USS TANG (SS‑306)
Lest we forget to perpetuate the memory of our shipmates who gave their lives in the pursuit of their duties while serving their country. . .
81 years ago, on Oct. 25, 1944, the USS Tang (SS‑306), sailed off into history on her final and eternal patrol.
On her last patrol, a last torpedo was fired, broached and curved to the left in a circular run. Tang fishtailed under emergency power to clear the turning circle of the torpedo, but it struck her abreast the aft torpedo room approximately 20 seconds after it was fired. Tang sank by the stern. Nine survivors, including the commanding officer, were picked up the next morning by a Japanese destroyer escort. They spent the remainder of the war in prisoner of war camps
Tang crewmember Rubin MacNeil Raiford, CS2(SS), of Georgetown SC is purported to be the youngest US serviceman to pay the ultimate sacrifice during World War II. Rubin enlisted on October 13, 1942 at the age of thirteen and was subsequently assigned to the submarine USS TANG (SS 306). Rubin was age 15 years, 5 months and 11 days when he went down with the Tang. (Note Dolphins on left sleeve in photo.)
78 men were lost.
SAILORS, REST YOUR OAR! YOUR WATCH HAS ENDED.
Your Brothers of the 'Phin Have the Watch.
Fair Winds and Following Seas, Shipmates.

Visit the Perch Base Eternal Patrol page.

VETERANS CRISIS LINE
Are you a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one?
Connect with the Veterans Crisis Line to reach caring, qualified responders with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Many of them are Veterans themselves. It is confidential and available every day, 24/7.
Click on the picture, above, to go to the VETERANS CRISIS LINE.

USS SHARK (SS‑314)
Lest we forget to perpetuate the memory of our shipmates who gave their lives in the pursuit of their duties while serving their country. . .
81 years ago, on Oct. 24, 1944, the USS Shark (SS‑314), sailed off into history on her final and eternal patrol.
SHARK was lost during her third war patrol, probably in the vicinity of Luzon Strait. On 24 October, SEADRAGON received a message from SHARK stating that she had made radar contact with a single freighter, and that she was going to attack. This was the last message received from the submarine, and all subsequent attempts to contact SHARK failed. She was reported as presumed lost on 27 November. According to Japanese records examined after the war, on 24 October 1944, in Luzon Strait, a destroyer made contact with a submerged submarine and dropped depth charges. After losing and regaining the contact, the destroyer dropped another 17 depth charges which resulted in “bubbles, heavy oil, clothes and cork” coming to the surface.
87 men were lost.
SAILORS, REST YOUR OAR! YOUR WATCH HAS ENDED.
Your Brothers of the 'Phin Have the Watch.
Fair Winds and Following Seas, Shipmates.

Visit the Perch Base Eternal Patrol page.

JIM WALL ETERNAL PATROL
The Perch Base Membership Chairman, Paul Miller, received a phone call from James Wall, Jr. informing Paul that his father, Perch Base Life and Holland Club Member James (Jim) L. Wall , SKCM(SS) (ret), had passed away 2 years ago.
Jim qualified in submarines on the USS Caiman (SS-323) in 1961 and was a SKCM(SS) when he retired from the Navy in 1976.
Jim's wife, Linda, predeceased him. Linda was an active member in the Perch Base Subvettes. Her obituary is also posted on this website
Read and see more pictures HERE.
SAILOR, REST YOUR OAR! YOUR WATCH HAS ENDED.
Your Brothers of the 'Phin Have the Watch.
Fair Winds and Following Seas, Shipmate.

BRAVO ZULU JOHN!
Perch Base Submarine Veterans (USSVI) Member John Manning was inducted into the Holland Club at our monthly meeting on September 13, 2025, having been qualified in submarines for over 50 years. John Qualified in Submarines on USS Croaker (SSK-246) in 1964.
The photo shows the our Perch Base Past Commander, George Woods, (left,) also a Holland Club member congratulating John Manning (right) upon completion of the induction ceremony.
See more pictures HERE.

DONATE!
The national organization of the United States Submarine Veterans Incorporated (USSVI) is incorporated in the State of Connecticut and is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(19) veterans organization with an IRS Determination Letter documenting the Section 501(c)(19) status. This makes the USSVI a "TAX EXEMPT" organization. Thus, USSVI does not have to pay taxes, BUT YOUR DONATIONS TO USSVI AND PERCH BASE (including dues and events, such as banquets) ARE NOT "TAX DEDUCTIBLE". Unfortunately, donations are only deductible if at least 90% of the membership are members who have served during congressionally designated periods of war. (Reference: IRS Publication 3386, Tax Guide for Veterans’ Organizations, page 37 (page 39 of 54 of the pdf file).) During 2017, our percentage of war veterans dropped below 90%.
The percentage of war veterans is periodically re-calculated and we may again qualify in the future. Also, there are legal challenges underway to eliminate the percentage requirement. On the other hand, the standard deduction has been raised so high that few people itemize their charitable deductions. In 2017, 180 million taxpayers used the IRS Schedule A for itemizing tax deductions, but in 2018, only 13 million used the itemized form.
The latest USSVI IRS Form 990 Tax Return is available for public inspection via the USSVI Home Page by selecting the "Documents" button on the left column and then selecting the "Organization" button on the left column of the next page.
Both USSVI National and Perch Base also have CHARITABLE arms that only fulfill charitable purposes. These are recognized by the IRS as 501(c)(3) organizations and ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE. The USSVI National has the UNITED STATES SUBMARINE VETERANS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, INC (USSVCF) (IRS EIN 95-4830806) which supports the Brotherhood Fund, General Fund, Memorial Fund, Museum Boat Fund, Scholarship Fund, Library Fund, Building Fund, Kap(SS) 4 Kid(SS) Fund, Legacy Fund, and Commissioning Fund. The ARIZONA SUBMARINE VETERANS PERCH BASE FOUNDATION (IRS EIN 36-4625208) was founded in 2013 and typically provides scholarship funds to dependent sons, daughters and grandchildren of our members in pursuit of a post-high school education.

Follow this LINK to go to our Perch Base donation page.

2025 USSVI NATIONAL CONVENTION
Perch Base Submarine Veterans (USSVI) and some of their wives & family went to the 2025 USSVI National Convention held from August 31 to September 6, 2025, in Orlando, Florida at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort.
This photo shows Perch and Tucson Base member, Mike Ortiz, being congratulated after being sworn in as Western District 1 Commander. Thanks to our Base Commander, Dave Heighway, for this photo, and thanks to Joe Trotter for other photos!
View more Convention pictures HERE.

PRESCOTT FRONTIER DAYS^® PARADE
Twelve Perch Base members took the USS Phoenix float up to Prescott, Arizona on July 5th, 2025, for the Prescott Frontier Days^® Parade. The parade had many entries and a very large crowd to watch the parade. We were in the parade with Gudgeon Base and Tucson Base. About 25 members and family rode or walked in the parade from the 3 bases!
The 2025 Parade Theme was "WOMEN OF RODEO."
Many of the parade entries (including our USS Phoenix float) had memorials in honor of the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots who lost their lives protecting fellow Arizonans from the Yarnell Hill Fire in 2013.
View more event pictures HERE.
If you missed the "BIG SHOW," you can view the 2025 Prescott Frontier Days^® Rodeo Parade on Youtube via KYCA Digital HERE. Our entries are at position 1:10:51 through 1:13:00 in the video. The narrative swapped the two entries, but "it's the thought that counts."

FIELD DAY
Remember FIELD DAY before your space was inspected?
Remember LOADOUTS before deployment?
Remember SECURING everything before Angles & Dangles?
Our Chief of the Boat (COB,) Kirby Anderson led a party on Saturday, June 28, to prepare the USS PHOENIX (SSN-702) float for the upcoming Prescott Frontier Days^® rodeo parade on July 5th. We also did some cleanup in the storage locker where the float is kept. The USS Phoenix (SSN-702) float, the People Trailer used during parades, and much of our Perch Base materials are stored courtesy of the Morgan family on their property, free-of-charge. Thank you to Curt and Cindy Morgan.
View more details and pictures HERE.

BASE BIRTHDAY
The date of our USSVI charter, and Base "birthday," is June 20, 1995. So on June 20, 2025, our Base will be 30 years old! Thanks to Base Commander Dave Heighway, who brought a cake to our monthly meeting on June 14, 2025, to celebrate. Read more about our Perch Base history on our website at http://www.perch-base.org/Beginning.htm.
Also, our Membership Chairman Paul Miller awarded a 25-year Longevity Award pin to Life and Holland Club member George Williams. Congratulations to George!
View more details and pictures HERE.

MEMORIAL DAY and
TOLLING OF THE BOATS
Perch Base USSVI participated in the Memorial Day Ceremonies at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, including Tolling of the Boats, on Monday, May 26, 2025.
Governor Joy and Howard Doyle conducted the Tolling of the Boats ceremony.
View more details and pictures HERE.

HAPPY 61st BIRTHDAY
The United States Submarine Veterans, Inc., USSVI, was chartered 61 years ago on May 24, 1964.

SO YOU WANNA BE A FROGMAN?
Perch Base Life and Holland Club member Joe Trotter and his wife Kathy toured the Naval Special Warfare Center at Coronado, CA, on May 16, 2025, with the Naval Submarine League.
The Naval Special Warfare Center is commonly called SEAL Training or BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Training), but those are individual schools within the training command.
See more pictures HERE.

VICE COMMANDER INSTALLATION
Perch Base member Don Robertson was elected and installed as our Vice Commander at the Perch Base meeting on May 10, 2025, at Dillon's Restaurant.
Don fills the role as our Vice Commander since it became vacant on March 8, 2025, when Dave Heighway was installed as our Base Commander. Congratulations to Don, who was our Chief of the Boat (COB) since June 2021, and thanks to Don for his service to Perch Base as the COB.
Don was sworn in by Perch Base member Vic Van Horn who was formerly our Western Region Director and also District Commander WD1.
See more pictures HERE.

FRANK ELLIOT ETERNAL PATROL
Perch Base Holland Club Member and Life Member Frank Elliott, IC1(SS) (ret) passed onto Eternal Patrol on April 30th, 2025. Frank was 88 years old.
Frank joined the Navy in 1957 and retired after 20 years in 1976. He qualified on the USS Sablefish (SS-303) and also served on the Thomas Edison (SSBN-610), the USS Tinosa (SSN-606), the USS Finback (SSN-670), USS Spadefish (SSN-668), and the USS Pintado (SSN-672).
Frank joined Gold Country Base in 2003 and served as their Base Commander in 2009 and 2010. He joined Perch Base when he moved to Surprise, AZ, in 2024.
Frank is survived by his wife, Byrnece; his daughter, Kelly Shipp; stepchildren, James Morgen and Theresa McAdams; and numerous grandchildren.
Services were held at the at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona on May 20, 2025, at 1400 hours.
Read and see more pictures HERE.
SAILOR, REST YOUR OAR! YOUR WATCH HAS ENDED.
Your Brothers of the 'Phin Have the Watch.
Fair Winds and Following Seas, Shipmate.

ROBIE ROBINSON ETERNAL PATROL
Perch Base Holland Club Member and Life Member Bruce D. (Robie) Robinson, MMCM(SS) (ret) passed onto Eternal Patrol on May 4th, 2025. Robie was 89 years old.
Robie transferred to Perch Base from Wyoming Base in 2000.
Robie joined the U.S. Navy in 1953 and initially served on 3 destroyers in his first 4 years, the USS Taussig, USS Marshall, and the USS Cowell. He then served his next 4 years on a cruiser, the USS Rochester, before entering the Submarine Service in 1962. Robie served and Qualified in Submarines on the USS Patrick Henry (SSBN-599) from 1962 to 1963. He then rode the USS Halibut (SSN-587) from 1968-1969 following its conversion from a Regulus missile boat to a special operations missions submarine. Although details remain classified to this day, based on his service dates, he was probably a crewmember on the Halibut during the discovery of the sunken Soviet submarine K-129. MMCM(SS) Robinson served on two of the missions described in the book, Blind Man’s Bluff. He also served on the USS Benjamin Franklin (SSBN-640) from 1969-1970. Other submarine-related assignments included COMSUBRONs 14 and 16 and at the S5G prototype in Idaho.
Robie retired from the Navy in 1975. He is survived by his wife, Marge, daughter, Debbie, and son, Rob. Robie and Marge had 68 years sharing their lives as husband and wife.
A graveside service with full military honors for Robie was held Monday, June 16, 2025 at Pikes Peak National Cemetery, 10545 Drennan Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80925.
Read and see more pictures HERE.
SAILOR, REST YOUR OAR! YOUR WATCH HAS ENDED.
Your Brothers of the 'Phin Have the Watch.
Fair Winds and Following Seas, Shipmate.

JOIN US AT A MEETING.
We meet the second Saturday of every month at 1200 hours (noon if you’ve been out a while) at Dillon's Restaurant, 20585 North 59th Ave, Glendale, AZ 85308-6821 (Left-click address, or the map above, for a Google map to Dillon's.) Come at 1100 for time to "socialize."
NOTE: Check our SAILING ORDERS page before "dropping in" on a meeting!

HONOR FLIGHTS
Perch Base Submarine Veterans (USSVI) can apply for a trip to Washington, DC from Honor Flight Arizona.
Application forms are available on their website, www.honorflightaz.org. There are 124 Honor Flight hubs across the country, including Honor Flight Arizona. The cost to send a Veteran on the 3-day Honor Flight from Arizona is $1,300 and includes airfare, hotel and food, but the Veteran pays nothing. The cost is covered by donations to the 501(c)(3) organization. Guardians that accompany a Veteran pay their own way. Spouses cannot be Guardians, but other family members are encouraged. They are presently sending mainly Korean and Vietnam War Veterans between 1941 to 1975, including Cold War Veterans. A recent flight (which included our Base Commander George Woods) that just returned on May 10, 2024, had 30 Veterans. The Honor Flight Arizona usually has 5 flights in the spring and 5 flights in the fall, but intends to increase to a total of 12 per year.
Tour activities included the US Navy Memorial, Fort McHenry, the National WW2 Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Marine Corp Memorial, Military Women’s Memorial, Maryland Museum of Military History, the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and a group picture at Fort Myer Air Force Base. George Woods was highly complementary of his Honor Flight in 2024. Jim Andrews was on an Honor Flight in 2022.

WANT TO CARPOOL?
NEED A RIDE?
The image, above, shows that we have members all over metropolitan Phoenix. Left-click on the image for a larger view. If you are a Perch Base member and would like to consider carpooling, you are willing to pickup another member, or you need a ride to meetings or events, send an email to the webmaster at webmaster@perch-base.org.
The Board of Directors will attempt to match you with another nearby member who has similarly asked to carpool, or is willing to pickup another member. The Board will then provide the name, email, and phone number to the interested members that can then get in touch with each other to make specific arrangements. We are not publicly posting names or personal information to maintain privacy.
Keep in mind that if you wait until the last minute to request a match-up for a particular event, we may not be able to respond in time.

BOAT SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM
The purpose of the Boat Sponsorship Program (BSP) is to make the active duty submarine force members aware of USSVI and provide them with information about our activities through sponsorship of the American Submariner to the various Submarine related organizations. After all, these force members represent the future core membership of USSVI.
Perch Base is a sponsor, but did you know that individual members may sponsor each Fast Attack Submarine and/or each crew of the Boomers? Magazines are also sent to VA hospitals, NROTC units, schools and other places. The cost is $30 per year for a total of 12 magazines (three each of the four annual volumes.)
Our Perch Base Holland Club & Life Member Jack Messersmith is the USSVI BSP Program Manager. Let’s make Jack proud. Check your copy of the American Submariner to sign up for the program.

VISIT OUR NEW FACEBOOK PAGE
Come and visit, LIKE and FOLLOW our new Facebook Page, USSVI Perch Base Arizona.
Building a successful Social Media network for any organization is no longer a "we’ll think about it" topic. Today, it is a MUST DO for all nonprofit organizations, including United States Submarine Veterans, Inc. (USSVI) and its Bases. It is critical if we want to expand our membership growth and communicate our unique mission story in an effective and cost-effective manner.

ROAD CONSTRUCTION
Roadwork will require lane restrictions and full closures on Loop 101, the interchange ramps and cross streets between 75th Avenue to I-17. Work will occur primarily during overnight hours and weekends to minimize traffic impacts, thus may affect travel time to future meetings at Dillon's starting September 27, 2024.
Although there is presently no closure scheduled for our next meeting on May 10, you can check the current status on the ADOT website HERE.
You can also view the live Loop 101 cameras on the AZ511 website HERE.
We will try to keep the restrictions up-to-date on the Sailing Orders page prior to each meeting.

LT(jg) GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH
In the upper picture, above, the crew of the USS Finback (SS-230) rescues downed pilot, Lieutenant Bush of Torpedo Squadron 51 on September 2, 1944 after Japanese antiaircraft defense shot down his torpedo bomber between the northeastern end of Minami Jima and the southern tip of Chichi Jima. (Left-click the picture to enlarge.)
In the bottom picture, Rescued pilots and the crew and officers of the Finback. Lt. (jg) George Herbert Walker Bush is second from the left in the front row.
Bush, and 4 other rescued aviators remained on the Finback as "guests" while she tracked and attacked convoys, endured depth charges from Japanese escort ships, and sank two ships (an oiler and small cargo ship). The five ended their stay on the Finback on Midway Island on September 29, after 29 days aboard the submarine (and crossing the international date line).
Read more about how the submarine service performed "Lifeguard Duty" during WW2 in the National Archives HERE.