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USS Diodon (SS-349) History Back to 1960
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| From: Clem Boulter Tuesday, May 30, 2000 10:27 AM I came aboard at Hunters Point NSY 8 Sept. 1959 as RMSN but was assigned to the seaman gang along with radioman duties. The shipyard had a sandblasting machine that we were allowed to use. We would sandblast the equipment that was taken off the deck of all the rust and many layers of paint. Then prime and paint it. I remember ticking off the shipyard workers because we wore out their hoses and nozzles, etc. Remembering also helping clean and PM radio equipment on the barge. Lots of fire watchers and topside watches. Had the duty New Years Eve 1960 on the barge and at midnight the whole bay was lit up and popping from more fireworks that I had ever seen or have yet seen. I can still remember the smell and smoke from all those fireworks. Yes Glenn, I remember those names you talked about in your May 22 email. Can't match names with faces on the Guam crew picture though, can you help? Don explained George's name, real name A.B.Collins, seems I recall how he got that name. The only Radiomen I remember were RM1(SS) C.C. St. Martin and RMC(SS) Booth aka "Daddy Long Legs". Help me with this, someone!!! The picture of Allie drinking coffee, I think he was a First Class TM or MM in charge of the seaman gang, Need help on that also... ....Speaking of Yoko, remember the StarLight Bar, Submarine bar ONLY, no surface skimmers, at least not while we were in port... Under ChiChiJima island pictures, I agree that is probably Diodon in Atami Bay, Japan. Part 1, 2 shots Diodon in lagoon from hill on ChiChiJima may be Hong Kong or Atami Bay, Japan...Will have to vote on that, not sure anymore. I remember going to Oregon, Astoria because I and couple of crew visited distant relatives I had there and then we went to the Worlds Fair in Vancover, BC for the weekend. When was that? Later? I didn't go to the Worlds Fair, took the duty instead so others could go. Nice guy, huh? Or was broke. Am sure got paid back at a later date... Glenn, that story of Red Parsons hash marking the CO in the control room that one night almost made me fall out of my chair. I think I was on the stern or bow planes at the time. That was funny!!!!! The whole crew got a kick out of that. I recall the CO didn't say a word, just looked at Red as his jaw just about hit the deck when he saw he made a mistake, and made his quick getaway aft. Who remembers the time we were diverted from Ops to rescue and recover body of a man and his son from a boat that sunk. The son survived but the man was wrapped in sheets and placed in MY rack in the Fwd Torp. Room. We then returned to some port a couple days later. It took a long time to get over the smell. Anyway, when and where did that happen, Guys? Who also remembers who it was that swam from the shore in Yoko, outside the base, to the boat tied up at the pier. After curfew evidently, and the next morning you saw nothing but jellyfish in the water around the boat? Who did that? Enough for now, running out of space. Until next time....DBF!!!! Clem |
