Steel Boats, Iron Men and their stories (plus a bit more)
Yesterday was the 77th anniversary of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. I have been working on a book about one of the men who lost his life in that battle for at least 10 years. The last few chapters were the hardest. It was incredibly difficult to find the right way to memorialize a man […]
Read More and now the real work begins – getting publishedThe Day After Veteran’s Day Proud… standing straight and erect with shoulders held back and eyes focused forward with a steel and resiliency that is unquestionable. Months of practice have made sure that even a sudden noise won’t change that. Crisp uniforms, flawless creases, perfect lines and hands glued in place at their sides. Chiseled […]
Read More After the parades are over…October 27, 2019. Its been seventy years since the Last Navy Day. The Navy has continued to grown and shrink with the whims of the politicians in Washington DC. But the ever present dangers of the world have never disappeared. Having a capable fleet that can defend our nation and in many cases freedom around […]
Read More The Last Navy Day – October 27, 1949You’ve got Polaris, why on earth do you need bigger carriers? This was the first speech given to the Navy League by Secretary Franke. Franke served in the new Kennedy administration. The source document comes from amalgamated press releases recorded from 1959-1962. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.c2968167&view=1up&seq=571 In May of 1960, the secretary was giving a standard speech […]
Read More May 1960: You’ve got Polaris, why on earth do you need bigger carriers?Imagine spending an entire night under the surface of the ocean. In 1901, this had to have been quite an electric story. The American experiment with submarines was not that old yet and the thought of men actually living under the water’s surface was something that still lived in science fiction. The Fulton was an […]
Read More Submarine Rule #1: Close the Hatch (The Story of the Fulton)Change does not come quickly to some organizations. Advancements in technology often challenge the status quo and strike fear into the hearts of the traditionalists. Maybe it’s because of the unknown. Or maybe it’s because so many times in man’s history a dreamer comes along and stirs up the imagination of the masses and science […]
Read More Worse than a rattlesnake in the grass: those contemptuous submarinesPromises made, promises kept – The Polaris Story 1967 There have only been a few times that I have posted stories from shipmates. Each had value all by themselves but their content certainly made them worth sharing. The story of the installation of the AFDB 7 USS Los Alamos floating dry dock in Scotland, https://theleansubmariner.com/2014/04/04/afdb-7-los-alamos-holy-loch-scotland-in-the-beginning/ […]
Read More Promises made, promises kept – The Polaris Story 1967A submarine friend sent me a package a few days ago and I have been having so much enjoyment going through the material. Today’s entry is a visit to 1968 when the Submarine Base at New London was celebrating its 100th Birthday. With no further introduction, here is the booklet in its entirety:
Read More Submarine Base Centennial 1968Ah, school days. As I sat in line waiting for the busses this morning on my way to an appointment, I was reminded about my own school days many years ago. I’m sure I have mentioned this before, but I joined the Navy because I was tired of sitting in classrooms for twelve years. I […]
Read More Back to School – Mr. Edison will be teaching todayEyewitness to history: Who was Elton C. Fay? Elton C. Fay, was an Associated Press reporter who covered the Pentagon from the days of World War II to the Vietnam War. His death was recorded in a common obituary and stated that he died at his Silver Spring, Md., home after a long illness. He […]
Read More Eyewitness to history: Who was Elton C. Fay?