Navy Talker

LCS-1 USS Freedom arrives in Milwaukee

2008-11-03T09:03:00.000-08:00

The USS Freedom (LCS 1) arrived in Milwaukee yesterday for the start of a weeklong commissioning schedule. Here are a couple of pictures after the Freedom docked at Veteran's Park.

Bozo the Sea Dog (USS Blenny SS-324)

2008-11-03T08:53:00.000-08:00

A reader forwarded this very peculiar newspaper article from 1962 regarding "Bozo" the sea dog from the submarine USS Blenny (SS-324). Any other pet stories out there?!?

Sea Stories Wanted - Please Help!

2008-11-01T19:10:00.000-07:00

One of our huge aspirational goals for the upcoming year, is to make our blog THE #1 compiled source on the Internet for "sea stories" of all type... from the dramatic to the hilarious, spanning across the surface Navy, the Silent Service, and the Navy air and helicopter squadrons. As I have perused the Internet for years, there lacks a coordinated source for Navy sea stories... they are all over the place, and rarely are they "easy" to find. Using the power of Google search engine treatment of a blog such as this, coupled with the thousands of Navy veterans who visit our Navy Pictures site every month, we hope to use our blog to fulfill a valuable service on the Internet... to act as that huge "one stop" compilation of "sea stories".

We will be doing our part, contacting veterans from the large myriad of other navy-related sites out there, to encourage them to post their sea stories here for memories sake. But please do your part! Post your sea stories here, for all of us to enjoy and give honor to your service!

Odd "Side" Jobs in the Navy

2008-11-01T18:14:00.000-07:00

Every now and then I'll have a chat with my Dad who served in the Navy onboard the USS Monticello (LSD-35) as an Electrician's Mate, before entering the nuclear submarine school program, and continuing there as a trainer. He affectionately talks about how he would "cut hair" on board for a small fee. During a family cruise up the West Coast, he talks about how he could run the movie projector to show cartoons to all the kids on board. It makes one realize how many "side" (and "unusual") jobs seem to exist on board ship, apart from one's formal training. We'd love to hear from some of you out there on your experiences with these "side" Navy jobs!

USS Freedom (LCS-1) Commissioning

2008-10-29T13:59:00.000-07:00

The commissoining ceremony of the USS Freedom (LCS-1) will be held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on November 8, 2008 in Veteran's Park downtown. This promises to be an awe-inspiring event... the first of its nature in Lake Michigan since World War II. Information about the commissioning can be found at the following website: http://www.ussfreedom.org/

USS New Hampshire Commissioned

2008-10-26T00:54:00.000-07:00

In follow-up to a prior post, the nuclear attack submarine USS New Hampshire was commissioned yesterday (Saturday) in a marvelous ceremony at the Portsmouth yard. Another fine addition to our silent service.

Hopefully the New Hampshire sailors can keep us updated with some "sea stories" soon!

Remembering the Marines in Beirut

2008-10-23T13:33:00.000-07:00

In perusing today's news, I came across this excellent article on msnbc.com, prepared by a reporter who had covered the deployment of the US Marines to Beirut, and saw the aftermath of the Beirut barracks bombing, which happened 25 years ago today. A link to the article is here (and the comments contain several remembrances by Navy veterans who were stationed offshore in the supporting force):

http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/10/23/1584456.aspx

What a chilling article, and a constant reminder of what terrorists seek to do to the civilized world (it should be noted and remembered that the French barracks were also bombed that day.. it was just not a show of force towards the US).

But more troubling, at least to me, is that we never seem to learn the value of the human lives of our brave armed services personnel. The article mentions Marines were not allowed to have loaded weapons unless being fired upon... no offensive protection.. etc., etc. How eerily similar to decisions being made in Iraq preventing the use of heavy armor (such as tanks) in patrols, to avoid the appearance of being "conquerors". A life is the ultimate sacrifice a soldier, sailor or airman can give... and it should be protected to the utmost by our leaders when making decisions. It troubles the heck out of me when "political correctness" is placed above the lives of our brave service people.

I'd love to hear (and I'm sure many of you would like to hear) the stories of any Navy Veterans who were stationed in or off Beirut during this time period. Please post a comment about your memories or experiences!!

October 23, 2008 Navy History - Operation Urgent Fury

2008-10-23T06:13:00.000-07:00

On today's date in 1983, Operation Urgent Fury began, which involved military action against the communist backed elements of Grenada (though the actual invasion of Grenada did not begin until October 25, 1983). The list of US Navy ships that participated in Operation Urgent Fury are as follows (source: Naval Historical Center - http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq95-2.htm):

USS Aquila (PHM-4)
USS Aubrey Fitch (FFG-34)
USS Barnstable County (LST-1197)
USS Briscoe (DD-977)
USS Caron (DD-970)
USS Clifton Sprague (FFG-16)
USS Coontz (DDG-40)
USS Fort Snelling (LSD-30)
USS Guam (LPH-9)
USS Independence (CV-62)
USS Manitowoc (LST-1180)
USS Moosebrugger (DD-980)
USS Portsmouth (SSN-707)
USS Recovery (ARS-43)
USS Richmond K. Turner (CG-20)
USS Saipan (LHA-2)
USS Sampson (DDG-10)
USS Samuel Eliot Morison (FFG-13)
USS Suribachi (AE-21)
USS Taurus (PHM-3)
USS Trenton (LPD-14)

If anyone has any memorable "sea stories" or remembrances from the Grenada conflict, either funny or serious, please post them as a comment here!

Also, for anyone interested, books have been written addressing the context of Grenada's history which eventually led to the US military intervention in Grenada:

I have not personally read these books, but if anyone has a good review to post on these books for the rest of us, please feel free to post your review! If anyone knows of any other good books on the conflict, fill us in!

October 22, 2008 Navy History - Cuban Missile Crisis

2008-10-22T15:57:00.000-07:00

Today marks the 46th Anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's national address to the United States, wherein he declared a quarantine on offensive weapons transiting to Cuba, and a position that any nuclear attack by Cuba on a Western country would be viewed as an attack on the United States itself, requiring a full retaliatory response against the Soviet Union. And with that, the world edged closer to full nuclear war. Obviously, the U.S. Navy was the "tip of the spear" in confronting the Soviet Union in this crisis.

As we approach an election, and a growing slew of world crisis, one must wonder how a new President will approach these problems, and what role will the Navy play in a new adminstration? We've seen US Navy ships deliver aid to the country of Georgia recently, after an invasion of that country by the Russian army. But as Iran seeks nuclear weapons, as Venezuela becomes more belligerent, as Russia begins to show its teeth anew.. how will a new President respond? Is the Navy ready to be the "tip of the spear" in any new crisis, or has it been spread too thin with the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? Would a new President have the courage to use the Navy in the way President Kennedy did on this day in October, 1962? Is it of concern that Barack Obama has no military experience, whereas President Kennedy (Navy - WWII), and John McCain (Navy - Vietnam) both do?

What do you think? Let us know!

Blue Angels Show this weekend in Jacksonville

2008-10-22T14:20:00.000-07:00

This coming weekend (October 24-26), the Blue Angels will be performing in Jacksonville, Florida at the 2008 NAS Jacksonville Air Show. Friday's performance is for school groups only, but areas around the base normally have a good view of the Blue Angels (and other air show performers for that matter)... though watch for and obey parking restrictions. Saturday and Sunday's shows are open to the general public.

More information on the 2008 Jacksonville Air Show can be found at the following link: http://airshow.jacksonville.com/

SSN-778 USS New Hampshire Commissioning

2008-10-22T14:05:00.000-07:00

On this coming Saturday, October 25, 2008, the USS New Hampshire (SSN-778), the newest Virginia class nuclear attack submarine, will be commissioned at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Maine. The New Hampshire is the fifth submarine of the latest Virginia class.

Information about the New Hampshire's arrival for the commissioning ceremony can be found in this article: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/10/ap_new_hampshire_101908/