3.
June 2, 2010

I am saddened by the news of Hoss' death (see message 1). I served with Hoss on the Trumpetfish from June 1963, until April 1966. As you said, he was larger than life and “on the go” 24/7 – full steam ahead. He and I got along great (I was an Electronics Technician) and with my watch station in the Control Room right by the Gallery where he “ruled the roost” it allowed for us to share many long hours together.

Two things stand out in my mind about Hoss.

One, GOD help you -- didn't matter if your were the Captain, visiting Admiral, officer onboard or shipmate -- if you DID ANYTHING that made his bread fall while he had the loaves baking in HIS OVENS, you were threatened with your life and was BLASTED with a string of “words” that could melt asphalt at 100 feet.

As to the falling loaves of bread, he'd probably been a Master Chief if he hadn't got busted down so many times because he threaten to cut the Captains head off with a meat cleaver if he allowed the snorkel valve to close just one more time. If it did, the diesel engines running would then have to draw air out of the boat to keep running and thereby, create an immediate “vacuum” (drop in air pressure) in the boat. Needless to say, the sudden drop in air pressure absolutely KILLED any bread from rising that was in the ovens.

Number two was, if you “bet money” on ANYTHING (usually sports) against Hoss, you'd loose. He'd always tell me with a smirky grin on his face when he was making bets in the Control Room with others, especially during football or baseball season, “They're betting with their mouths and not with their brains.” What he meant was the he KNEW ALL about the players, stats, who was hurt, not playing etc., and his bettors were just betting with their “favorite team,” etc. He RARELY ever lost a bet.

Thanks for your words that you wrote about Hoss. Tell David and Michael that Hoss loved them more than life itself.

Mike Bailey
Marietta , Georgia

2.
April 17, 2008

My father served on the Trumpetfish I believe in the early fifties. My dad's name was George T. Straubinger originally from Virginia, but pretty sure he was living in California at the time he joined the navy. I was wondering if you had any information that would indicate the time that he served, he passed away in May 93', and I have recently taken an interest in the time he spent in the Navy. Thank you for any help you can provide.

V/r
Marc Straubinger