Stephen "Budda" Bien   ENC(SS)  1962-64

(May 2017)   Hello, Stan   Thanks for checking in on me.   I turned 90 years old in February.   I still have my wits about me and I am pretty mobile.   My eyesight has left me due to glaucoma and cornea erosion.   I had corneal transplant earlier this month and slowly seeing a little bit of shadows.

My wife Margaret passed away late 2016.   My daughter takes care of my needs.

I appreciate your hard work and devotion to keeping up with all the Chivo shipmates.

Chief Stephen (Sarge) Bien
Chivo 1962-64

(March 2016)   Stephen's daughter writes: The chief is doing fine.   Thank you for the info on the newsletter we really appreciate it.   He's 89 years old now doing real well here in Florida.   He wishes that he could be in touch with you like he used to but since he's not be able to see you anymore, he appreciates every time you send us information on the Chivo.   Thank you very much

(September 2012)   Stephen's daughter writes:   Ahoy everyone!
I am writing on behalf of Stephen because his eyesight has diminished to the point that it keeps him off the computer.   The vision loss has been a progressive one over years but greatly accelerated since August.   For a while, it looked like it might improve but alas it has left him again.   We have prepared for the possibility of blindness.

Keep those emails coming.   He may not have his vision but he still has his mind and his opinions!   Margaret reads the emails to him which is endearing to observe.

Thanks for all the wonderful friendship and continued sharing . . . Stephanie Bien

You can send cards and letters to Stephen "Budda" Bien at:

Stephen T. Bien
19339 Hidden Oaks Drive
Brooksville FL 34604

Email: 3kisses (at) bellsouth.net

Joanne & John Hedum   TM2(SS)  1952-56

TM2(SS) John Hedum served onboard Chivo 1952 - 1956.   He and his wife, Joanne, have been to almost every one of our reunions.   Unfortunately Joanne suffers from Parkinson’s disease, and recently spent 3 days in the hospital for hip replacement surgery.

(June 2020)   John writes:   I'm doing fine.   Joanne has improved after her hip surgery, but has occasional problems with freezing in place, unable to get her legs to move.   Also she has always had claustrophobia (hard for a submariner to understand) which seems exaggerated now.   I take care of most of the household duties which upsets her.   She has always been an independent woman.   We hope to be able to come to the next reunion.

John

Right now, life is really difficult for both Joanne and John.   I am sure that they would like to hear some encouragement from their reunion friends and shipmates.   You can send cards and letters to Joanne and John at:

John & Joanne Hedum
2710 Wyndham Lane
Orlando FL 32808-3342

Email: jnjhedum (at) bellsouth.net
Phone: 407-293-9438

Richard V. Holland   FN(SS)   1971 decom

FN(SS) Richard “Rick” Holland (1971 decom) started his Navy career under the careful instruction of Jeter Brock and Chuck Downs (actually Rick says he remembers them hanging him upside down in the Engine Room and running a cold water hose down his pant leg - but that’s another story).   Rick went on after Chivo to serve on USS Snook (SSN-592), USS Dace (SSN-607), and USS Boston (SSN-703) and retired as a QMC(SS) in 1990.

(April 2024)   Rick lives in Michigan now.   His life after the Navy hasn’t been all smooth sailing.   He has had 27 surgeries to include 13 cardio caths that led to a quad bypass, 4 total knee replacements and 4 back surgeries.   He is a caregiver for his wife who is suffering with Alzheimers and Aphasia.   And If all that isn’t enough, now Rick has cancer, so his plate is really full.

I am sure that Rick would be greatly cheered to hear from some of his friends and shipmates:   You can write to Rick at:

Richard V. Holland
3712 Dunes Pkwy
Norton Shores MI 49441

Email: rvholland (at) hotmail.com

William C. "Bill" Priest   ETRSN  1964-1965

(Aug 2018)   Bill and Ruthann Priest came to some of our earlier reunions.   Ruthann just informed me that Bill is suffering from dementia and won’t be able to participate in any more of our gatherings.

Life is really difficult for someone with dementia and even more difficult for their caregiver.   I am sure that Ruthann and Bill would like to hear some words of encouragement from their reunion friends and shipmates.

You can send cards and letters to Ruthann at:

Ruthann Priest
13230 Elkwood Court
Midlothian VA 23112-1434

Thanks for remembering your shipmates, and be sure to let me know if you know of any other shipmates who need to be included on the CHIVO binnacle list.   Contact me at 341.stan@gmail.com.

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