Sunday, April 27, 2008

USS Wahoo Memorial Getting Makeover

Landmark getting new makeover
By Kris Byars
04/24/2008

WAHOO, NB - A landmark in Wahoo will be getting a bit of a makeover.

The U.S.S. Wahoo memorial located on the east lawn of the Saunders County Courthouse is being refurbished.

The memorial was established by the Nebraska-Wahoo Chapter of the United States Submarine Veterans of World War II to honor the crew of the USS Wahoo. All hands were lost when the submarine, which sank 20 Japanese ships, was lost as a result of enemy action on Oct. 11, 1943.

According to Senior Chief Electrical Technician Sub Qualified Retired and United States Submarine Veterans Incorporated Nebraska Base member Pat Hancock, the refurbishment of this memorial has been in the works for a while now.

"They've been talking basically about fixing it up," he said.

U.S. Submarine Veterans Nebraska Base member Errol D. Vanicek said he became involved in the potential project long after discussion had started.

"When I entered into it, they had been talking about it for 10 years," he said. The long wait is just about over, however. The first step in the refurbishment process took place last week, when the plaques that adorned the front of the memorial were removed.

According to Vanicek, the plaques will be taken to a foundry in Omaha, where they will be made to look like new.

According to Hancock, some additional refurbishing work will be done on both the torpedo itself and the base that supports it. Much of this work is being done locally. Rick Woita will be doing the painting on the torpedo and Bullock Brothers will handle the masonry work for the base.

A new addition to the monument in the form of an engraved piece of granite will be added to the memorial.

Vanicek said they are hoping to have the entire project completed by late August.

All together, Hancock estimated that the refurbishment of this memorial would cost around $10,000. That bill is being picked up by U.S. Submarine Veterans Inc., an organization that is comprised of submarine veterans whose service took place after the World War II era.

The organization has taken over care of the USS Wahoo memorial, succeeding the World War II veterans who created it.

GETTING A FRESH LOOK – Errol D. Vanicek (left) and Pat Hancock remove the screws that hold the plaque to the front of the USS Wahoo Memorial located on the east lawn of the Saunders County Courthouse. The Plaque will be sent to a foundry in Omaha, where it will be cleaned up and made to look like new.

©Suburban Newspapers 2008 lavistasun.com
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Wednesday, April 23, 2008

New Book on USS Tang

One of the great things about running Legends of the Deep has been the opportunity to get advanced word of new submarine related books and articles. Last week Sean Maher of DaCapo Press contacted me and asked if I would be interested in reviewing Alex Kershaw's new book about Tang for the Gazette and The SubCommittee Report. A free naval history book that I'm obligated to write about? That's three of my most favorite things. The following Monday I received an advance copy of "Escape From the Deep", set to be published this coming Memorial Day.

The book concerns Tang's fifth war patrol and provides new details of her loss, the escape attempts and subsequent horrors faced by the nine survivors of the boat. So far I've found it to be a riveting read; the prose O'Kane and Tang have long deserved. Kershaw has crafted very human history, rich in personal details -- which is the best kind in my opinion. I even found a reference to Legends as a source in the notes section. Too cool.

For more on the book go to http://www.escapefromthedeep.com/home.html. As promised, a full review will be forthcoming in the Gazette.

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About Me

The first 'grown up' book Paul Crozier ever read was "War Fish" by George Grider. Since then he has spent most of his life researching the U.S. Submarine Force in WWII and USS Wahoo (SS-238) in particular.

Dedication

This blog is dedicated to all who have served in the U.S. Submarine Force. Thank you for your service and sacrifice.

Admiral Chester Nimitz

"We shall never forget it was our submarines that held the line against the enemy while our fleets replaced losses and repaired wounds."

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