1

USS HENRY L. STIMSON

50th REUNION GOLF

OUTING

USS Henry L. Stimson 50th Reunion Golf Outing has been

planned. In 1779, the Revolutionary Battle at Stono Ferry was fought. The battle wages on today, except this time it is over 18 of Charleston‘s greatest golf holes. If you love Charleston‘s Lowcountry charm, you will absolutely love a day spent at Stono Ferry. The Links at Stono Ferry will host the USS Henry L. Stimson Golf outing on Thursday October 13th. The schedule includes a 1000 AM shot gun start and a boxed lunch. The total cost for the individual golfer is $60. There is a limited number of golfers we can accommodate so first come first in. Rental clubs are also available at an additional charge. Get your handicap and clubs ready for a great day with your shipmates. Send reservations to David Huckeba via e-mail to davidh22@comcast.net or call him @770-642-5425.

2016 Stimson Reunion News!

COMMISSIONING + 50 YEAR REUNION

(C+50R)

The Stimson Commissioning + 50 Years Reunion

(C+50R) is being held in October. This information has

been sent out via email, FaceBook and newsletters.

Less than 230 days!!!

Although the deadline for reunion registrations is

September 27th, if you plan on attending the

committee would really like to receive your registration

and check sooner rather than later. As of today there

are 31 shipmates & spouses fully registered for the

reunion. These next 7 1/2 months will go by quickly

and we cannot spend or commit funds that haven‘t

come in through registrations.

HOTEL INFORMATION

The hotel venue is the North Charleston Marriott. It

is the same (but significantly upgraded) hotel we used

in 2011 (it was a Sheraton at the time.)

You can make reservations at the hotel by going to

http://www.marriott.com/meeting-event-hotels/.

The official reunion days are Thur., Oct. 13th through

Sat., Oct. 15th (checkout on Sun., Oct. 16th). The

VOL. 2016 NUMBER 3 MARCH 2016

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 3 — 2 0 1 6

PRESIDENT Ray [Rita] Kreul

VICE PRESIDENT Tom [Marie] Krauser

SECRETARY Nick [Linda] Nichols

TREASURER Ken [Diane] Meigs

OUTGOING PRESIDENT Chuck [Joyce] Hladik

HISTORIAN / MEMORABILIA Loree [Carolyn] Riggs

WEBMASTER / NEWSLETTER Nick [Linda] Nichols

CHAPLAIN J.B. Helms

STOREKEEPER / SHIPS STORE Rita [Ray] Kreul

O t h e r P o s i t i o n s 2 0 1 3 — 2 0 1 6

2

hospitality room will be opening Wed. evening, Oct.

12th for early arrivals. Hotel rates per night will be

$129.00 plus 13.5% tax for a total of $146.42. This

rate is good three days before and after (October 10th-

18th inclusive).

Hotel Registration Deadline is September 13, 2016

To make a reservation directly with the hotel call

843-747-1900 Monday through Friday during normal

business hours. BE SURE TO SAY THIS IS THE USS

HENRY L STIMSON GROUP. If you have any issues

making your reservations please contact me.

At this time the following have made reservations at

the hotel: Ballard, Birmingham, Bonds, Boyle, Casella,

Cellmer, Chase, Clark, Engle, Flynn, Forbes, Garoutte,

Hinkle, Hladik, Huckeba, Krauser, Kreul, McCord,

Moeller, Nichols, Pennington, Rada, Riggs, Rowe,

Sampson, Stracke, Violette, Weisser, Young N.,

Young R.

At this time the following are registered for the

reunion: Anderson (Neal), Andress (Jay & Barbara),

Ballard (Dan & Arlene), Burger (Thomas), Birmingham

(George & Connie), Casella (Mike & Denise

Bogosian), Cellmer (Terry & Judy), Chase (Ed),

Crawford (George & Barbara), Garoutte (Shorty & Jan

Saenz), Glaub (John & Gretchen), Graham (Ron &

Cindy), Hladik (Chuck & Joyce), Huckeba (David &

Karen), Krauser (Tom & Marie), Kreul (Ray & Rita),

McCord (Orville & Maxine), Moeller (Frank & Phyllis),

Morris (John ‗Jake‘), Nichols (Nick & Linda), Rada

(Elliot), Reed (Alan & Linda), Rowe (Gerald & Diane),

Violette (Dave & Beth), Weisser (Monte), Wilson

(William ‗Bill‘), Young (Richard ‘Dick‘ & Debbie), Young

(Neil).

The Marriott is not pet-friendly. You can make

reservations for a pet-friendly hotel at the following

hotel only 5 minutes from the Reunion location.

Residence Inn Charleston Airport

5035 International Boulevard

North Charleston, SC 29418

1- 843-300-3100

There is info on the reunion registration form

concerning locations where you can setup your

camper. The hotel will allow you to setup in an area of

their parking lot but you must be self-contained. They

do not have a dump site.

REUNION REGISTRATION

The registration form is now on our website at C+50

Reunion Page. After printing and completing either

the Word (fillable) or PDF form, print it and mail along

with a check (make payable to USS Henry L. Stimson

Reunion) to the following address:

SSBN 655 Association Reunion

% Nick Nichols

102 Greenhurst Ave

Summerville, SC 29485-8821

Several organized tour are on the form. Based on

what has been received to date it appears the Friday

tours will be the H.L. Hunley in the morning and a

Charleston Harbor Tour in the afternoon. This will be

firmed up as more of registrations are received.

Reunion Registration Deadline is Sept. 27, 2016

3

POR: PLAN OF THE REUNION (tentative)

Wed., Oct. 12

1600: Hospitality Room (HR) opens for early

arrivals

Thu., Oct 13: Report for Duty Day

0800: HR opens

0800-1600: Free day in HR or around town

1000: Golf Outing at The Links of Stono Ferry

1600: Muster in HR. Men leave hotel for Charleston

Base SUBVET meeting in Goose Creek. Ladies

spend the evening in HR or at Tangier Outlet

shopping/eating

~2030: All muster in HR to continue the evening

Fri., Oct 14: Liberty Day

Spend the day enjoying Charleston on your

own, as a group or on the scheduled tour

0800: HR Opens

TBD: departure for scheduled tour

1800: Welcome Aboard Buffet in Hospitality Room

1900: Entertainment and Program

Sat., Oct 15: Scheduled Day

0800: HR Opens

0900: HR Closes for morning

1000: Stimson Bench Dedication Service and

Stimson Shipmates Eternal Patrol Memorial

Service @ Cold War Memorial w/Group Picture

~1200: Hospitality Room Reopens

1400: Association Business Meeting in HR

1700: Hospitality Room Closes for Banquet

1700: Happy Hour w/cash bar

1800: Buffet Dinner

1855 (6:55pm): Reunion Program/Guest Speaker

2015: Entertainment

2200: Hospitality Room Reopens

Sun., Oct 16: Safe travel home until next reunion

0800: HR Open for coffee/farewells

0900: Reunion cleanup begins

DOOR PRIZES

I know we have some very talented shipmates and

I would like to give you a chance to show off your

talents to other shipmates. If you have any item that

you have had a hand in making and you feel would

make for a good door prize or raffle we need your

talents!!

Our goal for this reunion is to have the majority, if

not all, of our door prizes and raffle items to be

donated by our shipmates. If you would like to donate

something that is done by you (or it could be your wife

or other family member) please contact Gordon Long

at longg11@bellsouth.net. He will discuss the item

with you and let you know how to get it to the reunion

committee for their use as a door prize/raffle.

We have several craftsmen in our Association who

are very excited to be able to show off their

handiwork!!!

————————————————————————

From the Association President & Storekeeper:

Ray & Rita Kreul

My recovery is slow, but I'm making progress with

my physical therapy.

The ship's store is open again and we're asking for

all orders to be submitted by June 1st. We need to be

in line with orders for school and sports uniforms from

our supplier. For reunion attendees we'll be happy to

bring your order to Charleston. After the reunion we

will be giving up the ships store as we will be out of the

country for an extended period. We thank everyone for

your business since 1999. The Ships Store Order

Form is located toward the end of this newsletter.

————————————————————————

From the Association Historian: Loree Riggs

I have had some inputs as names for the pictures I

placed in the last issue of the newsletter but there are

still a lot of blanks. Check out the pics on the pages at

the end of this newsletter and help name our

shipmates.

Also, when naming the pictures if you know when

they were made… year, patrol, etc...that would help

If you have pictures that you need names for send

them to the webmaster and to me. I‘ll ask him to put

them in the newsletter, then I‘ll use the completed

pictures to keep our Stimson history updated. Send

them to Nick Nichols, Webmaster,

(655webmaster@ssbn655.org) and to Loree Riggs,

Historian (l.riggs8@comcast.net)

————————————————————————

**********

Praise the Lord...no Eternal Patrol this month

4

————————————————————————

BINNACLE LIST

(View on the web at: http://ssbn655.org/chaplain/

chaplain.html. if you would like to be placed on our

Association Binnacle List please send an email to

655webmaster@ssbn655.org)

====================

Roy Robertson, RMCS(SS) G COB 78-79

3.18.16: Roy is now home and recovering well.

2.21.16: Roy fell and broke his hip on Sunday, Feb.

21st. He had surgery and is now at Roper Hospital in

Charleston SC for rehab.

————————————————————————

Gene „Kewee‟ Kelewae, TM3(SS) G 69-72

2.24.16: Hello my name is Gene Kelewae and I

served on Henry L. on the Gold crew from 1969 until

1972, first as a cook then a Torpedoman. Some knew

me as Kewee.

First off let me assure you I‘m not looking for

anything from you. A little history:

In October 2012 I was diagnosed with an

aggressive form of Prostate Cancer. February 2013

my prostate was removed. August 2013 I had a

stomach issue and went into the ER. After X-rays and

a CAT scan I was diagnosed with Stage IV Colon

Cancer. This included a 70% involvement of my liver. I

had an emergency Colostomy and then had 4 chemo

infusions. November 15 I had the first of two 12 hour

operations. The first removed forty percent of my liver.

The second operation was December 4, 2013 and

removed thirty percent of my liver after my liver regrew

a lobe. They also removed the tumor in my colon and

closed the colostomy. I went home 20 December and

since then I have had 36 more Chemo Infusions.

I had a colonoscopy that was clean 18 months prior

to the discovery of my colon cancer. My colon cancer

is aggressive and without chemo I wouldn't last long.

There is no history of cancer of any kind in my family. I

don't like sharing all of this, but I was wondering if

others had similar issues. You can contact me at

gmkelewae@netscape.net

Another bit of information that you may or may not

know is that the VA has a form that my wife found

about where you can request disability for certain

cancers. Your doctor would have to state that the most

likely cause of the cancer is from ionization of

radioactive material. We were told by the DAV that the

person should have no family history of the cancer.

I‘ve included the link to the VA site. http://

www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/radiation/

v/r Gene Kelewae (Kewee)

————————————————————————

Carolyn Linhart, wife of Chuck, QM1(SS) G 68-74

3.24.16 Friends and Family. Please keep the

prayers coming. I just took Carolyn back to the hospital

in Tucson. She was admitted and they will be placing a

new J-tube (feeding tube). The surgery will be

tomorrow and all is expected to go well, but prayers

are welcome.

2.9.16 My Submarine family: I don‘t know how to

thank you for all you help in the past, but I‘m coming to

the altar one more time to pray for more help.

Medicare is not paying for any of the feed tube needs,

so it‘s all out of pocket. She (Carolyn) got home from

the hospital on Jan 25th after a 3 week stay. This was

her second trip to the hospital for malnutrition. I fear for

her and love her with all my soul. Without her I will

probably turn into a hermit. I wouldn‘t know how to

function. Friday Feb 12 will be our 33rd

anniversary. Please read the whole story on the link

and if you can find it in your budget to help, I will be

forever grateful. Go to this link to better understand

Carolyn‘s situation and to assist if possible:

gofundme.com/5wb3wtpuw

9.3.15 I personally want to extend a great big thank

you to my fellow submariner family on behalf of me

and my wife. Your response has brought this old man

to tears. I haven‘t been on board the Stimson in over

40 years and yet you folks of the submarine force

continue to amaze me. Again, any contributions you

folks can manage will be sent an email to thank you

personally. Sorry I can‘t come to each of you and

shake your hands and thank you in person, but alas

my wife will not be able to travel for some time yet. But

believe me when I say this….‖The Stimson crew

(regardless of when you served on her) is truly a family

and will remain so long after I am gone‖. For those

that wish they could contribute, but just can‘t manage,

I understand and I am still thankful for your prayers. I

truly believe that prayer has brought my wife this far

and we still have a long way to go. Again, to my entire

Stimson family, Thank You So Much for your help. It

will go a long way towards helping us get back on the

road to recovery and hope to see more of you in the

future. Who knows, maybe we will rub elbows at a

5

reunion…. and other charity organizations). Charles

(Chuck) Linhart

8.2.15 Chuck has a request for his wife. 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.)

========================================

TM2(SS) Doug Cooper B 71-74

IC3(SS) Lemar Mark Boone G 80-82

ET3(SS) Robert Belden G/B Decom 90-93

SK3(SS) Eric A. Smith B Decom 89-93

MT1(SS) Dickie C. Davidson G 74-77

IC3(SS) David Kelly B 74-78

TM1(SS) Larry Hibbert B Comm/Plank Owner 65-71

CDR Rick Towner G Commanding Officer 90-92

YN3(SS) Steve Freeman G 73-75

MM2(SS) Steven Duquenoy G 72-76

RM2(SS) Bernie Munoz G 76-80

The following shipmates were found using the

USSVI National Database. If anyone knows the crew

they were on notify 655webmaster@ssbn655.org

EN3(SS) Jim Den-bleyker ? 69

CWO2 Earl Brant ? 90-92

SK1(SS) Aaron Andrew Ervin Sr. B 68-70

IC3(SS) Gilbert ‗Skip‘ Gallagher B 67-69

LCDR Mike Giambattista B 65-67 Plank Owner

CS2(SS) Dennis Gibson G 67-71

MM? (SS) Curtis V. Godfrey Sr. ? 65-68

ET? (SS) Donald Godfrey Sr. ? 76

————————————————————————

LOOKING FOR SHIPMATE

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

6

**********

The $20 Bill

Followup to the story about the boy who found a

$20 bill and gave it to a soldier

http://nethugs.com/heartwarming/ohio-boys-gift-to

-soldier/

**********

South-West Pre-Flight Announcement

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/

TxNrizGdhtY?

vq=hd720&rel=0&showinfo=0&start=0&end=

**********

Mayo Clinic Atrium Piano Impromptu Performance

https://www.youtube.com/embed/RI-l0tK8Ok0?

rel=0

**********

The Army's Spectacular Hidden Treasure Room

http://www.buzzfeed.com/bennyjohnson/inside-the

-armys-spectacular-hidden-treasure-

room#.lamlegNnk

**********

Ohio Class Ballistic Missile Submarine Info

http://www.military-today.com/navy/

ohio_class.htm

**********

Origin of the National Anthem

This is truly awesome. It might even make your skin

tingle. It should be seen by every American.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/YaxGNQE5ZLA

**********

Another Beautiful WWII Story

Another example of "don't judge a person by what you

see"!!!!

http://usoonpatrol.org/archives/2010/09/07/

leadership-and-the-janitor

**********

So That‟s How You Move Giant Submarines!

https://www.warhistoryonline.com/military-vehicle-

news/how-you-move-giant-submarines.html?

src=fba&type=int&page=who

**********

The Evolution of the American Submarine

http://img09.deviantart.net/c972/i/2015/336/b/4/

evolution_of_the_american_submarine_poster_by

_sfreeman421-d3duzah.jpg

**********

WWII Spitfire Pilot

Just watch the expression on his face as he watches

himself. We owe a BIG thank you to men like him.

18 years old, all alone, behind enemy lines, no guns,

no escort. It was truly the greatest generation.

We owe them so much.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/ie3SrjLlcUY

————————————————————————

This article was forwarded to us by Earle Forbes

TMC G 65-69

Removal of “men” from U.S. Naval Terminology

A recent column form a retired Master Chief in

Proceedings rants against Secy Mabus' report that he

wants "men" removed from navy terminology, such as

torpedomen. By Obama's orders to him & SECDEF. A

member of the USCS (a retired Lt. Commander) has

written a letter to Proceeding as follows:

It is a sad day, for years I have eagerly opened

Proceedings to From the Deckplates by SCPO Jim

Murphy, and read them all. While it would be

impossible to agree with the astute senior chief on all

matters, in the case of More, Not Less, I could not

have agreed more, not less! His observations about

the removal of the ‗man‘ appellation to naval

terminology are right on the mark. My questions are

simply, where will this silliness go next? And did our

leadership miss the 5th grade class where the teacher

hammered home the definition of the word ‗man‘ as

being all-inclusive of humanity, regardless of

gender? Will the word ‗mankind‘ now have to be

eliminated? What will be substituted? Peoplekind?

Look just at naval terminology, and ask what could

be next if this trend is allowed to continue? Will the

term ‗mate‘ be next? Will someone now argue that a

boatswain‘s mate or gunner‘s mate implies a sexual

relationship, and therefore should be eliminated? And

what about a quartermaster? Does master imply male

dominance? Should it be changed to quartermaster

for men and quartermistress for women? Or perhaps

quarterpeople? And does the part of the word ‗quarter‘

offend by insinuating that it is not a whole person, just

one quarter of one? Maybe the rate should be

wholeperson, not quartermaster? As a former chief

quartermaster, I object! Chief wholeperson? What

about seaman ? Should it be called seaperson !! I

hope not. Time for the Goatlocker to speak up !!!!!!!!!!!

Flood SECNAV with protests. Officers included that

7

were mustangs............

Senior Chief Murphy, your commonsense voice will

be sorely missed. Hopefully, some man (or woman)

will step forward from the ranks to attempt to fill your

really big manshoes.

I suspect Proceedings will not publish it.

————————————————————————

Sent in by TM1 Larry Hibbert B Com/Plank 65-71

The picture is of half a DC plug that was removed

from the ship by me and Jim White. We found it

sticking out of a hull penetration after a dry-dock visit.

Don‘t remember when (about 67-71) but he and I

(Deck Division LPO) walked around the ship after the

ship was inspected, admiring our ship, before pumping

the dry-dock down. After we discovered this problem,

he lifted me up and I was able to knock it out of the

AMR1 area. We didn‘t say anything about it being

missed in the final inspection but we kept it as a

memento. We used to hide it in each other‘s spaces

before Capt. Hall or Capt. Cruden would inspect the

ship after field days. They never found it but there

were times we got nervous if we hadn't found it before

the inspection. We were very creative and competitive

when hiding it, trying to get the other in trouble. When

I left the ship in 71, Jim cut the plug in half and

mounted it so we both have the plug and a smile from

the memory. Larry

————————————————————————

THE ANSWERS WILL BE ON THE TIP OF YOUR

TONGUE, BUT YOU JUST CAN'T QUITE

REMEMBER THE CORRECT ONE.

ANSWERS AT THE END ...DON'T PEEK UNTIL YOU

HAVE TRIED TO FIGURE IT OUT.

A TEST FOR 'OLDER' KIDS. Have some fun my

sharp-witted friends. This is a test for us 'older kids'!

The answers are printed near the end of the newsletter

but don't cheat! Answer them first.....

*****************

01. After the Lone Ranger saved the day and rode off

into the sunset, the grateful citizens would ask, Who

was that masked man? Invariably, someone would

answer, I don't know, but he left this behind. What did

he leave behind? ________________.

02. When the Beatles first came to the U.S. In early

1964, we all watched them on The ____ ___________

Show.

03. 'Get your kicks, __ _________ _______.'

04. 'The story you are about to see is true. The names

have been changed to _____ _ _____.'

05. 'In the jungle, the mighty jungle, ____ ____ ____

____.'

06. After the Twist, The Mashed Potato, and the

Watusi, we 'danced' under a stick that was lowered as

low as we could go in a dance called the '_____.'

07. Nestle's makes the very best.... _________.'

08. Satchmo was America‘s 'Ambassador of Goodwill.'

Our parents shared this great jazz trumpet player with

us. His name was

______ ___________.

09. What takes a licking and keeps on ticking?

_______.

10. Red Skeleton's hobo character was named

______ ___ ________ and Red always ended his

television show by saying, 'Good Night, and '________

________ '

11. Some Americans who protested the Vietnam War

did so by burning their ______ _______.

12. The cute little car with the engine in the back and

the trunk in the front was called the VW. What other

names did it go by? ___ & _______.

13. In 1971, singer Don MacLean sang a song about,

'the day the music died.' This was a tribute to _______

____________.

14. We can remember the first satellite placed into

orbit. The Russians did it. It was called __________.

15. One of the big fads of the late 50's and 60's was a

large plastic ring that we twirled around our waist. It

was called the ______ _____ .

16. Remember LS/MFT _____ _____/_____ _____

_____?

8

17. Hey Kids! What time is it? It's _____ ______

_____!

18. Who knows what secrets lie in the hearts of men?

Only The _____ Knows!

19. There was a song that came out in the 60's that

was "a grave yard smash". It's name was the ______

______!

20. Alka Seltzer used a "boy with a tablet on his head"

as it's Logo/Representative. What was the boy's

name? ________

————————————————————————

FCET Success: SSBN Launches Fleet Ballistic

Missiles

John M. Daniels, Strategic Systems Programs

Public Affairs Officer, Mar 16

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, an Ohio class

ballistic missile submarine assigned to Submarine

Group 10, completed a Follow-on Commander's

Evaluation Test (FCET) with the launch of three

Trident II D5 missiles.

Designated FCET-52, and spanning a three-day

period, the operation marked the 158th, 159th, and

160th successful test flights of the Trident II D5

missile. The primary objective of an FCET is to obtain,

under operationally representative conditions, valid

reliability, accuracy, and performance of the missile

system for use by Commander, Strategic Command

and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Safety of the public was paramount throughout the

mission. The missiles were unarmed and all launches

were conducted from the sea, flew over the sea, and

landed in the sea. At no time did the missiles fly over

land.

A credible, effective nuclear deterrent is essential to

our national security and the security of U.S. allies and

friends. Strategic weapons tests, exercises and

operations such as FCET-52 demonstrate the

readiness of the submarine launched Trident II missile.

As the most survivable leg of our strategic deterrent

Triad, it provides the national command authority with

assured second-strike capability.

For more information, please contact Strategic

Systems Program public affairs officer at:

John.daniels@ssp.navy.mil

————————————————————————

Navy Taps First African-American Woman From

ROTC For Sub Service

(NEW LONDON DAY 09 MAR 16) ... Julia Bergman

Midshipmen 1st Class Nsombi Roberts got her first

taste of life aboard a submarine when she spent a

week underway on the Groton-based attack submarine

USS Virginia this past summer.

"You don't notice that you're actually in water as

much as you do on a ship," Roberts said of her time on

the Virginia, which she "really enjoyed."

The crew was "very welcoming" to her and the

other Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps

midshipmen aboard, who all had an interest in the

submarine force and were there to observe.

Roberts is a senior majoring in chemistry with a

minor in mathematics at Southern University and A&M

College in Baton Rouge, La. She's also a member of

NROTC, one of the ways to enter the Navy during

college. Upon graduating, NROTC midshipmen

become commissioned Naval officers.

The USS Virginia experience was something the 22

-year-old Palm Bay, Fla., native highlighted last fall in

an interview with Adm. James F. Caldwell Jr., director

of the naval nuclear propulsion program. The interview

was the last step in the submarine selection process,

which Roberts started about a year ago. Shortly after

the interview - what felt like 30 seconds later, Roberts

said- she was told she'd been selected for submarine

service.

She is the first African-American woman from

NROTC, and one of only five women from across

NROTC, to be selected.

"I was definitely excited," Roberts said. "The first

thing I wanted to do was to call my mom, but I didn't

have my cellphone."

Her mom had been calling all day to check in, but

Roberts didn't have her cellphone on her since the

interview took place in a building that has restricted

access.

"It's definitely hitting me," Roberts said of being one

of a small number of women selected so far to serve

on submarines. "I'm in a bigger light now and a lot of

people are noticing me. Some people actually are

looking up to me to be successful. So (there's)

definitely a little bit of pressure, but good pressure."

She recently received a letter from the office of Vice

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michelle Howard

9

congratulating her.

"I was definitely shocked and a little shaken ... just

getting anything from her or her office is a big deal for

me," Roberts said.

Already thinking about serving 20 years in the

Navy, Roberts has her sights set on commanding a

submarine one day. As she explained, she's the type

of person who "needs a challenge to be interested and

engaged all the time."

Since meeting her two years ago, Lt. Kevin

Zimmerly, submarine warfare officer at Southern

University NROTC, said Roberts has talked to him

frequently about becoming a submariner.

"She knew a lot about the program already,"

Zimmerly said. He filled in the remaining details.

Zimmerly interviewed Roberts nine times, asking her

questions involving calculus and physics, to prepare

her for her two technical interviews and the interview

with Adm. Caldwell.

Roberts has held a number of leadership positions

within the NROTC program while maintaining good

grades and a busy schedule.

As one of four platoon commanders this semester,

Roberts is one of the people the 13 members of her

platoon turn to if they have a problem. She also helps

to disseminate information from her superiors to her

platoon members.

"We're all midshipmen, but we're all college

students as well," Roberts said. "So we understand the

balance between that and with me being a senior, it's

easy to help anybody who has a problem because

most likely I've gone through it."

After graduating in May, Roberts will have to

complete nuclear power training in Charleston, S.C.,

and nuclear prototype training in either Charleston or

Ballston, N.Y., each of which takes six months, before

starting at the Naval Submarine School in Groton.

Ultimately, if she completes sub school and any

other required training, she'll be assigned as a division

officer aboard a submarine.

http://www.theday.com/military/20160309/navy-taps-

first-african-american-woman-from-rotc-for-sub-service

————————————————————————

Russian Boomers Set To Conduct Largest Live-

Fire Drill In 25 Years

Dave Majumdar, THE NATIONAL INTEREST, Mar 9

The Russian Navy is set to conduct a massive live-

fire nuclear exercise on a scale not seen since before

the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Two new 24,000-ton Project 955 Borei-class

ballistic missile submarines are participating in the

exercise. Of the two Northern Fleet boats participating

– Yury Dolgoruky and Vladimir Monomakh – one will

sequentially launch its entire payload of sixteen RSM-

56 Bulava missiles in a drill that replicates the Soviet-

era Begemot II exercise which took place in August

1991 – reports the Russian media outlet Izvestia. It‘s

not clear which of the two boomers will conduct the

test.

The Russians want to confirm that the new

submarines will be able to launch all sixteen ballistic

missiles in sequence from a depth of 164ft while the

boat is operating at sea states of between six and

seven. At those sea states, waves can be anywhere

from 13ft to 30ft in height.

This is the second time Russia has attempted to

launch all sixteen missiles sequentially from a Borei.

According to Izvestia, Vladimir Monomakh made the

attempt last year but aborted after taking only two

shots because one Bulava missile self-destructed

while the other did not meet accuracy standards even

though it reached the test site in Kura. The remaining

Bulava missiles were sent back to the manufacturer

where it was discovered that some of the missiles

were defective due to poor workmanship. Thus far, the

Russians have not had much luck with the Bulava,

with only fifteen out of twenty-four launched being

completely successful, Izvestia reports.

The last time Russia successfully launched all

sixteen missiles from a ballistic missile submarine in

sequence was during the August 1991 Begemot II

10

exercise. During that test – the last ever conducted by

the Soviet Union – a Project 667BDRM Delfin-class

(NATO: Delta IV) ballistic missile submarine called

Novomoskovsk successfully launched sixteen RSM-54

Skif ballistic missiles.

Because of the previous failures, the Russians are

watching the performance of the Bulava‘s rocket motor

closely during this test. Russia or the United States

would only ever launch every missile onboard a

boomer during a full-scale nuclear war – either as a

retaliatory strike or launching an offensive first strike.

Dave Majumdar is the defense editor for the

National Interest.

————————————————————————

Submarine Chapel Renews Weekly Services

MC2 Michael H. Lee, Pacific Submarine Force

Public Affairs, Mar 9

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii

- After a decades-long absence of traditional worship,

families now have the chance to join together at one of

the most historic houses of devotion at Joint Base

Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

The congregation hopes to bring new life and

attention to the Submarine Memorial Chapel by

holding weekly Sunday morning services.

"It's the oldest chapel at Pearl Harbor," said Cmdr.

Joseph R. Primeaux, chaplain for the Pacific

Submarine Force. "It's been unused for the longest

time for public worship."

The chapel was built in remembrance of all the

submariners who died during World War II. The

dedication ceremony on Sept. 10, 1944, was attended

by more than 400 personnel, including Adm. Chester

Nimitz and Rear Adm. Charles Lockwood.

For reasons forgotten by time, religious worship

services ceased during the early 2000s. Service

members and veterans from various communities

have continued to conduct monthly bell-tolling

ceremonies, retirements, weddings and other services.

But now, a congregation has re-formed at the chapel

to share regular religious services. The new weekly

services returned Nov. 22, 2015.

"It's meaningful to me because it takes me back to

my roots," said James Gardner, an Air Force retiree

and head usher for the new congregation. "It's

grounded in religious beliefs with an emphasis on the

service person. Attending this service has reinforced

that background."

The chapel beautifully retains much of its former

catholic-inspired style through 13 stain-glass windows.

Twelve windows represent World War II submariners

that began their eternal patrol during each month of

the year, and the remaining window represents all

submarines and submariners past and present. The

church bell was donated by the crew of USS Argonaut

(SS 166) before the ship and her crew were lost during

a wartime patrol Jan. 10, 1943.

Today, the chapel doors remain open to visitors

seeking to pay respect to lost World War II submarines

and submariners during monthly bell tolling

ceremonies, or for those wishing to further explore

their faith.

"You learn about the moral side of life," Primeaux

said of the opportunity to visit for services at the

historic building. "The things that make you a better

person and the things that can even help you elevate

your career."

The Submarine Memorial Chapel holds a special

place in the submarine community, but the religious

heritage, since 1944, continues to grow through its

congregation.

"I would love to see this congregation grow,

become a full church, and walk in and see the pews

completed filled," Gardner said.

Protestant traditional worship service is now held

every Sunday at 10 a.m

————————————————————————

Cemetery Watchman

My friend Kevin and I are volunteers at a National

cemetery in Oklahoma and put in a few days a month

in a 'slightly larger' uniform. Today had been a long,

long day and I just wanted to get the day over with and

go down to Smokey's and have a cold one. Sneaking

a look at my watch, I saw the time, 16:55. Five minutes

to go before the cemetery gates are closed for the day.

Full dress was hot in the August sun Oklahoma

summertime was as bad as ever--the heat and

humidity at the same level--both too high.

I saw the car pull into the drive, '69 or '70 model

Cadillac Deville, looked factory-new. It pulled into the

parking lot at a snail's pace. An old woman got out so

slow I thought she was paralyzed; she had a cane and

a sheaf of flowers--about four or five bunches as best I

could tell.

11

I couldn't help myself. The thought came unwanted,

and left a slightly bitter taste: 'She's going to spend an

hour, and for this old soldier, my hip hurts like hell and

I'm ready to get out of here right now!' But for this day,

my duty was to assist anyone coming in. Kevin would

lock the 'In' gate and if I could hurry the old biddy

along, we might make it to Smokey's in time.

I broke post attention. My hip made gritty noises

when I took the first step and the pain went up a notch.

I must have made a real military sight: middle-aged

man with a small pot gut and half a limp, in marine full-

dress uniform, which had lost its razor crease about

thirty minutes after I began the watch at the cemetery.

I stopped in front of her, halfway up the walk.

She looked up at me with an old woman's squint.

'Ma'am, may I assist you in any way?'

She took long enough to answer. 'Yes, son. Can

you carry these flowers? I seem to be moving a tad

slow these days.'

'My pleasure, ma'am.' (Well, it wasn't too much of a

lie.)

She looked again. 'Marine, where were you

stationed?'

'Vietnam, ma'am. Ground-pounder. '69 to '71.'

She looked at me closer. 'Wounded in action, I see.

Well done, Marine. I'll be as quick as I can. '

I lied a little bigger: 'No hurry, ma'am.'

She smiled and winked at me. 'Son, I'm 85-years-

old and I can tell a lie from a long way off. Let's get this

done. Might be the last time I can do this. My name's

Joanne Wieserman, and I've a few Marines I'd like to

see one more time.. '

Yes, ma 'am. At your service. '

She headed for the World War I section, stopping

at a stone. She picked one of the flower bunches out

of my arm and laid it on top of the stone. She

murmured something I couldn't quite make out. The

name on the marble was Donald S. Davidson, USMC:

France 1918.

She turned away and made a straight line for the

World War II section, stopping at one stone I saw a

tear slowly tracking its way down her cheek. She put a

bunch on a stone; the name was Stephen X.

Davidson, USMC, 1943.

She went up the row a ways and laid another

bunch on a stone, Stanley J. Wieserman, USMC,

1944. She paused for a second and more tears

flowed. 'Two more, son, and we'll be done ‘

I almost didn't say anything, but, 'Yes, ma'am. Take

your time.'

She looked confused. 'Where's the Vietnam

section, son? I seem to have lost my way. '

I pointed with my chin. 'That way, ma'am.'

'Oh!' she chuckled quietly. 'Son, me and old age

ain't too friendly. ' She headed down the walk I'd

pointed at. She stopped at a couple of stones before

she found the ones she wanted. She placed a bunch

on Larry Wieserman, USMC, 1968, and the last on

Darrel Wieserman, USMC, 1970. She stood there and

murmured a few words I still couldn't make out and

more tears flowed.

'OK, son, I'm finished. Get me back to my car and

you can go home.'

'Yes, ma'am. If I may ask, were those your kinfolk? '

She paused. 'Yes, Donald Davidson was my father,

Stephen was my uncle, Stanley was my husband,

Larry and Darrel were our sons. All killed in action, all

Marines.' She stopped! Whether she had finished, or

couldn't finish, I don't know. She made her way to her

car, slowly and painfully. I waited for a polite distance

to come between us and then double-timed it over to

Kevin, waiting by the car.

'Get to the 'Out' gate quick. I have something I‘ve

got to do. ' Kevin started to say something, but saw the

look I gave him. He broke the rules to get us down the

service road fast. We beat her. She hadn't made it

around the rotunda yet.

'Kevin, stand at attention next to the gatepost.

Follow my lead.' I humped it across the drive to the

other post. When the Cadillac came puttering around

from the hedges and began the short straight traverse

to the gate, I called in my best gunny's voice:

'TehenHut! Present Haaaarms!' I have to hand it to

Kevin; he never blinked an eye--full dress attention

and a salute that would make his DI proud.

She drove through that gate with two old worn-out

soldiers giving her a send-off she deserved, for service

rendered to her country, and for knowing duty, honor

and sacrifice far beyond the realm of most. I am not

sure, but I think I saw a salute returned from that

Cadillac.

Instead of 'The End,' just think of 'Taps.' As a final

thought on my part, let me share a favorite prayer:

'Lord, keep our servicemen and women safe, whether

12

they serve at home or overseas. Hold them in your

loving hands and protect them as they protect us.'

Let's all keep those currently serving and those who

have gone before in our thoughts. They are the reason

for the many freedoms we enjoy.

'In God We Trust.'

Sorry about your monitor; it made mine blurry too!

————————————————————————

Opening the floor for questions can be disastrous.

A doctor addressing a large audience in Oxford.

"The material we put into our stomachs should

have killed most of us sitting here, years ago. Red

meat is full of steroids and dye. Soft drinks corrode

your stomach lining. Chinese food is loaded with MSG.

High trans-fat diets can be disastrous and none of us

realizes the long-term harm caused by germs in our

drinking water. But, there is one thing that is the most

dangerous of all and most of us have, or will eat it.

Can anyone here tell me what food it is that causes

the most grief and suffering for years after eating it?"

After several seconds of quiet, a 70-year-old man in

the front row raised his hand, and softly said,

"Wedding Cake"............

————————————————————————

VERY LONG...VERY GOOD READING - Nick

Ice Cream And Individualism: Leadership Lessons

From A U.S. Navy Submarine

Rodd Wagner, Forbes, June 8

The crew of the attack submarine USS California is

still talking about the ice cream they had to leave on

the dock in Haakonsvern, Norway. In restocking for

their next voyage across and under the Atlantic

Ocean, they had no space left to store the frozen

dessert.

That was more than six months ago. It still bothers

them.

Perhaps because so many of the basics such as

sunlight, space and being with family must be

subordinated to the boat‘s mission, some smaller

indulgences become obsessions. On the California,

one of them is ice cream.

―Sometimes it‘s the little things,‖ said Senior Chief

Electronics Technician John Glamm. ―You‘ve been

going for 20 hours and just to sit down with a bowl of

ice cream...‖ His voice trailed off as it became

reverential.

―Food is absolutely a motivator for the crew,‖ said

Commander Eric Sager, captain of the California. ―Ice

cream is a big deal, not just the ice cream we make on

board, but ice cream made on shore.‖

To understand why ice cream could become so

important on one of the U.S. Navy‘s newest class of

nuclear-powered attack submarines, one must

appreciate – as much as someone who is not a

submariner can – all the differences between the

crew‘s lives and everyone else‘s. There is no better

example of what it takes to get a large group of people

to perform under extreme conditions than inside a

submarine.

At any time, roughly 1,100 officers and 9,100

enlisted men and women are serving aboard U.S.

Navy submarines. The California is one of 71 vessels

spread around the globe, patrolling, spying, following

other adversaries‘ subs and ships, protecting

American aircraft carriers and sneaking Navy SEALs

to hostile coastlines. Fourteen are solely dedicated to

carrying nuclear ballistic missiles to deter North Korea,

Russia or China from using their nukes. Their locations

are highly classified.

What‘s often obscured in the seriousness, the

secrecy and the technology is that each submarine is

a submerged workplace. Each officer is a manager.

Each torpedoman, nuclear machinist, cook and

electrical technician is an employee. Human nature is

human nature; it‘s just under more pressure.

―Among the challenges presented by a submarine

deployment are a paucity of personal space, long

periods with no sunlight, an unusual day/night

schedule and extended periods of separation from

friends and loved ones with minimal communication,‖

states a 2009 report on psychological assessments of

submariners. ―When we combine these with a very

cognitively demanding workload, a requirement for

extremely high levels of job/task proficiency, a rigid

military hierarchy and no psychiatric support

underway, it becomes evident that the psychological

resilience of the crew needs to be greater than that

required for most jobs.‖

Few environments create a more challenging

environment for a leader to motivate his team.

Depending on the abilities of the commander and his

subordinate officers, the time under way sequestered

with his team can create camaraderie or hostility,

13

safety or injury, missions accomplished or missions

botched. Because of these pressures, submarines

have proved a unique lab for leadership, human

psychology and physiology and workplace safety.

When those who plan space expeditions want to

understand the stresses astronauts will have during

long periods in orbit, they look to subs.

Commanding a submarine requires a thorough

working knowledge of nuclear power, sonar, naval

battle tactics, potential enemy capabilities and dozens

of other specialties. Effectively leading the crew

requires a thorough working knowledge of each

officer‘s and sailor‘s personality and family

circumstances, how he takes coaching and

recognition, how he learns best, and when to request

the six cooks aboard make pizza to give the crew a

shot in the arm.

The California is the eighth of 11 Virginia-class

attack subs currently in service. Four more are under

construction. The boat (it‘s frowned on to call a U.S.

Navy ship a boat, but it‘s considered a correct term for

a submarine) is 377-feet-long and can travel at speeds

over 25 knots when submerged. It can remain below

the surface for three months at a time.

Most of what it‘s done and all of what it will do is

classified. ―My wife sends me these long emails. I

don‘t have much news; I can‘t really talk about the

job,‖ said Lt. Robert Block. ―I just respond to what she

writes.‖

The best hints of what the California has done, will

do or could do come from the published capabilities of

the sub and its sister boats. A Virginia-class submarine

has four forward-facing tubes to fire torpedoes at

enemy ships or subs. It has 12 vertical launch tubes to

fire Tomahawk missiles at targets on land. It can get

Navy SEALs onto shore either by a mini-sub attached

to the hull or through a nine-man compartment within

the hull that can be filled with water, opened to the

ocean and then closed and refilled with air.

The California does a lot of listening. Sonar arrays

are mounted on the sail, at several points along the

hull, below the bow and aimed in nearly every direction

from a sphere inside the sound-permeable bow. These

feed a wall of green-on-black computer screens on the

port side of the control room manned by five sonar

specialists trained to hear slight differences in what

anyone else would perceive as hiss and static. ―Yep,

there‘s a dolphin in there,‖ said Sonar Chief Michael

Lasater at the sound of a click off the port side of the

bow during recent operations off the coast of Florida.

Male or female? a visitor asked. ―Well, we‘re not that

good.‖

The California is one of the Navy‘s best spies.

Rather than a traditional periscope, the boat is topped

with masts packed with cameras, antennas, and

electronics that capture visible and infrared light,

detect radar from ships and planes, and pick up

signals from many miles away when it patrols just

under the surface near the shore of a hostile country.

The unavoidable soft spot in a Navy sub is its

people. The boat never shuts down, but sailors have to

sleep. The nuclear reactor that powers the California

has enough fuel to power the boat for its full life,

roughly 33 years. But fresh fruit and milk for the crew

that last only about a week. Special wax-coated fresh

eggs can last a month. And given how much 130 men

eat (no women serve yet on the California) the boat

runs out of dried, frozen and canned food somewhere

between 80 and 120 days, even when provisions are

packed so tightly there‘s no room for the Norwegian

ice cream.

The sonar, digital imaging, weaponry and

navigation systems are designed to never fail. But how

can the captain ensure a man who had to interrupt

sleep for his assigned time with the one washing

machine and dryer on board will be alert enough to

spot a threat late in his shift and months into the

voyage?

―The most fascinating part of this job is the human

interaction,‖ said Commander Sager. ―The

components of the submarine are predictable,

because they‘re technology. When there‘s a problem

with a person, you don‘t know how they‘ll react

because you don‘t know what‘s inside that person.

Most of my conversations with my officers are about

the men, not the submarine.‖

What submarine officers learn is a concentrated

form of what every effective leader comes to know –

that the most important things they accomplish are

through the support of their crews. ―I came into the

Navy because I wanted to be war hero. I wanted to

sink Russian submarines. I wanted to have medals on

my chest, to have movies made about me,‖ said Brad

McDonald, a retired Navy captain who is the second of

14

three generations of submariners in his family. ―Once

I‘d been here, what I found out was that I‘m sheriff and

judge to these men. I‘m their mother and their father,

their brother, their priest, their marriage counselor,

their financial advisor, their doctor. You have to take

care of these guys. I learned that if I take care of these

sailors, they‘ll take care of the ship.‖

Taking care of the sailors is no small

accomplishment. Assuming there are no SEALs and

their gear or extra torpedoes on board, there‘s a little

room to work out in the torpedo room. Otherwise, the

exercise bike gets pushed into a cramped space and

the pull-up bar is a pipe strapped among the overhead

conduits. ―It helps with your form, because you have to

be careful not to hit your head,‖ said Lt. Block.

Bunks are stacked three high in the enlisted

quarters, two high in some officers‘ areas. The

captain‘s quarters are the size of a small walk-in

closet. Thirty of the crew must ―hot-bunk‖ – three men,

two bunks – the awakening sailor pulling his sheets off

the mattress to make way for the next guy.

The showers are hot, but two minutes short. (Any

longer and the sailor is scorned for going ―Hollywood.‖)

Taking longer than 10 minutes to eat is considered

―camping out.‖ The only time a submariner gets to be

upright and inhabiting the same spot for long is when

he‘s at his station on duty.

Sleep is often in shifts of a few hours, particularly

for the ―non-quals‖ yet to earn the respected dolphin

insignia. Among them is Lt. Junior Grade Robert

Murphy, who when not on duty can often be found with

a computer at his right hand and with the periscope

training manual in his left. What does he like best

about his job? ―It‘s a short commute, and they feed

me‖ he said, smiling, then adds more seriously, ―I am

always learning something new every day.‖

There‘s a lot of improvising. ―We have a guy who‘s

kind of been trained in how to cut hair, but if you think

about it, 130 guys and we‘re a couple days from port?

That‘s a lot of hair,‖ said Lt. Block. ―So we end up

cutting each other‘s hair. In here, we have to trust

each other with a lot – including our hair.‖

Because of the close quarters and everyone

touching the same surfaces, if one man brings the flu

on board, almost everyone gets sick. ―We call him

‗Patient Zero,‘‖ said the lieutenant.

Being almost entirely cut off from the United States,

it really matters what‘s in the box of new DVDs when

they leave port. Submarine movies are out, because

the audience nitpicks the details and they see enough

submarine already. When they surface, the men find

they are culturally out of touch. ―What do you mean

Robin Williams died? There‘s a Taken 3?‖ said Senior

Chief Glamm. ―The only NFL game we saw last year

was the Super Bowl.‖

The crew of the California (and their families, the

commander would hasten to add) make these

sacrifices because they believe in the submarine‘s role

in protecting the United States. ―We will be called upon

to execute the full spectrum of both peacetime and

wartime missions, ranging from intelligence collection

to kinetic warfare,‖ states the leadership principles

Commander Sager distributed to his officers.

Senior Chief Glamm puts it succinctly: ―They (other

nations) know we‘re there. There‘s a reason there

hasn‘t been a major naval battle in a long time.‖

An organization‘s mission, particularly one as

crucial as the Navy‘s, will motivate people to go

beyond their previous limits, to deprive themselves of

much of what they would otherwise need. ―Once

you‘re underway, you‘re a different person than when

you‘re on shore,‖ said Lt. Block. However, the

research is clear that those deprivations will eventually

take their toll, no matter how noble the mission. In

such tight quarters, the morale of the crew can be

sensed, said the captain. ―I have to build in downtime

for the crew,‖ he said. ―No one‘s going to do that for

me; that‘s my responsibility.‖

For Commander Sager, the key to the California

executing its missions, to an officer or sailor

succeeding under such extreme circumstances, and to

his effectiveness as a leader is understanding each

crewman‘s unique personality and who he‘s left on

land. ―It‘s not about him as a member of the workforce;

it‘s about him as an individual.‖

―I‘ve learned over 17 years (in the submarine

service) how to read someone pretty well,‖ he said.

Failing that, ―just simply asking them will do it.‖ Does

he keep a mental file on each member of his crew? ―I

have a written file! I take notes every time I meet with

someone – how he and I interacted, how it went.‖

Some months ago, one of his officers was directing

the boat as it rose to periscope depth. The operation is

15

deadly serious; a mistake could cause the submarine

to be detected in hostile waters, take on water, or –

exceptionally rarely – cause a collision with a surface

ship. The ―officer of the deck‖ must quickly assimilate

information from the pilot and co-pilot at the forward

end of the control room, the sonar operators to his left,

weapons people to this right, and the navigators in the

center of the room. He must be decisive – and right.

Nearly everything happening in the submarine,

including how the cooks are timing meal preparations

around the angle of the kitchen as it rises or dives, is

in response to that officer‘s commands.

The officer of the deck was becoming unnerved.

Commander Sager stood at his side. ―I leaned over

and whispered to him, ‗You‘re shaking,‘ and then I

said, ‗It‘s okay.‘‖ The captain continued to quietly

coach his junior officer until the operation was

complete. ―After we safely reached the surface, I

recommended he step away and compose himself,

maybe splash some water on his face. I said that

because I know him. It was the right way to handle it

with him. With someone else, there might have been a

different way that would have worked best.‖

The boat‘s mission always takes priority, but if an

officer or sailor really needs it and the circumstances

can accommodate it, the commander‘s authority

allows him to rise to periscope depth and connect the

submariner with home by satellite. ―I‘m building buy-in

from the crew by investing in their families. I will leave

a man in port for the birth of a child,‖ said the captain.

―It‘s not something I can promise; there‘s always a cost

to being one person down. But I think it‘s important he

be there for a birth.‖

Commander Sager‘s focus on each crewman is

part of a broader trend in the military to appreciate that

however standard the ranks, pay grades,

responsibilities, training, and uniforms, each member

of the services brings a unique bearing, abilities, and

vulnerabilities to the mission. A parallel trend runs

through civilian organizations. ―Honestly,‖ said the

commander, ―I don‘t think I would approach it any

differently if I‘d been in the corporate world.‖

If the average workplace were sealed up for a few

months, chances are when the doors were reopened,

inside would be a circus. Assuming there hadn‘t been

a mutiny, no one would want to hear another word

from the CEO or the rest of the leadership. Colleagues

would be at each other‘s throats. No one would sign

on for another stint under those conditions. Little would

have been accomplished.

But the Navy submarine fleet creates exceptional

levels of accomplishment under trying conditions.

Where they succeed, they do it not because they

recruit super-humans, not ultimately through military

compulsion, not because they have some trick to

suspend the laws of human nature, but because a long

history of failures and successes taught them how to

combine the elements of leadership and support that

gets non-quals their dolphins and makes serving

undersea an invigorating experience, even if the

Norwegian ice cream must be left behind.

Under the right conditions, it‘s quite amazing what

people can do, and just how much they will accomplish

under leadership that is invested in their success. ―I

am working on empowering them,‖ said Commander

Sager. ―I want to help them reach above their seniority

level. It‘s my responsibility to make each of these

officers a commanding officer and to help each of the

sailors accomplish all they can. The mark of my

leadership is how each of them succeeds.‖

————————————————————————

British Royal Navy

Astute-class submarines HMS Artful (left) and HMS

Astute (right), at HM Naval Base Clyde, also known as

Faslane.

————————————————————————

Classic Government

A guy stopped at a local gas station, and after filling

his tank, he paid the bill and bought a soft drink. He

stood by his car to drink his cola and watched a couple

of men working along the roadside.

One man would dig a hole two or three feet deep

and then move on. The other man came along behind

16

him and filled in the hole. So, while one was digging a

new hole, the other was 25 feet behind filling in the

hole. The men worked right past the guy with the soft

drink and went on down the road.

"I can't stand this," said the man tossing the can

into a trash container and headed down the road

toward the men. "Hold it, hold it," he said to the men.

"Can you tell me what is going on here with all

this digging and refilling?"

The first man replied, "Well, we work for the

government and we are just doing our job."

"But one of you is digging a hole and the other fills

it up. You are not accomplishing anything. Aren't you

wasting taxpayer money?"

"You don't understand, mister," The first man said,

leaning on his shovel and wiping his brow. "Normally

there are three of us: Me, an' Elmer, an' Leroy. I dig

the hole, Elmer sticks in the tree, and Leroy here puts

the dirt back. But ya see, with the government

cutbacks, they are NOT buying any more trees so

Elmer's job has been cut. So now it's just me an'

Leroy."

————————————————————————

ANSWERS TO A TEST FOR OLDER KIDS

01.The Lone Ranger left behind a silver bullet.

02. The Ed Sullivan Show

03. On Route 66

04.To protect the innocent.

05.The Lion Sleeps Tonight

06. The limbo

07. Chocolate

08. Louis Armstrong

09. The Timex watch

10. Freddy, The Freeloader and 'Good Night and God

Bless.'

11. Draft cards (Bras were also burned. Not flags, as

some have guessed)

12. Beetle or Bug

13. Buddy Holly

14. Sputnik

15. Hoola-hoop

16. Lucky Strike/Means Fine Tobacco

17. Howdy Doody Time

18. Shadow

19.Monster Mash

20. Speedy

Send this to your 'older' friends, (Better known as

Seniors.) It will drive them crazy! And keep them busy.

Not many people can say “Been there...Done

that!” Be proud that you can!!!

I definitely want one of these!!!!

17

18

19

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21

22

655B IC DIVISION DEC provided by Jerry Blevins, Blue Crew, 1976

1 _______________________________ 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

23

655B Wardroom Aug 76 provided by Jerry Blevins, Blue Crew, 1976

1 LCDR DON LAHATTA, XO 7 GERALD RAMSEY, NAV

2 LT JERRY BLEVINS 8 LT MARK BARNER, AWEPS

3 LCDR MAB MASSE 9 LT (FIRST NAME ?) HARDING, WEPS

4 CDR WILLIAM POWELL, CO 10 (FIRST NAME ?) DOUGHTERY, CHOP

5 _______________________________ 11 LT BILL MOORE, CHIEF ENGINEER

6 (FIRST NAME ?) BROWNLEE 12 ______________________________

13 ______________________________

24

Patrol #46, Gold Crew E-Div - 17DEC1980 - 31MAR1981

Photo provided by David Janka, EM1 B/G 79-85

Title & names provided by Gary Silverman, EM1 G 80-82

1 IC2(SS) Bruno de Stefano von Neis ―Bruno‖ 2 LTJG Bill O. McKeag, DIV Officer

3 EMC(SS) Russ H Mengel "Wingnut" Div CPO 4 EM2(SS) Dave Janka "Tweedle Dee"

5 IC2(SS) Jim G Kynast (IC2) 6 EM2 Mark C Wood

7 EM2(SS) James E Enoch "Big Ern" 8 IC1(SS) Elmer L Elfrank, Leading First

9 EM2(SS) Fred J Hudson "Tweedle Dum" 10 EM2 Gary W Silverman

11 EM1(SS) Danny L Bass

25

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!

Adkins, William Debisschop, Timothy Kelly, Dennis ETN2 B 70-75 Reidler, Ronald J.

Allfrey, Richard FTB1 B Degon, Vince Kinney, Wayne Reppert, Kevin

Allegretto, Mike MM2 Delano, Ken Kirkpatrick, Steven Rhodes, Ronald

Altman, Robert 'Bob' TM2 B Dewitt, David Kohankie Robert Robinson, Warren

Attlee, Steven Dreiss, Ray Lahatta, Don LCDR XO Rowan, William

Banfield, Ron Doughtery, ??? LT CHOP Lawrence, Marshall Rubright, David

Barker, Thomas Duell, Paul Liles, Michael Ruiz, Luiz

Barner, ??? Dyal, Don W. 'Gomer' Lizana, Rick Scoville, Scott

Barrett, James Edmiston, Ken Lothrop, Seelinger, James

Beck, Roger Ehlers, Joseph Lotspeich, Don FTCS COB Shannon, Mike

Blouse, Dan Ellard, Bryon Lubbs, Larry Shantz, Denton

Blue, Matthew Emerick, Glenn Luken, Ken IC2 Shepherd, Charles

Bluestone, Edward Findlater, Doug Manning, Eugene STS3 Sherlock, Martin

Bollman, Stephen Flannery, Aaron Mason, John Shields, Vaden

Bowser, James Jr. Fleming, Benjamin Matherly, David Sikora, Gregory

Bricker, Michael Fleming, Denvery Mazur, Joe Siler, Dennis

Brill, Doug Fonda, Carl McCarney, Clifford Silvestri, Henry

Brown, Ernie TMC Futral, Dave McConnell, Mark Smith, Charles

Brownlee, ??? Geisenburg, Nick Medvick, Michael Stewart James

Bryant, Ron ET1 G 69-?? Glover, Ron LCDR XO Miller, Donald Stine, Gene

Buckmaster, Jerry FTB3 B 70-75 Golightly, Steve MMCM COB Miller, Tony Stockton, N. Bradley

Bulalacao, 'DOC' HMC Gould, Harrell MT2 G/B 69-74 Milton, Jay Stortroen, Keith

Bullard, Patrick Graves, Richard Nelson, ?? FTBC B 73-75 Szeszko, David M.

Bullington, Scott Green, Earsel Neubecker, Andrew Tardiff, Henry

Burmeister, Wayne Griffith, Allen STSCS B COB Neuman, Mark Taylor, Jim

Busteed, Bob Gutierrez, James Nolen, John Tomasi, Max

Canup, Richard Hanks, Stewart Ochsner, Patrick Tomren, Gerald

Cardin, Joseph Harding, ??? LT WEPS Olsen, ?? MM1 G 66-69 Trotter, Daniel

Carey, Bill Harris, WIlbur Parham, Bryan Ugolini, Nicholas

Carr, Don Hatchell, John Pastiva, Stephen Jr. Vidulich, William T.

Carter, Joe MM1 Hayes, Robert Peterson, David Walenga, Craig

Champagne, Brian Herbert, Randy 'Bear' Petrak, David Wallace, Larry MM1 G 70-74

Chiarito, Michael MMFN G 71 Herzog, Willie Phipps, Mitchell Warren, Bill ET1

Claussen, Stephen Hinds, George Plue, Mike Watson, Herb

Cool, Arnold Hogan, Tom Porterfield, Glenn Wenzel, Paul

Cooley, Robert STS2 Holler, Eugene Powell, William CDR CO White, Don

Cooper, Denny Hollingsworth, Paul Pruitt, Michael Wieskamp, Gerald W.

Cooper, John F. Holtman, Bruce Putt, William Williams, Brian

Cope, Allan Hupe, Bill Ralston, David Williams, Miles E.

Couser, David Jackson, Mark YN2 Ransom, Patrick Wilson, Willy MM2

Craig, Jack E. STSC B 87-89 Jarvis, MM1 G 69-70 Rasmussen, Aaron Wimmer, Peter Thomas

Crawford, Christopher Johnson, Anthony Rasmussen, Bill Wright, David

Cruden, David Kee, Kerby Rathsam, Richard Young, Ron

Cullum, Ray Keiningham, Thomas Raven, Donald Youngman, David

Czarnecki, Anthony Keller, Mick

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!

Adkins, William Debisschop, Timothy Kelly, Dennis ETN2 B 70-75 Reidler, Ronald J.

Allfrey, Richard FTB1 B Degon, Vince Kinney, Wayne Reppert, Kevin

Allegretto, Mike MM2 Delano, Ken Kirkpatrick, Steven Rhodes, Ronald

Altman, Robert 'Bob' TM2 B Dewitt, David Kohankie Robert Robinson, Warren

Attlee, Steven Dreiss, Ray Lahatta, Don LCDR XO Rowan, William

Banfield, Ron Doughtery, ??? LT CHOP Lawrence, Marshall Rubright, David

Barker, Thomas Duell, Paul Liles, Michael Ruiz, Luiz

Barner, ??? Dyal, Don W. 'Gomer' Lizana, Rick Scoville, Scott

Barrett, James Edmiston, Ken Lothrop, Seelinger, James

Beck, Roger Ehlers, Joseph Lotspeich, Don FTCS COB Shannon, Mike

Blouse, Dan Ellard, Bryon Lubbs, Larry Shantz, Denton

Blue, Matthew Emerick, Glenn Luken, Ken IC2 Shepherd, Charles

Bluestone, Edward Findlater, Doug Manning, Eugene STS3 Sherlock, Martin

Bollman, Stephen Flannery, Aaron Mason, John Shields, Vaden

Bowser, James Jr. Fleming, Benjamin Matherly, David Sikora, Gregory

Bricker, Michael Fleming, Denvery Mazur, Joe Siler, Dennis

Brill, Doug Fonda, Carl McCarney, Clifford Silvestri, Henry

Brown, Ernie TMC Futral, Dave McConnell, Mark Smith, Charles

Brownlee, ??? Geisenburg, Nick Medvick, Michael Stewart James

Bryant, Ron ET1 G 69-?? Glover, Ron LCDR XO Miller, Donald Stine, Gene

Buckmaster, Jerry FTB3 B 70-75 Golightly, Steve MMCM COB Miller, Tony Stockton, N. Bradley

Bulalacao, 'DOC' HMC Gould, Harrell MT2 G/B 69-74 Milton, Jay Stortroen, Keith

Bullard, Patrick Graves, Richard Nelson, ?? FTBC B 73-75 Szeszko, David M.

Bullington, Scott Green, Earsel Neubecker, Andrew Tardiff, Henry

Burmeister, Wayne Griffith, Allen STSCS B COB Neuman, Mark Taylor, Jim

Busteed, Bob Gutierrez, James Nolen, John Tomasi, Max

Canup, Richard Hanks, Stewart Ochsner, Patrick Tomren, Gerald

Cardin, Joseph Harding, ??? LT WEPS Olsen, ?? MM1 G 66-69 Trotter, Daniel

Carey, Bill Harris, WIlbur Parham, Bryan Ugolini, Nicholas

Carr, Don Hatchell, John Pastiva, Stephen Jr. Vidulich, William T.

Carter, Joe MM1 Hayes, Robert Peterson, David Walenga, Craig

Champagne, Brian Herbert, Randy 'Bear' Petrak, David Wallace, Larry MM1 G 70-74

Chiarito, Michael MMFN G 71 Herzog, Willie Phipps, Mitchell Warren, Bill ET1

Claussen, Stephen Hinds, George Plue, Mike Watson, Herb

Cool, Arnold Hogan, Tom Porterfield, Glenn Wenzel, Paul

Cooley, Robert STS2 Holler, Eugene Powell, William CDR CO White, Don

Cooper, Denny Hollingsworth, Paul Pruitt, Michael Wieskamp, Gerald W.

Cooper, John F. Holtman, Bruce Putt, William Williams, Brian

Cope, Allan Hupe, Bill Ralston, David Williams, Miles E.

Couser, David Jackson, Mark YN2 Ransom, Patrick Wilson, Willy MM2

Craig, Jack E. STSC B 87-89 Jarvis, MM1 G 69-70 Rasmussen, Aaron Wimmer, Peter Thomas

Crawford, Christopher Johnson, Anthony Rasmussen, Bill Wright, David

Cruden, David Kee, Kerby Rathsam, Richard Young, Ron

Cullum, Ray Keiningham, Thomas Raven, Donald Youngman, David

Czarnecki, Anthony Keller, Mick