“Sailor, rest your oars.” Base 51 honors our shipmates and family who are on Eternal Patrol. We remember them at every meeting and at our annual Tolling of the Boats.
FEATURED TRIBUTES
Linda W. Hollis (Eternal Patrol December 22, 2020)
Linda W. Hollis, 76, beloved wife of Base 51 member Warren P. Hollis, mother and friend, went on Eternal Patrol on December 22, 2020, in Las Vegas, Nevada, a victim of COVID-19. She and Warren shared 30 years of marriage together.
Born in Hartford, Connecticut, on August 12, 1944, to the late Rolland and Dorothy Wood, Linda graduated from Manchester High School in 1961 as a Merit Scholar. She attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Connecticut, graduating as a University Scholar with a degree in Pharmacy in 1966. She married the love of her life, Warren, on March 16, 1990, at Second Congregational Church in Manchester, Connecticut.
Nicholas John Campanale, YNC(SS), USN (Ret.) (Eternal Patrol December 12, 2020)
Nicholas John Campanale, YNC(SS), USN (Ret.), of Henderson and Las Vegas, Nevada, went on Eternal Patrol on December 12, 2020, at the age of 82. Born August 1, 1938, he was a proud submarine veteran and retired Navy Chief Yeoman.
- U.S. Navy Service: He served 21 years in the U.S. Navy as a submariner, retiring as a Chief Yeoman (YNC(SS)), with duty stations in South Carolina, California, Illinois, Maryland, Maine and Italy.
- Post-Navy Career: Following his naval service, he worked for 20 years with the United States Postal Service as a supervisor.
- Education: He earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a master’s degree in Production Engineering.
- Veterans & Fraternal Groups: He was a Life Member of USSVI Base 51 in Las Vegas, the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the American Legion and the Elks Lodge.
Sailor, rest your oar.
Judith P. Ruiz, Honorary Member (Eternal Patrol October 13, 2020)
Judith P. Ruiz, 88, of Henderson, Nevada, went on Eternal Patrol on Tuesday, October 13, 2020. Born in Montreal, Canada, on March 23, 1932, Judith studied to be a nurse in the early part of her life.
In 1955, she married Charles Kenneth Ruiz, and together they traveled the world as he spent over 33 years in naval service. During Ken’s service, he was promoted to Captain and, in his words, served on the sea, under the sea, over the sea, and in the sea (as a result of the sinking of the cruiser USS Vincennes). Judith was his loyal partner throughout, serving in her own way as a Navy wife as they moved from duty station to duty station. After Ken retired, they settled in Henderson, Nevada, in 1989.
Judith P. Ruiz is an Honorary Member of USSVI Base 51 of Las Vegas.
Leonard W. Heiselt, RM1(SS), USN (Eternal Patrol November 25, 2019)
Cold War Submariner Leonard W. Heiselt, 81, of Henderson, NV, shoved off from the pier of life and departed on Monday, November 25, 2019, on his final and Eternal Patrol. Len was born on June 12, 1938.
Len qualified in submarines aboard USS Toro (SS-422) in 1958 and was an RM1(SS) when he left the Navy. He also served aboard ETHAN ALLEN, TREPANG (SS-412) dockside trainer, and TECUMSEH.
Len was a Life and Holland Club member, a former Base Commander of USS Scamp Base, San Diego Base, and Doug Smay Base, and served as Base 51 Chief of the Boat in Las Vegas.
Sailor, Rest your oar.
Harry Edward Royer, BM1, USN (Eternal Patrol September 27, 2019)
Harry made war patrol #5 aboard POMPANO and was awarded a successful combat war patrol insignia.
He was a Life member of USSVI Base 51 and of SVWWII
Sailor, Rest your oar.
Captain Charles Kenneth Ruiz, USN (Ret.) (Eternal Patrol December 30, 2014)
Captain Charles Kenneth Ruiz, USN (Ret.), a highly decorated 33-year veteran of the United States Navy who served across World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, went on Eternal Patrol on December 30, 2014, in Henderson, Nevada, at the age of 93.
A U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1943 graduate, commissioned early in June 1942 due to wartime needs, Captain Ruiz had an extraordinary career that spanned three major conflicts and multiple warfare communities, including surface, submarine and naval aviation.
- The Battle of Savo Island: Fresh out of the Naval Academy, he was assigned to the heavy cruiser USS Vincennes. During the Battle of Savo Island on August 9, 1942, he determined his battle station by cutting cards with a classmate. Ruiz drew the captain’s bridge; his classmate took the signal bridge, which was wiped out. After the Vincennes sank, Ruiz survived by swimming for nine hours without a life jacket in oil-slicked, shark-infested waters before being rescued.
- Submarine and Aviation Warfare: He later transitioned to submarines, serving aboard USS Pollack, and eventually earned his wings, serving in naval aviation aboard the carriers USS Tarawa and USS Bon Homme Richard.
- Academic Leadership: Before retiring from the Navy in 1972, he held the prestigious Admiral William Halsey Chair at the Naval War College.
We honor his memory and his lifetime of service to our nation.
Sailor, rest your oar.
Herbert L. Brown (Eternal Patrol February 17, 2014)
Herbert L. Brown, a respected resident of Las Vegas, Nevada, and dedicated veteran of the U.S. Navy, went on Eternal Patrol on February 17, 2014, at the age of 81.
Born on April 28, 1932, Herbert committed a vital portion of his early adulthood to military service. As a veteran of the U.S. Navy, his service coincided with a critical era of mid-century maritime operations. Following his military career, he established his life in the Southwest, spending his final years in the Las Vegas valley.
Sailor, rest your oar.
Donald James O’Shea (Eternal Patrol November 18, 2006)
Donald James O’Shea of Las Vegas went on Eternal Patrol on Saturday, November 18, 2006, at the age of 70. Born February 22, 1936, in New York City, he made Nevada his home for 13 years.
- Naval Service: He honorably served in the U.S. Navy for 40 years, spending most of that time on submarines.
- Vietnam Era: He served with the Military Sealift Command in Southeast Asia and was a Vietnam War veteran.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Anne O’Shea, and survived by his wife, Gloria; daughter, Kim; and son, Mark. He was laid to rest at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City.
Sailor, rest your oar.
Memorial pavers at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery honor our shipmates. To report a shipmate’s passing, please email [email protected].
The 13 Folds of the Flag
At the funeral of a veteran, the Honor Guard folds the flag thirteen times into a triangle. Each fold carries its own meaning:
- The first fold of our flag is a symbol of life.
- The second fold is a symbol of our belief in eternal life.
- The third fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veteran departing our ranks, who gave a portion of his or her life for the defense of our country to attain peace throughout the world.
- The fourth fold represents our weaker nature; as American citizens trusting in God, it is Him we turn to in times of peace, as well as in times of war, for His divine guidance.
- The fifth fold is a tribute to our country. In the words of Stephen Decatur, “Our country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right, but it is still our country, right or wrong.”
- The sixth fold is for where our hearts lie. It is with our heart that we pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
- The seventh fold is a tribute to our Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that we protect our country and our flag against all enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic.
- The eighth fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day, and to honor our mother, for whom it flies on Mother’s Day.
- The ninth fold is a tribute to womanhood, for it has been through their faith, love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great has been molded.
- The tenth fold is a tribute to the father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of our country since they were first born.
- The eleventh fold represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon and glorifies the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
- The twelfth fold represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
- The thirteenth and last fold, when the flag is completely folded, leaves the stars uppermost, reminding us of our national motto, “In God We Trust.”
When completely folded and tucked in, the flag takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, reminding us of the soldiers who served under General George Washington and the sailors and Marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones, followed by their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces, preserving for us the rights, privileges and freedoms we enjoy today.
Visit the USSVI Eternal Patrol Facebook Page to honor and remember submarine veterans nationwide.