Newsletter #117 – May 2026  

USS CHIVO (SS-341) All Hands Newsletter

Mark Twain said, "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.  So throw off the bowlines.  Sail away from the safe harbor.  Catch the trade winds in your sails.  Explore.  Dream.  Discover."

I don't know if any of us have twenty more years, but I do know that it's time to throw off the bow lines and join your friends at a reunion.  It could be your last chance to catch the trade winds in your sails and remember those adventures of youth and sea.

Our 2026 reunion will be at the Landmark Resort in Myrtle Beach on October 18-21, 2026. That’s three days starting Sunday afternoon and ending Wednesday morning. The Landmark has a variety of rooms at great prices. For example: Ocean front rooms with a king bed or two doubles and a private balcony are only $104 night with all fees included. You’ll be paying less for an ocean front room with a private balcony than you would pay for a Comfort Inn along the highway.  And the Landmark has a variety of rooms to fit every budget from as little as $74 night (incl) to $130 night (incl).  Once again our inclusive prices include all resort fees, booking fees parking, taxes, etc. There is a complete list of room descriptions and rates posted on the web site and in our last news letter.

Reunion Schedule

Banquet Menu - Ranch Baked Chicken, Rice Pilaf, Vegetable Medley, Dinner Rolls, Tossed Salad w/2 dressings, Assorted Deserts, Tea and Water.

There will be free snacks and beverages in our hospitality room. Lots of navy memorabilia and you might want to bring some of your own to display. Plus, I’ve booked great weather for touring around Myrtle Beach on your own. Who could ask for more?

Sharing - Because our numbers are shrinking we are going to share our reunion with another diesel boat. This reduces the overhead costs and doubles the sea stories. We will share our hospitality room, our Memorial Service and our banquet. Registrations for each boat will be handled separately, and since individuals make their own hotel reservations, hot bunking will not be necessary. There is really no downside to sharing, and when we get to the business meeting at our 2026 reunion we will vote if we want to continue sharing.

Possible Reunion Rebates - The reunion registration fee is $20 per person or $30 per couple, and the banquet is $25 per person. As in the past, you mail your check for these fees along with the registration form. However, this could be our last reunion due to declining health and shrinking attendance. Therefore, I will not immediately deposit your checks. I will hold your checks until after the reunion business meeting.

If we decide not to hold a future reunion, I will return your “uncashed” checks to you, and use existing funds to pay for the banquet and other reunion costs. If a future reunion is planned then I will deposit your checks to pay our bills and keep some seed money in the fund for the next reunion.

Two Things You Need to Do - First, complete the reunion registration form and send it with your registration fees to Stan Pollard. The form and Stan’s address are attached to this newsletter. And second, make your hotel reservations at the Landmark Resort.

Landmark Reservations - Our reunion is Sunday to Wednesday October 18-21, 2026 at the Landmark Resort, 1501 South Ocean Boulevard, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29577. They have a web site at   http://www.landmarkresort.com  Call 855-338-0226 to make reservations - Monday-Friday 9 AM - 9 PM. Saturday - Sunday 9 AM - 5 PM. Group Name: USS Chivo SS-341 You must book at the number above and in our group block to get the discounted rates.

Cut-Off Date - September 18, 2026 - After the cut-off date rooms and discounted rates are no longer guaranteed. Guests will have to book at the best available rate.

* * * From The Quartermaster's Notebook * * *

Donations . . . Donations help to make our reunions possible.

Special thanks to Loren "Jake" Jacobsen (1955-1957) for his generous contribution.

Checks should be made payable to the “Chivo Reunion Organization” and mailed directly to our Treasurer: Robert Kuphal, 3520 New Hartford Rd., Suite 301 Owensboro KY 42303.

Eternal Patrol . . . Recently we learned that the following shipmates have passed away:

• EM3(SS) Hal Wesley Exum (1970) departed December 07, 2025.

• ETR2(SS) Wayne L. Howie (1967) departed June 02, 2024.

• TMSN(SS) Kenneth D. Wheeler (1968-1970) departed December 12, 2025.

Binnacle List . . .   These shipmates are facing some serious challenges:

• ENC(SS) Stephen "Budda" Bien (62-64)   email: 3kisses@bellsouth.net

• TM2(SS) John & Joanne Hedum (1952-1956)   email: jnjhedum@bellsouth.net

• FN(SS) Richard V. Holland (1971 decom)   email: rvholland@hotmail.com

• ETRSN(SS) William C. Priest (64-65)   c/o Ruthann Priest,   13230 Elkwood Ct., Midlothian VA 23112-1434

Dolphin Store – Mermaid Judy maintains a limited supply of submarine unique items in the Dolphin Store, and other items she orders direct from venders. That takes extra time. If you want a new shirt, ball cap, three-season jacket, patches, license plate, bumper sticker or any other goody from the Dolphin Store get your order in as soon as possible. Contact Judy Pollard by phone at (910) 477-0822 or by email at lakeslady871@gmail.com

A True Story - USS Batfish (SS-310) was patrolling the Luzon Straits in February 1945. She encountered and sank three Japanese submarines in just three days. She sank RO-55, RO-112, and RO-113.

On Feb 09 at 2250 Batfish made radar contact at 11,000 yds. At 2331 she fired 4 torpedos, range 1,850 yds. All four missed. The target submerged. Batfish opened range and began a high-speed end-around to get ahead of the contact. After midnight, now Feb 10th, Batfish closed to 900 yards to fire MK-18 electric torpedos. #1 torpedo jammed in tube and was a hot run. Batfish fired #2 and #3 then was able to manually impulse #1 clear. Torpedo #2 blew up the target and #3 either passed under or through what remained after the blast.

Late that same day, at 2202 Batfish fired three torpedos at 880 yards at another Japanese submarine. The first torpedo made a tremendous explosion followed by two more muffled explosions. #1 was likely a direct hit, #2 and #3 probably hit debris or pieces of sinking submarine.

Finally about 0200 on 13 February Batfish found a third submarine, but Batfish only had torpedos in after room. She had to get ahead of target and position herself for a stern shot. Then the target submerged. So the problem became had she detected Batfish or was she just doing a trim dive like the first boat. Then target resurfaced. Batfish fired three torpedos from stern tubes to sink her.

USS Batfish (SS-310) received the Presidential Unit Citation for this patrol.

Don’t worry about the world coming to an end today. It’s already tomorrow in Australia.

Reunions are all about bringing friends together. That is more important than money. If you feel that your finances are preventing you from joining us, contact Stan Pollard. We will help, and it will be entirely anonymous.

Remember, September 18, 2026 is the cut-off date for both hotel reservations and reunion registration.

A printable PDF copy of the Reunion Registration form is available here:   2026 Reunion Registration Form.
Note:   You cannot complete this form on line.   Print out the form, complete it and mail it along with check to the address on the form.

A complete list of reunion room rates and descriptions can be found on this web site under the tab "Reunion Hotel."

USS CHIVO (SS-341) All Hands Newsletter

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