To learn the story of the San Luis Obispo Sub Vets, a basic background of the parent organization, the “U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II,” must be noted. It was formed in 1955 by surviving members of the elite submarine service to remember the 3,505 submariners who died defending our country in WWII.
On October 12, 1963, following the loss of the USS Thresher SSN 593, a sister organization was formed. “The United States Submarine Veterans, Inc.” (USSVI) was opened to all submariners from all eras. Its mission is to honor deceased submariners, preserve history, and foster camaraderie among all submariners.
The origin of the Central Coast chapter of the USSVI can be traced to the efforts of local submariners in San Luis Obispo (SLO) County, California, who organized to form their own local "Base." It is officially called the “San Luis Obispo Submarine Veterans” and is a chapter of the national USSVI organization in its Western Region 6. It was launched on April 12, 2006 with officers:
Commander: Robert “Bob” Baker MS1 (SS) USS RATON AGSS 270
Vice Commandrer: Daniel “Dan” Mann EMP3 (SS) USS CHOPPER SS 342 (2006-12)
Secretary: Howard Pommerening YNC (SS) USS Robert E. Lee SSBN 601
Treasurer: Ralph “Hank” Wiley RM2 (SS) USS Piper SS 409 (2006-11)
They are shown below being sworn in by the Western Region 5 Commander R.J. Rocker.
The Base’s initial meetings were held at the Oceano Elks Club as that is where Vice Commander, Dan Mann, was on the Board of Trustees and got the second Saturday of the month comped. Plankowner designations were for those who joined the Base between April 2006 at the formulation meeting and May 2007 when the Base Constitution and Bi-Laws were completed. that amounted to 18 members.
USS TRIGGER (SS-237) was a Gato-class submarine. In WWII it deployed on 12 very successful war patrols before being lost with all hands on 28 March, 1945 in the East China Sea.
A submarine memorial at San Diego’s Point Loma remembers the 52 boats that were lost in WWII. It is at NTC Park at Liberty Station at Cushing and Roosevelt Roads. It has a plaza area and monuments for each boat and the date it was lost and lists the names of crewmembers that are on “eternal patrol”. 52 Boats Memorial - Related Links