The Long Way Home

The Long Way Home This is a clipping from a ship’s newspaper (USS Von Steuben) that was dated June 23rd, 1919. The clipping described some of the details of the AEF being shipped home. This year is also the 100 year anniversary of the American Legion founding and both events are tied together. Over a […]

I never planned on becoming an old veteran

As Veteran’s Day approaches once more, my thoughts turn to how many veterans I have known in my life. My Dad, of course, comes to mind immediately. He served during the last year of World War 2 in the Navy and returned to an America that was fundamentally changed from the country he had grown […]

Global Undersea Warfare Champions

As Veterans Day 2018 approaches, I wanted to say thanks to the winning team that has given so much to the nation. On December 7th, 1941, unforeseen circumstances changed the role of submarines forever. Gone was the role of coastal protection and scouting for the fleet and our submarine force has never looked back. Sheer […]

The Home Depot Foundation Pledges Quarter of a Billion Dollars to Veteran-Related Causes by 2020

Yesterday’s post was about a very unhappy man who was mad at (insert name of home improvement store here) for not being eligible for a military discount. https://theleansubmariner.com/2018/10/24/lifer/ I was thinking after I posted that story that many people are not aware of how much some companies work very hard to support actual veterans-in-need causes. Because […]

The New “Star” in Star Spangled Banner

Original Post: This morning, I was honored to join a few members of the Pittsburgh Sea Cadet Battalion in helping to kick off the Bike Ride for Operation Troop Appreciation in Pittsburgh. This event helps to raise funds to build and sustain the morale and wellbeing of the military community, past and present, with the […]

Its always the quiet ones… the story of Captain Mike Rose, US Army retired

This story is dedicated to all of the heroes in our lives. Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. In our American culture, we are taught from an early age about the heroes who protect us from all manner of bad things. Stories of policemen and firemen rescuing people at great risk to themselves still […]

Dedication Ceremony for the Submarine Service Memorial at the Cemetery of the Alleghenies

It was an honor today to be present as a Memorial Stone was Dedicated by the USSVI Requin Base Pittsburgh PA at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies near Pittsburgh. The pictures tell the story. Hand Salute!

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. […]

Still serving – More resources for veterans and their families

Once in a while, I get emails from people who have checked out the web site and found one of the pages meaningful. I recently got this email and wanted to share it with my readers. Our veteran population is growing day by day and the issues and concerns they will have to face do […]

Silent Service: Submarine Warfare in WW2

As Memorial Day 2015 approaches, I am once again reminded that submarine sailors paid a heavy price during the second World War in a way that is vastly more expensive that nearly any other type of war fighting based on a per capita measurement. This video certainly captures many of the issues they faced.