2009 Newsletter

NEWSLETTER Thursday Feb. 5, 2009 by Steve Schwartz

Today Feb. 5th 2009 is the 91st Anniversary of the Tuscania sinking, just 9 years left until the centennial anniversary. Recently I came across this newspaper article, and I thought it would make a great newsletter to pass out for this year.

Sonoma, California newspaper Feb. 5, 1989, The Press Democrat:

"A National Tuscania Survivors Association was formed, and in 1976, as the membership number dwindled, one of the men bought a bottle of quality Scotch and organized an informal "Last Man's Club." The bottle, it was decided, would go to the last man to survive, and he would drink a toast to his comrades. Scotch replaced the traditional Brandy in this agreement because of an incident aboard one of the rescue destroyers when the British Captain of the Tuscania produced a bottle of Scotch, broke the seal and took a good long drink, then handed it down to one of the American's, saying "Pass it around to the boy's, it will cheer them up a bit." The bottle is in the custody of the Veterans of Foreign War's post in Vernon, Texas. There are very few survivors, in 1986 the number was eight. " Full Article at:

http://northbaydigital.sonoma.edu/cgi-bin/showfile.exe?CISOROOT=/Lebaron&CISOPTR=686&filename=657.pdf

1. Informally the Tuscania "Last Man's Club" was emerging in 1976. The Last Man’s Club of the Tuscania Survivors Association officially began in 1978.

2. WWI soldiers, "Last man's Club's" across America traditionally saved a vintage bottle of French Brandy (Cognac or Armagnac); or a bottle of 1918 French Wine, but for the Tuscania Survivors Association, a bottle of Scotch or Whiskey would have also been appropriate. Scotch because of the reference to Scotland where so many of the Tuscania casualties happened, and the possible reference to the Tuscania Captain passing a bottle of Scotch to the men. There are several Scotch and Whiskey distilleries on the Scottish Island of Islay, where the Tuscania casualties were initially interned. See: http://www.islayinfo.com/islay_whisky_distilleries.html

3. The VFW Texas Post 4747, 200 Commers, Vernon Texas 76384 - Was in 1988 the headquarters for Edward A. Ueeck, Secretary of the Tuscania Survivors Association - Last Man's Club. Mr. Ueeck moved to Alaska in June of 1989, and died in Alaska on Nov. 6, 1990. I do not know if this bottle of "Scotch" was ever sent the last man of the TSA or if it still resides at the VFW in Texas.

4. As for the statement that there were few survivors in 1986 that the number was eight. Some of the TSA members relocated their residence and lost contact. And some confusion as to the surviving members may have occurred when Edward Lauer passed away suddenly in 1982. Currently the longest living survivor on record was listed as a TSA member on the 1939 list, but his name does not appear on the 1988 TSA Last Man's Club list.

This is an unofficial list (work in progress), as the death dates of all survivors is yet unknown.

The Tuscania Survivors Association held an annual dinner each year since 1921, and each year they would raise up their glasses and make a toast to their fallen comrades whom they left behind in Europe, those whom recently departed, and to their buddies that they remember so fondly. This was a trademark of this Association, a brotherhood through thick and thin.

The Television show MASH episode "Old Soldier's" was produced January 1, 1980, and it made the story of the "Last Man's Club" very popular. There is a long dialogue leading up to the actual toast where Colonel Potter explains the history of the bottle and his friends from WWI. The following is the dialogue of the actual toast:

"Here's to you, boys.
To Ryan, who died in W.W.I, the war to end all wars.
To Gianelli, who died in the war after that.
To Stein, the joker of the crowd.
And to Gresky, my best friend who just passed away in Tokyo.
You were the friends of my youth.
My comrades through thick and thin and everything in between.
I drink to your memories.
I loved you fellows, one and all."