WEEKI WACHEE- Henry E. Gadreault and George C. Selee are just two of many, many Veterans that served to protect our country, but their service was not on land, not on air and not above water, but below in the depths of the sea, in a submarine.
“We dive an experimental submarine, we went to four thousand feet. No other sub has done that,” Gadreault said.
Henry E. Gadreault is the Commander of the Weeki Wachee Southern Veterans Group. George C. Selee is the Vice Commander for the United States Submarine Veterans VI for the Weeki Wachee Base. Both men served on the USS Cavalla (SS/SSK/AGSS-244) and the USS Dolphin (AGSS-555), which was as an Auxiliary Research Submarine.
“They (variety of building companies) would build things (submarines) and get a bunch of idiots to take it out to sea and try it to see if it works, and it worked,” Gadreault laughed.
As they are here today with all their memories from the depths of the sea, the USSVI remains unrecognized for their continued support and tribute to those that were lost at sea who could not pass on their memories.
The USSVI Creed is the following, “Our purpose is ‘Perpetuate the memory of our shipmates who gave their lives in the pursuit of their duties while serving their country. That their dedication, deeds and supreme sacrifice be a constant source of motivation toward greater accomplishments. Pledge loyalty and patriotism to the United States of America and its Constitution.’ ”
http://ussvi.org/base/weekiwachee.asp
For the strong commitment that these men formed within the waters, that same commitment continues with their charity organization: Kap(SS) 4 Kid(SS). George Selee is the Chairman for the program.
“There are over fifty submarines lost during WWII, and that is what Sub Vets do,” Selee said. “The way I look at it, I am alive today to go to hospitals and visit kids, is because someone else gave their life for their country and when we are doing this we are actually doing this in their memory.”
Kap(SS) 4 Kid(SS) is an outreach program created by John P. Riley , ET1(SS) to not only bring awareness of the Country’s Sub Vets but to bring joy, stories and a connection for children that may need a lift in spirits during those challenges they are facing.
Members of the USS Sub Vets Weeki Wachee visit children’s hospitals in the Tampa area. They are also beginning to build relationships with programs locally here in Hernando County.
For each visit, Sub Vets bring wristbands and a DVD on submarines for them to watch as well as educational coloring pages, and the coolest for the kids is the hat and an honorable submarine sailor certificate.
“We would visit a child in a private home as well as go to hospitals; we are looking to branch out, we would like to have more involvement with ROTC and Boy Scouts,” Selee said.
USS Sub Vets Weeki Wachee members are out fundraising in Hernando County to raise awareness for Kap(SS) 4 Kid(SS) as well as instilling their USSVI Creed. These fundraising efforts help members purchase more gifts and activities, such as coloring pages, puzzles and other submarine items they can share within the program.
“Anyone that wants to talk submarines, we will go,” Gadreault shared.
For more information about USS Sub Vets Weeki Wachee visit their website at http://ussvi.org/base/weekiwachee.asp
Hernando Sun staff would like to thank all the men and women that have served on these incredible submarines, and for those that lost their lives, may your memory not be forgotten.