USS MENHADEN (SS-377) DECOMMISSIONED
FOR THE FINAL TIME
Invitation to the Decommissioning Ceremony of the USS Menhaden
(SS-377)
DECOMMISSIONING CREW
OFFICERS
Commanding Officer -- CDR S.L. Guille
Executive Officer -- LCDR W.A. Arata, III
Operations Officer -- LCDR D.S. Harper, Jr.
Engineering Officer -- LT D.L. Atchison
Communications Officer -- LTJG W.R. Babington
Assistant Engineering Officer -- LTJG C.L. Parsons
Supply Officer -- LTJG K.W. Hanson
Weapons Officer -- CWO-2 D.F. Shaw
CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS
L.D. Rodgers, EMC(SS), Chief Of The Boat
R.L. Fort, ENC(SS)
J.M. Hicks, RMC(SS)
J.G. Hoffman, EMC(SS)
R.A. McGuire, STCS(SS)
F.R. Mizell, ENC(SS)
J.A. Rhodes, TMC(SS)
L.A. Westervelt, HMC(SS)
ENLISTED MEN
Anderson, J.L., SN(SS)
Anderson, R.P., YN1(SS)
Aniban, C.D., CS1(SS)
Aquipel, R.V., SD3(SS)
Ayers, J.B., Jr., ENFN(SU)
Bates, R.R., IC2(SS)
Bright, R.C., ENFA(SU)
Bufford, J.D., MM2(SS)
Bulda, R.P., SK2(SS)
Caro, W.H., EM1(SS)
Chaffee, S.N., FTG3(SS)
Clove, J.S., TM2(SS)
Corson, G.L., EM3(SS)
Davis, C.F., IC3(SS)
Davis, O.C., MM1(SS)
Denton, M.A., QM1(SS)
Deputy, M.E., TM2(SS)
Desroches, P.L., SN(SS)
Deweese, D.M., ET1(SS)
Dreyer, J.R., EN3(SS)
Ealson, B.E., QM3(SS)
Erlenmeyer, R.A., FN(SS)
Fitzgerald, G.W., IC2(SS)
Frahm, D.G., RM2(SS)
Frazier, J.R., TM2(SS)
German, A.M., SD3(SS)
Gilbreath, G.R., EN3(SS)
Gutkin, M.L., ET2(SS)
Harkins, S.F., EN1(SS)
Herr, M.J., FN(SS)
Johnson, A.A., ETN2(SS)
Knuth, R.H., EM3(SS)
Lankford, S.E., EN2(SS)
Leonhardt, R.L., EM2(SS)
McCormack, J., TM2(SS)
McMullen, G.P., IC1(SS)
McQueen, D.W., TM2(SS)
Nelson, W.B., MM3(SS)
O'Connor, P.J., SN(SU)
Pearce, M.E., CS3(SS)
Peltcher, R.J., EN1(SS)
Quesada, A.A., Jr., EM1(SS)
Raleigh, W.T., SA(SU)
Rauckhorst, W.J., II, FTG2(SS)
Riley, S.J., STS3(SS)
Robillard, J.J., FTG3(SU)
Salcedo, W.T., SD2(SS)
Sexton, R.R., EN2(SS)
Smith, J.A., EN1(SS)
Stoll, D.L., ST1(SS)
Tostevin, D.C., EN2(SS)
Vincent, C., MM2(SS)
Washeck, D.K., EM1(SS)
Squadron Commodore, Captain H. L. Matthews, Jr., Commander,
Submarine Squadron THREE, at the podium, speaking. Seated, left to right,
Captain F. W. Zigler, Commanding Officer, Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility;
Commander S. L. Guille, Menhaden's Commanding Officer; Lieutenant J. R.
Fletcher, LDS Chaplain, Naval Training Center; and Lieutenant Commander
D. S. Harper, Jr., Menhaden's Operations Officer and Acting Executive Officer.
Lieutenant Commander William A. Arata, III, Menhaden's Executive Officer,
had been detached prior to the decommissioning to become the Commanding
Officer of the USS Baya (SS-318).
SPEECH GIVEN BY COMMANDER S.L. GUILLE
AT THE DECOMMISSIONING CEREMONY OF THE USS MENHADEN (SS-377)
AUGUST 13th, 1971
(Note: "Captain Zigler" refers to the Commanding Officer, Inactive
Ships Maintainance Facility, San Diego, CA, who received MENHADEN after
decommissioning. "Commodore Matthews" refers to Captain "Matty" Matthews,
Commander, Submarine Squadron THREE.)
"Captain Zigler, Commodore Matthews, Officers and Crew of the
MENHADEN, Ladies and Gentlemen:
I would like to extend greetings to some special guests in the
audience this morning: Commander Dale Johnson, Commander Jim Crowder, and
Commander Brad Mooney, former Commanding Officers of MENHADEN; Captain
Bob Vaughn, former Executive Officer; and Chief Torpedoman Frank "Loopy"
Lehr, former Chief of the Boat. To you and other ex-MENHADEN sailors in
the audience, I would like to express my appreciation for your coming to
the ceremony.
"To those of you familiar with us in our fighting trim, MENHADEN
is not much to look at this morning: All antennas and torpedoes removed,
tanks defueled, and riding high out of the water. But I'm not about to
apologize for her appearance because it has taken a tremendous amount of
effort on the part of MENHADEN's crew to put her in this condition. The
4,000-plus man-hours mentioned by Commodore Matthews have been spent in
cleaning and preserving this ship and its systems. The detailed procedures
that must be carried out before a ship can be decommissioned have been
very demanding and have required many hours of night and weekend work in
order to meet our self-imposed milestone dates.
"I am happy to report that we have satisfied the meticulous
requirements of Captain Zigler's inspectors earlier than the initial planning
date for decommissioning.
"But the past 2 ½ months of inactivation work, however
much it has claimed our complete attention and efforts, is just a small
piece of MENHADEN's total experience. MENHADEN has had a long and useful
life. As Commodore Matthews has described, MENHADEN has always enjoyed
a reputation as an outstanding ship, and justifiably so, for she has successfully
answered every commitment placed on her, which is a hallmark of a good
ship run by good men.
"I can personally speak only for the past 20 months of MENHADEN's
life, but during that time, she and the people who man her have performed
like the champions they are. She truly merits the "E" for excellence that
she wears on her sail. In this respect, the record speaks for itself: since
December 1969, MENHADEN made two deployments, steamed over 38,000 miles,
and earned considerable recognition. The Officers and Enlisted Men have
earned, in addition to the awards mentioned by Commodore Matthews:
5 Navy Commendation Medals
8 Navy Achievement Medals
5 Letters of Commendation
from Commander SEVENTH Fleet
3 Letters of Commendation
from Commander U.S. Pacific Fleet
2 Letters of Commendation
from Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet
12 Letters of Commendation from the
Commanding Officer, USS MENHADEN
"People make a navy ship: she is only as good as the people
who man her -- and I think that MENHADEN has more than her fair share.
However good we think we have been. We could not have a good job without
support from many sources. At this point, I would like to acknowledge our
debt of gratitude to Personnel on the staffs of Commander Submarine Flotilla
ONE, Commander Submarine Squadron THREE, Commander Submarine Division THIRTY-TWO,
the Submarine Support Facility, the USS SPERRY, and the Inactive Ships
Maintenance Facility, San Diego. The debt we owe our wives for shouldering
the responsibilities of raising our children and running the household
while we have been gone is immeasurable. For this, Ladies, we can only
say, 'Thank you, and Well Done!'
"MENHADEN is retiring today, but her people will go on to more
modern submarines and weapon systems, because our Navy must continue to
advance, and needs dedicated, well-qualified personnel to do so.
"As General George S. Patton so aptly put it in his own inimitable
style at the unveiling of a new series of Army tanks in 1940:
'History is replete with countless other instances of military
implements, each in its day heralded as the last word-the
key to victory-yet each in its turn subsiding to its useful,
but inconspicious niche. New weapons are useful in that
they add to the repertoire of killing, but, be they tank or
tomahawk, weapons are only weapons after all. Wars
may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men.'
"In closing, I would like to make use of another quotation to
express the feeling that we of MENHADEN have as we decommission her today.
This is from a note left on my desk last week by a young Petty Officer
after he was detached for training that will qualify him for duty on Fleet
Ballistic Missile Submarines:
'Dear Captain Guille:
It is with mixed feelings that I depart MENHADEN and the Diesel Boats.
There is sadness in seeing a breed die and become extinct, Fossil-fueled
submarines are no exception. Close friendships, dedication, high morale,
and a relaxed atmosphere -- all a trademark of the Diesel Boats -- more
than
offset the deployments and crowded conditions.
However, one cannot live in the past, for a new breed is here to stay,
and
one must change with the times. I hope that I prove to be worthy of and
equal to the tasks ahead of me.
DBF!!'
"I will now read the Decommissioning Orders:
'Date-time-group: 270122Z July 1971
From: Naval Ship Systems Command
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
To: Inactive Ships Maintainance Facility,
San Diego, CA
"Unless otherwise directed, place USS MENHADEN (SS-377) out of commission,
in reserve on 13 August 1971.' "
The Menhaden Crew Members on deck during the Decommissioning
Ceremony. Standing in front of the Crew is Leo D. Rodgers, EMC(SS), Chief
Of The Boat.
The Crew Members leaving Menhaden after the Decommissioning
Ceremony. In the foreground, left to right, are Warrant Officer-2 Don Shaw
and Lieutenant(jg) Ken Hanson.
The Commanding Officer, Commander S. L. "Les" Guille, was the
last Crew Member to depart the Menhaden.
(Images and Information Courtesy of Les Guille, Menhaden's Last
Commanding Officer, 1970-71)
Menhaden's Crew Members in formation on the pier after the Decommissioning
Ceremony.
The San Diego Naval Training Center Band playing for the Menhaden's
Decommissioning Ceremony.
(Photos Courtesy of James G. Hoffman, EMC(SS), Menhaden, 1968-71;
Images Courtesy of Les Guille, Menhaden's Last Commanding Officer, 1970-71)
After the Decommissioning Ceremony, Commander Les Guille (with
the black folder) is talking with some of the guests. The Officer in the
middle (with his left hand on his hip) is Commander James
P. Crowder, Jr., Menhaden's Commanding Officer from August, 1962, until
April, 1964. The two young ladies on the right (standing near the chairs)
are Katherine and Sarah Guille, Les' daughters, and to their right (wearing
the black, white and green checked dress) is Les' wife, Nancy Guille.
Commander James P. Crowder, Jr., with
his eldest son, Midshipman James Michael Crowder, Naval Academy Class of
1974. "Michael" followed in his father's footsteps and served aboard the
nuclear fast attack submarine, USS Puffer (SSN-652).
(Images Courtesy of Ava and Bruce Crowder, daughter-in-law and
son of Commander James P. Crowder, Jr., Menhaden's
Commanding Officer, 1962-64)
