Welcome Aboard the website for the USS Segundo
This web site is dedicated to the USS SEGUNDO (SS398), a diesel submarine which served in the US Navy from 1944 to 1970 and to the crew that manned her. The leadership of the Officers, Chiefs and petty officers was an example to thousands of young men and I was lucky enough to be one of them.
The work was hard, the food was good and there was extra pay for hazardous duty. Mostly there was the close bond we felt with our shipmates and the pride we felt when we had achieved that coveted status – Qualified in Submarines and were allowed to wear silver or gold dolphins. We had fun in exotic ports and found something bigger that ourselves to believe in, We knew we were on the best boat, in the best squadron, in the best ocean and without a doubt the best navy in the world.
Website History
The original website for the USS Segundo was created by Rich Peterson in 2006. Rich eventually turned the Website over to Bob Price who totally renewed it into its present format. Merle Hendricks is the current Webmaster.
The purpose of this website is to replace the original one. Most of the content for this website was copied from the original one. The links to the website pages above are similar to the original site. The link to the Segundo Crew List has been moved to the Links page and is the first entry on the page.
Comments on the Web Site
If you have comments on this site please use the form on the “Contact” page to send your comments to the webmaster for this site.
USS Segundo SS398 
GREAT JOB ON THE NEW WEB SITE
GORDON MCMAUDE
Bob; Great job. Typical work by a SEGUNDO shipmate. Thanks for taking on the task and on upgrading the SEGUNDO website. We all appreciate what you have accomplish and will continue, in SEGUNDO typical fashion, to provide the crew with all the info needed to keep up with their shipmates and activities. Bob Chasse
Bob, Thank you for continuing the web site for the Segundo. There are so many memories, all good, for all of us that served aboard her. Bob Cooper 62-63 & 65-66.
Bob, we all owe you a debt of gratitude for stepping up to maintain the web site. It is what keeps us all together and will provide a place we can always go and relive the past. You have been a tremendous help in putting the reunions together. The pictures are great and the web site is really first class. Ken Owen
Thank’s Bob
for all of your good work on this website
Johnny were you aboard the Segundo in 66-67? If you are the one I remember I owe you a big apology and ask your forgiveness over being a jerk toward you! After I left the boat I and two tours of duty in Vietnam I became a Baptist pastor! KO Klein, I was in the aft torpedo room!
Thanks for your time and talent.
Thanks for all your hard work. This is a great web site.
Thanks for your continuing work on this website. Great work.
Were you on board during late 66 and 67! I was there then and had a friend name Walsh! KO Klein
Thanks for putting on your list! Still hoping to hear from some of the ones I served with! Did a little baby-sitting for the older crew members and had a nice fight with another! Transferred off after the fight when I heard someone say, “hitting one for me Red.” I didn’t have red hair! No problems just a bad mistake leaving! Like to know if anyone is suffering from Asbestos poisoning? I have COPD and it looks as if that might be the cause. Hope to hear from you. Ken Klein
Good work Bob, thank you for all our work on the website. Grubby
Thanks Bob for all your hard work; Its easy to see that it is the work of a truly loyal ;shipmate.
Great Website Bob; Thank You for your time and effort!
Hey Kenneth. I”m not sure if I’m the one that you’re referring to. I was on the Segundo from 1962 to 1967. I was an electrician, however, I didn’t care for it too much. They made a Spare Parts PO for the electricians, and I really did love it. Do you happen to have a picture of you back then? That might help. I had a car wreck in December,1967 in Houston. I went thru the windshield. Coma for 11 days. Took about a year before I was anywhere near being normal. If you get a chance, give me a note. Maybe we can get reacquainted. Hope to hear from you soon. John
hello johny, i do remember you, one sunday morning i decided to attend church services in the chow hall , you were coming down the hatch speaking loudly about, about something THE CHAPLIN quit talking- -i am trying to get tour attention, johny johny, and you kept firen away, when you stept off the ladder and turned . ALL EYES WERE ” ON ” you silence .THE CHAPLIN said ” SAILOR ” YOU NEED TO SET DOWN AND LISTEN TO THIS . I can still see it today. i have another one to tell, the best to you johny jim riley em2 ss 760-524-5875
First time I have been on your web site since the last time I wrote a note to you! If you had an accident you probably won’t remember, I was unforgettable!
Thanks for trying Johnny! Are you going to the reunion in Orlando in a few days?
Ken O. Klein
John any chance you could write a letter for me confirming my closeness to asbestos and could have gotten poisoned by it! You would have to send it to me and you could do that by e-mail and I could send it on to my VA rep. Having trouble breathing! You remember Bud Hibbard he wrote a note for me because he served onboard in 68-70! Thank for your time Buddy and I were in boot camp together.
Mr. Drumm, how in the world are you? Is everything o.k.? Last I heard, you were in Honolulu. Please fill me in on what’s been going on.
Thanks John for your note! I am sure you are the one, I was a torpedo striker for the aft torpedo room, wanted a bunk of my own! I was there from late September 66 to April 67 when I got into a fight with Red and transferred! My Facebook is Kenneth Klein from Monmouth, IL. Look me up there or email me at kokleinb60@hotmail.com Love to hear from you, you old pig boat sailor! KO Klein BU3 MCB-11!
Thanks for this informative user-friendly website. Great job for a lot of hard work
Thanks for a great website Ed Terney
My Dad John F Byrne was with Segundo and crew hope all are well jack passed 1987 in Butte Montana
A hell of a job Bob. Thanks for all you did in setting up our outstanding Reunion in Laughlin. I am sure the next one will be as good, maybe better. I am looking forward to it where ever it will be.
Grubby.
Nice page! Wish I had made the reunion! Never stayed long enough to qualify! I was sorry about that for a long time! Shader was the Captain or EX-O can’t remember which! God bless you all who made it through! KO Klein BU3 MCB-11!
Anyone with connection with Mudd or Hoffman that were working in the mess while I was there in 10/66 to 4/67? KO Klein
Any one around from the 58-63 time frame? Decklog.com shows a Ketteth Dale Fink, FA from that time frame. I have an obit. for Kenneth D. Fink. Entered submarines about that time. all it says is he was an “engine mechanic in the Submarine Service”. I am wondering if Decklog has a misprint? And these two may be the same guy? Would be great if anyone can help, in either direction. Thank you
The only info I found regarding your inquiry is for Ketteth Dale Fink FA, he is listed on DeckLog as being aboard Segundo from 1969 to 1969 only. He is not listed on Segundo mailing list nor as a USSVI member. I cannot find either a Kenneth or a Ketteth listed in any of my usual eternal patrol sources. Anyone else have any info?
i remember fink, a good natured and frlendly young shipmate who worked in the crews mess as the cooks helper. he was teased, ridiculed and made fun of by some of the “in crowd”. he took it all in stride, never showed anger altho he must have been hurt. hope life has treated him better. don’t have info since then.
My father was Gene “Red” Blanchfield, he served on the Segundo from its launch until 1946 as a fireman First class. I would like to post his photos and his obituary, how do I do that?
The web site looks great. When I took over as the Engineer in early 1966, I considered myself the luckiest guy in the Navy as I had the most incredible group of men I could possibly wish for in my department. Second to None indeed!
Looking for assistance. My name is Robin Andrews. I was married to Richard Bruce (Andy) Andrews. We were married for over 50 years. I am seeking survivor benefits from the VA. It’s not much it’s about $1300.00 monthly. Currently I am unable financially to live on my own. It’s a very long story but suffice it to say the VA has put up more road blocks and wasted more money ,(then I could ever collect), by thwarting me at every turn. I now turn to you. the Blue Water Law says I must prove the Segundo was within 12 miles of the Vietnam shore line during the years of 1968, 1969 or 1970.does anyone have a memory of anything that would have put the sub within 12 miles? Drooping of Seals perhaps or picking them up. Anything at all. I thank you all for your kindness in any assistance you can provide in my endeavor. Even a no would be welcome. Please stay safe and I hope to hear from you.
Very respectfully, Robin
Robin, I am an ex-Segundo sailor that served on it from Sept. 1966 through April 1967! I ended up going to Vietnam in May of 1967 with the Navy Seabees. I am battling asbestos poisoning and COPD from it! I would recommend to you to go to the VFW or American Legion and let them walk you through this! They will be willing to help a widow of a Navy hero! They can outline to the VA what Andy did from and how his service caused his death. May take a while but it will be worth when you get your benefits!
KO Klein-Chaplain MCB-11 Association
kokleinb60@hotmail.com
Kenneth O. Klein.
Robin, how are you progressing on your claim? I have to find someone to verify that I was on the USS Segundo SS398 and in the shipyards during my time there. Thought maybe I might get a name so I could ask them to verify I was aboard the sub enough time to get asbestos poisoning.Thanks KO Klein.