5 Nov 09
From: Denver McCune
My home town was Burlington, WA. I am a member of SubVetsInc and
the Holland Club, for what its worth. Thanks for all your work on
behalf of the 302.
Remember the unusual forward engine room was "turned around" with
the generators at front of compartment and throttle station at
rear.
The designers unworkable idea was that we would need only one
throtleman, working through hatch to both engine rooms to start and
shut down. Result was long long electrical cables in fwd eng room
and
by 1958 we had grounds a batch....sigh. and we still needed two
throttlemen on watch.
Oh by the way, I was the conning officer that spotted the stuff
that got Captain Masik his medal - small world, ain't it. Am
turning
81 next month and still keeping a bubble in bow bouyancy. Best
regards, Denver
30 Aug 2009
From: Dennis Weller
Yes,
I served on Sabalo in 1962. She was my first boat. I was a
sonarman
striker when I left Sabalo for Cusk-348 where I completed my
qualifications. Eventually I ended up on the Kamehameha SSBN-642.
Now I own a B&B in Costa Rica
that specializes in accommodations and concierge services Dental
Tourists.
Here
is
my offer to all submarine sailors whoever or wherever you may happen to
be:
If
you ever come to Costa Rica, I will put you up for a night or two in
Maridean's B&B, for free and including breakfast. If you want
to
stay longer, I will give you a special discount.
You
can
check out Maridean�s B&B at www.maridean.com.
We got
focused on Medical and Dental Tourists because we like helping folks
that come to CR for health care. We came to Costa Rica for health care
and we know quite a lot about it. We can
probably answer most of your questions. If you would like to talk
by
phone please call my USA
toll free number. 1-877-410-1944 I generally answer the
phone.
Be Well
and Live Long,
Dennis
Weller, Owner
Maridean's B&B
877-410-1944 or 2458-1300
PS I
met a gringo here that has an incredible house for sale.
If you help me find a buyer there could be a very generous
finder's fee for you. There are no real
estate
licenses here so there is no agency enforcing what someone can give you
for a finder's fee. The house is presented
at www.gene1952.com and the
sales
commission is $70,000 US. I have a written
agreement with the seller. Everything is
in
order and the property is owned by a CR holding corporation. It's easy
to own a home or a corporation in CR.
24
Jul 09
From: Charlie Darrell
Jeff,
I apologize for not answering sooner. I've been
trying to decide whether I could add the Sabalo Reunion (and perhaps a
couple of days of the USSVI Convention) to my extended travels this
fall. Ultimately, I've had to decide not to attend, even knowing the
risk that we may not have another Reunion.
I’ll
be on a 31-day cruise along the Asian rim on SS Volendam (“WestPac”…!)
starting from Seattle on 24 Sept. I
already have two complications to my sked:
·
I’ll be attending
the USS Charr reunion 18-20 Sept in Portland and then driving
up to Seattle. (I was CO of
Charr 65-67.)
·
After I leave the
cruise ship in Hong Kong, I’ll be touring Yunnan Province in SW China
for about 10 days, and then, en route home, I’ll be visiting on the
West Coast for a couple of days during the second week in November.
If
I go out to the coast on the 13th of Sept, that adds 5 days
to my trip and makes the total trip two months. (It already seems to be
expensive enough!). It would likely be even more complicated than that,
because if I were to go to San Diego, I’d probably
spend at least a couple of days at the USSVI Convention.
Anyway,
I’m going to have to regret this Reunion, even tho’ it was
my qual boat, and take a rain check, hoping that there will be
a "next one."
4 Apr 09
Re: Carl Smith
Carl had a
stroke September 2008 and will be unable to attend the
reunion but does enjoy hearing from shipmates and getting the latest
news
from the web site.
I will
keep Carl abreast of any news.
Kathy
Smith (dau of Carl Smith)
turbo2
hiwaay.net
4 Apr 2009
From: Jim Braun
James Braun is alive and well here In Kalispell Mt. By the way I have a
new online business " Montana Mystique Fly Shop
http://mmflyshop.com Check
it out.
29 Mar 2009
From: Howard Venezia
Hi Jeff,
Regret Barb and I won’t be attending this
year’s
SABALO reunion. Barb convinced me that an Hawaiian sojourn
would “be
a better way to vacation”. I’m inclined to agree with her…but
I’ll miss the golf outing a bunch!
We’re doing fine playing Colorado skiers and just being
wise old folks in the sleepy little town of Winter Park. Happily,
we’ve
been visited by kids and grandkids and their friends…and still had
enough
“comp lift tickets” to keep everyone’s ski-costs at a
manageable level.
For those old SABALO shipmates who knew me as a
part-time
sketcher and knife maker, I’m still at it and am attaching a shot of
the
last sheath knife I’ve built; blade from a Stihl chainsaw blade, hilt
and
guard from moose antler (not for sale), and a water color of a
pronghorn. Please let them also know that I illustrated a book
for a
friend; “Coaching Kids; All Sports” by Frank Watts (an ex Army guy…but
a good friend of mine). The book goes for only $8 retail…but I’ve
got a free copy or two for deserving ol’ SABALO types.
Hope you folks have a ball at the Reunion. We’ll be
thinking of you from Waikiki. Thanks for putting these Reunions
on, Jeff. Keep having
fun!
Howard Venezia ’54-’57 (ETSN-ET 1(SS))
26
Mar 2009
From: John P. Wood (CO)
Hi Jeff. Sorry for the delay in replying to your reunion dope
sheet,
but my paperwork filing is below par - quite a bit below - exceeds test
depth most of the time. Can't find anything. I really miss
YEO! Your
efforts are much appreciated. I'm doubtful that I'll be able to
attend, but I appreciate the newsletters and will peruse the web site
on a more regular basis. The town will be filled with submariners
during that period, but I never did join SUBVETS.
I never served with a finer crew than Sabalo's during 1968-69.
However, the Wardroom never could figure out the strategy in the raging
card game, at the time, EUCHRE! I retired in 1973 in Hawaii,
spent the
next 21 years here working in Real Estate where I met my wife Pam in
1975. We both retired for good in 1994. We rented out our
home and
bought a motor home that year, planning a 1 to 2 year hiatus on the
Mainland. It lasted 12 years of nearly full-time traveling.
We
reluctantly sold our Winnebago an returned to our home in Hawaii.
RV's
are a piece of cake for former submariners, and they even have windows.
4 Mar 2009
From: Ron Scott
I can report being well retired
but busier than ever. Following a twenty-year Navy career ending
at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in '75 and a twenty-one year career in
the Navy Junior ROTC Program ending in '96, I am now kept busy as the
national chair of the Veterans and Military Families for Progress
(VMFP) Government Affairs Committee. Our website is www.vmfp.org, and we are actively
engaged in pursuing legislation and supporting legislators who support
the interests of veterans and military families. During the 110th
Congress, we endorsed 97 bills (68 House, 29 Senate) which resulted in
six laws enacted. Included were the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide
Prevention Act, the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act, and the Post-9/11
Veterans Educational Assistance Act (21st Century GI Bill).
Currently-endorsed bills in the 111th Congress are listed on our
website. We welcome veterans and family members who wish to join
in promoting the interests of those who have served and their families.
Ronald D. Scott
LCDR, USN (Ret.)
7 Mar 2008
From:
Don Crawford, Clarkston, WA
HI JEFF, The only communication we have had
before was when you mailed me a couple of times and I telephoned you
once and sent you some pictures. The reason why is as I told you at
that time I had a Computer but had never been on line. Well now I'm on
line as you can see. My email address is dcrawfordtkr
aol.com.
I have visited the web site for the boat
several times and went through all that I could find there. It's all
very interesting and the pictures great. Some I recognized from when I
was on board. I don't have anything more or new to tell you at this
time, so will leave off.
27 Feb 2008
From: Gerald ( Jerry )
Pratt
Hi, I was looking at the roster of crew members and
noticed I am
incorrectly listed. The site has my name as George L Pratt, it should
be Gerald L Pratt.
I went from the Sabalo to the Carbonero SS 337 to finish my active
duty.
I retired last year after 45 years as a longshoreman in the Port
of Tacoma, my wife and I also own a 50 bed home for mentally challenged
in Puyallup, Washington.
We spend our time now traveling and being "grandparents"( 8
).
Until recently we had our own airplane, but I lost my medical, so we
sold it. We still have our Harley that we enjoy very much. I enjoy the
web site and check it periodically for updates,