SEC’Y: CAPT Dave Carruth, USN (Ret.)
                                                  7206 Danford Lane; Springfield, VA 22152
                                                   P: 703-569-1354        E: [email protected]
                                       WEBMASTER: John Tsiknas
                                                    15644 Caldas De Reyes, San Diego, CA 92128
                                                    E: [email protected] 
                                        WEB SITE: 1948.usnaclasses.com
CLASS OF 1948 SHIPMATE COLUMN
MAY - 2017

All of us are aware that at our age one of the biggest threats to our well-being is a fall.  My correspondence is full of stories of falls and Betty has had two, which resulted in a broken pelvis and hip both of which she fully recovered from.  Earlier this month I had a snail mail from Angus McDonald, 7th Co. which I think you will find of interest and may want to retain his list.  Scribe’s note:  Angus, you might give some thought to sending your “manifesto” to AARP.  Angus’ letter says:

I had a bad fall on Thanksgiving 2015.  It was a real doozie.  Since it had happened before I decided that I needed a plan going forward.  I sat down and composed a 22-point manifesto giving some of my rules for avoiding another fall.  I try to follow the manifesto rigorously, and so far I am pleased.  I have not had a fall for 14 months now.
Hints for the Balance-Impaired

  1. Look at the place you will place your foot when you take your next step.  This is particularly important when the terrain is either unfamiliar or uneven or both.  If you wish to look around stop walking.
  2. As a corollary to the above never walk backwards.
  3. Always be on the lookout for a third point of support just as you are encouraged to do when walking to the lavatory on an airplane.
  4. Keep one hand free at all times.  Keep our hands out of your pockets.
  5. Always lean uphill.  You will never fall uphill.
  6. If you need to change direction rotate the body slowly.
  7. If you do start to fall rotate your body like athletes do.  This may protect your, face and eyes.  Try to take the hit with your shoulders and hands – not your head.
  8. If you come to a stairs and there is no banister or railing don’t take it.  Find another route.
  9. Sometimes it is preferable to walk sideways.

10.If the visibility is poor take a walking stick or cane.
11.If you have some instability spread your legs and take shorter steps.
12. When approaching a curb place one foot very near the curb before taking the step up or down.
13. Upon entering a store always take a shopping cart even if you have no intentions of buying anything.  Carts are very supportive.
14. Try to keep the watering hose between you and the hose bib.
15. A prestigious study has concluded that the primary cause of falls is the failure to keep the body over the legs.
16. Of course, always pick up your feet and tie your shoelaces—always!
17. When you walk lean forward a little bit.  It is a little harder to recover your balance if you start to fall backward.
18. If you desire a sleeping pill, don’t take one.  There is too much carry-forward the next morning.  Rather take a Motrin instead.
19. When you come to an escalator, pause, grab and then take a follow-on step.
20. When you get out of bed, after you sit up pause briefly, then maintain contact by the backs of your legs with the side of the bed until you are fully standing.
21. When putting on or taking off a hoodie sit down.
22. Practice the exercises provided by the PT instructor daily.

Betty suggests an additional-do not reach for items on high shelves above your head.  She was trying to get something off a high self in her closet when down she went, backwards.

Judy and Bob Flood 18th Co., are in Fl and were joined by Helga and Bob Smith 18th Co.  The four of them then got together with Betty and Frank Boushee 8th Co. for lunch at the Timuquana Country Club for lunch.  Helga took this picture.      
 

A while back when Tom Woods 9th Co. passed away his family was looking for info to put into his obit for SHIPMATE.  They knew he had been aboard the FLYING FISH AGSS-229 and wondered if he was aboard for the 5000th dive.  I asked via email if anyone in the Class knew but the only answer I received was from Jack Lastova 9th Co. who did some research and came up with the following from the sub base New London club news.    I believe you will enjoy it.

SUBMARINE HISTORY- 5000th Dive for Submarine-
On 29 February 1952 Secretary of the Navy, Dan A. Kimball recorded a “first” in the history of the Navy’s submarine service when USS Flying Fish (AGSS-229) made her record-breaking 5000th  dive.

For the first time in naval history the squawk box of a Navy craft carried a direct order from the commanding officer to the Secretary of the Navy.” Now hear this.  The Secretary of the Navy will please relieve the bow planesman.”  In performing this duty Secretary Kimball reported to Charles Maglis, GM1 (SS), USN, as his relief, and the bow plane operation was in the hands of Mr. Kimball after FLYING FISH made The dive.

Then operating as an experimental unit of the Naval Underwater Sound Laboratory, New London, Conn., FLYING FISH stood out for Long Island Sound.  The icy waters of the Sound closed over her slate-grey length of 311 feet, eight inches, as she marked the 10th year of her life by establishing the world’s record for the number of operational dives.  She was the first submarine to be commissioned after the outbreak of World War II.

With the Secretary of the Navy and high ranking observers and guests on board, Lieutenant Commander R.W Phipps, USN, commanding FLYING FISH’s line handlers cast off her bow and stern lines.  Captain G.R. Donaho USN the first FLING FISH skipper when she was commissioned three days after Pearl Harbor, was a visitor during this record making  cruise.  He stood the diving officer watch.  Rear Admiral R.F. Hickey USN, Chief of Information, served on the watch as the sub’s helmsman.  Never before in the naval history was a United States submarine operated by a higher ranking crew.

With 12 war patrols to her credit and 16 Japanese vessels sunk for a total of 58,306 tons, FLYING FISH crisscrossed the 125,447 miles of Pacific patrol.  Nearly nine months of her 10-year life had been spent under water.

To all hands who were lucky enough to have been on board for the recording breaking 5,000th dive, the CO issued “Five Grander” certificates reading: “Be it known to all good sailors of the seven seas that (holder’s name, rank or rate), did this date actively participate in the submergence of the USS FLYING FISH (AGSS-229) on this operationally historic occasion of her 5,000th dive.  Be it therefore proclaimed to all true and loyal Wearers of the Dolphin that he is hereby designated a "Five Grander”

Scribe’s note:  reading Tom’s bio. in the 30 year book he could easily have been aboard

Sadly we have lost one Classmate and two wives since the last column.
     Classmate:
              18th Co. Portner, E.M.     2/13/17
     Wives:
Matia, Theresa  5/11/16, wife of Tom (deceased) 23rd Co. Theresa was an active member of St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church where she was a Prayer Warrior and a volunteer of the Legion of Mary, an international association of the faithful of the Catholic Church who serve the Church on a voluntary basis.  She was an accomplished tennis player, cook, and an expert pastry maker.  Her pride and joy though was her family, the five sons she and Tom raised, her  grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Dyer, Glenys  2/17/17, wife of John, 19th Co.   Glenys and John met on a blind date and were married on 6/24/50.  They raised three daughters.  She was a behind-the-scenes volunteer at the Smithsonian for about 17 years in Engineering and Industry, working for the clockmaker and others.   She was a part-time secretary and science teacher at Washington-Lee High School for all the years until her daughters were off to college.