Bowfin Holland Club Inductees

The HOLLAND CLUB is named after John P. Holland, designer of the first U.S. Navy submarine. It is an exclusive group within the U.S. Submarine Veterans organization, where the core requirement for eligibility is the designation “qualified in submarines” for a minimum of fifty years.

These men are justifiably proud of their accomplishments. They represent the living historical memory of our rich submarine heritage.  They are the pioneers who led the way and set the standards for excellence for the Sailors in our submarine fleet today.  We would not be where we are today in submarines without them.

When these men qualified, diesel powered submarines were state of the art. Some earned their dolphins prior to and others during, World War II, and still others during the Cold War period immediately following. Many, and in some cases most, of those they served with have departed on their final and eternal patrol. They saw the war-winning diesel submarines go through radical conversions into many specialized and exotic designs. They witnessed and in many cases participated in the development and testing of the highly successful GUPPY snorkel conversions. Some went on to serve later in attack and ballistic missile nuclear submarines.

When we meet a Holland Club member, we are in the presence of the institutional memory of the U.S. Submarine Force.

They, along with all their ‘brothers of the dolphin’, are the historical connection and inspiration for the Submariner of the future.

There are no ex-submariners. Submarine qualification passes a man into a mystic brotherhood of under sea warriors, and it marks him forever as one of a special breed. Although they no longer sail beneath the seas, they still wear their ‘dolphins’ with honor and pride.