Upcoming Events
September 19: Remembering Firebase Ripcord -
Bruce Whipple and Chris Brady Of the more than 50,000 Americans killed during the 20 years of the Vietnam War, 40,000 were lost in the two-year period of 1967-69. Many of those American casualties took place in battles such as Hamburger Hill and Firebase Ripcord. Bruce Whipple is a Michigan Vietnam veteran who served at Firebase Ripcord. Bruce will present a lecture about a soldier’s life and the Battle of Firebase Ripcord. He will also set up his display of a Firebase Ripcord encampment. As the son of a Firebase Ripcord veteran, journalist and author, Chris Brady will discuss his book Remembering Firebase Ripcord with Bruce. Only in recent years have many of the events of Firebase Ripcord become disclosed to the public. Chris will hold a book signing at the end of the presentation.
September 27: Tom Tudor presents Who Is Buried at Arlington?
Tom Tudor is a former Unit Commander of the Honor Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. He is one of our country's foremost authorities on the history of Arlington Cemetery, and was recently a featured speaker at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans.
All lectures will begin at 6:00pm at the USS Silversides Submarine Museum in the Channel View Room. The cost is $5.00 per person or FREE for USS Silversides Submarine Museum members.
Hell Below
The Smithsonian documentary Hell Below: Episode 3 America Fights Back will be showing here on a continuous basis throughout September. This video focuses on January 1943 when the USS Wahoo commanded by Dudley “Mush” Morton worked to help the US submarine force gain an edge in the South Pacific. This is an exclusive opportunity to see this movie. You can’t watch it online nor on any TV channels at this time. See it only in the USS Silversides Submarine Museum theater. Admission to the movie is included with your admission ticket.
McLane Update
Work continues on the USCGC McLane with the goal of taking her to the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival in 2017 for her 90th birthday! The forecastle, anchor chain, the mooring lines and the wheels on the brow. Next is the hull, primarily port side. Then we will refurbish the anchor windlass and the gusset, weather permitting. Interior projects remaining are the engine room (general cleaning of the lower level and repainting of the main walking deck), the boatswain’s locker (repainted) and the carpenter shop which we hope to clean and have it look like a functional carpenter shop. And that’s just for this year! More is planned for 2017. Donations are always welcomed and appreciated whether they be cash or services in kind. Please join the team & help us get to Grand Haven next year!