U.S. Submarine Veterans Inc. (SUBVETS) Groton Base conducted a Holland Club ceremony, June 2 at Dealey Center Theater aboard Naval Submarine Base New London (SUBASE), honoring 67 members who qualified in submarines in 1962 or earlier.
The Holland Club is an exclusive group within the SUBVETS organization that recognizes members who reach the milestone of a minimum of 50 years qualified in submarines.
Present were 45 of the 67 members being recognized. Of the group one member, William O. Allread (Terryville, Conn.) qualified in submarines in 1950, and the rest qualified between 1958 and 1962. Their ranks went from Seaman to Admiral, and their qualification boats ranged from USS Grouper (SS 214) to USS John Marshall (SSBN 611). USS John Marshall was a new submarine in 1962, commissioned May 21.
There has never been a group of USSVI members that large put into the Holland Club at one time.
Each man was recognized individually with a reading of personal biographical information as pictures of his Qualification Boat and personal pictures from their time in the service flashed on the screen.
As part of the recognition each new Holland Club member was presented with letters from Commander, Submarine Forces; Commander, Submarine Force Pacific, and Commander, Submarine Group Two. The letters to each man congratulated them for reaching the significant milestone of being qualified in submarines for 50 or more years, and thanked them for their service to the submarine force, the Navy, and the country. Additionally each member who retired as a Chief Petty Officer, Senior Chief Petty Officer, or Master Chief Petty Officer received a congratulatory letter from the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Rick West.
Present in the audience were over 400 family members, friends, present Holland Club members, and many active duty personnel to honor the new members of the Holland Club. The active duty personnel included area COBs/CMCs, Commanding Officers, and future submariners who are students at Naval Submarine School New London.
As each of the 45 members present were being honored, they were personally congratulated by Commander, Submarine Group Two Chief of Staff Captain Mike Bernacchi.
Two of the members, Vice Admiral James Zimble and Machinist Mate 1st Class (SS) Thomas E. Farnon were recognized posthumously as they had passed away, but were fully eligible for the Holland Club when they died earlier this year.
The following individuals were put into the Holland Club:
William O. Allread, Terryville, Conn., 1950; Peter H. Andersen, Casco, Maine, 1962; John Paull Anderson, Bristol, Va., 1962; Michael Angelo, Jr., Manns Choice, Penn., 1962; Alexander M. Angus Jr., Lynnfield, Mass., 1962; T. Michael Bircumshaw, Temecula, Calif., 1962; Sterling L. Blankenship, Jr., Danielson, Conn., 1962; David Harry Boyd, Gales Ferry, Conn., 1962; Kenneth Brannin, Milford, Conn., 1962; Frederick L. Briggs, Camp Hill, Penn., 1962; Karle L. Butler, Mystic, Conn., 1960; Robert P. Carl, Jr., Fredericktown, Penn., 1962; Robert M. Cloupe, Forked River, N.J., 1962; Frank Conahan, Ledyard, Conn., 1962; Martin E. Davis, Mystic, Conn., 1962; David D. Dlugo, Seven Hills, Ohio, 1962; Andrew J. Elnicki, Okeechobee, Fla., 1962; Thomas E. Farnon, York, Maine, 1962; David G. Ferrell, Groton, Conn., 1962; Robert M. Folks, Roan Mountain, Tenn., 1962; Charles Franklin, Hampton, Va., 1962; Edwin L. Gibbons, East Lyme, Conn., 1962; William J. Glueck Jr., Rockfall, Conn., 1959; Philip E. Griffith Sr., Lecanto, Fla., 1962; Nicholas Gudz Jr., Niantic, Conn., 1962; Robert J. Haff, Wayne, N.J., 1962; Aubrey G Hall, Gales Ferry, Conn., 1962; Wayne M. Harding, Barefoot Bay, Fla., 1962; Carl D. Hill, Ledyard, Conn., 1962; Richard F. Hillman, Milford, N.H., 1962; Carl H. Hochstetler, Ledyard, Conn., 1962; John E. Hogan, Niantic, Conn., 1962; Norman Holiman, Narragansett, R.I., 1959; Eugene Holubek, Union, N.J., 1958; Dennis W. Hopkins, Pomfret Center, Conn., 1962; Rolland B. Jackson Jr., East Hampton, Conn., 1962; James E. Jinks, Plainfield, Conn., 1962; Ronald Kadlecik, Waterford, Conn., 1962; Diederick E. Kanning, Sanford, N.C., 1962; Jerry A. King, Atequiza, Jalisco, 1962; Richard J. Kvietkus, Bethlehem, Conn., 1962; David W. Lane, Old Lyme, Conn., 1962; Robert MacGregor, Oakdale, Conn., 1962; Norman A. Main, Niantic, Conn., 1962; Peter W. Martin, Middletown, R.I., 1962; Stephen Mitchell, Wareham, Mass., 1962; Abraham Mozeak, New London, Conn., 1962; Thomas F. OBrien, Woonsocket, R.I., 1962; Gerald J O’Neil, Myrtle Beach, N.C. 1962; Thomas O’Shea, Hellertown, Penn., 1962; William H Oswald, St. Petersburg, FL 1962; Walter A Patrick, Norwich, Conn., 1962; James H. Patton, Jr., North Stonington, Conn., 1962; Robert D. Perdue ,Titusville, Fla., 1962; Michael G. Riegel, Preston, Conn., 1962; Abraham Sanchez, Jalisco, Mexico, 1962; David R Seavers, Rhinelander, Wis., 1962; Charles J. Sladky, Lisbon, Conn., 1958; Dennis C. Staley, Geneseo, N.Y. 1962; William J. Tobin, Toms River, N.J., 1961; Richard E. Tomac Sr., Live Oak, Fla., 1962; Peter J. Toppa Jr., Voluntown, Conn., 1962; Philippe Turgeon, Lewiston, Maine, 1962; Earle B. Van Camp, Bozrah, Conn., 1962; James C. Weitlauf, Stonington, Conn., 1962; Russell J. Woodworth, Citrus Springs, Fla. 1962; James Zimble, Salem, Conn., 1961;
For additional information about SUBVETS Groton Base, contact John Carcioppolo at commander@subvetsgroton.org, or call (860) 514–7064. The SUBVETS Groton Base web page is located at http://subvetsgroton.org.
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