Bernard A. Bastura, Curator, our old friend has joined USSVI as a Life Associate Member and Lockwood Internet Base as a Life Associate Member. 

(Images and text posted by John Wynn, July 25, 2001)

Today, when I left work, I headed into Middletown where I met Lockwood Base Secretary John Wynn. Together we went to Ben's home, and Ben's SUBMARINE LIBRARY MUSEUM. 

I'm here to tell you that this Submariner was awed. 

In his tiny home is so much Submarine memorabilia, it makes one who has an interest in this sort of thing drool. There was just so much to see, words can not describe how this one man could have collected so much.

But Ben is as sharp as a tack. He had recalled seeing pictures of me when I was a little heavier and noticed immediately that I had lost weight, and I've never met the man. He also has a very good memory recall of happenings, facts and who donated what items. I can't even remember what I had for dinner yesterday and he was recalling things from 1954.

He proudly toured me through his museum, giving me the "Nickel Tour". I could have let that nickel tour last all evening. 

In the entrance to his house is some submarine memorabilia. Freddie Warder's uniform, a Momsen Lung, and other tidbits to whet your interest. Then he took me into his plaque room, where he has so many plaques displayed. Next we went into the patch room --- he literally has hundreds of boat patches on his walls. He says he's only missing 12, I believe, but has all others. These are broken down into diesel patches, and nuke boats.

We went upstairs where he has pictures on every inch of wall including an operational chart depicting each lost U.S. SUBMARINE. He also has many self made wooden models of various classes of Submarines. Back down stairs in his living room he proudly showed off his copy maching donated from USSVI LIB. He is very proud of that donation and has had a plate mounted on the front of the machine with the history of the donation for all to see .

He saved the best for last. He took me into his library where he has folders for each and every Submarine, and tender. He has been collecting newspaper articles of anything Submarine related since 1954. 

Ben broke out three sets of folders one for ARCHERFISH, BILLFISH, and DALLAS. He had articles from beginning to end of BILLFISH & ARCHERFISH. The DALLAS folder was the same. Many pictures from when I was COB. John, Ben and I enjoyed several sea stories. 

Then came the big moment as we presented Ben with all his stuff for Life membership in USSVI, and Life Membership in LIB: a USSVI ballcap, membership card, large picture of his membership card, and decals. We gripped and grinned and Ben was a very happy individual. 

Shipmates, we have definitely done the right thing by making this man who has documented our Submarine History; this man who lives, breaths, walks and talks the perpetuation of the memory of our shipmates; an ASSOCIATE Member of our organization.

I was very proud to be a part of his welcoming, and cannot thank John Wynn enough for inviting me along for the presentation.

Gumba