On arrival at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California, I reported to the Nuclear Power School for six months of classroom studies. I soon learned that the school would involve classes in Mathematics, physics(nuclear and
classical), reactor design and piping systems, reactor theory and operation
and a few others. Because I had had some college I was placed in a hybrid class that was between the standard enlisted class and the officer's class. The class work was tough and designed to be real challenging. By the time we finished we could draw from memory an entire pressurised water reactor system including all valves and piping.
At the completion of the six months we received orders to the nuclear power training unit of our choice. I had requested the site in up state New York. This was another six month course divided roughly into two three month parts. The first part was another classroom section and then three months of actual work on an operating reactor plant. During this period of qualifying time to become a reactor plant operator you had to learn every thing needed to stand a watch on a reactor plant. Since I was an
Electricians Mate I had to learn how to operate the main electrical panel,
the various multitude of alarm panels, the steam generators and the main turbine and the generator turbines. I had to be able to stand actual watches
under normal operations and the myriad of emergency situations the
instructors would throw at us. At the end of training we went through what we called "Hell Week", where every possible casualty was thrown at you
until try as you might you eventually could not prevent a reactor scram.
Following that you had to pass an oral exam administered by selected instructors that covered everything you should have learned. The exam had no time limit and no questions could be left unanswered. If need be the exam was suspended for a short period while you checked you notes for the answer of any question you didn't know. My exam lasted nine(9) hours but at the end I was designated as a qualified Nuclear Electrical Plant Operator.
When my new orders arrived I was surprised to find that I was to stay at the unit as an instructor.
During my time at the Nuclear Power Training Unit several very important
things happened. First was the Cuban Missile Crisis for which we were all put on 24 hour alert for possible submarine duty, next the USS Thresher was lost with all hands some of whom were in my class and some I had helped train, and finally my son Keith was born.
Not long after my son was born I received orders to take part in the Navy Enlisted Scientific Education Program and was sent to college at Miami University in Ohio. There I in Applied Mathematics with total emphasis on
Systems Analysis. After graduation I was ordered to Officers Candidate School in Rhode Island.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Monday, June 2, 2008
Stories of a Submariner 2
As I left off in my last blog, we had just been called to battle stations and I was moving quickly to my station as stern planes man. Many of us, I'm sure were thinking of all the other boats that had been depth charged in this same area.
The boat had just come up from 400 feet and when we broke through the colder water layer we found ourselves in the middle of the Russian Fleet as it left Petropavlovsk, it's home port in the Pacific. We were now at battle stations, rigged for ultra quiet and at periscope depth. The skipper was taking pictures through the periscope that were so good that I heard one of our officers say you could identify the senior officers on the Russian ships.
The spooks were also busy getting intelligence data from radio signals and sonar. Eventually the captain figured we were stretching our luck so we turned toward deeper water and went to 400 feet. We all let out a sigh of relief that we had gotten away with a very valuable intelligence gathering mission. The rest of our patrol was routine and we eventually got relieved and headed home to Pearl Harbor. We had to stay undetected all the way back to Pearl but that was no problem.
We arrived back off the coast of Oahu in the early morning, just before daylight. The picket destroyer that guards the entrance to the channel finally spotted us and came roaring in on us. We had no hull numbers and
no flag flying so they decided we needed a good looking over. As the sent a flashing light challenge I noticed that there forward 5" gun mount swung out pointing at our bridge, and reported same to the OOD. The Quartermaster of the watch came to the bridge and return the proper code letters to answer the challenge as well as other information. The destroyer swung away from us and we entered port at 8AM. We were met on the way in by the Admiral and our Squadron Commander.
Later that afternoon I received orders to my next school, Nuclear Power School. I was disappointed in a way as Tangs next trip would be to WestPac and I really wanted to make that trip. Since I had two weeks leave coming I called my fiance and we decided to get married as soon as I arrived.
The boat had just come up from 400 feet and when we broke through the colder water layer we found ourselves in the middle of the Russian Fleet as it left Petropavlovsk, it's home port in the Pacific. We were now at battle stations, rigged for ultra quiet and at periscope depth. The skipper was taking pictures through the periscope that were so good that I heard one of our officers say you could identify the senior officers on the Russian ships.
The spooks were also busy getting intelligence data from radio signals and sonar. Eventually the captain figured we were stretching our luck so we turned toward deeper water and went to 400 feet. We all let out a sigh of relief that we had gotten away with a very valuable intelligence gathering mission. The rest of our patrol was routine and we eventually got relieved and headed home to Pearl Harbor. We had to stay undetected all the way back to Pearl but that was no problem.
We arrived back off the coast of Oahu in the early morning, just before daylight. The picket destroyer that guards the entrance to the channel finally spotted us and came roaring in on us. We had no hull numbers and
no flag flying so they decided we needed a good looking over. As the sent a flashing light challenge I noticed that there forward 5" gun mount swung out pointing at our bridge, and reported same to the OOD. The Quartermaster of the watch came to the bridge and return the proper code letters to answer the challenge as well as other information. The destroyer swung away from us and we entered port at 8AM. We were met on the way in by the Admiral and our Squadron Commander.
Later that afternoon I received orders to my next school, Nuclear Power School. I was disappointed in a way as Tangs next trip would be to WestPac and I really wanted to make that trip. Since I had two weeks leave coming I called my fiance and we decided to get married as soon as I arrived.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Stories of a Submariner
I was growing up during the closing years of World War Two. I was often taken to movies that were made about the war, during those years. I can clearly remember my parents taking me to Soldier Field, in Chicago, for a large War Bond rally. there were all kinds of military equipment on display
and a reenactment of a battle between US and German soldiers. Of course as a very young boy all of this impressed me greatly. (PS: at the age of 2 1/2 I remember hearing President Roosevelt telling about the attack on Pearl Harbor) As I grew older television became available to the public and when my dad could afford it we got a used set. I was then able to watch movies and other shows about WWII. I soon became thrilled by submarines. My favorite TV series was call "Silent Service" which were actual real stories filmed on board submarines, mainly in the Pacific.
By the time I graduated high school I knew I wanted to serve on submarines in the Pacific. When college didn't work out for me I joined the Navy. The recruiter I signed up with gave me a guarantee of submarine school & Electricians Mate School if I signed up for Nuclear Power school, so I was on my way.
On the day you graduate from Submarine School you get to pick your first
boat( subs are commonly refered to as boats, not ships). I picked the USS Tang in Pearl Harbor. This boat was named after the famous submarine of
WWII. My new boat was built on the plans of a German Uboat type XXI and this class of boats were the first Fast Attack boats. There were 5 boats in the class and all were diesel powered. All of this class of boats were named after famous boats sunk during WWII.
Soon after reporting aboard Tang two things happened, I was promoted to seaman and I found out that I got seasick. I was to learn that I got seasick easily and that I would need seasick pills as long as I stayed in the Navy. Usually I got over it in a couple of days after leaving port and I found that I never got sick in really bad storms as the boats motion was too violent.
the summer of 1962 we got orders to prepare to go to sea on a top secret
patrol. After loading provisions, weapons-including 2 war shot torpedoes,
and the removal of our two rescue buoys we sailed in late June. Our first
and last stop was Midway Island. There we topped off our diesel fuel, fresh water and provisions used getting there. We were also treated to a beer party which lasted about 4 hours. During this time the seaman on duty painted out our white hull numbers so we were totally black.
We sailed again in late afternoon, after the spooks came aboard. From then on we were to remain totally undetected, even from our own planes and ships. We were operating under war time conditions. After crossing the International Date line we started our patrol reversals of time. What we did was reverse night and day. When we arrived on station we would be in close to shore making our observations so the ship would be rigged for red, red lights only, and those off duty would be sleeping. This increased our level of quietness. At night we would be much farther out charging batteries and doing other required duties. We stayed rigged for red then also.
On an amusing note, food looks different under red lights, especially anything red. Catchup is practically invisible. By this time most of our fresh
produce, milk, etc. were gone so we were now eating canned goods, powdered milk, canned potatoes, powdered eggs etc. Nothing had changed since WWII. The submarine force did get the best food the Navy had available.
In addition to my duties as an Electricians Mate striker my primary watch station was as either the bow or stern planesman. On watch in addition to maintaining the ordered depth between periscope depth and 400 feet we constantly drilled on emergency drills and practicing to be able to control
the boats depth with only one planesman. I was also the battle stations stern planesman. One day I came on watch and was the helmsman. Shortly
after coming on watch I relised that when I moved the rudder the gyro compass repeater did not follow my course correction. I started using the magnetic compass and found we were way off course, toward land, and immediatly told the conning officer. He gave me the correct course to get back to the twelve mile limit. We were in to 6 miles of the Russian coast. No
place you wanted to get caught.
Some days later I came off watch and went too my bunk in the after torpedo room. I was just getting to sleep when the general alarm sounded and an announcement of " Man battle stations torpedo, this is NOT a drill!!"
and a reenactment of a battle between US and German soldiers. Of course as a very young boy all of this impressed me greatly. (PS: at the age of 2 1/2 I remember hearing President Roosevelt telling about the attack on Pearl Harbor) As I grew older television became available to the public and when my dad could afford it we got a used set. I was then able to watch movies and other shows about WWII. I soon became thrilled by submarines. My favorite TV series was call "Silent Service" which were actual real stories filmed on board submarines, mainly in the Pacific.
By the time I graduated high school I knew I wanted to serve on submarines in the Pacific. When college didn't work out for me I joined the Navy. The recruiter I signed up with gave me a guarantee of submarine school & Electricians Mate School if I signed up for Nuclear Power school, so I was on my way.
On the day you graduate from Submarine School you get to pick your first
boat( subs are commonly refered to as boats, not ships). I picked the USS Tang in Pearl Harbor. This boat was named after the famous submarine of
WWII. My new boat was built on the plans of a German Uboat type XXI and this class of boats were the first Fast Attack boats. There were 5 boats in the class and all were diesel powered. All of this class of boats were named after famous boats sunk during WWII.
Soon after reporting aboard Tang two things happened, I was promoted to seaman and I found out that I got seasick. I was to learn that I got seasick easily and that I would need seasick pills as long as I stayed in the Navy. Usually I got over it in a couple of days after leaving port and I found that I never got sick in really bad storms as the boats motion was too violent.
the summer of 1962 we got orders to prepare to go to sea on a top secret
patrol. After loading provisions, weapons-including 2 war shot torpedoes,
and the removal of our two rescue buoys we sailed in late June. Our first
and last stop was Midway Island. There we topped off our diesel fuel, fresh water and provisions used getting there. We were also treated to a beer party which lasted about 4 hours. During this time the seaman on duty painted out our white hull numbers so we were totally black.
We sailed again in late afternoon, after the spooks came aboard. From then on we were to remain totally undetected, even from our own planes and ships. We were operating under war time conditions. After crossing the International Date line we started our patrol reversals of time. What we did was reverse night and day. When we arrived on station we would be in close to shore making our observations so the ship would be rigged for red, red lights only, and those off duty would be sleeping. This increased our level of quietness. At night we would be much farther out charging batteries and doing other required duties. We stayed rigged for red then also.
On an amusing note, food looks different under red lights, especially anything red. Catchup is practically invisible. By this time most of our fresh
produce, milk, etc. were gone so we were now eating canned goods, powdered milk, canned potatoes, powdered eggs etc. Nothing had changed since WWII. The submarine force did get the best food the Navy had available.
In addition to my duties as an Electricians Mate striker my primary watch station was as either the bow or stern planesman. On watch in addition to maintaining the ordered depth between periscope depth and 400 feet we constantly drilled on emergency drills and practicing to be able to control
the boats depth with only one planesman. I was also the battle stations stern planesman. One day I came on watch and was the helmsman. Shortly
after coming on watch I relised that when I moved the rudder the gyro compass repeater did not follow my course correction. I started using the magnetic compass and found we were way off course, toward land, and immediatly told the conning officer. He gave me the correct course to get back to the twelve mile limit. We were in to 6 miles of the Russian coast. No
place you wanted to get caught.
Some days later I came off watch and went too my bunk in the after torpedo room. I was just getting to sleep when the general alarm sounded and an announcement of " Man battle stations torpedo, this is NOT a drill!!"
Sunday, May 25, 2008
The Elections of 2008
Well now where shall I start?
Elections for President of the United States have completely turned me off
for a lot of years. I have elected not to vote because as far as I was concerned there was nobody worth voting for. I became tired of voting for people who were tied to special interests, people who would do nothing more than to continue governing the country in the same old way. Our present President is an example of one of the worst. I won't try to list all the things done by this administration to rate as the worst I have ever seen, as most people know what they are.
This year a new President will be elected and as far as I am concerned there is only one candidate who will even try to change how things are done in Washington. That candidate is Senator Obama.
Senator Clinton has shown in recent weeks that she is no better a candidate than other insiders who have run for this office. She is, in my opinion, the bitterest loser of any candidate that has run for high office in my memory.
Senator McCain, again in my opinion, would be a close look a like of our current President, if elected. Here is a man who should know, better than the majority of us, what war is all about and it's effect on our service men and women. He has said repeatedly that he will never surrender in Iraq, a war which is not in our interests to pursue as it is almost entirely a civil war that the Iraq people need to settle. If elected he would continue killing American service men and women for no good reason.
What will happen as the primary season draws to a close? If the Clinton campaign has it's way they will take their arguments to the Supreme Court
if they can, trying to steal the nomination. John McCain will continue the negative campaigning that he is so against. After all that is the only kind of campaign the insiders know how to run.
Am I right or wrong, time will only tell. It could be this countries last chance to get new blood into Washington and hopefully make a real difference.
Elections for President of the United States have completely turned me off
for a lot of years. I have elected not to vote because as far as I was concerned there was nobody worth voting for. I became tired of voting for people who were tied to special interests, people who would do nothing more than to continue governing the country in the same old way. Our present President is an example of one of the worst. I won't try to list all the things done by this administration to rate as the worst I have ever seen, as most people know what they are.
This year a new President will be elected and as far as I am concerned there is only one candidate who will even try to change how things are done in Washington. That candidate is Senator Obama.
Senator Clinton has shown in recent weeks that she is no better a candidate than other insiders who have run for this office. She is, in my opinion, the bitterest loser of any candidate that has run for high office in my memory.
Senator McCain, again in my opinion, would be a close look a like of our current President, if elected. Here is a man who should know, better than the majority of us, what war is all about and it's effect on our service men and women. He has said repeatedly that he will never surrender in Iraq, a war which is not in our interests to pursue as it is almost entirely a civil war that the Iraq people need to settle. If elected he would continue killing American service men and women for no good reason.
What will happen as the primary season draws to a close? If the Clinton campaign has it's way they will take their arguments to the Supreme Court
if they can, trying to steal the nomination. John McCain will continue the negative campaigning that he is so against. After all that is the only kind of campaign the insiders know how to run.
Am I right or wrong, time will only tell. It could be this countries last chance to get new blood into Washington and hopefully make a real difference.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Getting Started
In as much as I decided to start this blog today I really haven't given any thought to what to write, so let's see what happens.
Today let's look at the war in Iraq. Let me first state that I am a Veteran Navy Submariner and as a Vet I can't think of enough good things to praise the guys and gals of todays armed forces. Everyone of them are HEROS in my mind.
Back to my subject. This war that was hatched in the minds of the President,
Vice-President and former Sec. of Defense should never have been allowed to continue after we sucessfully got rid of the dictatorship there! This especially true as we found that the reasons given by our government to go to war were all lies! At that point Congress should have taken action to end the war by any means possible since the President wouldn't.
The simple truth is that since our government refused to end the war at that point, they have killed over 4000 of our fighting men and women. This is not only a tragedy but in my mind a criminal act. the continuing war has not only cost us so many lives but has helped to ruin our economy, ruin or reputation world wide and completely bypassed the important issue of the
war on terror in Afghanistan.
I will stop here for today as I tend to get very emotional when talking or writing about this and other things.
Today let's look at the war in Iraq. Let me first state that I am a Veteran Navy Submariner and as a Vet I can't think of enough good things to praise the guys and gals of todays armed forces. Everyone of them are HEROS in my mind.
Back to my subject. This war that was hatched in the minds of the President,
Vice-President and former Sec. of Defense should never have been allowed to continue after we sucessfully got rid of the dictatorship there! This especially true as we found that the reasons given by our government to go to war were all lies! At that point Congress should have taken action to end the war by any means possible since the President wouldn't.
The simple truth is that since our government refused to end the war at that point, they have killed over 4000 of our fighting men and women. This is not only a tragedy but in my mind a criminal act. the continuing war has not only cost us so many lives but has helped to ruin our economy, ruin or reputation world wide and completely bypassed the important issue of the
war on terror in Afghanistan.
I will stop here for today as I tend to get very emotional when talking or writing about this and other things.
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