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January 2022 Annual Awards Banquet Photos

Annual Awards Banquet
Perch Base held its Annual Awards Banquet on January 15, 2022, at the Pebble Creek Clubhouse. Our guest speaker was Captain Vernon J. Parks, Jr (ret). Since COVID caused last year's banquet to be cancelled, there were two awards for "Sailor of the Year." The 2020 "Sailor of the Year." was Marcia Unser, Base Secretary. The 2021 "Sailor of the Year." was Joe Trotter, Base Treasurer.
Don Petty was inducted into the Holland Club for being qualifed 50 years.
John Engelmann had been previously picked and announced during the August 2021 monthly meeting as the winner of the Earlybird Contest.
View more awards and pictures HERE.

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.

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 Jan. 12, 1945, the USS Swordfish (SS‑193), sailed off into history on her final and eternal patrol.
She was lost somewhere near Okinawa, on her 13th war patrol. Probably was lost to a mine.
89 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.

POSSIBLE COVID EXPOSURE
It has come to our attention that a shipmate that attended Saturday's, 1/8/2022, meeting has tested positive for COVID.
According to CDC guidelines, linked below:

If you were exposed to COVID-19 and ARE NOT up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations you should:

Quarantine for at least 5 days.
Watch for symptoms until 10 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19.
If you develop symptoms, isolate immediately and get tested. Continue to stay home until you know the results. Wear a well-fitted mask around others.

If you were exposed to COVID-19 and ARE up-to-date with vaccination:

No quarantine. You do not need to stay home unless you develop symptoms.
Get tested. Even if you don’t develop symptoms, get tested at least 5 days after you last had close contact.
Watch for symptoms until 10 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19.
If you develop symptoms, isolate immediately and get tested. Continue to stay home until you know the results. Wear a well-fitted mask around others.
Take precautions until day 10. Wear a well-fitted mask for 10 full days any time you are around others inside your home or in public. Avoid travel. Avoid being around people who are at high risk

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/quarantine-isolation.html

EXTRA, EXTRA! Read all about it!
The new MidWatch newsletter is published. Click HERE to read the new issue.

MERRY CHRISTMAS
The USSVI National Board of Directors would like to convey our warmest thoughts and best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Please take time during this holiday season to pause and reflect on the past year, spend precious time with your loved ones, and focus your thoughts on the important things that give our lives meaning as we move forward into 2022.
All the best and please take care,
Wayne Standerfer
National Commander

DON DEMARTE ETERNAL PATROL
Services for Don DeMarte have been announced at the National Cemetery of Arizona on Tuesday January 25, 2022, at 10:00 AM by the Samaritan Funeral Home.
Perch Base Associate Member and Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame recipient Don DeMarte, departed on Eternal Patrol on November 24, 2021. Our condolences to his next-of-kin Mary Lou and the rest of the family.
Donald M. DeMarte was born in Tidioute, Pennsylvania, on June 23, 1936, and passed on November 24, 2021, at the age of 85.
As stated in the Mission Statement of the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society to "preserve and perpetuate the traditions of the American military and all who served in it, to undertake charitable and other projects at the state and local levels and to work with veteran’s organizations in the attainment of AVHOFS objectives, and to promote and to encourage responsible citizenship among all Americans," Don was inducted as a Hall of Fame member in 2014.
View the full Eternal Patrol Notice HERE.
SAILOR, REST YOUR OAR! YOUR WATCH HAS ENDED.
Your Brothers of the 'Phin Have the Watch.
Fair Winds and Following Seas, Shipmate.

TROUBLE ACCESSING USSVI?
Many people are reporting that they can’t access the USSVI website (www.ussvi.org).
They have been getting errors, such as "This site can’t be reached" or "Hmmm… can't reach this page".
Their access is blocked when using Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge or Opera Browsers. Your Webmaster’s suggestion (works for me!) is to use Firefox to go to the USSVI website. If you don’t already have the Firefox browser, you can download it for free at https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/download/thanks/
It will start downloading automatically.

Fifteen Perch Base members and their guests attended the Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day event on 12/07/2021 at the Wesley Bolin Plaza by the Arizona State Capitol to place wreaths during the ceremony.
We placed two wreaths. One for the WW2 Submarine Veterans and one for Perch Base.
VIPs in attendance included The Honorable Maricopa County Superior Court Judge James "Jim" Drake as the Master of Ceremonies; Governor Doug Ducey; Arizona Department of Veterans' Services Director, Col. Wanda Wright; Jewish War Veterans National Vice Commander, Alan D. Paley; and Keynote Speaker Executive Officer, Navy Talent Acquistion Group Phoenix, Commander Kevin M. "KK" Kahl.
View the pictures HERE.

STUDENTS VISIT ASSM
On Friday, November 12, 2021, Perch Base members Marcus Hensley, Chris Urness, George Woods, and Bob Gilmore presented the Arizona Silent Service Memorial (ASSM) to approximately 70 students and 10 staff members from South Pointe Middle School providing a valuable history lesson for the Submarine Force and the Memorial.
View more pictures of the South Pointe Middle School presentation HERE.

Phoenix Veterans Day Parade
Fourteen Perch Base members took the USS Phoenix float to the Phoenix, Arizona, Veterans Day Parade on Thursday, November 11, 2021.
This photo includes Miss Arizona 2021, Amber Barto, and Miss Arizona's Outstanding Teen 2021, Kate Blair, who joined us for a photo.
View more details and pictures of the Phoenix Veterans Day Parade HERE.

Gilbert Veterans Day
Seven Perch Base members and wives attended the 2021 Town of Gilbert, AZ Veterans Day Ceremony on November 10, 2021, at the Gilbert Regional Park.
This photo includes Charles Tobias and Nikki Stratton. Nikki is the granddaughter of Don Stratton, who was a survivor of the December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor attack on the USS Arizona, BB-39. Don passed on February 15, 2020. Nikki is the sponsor of the new submarine USS Arizona (SSN-803), a Block 5 Virginia-class submarine, authorized for construction on December 2, 2019. It will be the fourth United States Navy vessel named for the state of Arizona.
View more details and pictures of the Gilbert Veterans Ceremony HERE.

Daisy Mountain (Anthem)
Perch Base took the USS Phoenix float to the Daisy Mountain (Anthem, AZ) Veterans Day Parade on Saturday, November 6, 2021.
13 members and family participated!
Even before the parade started, the members of the Musical Theatre of Anthem came over to "serenade" us with a rendition of Anchors Aweigh in appreciation of our service on Veterans Day.
The parade route started at Memorial Drive adjacent to the Anthem Veterans Memorial. Each pillar represents one of the branches of the military and the sun lines up with the portals at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
View more details and pictures of the Parade HERE.

Happy Birthday Navy
99-year old Pearl Harbor survivor, Jack Holder, cuts the Navy Birthday Ball cake with an officer's sabre, celebrating the 246th birthday of the US Navy.
Four Perch Base Members (Base Commander George Woods, Past Commander Howard Doyle, Webmaster Dan Marks, and Brad Seidel) attended the Phoenix, AZ, Area Birthday Ball on October 9th, 2021, to celebrate the Navy's 246th birthday. The theme of the Birthday Ball was
"Honoring Cold War Veterans & Returning Navy Sailors from Deployment."
The Keynote Speaker was Rear Admiral Paula Dunn, USN.
View the Birthday Ball program and pictures HERE.

Jim Nelson Eternal Patrol
Perch Base Holland Club Member Jim (Nellie) Nelson departed on Eternal Patrol on August 15, 2020.
Our condolences to his wife, Nancy, who was the Perch Base Subvettes President for many years, his son, Brent, who is also a Qualified Submariner, Brother-in-Law Clark Jensen, who is also a Qualified Submariner, and the rest of the family.
Jim was our Perch Base Chief of the Boat (COB) in 2001, the Base Storekeeper from 2003 to 2008, and was awarded Perch Base Sailor of the Year Award in 2007.
Memorial Services were delayed due to COVID. Cemetery services were conducted at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona on Friday, 10/08/2021 at 10:30 am. Fifteen Perch Base members and wives were present. Our Past Base Commander, Jim Denzien, presented the Eulogy and Base Commander, George Woods, presented the Eternal Patrol Certificate to the family.
View the full Eternal Patrol Notice HERE.
SAILOR, REST YOUR OAR! YOUR WATCH HAS ENDED.
Your Brothers of the 'Phin Have the Watch.
Fair Winds and Following Seas, Shipmate.

Dale Leor Skeivik Eternal Patrol
Submariner Dale Leor Skeivik, born March 13, 1958, departed on Eternal Patrol on September 25, 2021. Our condolences to his Sister, Cryptologic (administrative) Master Chief Petty Officer, Stella Reyes, CTACM, and the rest of the family.
We don't know a great deal about Dale, since he was not a member of Perch Base, but we do know that he was a crewmember on USS James Madison, SSBN-627, from 1977 to 1982, serving as a Navigation Electronics Technician (ET).
Cemetery services were conducted at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona on Thursday, 10/07/2021 at 1:00 pm. Nine Perch Base members were present and our Chaplain, Governor Joy, presented the Eternal Patrol Certificate to the family.
View the full Eternal Patrol Notice HERE.
SAILOR, REST YOUR OAR! YOUR WATCH HAS ENDED.
Your Brothers of the 'Phin Have the Watch.
Fair Winds and Following Seas, Shipmate.

September 2021 Perch Base Williams Patriot Day Parade Photos

Williams Patriot Day Parade
Twenty-three Perch Base Members and family participated in the 2nd Annual Patriot Day Parade in Historic Downtown Williams, AZ, on Saturday, September 11, 2021. The parade theme was "WE REMEMBER" as a way to remember those injured and killed in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
The parade honored our local law enforcement, EMS and fire personnel.
Both parade participants and the audience turned out in large numbers.
View more event pictures HERE.

Ray Marshall Eternal Patrol
Perch Base Holland Club and Life Member Ray Marshall, departed on Eternal Patrol on September 10, 2021. Our condolences to his Daughter Marion, Son-in-Law Ron and the rest of the family.
ENC(SS) Raymond Marshall, a WW2 veteran who made 12 war patrols on two different boats, was 101 years old.
Ray joined the Navy in January 1939 and retired as a Chief Engineman in 1959. His first assignment was on the destroyer USS Mahan (DD‑364) from 1939 to 1940, but then was assigned to the Submarine Service in 1940. He qualified in submarines in 1941 on the USS Porpoise (SS‑172). Ray made 12 war patrols during WW2 on two different boats. He served for six war patrols on the Porpoise, leaving as a Motor Machinist Mate First Class, then six more war patrols on the USS Guavina (SS‑362) where he became a Chief Motor Machinist Mate.
After WWII, Ray served on 5 other submarines prior to his retirement in 1959. Ray was also a member of the Submarine Veterans of World War II (SVWWII).
Memorial services have not yet been announced.
View the full Eternal Patrol Notice HERE.
SAILOR, REST YOUR OAR! YOUR WATCH HAS ENDED.
Your Brothers of the 'Phin Have the Watch.
Fair Winds and Following Seas, Shipmate.

2021 Scholarships
Congratulations to the two children and grandchildren of Perch Base members who each received $500 scholarships during the August 14, 2021 General meeting. The Perch Base treasury provided $500 toward scholarships and the Perch Base Charitable Foundation provided the other $500 toward the scholarships.
Unfortunately, we weren't able to grant the scholarships in person this year because the recipients had already departed for school. The Scholarship recipients were Paige Urness and Kara Woods.
Paige Urness is the Daughter of Perch Base member Chris Urness. Kara Woods is the Grandaughter of our Perch Base Commander George Woods.
Subsequently, we received Thank You notes from Paige Urness and Kara Woods. View the Thank You's HERE

2021 National Convention
Several Perch Base Submarine Veterans (USSVI) and wives went to the 2021 USSVI National Convention held from August 30 through September 4, 2021, in Orlando, Florida at the Rosen Shingle Creek^® Hotel, hosted by Central Florida & Snug Harbor Bases.
Thanks to Marcia Unser who sent pictures to the Webmaster.
Keep returning to the Convention wehpage as additional event photos will be added.
See more pictures HERE

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.