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COMSUBBBS
Posts: 3202
Location: Alexandria, Virginia | Subject: Some More Thoughts on the HOLLAND CLUB
I got a number of "off-line" e-mails about my post regarding lookinhjg forward to induction in the HOLLAND CLUB. Many echoed the theme that the only real qualification for addmission was longevity....In short, you live long enough and you're in. Upon reflection, I ask..."What's wrong with that?" Many cultures and societies deeply respect and honor their elderly...most notably the Chinese and related oriental peoples...the Jewish people, African tribal societies, the Eskimos, the Scandinavians.....Italians, and most Latin countries. Our calous attitude toward the old and medically impaired seniors is a notable exception. Many families warehouse their elderly when they reach a point where they need assistance and the company of loved ones when their life partner precedes them in death. Old people by virtue of their loss of independence need to be embraced by the younger elements of the family. Other societies recognize that the elder members of the family tribe are the keepers of the family history, traditions and are the oldest links in the tribal chain....They actually knew the people in those yellowed photographs on top of that upright piano in the entrancde hall....They knew your goofy Uncle Joe and remember the actual events spoken about at your family Thanksgiving Dinner.....That old lady, who sits at your Thankgiving table wearing old folks throw-away disposable underpants long ago, changed your diapers...,an action deservinhg of downline reciprosity....Longevity of service...The American Legion gives out length of service pins.....The National Association of Librarians gives out long term membership recognition....American railroads used to give out engraved pocket watches for long term loyal sewrvice.....Grocery chains give their veteran check-out personnel pins signifying the number of years of continous service. The Government hands out Years of Civil Service pins...Ten years is bronze...Fifteen used to get you a silver pin with a 15 under the eagle....20 years got you a gold pin with 20 under the eagle....From there on the pins were gold with the number of years of continous service below the eagle.....Recognition of lengthly service is a well established American tradition. So, when you think about the Holland Club tradition, it, to me, seems to be consistent with American tradition. Respecting your tribal elders is NEVER a bad or "out of place" idea. Since I joined SubVets years ago, have been proud that we have a point where our old veteran boatsailors are honored....To me they are special people....always have been and hopefully always will be....Short of endorsing child molestation or backing Bin Laden, I can't think of anything those old moss covered sonuvabitches could do to diminish my respect for them. Most of them rode boats when riding the boats was a helluva lot rougher than anything a lad today will ever understand....back when second hand Lucky and Camel smoke made up 70% of the breathable atmosphere....when you made a pair of socks last ten days....When lads in the After Battery tried to train Orion hatched cockroaches to tapdance and tiptoe inhto the Goatlocker....They rode them when their Loran crapped out, navigated by Tarot cards and coin flips....When torpedoes were propelled by running squirrels.....The HOLLAND CLUB patch sewn on a SubVets vest....said, ask this lying bastard to tell you a sea story. I don't care what in the hell it means to other folks...I'm not "other folks"....I'm unabashedly proud that me and Skippy the Wonder Horse are rapidly approaching the home stretch at HOLLAND DOWNS....and no sonuvabich who ever got a HOLLAND CLUB welcome aboard handshake was prouder of that future honor. That's my thirty five cents worth. I only wish that Warshot could be there to welcome me into the old qualified coot circle and get me a good seat at the tribal council...buy me a draft and a couple of Slim Jims and stand with me shoulder to shoulder and laugh at the two of us pissing against the tide. I don't care if survival until you hobble across an invisable finish line is the only requirement....Hey John Wynn has promised to piggyback me to the finishline or push my coffin into the induction dinner....I'm gonna get there, one way or another. DEX |
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Great Sage of the Sea
Posts: 539
Location: Palm Bay, Florida | Subject: RE: Some More Thoughts on the HOLLAND CLUB
Well said shipmate. When I was in GRAMPUS, we tied up near/outboard/inboard of REQUIN at the CE (Convey/Escort) piers on many occasions. I remember one time while messcooking, when I was 15 minutes late reporting for duty, that the leading stewburner named CS1(SS) Buck Buchannan let me spend the rest of the day doing a "one man" stores loading party. Mother Onion at one pier, and us one pier toward the coal piers. (I think it was 22 & 23) That was an experience I'll never forget! I got my Holland Club Membership last year from Gil Shaddock (the then Holland Club Vice Commander) at a Snug Harbor Base meeting, and it was an event to remember! |
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Great Sage of the Sea
Posts: 557
| Subject: RE: Some More Thoughts on the HOLLAND CLUB
Hi Ken, I am STILL the HC Vice Commander (Chairman). |
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COMSUBBBS
Posts: 3202
Location: Alexandria, Virginia | Subject: RE: Some More Thoughts on the HOLLAND CLUB
Anyone who remembers that DesSub Piers was, once upon a time known as CE Piers...has to be a long-in-the-tooth ancient coot (not unlike myself)....With each passing year, the number of once upon a time boatsailors, who once bounced off East Main Street parking meters making their way to the Granby Street bus stop to board a bus with a lighted CE PIERS sign on the front....grows smaller and smaller....not as small as the list of people who shook hands with Abraham Lincoln or attended the Last Supper....but nevertheless, small. Guys in that category...(CE Piers guys) remember nickle-a-pack Sea Stores Pall Malls, loose bloomer'ed barmaids at Bell's....eating Beer Nuts and Slim Jims for breakfast and washing them down with a pitcher of Draft....They remember when the "practical factors" required to make a lower brow MAA on Orion (AS-18), included learning to eat with a fork and shoe tying....They remember when "the internet" consisted of more than ten messcooks from SubRon Six collecting around the Pier 22 dumpsters...after evening chow to bum smokes off each other and share scuttlebutt and all the bum dope going around....They remember when hitch hiking, patronizing professional ladies, wearing your peacoat collar turned up and playing games of chance in the After Torpedo Room and shoving empty beer cans up the after signal ejector....were OK and what submarine sailors did. They remember bad air....spreading Lithium Hydroxide to absorb Co2 when the Old Man extended a short air dive.....They remember riding boats that you risked wearing the presure hull for a foulweather jacket when the Deep Depth Guage needle passed 700 feet......These guys remember the days when boatsailors went to sea with their entire inventory of earthly posessions stuffed in sidelockers smaller than your Aunt Betty's breadbox....What I wouldn't give to get on the CE Piers bus once more carrying a package and share the ride with boat and can sailors hauling a snoot load. Viva La HOLLAND CLUB.....DEX |
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Old Salt
Posts: 431
| Subject: RE: Some More Thoughts on the HOLLAND CLUB
In answer to your post Dex I don't see what else you might base Holland Club membership on but age or time since qualifying. We cant go to combat qualifications (the meetings could be held in a closet)or deterrent patrols for there were many that served in the Cold War that didn't go on such patrols for many reasons. And that wouldnt be fair at this stage and the rules for deciding would be a beast. Some would never be able to prove yes or no due to secrecy also unfair.
Leave it as an "Old Man" club is all we can do.
2013 here I come DBF |
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Senior Crew
Posts: 186
| Subject: RE: Some More Thoughts on the HOLLAND CLUB
Dang it Ken! I was on the Grampus before you came aboard and I haven't gotten my Holland membership yet. Guess I had a few years of unbroken USSVI service.
Still looking fwd. to getting together with you.It's been 50+ years since I left the Grampus.
24/7 caregiver doesn't leave much free time.
Later Shipmate,
Joe'the'Most |
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Senior Crew
Posts: 186
| Subject: RE: Some More Thoughts on the HOLLAND CLUB
Dang it Ken! I was on the Grampus before you came aboard and I haven't gotten my Holland membership yet. Guess I had a few years of broken USSVI service.
Still looking fwd. to getting together with you.It's been 50+ years since I left the Grampus.
24/7 caregiver doesn't leave much free time.
Later Shipmate,
Joe'the'Most |
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COMSUBBBS
Posts: 6180
Location: Summerville, SC | Subject: RE: Some More Thoughts on the HOLLAND CLUB
Joe, it sounds like you may need to thump your base secretary severly about the head and shoulders to check your qual record.   |
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Great Sage of the Sea
Posts: 539
Location: Palm Bay, Florida | Subject: RE: Some More Thoughts on the HOLLAND CLUB
subvetss - 2008-11-11 8:45 AM
Dang it Ken! I was on the Grampus before you came aboard and I haven't gotten my Holland membership yet. Guess I had a few years of broken USSVI service.
Upgrade to USSVI Life membership Joe, and you won't have to wait for the five years continuous membership. |
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COMSUBBBS
Posts: 3202
Location: Alexandria, Virginia | Subject: RE: Some More Thoughts on the HOLLAND CLUB
Actually you can substitute an AARP card...MediCare card....twenty five Polident lables....five pounds of bunion pads....a passport bearing Franklin Roosevelt's signature....a pair of 1947 World Series tickets....the hood ornament off a 1949 Packard.....for HOLLAND CLUB qualification.....or proof that you served aboard any boat with a wooden pressure hull or powered by two goats on a treadmill......or if you ever pulled liberty with Warshot or Old Gringo. And last, you qualify for the HOLLAND CLUB if you rode anything where you heard..."Make your depth six-five feet and report your leaks." .....or if you went through SubSchool with the Geico cavemen or went to bed with Thelma.....DEX |
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Some More Thoughts on the HOLLAND CLUB
