1912 – Captain Nemo Has Rival – Steel Fish Breaks All Records

April is submarine month and April 11 is the day that that is recognized as National Submarine Day in the United States. It commemorates the official start of the American Submarine Force journey. While many other events related to submarines happened before that day, the adoption of a submarine led the way to the emerging […]

The First American Legion and the Preparedness Day Bombing of 1916

2019 is the Centennial of the American Legion. But did you know that there was another organization that claimed that name first? Not only that, but one of the founders of that earlier group was a Roosevelt too. Only this time, it was Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, former President of the United States of America. […]

What a great time to have been a submariner… Riding the 711 Boat

What a ride Of all the adventures in my short life, the one that will always rise to the top is not just one single adventure, but a collection of adventures over a four year period that have one thing in common: They are all related to being a crewmember of the best submarine a man […]

USS San Francisco SSN 711 Homecoming Coins now available

2014 Homecoming Coins are now available for sale. There are only three of the one hundred limited edition numbered coins not available for sale yet: #1 will be by highest bidder (currently at $50.00) #7 and #11 will be sold as a set (bidding to begin at any time but will close on […]

Love, your Son Butch ~ Father’s Day Memories

Today’s blog is from a book I wrote based on my Dad’s letters to his family during the second world war and the following year while he tried to make it back home. I found the letters a few days after he passed away, and learned a lot about a man who I thought […]

No excuses.

For some who follow my blog, I need to apologize but its been a hard week. Thanks to my friend Joey Sagnis, I found out well after the fact that one of the best sailors the Navy ever had passed away. “Here is Silas’ phone number ***-***-****. He said he would appreciate a phone call. […]

The Old Navy

Compared to some Navies around the world, I suppose the US navy is still in its infant stage. From my perspective, it has certainly seen its days of glory interspersed with rumors of demise. Those rumors of its premature death normally come with change. Sails to steam. Capital ships and sleek modern warriors. Cannon balls […]