Maintain Silence About the Decks

Maintain Silence About the Decks. Life aboard any US Navy vessel is marked by a series of routines. Sailors quickly learn that there are expected behaviors during each of those routines. During refueling operations, the red flag is flown and the word is passed that the smoking lamp is out. Taps is another time of […]

Just an average Cold War Submariner

Just an average Cold War Submariner. The average Cold War Submariner : Volunteered to serve his country… Twice. Went to submarine school in New London. … Trained in the old escape tower. Spent time on the dive and drive trainer. Had a few drinks in Groton. Showed up on their first boat with too much […]

The Wrong Donations – Some Tough Words on Disaster Relief

Originally posted on My Best Laid Plans:
I need to make a statement. I want to say it as kindly and gently as possible, but this message really needs to get out there. It’s important. Please hear me with as much grace as you can, because I mean it with all love and gentleness. My…

Shikumi: System Based Lean Transformation

Thinking about systems? Every once in a while, I see lean ideas that seem to come at just the right time. I have been preaching about the importance of a systems approach to successful lean implementations for years and found an article that gives an interesting take on that vision. From the article: ” Shikumi signifies a […]

I grew into it

I grew into it. When you are seventeen and the whole world is just outside of you front door, you can be a little anxious to get started. Some kids will go off to college, some will go to work in a factory or mill, and some kids find themselves drawn to something more adventurous. […]

SSN 590 – USS Sculpin – Cold War Warrior

SSN 590 USS Sculpin Sculpin: A spiny, large-headed, broad-mouthed, usually scale less fish of the family Cottidae. Several species are found on the Atlantic coasts of Europe and North America. USS Sculpin (SSN-590), a Skipjack-class nuclear-powered submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the sculpin. Her keel was […]

An Outsider in Paradise – A Pocket Guide to Hawaii (1940’s)

This information comes from the Navy Heritage Center. During the Second World War, Hawaii was the crossroads for the Pacific. Men, material, ships and planes on their way to the battles in the South Pacific and eventually Japan travelled through Hawaii in many cases. Not much changed over the many decades following the war since […]

SSN 587 – Just for the Halibut

I reported on board the USS Halibut SSN 587 in Mare Island California in October 1975 I am always quick to point out that I was not a crew member when Halibut did the amazing things she did to help bring an end to the Cold War. I learned most of what I knew about […]

“The sea – like life itself – is a stern taskmaster” The Story of Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz

The sea – like life itself – is a stern taskmaster. This was the early childhood lesson taught to the boy who would later become one of the most influential leaders in the United States Navy. He was significantly influenced by his German-born paternal grandfather, Charles Henry Nimitz, a former seaman in the German Merchant […]

A Boomer Sailor’s Dream

In my Navy career, I was many things. Machinist Mate, Submariner, Career Counselor, Master Training Specialist, Docking Officer on a Floating Drydock and Engineering Officer of the Watch on board a large surface ship. But before I was any of those, I was a boomer sailor. Boomers of course are the nicknames for Fleet Ballistic […]