USS GRENADIER (SS‑210)
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 April 22, 1943, the USS Grenadier (SS‑210), sailed off into history on her final and eternal patrol.
She was attacked by Japanese aircraft near the Strait of Malacca, survived but was damaged beyond repair. The crew abandoned ship, were taken prisoner, and all but four (4) survived the war.
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.

JOE TROTTER AT
OUR LADY OF JOY
Perch Base Submarine Veteran (USSVI) Joe Trotter gave a presentation on 4/19/2024 to the Our Lady of Joy Roman Catholic Church Military Veterans Ministry.
Bravo Zulu to Joe for supporting our Creed to ". . . endeavor to educate all third parties it comes in contact with about the services our submarine brothers performed and how their sacrifices made possible the freedom and lifestyle we enjoy today."
The Military Veterans Ministry focuses on those in our community who have served in the U.S. military, on those who still are serving our nation, and on families of veterans and active duty military. It is open to all veterans, active duty military and members of the parish.
The Ministry prays for those on active duty, assists our elderly and injured veterans who need a helping hand, listens to those who want to share their military stories with other veterans, aids in researching the right services and benefits for our veterans in a complex system, arranges for social activities, and annually honors those who served on Veteran’s Day with a Mass.
The Ministry honors all those who have served and wants to meet you. You are not forgotten.

ASSM MEMORIAL BRICK PAVER INSTALLATION
Perch Base Submarine Veterans (USSVI) Joe Trotter and Dan Marks installed three new ASSM Memorial Brick Pavers on April 15, 2024, at the Arizona Silent Service Memorial (ASSM) in Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza in front of the Arizona State Capital building. Joe Trotter is the Treasurer and a Board Member of the ASSM Foundation Committee, a 501(c)3 Organization, as well as Treasurer of Perch Base Submarine Veterans USSVI. Dan Marks is the Perch Base Webmaster.
Thank you for the generosity of those that bought new ASSM Memorial Brick Pavers, which support the upkeep of the ASSM Memorial:
Mike Haler: 4" X 8" brick
Smith Hoffman and Buckman Family: 4" X 8" brick
John A. McKee, Jr: 4" X 8" brick
Joe and Dan installed the 3 bricks and also performed additional maintenance at the Memorial, including wire brushing rust off the handrails and recoating the rails, general cleaning and pulling weeds.
Would you like to sponsor a new ASSM Memorial Brick Paver to help maintain the Arizona Silent Service Memorial (ASSM)?
Follow this LINK to the ASSM Memorial Brick Paver donation page.
View more pictures HERE.

WESTERN REGION ROUNDUP
The Western Region Roundup was held in Silverdale, WA, from April 10 – 14, 2024.
Perch Base members attending the Roundup were Don & Marcia Unser, Carl Miner, Don Petty and Dan Marks.
View more details and pictures HERE.

ANNUAL PICNIC MEETING
Perch Base held its Annual Picnic meeting on Saturday, April 13, 2024. This was the second annual picnic at the Paloma Community Park in Peoria, AZ, instead of the White Tanks Park in Waddell and it was a great change.
Many of the dishes were brought in by the membership, but the "duty chef," Stan Reinhold, who has a food handling license, cooked the burgers and hotdogs. Our Perch Base Chief of the Boat (COB,) Don Robertson also "mess cranked" for Stan. Special thanks to both Stan and Don for their contribution to the success of the picnic.
Following lunch, our Base Commander, George Woods, opened the meeting, led the Pledge of Allegiance and read the USSVI purpose. George Woods introduced our visitors, including members from Gudgeon Base. George also read the Tolling of the Boats Ceremony for the boats lost in April.
Special thanks to George Woods for providing photos, since Dan Marks, the Webmaster, was in Silverdale, WA, at the Western Region Roundup, and was unable to attend the Annual Picnic.
See more photos from the picnic 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."

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

VICE-COMMANDER
INSTALLATION
Perch Base member David Heighway was installed as Vice-Commander on March 9, 2024.
Congratulations to Dave, who was previously our Event Coordinator, and thanks to Carl Miner for his service as the past Vice-Commander since April 10, 2021 (not to mention Carl's contribution as Chief of the Boat (COB) prior to that.)
View more details and pictures HERE.

USSVI
60TH ANNIVERSARY
USSVI was chartered on May 22, 1964. May 22, 2024 will be the 60th (Diamond) Anniversary.
Celebrate the event with a patch and/or challenge coin!.
To order the anniversary patch and/or challenge coin, see our Storekeeper, John Beckett, at the next meeting or send him an email at storekeeper@perch-base.org
View more details and pictures HERE.

PHOENIX NAVY WEEK
VETERANS CEREMONY
Perch Base member Joe Trotter attended the Phoenix Navy Week Veterans Ceremony & dinner service at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Phoenix, AZ, on February 29, 2024.
Joe represented the Arizona Silent Service Memorial (ASSM) and the Naval Submarine League (NSL.) Joe is also the Treasurer on the ASSM Board of Directors.
Joe was accompanied by Lt. Cmdr. Hsin-Fu "Sinker" Wu (ret.) Sinker served a 20-year career in the U.S. Navy, in which he developed and implemented strategies for coalition, joint, naval, and undersea warfare.
View more pictures HERE.

PHOENIX NAVY WEEK
PROCLAMATION CEREMONY
Perch Base members Dan Marks and Bob Gilmore attended the Phoenix Navy Week Proclamation Ceremony at the USS Arizona Memorial Gardens at Salt River in Scottsdale, AZ, on February 27, 2024. Several sailors from the Precommissioning Unit (PCU) of the USS Arizona Virginia-class fast attack submarine SSN-803 attended the ceremony.
View more pictures HERE.

USS ARIZONA LEGACY
FOUNDATION LAUNCH
Several Perch Base members, including Base Commander George Woods, Treasurer Joe Trotter, Ed Henry and Charles Tobias attended the USS Arizona Legacy Foundation Launch at the Arizona Heritage Center in Tempe, AZ, on February 26, 2024.
Established in 2021 to support the commissioning of the fourth U.S. Navy vessel in American history to bear the name Arizona, the Foundation vision is to honor, expand, and nurture the memory of the USS Arizona battleship BB-39 while forging the future legacy of the USS Arizona Virginia-class fast attack submarine SSN-803.
View more pictures HERE.

LAVEEN COMMUNITY PARADE
Seven Perch Base members participated on February 3, 2024, in the 23rd Annual Laveen Community Parade.
This year's theme was "The Future is Now!"
Our Perch Base entry was awarded the Third Place (Motor Vehicle Group) trophy!
The crowds along the side of the parade route expressed their appreciation of our service as our float went by.
View more details and pictures HERE.

Déjà vu all over again
"Déjà vu all over again" is a quote (a.k.a, "Yogi-ism") from the great philosopher and baseball player Yogi Berra.
When was the last time you used a sextant?
The Perch Base Life Member & Webmaster, Dan Marks, was frustrated that he never gets to see the Anthem Veterans Memorial when it is lined up with the Great Seal every November 11 at 11:11:11 AM because we are always participating in the Phoenix Veterans Day Parade when the solar alignment occurs.
But have you ever considered that the same solar alignment repeats for any solar position twice a year, except the summer and winter solstices? So the Webmaster put on his Quartermaster hat (he happens to be a nuke ET) and determined the sun’s azimuth and elevation at 11:11:11 AM on Veterans Day, then went to the astronomical tables and determined the other date to achieve the same solar position is January 30th at approximately 11:40 AM (sometimes January 31 in a leap year).
According to Jim Martin, the Anthem Veterans Memorial chief engineer, the Anthem Veterans Memorial was designed to align correctly within plus or minus 12 seconds to compensate for pole wandering and seasonal slowing of the earth’s rotation. Learn more about Jim's engineering of the Memorial on the Anthem Community Council website. Jim Martin was also the engineer for the Arizona Silent Service Memorial (ASSM) in Wesley Bolin Plaza.
I then took a ride to the Anthem Veterans Memorial and took this picture. Perch Base member Carlton Clarke was also present for the solar alignment.
Did you miss it? Stop by next year at the Anthem Veterans Memorial on January 30, 2025 at 11:40:42 AM! (plus or minus 12 seconds)

ARIZONA MILITARY VEHICLE SHOW
Perch Base Submarine Veterans (USSVI) set up a static display of the USS Phoenix (SSN-702) float and several tables at the Military Vehicle Collector Club (MVCC) Arizona Military Vehicle Show at the Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, AZ, on January 26 - 28, 2024. In addition to "showing off" the USS Phoenix, our participation in the event was to promote the USS Phoenix (SSN-702) Cold War Museum Monument at the Steele Indian School Park in Phoenix, Arizona and the Arizona Silent Service Memorial (ASSM) in Wesley Bolin Plaza.
Special thanks to 3 Navy Sea Cadets who visited our display on Saturday morning, 01/27/24. They wiped down the USS Phoenix (field day!) In appreciation of their work, Joe Trotter gave each of them a Perch Base challenge coin. They were really impressed with their gift.
View more details and pictures HERE.

BRAVO ZULU JOE TROTTER!
Perch Base Submarine Veterans (USSVI) Life Member and Treasurer Joe Trotter gave a presentation on January 23, 2024, to the Naval Order of the United States Sea Services History Society.
Joe discussed submarine life in the 1970's.
Bravo Zulu to Joe for supporting our Creed to ". . . endeavor to educate all third parties it comes in contact with about the services our submarine brothers performed and how their sacrifices made possible the freedom and lifestyle we enjoy today."

ASSM MEMORIAL BRICK PAVER INSTALLATION
Perch Base Submarine Veterans (USSVI) Joe Trotter and Dan Marks installed four new ASSM Memorial Brick Pavers on January 17, 2024 at the Arizona Silent Service Memorial (ASSM) in Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza in front of the Arizona State Capital building.
Joe Trotter is the Treasurer and a Board Member of the ASSM Foundation Committee, a 501(c)3 Organization, as well as Treasurer of Perch Base Submarine Veterans USSVI. Dan Marks is the Perch Base Webmaster.
Thank you for the generosity of those that bought new ASSM Memorial Brick Pavers, which support the upkeep of the ASSM Memorial:
Bob Saenz: 8" X 8" brick
Tim Haueter: 4" X 8" brick
Kelly & Jill McLaughlin: 4" X 8" brick
Barry Wyatt & Marriah L. Dobbins: 4" X 8" brick
It may not seem like a lot of work, but it took Joe and Dan about 2 hours to pry out old (blank) bricks, prepare the underlying surface, and install the new ASSM Memorial Brick Pavers.
View more details and pictures HERE.

ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET
Perch Base Submarine Veterans (USSVI) held its Annual Awards Banquet on 1/13/2024 at the Pebble Creek Clubhouse in Goodyear, AZ. Congratulatlions to our Communications Officer and MidWatch Editor, Chris Gahan, who was awarded the 2023 "Sailor of the Year" Award.
The Keynote Speaker was Rear Admiral Michael E. McLaughlin (ret). At the time of his retirement, Admiral McLaughlin was the Commander, Submarine Group TWO, comprising the 25 attack submarines on the East Coast and associated 4,000 men and women. Earlier in his career, he commanded the submarine USS LA JOLLA (SSN‑701)
Holland Club Inductions were performed for Gerald Benham, Christopher Gahan, John Mammetti, Charles Tobias, upon achieving 50 years as Qualified in Submarines.
View more details and pictures HERE.

PEARL HARBOR REMEMBRANCE DAY:
Two Perch Base members, Vice Commander Carl Miner and Event Coordinator David Heighway presented wreaths at the Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day event on 12/09/2023 at the Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza by the Arizona State Capitol. We placed two wreaths. Carl Miner placed one for the WW2 Submarine Veterans and David Heighway placed the other for Perch Base.
Credit (and thanks!) to David Heighway for taking photos.
View more pictures HERE.

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.

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: Check our SAILING ORDERS page before "dropping in" on a 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.