Lean on me – Boot Camp Memories from 1972

via Lean on me – Boot Camp Memories from 1972 Saying goodbye to a Navy Veteran: Bill Withers, and the song that bonded a crew together in the summer of 1972: “Lean on me”

SEABEE Combat Handbook Chapter 16: Evasion, Survival and Escape

Chapter 16: Evasion, Survival and Escape I have always loved the SEABEEs. From the first time I saw Fighting SEABEEs with John Wayne until I got much older and saw some of their handiwork, I was always impressed with the Naval Construction Battalions. To be able to drive a bulldozer while killing the […]

Ask the Chief

Three words that echo the tradition of Chief Petty Officer in the history of the United States Navy are “Ask the Chief”. The Chief was the one of the first real authority figures that many of us knew when we entered the Navy. Dressed in our dungarees and standing at attention on the grinder, […]

March 31 – A tale of two sailors

March 31 – A tale of two sailors On March 31, 1975, A.E. Walther, LCDR, USN, Executive Officer of the USS George Washington and Robert W. MacPherson, MM3 (SS), USN signed the NAVPERS 1616/5 Report of Enlisted Performance Evaluation sheet that would become part of the official permanent record for Petty Officer MacPherson. “Assigned to […]

The 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 the Corona Virus, whole cities are being asked to isolate themselves from others. Since close proximity seems […]

1987 – The Counterpunch for a growing Soviet threat

1987 – The Counterpunch for a growing Soviet threat When I became a Machinist Mate Chief Petty Officer in August of 1987, I celebrated having served on a fair representation of Cold War submarines and stations. The journey took me from New London to Charleston to Pearl Harbor to Mare Island. Then the trip continued […]

And the rocket’s “Red” glare – Soviet Submarines (Part 2)

(Part Two of the Soviet Union Submarine series) https://theleansubmariner.com/2020/03/27/we-had-rickover-they-had-gorshkov-the-whole-world-watched/ In April 1972, I raised my right hand swore allegiance to the United States of America as a brand new member of the United States Navy. It would be the first of many times I repeated the oath. During that time, the War in Vietnam had […]

Social Distancing Masters of the Universe

In this time of trial, I feel sad for those people who are finding themselves isolated from their friends and family. I especially feel kind of bad that I really don’t feel all that isolated myself. I have a great wife and a very creative cat named Moses. To be honest, I really feel like […]

We had Rickover – They had Gorshkov; The whole world watched

Soviet Submarine Threat: Part 1 The flag of the Soviet Navy flies over the oceans of the world. Sooner or later the United States will have to understand it no longer has mastery of the seas. Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union S. G. GORSHKOV I’m sure some people wonder why I spend […]

1959 – Why do you need so damn many submarines?

Why do you need so damn many submarines? I can almost hear the Air Force Brass asking that question of the Navy as they were presented the “threat” profile developed by the intelligence agencies in 1959. 1959 was a pivotal year for submarine development in the United States. The military in general was going through […]