Eric 'Hobb' Hudnell
August 24, 1959 - April 16, 2019
Olympia, WA
I heard of Eric's passing this morning, April 17, 2019, from Michael Jack.
Any photos or memories of Eric you can contribute will be incorporated in this Honors page for Eric. Feel free to start adding comments below of your memories of Eric and his time on the Bates.
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Brad Williamson
Eric 'Hobb' Hudnell - Shipmate Profile
Eric 'Hobb' Hudnell in the barracks - 1979
(photo courtesy Terry Pischke)
Eric 'Hobb' Hudnell with his grand-daughter - 2019
(photo courtesy of family)
I wanted to share a little memory that has been anchored in my mind for many years. It's a tiny thing and it's not profound at all but it has always stayed close to me. I guess it always stayed in my mind because it was typical Torpedoman, given their sometimes clever way of mixing submarine facts of life with real world non submarine events, via a clever turn of phrase.
As I recall the time, we had Watertight, Deeter, Hobb and a few others whose names I can't remember in the torpedo room. They were all clever guys with style. An odd style, a DBF style, which I think we all admired. I think I blame WT and Deets for all of that!
Anyway. It was in '79 or '80 that Hobb and I went to Black's Beach, a clothing optional beach in La Jolla which you got to by trekking down the cliffside there.
It was Hobb's first time. After settling down and getting naked we went in the water. We're swimming around and Hobb blurted out "I can't believe the feeling of cold water on my mud valve!". (For those that have forgotten their quals, the mud valve was part of the torpedo system, consult your TAB). I cracked up and never forgot that moment.
It was the typical unguarded openness that we sometimes had with each other (all of us). I will truly never forget that moment, Hobb.