LCDR CHARLES WEHNER (5736-1999) rode USS BATFISH, USS TIGRONE and USS SEA LION. When he first came aboard as a new Member, he wrote this:

“I have received my first KTB Magazine which I found to be most interesting and informative. My father, Charles D. Wehner, served in the Kaiser’s Navy from 1909 to 1918. This period of time included service in U-21, the only surviving boat of his flotilla which was scuttled at the end of the war to prevent it from falling into British hands. I am looking forward to a long and interesting association with SHARKHUNTERS International.”

We just received a letter from a Colonel (Retired) James Cerniglia, forwarded to us by JAMES SANTOS (4896-A/LIFE-1996). This US Army Colonel actually writes to General Henry R. Shelton, Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, USA:

“I cannot find words to express my total displeasure and absolute astonishment in discovering the Joint Chief of Staff will present President and Mrs. Clinton an award for their support to the military.

Have you no backbone? Do our senior military leaders lack that much courage and integrity? How could you present an award to a person who dodge the draft, avoiding service during the Viet Nam War, and degraded the Office of President? He violated almost every principle the military community holds sacred.

He committed offenses for which every military member would suffer consequences. He disgraced his position as Commander in Chief.

For this you present him with an award? I doubt if leaders like LeMay, Bradley, Marshall, Eisenhower, Powell or Fogleman would have done the same. These were real leaders.

You send a clear message to the members of our military force.

First - the senior leadership lacks the courage to do what is right;

Second - playing politics is an important part of success regardless of what must be sacrificed;

Third - the penalty for disgracing the military ethic is an award for some and jail for others;

Lastly and most importantly - the senior leadership has become much like their civilian leaders - vacillating opportunists.

I did not know we had lost so many of the military’s core leadership values. Sad - where are we headed?”

GÜNTHER HEINRICH (1945-LIFE-1991) was Commanding Officer of U-960. In a letter just received, HEINI writes:
“Thank you Harry for reporting about the reality of submarine warfare!”

As I wrote at the beginning of this issue of our KTB Magazine, it is the great veterans of the War at Sea (all sides) who help by sending their memories to us. Again - many thanks!

Sad Goodbyes

Just before Christmas, we received the following e-mail from RENEE von WÖRDE PhD (887-1988). It speaks for itself.

“I received KTB #149 today and I think it is absolutely great!!! It makes me realize that I have to figure out a way to be there next time, school or no school! I haven’t finished reading it but when exams are over I will study it closely. I really liked the cover as Haider is a big favorite of mine. You both looked hood. Harry, all your hard work is agreeing with you.

Now, as I leafed through I saw the Louise Charlotte Kretschmer has joined ‘the greatest of them all’ on his Eternal Patrol. When I read that I actually had tears in my eyes, as I do at this moment. It’s terribly sad, but I agree with you, she wanted to leave this world. I know you cherish the time you had with them. We have no news here - it’s a good thing we have SHARKHUNTERS or we would be ignorant of many things.

HARRY’s NOTE - Yes, I do miss them both quite deeply. We became good friends, then more like family and the loss of a family member, it does hurt a lot. I remember the first time I stayed with the Kretschmers in their home near Emden. We were all relaxing on the outside breakfast patio when their little dog, Juli, laid down on my feet. OTTO looked over, smiled and said: “Juli is content. My family is complete.” Silent OTTO was a great man; Mrs. Kretschmer was a fine lady.

When KEN DUNN (6086-2000) first came aboard, he responded to some negative comments about SHARKHUNTERS on a web site that claims to be a source of U-boat information. KEN wrote:

‘I am a new SHARKHUNTERS Member and have gotten two of their KTB Magazines so far. I find the stories very interesting and have read both issues from cover to cover. The stories are very interesting. What you don’t find in the KTB Magazine that you do sometimes on the Forum is the ‘what if’ stuff with a lot of people voicing their opinions about historical topics they have little or no first-hand knowledge of. Their Membership includes a number of very interesting personalities from WW II from all branches of the armed forces of all sides, including U-boat veterans as well as authors and historians. This is in addition to ordinary people like me who are just interested in the war. I have talked to Harry Cooper (editor) on the phone a few times and he seems like a nice guy to me. Their tours seem to be pretty special. A couple of people have told me they took SHARKHUNTERS tours and met and had dinner with WW II U-boat commanders and crewmembers. They do seem to be able to get into places ordinary tours can’t.’

The Blind Chicken and the Steel Sausagedog

As I was putting this page together, I got a call from our friends KARL WALDECK (6167-2000) and his lovely wife Annie. They had planned to be with us for our Patrol in Paradise, but it is not to be. It seems they have a steel sausagedog as a foot scraper at their front door and they were taking their exercise walk.

Unfortunately there was a cover of snow and KARL came walking, like a blind chicken as he tells it, he never saw the steel sausagedog and he tripped over it - and broke both arms! He broke his right arm at the shoulder, but the left had both bones broken in the forearm (the radius and the ulna) and also a small bone in the left wrist. KARL said that some people do everything to the excess, and he must belong to that group because he broke so many bones in the one incident. KARL was very upbeat while telling me all this, and he and Annie were disappointed that they would not be with us in Daytona. We all laughed a lot over this.

The funniest part was KARL’s threat that, as soon as he can use his arms again, that steel sausagedog is finished - he is going to dig it up, cut it up then throw it away. Ah yes, revenge is sweet.

We look forward to seeing KARL and Annie again. They are great people and a lot of fun to be with. Godspeed KARL, mend quickly and terminate that steel sausagedog!

Colonel WILHELM HÖHN (789-1988), US Army retired, wrote:
“As always, I look forward to receiving SHARKHUNTERS each month and am proud to be a Member of such a select group.”

SHEILA BREVOGEL (1676-LIFE-1990) wrote this when she became a LIFE Member some years ago:
“The KTB is fascinating to read. I look forward to receiving each issue - still learning something new each one! Enclosed is payment for a LIFE Membership proudly requested.”