Shipmates on Eternal Patrol

Mel Ridley, 6-20-04

Richard Thieme, May 2003

Walter LeRoy Turner, May 6, 2004

Edward Oxford, 3-15-04

Clifford Dupont, 2-17-04

Glen O. Corbett, December 2003.

Donald Worobe, December 27, 2002

John Hunter Cooley, November 1998

Michael Thomas Gorman, 1985

If you have any information/pictures on the above shipmates or any others not listed, please send it to jeodea@aol.com for inclusion on this site. REMEMBERING A SHIPMATE - Frederick Arthur Mochel YNC(SS), US Navy (Ret) BA (UNM Albuquerque)September 4, 1935 – February 23, 2002 - Submitted By Jack Tan

Fred Mochel. Fred Mochel introducing Bob Palmer at the first reuion.

Fred was born in a small rural town, Monmouth Junction, in New Jersey. At 14 he was struck down with polio, and the doctors didn’t think he would live, and if he did, he would never speak again. Being the fighter he was, Fred not only survived but regained full use of his speech.

He joined the Navy in 1954 when he was 19, and served with distinction for the next 20 years, including two years on USS Bashaw (1962-63). After retiring from the Navy, he worked for a while, and then decided on a career change. He enrolled at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and graduated in 1978 with BA in Communicative Disorders. He worked as a Speech-Language Pathologist with the school district during which he unstintingly helped many needy students. He moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, in 2000 as he was one who had a deep love for nature. Fred had a great passion for poetry. He had a book of his poems published, many of them inspired by the beauty of nature, and also of people, who were always a big part of his life. Fred was instrumental in spear-heading, organizing and hosting the first USS Bashaw Reunion in March 01 at Estes Park, Colorado, an event which no doubt will result in many more to come. His poem on the first Bashaw Reunion is on the Bashaw website. Fred is survived by two daughters, son-in-law and a grand-daughter. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PASSING OF A SHIPMATE - Jerry Lee Scott passed away on Feb 6, 2003- SUBMITTED BY Ken Joyner. Scott “Dog” and I were Seamen on the Bashaw SS-241 in 1951. We decommissioned her out of Mare Island and were on the Deck force. We later served together on the USS Carp SS-338 out of Pearl from 1956-59. I was an RM1(SS) and Scott was a TM1(SS). While assigned as an instructor in knife and fork school in Newport, R.I., I looked up one day and there was Scott “Dog”, a young Ensign LDO in weapons. Scotty rose to the rank of Commander and became the Submarine Force Pacific’s Weapons officer. We both retired in 1974 and stayed in Honolulu, Hawaii. I went to the University of Hawaii to use up some of my GI bill and looked around to see Jerry Lee Scott of West Virginia as my classmate. Scotty was a real shipmate in every meaning of the word. He would have your back at all times and cover for you when necessary. I would trust Scotty with my life, and often did. He left this world very quietly with a request for no fanfare. He was cremated and buried at Punchbowl National Cemetery by his wife Amy and Family shortly after his death. Shipmates will gather for a memorial service for Scotty at the Fleet Reserve Association Home here in Honolulu on Valkenburg Street on March 2, 2003 at 1400. I will be attending and invite anyone else that knew Scott and is in Hawaii to also attend. Please pass the word on to anyone that might have known Commander Jerry Lee Scott, a real Shipmate. Ken Joyner Honolulu, Hawaii -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PASSING OF A SHIPMATE - Ron Zach, 70, died January 16, 2003, during what was supposed to be routine heart surgery. Complications were discovered and he never recovered. Ron left a very lovely wife, Elfie, 5 children, and a ton of grandkids. Zach came aboard the Bashaw in the '59-'61 era from the surface fleet as 2nd class. A very hard charger in the old days, especially on the beach. Made to order diesel boat sailor. It didn't take very long on board (even as a non-qual) - this guy was special, especially to the electrical gang. Questionable on liberty (like most of us!) but on board a true professional. Very bright! Chief Cyclone would have loved him, since both had a photographic memory and believed nothing couldn't be fixed. We all learned much from his onboard repairs and attitude. After qualifying, he went to Nuc school - I believe the same time Alvin Vickers and Patrick Finfrock left (funny how you can have total recall of old boss's names). Ron served on several Nucs and finally retired as CPO around '74-'75. He worked several jobs after retirement as a maintenance electrician, from power plants to sawmills, finally ending up at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. That's where we met up again, along with Bob Menconi. We were all supervisors at PSNS. Bob stayed at PSNS and Ron and I moved on to Bangor and started the electrical department at Trident base. I retired and Ron finally did when he found out he could seek his 4th retirement. He went to Clover Park Technical College in Tacoma, Washington to increase his computer knowledge. He then went into the merchant marines. He was the chief engineer on a cable layer out of Portland, Oregon when his health problems began. In a eugoly at his memorial, the skipper of the cable layer spoke for quite awhile, praising Ron and his abilities. He summed up his professional abilities in one sentence, "This man could not only tell you what was wrong when something went down, but why, and how he could fix it." I'm sure this skipper and alot of others would agree with me when I say Zach was one of the most unforgettable people in my life. I will surely miss him. SUBMITTED BY - Gary Vanderwerf -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PASSING OF A SHIPMATE - Charles Robert Dickens, born 8/2/25 went on eternal patrol 3/23/09. Charles served on the Bashaw Sept 44 to Feb 45. He remained in Groton, CT after retiring from the Navy as an ENCM E-9. He worked at General Dynamics EB and retired from there. Charles and his wife bought a motor home (diesel, of course) and traveled the country several times even making it to Alaska. Charles Dickens, ENCM,USN,Retired. He is survived by his wife (62 yrs of marriage), 3 sons, a daughter, and many grand and great grand children. He was buried with military honors, coast guard bugler, and Scottish bagpipes. submitted by his son David Dickens