a federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became legally known as Veterans Day dedicated to American veterans of all wars. There are an estimated 20 million living Veterans today, with approximately 100 thousand in Hawaii.
Veterans Day is a time to honor not just those who have fought for us in battle, but all of the outstanding men and women who served in our nation’s armed forces since our founding 245 years ago.
Not all veterans have seen war, but a common bond that they all share is the oath, to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, an oath that expressed their willingness to die defending this great nation and our way of life.
Every individual who has ever served in the U.S. military has taken an oath to “Support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic… So help me God.” But with this oath, there was no expiration date. And many veterans take this oath as seriously today as the day they enlisted (10, 20, 30, 40, 50 or 75 years ago), an oath that everyone of them will keep, till their last breath.
Perhaps, most significant in preserving our way of life and defending freedom, are the battles that America does not have to fight.
I believe President Lincoln said it best,“Honor to the Soldier, and Sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country’s cause. Honor also to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field, and serves, as he best can, the same cause —honor to him, only less than to him, who braves, for the common good, the storms of heaven and the storms of battle.”
We salute all our veterans who have made our great country possible.
As we commemorate those that served, let us be mindful of the 81,248 Americans who remain missing from WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf Wars, and other conflicts.
God bless you, God bless Hawai’i, and God bless America!
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 November meeting at Clean Sweep Bar, Lockwood Hall. The following members attended – Base Commander Paul Jurcsak, Base Vice Commander Tim Sparks, Secretary Brett Kulbis, COB Gary Johnson, and members David Bilek, Allen Clemons, Dan Del Monte, Karl Dye, Nelson Greer, Gary Grisham, Ben McGowan, Ace Parker, Crichton Roberts, Wade Thode, Ken Voorhees, and Joe Winzenried.
Welcomed Guests – CAPT Kurtis Krug incoming COS at JBPHH, Miya Bilek, Edith Clemons, Sandy Parker, Wesley and William Thode.
Binnacle List – Please keep all our members and their families in your good thoughts and prayers.
Hauʻoli Lā Hānau! Bowfin Birthdays for the month ofNovember.
1981 – USSV of WWII Federal Charter. Congressman Elroy Wilke the U.S. House of Representative passed resolution of National Charter and is pending the President’s signature.
Dolphin Store, Hawaii has launched a new website. Our new web address will be thedolphinstore.com. Please feel free to share this with your family and friends.
We appreciate your support and patients as we conduct this transition. We are happy to continue to improve our little store, and to raise money for the Dolphin Scholarship Foundation.
On October 19th Bowfin Pearl Harbor Base submarine veteran Dan Del Monte went over the edge at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa for the Special Olympics Hawai’i. This was the 15th Annual Over the Edge fundraiser and participants had the unique opportunity to rappel more than 400 feet down the side of the hotel, and experience truly breathtaking views of Waikiki and Diamond Head.
Dan was able to raise over $4K for Special Olympics Hawai’i while representing Bowfin Pearl Harbor Base Submarine Veterans.
BZ Dan!!
About Special Olympics Hawaii
Special Olympics is a global movement that unleashes the human spirit through the transformative power and joy of sports, every day around the world. Through programming in sports, health, education and community building, Special Olympics is changing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities solving the global injustice, isolation, intolerance, and inactivity they face.
Founded in 1968, Special Olympics Hawaii has grown and now serves over 6,000 athletes and Unified partners across the State of Hawaii. Through the unwavering commitment of 10,000 volunteers, along with community supporters, corporate partners and foundations, Special Olympics Hawaii delivers 10 Olympic-type sports and over 50 competitions, hundreds of health screenings, and inclusive programming in more than 70 schools annually.
Our museum reached a major milestone earlier this month in celebrating its 11 millionth visitor to the USS Bowfin submarine.
The Jordan family from Wollongong, Australia were named the 11 millionth visitor and greeted with lei after touring the historic Bowfin submarine.
“We are grateful to all who have visited our museum since opening to the public over 40 years ago,” said Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum executive director Chuck Merkel. “It has been a privilege to share this historic vessel and its stories with people from around the world.” Read more HERE.
Additionally…
>> Honoring the Navy’s Birthday and Navy Day
>> From the Museum Collection
>> U.S. Military Service Members Receive Free Entry into Pearl Harbor Historic Sites on Veterans Day.
Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro announced that the future Virginia-class submarine (SSN-813) will be named USS Atlanta during a ceremony at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in the city on Wednesday.
“It has been 25 years since the Navy has had a ship named after the proud legacy of the city of Atlanta. Today, it is my honor and privilege to name the next Virginia-class submarine, SSN-813, USS Atlanta,” he said in a Navy release.
The submarine’s naming is in line with the precedent of selecting cities as names for the Virginia-class boats. Five other ships have been named for the Georgia capital.
The USS Washington, a Navy fast-attack submarine, has been awarded a prestigious unit award for its work in securing key intelligence while deployed to the European theater, the service revealed in a statement.
The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine, also known as the “Blackfish,” was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for “outstanding performance in action while conducting operations within U.S. Sixth Fleet” during a recent six-month deployment, a Navy statement announced Friday.
REGISTRATION IS OPEN for the USSVI Western Region Roundup 2025, scheduled for March 6-9, 2025 aboard “The Queen Mary” and hosted by the LA/Pasadena Base. The preparation is well underway, and the committee is looking forward to holding the event on this beautifully restored ship.
Registering is easy using our online Registration, Hotel Booking and Payment system which makes short work of the process. Your early registration will be a great help as we continue with the planning. Register Online Today!
As always, the goal of the Roundup is to provide a way for all Submariners to gather for their mutual benefit and enjoyment.
Three living Nisei Veterans with Nisei Veteran Relatives. Photo courtesy of Clyde Sugimoto.
I was proud to represent my various veteran organizations at the 19th Annual Nisei Veterans Ceremony at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, as a Subvet, DAV Commander Chapter 1, VFW Post 1540 Trustee and Gold Legacy Member, VVA Life Member, and Japanese Hawai’i Veteran.
I am fourth Generation in Hawaii (Yonsei), my Dad was a third generation (Sansei) (also a veteran of the Army Air Corps as a MP and Translator during the post war occupied Japan at Johnson AFB near Tokyo. I have relatives that served in the 442nd and 100th Infantry.
Three living Nisei Veterans with Hawai’i Service Members and Veterans. Photo courtesy of Clyde Sugimoto.Myself, Dr. Joe Skoda (Commander VFW State of California) and his Wife Vanessa Phelps, Joe and Vanessa are also Members of Chapter 1 DAV the largest in Hawaii. Photo courtesy of Clyde Sugimoto.
Commander Joe and Pat with INDOPACOM Deputy Chief of Staff Col Melissa Tallent.
Pat Suenaga MMC(SS) USN RET Life Member: DAV, VFW, USSVI, VVA MEMBER SLAA, AMERICAN LEGION, NVL, JCCH, NAVY LEAGUE OF THE UNITED STATES, PACIFIC FLEET SUBMARINE MEMORIAL ASSN. BOC 1 CERTIFIED 2018 COMSUBPAC Submarine Veteran of the Year VFW Post 1540 Trustee DAV Chapter 1 Commander DAV Dept of Hi Jr Vice Commander Director Korean War Foundation Inc. Director Nisei Veterans Legacy
Bowfin Pearl Harbor Base 