Bob Frier, A Diesel Boat sailor, remembers Diodon Shipmate Frank Dostal and more

Since 10-30-02

Jim, you have my permission to post them, IF you think they are worth the read.

Thanks for doing a 4.0 job on the Diodon.  I think we need those memories preserved somewhere. In my opinion, no one remembers the exploits of the post war diesel boats.  Like the Korean War is labeled the forgotten war, the diesel boats are long forgotten. I am not crying, just saying it is hard to find out what we did out there before the nukes came on duty.

I read some of Dex Armstrong's stories and they were great. I could say I served with him, since the stories about his boat seemed to be stories about my boat.

I believe that the post war diesel boats/crews were unique. We had a BETTER and different life than the nuke boats < my opinion>.  Maybe not as comfortable, but after you earned your own bunk on the diesel boats, what more comfort did you need?

Keep up the good work.

Bob Frier, A Diesel Boat sailor

 James R. Santos, M.Sc."  wrote:

Frank sounds like the name.  He was shorter than I and was blondish, and he was fun on liberty. He was a 3rd Class Cook at Sub School.

He should have reported aboard about Dec 1959.

I think we traded the movies in 1960 or 1961.  Some guys on the Diodon, said they would never trade with us again. I am not sure if it was in Japan or San Diego when we traded.  I believe that Diodon gave us a John Wayne western. In short, a good movie, for that Giant Behemoth.  One of our guys, asked what is a BE HE MOTH?

You are making me look far back into my memory to the old days on the diesel boats. "Cycle the main induction..."

James R. Santos, M.Sc."  wrote:

Hi, Bob:

 What year did you know Dostal?  Was it Frank Dostal or what?

 Also, do you recall what year and where the 377 and 349 traded the flicks? 

Also, Bob, what is your last name?

 GB, DBF!!

 Jim Santos

Santa Clara, CA

I will look up your site.  One of my Sub School classmates was assigned to the Diodon.  Dostal was his name and he was a 3rd Class Cook. 

Also we traded movies with the Diodon and they were not happy we traded them the movie The Giant Behemoth.

James Santos  wrote:

Hello, Bob:

I invite you to visit my web site on USS Diodon (SS-349), subs, submariners, etc.

I remember the Menhaden from my days on the Diodon.

I recently posted her going to scrap photos on my site, under Subs.

GB, DBF!!

Jim Santos