US - Submariners educate others about the 'Silent Service'

United States Submarine Veterans member Bill Wood showes Fenix Rodes, 6, the portal area on the USS Nautilus 1/13th scale model that Wood and other members of his group had on display during a

car show in Summerfield, Fla.

Oakcrest Elementary student Fenix Rodes learned something recently about serving aboard a U.S. Navy submarine.

The Ocala Nautilus Base of the United States Submarine Veterans, Inc. will meet at 11 a.m. March 17 at the Marion County Sheriff's Substation, 3000 SE 80th St. For information about the group, open to anyone who qualified for submarine duty, visit www.nautilusbase.us.

The 6-year-old was at the 14th annual Orange Blossom Hills Community Patrol car show, where members of the Ocala Nautilus Base, a chapter of the United States Submarines Veterans Inc., displayed their 27-foot-long scale model of the 319-foot-long USS Nautilus (SSN 571).

“How do you get inside?” Fenix asked.

Navy veteran Bill Wood, base commander, who served on subs including the nuclear powered SSN 614 Greenling from 1974 to 1977, stepped up to help.

“This is a model,” said Wood, 71. “On a real sub, there are hatches about this big,” he said, making a circle shape with both arms.

The creed of the United States Submarines Veterans organization is to “perpetuate the memory of shipmates who gave their lives in pursuit of their duties while defending their country,” according to www.nautilusbase.us.

The Ocala Nautilus Base was formed in 1998 and has more than 40 members. Their sub model was built from an aviation fuel tank in a group project spearheaded by the late Ernest “Frank” Holland, who died April 1, 2011, at age 80.

The model was completed in 2006 after about 18 months of fabrication. It features turning props and a loud klaxon horn.

Tony Baldwin, who began service in the Navy in 1958 and served on the sub Bonefish, “the last of the diesel subs,” worked on the model. He said Holland’s home became known as “Holland Ship Yard” and that Holland was the “driving force” behind the design and manufacture.

The sub drew a lot of attention parked near collectible cars at the show.