Many thanks to the board for accepting me as the Association Chaplain. It is my sincere hope that I can be of service to our Association in a very positive dimension.
I served aboard the Sea Fox in 1955-56. I earned my 3rd class "crow" as a "Belly Robber" CS3 and also earned my Dolphins while serving aboard the Sea Fox. In addition to my active duty I served 10 years as Active Reserve which included a training cruise on Sea Fox in 1962. Some of the other boats I served on included Aspro (SS309), Hammerhead (SS364), Razorback (SS394), Segundo (SS398), Catfish (SS339) and Diodon (SS349). Diesel Boats Foever!
I have been an active member of the Catholic Church my entire life and at present also serve as Chaplain to Montana Base, USSVI. I am a Life Member of USSVI and an Associate Member of US Sub Vets WWII, Montana Buffalo Chapter.
It will be my honor to communicate with any of you on any matter you feel inclined to discuss with me. I will also send cards of condolence to the family of our departed Brother Shipmates. In addition, if you know of any Brother Shipmate who is seriously ill I would be happy to offer spiritual encouragement on behalf of our Associaion. If you think I can be of service to you please let me know.
I hope the brief description of my background and ideas for developing this position will make you feel comfortable working with me and in my qualification to do the Chaplain work of the Association.
May God keep you in his care.
Rod Nielsen
Sea Fox Personnel on
Eternal Patrol. Click on the flag.
Memorial day, 25 May 2009
"A Good Boat"
Have you ever heard a shipmate refer to a "good boat"? Did you ever comment that the Sea Fox was a good boat? Probably, the answer is yes to both questions; and for a number of reasons. Most likely a sailor who thought he was on a good boat would justify it if asked.
A boat might be considered good because she pulled good duty; or was going on a "to die for" cruise; or was a good "feeder"; or, perhaps provided good liberty; or had a good skipper and wardroom; or had a good crew, and sailors who you considered good shipmates, Etc.....
But......what does "good" mean? If, as Jesus tells us, "The Father only is good" -- what does that say about good? How can an inanimate object or abstract condition be considered good? We know that the Book of Genesis refers to all of God's creation as good....even us poor, simple humans at the moment of creation were good. Of course, we sort of complicated the good concept when we started doing things that do not meet the definition of good.
It seems to me that if God is good and all of His creation is good and we refer to the boat as good --- there must be something of The Creator Good the Father within the boat. Hmmmmmm....I wonder what that could possibly be.
Is it possible that God's goodness could manifest itself through the inspired actions of the crew? I do! I believe there is no question that the good we see or come to believe in is the direct result of God's goodness working through His creation and specifically, our shipmates. Make no mistake...we human, created, sub sailors were involved in our share of "non good" activity, but in the final analysis the good overshadowed the non good. It had to or we could not have had a good boat.
Lets face it....when you take a young, hormone infested, self indulgent, immature, arrogant male and put him into a steel tube 300' long and 16' wide with numerous others of the same; then go deep for days or weeks at a time---and then survive to rise and see the light of day again--(run on sentence)--then, something good must have occurred.
I submit to you, that the good was the mystery of God's holy presence among and within us; and, as I see my shipmates today after more than a half century in time later, I know I am right. God bless you.
Rod Nielsen, SFO
Chaplain; USS Sea Fox SS-402 Association
Chaplain: USSVI, Montana Base
Associate Member: US Sub Vets WWII
Encouragement/Get Well card designed by Chaplain Nielsen
