Here’s a picture of Jim (2nd from left) at the Central Oregon Sub Vet meeting in Redmond, Oregon on Aug. 16th, 2007. The names are: (L to R): Larry Simonson, Vice Commander; Jim; Johnny Corbin, Commander; Rick Brose, member. Taking the picture is Lynda Corbin, secretary/treasurer. Very nice group. Their main focus was on community work with kids and veteran’s nursing homes.

This group met in February 2008 in San Diego, CA. Jim was behind the camera in this shot. The base has 333 members!

Jim met some of the members of the SCAMPS Base in February 2008. They are located in Escondido, CA. (The tall gentleman in the upper-left corner of the photo is Dave Nielsen, a great guy we met while camping in Admiral Baker RV Park located in San Diego. He is a member of the Bremerton Base. Dave also attended the San Diego base meeting with Jim.)

All base groups have been extremely gracious in welcoming Jim. While in southern California, Jim plans on attending a few more meetings (and possibly drag Dave with him).

The photos above and below (actually one photo), split in half for a better visual) were taken at the LA-Pasadena Base on March 15, 2008. I was invited in to enjoy a meal and meet some of the members. Plus, they were gracious enough to pose for my camera. (Can you find Dave Nielsen? Yup, we dragged him and his wife, Donna along.)

And meet the real power behind this welcoming group: the women of the LA-Pasadena Base. It seems that most base meetings have food, but these women go all out. When I saw all the food these wonderful women prepared, I thought I was at a family reunion!

Personally, from a female point of view, I can see a real "brotherhood of the phins" from all the bases that we have been to. Members of USSVI genuinely enjoy being part of this wonderful elite organization.

As a side note: we have a sticker on our car "Our Other Vehicle is a Submarine." While camped at Admiral Baker Rec area in San Diego, 2 sub vets have come up to Jim; both were on the Sam Houston (same as Jim), and one was on the Sam the same time as Jim was, some 44 years ago! The other gentlemen was Dave Nielsen, whom we are still friends with today. What's the chances?