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From The Editor:
After I transmitted the last newsletter I received
several comments about my numbering/dating for the
newsletters, mainly asking why I sent them out a
month late. In order to get on track and to match the
date, this one will be for December 2016 and January
2017. This is simply an admin change and will not
affect any information you are receiving.
Although I format, edit and transmit this newsletter,
it is only done for you, our Stimson Shipmates. Without
your inputs/comments/suggestions there is no need for
this document. Help me make it better in 2017 by
submitting articles, sea stories and information. In this
one, you will see an article written by Gerry Weeks,
the wife of Bob Weeks who was the Gold Crew CO
and plank owner. You‘ll also see the 2nd installment of
Jim Kinney‘s fictional story about a deterrent patrol.
Some of you have submitted names of 655
shipmates you know or have heard are on Eternal
Patrol. A few of those names are not yet on the EP list
due to lack of verification. When you submit a name
please add any info that could possibly be used to
verify the shipmates death. We owe Don Ort, MM1 G
69-74, a debt of gratitude for continuing to verify the
submitted names and locate anything we can use in
the individuals Memorial Page on the website. He has
been a tremendous assistant with all his skills.
To all of you who have ‗found‘ our 655 shipmates
and had them contact me, a great big THANK YOU!
Our Sailing List grows by one or two names each
month. Please continue to support the Association by
locating our shipmates and getting them added to our
Admin Records and online Sailing List.
Linda and I would like to wish each of you a very
Blessed Merry Christmas and a Wonderful Happy New
Year 2017!!!
Merry Christmas &
Happy New Year!! To all STIMSON ASSOCIATION MEMBERS
————————————————————————
MERRY CHRISTMAS 2016
Submitted by Chuck Hladik…Here is a good one for
this time of the season. It shows the U.S. armed forces
have people with many talents..
Published on Dec 4, 2015. A special holiday musical
presentation from Union Station in Washington, DC
celebrating the service and sacrifices of our nation's
World War II veterans and commemorating the 70th
anniversary of the end of the war.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/khQN5ylb3H0
VOL. 2016 #12 / VOL. 2017 #1 DEC 2016/JAN 2017
U S S H E N R Y L . S T I M S O N A S S O C I A T I O N S S B N 6 5 5 N E W S L E T T E R
A s s o c i a t i o n O f f i c e r s & B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s 2 0 1 7 — 2 0 1 8
PRESIDENT Ray [Rita] Kreul
VICE PRESIDENT Tom [Marie] Krauser
SECRETARY Nick [Linda] Nichols
TREASURER Ken [Diane] Meigs
OUTGOING PRESIDENT Chuck [Joyce] Hladik
HISTORIAN / CUSTODIAN Larry [Linda] Knutson
WEBMASTER / NEWSLETTER Nick [Linda] Nichols
CHAPLAIN J.B. Helms
STOREKEEPER / SHIPS STORE Jim [Suzie] Weaver
O t h e r P o s i t i o n s 2 0 1 7 - 2 0 1 8
2
T'was the Night Before Christmas-Submarine Style
By Sean Keck
T'was the night before Christmas, and what no-one could see,
The men with the dolphins were under the sea.
Most of the crew was flat on their backs,
Snoring and dreaming all snug in their racks.
Those men on watch were making their rounds,
Some manning the planes or listening for sounds.
Back in maneuvering or down in the room,
They all hoped the oncoming watch would come soon.
I'd finished some PM's whose time was now due,
And hoped for some sleep, even an hour or two.
Against better judgment I took a short stroll,
And found myself wandering into control.
The Nav had the Conn, the COW was in place,
The COB had the Dive and a scowl on his face.
The helm and the planes were relaxed but aware,
The QM and ET were discussing a dare.
To comply with the orders the Nav told the Dive,
To bring the boat up with minimum rise.
The orders were given and soon they were there,
At periscope depth with a scope in the air.
The QM confirmed our position with care,
The broadcast was copied, we brought in some air.
The Nav on the scope let out a small cry,
He shook his head twice and rubbed at his eyes.
He looked once again to find what it was,
That interrupted his sweep and caused him to pause.
Try as he might there was nothing to see,
So down went the scope and us to the deep.
I asked what it was that caused his dismay,
He sheepishly said, "I'm embarrassed to say."
It could have been Northern Lights or a cloud,
Or a meteorite he wondered aloud.
But to tell you the truth I guess I must say,
Whatever it was it looked like a sleigh.
And though it passed quickly and never was clear,
I almost believe it was pulled by reindeer.
We laughed and teased him and I got up to go,
When our moment was broken by "Conn, Radio."
They told us a message was just coming in,
We looked at the depth gauge and started to grin.
"Radio, Conn, I feel safe to say,
Your attempt at a joke is too long delayed.
If it had been sooner it might have been neat,
But I doubt we're receiving at four-hundred feet."
"Conn, Radio, you can come down and see,
We're not playing games to any degree."
I headed aft with nothing better to do,
Surprised by the fact it was still coming through.
It stopped and was sent to control to be read,
The Nav read it slowly and scratched at his head.
Then again he began but this time aloud,
To those that now waited, a curious crowd.
"To you Denizens of the Deep and men of the sea,
Who risk your life daily so others stay free.
I rarely have seen you on this, my big night,
For far too often you are hidden from sight.
But purely by luck I saw you tonight,
As your scope coaxed the plankton to glow in the night.
And lucky for me I've finally won,
The chance to say thanks for all you have done.
I know that you miss your families at home,
And sometimes you feel as if you're alone.
But trust what I say and I'll do what's right,
I'll take something special to your families tonight.
Along with the gifts I'll take to your kin,
I'll visit their dreams and leave word within.
They'll hear of your love, and how you miss them,
I'll tell them that soon you'll be home again.
It might not be much I know that is true,
To thank you for all the things that you do.
But I'll do what I can, while you do what's right,
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight." ————————————————————————
From the Association President Ray Kreul, TM2 G
65-69; USSVI– Snug Harbor Base:
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our
shipmates and their families. Ray & Rita
————————————————————————
As of Monday, 26 December,
there are exactly 655 Days
until our 2018 reunion.
3
From the 2018 Reunion Committee Chairman -
Chuck Hladik, TM2 G 67-70; USSVI– USS
Oklahoma City Base:
Shipmates, be sure to mark your calendars for the
2018 Stimson Reunion to be held in Oklahoma City.
I‘m currently working on the plans for the reunion and
will be sending out information as soon as I can firm
things up. As information becomes available I‘ll be
putting it in ―The DRAFT‖.
————————————————————————
From the Association Storekeeper -
Jim Weaver, SK2 B 68-69; USSVI–
Corvina Base:
The ships store has patches, decals
and challenge coins ($5/ea + $1 flat
mailing fee). Email or text me if
interested. Happy Holidays. Jim
jweaver2845@gmail.com / 775-750-6891
————————————————————————
From the Association Historian/Memorabilia
Custodian Larry Knutson MMCS B 79-81 USSVI-
Charleston Base:
Please check the pictures at the end of this
newsletter. All of the pictures have some names listed
but there are a lot of blanks. We‘re hoping that our
shipmates can help complete the missing names for
our historical archives. When naming the pictures if
you know when they were made… year, patrol,
etc...that would help. Send the info to Nick Nichols,
Webmaster, (655webmaster@ssbn655.org)
As soon as we can identify all those in these pictures
we have plenty more to put up for identification.
————————————————————————
ENCM(SS) Vincent Worthington G 68 COB
Departed on Eternal Patrol December 17, 2016
[reported by Legacy.com]
If any of you have any information about the following
shipmates being on Eternal Patrol please send it to me
at 655webmaster@ssbn655.org as soon as possible.
HM2(SS) George D. Hinds, B 76-78
(possibly lost at sea)
RMC (SS) Larry L. Crawford, G 76-??
————————————————————————
4
BINNACLE LIST
(if you would like to be placed on our Association
Binnacle List please send an email to
655webmaster@ssbn655.org)
====================
Tom O‘Callaghan, MS2 G 86-90
I found out after being cancer free for three years that
my left kidney has two spots and I'm having surgery
January 5th. When I found out I was shocked.
**********
Art Wallace, QM2 G 67-71
Art has been diagnosed with kidney cancer.
**********
Alan Reed, ET2(SS) G 68-71 (recovering from
serious heart attack August 2016):
10.27.16 Alan is doing very well. Still has cardiac
rehab 3 times a week and our family physician said
―with the severity of your heart attack and your
improvement after 2 months could only be because of
God‖. Most of his restrictions have been lifted, now just
common sense things---no shoveling snow (hope we
don‘t have any), not being outside in very cold (hope
we don‘t have any) or hot weather, etc. We look
forward to the next reunion. Thanks again, Linda Reed
**********
Carolyn Linhart, wife of Chuck, QM1(SS) G 68-74
11.26.16: Carolyn did manage to enjoy her
Thanksgiving and ate a small amount of turkey,
potatoes, and noodles even with her tube
feeding. She has stabilized around 100 lbs. and
getting better.
10.29.16 I wish to thank everyone for their prayers and
donations to the gofundme account
(gofundme.com/5wb3wtpuw). My wife is finally up to
100 lbs. but still on tube feeding. This is quite an
expense, but we will continue as long as we need
to. Medicare refuses to pay for the tube feeding
because she can eat food by mouth. Now she can‘t
eat enough to keep her alive, but that doesn‘t count
with Medicare. The rule is if she can eat by mouth,
they won‘t pay for the tube feeding or the supplies. I‘ve
bought my own pump to try to cut down on the long-
term cost. She is progressing, but it seems every time
we see the light at the end of the tunnel someone
turns it off. She is having a lot of hospital stays just to
try to fix things they did wrong the first few times. Our
spirits are high and we are looking forward to traveling
(maybe in the spring). Hope to make the next reunion,
so please send us the info. Keep praying for us, I‘m
convinced that is the sole reason we have made it this
far.
8.2.15 Since 2010 Carolyn‘s health has been steadily
deteriorating. This has caused them severe financial
difficulties. Chuck has started a GoFundMe page in
hopes to pay for the required medical procedures
Carolyn has had to have.
**********
Larry Hall, STS3(SS) B 65-69:
6.10.15 Still awaiting a kidney and can‘t travel to the
reunions. They say that my kidney failure was caused
by high blood pressure and diabetes though I'm not
sure about that. In 2009 I had prostate cancer and had
48 radiation treatments. In 2010 my kidneys failed.
Since my diabetes is well under control and my blood
pressure hasn't been high for 20 years, it seems a bit
coincidental.
————————————————————————
WELCOME ABOARD & FOUND SHIPMATES!!
(Shipmate has contacted us to be added or have info
updated on our Sailing List. Please check the online
Sailing List to access the shipmates email address.)
**********
YN1(SS) Don Chandler B 76
FTB2(SS) Derek Lyons B 83-87
Many of you are on FaceBook. I have taken the time
to look at some names of shipmates who post or reply
on a regular basis to the pictures postings. If you see
any of these shipmates please send them a personal
invite to contact 655webmaster@ssbn655.org so they
can have their name place on our Sailing List and
become a member of the Stimson Association.
These shipmates do not appear on our Sailing List:
Kirby Bickford Christian Brewer
Owen M Duke Robert Duvall
Randy Dyson Robert Christopher Hayes
Paul Jansen Bill Lambert
Andy Larrivee Bob Luna
Vince McGinnis Dan Montoya
Robert Robinette Christopher Mullen
Glen Roser Les Schott
Chuck Shepherd Roy Tolbert Jr.
Byron Trop Rick Waligora
John Yarbro
These are on our sailing list but we don‘t have a
valid email address for them to receive our newsletter
and other information:
Joseph Cardin Anthony Wayne Johnson Sr
Mervin Miller
————————————————————————
LOOKING FOR SHIPMATE
Tom O'Callaghan, MS2 G 86-90
[ thomasocllghn@aol.com ] is looking for IC2(SS)
Robby Robinson G 87-91.
5
Nancy Buchinski [jana655@gmail.com] [wife of
Joseph Buchinski EP] sent this email: Can you
please put me in contact with Micheal "Spike" Davis of
the Stimson? Thank you, Nancy Buchinski (Joseph
Buchinski was my husband)
Carl Callender [ wn6v@centurytel.net ] is looking for
info on another RM who was on the STIMSON with
me ... RMCS(SS) Larry Crawford. His name doesn't
appear. He was on board the Gold crew approx 76-78.
**********
Kimberly Blum-Hogle
[ kimberly.hogle00@gmail.com ], daughter of
YNCS(SS) Bert Blum B 87-89, is looking for STSC
(SS) Jack E. Craig from the blue crew.
**********
QM1(SS) Chuck Linhart, QM1(SS) G 68-74
[ chucklinhart@gmail.com ] I would like to get in
contact with ET1(SS) William ‗Bill‘ Warren.
STS3(SS) Robert ‗Bob‘ P. Featheran, Jr. (G 81)
[ SpritesDragon@gmail.com ] I would like to get in
contact with STS2 Robert P. Cooley.
**********
EM1(SS) Paul Murray (G 65-69)
[ pcmurray@optonline.net ] I am looking for former
shipmates Ken Luken IC2(SS) 65-68? and Joe Carter
MM1(SS) 65-68.
**********
QM2(SS) Robert Frizzola (G 82-86)
[ frizzz688@yahoo.com ] I was on from 82-86 Gold.
I‘m looking for a few shipmates and maybe you can
help. MM1/SS Mike Alegretto and MM2/SS Willy
Wilson, both Gold crew.
**********
YNC(SS) James Maddox (B 83-86)
[ jgm401@msn.com ] is looking for YN2(SS) Mark
Jackson (B). Also what has happened to MMCM(SS)
Golightly.
**********
STS3(SS) Steve Searight (B 70-71)
[ ssearight@verizon.net ] is looking for STS3 Eugene
Manning who served during the same period as me.
As I recall, he was from New York (Brooklyn).
**********
MM2(SS) Joe Civiletti (G 79-81)
[ submarinemm1@aol.com ] Does anyone
remember/ know what happened to an MMCS/SS
Golightly (A-Div Gold crew in 1979 when I came on
board).
————————————————————————
GREAT LINKS TO SPEND TIME WITH
(all links from “The Draft” will be on the website)
**********
655 Association Website
www.ssbn655.org
**********
ALL HANDS - December 1982 - The Christmas Ship
http://www.hullnumber.com/ALL-HANDS/the-
christmas-ship-uss-new-york
**********
―SHIPMATE‖: What the word means to a Sailor.
This is from a shipmate that served in the Navy in WW
II and retired from the Navy in 1968 as a Master Chief
Petty Officer.
www.usshancockcv19.com/shipmate.shtml
**********
U.S. Navy Sub Ran Into a Mountain
In 2005, the nuclear attack submarine USS San
Francisco suddenly stopped dead in its tracks.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/m/8ec6736d-c8ea-
3a8f-baf3-d8dcdafd6239/in-2005%2C-a-u.s.-navy-
sub-ran.html?.tsrc=fauxdal
**********
December 7th, 1941: A Submarine Force
Perspective
U.S. Navy 1 day ago Pearl Harbor
By Rear Adm. Fritz Roegge
Commander, Submarine Force U.S. Pacific Fleet
http://navylive.dodlive.mil/2016/12/06/december-
7th-1941-a-submarine-force-perspective/
**********
God Bless America
Legendary actor John Wayne in a clip from 1970 on
the TV variety show he hosted celebrating America‘s
history. Many famous actors and actresses are
featured in this video singing God Bless America
including Ann Margaret, Lucille Ball, Jack Benny,
George Burns, Johnny Cash, Roy Clark, Bing Crosby,
Phyllis Diller, Lorne Greene, Bob Hope, Forrest Lewis,
Dean Martin, William Shatner, Tom Smothers, and
many more. What a classic video.
https://biggeekdad.com/2014/09/john-wayne-1970/
**********
————————————————————————
In the November
newsletter I asked if
anyone could tell me what
the picture was. Thanks to
all those who answered
me.
Bob Peterson MM1 B 70-72 wrote: it is an
insulating union insert from an O2 generator.
6
Bryon McCall MMC B/G 75-86 wrote: That's a
ceramic insulator from the 7L16 oxygen generator.
When I changed them out during pms, everybody
wanted one for honing their knife blades
Bill Lindley TM2 G 7075 wrote: I have a piece
exactly like the one in your photo--right down to the
black streaks on the sides. It is a ceramic tube which
was given to me by an A ganger (I can see his face
and image but don't remember his name.) In the yards
at Newport News, he rode an old Harley and he
seemed like the authentic biker you didn't want to
mess with. Anyway, he gave me one of these ceramic
pieces to sharpen my knife. He used to always see me
sharpening my knife with an old whetstone and was
impressed with how sharp I kept it. He said, "Try this
after you finish with your stone. Just a few strokes will
remove the fine burr that your whetstone leaves."
That's what all the black marks up and down the sides
are from. It works well and I still use mine to this day.
Milton Hedglin MM3 B/G 70-73 wrote: It is part to
O2 generator. Some shipmates used them to sharpen
their knives.
William ‗Logs‘ Logothety MM3 G/B 70-75 wrote:
What you have found in your tool box is a ceramic
insulator from the O2 generators. The ceramic makes
a great knife sharpener. Logs
————————————————————————
SEA STORIES:
Submitted by Gerry Weeks, wife of CAPT Bob
Weeks, CDR 64-71 G CO & Plank Owner:
(Ed. Note: was a four-star admiral in the United States
Navy and Commander-in-chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet
at the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He
was removed from command after the December 1941
attack and reduced to the two-star rank of rear
admiral. He retired from the Navy in early 1942.)
The History Channel aired a documentary last night
titled Pearl Harbor: The Truth. It's an excellent
program; every serviceman/veteran should watch it. I
have a keen interest in this because in 1967 I had the
privilege of working for ADM Kimmel as his secretary
after the 25th anniversary of the attack (1966). He was
living at Avery Point, Groton. I went to his house week
days for a month or so to take the dictation of his
responses to mail he was receiving. I took my notes
home AND the original letters so I could type up the
letters. He was a very gentle man and very broken
over the treatment he had received following the
attack. It was an honor to have a small part in his life.
Gerry
MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH REAR
ADMIRAL HUSBAND E. KIMMEL, USN (ret)
Submitted by Gerry Weeks
Prior to the recent 75th anniversary of the attack on
Pearl Harbor, The History Channel aired a 60-minute
documentary titled Pearl Harbor: The Truth. This was
generated by Vice President Joe Biden's interest in
continuing to permanently clear the names of Rear
Admiral Husband E. Kimmel and Maj Gen Walter C.
Short, Commander in Chief of the US Pacific Fleet and
Commander of the Army at Pearl Harbor, respectively,
of any responsibility involving the sudden attack on
December 7, 1941. We all know the history so I will
get to the point of my interest in this situation that has
plagued their names for 75 years....
On the occasion in 1966 of the 25th anniversary of
the attack we were living in Gales Ferry, CT and Bob
was busy with his duties as Gold CO of the Stimson
which had been commissioned in August of that
year. A Navy friend approached me to see if I would
be interested in working with Amiral Kimmel as his
secretary to answer mail that he was receiving
commemorating the anniversary. At the time he and
his wife were retired at Avery Point, Groton. I
accepted without hesitation. Early in January 1967 I
went to his house to take dictation of his responses; I
then took both the original letters and my notes home
to transcribe and type formal letters with carbon
copies. I would return the following day for more
dictation and for the Admiral's signature on the
letters. This continued for a month. Most of the
incoming mail offered sympathy to him for the
misconception that ruined his naval career and his
personal name. There was one letter, though, that
stood out from the son-in-law of President
Roosevelt. He had been married to the President's
daughter, Anna. It contained conversations that took
place in the White House dining room the evening of
December 6 that clearly showed erroneous
miscalculations, oversights and human error pointing
to improper management in Washington, D.C. The
author of the letter stated, "I want to set the record
straight." Again, I won't elaborate further. Bob and I
were stunned to read that letter and pondered making
a copy of it -- we did not because it wasn't our
property! We later regretted that decision based on
the following history.
Another submarine friend of ours, unbeknownst to
us, passed along our finding to the author, John
Toland, who was doing research for his book, INFAMY
- Pearl Harbor and It's Aftermath published by
Doubleday in 1982. We were living in Vermont by
7
then so it came as a big surprise when I received a
phone call from Mr. Toland. In response to his call, I
sent him a letter briefly outlining my experience in
1967. That was followed by a letter from Admiral
Kimmel's son, Thomas K. Kimmel who at one time was
CO of the submarine, Harder. Our friend had served
on the boat with him......My letter to Thomas Kimmel,
dated 13 July 1982, was forwarded to Toland and an
excerpt from it appears in his book. (In my paperback
copy, personally autographed by John Toland, it can
be found on pages 349/350.) Unfortunately, neither
the carbon of Admiral Kimmel's response nor the
original letter could be found in the Admiral's archives
by the Kimmel family who worked tirelessly to clear
their father's name. He was ultimately exonerated of
blame but his rank and due compensation were never
restored.
On a personal note, after our dictation sessions, the
Admiral and I would occasionally have coffee in their
kitchen He showed a very personal, reflective
manner; He was a very dignified, gentle man; very
broken over the accusations that had so impacted his
career and life. I consider my brief involvement with
such a distinguished figure one of my greatest honors.
Post script -- When the Admiral discovered what
submarine my husband was a Commander of, I
thought the deal would be off. Henry L. Stimson was
Secretary of War under President Roosevelt -- not
exactly a household name during the years of
investigation. I was forgiven, though, because he
gave me a copy of his book, Admiral Kimmel's Story.
Personally autographed to both Bob and me.
————————————————————————
Fictional Story written by Jim Kinney, LCDR G 67-69
Nov. 14, 2016
Deterrent Patrol Part 2
The deployment orders scheduled the ship for the
Mediterranean patrol areas. Kreul‘s last patrol as
Navigator on the LINCOLN had been in the same
area, and it was tricky. The U.S. had used the
Mediterranean for deterrent patrols because essential
targets were out of range in the North Atlantic. He
knew that Forbes‘ previous patrols had all been in the
North Atlantic. He wondered if Forbes would be open
to any advice he had to offer.
What made the Med particularly treacherous was
the extreme thermoclines, the tendency of the first 20
feet of depth to be at elevated temperatures, then
rapidly cooling as depth increased. The result was that
a submarine submerged at 200 feet could not hear
surface ships very well if at all, and coming to
periscope depth, which was required periodically, was
a nail-biting operation, especially with the commercial
shipping traffic that made the Med a busy place. The
strain on the sonar watch standers was constant, and
the control room crew had to be ready for an
emergency dive at any time. Furthermore, the floating
wire antenna that trailed 1200 feet behind the
submarine just under the surface, their crucial means
of receiving a launch order as well as navigation
information, could be cut unexpectedly by an
undetected surface ship.
The ship had departed Rota scheduled for a 62-day
patrol. After submergence, the first day‘s transit took
them to the Straits of Gibraltar. Kreul approached the
Captain.
―Skipper, you may not be up to speed on the rules
for transiting the Straits. Ever since we and the
Russians had some close calls of running into each
other, we have agreed to some guidelines for depth.
Since we are transiting West to East, we will need to
be at an odd 100 meter depth. Depth control is tricky
because of the vertical currents as well.‖
―What the hell is wrong with you, Kreul? Do you
think I‘m an imbecile? I received briefings about all of
our intended tracks including the straits. I wouldn‘t be
much of a skipper if I hadn‘t.‖ The control room crew
glanced at each other, embarrassed to hear this
exchange. Kreul realized he had made a major
mistake.
They entered their patrol area, reported to
headquarters that they were on station, and the routine
of any missile deterrent patrol began. Kreul avoided
Forbes as much as possible, difficult on a 425 foot
long tube with 130 other people. He was still smarting
from the dressing down he had received. He began to
spend part of each day‘s routine just getting to know
the crew. The Chief of the Boat, the senior enlisted
man in the crew, was an important relationship that
was critical. Chief Hladik was a senior sonarman, and
reputed to be one of the best. They seemed to hit it off
right for the start.
It wasn‘t long into the patrol that Hladik came to
visit Kreul in his stateroom. ―What‘s on your mind,
COB‖. ―Well I don‘t know how to say this, but I‘m not
doing well with the Skipper. I‘ve tried to encourage him
to be a bit more friendly with the crew, but he scares
most of them to death. Every watch stander he visits
on his tours of the ship result in oral exams then and
there. And every hesitant answer leads to chewing out
with never a word of encouragement even when they
demonstrate that they know their stuff. His attitude
seems to be that he is more knowledgeable than
anyone, and he isn‘t asking for or open to any advice.
8
He has even questioned my sonar crew and me,
suggesting he knows more about biologics and sound
channels than we do.‖
―Let me give it some thought, COB. There must be
some way to talk to the Skipper.‖
All these concerns had evaporated 4 hours ago.
The initial reports of the Russian task force had come
from intelligence messages that the sub had received
once they reached their patrol area. Periodic updates
indicated that the task force was moving east and
approaching their patrol area. Forbes had briefed his
watch standing team to be particularly alert, and the
heightened attention to sonar contacts kept the team
on edge.
Sonar had first detected the noise signatures of
three warships at an estimated range of 30,000 yards.
The screw and engine noise had faded in and out as
expected from the water conditions. but what was
unmistakable was the pinging of the Soviet tri-beam
sonar, unique to the Kashin class destroyers. Kashin
deployed a towed sonar at variable depth of 200 to
300 feet. The sonar used three different frequencies in
each transmission, and almost sounded like a musical
chime.
―We have detected a three ship formation, two
Kashin destroyers and a Kirov cruiser,‖ Sonar
reported. ―The range is closing fast and we appear to
be on an intercept course.‖
The OOD called the Captain to the Control Room,
and reported the situation.
―Captain, we have a serious situation. We have
three contacts that Sonar has evaluated as Soviet
warships, closing on our patrol area.‖
―What was the time of initial detection?‖ Forbes
asked.
―Just 12 minutes ago, when we cleared the baffles‖,
the OOD replied.
―Call the crew to General Quarters, and I will relieve
you of the Deck.‖
To be continued….
————————————————————————
Navy Leaders Bring Back Rating Titles
Chief of Naval Operations Public Affairs, Navy.mil,
December 21
WASHINGTON - On Dec. 21, the Navy announced
that effective immediately, Sailors may continue to be
addressed by their Rating Titles.
Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral John
Richardson, with the support of Secretary of the Navy
(SECNAV) Ray Mabus and Master Chief Petty Officer
of the Navy Steve Giordano, made the announcement
in NAVADMIN 283/16.
"Our Navy needs to be a fast-learning organization
- that includes Navy leadership," Richardson wrote in
the NAVADMIN. "The Design for Maintaining Maritime
Superiority states that our most junior teammate may
have the best idea and that we must be open to
capturing that idea. We have learned from you, and so
effective immediately, all rating names are restored."
"The SECNAV, MCPON and I, along with other
Navy leadership, have had the opportunity to speak
with thousands of Sailors during our travels throughout
the fleet. The feedback from current and former Sailors
has been consistent that there is wide support for the
flexibility that the plan offers, but the removal of rating
titles was unnecessary and detracted from
accomplishing our major goals."
The rating modernization working group will
continue its work on the substantive portion of the
rating moderation effort.
"As we looked at rating modernization effort over
the past few months, we saw that we could still
achieve the positive results we want without changing
rating titles right now," said the Navy's Chief of
Personnel Vice Adm. Robert Burke. "However,
modernizing our industrial-age personnel system in
order to provide Sailors choice and flexibility still
remains a priority for us. Our personnel system has
not fundamentally changed since the 1970s, and just
like our ships, aircraft and weapons systems, it needs
updates to keep pace with a rapidly changing world.
We must not shy away from adapting to meet the
needs of a 21st century Navy -- including the way we
manage our people."
"As we move forward into the execution stages of
the rating modernization, more and more Sailors will
have multiple occupational skill sets or ratings," Burke
continued. "Before we get there, we will need to tackle
the issue of managing rating names. We will involve
Sailors throughout the Fleet and leverage the Rating
Modernization working group to figure out how to best
do that."
Sailor 2025 is a set of initiatives collectively aimed
at modernizing the personnel system, improving the
training process and improving career readiness of the
Navy's Sailors. The program has been a major focus
of effort for SECNAV and CNO as they seek to better
prepare the workforce for the current and future
operating environment.
Sailors have a direct line to provide input to the
Rating Modernization working group to make sure their
ideas are heard. Send them to
NavyRatingMod.fct@navy.mil.
————————————————————————
9
NNS161205-08. USS Springfield Conducts Burial
Sea, Reuniting a Sailor with Lost Shipmates
By Chief Petty Officer Steve Owsley, Naval
Submarine Support Center New London Public
Affairs
ATLANTIC OCEAN (NNS) -- More than 50 years
ago, on April 10, 1963, USS Thresher (SSN 593) was
lost at sea while conducting deep-dive trials
approximately 200 miles southeast of Cape Cod,
Massachusetts, costing the lives of all 129 crew
members aboard.
The loss of Thresher forever changed the U.S.
Navy's submarine force and the life of one young
Sailor.
At the time, Capt. Paul "Bud" Rogers Jr. was a
recently commissioned officer who had only been at
his command for a few months when he was
scheduled to go aboard Thresher as part of a weapons
inspection team, but the leadership team decided to
send someone more senior, said Rogers' son-in-law,
retired Cmdr. Fred Henney. "Bud lived the rest of his
life with the knowledge that someone else died in his
place and I believe it drove his decision to be buried at
sea."
While on routine operations Wednesday, Nov. 30,
2016, at the site where Thresher was lost, Los
Angeles class fast-attack submarine, USS Springfield
(SSN 761) held a burial at sea where Rodgers' last
wishes were fulfilled as he was sent on his eternal
patrol alongside the submarine and Sailors he always
felt connected to.
"My husband loved submarines and he loved
serving on them," said Rogers' widow, Barbara. "He
went from being a boy scout to a submariner."
According to his obituary, Rogers served in the
U.S. Navy for 41 years. He served as a fire controlman
aboard diesel submarines USS Sea Cat and USS
Bang, then aboard one of the Navy's first ballistic
missile submarines, USS Robert E. Lee. He was
commissioned as an officer in 1963 and became one
of the first limited duty officers to be promoted to the
rank of captain.
According to Barbara, her husband joined the Navy
during the Korean War and took part in the Blockade
of Cuba during the Bay of Pigs Invasion.
According to Barbara they were always stationed
on the east coast, from Key West, Florida, to Maine.
"It was a sad time in Groton, when the Thresher
was lost," said Barbara. "I never saw my husband cry
before, but he was crying when it went down."
She said, "He always said he wanted to be buried
at sea, but particularly after the Thresher went down."
On an overcast day, approximately 200 miles
southeast of Cape Cod, Springfield's Commanding
Officer, Cmdr. Brent Spillner; Executive Officer, Lt.
Cmdr. Rene Cano; and Chief of the Boat, Master Chief
Petty Officer Michael Johnson were in the submarine's
sail with Navy Chaplain, Cmdr. Paul Rumery.
Rumery read the biographies of Rogers and three
other Navy veterans who had requested a burial at
sea. Then he read scripture before each Sailor
received a three-round gun salute in honor of their
service. The ceremony ended with a playing of Taps
and the Sailors being committed to the sea.
When speaking about her husband's thoughts on
being laid to rest with the Sailors of Thresher, Barbara
said, "I think he would have been very, very happy. He
felt bad all these years, because he felt he should
have gone down with the ship. I feel that he would
have felt like he was where he belonged."
After the ceremony Spillner reflected, "It's an
absolute honor as captain of USS Springfield to be a
small part of bringing Captain Rogers to his final
resting place as we transit to Portsmouth Naval
Shipyard for our scheduled maintenance availability.
The submarine force changed on April 10, 1963, and
100 years from now submariners will still know the
name Thresher."
Thresher was built at the Portsmouth Naval
Shipyard in Kittery, Maine and homeported in Groton,
Connecticut. The Navy believes a leak sprayed sea
water on an electrical panel, which caused Thresher's
nuclear reactor to shut down.
Thresher's loss resulted in the SUBSAFE program
which led to a series of design modifications, training
improvements, and submarine safety criteria. The
program, which was established approximately two
months after the loss of Thresher, is still in place
today.
————————————————————————
Veterans Group Plans Submarine Memorial at
Sherrill Park
Danielle St. Marie, KRISTV, December 8
The USS City of Corpus Christi Submarine was
decommissioned on Memorial Day, but she may have
a new mission. As we've reported, a local veteran's
group is raising funds to bring part of that sub to
Sherrill Park as a memorial.
After over 40 years of service, these veterans think
it's time to retire the sub and what better place to do
than the city that gave the sub her name. The idea for
a memorial has been underway since 2009.
It will serve as a tribute to all who were and are
currently in the submarine community. After the ship
10
was officially decommissioned, the project has started
to make waves.
Peter Nepa is a member of the Sea Turtle Base. He
says they already have been offered a piece of land
for the memorial.
"The Parks and Recreation Department have given
us a plot of land here at Sherrill Park," Nepa said.
When the sail arrives, it will sit in the southeast
corner of the park and will replace the Sherrill Park
sign that currently stands. Standing at 17 feet tall, 26
feet wide and weighing 120 tons, this is a massive
project. The sail will have to travel thousands of miles
to get here, and the project will cost $150,000.
Congressman Blake Farenthold has supported this
project from the beginning. "I think it's a great
opportunity for Corpus Christi and we're going to work
with the folks from Sea Turtle Base to get it here, and
to get the funding, to make sure it's well maintained,"
Farenthold said.
So far, they have raised $6,000 for this project.
Donations can be made by going to Just Give. In
the program space just copy and paste: "USS City of
Corpus Christi SSN 705 Submarine Memorial Fund"
and follow the site instructions to complete your
donation.
————————————————————————
Bell Ringing Honors Lost Navy Submarines, Crews
(HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER 11 DEC 16) ...
Allison Schaefers
Submarines are known as the Navy‘s ―Silent
Service‖, but their contributions to World War II were
honored by loud clanging Saturday during a moving
tolling of a bell at Bowfin Park.
The nation‘s oldest living Pearl Harbor veteran, Ray
Chavez, 104, and retired Navy Rear Adm. Lloyd ―Joe‖
Vasey, 99, were bell ringers at the ceremony, a
military tradition honoring Navy submarines and their
lost crews. They rang America‘s Freedom Bell, which
contains metal from the twin towers destroyed in the
9/11 attacks, and was brought to Hawaii by the Spirit
of Liberty Foundation for the 75th anniversary of Pearl
Harbor.
The ceremony began at 12:30 p.m. because at that
time on Dec. 10, 1941, in the Philippines, the USS
Sealion became the first submarine wrecked by enemy
action. Total WWII submarine casualties included 52
submarines and more than 3,500 men, said Paul T.
Jurcsak, commander, Bowfin Base submarine
veterans.
―During the war, the submarine force represented
only 2 percent of the United States Navy, but sunk 55
percent of all enemy ships at sea,‖ Jurcsak said.
Kiddy DeCoster, 83, and her hanai son Dan
DelMonte attended the ceremony to honor DeCoster‘s
late husband, Richard Ray DeCoster, who served
aboard the USS Bowfin during WWII.
―Dan is going to ring the bell for my husband,‖ said
DeCoster, who spent 25 years on the Bowfin board of
directors helping to kick-start the sub museum and
park. ―It means a lot to be here today.‖
The ceremony also was meaningful for Vasey, who
served on several WWII submarines. A 1939 graduate
of the Naval Academy, Vasey said 18 out of 72 of his
classmates who signed up for submarine service were
lost in WWII.
―But we never worried. We kept charging. We
wanted to win,‖ said Vasey, who lives in Honolulu. ―I‘m
proud to be here. Hell yes, I rang the bell for all my
friends.‖
Vasey‘s experiences aboard the USS Gunnel,
where he survived a 36-hour depth-charge attack in
1943, inspired him to promote peace through the
Pacific Forum, affiliated with the Center for Strategic
and International Studies.
Chavez, who lives in San Diego, accompanied
America‘s Freedom Bell to Honolulu for last week‘s
commemorative events.
―I‘ve enjoyed every moment,‖ said Chavez, credited
with spotting a Japanese midget sub in the restricted
waters of Pearl Harbor in the wee hours of Dec. 7,
1941, which led to its sinking by the USS Ward.
Chavez in January will accompany America‘s
Freedom Bell to Washington, D.C., where he is slated
to ring it during the presidential inauguration.
http://www.staradvertiser.com/2016/12/11/hawaii-
news/bell-ringing-honors-lost-navy-submarines-
crews/
————————————————————————
What does a thesaurus eat for breakfast?
Synonym rolls...
————————————————————————
SECNAV Mabus to Officially Designate First ORP
Boat USS Columbia (SSBN-826)
Megan Eckstein, USNI News, December 13
The Navy will formally name the first-in-class
ballistic missile submarine USS Columbia (SSBN-826)
in a ceremony Wednesday (Dec. 14th) afternoon.
The Columbia-class boats, formerly-dubbed the
Ohio Replacement Program, will replace the aging
Ohio-class submarines, some of which are still going
through mid-life upgrades but the first of which is set to
decommission in 2026. The future Columbia is on a
tight schedule to be designed, constructed and tested
in time for a maiden deployment in 2031 to maintain a
11
fleet of 12 SSBNs capable of providing continuous
global nuclear deterrence.
USNI News first reported the Columbia-class name
in July, but the submarine community has been
hesitant to use the new name until Navy Secretary
Ray Mabus made it official, which will happen at
Wednesday‘s ceremony. Lawmakers such as Rep.
Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) and Rep. Rob Wittman (R-
Va.), who serve on the House Armed Services
Committee, have begun using the name in recent
weeks to refer to the new class of ballistic missile
subs.
USNI News reported in July that while other Navy
ships and NASA space shuttles have been named
―Columbia‖ before, this will be the first time a ship
specifically pays homage to the nation‘s capital, the
District of Columbia. The ship number, 826, also
acknowledges the previous class of ballistic
submarines, with USS Ohio originally being
designated SSBN-726, before it was converted to a
guided-missile submarine to carry conventional
weapons and re-designated SSGN-726.
Also at the ceremony, Mabus will also name the
11th Expeditionary Fast Transport (formerly called the
Joint High Speed Vessel) Puerto Rico (T-EPF-11) and
the third ship in a new class of oilers Earl Warren (T-
AO-207) in honor of the former chief justice on the
United States Supreme Court.
————————————————————————
In 2009, Two Nuclear Submarines Collided Under
the Sea (And They Were Armed with Nuclear
Weapons)
December 11, 2016
Late at night on February 3, 2009 the crew of the
French nuclear submarine Triomphant, experienced
something of a shock. The 138-meter-long submarine,
the lead boat of four serving today as a key part of
France‘s nuclear strike force, was returning to port
submerged under the heavy seas of the East Atlantic
when something impacted violently upon its bow and
sail.
On February 6 the French Ministry of Defense
reported that the submarine had suffered a collision
with an ―an immersed object (probably a container).‖
The same day the Triomphant returned to its base in
Ile Longue, Brest escorted by a frigate.
Curiously, the HMS Vanguard, a Vigilant-class
British Royal Navy nuclear submarine also
experienced a collision that evening. The first of her
class, the Vanguard measures 150 meters long and
displaces 16,900 tons when submerged.
At some point, the two navies compared notes. On
February 16 they announced the two submarines
―briefly came into contact at a very low speed while
submerged.‖ Fortunately, no crew members were
harmed in the accident, though repairs were estimated
to cost a minimum of 50 million pounds.
When the Vanguard returned to its base in Faslane,
Scotland, it was visibly badly mangled around its
missile compartment and starboard side.
―The French submarine had took a massive chunk
out of the front of HMS Vanguard and grazed down the
side of the boat,‖ later claimed William McNeilly, a
whistleblower who served in the U.K.‘s nuclear
submarine program. ―The High Pressured Air (HPA)
bottle groups were hanging off and banging against
the pressure hull. They had to return to base port
slowly, because if one of HPA bottle groups exploded
it would've created a chain reaction and sent the
submarine plummeting to the bottom.‖
On the French side of things, official statements
indicated the damage to the Triomphant was confined
to its Thales active sonar dome on the tip of the
starboard bow. However, a regional newspaper later
reported that its conning tower and the starboard sail
plane attached to it were both deformed, implying
multiple impacts.
Of course, particularly alarming was that both ships
were designed to carry nuclear missiles: sixteen M45
ballistic missiles on the Triomphant and the same
number of Trident II missiles onboard the Vanguard,
each carrying 4 and 6 nuclear warheads respectively.
Losing such apocalyptic firepower on the ocean floor
would have been a catastrophe. However, nuclear
warheads are not susceptible to ―going off‖ as a result
of a collision.
The same cannot be said of the nuclear reactors
powering the two ships. A sufficiently serious collision
could have breached the containment of the reactors,
irradiating the crew and the surrounding expanse of
oceanic waters. Fortunately, the British defense
ministry assured ―there was no compromise to nuclear
safety.‖
12
So, who was at fault for this potentially catastrophic
brushing of cold, watery steel? In a way, what‘s most
alarming may be that the crew did not make any
mistakes and that the error may truly lie with secretive
ballistic missile submarine strategy that may be difficult
to change.
While an attack submarine is always on the lookout
for other ships and submarines and often seeks to
shadow those of foreign nations a ballistic missile
submarine just wants to be left alone and undetected
under the ocean. Such submarines serve as a stealthy
guarantor that any deadly attack on its home country
could be reciprocated with a nuclear strike from a
Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM)
launched from underwater. While a hypothetical
aggressor might hope to take out a nation‘s ground
and air-based nuclear forces with a preemptive strike,
submarines concealed deep underwater across the
globe would be impossible to reliably track down and
destroy—at least not all of them, and only as long as
they don‘t broadcast their presence.
However, one might think that two submarines
passing close enough to scratch each other‘s backs
should be able to detect each other‘s presence.
However, modern subs have become very quiet,
benefitting from tear-drop shaped hulls, superior
propellers, and sound-absorbing anechoic tiles, among
other technologies. As French defense minister Hervé
Morin humble-bragged, ―We face an extremely simple
technological problem, which is that these submarines
are not detectable.‖
A submerged submarine can use either active or
passive sonar to detect other subs. Passive sonar
basically entails using audiophones to listen to the
surrounding water, but that might not be adequate to
detect a slow-moving modern submarine. A submarine
could employ its active sonar to create sound waves
which reflect off of other undersea objects, improving
its detection power. However doing so would also
broadcast the submarine‘s position to anyone else
who is listening. Because a missile sub‘s chief priority
is to avoid detection, both the Triomphant and
Vanguard were relying purely on passive sonar—and
neither submarine detected the other with it.
Submarine collisions are hardly unknown. Usually
these involved one submarine shadowing another just
a bit too closely, such as happened in the collision of
the Russian K-407 and the USS Grayling in 1993. This
has led to speculation that the Triomphant was
chasing after the Vanguard. However, these kind of
cat and mouse games are the province of attack
submarines, not missile submarines.
It may seem vastly improbable that two submarines
bumped into each other randomly across the vast
volume of the ocean. However, the explanation may
be that submariners are inclined to operate in certain
common undersea regions—increasing the still remote
chance of collision significantly. ―Both navies want
quiet areas, deep areas, roughly the same distance
from their home ports,‖ nuclear engineer John Strong
remarked in an interview with the BBC. ―So you find
these station grounds have got quite a few
submarines, not only French and Royal Navy but also
from Russia and the United States.‖
The solution to avoiding further collisions would be
to coordinate sub patrols between nations to avoid
operating in the same place at the same time—but that
runs counter to the paranoid logic underlying ballistic
missile patrols. After all, even information shared
between allies could theoretically be obtained by a
hostile nation to help track down the missile
submarines and take destroy them. While France was
singled out for criticism for not sharing its patrol routes
with NATO, in reality even the water space
management information shared between the United
Kingdom and United States did not include ballistic
missile submarines according to the New York Times.
The Triomphant-Vanguard collision suggests that
what seemed extraordinarily unlikely event—a collision
between nuclear submarines in the middle of the
ocean doing their best to remain discrete—may not be
so in fact. Sharing more data between allies to mitigate
the risks of future collisions would likely enhance, not
weaken, the security of both those submarines and the
nations they defend.
http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/2009-two-
nuclear-submarines-collided-under-the-sea-they-
were-18690?page=show
————————————————————————
Historic submarine might be stuck in the mud
Rodrigo Torrejon, North Jersey Record, Dec. 19
13
HACKENSACK — The USS Ling has been
berthed in the Hackensack River for more than 40
years – and it might be stuck there.
The 312-foot, 2,500-ton World War II-era
submarine is the featured exhibit of the New Jersey
Naval Museum, which occupies a trailer on land that
was once the headquarters of the North Jersey Media
Group, which was sold to Gannett in July and
publishes The Record. The Ling has been anchored
off the riverbank behind the newspaper‘s former
headquarters for decades.
Now, however, museum officials are grappling
with the logistical and financially daunting challenge of
moving the submarine, which by all accounts is mired
in muck and is moored in a section of the river too
shallow for the sub to navigate.
―I don‘t know what it would take to get her out of
the mud or if that would even be possible,‖ said Hugh
Carola, program director at Hackensack Riverkeeper,
an environmental group.
Earlier this year, the museum‘s lease was
terminated by Stephen Borg, former publisher of The
Record. Borg, whose grandfather negotiated the 1974
deal to lease land to the museum for $1 a year. The
city Planning Board voted in May to subdivide the
nearly 20-acre site into four lots for redevelopment,
which could include a hotel and 700 residences.
On its website, the museum said it would be
relocating and that an announcement on the move is
pending. The naval museum has been closed since
2012, when Superstorm Sandy washed out the small
pier that provided access to the Ling from the
riverbank. Since the lease was terminated, the Navy
has reclaimed 68 artifacts that it had lent to the
museum.
Even though the Ling itself is not covered by the
lease, these developments have left the submarine‘s
fate in limbo. Borg said that, as the Ling was not on his
property, he had no legal rights over it and would not
have a hand in its relocation. Borg said that a meeting
to discuss the reclamation and preservation of other
museum artifacts – save for the Ling – is tentatively
scheduled for early next month.
When asked whether the Ling would be relocated,
dismantled or stay in its berth, Gilbert De Laat,
president of the naval museum, said that all of those
options had been discussed and that no decision had
been made at this point.
In previous interviews, De Laat has said the sub
needs at least 17 feet of channel to navigate the river.
A June 2015 survey prepared by the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers indicates that the the channel near the
Ling is just 10 feet deep.
Ed Wrocenski, project manager for the Army Corps
survey, explained that the submarine could be mired in
sediment that has clumped together over time.
―It could be silted in there,‖ Wrocenski said. ―It‘s
tough to get that thing moving. You have to remove all
that.‖
The site of both the museum and the Ling is thick
with mud and strewn with gnarled vines. The Ling is
practically inaccessible. Half of its gangplank washed
away in the floods after Superstorm Sandy, and the
remaining half is cordoned off. A few lengths of rope
connect the submarine to the riverbank.
The Ling itself stands high above the waterline. It's
riddled with rust holes. One hole in the exterior hull at
the stem is a few feet tall.
Bill Sheehan, executive director of Hackensack
Riverkeeper, explained that when the Ling was
originally towed to its berth in 1973, the river was still
used to transport construction and industrial materials.
The barges that would frequently navigate the river
formed a consistent prop wash, a current created by
boat propellers that stirred up sediment.
―Now that there‘s no tugboats coming up this far,
the river is becoming less and less passable,‖
Sheehan said.
Colleen O‘Rourke, a spokeswoman for the Naval
Sea Systems Command, which is responsible for Navy
vessels, said the submarine remains the property of
the museum. As the Ling‘s owner, the museum would
have to bear the cost of surveying the river and
relocating the sub, she said.
The first steps for moving the submarine would be
to send out divers to measure the current depth of the
river and then send a smaller barge to tow the sub.
―Right there, you‘re talking a big chunk of money
just to find out if it‘s deep enough,‖ Carola said.
Carola estimated that the initial survey alone would
probably cost several thousand dollars. De Laat had
previously estimated that the total cost of the
relocation process would be in the millions.
Neither the Borg family nor the city is claiming any
responsibility for the sub.
―The submarine is not on our property,‖ said Borg‘s
attorney, Gary Redish. ―That‘s not something we‘re
concerned about. We‘re concerned about getting the
balance of the artifacts off the property.‖
City officials say they are not able to do anything to
save the Ling, either.
―We have absolutely no rights to the river,‖ said
Mayor John Labrosse. ―The city‘s responsibility ends
at the shoreline.‖
Once measurements are taken and water channel
passage is determined, the submarine would run into
14
obstacles along its journey to a different resting place,
Sheehan and Carola said.
At the beginning of its trip, the sub would start off
fenced in. The submarine is corralled by the Court
Street Bridge to the south and the railroad trestle to
the north.
In August, Mayor Jose ―Joey‖ Torres of
Paterson offered to relocate the submarine to the
Passaic River, as an exhibit just upstream from the
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park. But
relocating it to Paterson may be more difficult than
getting the ship out of Hackensack.
―No, no, no,‖ Carola said when asked if that were
possible. ―Did I say ‗No‘ enough times?‖
If the Ling were to be towed to the upstream
location proposed by Torres, it would run into the
Great Falls – and that‘s if it were able to get past the
Dundee Dam spanning Clifton and Garfield.
Another option could be to dismantle the submarine
in Hackensack and reassemble it in Paterson. Carola
said dismantling the sub seemed to be the only viable
option, though the rust damage on the hull would
require bracing for any dry docking.
Sheehan had suggested dismantling the Ling after
photographing and creating a record of the sub and its
history. He did not, however, think rebuilding the sub
on land was a viable option.
―This thing has never been in dry dock,‖ Sheehan
said. ―Since it was put here in the 1970s, no one has
done any maintenance on it.‖
Ls Altschuler, vice president of the Submarine
Memorial Association, which runs the naval museum,
said there were ongoing discussions regarding the
Ling, the museum and the association. But he would
not provide any details about the museum‘s plans to
relocate.
Borg said he would be willing to offer financial
assistance to the museum for the relocation of the
artifacts with the exception of the Ling.
All of this has saddened visitors and other
supporters of the Ling, which, in its prime, was the site
of Pearl Harbor Day commemorations and other
remembrance ceremonies. Al Parisi, a writer and
historian for the Army Air Forces Historical
Association, was a regular at those events. He visited
the sub Dec. 7.
―Standing there … I noticed that, for the longest
time, there was a tattered American flag attached at
the mast,‖ Parisi said, noting that the flag was no
longer unfurled over the sub. ―I‘m just wondering if it
was the victim of the wind or indifference.‖
————————————————————————
Will Rogers, who died in a 1935 plane crash in
Alaska with bush pilot, Wiley Post, was one of the
greatest political/country/cowboy sages this
country has ever known. Some of his sayings
were:
*Never Squat With Your Spurs On.
*Never slap a man who's chewing tobacco.
*Never kick a cow chip on a hot day.
*There are two theories to arguing with a woman.
Neither works.
*Never miss a good chance to shut up.
*Always drink upstream from the herd.
*If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.
*The quickest way to double your money is to fold it
and put it back into your pocket.
*Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of
that comes from bad judgment.
*Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier'n
than puttin' it back in.
————————————————————————
If you want the story on this one,
contact Art Kenworthy!
————————————————————————
ABOUT GROWING OLDER
*Eventually you will reach a point when you stop lying
about your age and start bragging about it.
*The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting
in line for.
*I've traveled a long way, and some of the roads
weren't paved.
*When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back
to your youth, think of algebra.
*I don't know how I got over the hill without getting to
the top.
*One of the many things no one tells you about ageing
is that it's such a nice change from being young.
*One must wait until evening to see how splendid the
day has been.
*Being young is beautiful, but being old is comfortable
and relaxed.
*Long ago, when men cursed and beat the ground with
sticks, it was called witchcraft. Today it's called golf.
15
And, finally ~ If you don't learn to laugh at trouble,
you won't have anything to laugh at when you're old.—
———————————————————————
A beautiful set of dolphins carved by Chuck Hladik
TM2 G 67-70; USSVI– USS Oklahoma City Base
16
17
1969 Shipmates at Scotland Bar
1 STS3 Dale Evans EP 2 ??? ??? Young
3 STS3 Steve Searight 4 MT2 Dennis McFadden
5 MT? ??? Smith
3
1 4 5
2
18
1970 Patrol Wardroom
1 CDR David Selby Cruden 2 ________________________
3 ________________________ 4 LT ‗Hoot‘ Gibson
5 ________________________ 6 LCDR ?? Walker, XO
7 LT ?? Berhliner 8 ________________________
9 ________________________ 10 LCDR Tom Conrey, NAV
11 ________________________
19
3 4 6
2 5
1 8 7
10 9
11
Missile Div Stimson Blue 32 (names supplied by Dennis Wolk)
1 MT2 David Merrit 2 MTC ?? Van Dyke
3 MT3 Ray Cullum 4 ?? Mark Schemmerhorne
5 MT3 Tom Holder 6 _________________________
7 MT2 Dennis Wolk 8 MT1 ?? Frederick
9 MT3 ?? Reedy 10 MT2 Christopher Gibson
20
2 4 8
1 3 5 6 7 9
10 11 12 13 14 15
CPO Mess for Decommissioning
Transit through the Panama Canal Atlantic to Pacific for Decommissioning
Initiation for MTC(SS) Rick Beal and SKC(SS) Robert Fey
(Names provided by ETC(SS) Jim Shirley, G Decom 90-93)
1 HMCS(SS) Raymond Capaul 2 FTCS(SS) Donald Lotspeich -
COB
3 MMCS(SS) Mike Thomas 4 FTCS(SS) Michael Wyckoff
5 QMC(SS) Mike Sordelet 6 STSC(SS) Michael Harkness -
Decom COB
7 ETC(SS) James Shirley 8 MTC(SS) Rick Beal
9 MSC(SS) ????? 10 SKC(SS) Robert Fey
11 ETC(SS) Steve Sales 12 MTC(SS) Howard White
13 ICC(SS) Reggie Lewis 14 EMC(SS) Will Dale
15 _________________________
21
655B IC DIVISION DEC provided by Jerry Blevins, Blue Crew, 1976
1 LT TOM DIGAN 6 _______________________________
2 LT JERRY BLEVINS 7 HARRY ‗THE DOG‘ HARRIS
3 LT BILL MOORE, CHIEF ENGINEER 8 DAVID KELLY
4 GLENN EMERICK 9 _______________________________
5 WILLIAM SMITH 10 HENRY TARDIFF
22
655B Wardroom Aug 76 provided by Jerry Blevins, Blue Crew, 1976
1 LCDR DON LACHATTA, XO 7 GERALD RAMSEY, NAV
2 LT JERRY ‘DUKE‘ BLEVINS 8 LT MARK BARNER, AWEPS
3 LT MIKE RUSSELL, AWEPS 9 LT CHARLES HARDIN, WEPS
4 CDR WILLIAM POWELL, CO 10 (FIRST NAME ?) DOUGHTERY, CHOP
5 LT TOM DIGAN 11 LT JIM TANGEN, DCA
6 LT ROBERT ‗BOB‘ BROWNLEE 12 LCDR JOHN W. MOORE III, ENG
13 LT MIKE RADER
23
SEARCH FOR LOST SHIPMATES
If you have contact with one of these shipmates please send their contact info to me at my email address. Let’s set a goal to find everyone on this list!
Adams, Bob RM3 G 76 Debisschop, Timothy Johnson, Billy MM3 93 Decom Rathsam, Richard
Adams, Mike RM2 G 78 Delano, Ken Johnson, Ronald TM3 93 Decom Raven, Donald
Adams, Paul RM3 G 78 DeLaGarza, RM2 G 76-78 Johnson, Samuel CDR CO decomm Reidler, Ronald J.
Adkins, William Delia, Joe RM? Johnson III, Alvin ET2 93 Decom Rembert, Albert MM2 93 Decom
Allegretto, Mike MM2 G 82-86? Delisle, Mark QM1 93 Decom Kee, Kerby Reppert, Kevin
Altman, Robert 'Bob' TM2 B Dickerson, James EM1 93 Decom Keiningham, Thomas Reynolds, Daryl FTB1 93 Decom
Armstrong, Gary MM1 93 Decom Dreiss, Ray Keller, Mick Rhodes, Ronald
Attlee, Steven Doughtery, ??? LT CHOP Kelly, Dennis ETN2 B 70-75 Robinson, Robby IC2 G 87-91
Banfield, Ron Doyle, Gregory MM2 93 Decom Kelley, Gregory R. MMC 93 Decom Robinson, Warren
Barker, Thomas Dubecky, Darren YN3 93 Decom Kinney, Wayne Roman, Raymond SA 93 Decom
Barner, ??? Duell, Paul Kirkpatrick, Steven Rommel, Robert LTJG 93 Decom
Barrett, James Dyer, Kenneth LT 93 Decom Kohankie Robert Rowan, William
Bassham, ? FTBC G 78 Easler, John ET2 93 Decom Kubecka, Rick RMCM G 77-78 Ruiz, Luiz
Battle, Bernard FTG1 93 Decom Edmiston, Ken Kuvent, Andrew MM1 93 Decom Sales, Stephen ETC 93 Decom
Beck, Roger Eghigian, Mark EM2 93 Decom Lague, Brian STS2 93 Decom Scoles, Kevin ET2 93 Decom
Beckett, Roy E. SN 93 Decom Eglseder, Kurt LTJG 93 Decom Lahatta, Don LCDR XO Scoville, Scott
Bishop II, Olan STS2 93 Decom Ehlers, Joseph Lambard, Richard ENS G 78 Seelinger, James
Blatchford Jr., SN 93 Decom Eickleman, Richard MM1 93 Decom Lawrence, Marshall Settliffe, Scotty RM3 G 76
Blouse, Dan Ellard, Bryon Layton, Rick RM2 G 77-78 Shannon, Mike
Blue, Matthew Elledge, Tom MM? Liles, Michael Shepherd, Charles
Bluestone, Edward Elliott, Thomas LT 93 decom Lizana, Rick Sherlock, Martin
Bowser, James Jr. Ellis, Paul FTB2 93 Decom Lobody, Barry MM2 93 Decom Shields, Vaden
Bradley, Todd MM1 93 Decom Emerick, Glenn Lothrop, Siedel, Dave MT1
Brewer, Christian ET2 93 Decom Filer, Phil ICC G 76 Lotspeich, Don FTCS COB Sikora, Gregory ET3 93 Decom
Bricker, Michael Findlater, Doug Luken, Ken IC2 G 65-68? Siler, Dennis
Brill, Doug Fey Sr., Robert K. SKC 93 Decom Manning, Eugene STS3 B Smith, Charles
Brown, Ernie TMC Figueroa, Edwin SK1 93 Decom Mason, John Smith, ? YNCS G 77
Brown, Thomas MT/FTB? Flannery, Aaron Matherly, David Smith, Lynn LT 93 decom
Brownlee, ??? Fleming, Benjamin Mazur, Joe Smith, Michael MM2 93 decom
Bryant, Ron ET1 G 69-?? Fleming, Denvery McCarney, Clifford Sollars, Jeffrey EM3 93 decom
Buckmaster, Jerry FTB3 B 70-75 Fonda, Carl McCauley, Steven EM1 93 Decom Staton, Michael SN 93 decom
Buhay, Richard MM1 93 Decom Forlines, Jonathon MM3 93 Decom McConnell, Mark Stewart James
Bulalacao, 'DOC' HMC Forrester, Rodney ET1 93 Decom Medvick, Michael Stine, Gene
Bullington, Scott Fox, Frank LT Weps B mid 70s Melton, Clifford EM2 93 Decom Swigart, James STS1 93 decom
Burmeister, Wayne Frost, George MM? ELT Mickelson, ? QMCS G 78 Stortroen, Keith
Busteed, Bob Furlong, Willaim ET1 93 Decom Miller, Daniel ET2 93 Decom Szeszko, David M.
Calvird, Carl R. TM2 Geisenburg, Nick Miller, Robert 'Bob' MM2 B 66-68 Szyszka, Stephen LCDR XO 93
Campbell, Edwin MM1 93 Decom Gentile, Edward MM1 93 Decom Miller, ? RM2 G 76 Tardiff, Henry
Campbell, ? MMCS G 78 Giambattista, Mike LCDR B 65-67 Plank Miller, Tony Taylor, Jim
Canup, Richard Golightly, Steve MMCM COB Milton, Jay Tinsley, Richard MM2 93 Decom
Cardin, Joseph YN2 93 Decom Gould, Harrell MT2 G/B 69-74 Morrison, Dale MM2 93 Decom Tomasi, Max
Carey, Bill Grant, Richard LT 93 decom Morrison, Jon MM3 93 Decom Trotter, Daniel
Carr, Don Graves, Richard Morrow, Frank MTC G 78 Turner, Shelby MMC G 78
Carter, Joe MM1 G 65-68 Green, Earsel Nelson, ?? FTBC B 73-75 Ugolini, Nicholas
Cazes, Jimmy MM2 93 Decom Green, Frank YN1 93 Decom Nesbitt, Brian MM2 93 Decom Vanicek, Errol 'Van' WO1 G 65-67
Champagne, Brian Greene, Kenneth FTB2 93 Decom Neubecker, Andrew Vidulich, William T.
Chiarito, Michael MMFN G 71 Gregor, William RM1 G 87-90 Neuman, Mark IC1 93 Decom Voltz (Volz?), Steve MM? ELT
Citizen, Billy RM? Griffith, Allen STSCS B COB Nolen, John Walenga, Craig LT G 77
Claussen, Stephen Grizzard, John MM2 93 Decom Ochsner, Patrick Ward, Royal EMCS 93 Decom
Coates, Kenneth MM2 93 Decom Gutierrez, James Olsen, ?? MM1 G 66-69 Warp, William EM1 93 Decom
Colon, Scott STS2 93 Decom Hanks, Stewart Parham, Bryan Warren, Bill ET1
Cool, Arnold Harding, ??? LT WEPS Pastiva, Stephen Jr. Watson, Herb
Cooley, Robert STS2 Hatchell, John Penny, Christopher LT 93 decom Welch, William STS2 93 Decom
Cooper, Denny Hayes, Robert Peters, Mark MM2 93 Decom Wenzel, Paul
Cooper, John F. Herbert, Randy 'Bear' Peters III, Charles MT1 93 Decom White, Don
Cope, Allan Herzog, Willie Peterson, David Wieskamp, Gerald W.
Couser, David Hinds, George Petrak, David Wild, Steven RM2 93 Decom
Covington, Richard LT G 76 Hogan, Tom Phillips, David EM1 93 Decom Williams, Brian
Craig, Jack E. STSC B 87-89 Holler, Eugene Plue, Mike TM2 Williams, Eric Q. MM2 93 Decom
Cramblit, Jeffrey MM1 93 Decom Hollingsworth, Paul Porterfield, Glenn Wood, Eric MM1 B 83-87
Crawford, Larry RMCS G 76-78 Holtman, Bruce Powell, William CDR CO Woodward, Jeremy RM2 93 Decom
Cruden, David CDR CO B 70-74 Hupe, Bill Pruitt, Michael Williams, Miles E.
Cruse, Mark L. ET2 93 Decom Jackson, Mark YN2 B 83-86? Putt, William Wilson, Willy MM2 G 82-86?
Cullum, Ray Jarvis, ?? MM1 G 69-70 Rader, Casey MT3 93 Decom Winkler, Henry 'Snorkel'
Dale, William EMC 93 Decom Jennings, Edward TM1 93 Decom Ralston, David Wolters, Peter LT 93 Decom
Dandridge, ? QMC G 78 Jetton, Chuck MM1 93 Decom Ransom, Patrick Wright, David MM3 93 Decom
Davis, James MT3 Johnson, Anthony Rasmussen, Aaron Young, Ron
Rasmussen, Bill Youngman, David
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