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Buildings
Honor
Submariners
(PAGE 4)
MARE
ISLAND NAVAL SHIPYARD, VALLEJO, CA
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WILDERMAN
HALL
Wilderman Hall was named in memory
of Commander Alvin L. Wilderman, born in Illinois in 1937, a 1959 graduate
of the Naval Academy and a 1961 graduate of Submarine School. Commander
Wilderman was washed overboard from the bridge of PLUNGER (SSN-595) on
1 December 1973 outside Golden Gate while the ship was enroute to routine
post- overhaul sea trials. In spite of an intensive search by air and sea,
his body was never recovered. He had cleared the bridge of all other personnel
when the ship encountered extremely heavy seas and no one else was lost.
He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal posthumously. Commander Wilderman
previously served in VON STEUBEN (SSBN-632), WOODROW WILSON (SSBN-624),
and as Executive Officer of PARGO (SSN-650), before assuming command of
PLUNGER. Wilderman Hall was dedicated in 1983. It was built as a Nurses
Quarters at the US Naval Hospital in 1939, converted to Bachelor Officers
Quarters in 1976 and modernized in 1983. It is is still in use as a BOQ,
but its future is in doubt.
US
NAVAL SUBMARINE BASE, PEARL HARBOR, HI
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.....
Nine enlisted barracks, the Enlisted Club, and an athletic field on the
Submarine Base have been named for submarine personnel who performed their
duties in exemplary fashion. All were awarded decorations, ranging from
the Navy Cross to the Navy Commendation Medal. Seven of the 11 so honored
lost their lives in action or in the line of duty. |
.....
ANDRIOLO HALL
Andriolo Hall was named in memory of
Radioman Second Class Charles Andriolo who was awarded the Navy Commendation
Medal for outstanding service in TANG (SS-306) on her third war patrol
during which 39,000 tons of enemy shipping were sunk. Petty Officer Andriolo
was subsequently lost in action during TANG's fifth war patrol in the Formosa
Strait.
.....
BEEMAN
CENTER
Beeman Center is the Enlisted Club
and was named in memory of Chief Pharmacist's Mate Arthur C. Beeman who
was awarded the Bronze Star Medal posthumously. Beeman lost his life instantly
when struck by machine gun fire on the bridge of AMBERJACK (SS-219) on
her third war patrol in the Southwest Pacific in February 1943. Beeman
had gone topside to aid an officer injured earlier by the same gunfire.
AMBERJACK was lost in the encounter.
.....
DALWITZ HALL
Dalwitz Hall was named in honor of
Machinist's Mate Second Class Wibert Dalwitz who was awarded the Navy Cross
for extraordinary heroism during the third war patrol of SCAMP (SS-277).
During a heavy depth charging on 18 September 1943, a hull fitting carried
away allowing a large stream of water under great pressure to enter the
ship. Petty Officer Dalwitz threw himself against the stream of water and
through a supehuman effort reached the valve which would stop the flow.
He managed to shut the valve preventing serious flooding and possible loss
of SCAMP and her crew. He died in the 1980's.
.....
FREANER HALL
Freaner Hall was named in honor of
Chief Torpedoman's Mate Eugene Freaner who was awarded the Silver Star
Medal for conspicuous gallantry while serving as Chief of the Boat in BONEFISH
(SS-223) during her third war patrol in the South China Sea. During repeated
attacks against vital enemy military and naval forces while under constant
enemy depth charges, bombing and shelling, Chief Freaner rendered invaluable
services in contributing to the sinking of 21,000 tons of hostile shipping
and to the infliction of serious damage upon 19,000 additional tons.
.....
GABRUNAS FIELD
Gabrunas Field was named in memory
of Chief Motor Machinist's Philip J. Gabrunas who was awarded the Silver
Star Medal posthumously. He was lost on 19 November 1943 when SCULPIN (SS-191)
was scuttled on her ninth war patrol after suffering severe depth charge
damage. He volunteered to assist in the scuttling and went down with the
ship along with Captain John P. Cromwell and ten others.
.....
PAQUET HALL
Paquet Hall was dedicated to the memory
of Gunner's mate First Class Feeman Paquet, Jr. who was awarded the Navy
Cross for extraordinary heroism during the fourth war patrol of HARDER
(SS-257). Petty Officer Paquet was instrumental in the rescue of a downed
naval aviator from an enemy held island while under intense small arms
fire. He was still serving in HARDER during her sixth patrol when she was
lost in action in the South China Sea as a result of an enemy depth charge.
.....
ROBERTSON HALL
Robertson Hall was named in memory
of Motor Machinist's Mate Third Class George Robertson who was awarded
the Navy Commendation Medal for outstanding performance of duty in TANG
(SS-306) during her third war patrol in which she sank 39,000 tons of enemy
shipping. Petty Officer Robertson was subsequently lost in action during
TANG's fifth war patrol in the Formosa Strait.
.....
SMALLWOOD HALL
Smallwood Hall was named in memory
of Motor Machinist's Mate Third Class James E. Smallwood who was awarded
the Navy and Marine Corps Medal posthumously. He was supervising the charging
of the oxygen system on board SARGO (SSN-583) alongside a Submarine Base
pier in June 1960 when a violent explosion and raging fire engulfed the
charging compartment. His adherence to safety precautions prevented additional
loss of life and saved the ship from catastrophic damage.
.....
THOMASON HALL
Thomason Hall was named in honor of
Chief Commissary Steward W. Thomason who was awarded the Navy Cross for
extraordinary heroism during the fourth war patrol of HARDER (SS-257).
Chief Thomason volunteered to lead a team from HARDER to an enemy held
island to rescue a naval aviator whose plane had been shot down. Although
fully aware that unforeseen circumstance might result in the forced abandonment
of the entire party, Chief Thomason courageously fought his way through
surf despite dangerous hostile sniper fire and locating the exhausted aviator,
succeeded in bringing him back to HARDER.
.....
WHITE HALL
White Hall was named in memory of Gunner's
Mate First Class James White who was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for
meritorious service as gun captain in TANG (SS-306) during a war patrol
in enemy waters. Petty Officer White steadfastly manned his battle station
throughout numerous attacks against enemy shipping, contributing to TANG's
success in avoiding intense enemy countermeasures and in completing an
extremely hazardous mission. Petty Officer White was subsequently lost
in action during TANG's fifth war patrol in the Formosa Strait.
.....
ZELINA HALL
Zelina Hall was named in honor of Chief
Torpedoman's Mate George Zelina who was awarded the Silver Star Medal for
conspicuous gallantry while serving as leading torpedoman in NARWHAL (SS-167)
during her first war patrol in the Wake Island area during which 12,000
tons of enemy shipping were sunk. |
CROMWELL
POOL
The enlisted pool was named in memory
of Captain P. Cromwell whose biography appears under the Submarine Base/Submarine
School, New London, CT.
GRENFELL
POOL
The all-hands pool was named in honor
of Vice Admiral Elton W. Grenfell who was Commander Submarines Pacific
Fleet in 1956 to 1959 and Commander Submarines Atlantic Fleet from 1960
to 1964, the only officer so posted to that date. His biography appears
under the Submarine Base/Submarine School, New London, CT.
LOCKWOOD
HALL
Lockwood Hall serves as the Officers
Quarters and Club. It was named for Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood who
was born in Virginia in 1890, and graduated from the Naval Academy in the
Class of 1912. After two years in battleships, he was sent to the Asiatic
Station where he spent time under instruction in submarines on board MOHICAN,
a steamship launched in 1873, which supported submarines but was never
classified as a tender. In rapid succession, he was Commanding Officer
of A-2, B-1, G-1, N-5, the German NC-97, R-25, S-14 and in 1926 commissioned
BONITA (SS-165). Thereafter, he was Commander Submarine Division 13 and
Chief of Staff to Commander Submarine Force U.S. Fleet (which became the
Submarine Force Scouting Fleet in 1939).
Early in World War II, he was Commander
Submarines Southwest Pacific where he was the driving force behind the
resolution of the Torpedo Mark XIV fiasco. He was Commander Submarine Force
Pacific Fleet from February 1943 until December 1945, and credited with
the grand strategy which brought the Japanese to their knees. He was promoted
to Rear Admiral in October 1942 and to Vice Admiral in October 1943. He
retired after a tour as Inspector General in September 1947. He was awarded
three Distinguished Service Medals, the Legion of Merit, and Dutch and
British Medals. He died in 1967.
MILLICAN
FIELD
Millican Field was named in memory
of Commander William J. Millican. He was born in New York in 1904, graduated
from the Naval Academy in 1928, and the Submarine School in 1932. He served
in S-10, S-29 and was Commanding Officer of S-18 prior to the War. He made
four war patrols in command of THRESHER (SS-200) in 1942-43, sinking five
ships of more than 21,000 tons. He commissioned ESCOLAR (SS-294) in June
1944 and was lost on her first patrol in October 1944 in a wolfpack with
PERCH (SS-313) and CROAKER (SS-246) in the east China Sea, probably to
enemy fire.
US
NAVAL SHIPYARD, PORTSMOUTH, NH
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JOHN
H. BILLINGS ROOM IN PLANNING BUILDING
This conference room was named in memory
of Lieutenant Commander John H. Billings, born in Jamaica, NY in 1928,
graduated from the Naval Academy in 1950, and from Submarine School in
1952. He served in BUGARA (SS-331) and BONITA (SS-552), after which he
received a doctorate in applied mathematics. He was assigned to the Planning
and Estimating department of the Portsmouth Shipyard and was lost in the
sinking of THRESHER (SSN-593) on 10 April 1963.
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