Cold War Stories – Homecoming 1946

Homecoming 1946 Nearly eight million men and women served in the United States Armed Forces during the second world war. Many recent articles in various news outlets and television stories highlight the hundred plus years the few remaining survivors are celebrating this year. But the numbers are diminished greatly with the passing of time. They […]

Cold War Stories – Sharing Atomic Secrets in 1946

Cold War Stories – Sharing Atomic Secrets in 1946 Even prior to the formation of the United Nations organization in 1945, the shifting sands of power around the globe were creating doubts about the visions of the founders. Franklin Roosevelt had made the formation of this new organization one of his highest priorities. He had […]

Cold War Stories – Prepare to Snorkel

Cold War Stories – Prepare to Snorkel When the word is passed “Prepare to Snorkel” on a submarine, a number of actions need to be taken immediately. The boat has to be at the correct depth, valves need to be adjusted and of course, the diesel operator needs to do some preliminary actions. The snorkel […]

Cold War Stories – The Importance of Greenland is Magnified

Cold War Stories – The Importance of Greenland is Magnified With all of the recent attention given to Greenland, it is important to note that Greenland has been a central focal point for more than a hundred years to the United States. What was once described as a giant iceberg with little value to America, […]

Cold War Stories: Atomic Submarines that could Dive Deeper than ever

Cold War Stories: Atomic Submarines that could Dive Deeper than ever Most Mondays I get a chance to share stories with students from the Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit that are based at the Weapons Station in Goose Creek in South Carolina. The young people are the best and brightest of their generation and will […]

Cold War Stories: The Atomic Bomb – “I think it’s dreadful of the Americans to have done it. I think it is madness on their part.”

As one war was coming to an end after so many years of senseless bloodshed, another one was in its germination. The period commonly known as the Cold War had its beginnings in the days leading up to the end of the conflict in Europe. The two future opponents were already racing to scoop up […]

Truman’s Decision – 1945

It seems a lifetime ago when I last sailed on a submarine. I left the USS Ohio in December of 1984 after making my fourth patrol. It was a routine patrol with nothing special to report. Considering that we were conducting a strategic deterrent patrol, that is a very good thing. After having served on […]

The Great Charleston Earthquake of 1886 and “The Summerville Sensation”

New beginnings – again We made the move to South Carolina over a year ago to downsize from a house that was too big to take care of and find more reasonable winters. I had been stationed for a short while at the Charleston Naval base and Debbie and I had visited South Carolina and […]

Every Moment Mattered – The Life and Death of Cassin Young, Captain, USN MOH Recipient – Chapter Sixteen: “When the World is at Peace, a gentleman keeps his Sword by his side.” – Wu Tsu

Chapter Sixteen (1929-1933) “When the World is at Peace, a gentleman keeps his Sword by his side.” – Wu Tsu The Young’s would once more find themselves facing another cross-country transfer when Cassin was assigned to the Naval Academy for duty as an instructor. From August of 1928 until May of 1931, the family would […]

Every Moment Mattered – The Life and Death of Cassin Young, Captain, USN MOH Recipient – Chapter Nineteen: Into the Battle. Every Man a Hero

Chapter Nineteen Into the battle. Every man a hero The Marines that landed on Guadalcanal were about to write a page into history that would be written with blood. This tiny island in the Pacific should not have been the place where the allies would start their long drive to Tokyo. But observation planes had […]