REFLECTIONS OF THE PAST With
BY LYON
RATON, General
(continuted)
McGuire's main claim to fame was that he slept completely through an early morning General Quarters, attach on a merchant ship, torpedo firing, torpedo hit, and our celebration thereafter.  When we had a second GQ later that morning McGuire had no idea what had gone on...and he was Asst Gunnery Officer at the time with station in the forward torpedo room.  Lew had a good sense of humor and seemed to resent being in the Navy but made the most of each day.  Stan was serious, a bit slow and seemed to be wondering what it would be like to be in the Navy for the rest of his working days.  (I'm sending a copy of this to D. W. "Pete" Sencenbaugh '43 usna who might be able to find McGuire and King in the Navy Register etc.0  Tom French was a great party boy and is best remembered for his riding behind a native girl (he had picked up in Manila) on an aquaplane we made in Subic Bay.  this was towed by a boat I had got from my uncles's ship which was one of MANY in the Bay ready for invasion of Japan, i.e. very crowded harboar.  French had one hand on the girl and the other on the rope and a bottle...we had fun until the boat owners came and claimed it.

The patrols after Mare Island were up north, the most memorable being in the Yellow Sea which was both cold and not submarine hospitable...confined and shallow.  Between patrols we were in Guam and then Subic Bay.  Guam time was mostly spent playing 2, 3, and 4 handed cribbage, walking the beach and going up to watch the B-29s takeoff for Japan.  Pete, By and Dick seemed to lead off-hours at sea and after meals in game of Twenty Questions.  Pete was big on scientific and historical names, I would look in our small encyclopedia for obscure stumpers.  The one that got the most groans, however, after a long struggle, was one of Dick's, George Fox who started the YMCA.  He was so pleased we didn't get it and I can assure that was the end of the session!!!  This trio was also the biggest readers and discussers of non-Navymatters.

Dick was probably the most serious of the three and never forgot his Occidental College influence.  His sense of humor was dry and he much liked to be right.  He learned well and was eager to master the myriad details of sub systems.  I don't know if he ever got far enough to be what was known as "Qualified" to wear Dolphins but because of the successful patrol in the Yellow Sea he could wear a silver submarine on his uniform.  His manner was very direct and he had a reserved but respected relationship with the crew.  I think he had a time learning that the Captain is RIGHT, at least with junior officers, even when in question.  Dick and Pete were the only two who were intellectuals with me and this was sensed by others.

I had been reading some Einstein while we were in Subic Bay when the atomic bombs was dropped and the war ended.  Soon we were on our way home though the Panama Canal, a great experience.  We were at Staten Island for Navy Day inspection from which we all headed home as soon as we had enough points.

Well, sorry this is not more detailed, hope it helps.  I had fun doing it.

Other officers during Dick's time included Mike Shea, USN, skipper for early part of the time, then Capt. Guy Guggliotta, USN, Mike Moore "43 USNA, and John B. Randolph, USNR from Pittsburgh, who had worked for Westinghouse before the war.  John stayed in the Navy and retired therefrom several years ago.  Based last in Newport News area.

Epilog:  Ellen found Stan King and wife in Washington State and sent pictures back to me.  Enid White's boys had become very interested in subs and she keeps me supplied with new tapes and books.

 
WHY GO INTO SUBMARINES?
For as long as I can remember as a little boy, my Uncle George had been a Navy Officer with his family moving around and coming back to Wisconsin near Elkhorn where he had grown up and my Uncle Chuck and Aunt Clara still lived, for some summers.  My Aunt Florence who served as a good Navy wife, also had family in elkhorn, the Bachubers.  Probably Uncle George was instrumental in getting Bud Bachuber into Annapolis for a Navy career.  This was all before the war scare.  The next thing I knew about Bud, who was several years older than I, he had volunteered for submarine training and duty.  Why would anybody want to be in submarines?  I had no answer and neither did anybody else.  Papa had read Jules Verne's Mysterious Island and Twenty Thousand Leagues...to us as bedtime stories.  I had made a tin-pale diving helmet with Carljohn Holtzinger using tire pump air from the pier, we had played many games of submarine and bomber under Cunibert's pier and I liked swimming under water, but I really didn't like being short of breath and air under water.