THE DBF FLAG CAPER
FROM S. L. "LES" GUILLE, MENHADEN'S LAST
COMMANDING OFFICER:
On the occasion of the Enlisted Submarine Birthday Ball at the
El Tampico Club in Imperial Beach, California, on 17 April 1971, three
Menhaden Crewmen "liberated" a DBF Flag being flown over the table of either
the Diodon (SS-349) or the Caiman (SS-323). Because I was attending the
Ball as a guest of the Menhaden Crew, I witnessed the daring deed in its
totality!
Commander Les Guille's Submarine Birthday Ball Invitation
The Flotilla Chief of Staff, and the Commanding Officer and
Crew of the victim boat were incensed and demanded to know the identities
of the liberators, who had escaped with the flag completely undetected.
I recognized who the perpetrators were, but kept my mouth shut.
However, at Quarters later on, I rewarded John Joseph Robillard, FT3(SS),
Daniel Colby Tostevin, EN3(SS), and Christopher Vincent, MM3(SS) each with
DBF Letters of Appreciation.
We had a Menhaden Decommissioning Picnic at which the Crew presented
me with the "liberated" DBF Flag, which I still have.
The "Liberated" DBF Flag at the Menhaden Decommissioning Picnic
The "Liberated" DBF Flag
DBF Letter of Achievement Presented to John Robillard, FT3(SS)
DBF Letter of Achievement Presented to Daniel Tostevin, EN3(SS)
DBF Letter of Achievement Presented to Christopher Vincent,
MM3(SS)