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Buildings Honor Submariners (PAGE 4)

 

MARE ISLAND NAVAL SHIPYARD, VALLEJO, CA

 

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

..... 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.

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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

 

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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