USS Stonewall Jackson SSBN 634 – Unwavering Courage

USS STONEWALL JACKSON (SSBN 634) Today is July 2nd. In 1863, a great battle in and around a small town called Gettysburg was in its second day. This is not meant to be a story about the battle but the second day was a day when Robert E. Lee surely could have used the talents […]

USS Abraham Lincoln SSBN 602 – Pax Per Tridentum

USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (SSBN 602) I am writing this on July 1, 2019 which is the anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. It’s interesting that the next four days will be dedicated to members of the 41 for Freedom Family who all had a direct connection to the Civil War […]

The Vision of a Man Named Nimitz – The American Submarine Story in the 20th Century

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 Henry Nimitz, a former seaman in the German Merchant Marine, who taught him, “The Sea – like life itself – is a stern taskmaster. The […]

How low can you go? (an unclassified accounting of the term Test Depth)

Test Depth Note: No classified material is contained in this unofficial story about submarines and the place in the ocean we call “Test Depth”. Every time someone hears that I served on submarines, one of the first questions that is always asked is “How deep can you go?” My answer is always the same: Not […]

It wasn’t for the glory… life as a Submarine Auxiliaryman

Imagine having this conversation with your nephew who had never been around the Navy. He saw your uniform with the dolphins and heard you saying something about winning the Cold War. This is how the conversation went: “So you were on submarines. What did you do in the war Uncle Bob?” “I kept the air […]

Submarines sail the world over, but I often find its a small world after all

The other day, I wrote a story about the Henry Clay and included a copy of the welcome aboard pamphlet. Once I published the post, I found out how small the world is. Several people really close to me reached out with their personal stories about the Clay and the commanding officer mentioned. CDR Latham’s […]

Welcome aboard the USS Henry Clay SSBN 625

As visitors and riders come on board a submarine, they are normally herded to a safe place where they will be able to rest while the sailors and officers prepare the ship for underway and a dive below the surface. This visit is rare and has been one of the best ways for the Navy […]

Living on borrowed time

Living on borrowed time. It seems strange to think about the duality of time. On the one hand you have all the time in the world. On the other, there never seems to be enough of it. In the end, we all die. It’s not a gruesome fact, it’s just a fulfilment of the fact […]

USS Andrew Jackson SSBN 619 – One Man With Courage is a Majority

Andrew Jackson was one of my favorite characters from childhood. His story of a backwoods lawyer becoming President is an inspiration to many people since it was the first time in America’s history that a person who was not a member of the founding elite rose to power based on the will of the common […]

I loved the ride

May is Military Appreciation Month. All month long, we are encouraged to let our brothers and sisters in arms how much they are appreciated. The month ends with a solemn remembrance of the ones who gave the ultimate sacrifice. One group that has always had a little trouble recognizing has been the Silent Service. Its […]