Thanks for your email. I did check out the website after hearing about it from Glenn. It is a good website, and was pleased to find the picture (which I had not seen before) of my father reading his orders to the crew upon taking command as first CO. Only other pictures I have are one of my father and mother taken at the commissioning ceremonies, and the one of Diodon sliding down the ways, (which you have already). Not sure if the family shot of parents would be of general interest. I'll search for it.
I am considering doing a colored pencil drawing of the official Diodon 'logo', which I saw for first time on your website. I'm no professional, but can do decent artwork when motivated. I have a scanner, and perhaps will get around to both doing the patch art, and then forwarding the file by email to you for further consideration or inclusion to the website somehow. The road to heaven is paved with good intentions, but I really do see me finding time to do an art project for the benefit of the men of Diodon.....especially if there is interest from your end on such a thing.
The only stories I remember from my father's collection of stories about his life on the boats related to Diodon are of the maiden voyage to Rio. He told of the official parties he had to attend at the embassy, and the language barriers, he being from the Deep South and all. He says he learned how to say "you don't say" in French and Portuguese, and thats all he would answer when some dignitary started talking to him. He also told of a scare (and subsequent lesson) he got when allowing a swim call near the mouth of the Amazon River, with its swift running outflow almost taking one of the crew. That's about it for now. Let me know if you would want either a picture of my parents at the commissioning ceremony, or if I can add a drawing of the Diodon patch to your collection.
Best regards
Curt