Threadfin Reunion

A “Blast From the Past”

From American Submariner Magazine

By Tony R. DeMarco

The USS Threadfin (SS-410) Association conducted a highly successful reunion in November 1-4, 2000 at Kingsland/Kings Bay, GA. Let me tell you how we did it.

In November 1999, Secretary Jim Rolle negotiated a deal with the Holiday Inn (later it became the Quality Inn) in Kingsland, GA. It included a free daily breakfast and daily Happy Hour for all attendees. They also provided us with a “no charge” hospitality room. We were guaranteed a block of 60 rooms, but we rapidly filled that allotment and another 32 rooms.

It was truly a “Blast From the Past,” as approximately 195 former shipmates and guests of the Threadfin Association gathered together for four days of merriment and camaraderie. Of this total, 114 were Threadfin Association members. It was the 2nd reunion of our fledgling submarine association, which began in Hagerstown, MD in September 1998 with some 60 members.

 USS Threadfin SS410

Under the leadership of President Larry “Doc” Zolnik, Vice President Dick Kiel, Secretary Jim Rolle and Treasurer Al Stoll, the membership rolls more than doubled to 178 at last count. The new slate of officers for 2001-2002 is President Tony DeMarco, Vice President Larry Monger, Secretary George Lockwood and Treasurer Al Stoll pledges a goal of “410” members by the third reunion in 2002.

Kings Bay was an exciting place to be as hundreds of USSVI and WWII SubVets met for their annual Memorial Service. Threadfiners mingled with other submariners of all eras in remembering those on “eternal patrol,” while still enjoying the renewed memories of days gone by. All transportation arrangements were smoothly coordinated with the Kings Bay Subase chapter by George Lockwood, our transportation officer. Attendees needing a ride were picked up and returned to the Jacksonville Airport by U.S. Navy drivers.

With wives Anne Rolle, Harriet Fickett, Sandy Stanley, Judy Padrta and Lynn Lockwood alternating at the reception desk, T-finers were logged in and started buying hats, shirts, patches and other memorabilia from the Ship’s Store. Over 140 hats and approximately 56 embroidered shirts were sold at the reunion in addition to “The Last Days of T-fin” cruise books, and T-fin baby bibs. Dave Kilpatrick donated the cruise books. In addition to reunion sales, former crewmembers previously bought over 170 T-fin shirts through a pre-paid, mail-order system.

Sporting their blue, white and denim T-fin shirts with their blue Threadfin buttons, the Threadfin presence at Kings Bay was well-noted in both the Howard Johnsons (USSVI), and the Quality Inn (Threadfin) hospitality rooms as well as in the area’s restaurants. Because the Quality Inn’s Bennigans restaurant was closed, the hotel let us use the major portion of the restaurant/bar as our hospitality room. Chief Bartender Al Stoll and his steady stream of volunteers stocked the bar and dispensed choice brews, wine and soft drinks for all to enjoy. The hospitality room became the catalyst for most of us to swap sea stories and “remember whens.” It was a huge success!

The “Blast From the Past” sessions went very well as former shipmates shared their tales of “Life on Threadfin.” Memorable highlights were Don DeCoster, a NAVSEA Field Officer at Newport News (VA) Shipbuilding and former T-finer telling us about the “design, construction and tests” of the Virginia-class submarine. He also spoke about the Navy’s last diesel boat, USS Dolphin and the possible resurrection of the USS Trout to be manned by a civilian crew. Other T-fin speakers were Len Kojm, Dick Hartfelder, Jerry Padrta and Dick Olsen.

Rear Admiral Jim Osborn, a guest of Jim Eckles, and aka the “Big Oz,” had a rapt audience as he spoke extemporaneously about being CO of the first SSBN patrol on the USS George Washington. He also shared some of the problems dealing with the Pentagon bureaucracy, which emphasizing that the greatest asset he had was his crew of knowledgeable sailors. Occasionally lacing his talk with “sailorspeak,” he apologized to the ladies present and mesmerized his listeners. No one left the room when “Big Oz “ spoke about admirals, presidents or his white hats. It was memorable!

The Memorial Service was quite stirring and also emotional as about 1,500 SubVets of all periods gathered to pay homage to our deceased compatriots, especially those lost in WWII. The Kings Bay pavilion was strewn with submarine battle flags and lined by 50+ young side boys standing ramrod-stiff at attention. In the background, martial music by a military band wafted through the warm Georgia air as WWII combat patrollers wearing their “digger” feathered hats and USSVI members proudly adorning their colorful vests exchanged sea stories.

Threadfin's WWII vets hold her original Battle Flag.

Our own Threadfin war patrollers were present in greater numbers than at the 1st reunion. WWII patrollers were Joe Senft (44-45), John Mitchell (44-45), Dusty Rhodes (44-45), Jim Griswold (44-46), Erick Krumrei (44-45), Ken Lane (45), Bob Stanley (45). They regaled us with some of their harrowing tales and were absolutely enthralled when they posed for a group photo with the original Threadfin battle flag. They were enthusiastic and spoke eagerly to us “youngsters” about finding more of their shipmates from 44-45.

Saturday, November 4 was indeed a busy day. Jim Rolle organized a 7 a.m. “Bloody Mary Breakfast,” where the wives served the morning eye-openers to a sold-out gathering. All 72 dolphin glasses laced with their liquid boosters were eagerly enjoyed. This program will be expanded at the next reunion.

Shortly after, busloads of submariners and guests assembled on the Kings Bay Subase for Navy transport to two Trident submarines and a guided tour. The two SSBNs were the USS Rhode Island and the USS Nebraska - they were absolutely awesome!! Moored in a covered weapons-loading enclosure, the behemoth 560-feet Rhode Island almost defied description. The Threadfin could have ridden piggyback on the boomers after deck. After the armed sentry (flak-jacket, M-16, and steel pot) permitted us to come aboard, he meticulously went through each lady’s purse. Cameras were VERBOTEN and confiscated if found.

Spiraling down three of the five decks was eye opening, and Sherwood’s Forest of 24 huge missile tubes appeared to stretch from Threadfin’s forward torpedo room to the forward engine room. I saw a few things that I recognized: i.e., battle lanterns, fire extinguishers, sound-powered phones, but not much else. The control room seemed small compared to the other spaces, but the crew’s mess was a cavern compared to that of the 410. All in all, it was a great tour, and I left with the greatest respect for our new breed of submariners.

While the members had their business meeting in the hospitality room, 38 ladies went on a historic tour of old St. Marys (GA). They visited some quaint antique shops, an old Southern antebellum mansion, and an old church and enjoyed a delightful lunch at a St. Marys restaurant.

Al Stoll and Larry Zolnik

Saturday evening after cocktails, 186 shipmates and guests enjoyed a delicious buffet. There was a 50-50 raffle won by Jim Rolle and a raffle for a large, framed photo of the Threadfin donated by one-time skipper, Jim Griffin. Treasurer Al Stoll was the emcee and entertained his captive audience. The guest speaker was Captain “Jerry” Hunnicutt, Deputy Commander Submarine Squadron 16, who proved to be a very gifted speaker as he told us of conducting increased submarine missions with fewer resources. He was entertaining and informative about submarine operations, and genuinely enjoyed being among the gathered group.

Most of the reunion events were recorded on videotape and with digital cameras and are being professionally produced into a two-hour videotape of the USS Threadfin 2nd Reunion.

It really was a “Blast From the Past”!!!