| USSVI and Joe Negri
The United States Submarine Veterans
was started by a group of United States Submarine Veterans of World War
II led by Dominic “Joe” Negri and others who shared a belief in the need
of an organization open to ALL submariners from the very beginning of the
Submarine Service through to the present and into the future - not limited
to just those who served so ably in the Second World War.
They took this action following two
unsuccessful votes to open up regular membership in SVWW II to U.S. Submariners
of all eras and their determination was made stronger with the loss of
USS Thresher in 1963.
In Groton, Connecticut, the "Submarine
Capitol of the World," these men started contacting past shipmates.
They hit a responsive chord and favorable response came from Massachusetts,
New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and many more from Connecticut.
After holding preliminary meetings in
the above states, a final meeting was held October 12, 1963 in Orange,
NJ and the United States Submarine Veterans organization was born. The
following officers were appointed to serve in an acting capacity until
regular elections could be held in the summer of 1964. Robert Link: President;
Ken O. Walkington: V- President; Joe Burges: Secretary; Mike Drucker: Treasurer
Several months later, on May 24, 1964,
the organization was officially chartered in New London (Signers: Joe Negri,
Ken O. Walkington and Joe Marion) and Incorporated in the State of CT,
with additional plank owners being Warren “Ed” Gannon, Angelo La Pelosa,
Robert Link, Thomas Rowan, & Hugh Trimble. Joe Negri was elected the
first state commander and Dick Higham was elected the first Base Commander
of Connecticut Base #1 (Later known as Groton Base). This charter gave
USSVI the license to operate and conduct business in all fifty states.
The “Clubhouse”
at 40 School Street became a reality in 1966. Due to the fact that
the Groton Base was incorporated within the state of Connecticut and they
had their own building, it was voted that Groton become the National Headquarters
of USSVI.
The purposes of USSVI can be defined
as “Remembrance” of our departed submarine shipmates and the sacrifices
they made in the name of freedom; Comradeship and good times with our USSVI
Subvet brothers at meetings and conventions, and Benevolence, by doing
charitable works in support of our creed for all submariners and our offspring.
To better establish communication and
rapport, an organization magazine, "SUBMARINE NATIONAL REVIEW"
came into existence in May, 1966, later to become the AMERICAN SUBMARINER.
In the intervening nearly 40 years,
USSVI has grown to 10,000 members, with 97 Bases located throughout the
U.S. and a active US Submarine Veterans' Charitable Foundation established
to support the good works “Subvets” wish to carry out.
Groton Base has grown to nearly 2,000
members, far outstripping all other Bases, and the National Office has
moved to Silverdale, WA, reflecting the National nature of USSVI.
Joe Negri and the other founders of
USSVI would be proud and we honor our finest with the annual prestigious
“Joe Negri” award in honor of this farseeing WW II Subvet who wanted to
create a organization for all submariners, no matter when they served.
----
Note: Information compiled from a variety
of sources, including personal recollections, newspaper articles, archive
information, Groton Base records, etc.
Pat Householder, Nat Secretary USSVI
August 1963
In the American Airline Lounge
at Love Field in Dallas.
Left to right, Bob Burell, Joe Negri, Ron Smith, and two guys from California.
Ron says they were the State Commander and State Sec/Treas.
He just can't remember their names.
(Text and image from Ron Smith)
Source: http://www.ussvi.org/ussvihst.htm
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