New Artifacts

AIMM would like to thank T. Micheal Bircumshaw and the Dietzen family for the recent donation of memorabilia from the career of Rear Admiral Walter Nicholas "Buck" Dietzen Jr., USN.

Admiral Dietzen, a Naval Academy graduate, made two war patrols aboard USS Tirante (SS 420) during World War II and went on to command three submarines, including a nuclear powered fast attack submarine and a nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine.

From 1970 to 1972, Admiral Dietzen was the head of the Naval Section of the U.S. Military Mission for Aid to Turkey, and was involved in the transfer of 18 US Navy surface ships and submarines (and one ex-US Army tugboat) to Turkey. USS Razorback, was, of course, one of these vessels.

This large metal plate is inscribed with both the Turkish and American names of all 19 vessels. TCG Muratreis / USS Razorback is the first one on the lower right. The center is decorated with a number of naval and maritime symbols and a great deal of decorative metalwork.

Admiral Dietzen passed away in 2005 at the age of 82.

AIMM would also like to thank Roy Bannach for transporting the material from California to the museum.