Seawolf Park Update

Here is an update on the situation at Seawolf Park regarding Hurricane Ike damage. It was written by Dick Hoffman, a USS Stewart volunteer and submitted to Jeff Porteous who received it via a USS Cod email blast:

To Our USS Stewart Friends and Volunteers –

I’ve been waiting till we had our quarterly meeting of the Cavalla Historical Foundation Board of Directors (last Saturday) to give you a more complete idea of where we are at Seawolf Park. As some of you know, I am a member of the Cavalla Board which has responsibility for restoration, maintenance and display of USS Cavalla and USS Stewart. The meeting was one of the best I’ve attended. Board Members were upbeat, optimistic and determined. I think you will find some of the highlights interesting and informative.

Please understand that these remarks are preliminary. They are not to be construed as "official" statements by either the Cavalla Board or the Parks Board of Galveston.

1. Status of Seawolf Park – At the risk of repeating myself, the Park’s facilities were pretty much wiped out. Except for being floated out of position, our ships were relatively unharmed, but the rest of the Park’s infrastructure was mostly damaged beyond repair or washed away. USS Cavalla is pretty much where she was, but is elevated some 4 to 5 feet. The bow of USS Stewart is close to where it was, but the stern is moved to port perhaps 20 feet. This leaves much of her up out of the ground, and she has about a 17 degree list to starboard.

2. Report from Galveston Parks Board – Because of our partnership with the Galveston Parks Board, one of its Board Members is also on our Board. From his remarks, I believe Seawolf Park has a pretty high priority for restoration. The Park is one of Galveston’s most popular. The message I heard is to get our Naval Display back in order ASAP. I hesitate to speculate on completion dates, but pressure is there for a speedy restoration of both the Park and our Naval Display.

3. Prospects for Cavalla and Stewart – Consensus now is that, with reasonable effort, our submarine problem is quite manageable. Probes have indicated that while settling back down, Cavalla “sucked” sand and dirt back under herself, and is resting on a safe base. The entry/exit steps will have to be rebuilt to accommodate the extra height. There is some water in the after torpedo room which is being removed currently. At least three firms have come forward with plans to reposition Stewart. Talks with these groups make us confident of success. One of the three has not yet stated its plan, but is expected to bring it forward this week. I will not talk about cost because bids are still being negotiated. Our Foundation will need significant sums from donors and volunteers to underwrite a program. Outreach is well underway, and our Board is confident a way will be found to go forward promptly.

An appeal by mail was made right after the storm featuring an “IKE RESTORATION” T-shirt. It has already stimulated donations in excess of $10,000. If you would like to make a contribution, please address it as follows:

IKE Restoration Campaign

c/o Cavalla Historical Foundation

2504 Church St.

Galveston, TX 77550

Without going into detail, I am convinced that “fixing” Stewart is entirely possible. A panel of three Board Members (I am one) has been established to evaluate and negotiate a solution and funding. The panel was urged to move quickly.

4. Other positive Board actions –

· A new Website to include news of all of our activities is under construction

· Motion was passed to give “enthusiastic support” to the newly created Edsall Class DE Association and Reunions.

· A program has been instituted to enhance (greatly) our communication with the “outside world” (think PR). This is a matter that is near and dear to me, and I will be working to make it successful.

Again, let me thank all of you for your past interest and support for our project. Let me hear from you with ideas, suggestions or questions. I will continue to keep you informed of progress.

Sincerely,

Dick Hoffman, USS Stewart Volunteer

Board Member, Cavalla Historical Foundation

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Rear Admiral Roger W. Paine, Jr. (1917 - 2008)

Rear Admiral Roger Warde Paine, Jr. USN (ret.) passed away yesterday in Annapolis, Maryland at the age of 91. Funeral services are pending. He was the last surviving officer to serve in USS Wahoo (SS-238).

Admiral Paine was born in Austin, Texas on August 13, 1917, son of Rear Admiral Roger W. Paine, USN and Mrs. Corine (Malone) Paine. He attended Western High School, Washington, D.C. and Coronado (California) High School prior to entering the U.S. Naval Academy on appointment from the District of Columbia in 1935. He was graduated and commissioned Ensign on June 1, 1939.

Following graduation he joined the USS ARIZONA and in December 1940 was detached from that battleship for submarine training at the Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut. In April 1941 he reported on board the USS POMPANO and was serving in that submarine when the United States entered World War II on December 8, 1941. For meritorious conduct as Communication, Radar and Sound Officer of the USS POMPANO during her First War Patrol he was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V".

From March 1942 to August 1943 he continued duty afloat in the USS WAHOO rising to Executive Officer and Navigator. Prior to embarking on WAHOO's Fifth War Patrol, Lieutenant Paine underwent emergency surgery for appendicitis. He was subsequently given command of the USS S-34. In August 1944 he became Executive Officer and Navigator of the USS TINOSA. Participating in eight successful war patrols in the Pacific during World War II, he was awarded the Silver Star Medal, the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", and a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Bronze Star medal, also with Combat "V". He is also entitled to the Ribbon for, and a facsimile of, the Presidential Unit Citation awarded the USS WAHOO.

In May 1945 he reported for fitting out duty in the USS CUBERA at the Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut and assumed command of that submarine upon her commissioning, December 12, 1945. Detached from the CUBERA in April 1945, he briefly commanded the USS WHALE which was decommissioned at New London, Connecticut on June 1, 1946.

He next reported for instruction in Ordinance Engineering (Special Physics Course) at the Postgraduate School, Annapolis, Maryland. From June 1947 to February 1949 he continued the course at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at Cambridge from which he received the degree of Master of Science in Nuclear Physics. He next was engaged in field work at various ordinance facilities and during the period of August 1949 to August 1951 he worked at the Los Alamos (New Mexico) Scientific Laboratory doing design and development work on the nuclear components of atomic bombs and of the H-bomb, which was in the design stage at that time.

From August 1951 to September 1953 he commanded the USS COWELL which, under his command, made an around-the-world cruise and spent five months in the Korean War theater. In September 1953 he reported as Chief of the Analysis Branch, Armed Forces Special Weapons Project, Washington, D.C. In that capacity he participated in all nuclear weapon tests during 1954 - 1956, both in Nevada and at Eniwetok and Bikini, and supervised analysis and correlation of the data obtained.

Ordered to the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island he had instruction there in Naval Warfare from August 1956 until June 1957 and became Commander, Destroyer Division TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY-TWO in July of that year. This Division, consisting of the USS EATON, BACHE, BEALE and MURRAY, participated in NATO maneuvers in Europe in the fall of 1957 and later formed a part of Anti-Submarine Group ALFA, a special group formed to develop and perfect operational techniques of anti-submarine warfare.

Assigned in November 1958 to the Bureau of Ordinance, Navy Department, Washington, D.C., he headed the Guided Missile Branch, Research Division until 1959, when that Bureau and the Bureau of Aeronautics were combined and designated the Bureau of Naval Weapons. He then became Director of the Missile Guidance and Airframe Division and as such was responsible for research, development, test and evaluation of the Navy's BULLPUP, CORVUS, EAGLE, SIDEWINDER, SPARROW, TALOS, TARTAR, TERRIER and TYPHON missiles.

In September 1961 he assumed command of the USS TOPEKA in the Pacific area and commanded her during anti-air warfare operations off the California coast and in Hawaiian and Far Eastern waters. Returning to Washington, D.C. in November 1962, he served as Head of the Surface Warfare Branch, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department, until June, 1963. He then reported as Military Assistant to the Deputy Director of Defense Research and Engineering (Administration and Management), Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, D.C. He was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal for his work in this position.

In the fall of 1966 he was promoted to Rear Admiral and in December became Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla TEN, a unit of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet consisting of twenty-one cruisers and destroyers. In the Spring of 1967 he deployed to the Mediterranean as Commander of an Attack Carrier Strike Group, flying his flag alternately in the aircraft carriers USS SHANGRI-LA and SARATOGA and in the guided missile cruiser USS GALVESTON.

He reported in January 1968 as Director of the Navy Information Systems Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations with the responsibility for the procurement, maintenance and operation of all of the Navy's computers. In August 1970 he was ordered detached for duty as Commander, Training Command, U.S. Pacific Fleet with Fleet Training Activities in Japan, Guam, Hawaii, San Diego, Long Beach and San Francisco. He was awarded the Legion of Merit in connection with this duty and retired from naval service in the summer of 1972.

Admiral Paine was married to the former Isla Rea Vaile for over sixty years, had three children, numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

All of us connected to Legends of the Deep offer our heartfelt condolences for their loss.

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Roger Paine Near Death

Received word from a family member last night that Rear Admiral Roger W. Paine, Jr., USN (ret.) is near death. Admiral Paine is the last living officer to have served aboard Wahoo. Funeral services will be held at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. Admiral Paine turned 91 this past August.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family in this difficult time.

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Commendation for Charles Hinman

Our good friend Charles Hinman recently received some much deserved kudos for his work at the USS Bowfin Museum. As reported here, Charles worked tirelessly to put together the Wahoo Memorial and Remembrance week in October of 2007. He also served as Project Wahoo's U.S. point of contact for information regarding the discovery of Wahoo. He has also served in much the same capacity for the search efforts of several additional lost WWII boats, notably the USS Grunion. I know from personal experience he is a gracious host and Charles made my visit to Oahu the experience of a lifetime.

In recognition of his hard work, Admiral Joe Walsh, ComSubPac, recently awarded Charles with the following citation (click the image to enlarge it). Bravo Zulu, Charles!

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