About USSVI  LA  / Pasadena and our officers.

(Dave Vanderveen Base Commander)

I had the great fortune to go into submarines by accident. I had always planned to join the Navy but intended to do it after college and with a commission. I was working for Standard Oil Company while enrolled at the University of Nevada and got so busy enjoying a good time on all the money I was making as an 18 year old, that I let my grades slip. Rather than take a “Fail”, I dropped a class and immediately lost my Selective Service deferment. The TET Offensive in Viet Nam was underway, and rather than risk the draft, I enlisted in the Navy.

When it came time to complete my “dream sheet” in Boot Camp, I only filled 4 of the 6 rating preferences. When I turned it in, the 1^st Class Bo’sun yelled “hey, #&@%head”, put something on every line”. I put Aviation Ordnance on Line 5 and Submarine School as my LAST choice. The very next day, I was getting a submarine physical. When I said, “uh WAIT”, the guy in charge said the Navy was commissioning lots of subs and needed bodies, to get back in line and keep my mouth shut. I was in Submarine School as soon as the bus hauled me away from NTC/RTC San Diego.

My first sub was Cobbler as a school boat, then I went to Stonewall Jackson SSBN 634, homeported in Pearl Harbor, forward based in Guam. I worked in the Blue Crew’s Deck Division as a Mess Cook and standing Helm/Planes watches while I qualified. The XO told me the day I reported that non-rated crewmen would not be kept beyond two patrols, which was the maximum time allowed to qualify in submarines. So, I began striking to be a Torpedoman, made Third Class on my second patrol, and STILL got transferred out to school.

Electronics School, Torpedo “A” School, and Poseidon Launcher “C” School put me onto John C. Calhoun SSBN 630 at Mare Island, among the first boats converted to carry the new missile. Once we got the boat cleaned up after the “yardbirds” left, took her through trials and post-shakedown yard time, we loaded and went to the North Atlantic. She was homeported in Charleston, forward based in Holy Loch, one of the coldest places I’ve ever experienced!

I didn’t know it at the time but found later that the two crews I belonged to on those boats were among the happiest, best running in the submarine fleet. Both boats ran for thirty years, and even at reunions for the two boats, most of the attendees are from the era in which I served and many remark that they were the best of the submarines on which they served.

Two of the best leaders I’ve known were submarine officers, and I learned skills in the boats that I used through the rest of my life, whether related to safe operations, mechanical/electrical/hydraulic systems, patience, or leading and motivating people to perform at their best. Although my time in submarines was short compared to the decades I worked at Standard Oil Company (later Chevron) in a dozen different jobs, it had a huge influence on my life and I wouldn’t trade it for ANYTHING!

(Hal Silverman, Base Vice Commander, Periscope Newsletter Editor): Enlisted 4/3/58. Sea duty on one DDR and five submarines plus two submarine repair ships. Transferred to Fleet Reserve as STCM(SS) 10/6/1978, and to Navy retired list as LTe 4/3/88. Holland Club member. Qualified in submarines 1960 aboard USS Segundo (SS-398). Now retired and playing saxophone in local music groups and providing admin and website services to professional organizations.

(Bill Moak, Base Secretary): I am the current Base Secretary for the Los Angeles-Pasadena Base of the United States Submarine Veterans, Inc, the National organization of submarine veterans. I served aboard USS Trutta, SS 421, as an EM2 (SS), from 1966-1970.

(Mike Swanson, Base Treasurer): Served on active duty aboard the USS Sand Lance (SSN 660) from 1970-1974 as an ETN2 (SS). Post military, he worked at Hughes Aircraft Company/Boeing Satallite Systems as a Member of the technical staff designing and testing RF Units for spacecraft. Mike's last position before retirement was System Test Engineer, testing completed spacecraft. Mike is retired and living in the Los Angeles Harbor Area.

(Dennis Bott, Base COB): QM3 (SS) Aboard the nuclear fast attack submarine, USS Sargo SSN 583. Althought retired from the building trades, still spening his time doing woodworking projects and doing jewelry.