Lest we forget to perpetuate the memory of our shipmates who gave their lives in the pursuit of their duties while serving their country. . .
76 years ago, on Aug. 6, 1945, the USS Bullhead (SS‑332), sailed off into history on her final and eternal patrol.
Bullhead was the very last US Navy ship sunk by enemy action during World War II, probably on the same day that the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. It is difficult to determine precisely which of the many Japanese anti-submarine attacks was the one that sank Bullhead. However, one occurred on 6 August 1945, when a Japanese Army plane attacked with depth charges. It claimed two direct hits, and for ten minutes thereafter, there was a great amount of gushing oil and air bubbles rising in the water. Since the position given is very near the Bali coast, it is presumed that the proximity of mountain peaks shortened Bullhead's radar range and prevented her receiving a warning of the plane's approach.
84 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.

Ernie (The Kid) Plantz
Perch Base Life and Holland Club member and SVWWII member Ernie (The Kid) Plantz (his home base was Groton Base in Groton, Connecticut) was a Seaman Electrician Striker (SS) on board the USS Perch (SS-176) when it was scuttled in 1942.
Ernie was interviewed in the book "Trial And Triumph," authored by Stephen Leal Jackson (2005, Dog Ear Publishing.)
He found himself a prisoner of the Japanese for three and a half grueling years; 1,297 days. The book details the atrocities, beatings with bats and bamboo sticks, starvation, dysentery, malaria and pellagra suffered by the POWs.
Although the book is available slightly cheaper from Amazon, I purchased my copy, signed by Ernie, online from the USS Nautilus Museum Store, figuring it was for a "good cause."
Read more about the USS Perch (SS-176) war patrols and POW survivors HERE.
Ernie (The Kid) Plantz passed on to Eternal Patrol December 19, 2015, at the age of 95. His Eternal Patrol notice is HERE.

Prescott Frontier Days® Parade
Perch Base took the USS Phoenix float up to Prescott, Arizona on July 3rd, 2021, 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. Tucson Base also was there with their USS Tucson (SSN-770) submarine float. Members and family rode or walked in the parade from the 3 bases!
The 2021 Parade Theme was "True Western Determination."
After the parade, we had a BBQ lunch at Sherry and Tom Warner's home in Prescott Valley.
View more event pictures HERE.

HAPPY 26th BIRTHDAY
Then USSVI National Commander Charles Marin, presents the Perch Base its Charter to Jim Newman and Frank Rumbaugh -- Commander and Vice Commander -- of the Base on Sept. 23, 1995. The date of the charter, and Base "birthday," is June 20, 1995.
Read more about the charter HERE.

HOLLAND CLUB INDUCTION
Perch Base Submarine Veterans (USSVI) conducted a Holland Club Induction Ceremony (50 years qualified) for Jerry Allston, Kelly Grissom, David Metje, Alan Miller, Carl Miner and Don Schafer on June 12, 2021.
Separate Holland Club Induction Ceremonies were also conducted by Jim Denzien and George Woods at the homes of Robert Hayball and Wayne Hembree who are on the Binnacle List and were unable to attend.
View more pictures HERE.

MEMORIAL DAY AT SALT RIVER
Perch Base members Joe Trotter and Howard Doyle attended the Memorial Day ceremony and wreath laying by Nikki Stratton (Sponsor for USS Arizona SSN-803) at the USS Arizona Memorial Gardens at Salt River in Scottsdale, AZ, on May 31, 2021. The Salt River Indian Community’s American Legion Bushmaster’s Post 114 performed military honors at USS Arizona Memorial Gardens at Salt River including a 21 gun salute, laying of the wreath, and playing TAPS. View more pictures HERE.
Other Perch Base members attended the Memorial Day ceremony at the Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City, AZ. See the adjacent article.
You can learn more about the USS Arizona Memorial Gardens at Salt River on the Perch Base website HERE

MEMORIAL DAY AT SUNLAND
Seven Perch Base members and wives attended the Memorial Day ceremony conducted by the North West Valley Veterans Association (NWVVA) and held at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City, AZ, on May 31, 2021. The ceremony was opened with a flyover by the Falcon Warbirds and a drive-by by the Legion Riders of Legion Posts #96 and #62.
Distiguished guests included Uncle Sam (Joe Delgado,) the Keynote Speaker, Col. Theodore (Ted) M. Stults II, United States Army (Ret), and the Rosie the Riveter Association Sun City Chapter. View more pictures HERE.
Other Perch Base members attended the Memorial Day ceremony at the USS Arizona Memorial Gardens at Salt River. See the adjacent article.

HAPPY 57th BIRTHDAY
The United States Submarine Veterans, Inc., USSVI, was chartered 55 years ago on May 22, 1964.

🎶BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN🎶
Congratulations to Chris Urness. At the May 8, 2021, Perch Base monthly meeting, Western Region Director Vic Van Horn awarded a Letter of Commendation to Chris Urness, Co-Chairman of the Arizona Silent Service Memorial (ASSM) for his efforts leading to the completion and dedication of the Memorial. A similar Commendation has been issued for the other Co-Chairman Marcus Hensley, who was not present at this meeting.
This was the first meeting back at Dillon's BBQ restaurant in a long time due to the Coronavirus. It is good to be back, and the attendance reflected that!
View more pictures HERE.

NEW OFFICERS SELECTED
We had vacancies in the positions of Chief of the Boat (COB) and Base Historian. The Perch Base Policies and Procedures Manual states that those positions are appointed by the Base Commander with the concurrence of the Board of Directors. Per the Manual, our Base Commander, George Woods, has appointed Don Robertson (left) as our new COB, and Chuck Emmett (right) as our new Base Historian.
The COB vacancy resulted from our previous COB, Carl Miner, being elected as the Base Vice Commander. The Base Historian position had been filled by since May 2015 by Chuck Luna, who is also our Communications Officer, and MidWatch Newsletter Editor. Chuck Luna is so busy with his other roles, that it was time to reassign the Base Historian position.
The Perch Base Board of Directors thanks Carl Miner and Chuck Luna for their service in their previous positions and looks forward to working with Don Robertson and Chuck Emmett in these new appointments.

The Indonesian Navy designated the submarine KRI Nanggala 402 lost on 24 April, 2021, based on debris recovered, depth of the ocean of 850 meters (2,800 ft) which is beyond crush depth, and duration beyond the available oxygen on board. Perch Base Submarine Veterans extends our condolences to the families of the crew of 53 souls on Eternal Patrol.
Indonesia submarine KRI Nanggala (402) went missing on 21 April 2021, after it failed to report in while undertaking a simulated torpedo firing in preparation for a live firing later this week. The submarine had received clearance to dive and then immediately lost contact.
View the full Eternal Patrol Notice HERE.
SAILORS, REST YOUR OARS! YOUR WATCH HAS ENDED.
Your Brothers of the 'Phin Have the Watch.
Fair Winds and Following Seas, Shipmates.

ASSM DEDICATION
The Arizona Silent Service Memorial (ASSM,) located in Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza, just east of the Arizona Capitol Building was dedicated on April 17, 2021. Over 120 people were present for the ceremony, including Jack Holder, one of two remaining survivors of the Pearl Harbor attack by the Japanese.
The Keynote Speaker was Vernon J. Parks Jr, Captain, USN, retired.
View more details and pictures HERE.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
The “Submarine Force Birthday” is April 11. Holland VI was purchased by the U.S. government for the sum of $150,000 on 11 April 1900 from John Phillip Holland's Holland Torpedo Boat Company. She was considered to be the first truly successful craft of her type. Holland VI was modified after her christening, and was renamed USS Holland (SS-1) when she was commissioned. The United States Government soon ordered more submarines from Holland's company, which became the Electric Boat company. These boats were to be known as the Plunger class. These became America's first fleet of underwater naval vessels.
Some Submariners consider April 11 to be "Wear Your Dolphins to Work Day."

ASSM PAVER INSTALLATION
The Arizona Silent Service Memorial (ASSM) finances the cost of continuing maintenance by donations, challenge coin sales and sales of paver bricks.
Go to the ASSM website to purchase pavers.
On Saturday, April 10, 2021, Perch Base members added new pavers to the Memorial, in preparation for the official ASSM Dedication Ceremony, scheduled for the following Saturday.
Additionally, the ASSM artist, Nate Decker, was onsite to do some "touch-up" work on the Monument.
Note the Missile Tech with the hammer! View more details and pictures HERE.

UNITED ARIZONA VETERANS
Jim Denzien is our Perch Base representative to the United Arizona Veterans (UAV.) Jim is looking for an alternate.
The UAV meets monthly, and Jim stated that all future meetings through the end of 2022 will be ZOOM meetings, so little effort is required.
We haven’t had an alternate since Lou Reynolds went on Eternal Patrol.
If you are interested, or want to know more, contact Jim or one of our Base Officers.

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.

We Trained For This!
With all the recent activity and cancellations as a result of the Corona Virus, this speaks for itself!

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.

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: Several recent meetings have been cancelled or moved due to the coronavirus. Check our SAILING ORDERS page before "dropping in" on a meeting!

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 Life Member Vic Van Horn is the USSVI BSP Program Manager. Let’s make Vic proud. Check your copy of the American Submariner to sign up for the program.

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.