Diablo News

Crew members are encouraged to post news on this page Email: TIM479@aol.com

Bob had an MRI this past Wednesday at NIH and visits with the radiation oncology and neurology departments on Friday. We have a bit of good news as the swelling has gone down and he can go off his steroids. It also shows the tumor has shrunk. I believe the doctors were pleased. He will be seen again in two months.

He is getting treatment at the outside Oncologist every other week and sees the doctor on the week he does not have therapy, His spirits are good!

He keeps doing things as normal. We attend daily Mass and he serves, he still teaches religious education and other commitments he had.

Current Information Regarding DD-214's

Please pass on to other vets. It's official: DD-214 discharge papers are

NOW ONLINE. The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) has
provided the following website for veterans to gain access to
their DD-214s online:

http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/

This may be particularly helpful when a veteran needs a copy
of his/her DD-214 for employment purposes. NPRC is working
to make it easier for veterans with computers and Internet
access to obtain copies of documents from their military files.

Military veterans and the next of kin of deceased former military
members may now use a new online military personnel records
system to request documents.

Other individuals with a need for documents must still complete
the Standard Form 180, which can be downloaded from the
online web site. Because the requester will be asked to supply
all information essential for NPRC to process the request,
delays that normally occur when NPRC has to ask veterans
for additional information will be minimized. The new web-based
application was designed to provide better service on these
requests by eliminating the records centers mailroom and
processing time.

Please pass this information on to former military personnel you
may know and their dependents.

The museum sub Torsk SS423 was returned to Baltimore’s inner harbor after a couple of months in dry dock. A group of volunteers and museum workers were fortunate to be able to ride it back in. The trip only lasted for a little over an hour but it was a thrill to be back on a sub at sea. The last time for me was 48 years ago.

Tim-Judy and I recently attended my niece's wedding in Charleston, SC. We visited Patriots Point where the Cold War Memorial is located. The sail and rudder of the full size missile submarine is from the USS Lewis and Clark. I've attached several photos of the missile sub. Notice that the grass ahead of the sail looks like the hull is pushing water. Also, the grasses mimic the foaming water. The granite monuments are dedicated to submariners serving during the Cold War. One monument lists the submarines and the close-up is the USS Diablo.

Some of you may remember going to Halifax 50 years ago. It was I think in February and one very cold place. I remember having the maneuvering watch in the sheers and still feel cold thinking about it. My memory was of a cold and dreary place but on a recent visit in July was stunned by the beauty of the place.

The Holland Club is for USSVI members who were qualified fifty or more years ago. I was inducted on the banks of the Susquehanna this May at a memorial service given by the Keystone Base. My friend and fellow Torsk volunteer John Biesecker, who qualified on the Toro, made arrangements with base commander Mike Sobkowski for the two of us to be inducted together. My thanks go to them and the very gracious Keystone USSVI Base.

USSVI automatically lists members into the Holland Club as they reach the fifty year mark If you have belonged to USSVI for five years and are a current member you might be already be listed. The majority of our Diablo crew has their 50 years in and the few remaining soon will have.

It is a thrill to have lived long enough to be a member and receive a certificate commemorating the event.

WW2 hero and fellow Diablo crewmate George Hinda is a member of the Keystone Base.

John Barnes EN3 1961 has been located in Florida. John we would love to see you at the reunion especially me as we were oilers in the engine rooms together.

Best regards,
T i m Ve A r d
www.ussvi.org - Chief Technical Officer, US Submarine Veterans, Inc

Hi:
I am Alfred C. Grosskurth. I was Yeoman onboard USS DIABLO (SS479)
for about six months in 1957. Transferred to COMSUBRON TWO Staff.
Please add me to your lists. My address is (removed by Tim to protect privacy) E-mail grosskurth@netzero.net.
If the reunions are close enough, I'll try to attend.

Alfred "Grasshopper" Grosskurth YN1(SS)
P.S. Few on board knew my last name, all new my nickname.
_____________________________________________________________

A couple of pictures taken in Baltimore Harbor during the Army Navy game. The Swift can cross the Atlantic in two days. Some may recall we took 15 days in 61.

Dr Stacy (Calvert) Langsdale with parents Tim & Carol and husband Dan at graduation from UBC in Vancouver. May 07

Megan Calvert (center) ( a recent Peace Corp volunteer) taught English in Kyrgyzstan. This picture was taken Thanksgiving 2007 with her family

In February 07 I was once again at sea doing my maritime history lectures. This time on the NCL Sun in the western Caribbean. The ports were Costa Maya, San Tomas Guatemala, Belize and Cozumel. We left from New Orleans for two cruises.

From top left to right: waterfall in Guatemala, street in Guatemala, Costa Maya beach, River through Belize City, Tim with Rosemond the Caribbean middle weight champ, Bourbon St, a rental VW ($33.00) in Cozumel. The VW was a blast, it would not stay in gear, nothing except the engine worked including the seat belts. It was the most fun car I have driven in years.

In November and December 06 I was on the NCL Wind in Hawaii and had a whale of a time. I went with a friend a few days early and got to see Pearl Harbor. The sub is the Bowfin, the BB is the Missouri and the memorial I sure all of you will recognize. The deck gun on the Bowfin is a 5" 25 cal. Tim

The attached USS Diablo SS 479 dollar was given me in change in New York. Intrigued by the Diablo stamp, I looked up www.ussdiablo.com on the net and found your email address. Just thought I would let you know it is now on the west coast. I registered the bill on www.wheresgeorge.com so that it can be tracked if other people note its location on wheresgeorge.