Ninth Annual Submarine History Seminar 15 April 2010
OCEAN SURVEILLANCE DURING THE COLD WAR - “SENSING, FUSION, EXPLOITATION” | A SEMINAR WITH PRINCIPALS
1900 – 2100 - APRIL 15, 2010 - NAVY MEMORIAL, 701 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE NW, WASHINGTON, D.C.
The American Ocean Surveillance and Intelligence System (OSIS) was remarkable in that there was no commander. A confederacy that used inputs from the SOSUS, Maritime Patrol Aircraft, Electronic Surveillance aircraft and space based sensors, submarines, TAGOS ships and even the USAF SR-71, all elements were organized under different commanders. Use of the tactical and strategic intelligence developed by these forces was exploited to direct Anti-Submarine Forces, chiefly the Maritime Patrol Air commands and the submarine forces in the most effective ASW Campaign since 1945. The discussions will focus on how the system originated, developed and worked. The Principals include:
- Captain William Manthorpe, USN (Ret) Moderator, Former Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence
- Rear Admiral Thomas Brooks, USN (Ret), Former Director of Naval Intelligence
- Rear Admiral Eric McVadon, USN (Ret), Former Commander Iceland Force
- Captain James Donovan USN (Ret), Former Commander, Integrated Undersea Surveillance System
Sponsored by Northrop Grumman Marine Systems, the FREE Seminar starts with a social with participants and refreshments at 1800. Parking is available in PM Garage, entrance at 875 D Street between 7th and 8th St. The Navy Memorial is immediately adjacent to the Archives/Navy Memorial/ Penn Quarter Metro Stop on Yellow and Green Lines.
Reservations are required and can be submitted by email [nslevent@cavtel.net] or by telephone [703-256-0891 or 1-877-280-7827].
Submarine New Mexico Commissioning Streamed Live Online
The Navy will commission the newest Virginia-class attack submarine New Mexico (SSN 779) during an 11 a.m. EDT ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk March 27. The event will be streamed live online on www.navy.mil.New Mexico is named in recognition of the people of the 'Land of Enchantment'. The battleship New Mexico (BB-40) (1918-1946), the only other ship named after the 47th state, earned six battle stars for World War II service, which included providing shore bombardment support for landings in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands, and at Guam, Tinian, Saipan, the Philippines, and Okinawa.
Adm. Kirkland Donald, director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion, will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Cindy Giambastiani, wife of former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff retired Adm. Edmund Giambastiani, will serve as the ship's sponsor. In the time-honored Navy tradition, she will give the first order to "man our ship and bring her to life!"
The sixth Virginia Class submarine, New Mexico is built to excel in anti-submarine warfare; anti-ship warfare; strike warfare; special operations; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; irregular warfare; battle group support; and mine warfare missions. By doing so, New Mexico will directly enable five of the six Navy Maritime Strategy Core Capabilities - sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security, and deterrence.
Cmdr. Mark A. Prokopius, a native of Seven Hills, Ohio, is the prospective commanding officer and will lead a crew of approximately 134 officers and enlisted personnel.
The 7,800-ton New Mexico was built under a unique teaming arrangement between Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding and General Dynamics Electric Boat. She is 377-feet long, has a 34-foot beam, and will be able to dive to depths of greater than 800 feet and operate at speeds in excess of 25 knots submerged. New Mexico is designed with a reactor plant that will not require refueling during the planned life of the ship - reducing lifecycle costs while increase underway time.
Submarine Technology Symposium Update
Registration is now open for the Submarine Technology Symposium being held at The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, MD. Registration information and the updated agenda is available at http://www.jhuapl.edu/sts/ . Early registration is encouraged as the last three events have closed early due to facility limitations.
Meet the Decision Makers at Maritime Systems and Technology (MAST) Americas
Following the highly anticipated opening/keynote speech by US CNO, Admiral Gary Roughead, and an exclusive second day focusing on education to open up MAST to the next generation of scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and technicians, the third day plenary will gravitate firmly towards business.
The plenary session to kick off the third day of MAST Americas will tackle the challenges, opportunities and current international partnering efforts led by a select group of US Navy Program Executive Officers (PEOs) and Acquisition Executive from the US Coast Guard. Participation has already been confirmed by Program Executive Officer (PEO) – SHIPS, Program Executive Officer (PEO) – IWS, Program Executive Officer (PEO) – LMW, and Program Executive Officer (PEO) – SUBs. Each speaker will present their requirements and highlights for their key programs. Following the briefings a moderator will lead the group through a question and answer panel discussion. Delegate questions will be solicited in advance from pre-registered delegates and posed during the session.
The Naval Submarine League is a Media Sponsor of this event and will have a booth in the Exhibit Hall.
Eternal Patrol Report:
Mrs. Sylvia Lubow Rindskopf (wife of RADM Mike Rindskopf, USN (Ret))
Sylvia Lubow Rindskopf died at age 92 in Annapolis, Maryland, on Tuesday, March 23, 2010, after a short illness. Sylvia was born on 25 January, 1918, in New London, CT, the fourth child of Annie Rifkin and Barnett Lubow. She attended Williams Memorial Institute and Connecticut College for Women (now Connecticut College) in New London, graduating in 1940 with a BA in Sociology and Economics. She worked briefly in the Sociology Department of the College.
She married Ensign Maurice H. Rindskopf, USN, in New York on 6 April, 1941, and traveled with him to duty stations in the United States at Washington, DC, Long Beach, CA, and New London, CT; and overseas to Panama, Hawaii, and Naples, Italy. During her Navy life, she was a popular hostess and nurtured the wives of young officers assigned to her husband’s commands. This was especially true when she lived in New London, where her husband was Officer in Charge of the Submarine School, Commanding Officer of USS FULTON, and Commander of Submarine Group II. She readily volunteered her time and knowledge to the Red Cross Bloodmobile and the Navy Relief Society for 32 years until her husband retired in 1972.
She spent the remainder of her life in Maryland where she again distinguished herself as a volunteer docent for 18 years at the historic William Paca House in Annapolis. She enjoyed travel, golf at the Army-Navy Country Club in Arlington, VA, and the Chartwell Country Club near her home in Severna Park, and was a proficient bridge player, and fully capable of completing the New York Times crossword puzzles in ink. She moved to BayWoods of Annapolis in 2003 and became one of the most popular residents, participating in many activities, including writing for the bi-weekly newspaper. She was a caring mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and an ecstatic great-grandmother.
Sylvia and Admiral Mike had parts in the PBS Documentary which commemorated the opening of the WWII Memorial on the Mall in 2003. She also was honored as the representative of the WWII families at the NSL Submarine Banquet in 2004. She is survived by her husband of nearly 69 years, Rear Admiral Mike Rindskopf, a granddaughter, Amy Kathryn Rindskopf, and two great-grandsons, Jasper Rindskopf Schultz and Ian Zephyr Schultz. She is also survived by Amy’s mother, Elizabeth Rindskopf Parker. Her only child, Peter Eric Rindskopf, president and valedictorian of New London High School (1960), graduate of Yale (1964), and Yale Law School (1967), pre-deceased her. Private Funeral services will be held at the US Naval Academy Columbarium on Sunday, March 28. A celebratory reception for her friends will be held at BayWoods of Annapolis at 5 p.m. on March 28. Memorial contributions may be made to Connecticut College, 270 Mohegan Avenue, New London, CT 06320-4150.
RADM Peter DeMayo, SC, USN (Ret)
Rear Admiral PETER DEMAYO USN (Ret.) passed away on December 11, 2009. RADM DeMayo is survived by his wife of 18 years, Melanie Sisson DeMayo. RADM DeMayo was a member of the Procurement Round table, sat on the board of the Defense Acquisition University, the National YMCA, and served on the Board of the George Washington University Business College for many years. He was constantly active in the Army Navy Country Club; serving on the Board of Governors and a former Chairman of the Army Navy Country Club in the late eighties. He was honored by Hofstra University as a distinguished alumnus. He served on several Boards with Syracuse University. He was a faithful member of the Church of the Apostle’s Episcopal Church in Fairfax, Virginia. Funeral service Arlington National Cemetery, April 26, 2010 at 1 p.m. Immediately following the funeral ceremony at Arlington Cemetery, Mrs. DeMayo is hosting a reception for her husband at the Arlington Army-Navy Country Club. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to the Church of the Apostle’s Rector’s Special Retirement Fund, 3500 Pickett Rd, Fairfax VA 22031.
Rear Admiral Allen Alfred Bergner, USN (Ret)
Retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Allen Alfred Bergner, 93, passed away after a short illness on March 22, 2010 at his residence in Melfa. He was born May 29, 1916 in Kankakee, Ill., to Alfred Coordes Johannes Bergner and Harriet Hess Bergner. He attended Kankakee High School, Onarga Military Acad-emy, Northwestern University, and St. John's College prior to entering the United States Naval Academy in 1936. While a Midshipman at USNA, Allen excelled at sports. He captained the football and wrestling teams, lettered in football, wrestling, lacrosse, and boxing, and received the Athletic Sword. He graduated on June 6, 1940 as an ensign.
Allen's first tour of duty was onboard USS WEST VIRGINIA which was sunk during the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Following the bombing, Allen reported to the Commander Submarine Forces Pacific which was the beginning of his submarine career. He commanded the USS S-47, USS SAURY, USS PO-MODON, and USS ORION, and was commander of Submarine Squadron SIX. Allen was assigned to the Chief of Naval Operations staff, and was commander, Naval Training Center San Diego. He was the last surviving member of the Board of Inquiry for the USS PUEBLO. In 1969, he became commander of Service Group Three in the Pacific during the Vietnam War. Interested in education throughout his career, Allen be-came Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel for Education and Training in 1970, and he became the Chief of Naval Technical Training in 1971. Among the many medals awarded to him during his career were the Le-gion of Merit, the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, and the Bronze Star with Combat "V".
Allen retired from the Navy after 36 years on July 1, 1972. Besides reading and gardening, his retirement years included many hours spent on the golf course with his entire family. He and his son, Jon played golf every morning weather permitting. Sundays were family match days. He enjoyed playing bridge both at the Eastern Shore Yacht & Country Club and on the computer. Allen never missed an Atlanta Braves game.
Allen was predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Jayne Lorenda Clark of Joliet, Ill., and his younger brother, Karl. He is survived by his son, retired U.S. Navy Capt. Jon Clark Bergner and his wife Debra; his daughter, Barbara Bergner Murphy and husband Michael; and grandsons, Jeff and Greg Bergner and Matt and Ben Murphy.
Allen will be interred at the United States Naval Academy. A memorial service will be held in Annapolis at a date to yet be determined.
In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to our local SPCA, P.O. Box 164, Onley, VA 23418 or the Melfa Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 100, Melfa, VA 23410.
Memory tributes may be shared with the family at www.williamsfuneralhomes. com. Arrangements by the Williams-Onancock Funeral Home.
William H. Barnes III Navy Submarine Researcher
William H. Barnes III, 86, a Navy Department engineer who studied the acoustics of nuclear submarines for more than 30 years, died March 8 at the Mandrin Chesapeake Hospice House in Harwood. He had congestive heart failure.
Mr. Barnes spent his career working from a research and development center in Annapolis and retired in the mid-1980s. He then became a consultant for Vector Research and Radix Corp. William Henry Barnes III was a native of New Rochelle, N.Y., and a 1948 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. In 1958, he received a master's degree from Georgetown University. He served in the Navy from 1948 to 1955, including on a destroyer in the Battle of Inchon during the Korean War. After resigning from active duty, he served in the Navy Reserve, rising to the rank of captain before retiring in 1984. Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Fay Anderson Barnes of Annapolis; three daughters, Kathleen Barnes Davies of Annapolis, Cynthia Barnes Powell of Severna Park and Jamie Barnes Greenberg of Arnold; and six grandchildren.
LCDR Charles (Chuck) Harrison, USN (Ret)
LCDR Charles (Chuck) Harrison, USN (Ret), 74 died Thursday, February 26, 2010 at Groton Regency. Mr. Harrison joined the Navy Reserve. He entered the U.S. Naval Academy graduating in the class of 1958 and retired from the Navy in 1972. He was a member of the U.S. Submarine Veterans, Groton Base, the Fleet Reserve, Branch 20, the Mystic Chorale Group, Mensa and many others too numerous to mention. Mr. Harrison is survived by his wife Marry Harrison of Groton, his four daughters Mardyne and Dion Smith of Branford, Denyse Espinoza of GA, Helyn and James Go of Oakdale, and Katherine Harrison of VA, his son C. Edward Harrison of HI, 15 grandchildren and 12 Great-Grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Chuck lived his life to the fullest every day. Besides his family, he leaves behind many friends he met on his journey through life.
Interment will be held at the convenience of the family at the U.S. Naval Academy. In Lieu of flowers donations may be made in his memory to USSVI Scholarship Program, 40 School St., Groton, CT 06340; Niantic Rotary Foundation, P.O.Box 339, Niantic, CT 06357, or VITAS Hospice Charitable Fund, 255 Pitkin St, East Hartford, CT 06108.
CAPT George C. Ball, Jr., USN (Ret)
Captain George C. Ball, Jr., USN (Ret) died February 15, 2010 He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in February 1941. He served on various Navy surface craft but primarily he was a diesel boat submariner. He served in billets ranging from Chief Engineer to Commanding Officer. At the time, in 1944 he was the youngest Commanding Officer of a navy submarine. After serving 30 years in the United State Navy he retired as a Captain Orlando, Florida with his loving wife, Betty Ball, deceased. He is survived by his four sons, Eric, Russ, Alan and Bryan and his sister, Patte Ball Graydon. Both Jerry and Betty will be interned at Arlington National Cemetery, July 16, 2010.
Mr. Robert R. North
Mr. Robert R. North '53, age 79, of Charlotte, formerly of Grosse Ile, Michigan, peacefully passed away on February 20th, 2010 at his home after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He is survived by his daughters, Suzanne and Melinda, his son, Ryan, and their respective families, David, Christopher, Madeleine and Luke Picher, Joe, Hattie and Betsy Saylor, Nicki Clark and beloved friend, Mary Benson.
Bob was born and raised in Nelsonville, Ohio, the only child of Duward and Anna Rosser North. He was a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and was second in charge on the submarine Diablo. Upon leaving the Navy he moved to Grosse Ile, Michigan and worked for thirty years as an engineer and sales manager for the Trane Company. Bob served on the Planning Board of Appeals on Grosse Ile for many years and was very active and well-known in the community. He was a member of Round Island, the Islander's and The Grosse Ile Golf and Country Club. He moved to Charlotte, North Carolina in 1990 to raise his son Ryan and also work as a sales consultant for York National Accounts. His most gratifying experiences came from his work, family and participation in AA. Bob was a consummate gentleman and a devoted father and grandfather. He will be most remembered for his remarkable sense of humor and will be terribly missed by all who knew him.
Memorials can be made to the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation, 291 Wood Road, Beach Hall, Annapolis, MD 21402, Attn.: Tribute Gifts, In memory of Robert R. North, 'Class of 1953.'
CDR Frank L. Thomas Jr., USN (Ret)
CDR Frank L. Thomas Jr., USN (Ret) died February 12, 2010, to join his beloved wife, Jeanne. He married Rebekah Jeanne Orr on December 29, 1943. Their life together was a love affair of 59 years interrupted by her death in 2002. Frank and Jeanne are survived by a son, Frank Lincoln Thomas, III, and his wife Beverly of Gonzales; by a daughter Barbara Jeanne Adams and husband Mike of Kingwood; by a daughter Patricia Ann Barnes and her husband Phil of Austin; and by eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Frank is also survived by his sister Edith Groves of Seattle, Washington, and his sister Helen Perry of College Station, Texas and many nephews and nieces.
A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, during WWII he served aboard the USS Massachusetts fighting the Germans in the Atlantic and aboard the submarines Sea Dog and Kingfish fighting the Japanese navy in the Pacific. He left the Navy with the rank of Commander in 1954 to enter the business world. From then until he retired in 1982, Frank was associated with the business of stainless steel pipe used primarily in the nuclear and petrochemical industries.
In retirement, Frank and Jeanne took up photography as well as the study of rocks and precious stones, and in pursuit of these interests they traveled extensively in the western United States and abroad, including a trip to Tanzania, Africa, where they met Mary Leakey at her home in the world famous Olduvai Gorge.