USS Diodon (SS-349) History

Page updated 02-26-12

The End: 1971 to 1972

DIODON was decommissioned and was struck from the Navy List on 15 January 1971.   DIODON was sold for scrap on 12 May 1972.  

The midi file "Goodbye" is playing in the background.
 

349 Decommissioning Crew, 15 January 1971

SS349 Decommissioning Crew & Information
- An Adobe Acrobat PDF file

The 1946 Commissioning Crew and the 1971 Decommissioning Crew
(link fixed 02-08-05)

Master Chief Hank Baxter, crew of 8/70 to 1/71

(Updated 02-28-12)

Henri L. Baxter, FTCM(SS) 1970-1971

Bill Isle, Diodon Crew of '68 to Decom in '71

Walt (Wally) Levander, TM2(SS) 1967 - 1971  

TMCM(SW) John L. Quillman, USN ret compliments TM2(SS) Wally Levander post Diodon service
(New 12-06-04)
 

Decommissioning ceremonies aboard Diodon (SS-349) Mare Island Naval Shipyard 29, Jan. 1971
(New 01-03-11)

Seven inactive submarines at Mare Island on 30 April 1971. 
(New 01-03-11)

Clipping from Mare Island Naval Shipyard 29, Jan. 1971 edition of the Grapevine showing the decommissioning ceremonies aboard Diodon (SS-349) at the yard.
Photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
(New 06-05-11)

Crew of the Diodon (SS-349) pose for a decommissioning photo, 15 Jan. 1971 at Hunter's Point Naval Shipyard, CA. 
OFFICERS:Commander T. F. ARNOLD, Commanding Officer Lieutenant Commander R. F. CHIPCHAK, Executive/Navigation Officer Lieutenant R. A. SCOTT, Communications Officer Lieutenant R. C. WHITEHEAD, Engineering Officer Lieutenant R. A. COOKE, Operations Officer Lieutenant (junior grade) L. L. WALL, Weapons Officer Lieutenant (junior grade) N. F. SNYDER, Supply Officer 
CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS: Senior Chief Engineman E. B. ENLUND, Chief of the Boat Senior Chief Electronics Technician T. E. RUNYAN Senior Chief Electrician J. A. ANDREZIK Chief Electrician G. H. KOENIG Chief Torpedoman L. R. DOW, Jr. Chief Hospital Corpsman C. E. FLEMING 
Crew: ANDERSON, E. A. CSSA ANDRADE, B. D. FN (SS) ANDREWS, R. B. RM2(SS) BAKER, R. W. TA BAXTER, H. L. FTG1(SS) BIASCAN, A. E. TN (SS) BOSWELL, D. L. TM3(SS) BROWN, D. E. EN3(SS) BURDEN, R. F. MM3(SS) ELAM, L. W. QM2(SS) GETTS, E. C. ENI(SS) GOODWIN, J. L. EM3(SS) GRIGER, J. M. MM2(SS) HAND, J. R. EN2(SS) HELWIG, G. L. IC2(SS) INOSANTO, P. I. SD1(SS) ISLE, W. L. EM2(SS) JOHNS, R. L. TM1(SS) JOHNSON, R. S. YN3(SS) JONES, K. G. EM1(SS) LEVANDER, W. G. TM2(SS) MALONE, C. W. ETN2(SS) McCARTHY, J. W. MM3(SS) NEWTON, D. K. EM3(SS) PALMER, D. E. MM2(SS) PHILLIPS, A. R. QM2(SS) PLAGMANN, R. A. TM3(SS) POAG, J. A. RM2 (SS) ROYALTEY, S. RM3 RUSICH, F. J., Jr. EN3(SS) SALTER, R. A. SKI (SS) SMITH, B. C. RMSN STANLEY, R. A. CS2(SS) STONEY, M. J. TM3(SS) TATE, J. J. EM2(SS) THOMPSON, L. E. ETR2(SS) VICKROY, R. A. IC2(SS) VOELKEL, T. E., Jr. FN(SS) WASMUTH, C. D. EN2(SS) WEBER, W. A. FN(SS) WERNER, T. R. STS3(SS) WHITEHEAD, P. E. TM3(SS) WOOD, T. J. QM3(SS) WORLEY, T. L. FN ZUCHERO, W. J. TM2(SS)

(New 06-05-11)

Click thumbnail for larger photo

349 Decomm Crew Wide Photo Page
(Updated 12-14-03)

From: RasherDoc@aol.com

Sent: Saturday, October 07, 2000 11:18 AM

Subject: Names

I will try to list these for you. Some may be questionable due to my own poor

handwriting and failing memory...

3rd ROW - LEFT TO RIGHT:

Wall, Arnold (CO), Elam, Poag, Runyan, HMC Fleming, Butch Koenig, "Rat" Andrezik, Dow, UNK, UNK, UNK, Brown, Werner

2nd ROW - LEFT TO RIGHT:

Chipchak, Johns, Anderson, Zucherro, Hand, Getts, Baxter, MacArthur, Malone, Vickroy, Andrews, Whitehead, Cooke.

1st ROW - LEFT TO RIGHT:

Biascan, Inosanto, Bob Stanley, Ken Jones, Bill Isle Home, Chuck Wasmuth, Baker, Tate, Helwig, Palmer, Levander,  Weber, Salter.
 

Left Most cut

(Updated 10-20-04, thanks to William Zuchero)

3rd ROW - LEFT TO RIGHT:

LTjg L. L. Wall, CDR T. F. Arnold (C.O.), Elam, Poag, Runyan, HMC Fleming, Butch Koenig, "Rat" Andrezik

2nd ROW - LEFT TO RIGHT:

LCDR R. F. Chipchack, Johns, Anderson, Zucherro, Hand, Getts

1st ROW - LEFT TO RIGHT:

Biascan, Inosanto, Bob Stanley, Ken Jones, Bill Isle Home

 EM2(SS) Bill Isle Home is 5th from left, kneeling
 

Mid-way cut

3rd ROW - LEFT TO RIGHT:

HMC Fleming, Butch Koenig, "Rat" Andrezik, Dow, UNK, UNK

2nd ROW - LEFT TO RIGHT:

 Baxter, MacArthur, Malone, Vickroy, Andrews

1st ROW - LEFT TO RIGHT:

beginning with EM2(SS) Bill Isle Home from above photo cut, Chuck Wasmuth, Baker, Tate, Helwig

Right most cut.

3rd ROW - LEFT TO RIGHT:

"Rat" Andrezik, Dow, UNK, UNK, UNK, Brown, Werner

2nd ROW - LEFT TO RIGHT:

MacArthur, Malone, Vickroy, Andrews, Whitehead, Cooke

1st ROW - LEFT TO RIGHT:

PALMER, D. E. MM2(SS),  TM2(SS) Walt (Wally) Levander (  He was with me, your web-master, in Tubes Aft, 1967 & 1968), Weber, Salter.
 

Taken from United States Naval Submarine 
Force Information Book – 1996, 
J.L Christley, EMCS(SS), USN(Ret), Author

USS Diodon (SS-349)

Class:                        Balao

Variant:                      Perch

Built at:                      EB, Groton, CT

Laid Down:                1-Jun-44

Launched:                 10-Sep-45

Sponsor:                    Mrs. Genevieve Cullinane

Commissioned:        18-Mar-46

First CO:                     Lcdr. James M. Hingson

Decommissioned:     15-Jan-71

Strike Date:                15-Jan-71

Final Disposition:      Sold for scrapping 12-May-72 to Nicolai Joffe Corp.,
                                    Beverly  Hills, CA for $106,378.

Remarks: Guppy II Conversion: four 126-cell Guppy Batteries; aux. engines removed; motor and reduction gear replaced with 2 direct drive motors of 2700 HP each. First submarine to be taken up in the marine railway at New London. Boat made 2 patrols during the Korean Conflict and several more during the Viet Nam War..