“What our people are is what our country is” Admiral Rickover’s Reflection After Sea Trials on the SSN 711 Boat

I have been watching the news recently and it is sad how there is so much division in the world. I was going through some old files today and found a copy of the short speech Admiral Rickover gave after we finished sea trials on the USS San Francisco SSN 711 in 1981. It’s hard […]

Manitowoc Built Submarines – America’s Ability to Innovate and Adapt

In 1940, the American navy was advertised as one of the most powerful in the world. In a speech to the Navy Council of Illinois in Chicago on Oct. 26—Secretary of the Navy Knox asserted that the United States “has the most powerful fleet in the world and is engaged in the task of building […]

The Day the World Changed – Launching Polaris Submerged

I watched the news recently when the Air Force successfully landed their bunker buster bombs on the Iranian Target. 65 years ago, the Navy had its own dramatic moment that forever changed the world. USS George Washington (SSBN 598) left Groton on 28 June 1960 for Cape Canaveral, Florida, where she loaded two Polaris missiles. […]

Medal of Honor Awardee Frank William Crilley – A Diving Pioneer

Of all the fears I have ever had, being trapped in a sunken submarine is one of the biggest. The second biggest fear is finding out firsthand where crush depth is (My submariner nephews always accused me of serving on the both the Turtle and the Holland. This is dedicated to them.) Over the course […]

Where Are They Now?

Where Are They Now? Social media has really had an impact on the world. While some might argue that it has been mostly negative, there are some positive impacts that most of us would have never thought of fifty years ago. In previous generations, you had to meet face to face in a common space […]

James R Webb – an American Submarine Hero

Everybody needs heroes. You know, a bigger than life person that stands out among other people. Someone who lives a life of adventure and leads others through periods of adversary and innovation. The kind they write books about. When I was a kid, it was Horatio Hornblower. Hornblower was the most memorable character in a series […]

Submarine Veterans Charitable Foundation Newsletter February 2025

Shipmates, Submarine Veterans Charitable Foundation Newsletter February 2025 Shipmates! This month we welcome our two newest Ambassadors: Leah Torino, Tri-State Base and Frank Espinosa, Central Texas Base. Welcome aboard! Now the news. Brotherhood Fund As we move through another season weather continues to dominate and overwhelm many of us. From freezing, to wildfires, ice and […]

Libraries … temples of learning, ambition, aspiration – USSV CF Library Fund

Being a baby boomer, I grew up in a world where books and periodicals were still central to most of our lives. From the time I was able to read, my world really revolved around printed information. We had one television which was black and white and it was very much subject to rules. Not […]

Lest We Forget. USSV CF Memorial and Museum Boat Fund

Lest We Forget. USSV CF Memorial and Museum Boat Fund The desire to memorialize the great sacrifices made for a nation or cause goes back to the earliest times. Cave drawings and crude monuments to great battles are found in all parts of the world. The Romans mastered the art with buildings and statues […]

The Best Hat Ever; THE Kap(SS) 4 Kid(SS) FUND

“Hi, my name is Mister Mac, and I am a hat-oholic.” “Hi Mister Mac…” I’ve been a hat-oholic since I was a kid and discovered the power of hats. My very first hat was a blue and gold short, billed cap that I got as a Cub Scout in Pack 99 in my home community. […]