| Holland Club History (Fact or Fiction)
Holland Club Log / Entry February 22 2001 The following information has been compiled by William Britt Holland Club Commander. I have used as many sources shipmates, records, American Submariner magazines, Base newsletters etc. that were available to me. I know there will be mistakes and some misinformation. When I start to publish this information I will be corrected by the readership. That’s exactly what I want, so have at it shipmates. Help set our record straight. To the best of my knowledge and from information supplied from shipmates the Holland Club concept was originally proposed by Charlie Marin San Diego Base and Past National Commander 1994 - 1996. The Holland Club was established in May 1964 and was adopted as part of the Constitution and bylaws that year. The Holland Club was originally established to recognize those members who had been qualified in Submarines 50 or more years. Just think looking back from 1964 fifty years and the Submarine force would only be 14 years old. Truly we are talking about the pioneers of our Submarine Navy. The original Holland Club membership card was a paper membership card with the words "Holland Club" stamped on it. Later about 1994 a newly designed card was introduced. This was a plastic card with the USSV emblem and the words Holland Club and the members name embossed on it. In 1996 the Perch Base submitted a Holland Club Patch designed by Frank Rumbaugh, current District 8 Commander, denoting the 50 years of service. This Patch along with a Holland Club membership card and Certificate is now presented to new Holland Club members. The requirements for membership remained the same as originally adopted until 1998 when a change was voted to allow Sub Vets of W.W.II members who had been members in good standing for at least one year the opportunity to become Holland club members. The first information I found concerning Holland Club was in the American Submariner January March issue 1996. A Holland Club membership roster containing 68 names. To my knowledge these were the original plank owners and our commissioning crew. This sailing list identifies our first Holland club Commander Leroy Hoppe, Thresher Base, qualified on S-39 1925. Amongst the names listed were 4 Admirals and one Captain. Admiral B.L. Carr The earliest qualification date listed is 1925 the latest is 1945. Some of these men qualified on such Boats as the O-4, R-4, S--11,and SS-67 Leroy Hoppe received his final Patrol Orders on 6 April 1999. Pride Runs Deep Bill Britt britt@valunet.com Holland Club Commander |