Thresher Base United States Submarine Veterans, Inc.

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Portsmouth, NH
Thresher Base United States Submarine Veterans, Inc.

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US Submarine Veterans organization in Portsmouth, NH. Join us! Our members original qualification date varies from 1944 through 2001.

Thresher Base consists of over 120 men who have "Qualified on Submarines" and four associate members. Our charter is to perpetuate the memories of those lost aboard US Submarines. Each April, we host the annual USS Thresher Memorial Service that perpetuates the memories of those lost on USS Thresher by honoring the shipmates and loved ones they left behind.

10/24/2026

Well done!

10/19/2026

Honored to lead the Rig for Dive aboard USS Albacore for the Massachusetts Bay US Naval Sea Cadets.

Thank you to USS Albacore Museum Operations Director Joe Afienko, Thresher Base member Steve Walsh and Robin Galeaz for helping to make this event a success!

Click on the following link for event photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjD7WfB

09/27/2026

On September 17th, USS Thresher (SSN 593) Former Crew member Ira Goldman was awarded a Quilt of Valor from the Niantic Bay Quilters. After attending the NDIA Fall Undersea Warfare Conference at the US Naval Submarine Base New London, Kevin Galeaz took Ira out for dinner and returned his repaired model of the USS Thresher. The model was repaired by staff at the PNS Heritage Museum.

04/11/2026

The livestream link for the USS Thresher Memorial Service that will start at 1300 is here:

62nd USS Thresher Memorial Service

04/10/2026

The 63rd USS Thresher Memorial Service will be broadcast live on our YouTube Streams page: https://www.youtube.com//streams

Look for the 63rd Live Stream.

Thresher Base is the local chapter of the United States Submarine Veterans. Our 100+ Submarine qualified members are from New Hampshire and southen Maine. Our members have served our Nation during WWII, the Cold War including Korea and Vietnam, the Gulf War and the current Iran/Iraq/Afghanistan conf...

02/19/2026

Join us in-person or virtually to honor the loss and SUBSAFE legacy of the 129 men aboard USS Thresher on April 10, 1963. The event will be held at the Robert W. Traip Academy Auditorium, 12 Williams Avenue, Kittery, ME, on Saturday, April 11th at 1300. It will also be broadcast live on our YouTube Streaming Channel:
https://www.youtube.com//streams

12/20/2025

Photos from the Hooksett Cub Scout Pack 292 Hands On Rig for Dive Aboard USS Albacore are available for viewing on our Flickr photo album site:

Rig for Dive for Pack 292, Hooksett Cub Scouts Part 1: December 1, 2025 Parts 2-4: December 6, 2025 Thank you to the following Submarine Veterans from USSVI Thresher Base: 1. John McArdle 2. Ken Latchaw 3. Jack Gill 4. Roger Retzke 5. Joe Afienko 6. Dale Bean 7. Kevin Galeaz 8 Adriene Photos by Kevi...

12/01/2025

With sadness and tear filled eyes, I report that Captain Joseph (Joe) Yurso, USN Retired, has passed.

Our condolences and prayers go out to his family and friends.

Joe was a LT serving as the PNS Duty Officer when Thresher sank on April 10, 1963. Joe later returned to PNS as it's Commander and re-started the annual USS Thresher Memorial Services on the 25th anniversary of the loss. Personally interfacing with many of the family members who lost loved ones motivated Joe to promote the SUBSAFE legacy of USS Thresher to numerous groups in his role as a Naval Engineer.

I'll never forget the year Joe was our keynote speaker at the annual USS Thresher Memorial Service in Kittery, ME. True to form, he spoke his mind, warning the current PNS leadership and staff not to loose focus on implementing the rigorous SUBSAFE requirements that have led to zero USN Submarines being lost due to construction related issues since Thresher's loss.

Joe was a charter member of our Board of Directors. His legacy of excellence and attention to detail in all he touched served us well in erecting the USS Thresher National Commemorative Monument.

Obit: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/.../joseph-yurso-12618387

A visitation will be held at Smith & Williams Funeral Home/Kemp, located at 4889 Princess Anne Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23462, on December 5, 2025, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

The funeral service will take place at St Timothy Lutheran Church, located at 1051 Kempsville Rd, Norfolk, VA 23502, on December 6, 2025, at 2:00 pm. The funeral service will be broadcast live on his obit webpage.

Joe was a mentor to me and many others, and a man I respected immensely.

Sailor, rest your oar. We have the watch.

Kevin Galeaz
President, USS Thresher ANC Memorial Foundation

Celebrate the life of Joseph Yurso, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of Smith & Williams Funeral Home/Kempsville.

11/22/2025

Photos from the November 2025 Thresher Base meeting have been posted in an album on our Flickr Photo Album website:

Address

Portsmouth, NH

Telephone

+16032105002

Website

http://www.thresherbase.org/

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