August 28, 1973 The Journey Begins
I joined the Navy in April of 1972 by raising my right hand for the very first time. The Navy used the Delayed Entry Program to pre-sign willing young volunteers and at the age of seventeen, I was...
View ArticleThe Patten Family and the USS Nevada (1941)
As it so often happens, I was looking through the archives and discovered an article that jumped off the pages at me. This article was found in a collection of Navy Department News Releases and was...
View ArticleUSS George Washington SSBN 598 – First and Finest
Just a short history of the submarine I qualified on 44 years ago. A Global Cold War Warrior USS George Washington (SSBN-598) was the United States’ first operational ballistic missile submarine. It...
View Article21 Days Under Water – The USS Pickerel’s 5200 Mile Journey at Periscope Depth
In 1950, the US Navy was coming to terms with its peacetime role in a Cold War setting. The Russians had obtained the German submarine technology along with the rocket scientists from captured...
View ArticleTwo Cultures Collide and Heroes Emerge from the Sea
The United States in 1941 was tense and filled with anticipation about the war in Europe. But nothing could prepare the nation for the events that were about to transpire. The nation and the Japanese...
View Article“BE BRAVE, STAND FIRM, SHOOT STRAIGHT” USS TECUMSEH (SSBN 628)
“Be brave, stand firm, shoot straight” USS TECUMSEH (SSBN 628) The founding of America was not a straightforward journey. Many of the people who were already settled in the lands across the rivers were...
View ArticleUSS James Monroe SSBN 622 – Watchful Waiting
The James Monroe was built in the early days of the Polaris program and typified the boats that were launched during that time. With each successive weapons upgrade, she would be retrofitted with more...
View ArticleThe Vision of a Man Named Nimitz – The American Submarine Story in the 20th...
Arguably one of the most influential American Submariners that ever lived was Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. As a young man, he was significantly influenced by his German-born paternal grandfather, Charles...
View ArticleThe Mid Watch Revisited
The Mid Watch What does it feel like to be alone? I am sure that many people are starting to feel alone with the current condition of social distancing. In the interest of slowing down the spread of...
View Article2020 – An Epic New Year (In Retrospect, using the word epic might have been a...
2020 – The year of the Fast Attack Coming Soon Well, that was the plan last December. I was thinking that a good follow-up to my 2019 year of highlighting the 41 for Freedom Boats would be a logical...
View ArticleThe “Down Express”– Tambor Class Warriors
The “Down Express” – Tambor Class Warriors I have a page on Facebook called War in the Pacific 1941-1946 which can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/WarInThePacific19411946 My original intent was...
View ArticleRig for Dive
Rig for Dive What an unusual year this has been. The Wuhan Virus has certainly taken its toll in so many direct and indirect ways. In my lifetime, I don’t think I can remember any other health...
View ArticleIn December 1983, It wasn’t even on the list.
In December 1983, It wasn’t even on the list. I was cleaning out some piles in my Zombie room this afternoon and I found pictures and letters from a long time ago. Some of them hadn’t been touched in...
View ArticleJanuary 1941 – A surprise attack on Pearl? Who could imagine such a thing?
711.94/1935: Telegram The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State Tokyo, January 27, 1941 — 6 p. m. [Received January 27 — 6: 38 a. m.] 125. My Peruvian colleague told a member of my staff...
View ArticleFebruary 1941- Ten Months to Infamy
February 1941- Ten Months to Infamy Husband Kimmel will certainly be remembered in American Naval History as long as any other figure. Admiral Kimmel was the man who was in charge of the Pacific Fleet...
View ArticleIn Plain Sight…
Eighty years ago, the United States was still at relative peace. In Europe, Britain was hanging on for life while France and most of the other occupied nations were adjusting to life under the heel of...
View ArticleMarch 2, 1941… Japan will be a pushover
March of 1941 was a month of great significance in the march to global war. I don’t know anything about the writer of this article in the Washington Evening Star. But I do know that his column was...
View ArticleWatch Where You Are Going… The Ocean Is Big But Not as Big as You Think
Watch where you are going The world is filled with things in motion. Ever since the wheel was invented, one of the most cherished pieces of advice has had to have been to watch where you are going. We...
View ArticleEvery Moment Mattered Update (April 2021)
I have been working on a book project now for about five years. My first go at publishing was put on hold when the publisher asked me to include some stories and ideas that were in line with the...
View ArticleThe Pearl Harbor Attack at Eighty Years
On December 7, 2021, it will be eighty years since the “surprise” attack on Pearl Harbor. In all of those years, many books have been written about the attack and its significance. In the aftermath of...
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