This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Eugene Claude Ipox, Jr., TM1
to remember
Rice, Howell Barbee, CPO USN(Ret).
If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Contact Info
Home Town Salt Lake City
Last Address Winston-Salem Forsyth County North Carolina
RICE WINSTON-SALEM, NC - Howell Barbee Rice "Howie" Oct. 27, 1917 - Sept. 7, 2011 Mr. Howell Barbee Rice "Howie", 93, of Winston-Salem, passed away Wednesday, September 7, 2011. He was born October 27, 1917 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Mr. Rice entered the Navy in 1935 at the age of 17. He served in the U.S. Navy for 22 years and was a retired submariner, Chief Radioman. He was the sole survivor of the first maiden patrol of the USS Cisco, and was a Bronze Star recipient. Mr. Rice was employed with Western Electric/ Lucent Technology for 24 years. He was a member of the Christian Science Mother Church; Submarine Veterans of WWII; and Tarheel Chapter of Submarine Veterans. He loved big band music, classical movies, and loved to dance the jitterbug. Mr. Rice was an avid HAM radio operator since he was 14 years old, his call letters were K4NH. He was preceded in death by a son, Mark Rice; his first wife, Ruth Rice; and his second wife, Louise Hester Rice. Surviving are two daughters, Linda Rice Davey and husband Thomas, IV, and Elizabeth Rice Ciccolella; two sons, Paul Rice and wife Robin, and Timothy Rice; seven grandchildren, Susan Davey Suarez and husband Eddie, Thomas Davey V, David, Amy and Mark Ciccolella, Julie and Charlie Rice; and one great grandson, Erimer Suarez. A memorial service will be conducted at a later date. Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com.
Published in Winston-Salem Journal from September 9 to September 11, 2011
USS Sabalo (SS-302), a Balao-classsubmarine, was the first submarine and second ship of the United States Navy to be named sabalo, another name for the tarpon, a large, silvery game fish of the herring group, found in the warmer parts of the Western Atlantic.
Sabalo (SS-302) was laid down on 5 June 1943 by Cramp Shipbuilding Co., Philadelphia, Pa.; launched on 4 June 1944, sponsored by Mrs. Charles M. Oman; and commissioned on 19 June 1945 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Lt. Comdr. James Gold Andrews in command.
After trials in the Delaware River, Sabalo proceeded to the Submarine Base, New London, Conn., for shakedown and training. She operated locally from New London until June 1946 when she began preparations for inactivation. She decommissioned on 7 August atPortsmouth, N.H., and was placed in reserve in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, remaining there until recommissioning on 1 June 1951 at New London.
In August 1951, Sabalo departed New London for Pearl Harbor, her new home port. Arriving in September, she conducted local operations into February 1952. From 18 February to 28 September, she underwent conversion to a "Fleet Snorkel" type at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. This was a less-extensive alteration than the GUPPY conversion received by many World War II "Fleet boats" during the same general period. Sabalo was given a new streamlined sail, but retained her original hull form.
Following this conversion, she alternated local operations with simulated war patrols while deployed to the western Pacific. The first deployment, 26 December 1952 to 26 June 1953, was followed by a second, mid-November 1954 to 10 May 1955. Her third deployment, 17 September – 4 November 1955, was conducted off Alaska and among the eastern Aleutian Islands.
In September 1966, Sabalo's home port was changed to San Diego, and she resumed training operations off the west coast, primarily providing services to ships undergoingASW, type, and refresher training. Sabalo served in that capacity as a unit of the 1st Fleetuntil decommissioned on 1 July 1971. Struck from the Navy Register the same day, she was sunk as a target in SubSinkEx Project "Thurber" off San Diego on 21 February 1973.
Other Memories In August 1951, Sabalo departed New London for Pearl Harbor, her new home port. Arriving in September, she conducted local operations into February 1952. From 18 February to 28 September, she underwent conversion to a "Fleet Snorkel" type at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. This was a less-extensive alteration than the GUPPY conversion received by many World War II "Fleet boats" during the same general period. Sabalo was given a new streamlined sail, but retained her original hull form.
