The Search for the Grunion Blog

Bruce mbabele@999info.net

Memorial DVD: All along our plan has been to make a DVD of the memorial primarily for those unable to attend. Mike Bokulich of U S Sports Video had graciously offered to tape the event. Unfortunately afterward taping they ran into some technical problems that delayed the production of the DVD. As soon as we get a handle on when the DVD will be available there will be notification both by e-mail and the blog.

Memorial Videos: In the meantime there are two outstanding videos of the memorial on You Tube. They can be found at the following URLs. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLVT2Y97inA&feature=related and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IV0ww-jvCwA&feature=related.

Presentations: As a result of becoming a member of the Grunion family some have or will be asked to make presentations about this rather extraordinary story. That’s a positive development as it keeps memories alive.

I have a repository of material that may be viable for these presentations. In addition having done a number of these I have some cautions or guidelines that may be helpful and will minimize the likelihood of an embarrassing episode. Would suggest you contact me either by email mbabele@999info.net or by phone 617 969-4368.

Memorial photos: If you go to the ussgrunion.com home page and click on Photo Albums you will find about 30 new albums identified by crewmember. The photos within are labeled. Hopefully this will be valuable in getting to know our new Grunion family.

I am sure there are some errors and would appreciate feedback.

Bruce mbabele@999info.net

A reporter Sheila Rhoades sent the following note. It is worth reading.

“As a reporter I have learned to try to find the local angle ‹ the Wabash
County connection ‹ in every story I write. When I first covered the story
of the USS Grunion in April, I learned about Mona Kime, a Southwood
Elementary music teacher who had lost her brother, Torpedoman’s Mate 3rd
Class Charles Hutchinson, who went missing when the Grunion was lost.

The more I researched the story, the bigger the story became. I had
almost daily contact with Bruce Abele and Dick and Mary Bentz, and the
deeper I got into the story, the more attached to the Grunion Family I
became.

After the articles were written, I was contacted by Mary and asked if I
would like to come to the Grunion Memorial in Cleveland. My husband and I
eventually worked out a way we could both attend and shortly before we were
to leave Mary asked me if I would represent the family of Charles
Hutchinson, because his family was unable to be there due to health issues
and prior committments. I was to pull his flower, board the USS Cod, and
cast the flower into Lake Erie. Needless to say I was extremely honored.

Mona gave me her blessing as I asked her permission to represent her and
her family.

When I arrived in Cleveland, I was greeted with open arms. I was welcomed
into the exclusive group and embraced as one of the Grunion Family.

It was then that I realized the local story was actually an international
story that pertained to all of us in some way. Whether we have had a family
member serve in the military, if we have lost a loved one in service to
their country, or have a loved one serving our country today, we are all
touched by the tragedy and triumph of Grunion.

What my trip to Cleveland taught me is that as long as we keep alive the
memory of those who fought and died for our country, we are all ‹ in some
small way ‹ a member of the Grunion Family. ”

Sheila Rhoades - Wabash Plain Dealer