Trident Tides

LOST Subs, Sailors Honored
by JO3 Anthony Silas

Trident submarines, or SSBNs, patrol the waters of the world; protect ships attached to Carrier Battle Groups.

   The men who operate these highly complex vessels know they're in harm's way, but their pride
and devotion to protecting the American way of life makes the word danger almost nonexistent. Still,
they go under the ocean's surface, knowing there's a possibility that they may never come back.

   Between 1915 and 1968, more that 3,000 officers and enlisted died on 64 submarines that never
came back to the surface. Those shipmates were remembered during a "Tolling of the Bells" for
United States Submarines on "Eternal Patrol."

   The ceremony, sponsored by the Pacific Northwest Submarine Heritage Association, was held at
the Deterrent Park site, across from submarine Group Nine Headquarters on May 28. An estimated
550 Officers, Enlisted and Civilians from the Bangor area commands, as well as retired Navy and Civil Service personnel throughout Kitsap County attended the ceremony just prior to the Memorial Day weekend.

   CDR. Angus McColl, Group Nine tactics training officer, served as master of ceremonies,
welcoming everyone to the Deterrent Park site.  "We're doing this for the submarine veterans,"
McColl said. We're honoring the ships and the men who went down with them. The last submarine
 we lost was USS Scorpion (SSN 589) in 1968." McColl also said he hoped the ceremony would help
instill the meaning of Memorial Day, a celebration of the nation's war debt.  He added that it was the
first of several ceremonies that will be held at Deterrent Park when it's completed next year.

  After the Trident Training Facility Color Guard paraded the colors and Retired Chaplain Paul Murphy gave the invocation, Rear Adm. George Voelker, Commander, Submarine Group Nine, spoke to the audience. "Look around, and you'll see Sailors wearing different colored uniforms: (Navy) summer whites, khakis, Marine uniforms, " he began. "I ask them to attend in the uniform of the day so they can observe this event."

   Voelker focuses on the men who died in the submarine services. "It is truly fitting that we
remember those whose service and sacrifice have brought America to the beginning of new
millennium as the unchallenged leader of the world," he said to the crowd. "We owe our
predecessors in the submarine force a debt we can never repay. Therefore, we must never, ever
forget what they did for us," he continued. "So today let us remember those who have gone before.
They paid the ultimate price so that each of us, here today will have the opportunity to live free."

   Voelker discussed the purpose of Deterrent Park. "It will be a monument to honor the service of
everyone who ever served in submarines, (as well as) those who helped build and maintain them," he
said. "As such, it will serve as a reminder of those we remember here today."

   After the speech, McColl acknowledged the Puget Sound submarine veterans' associations by
asking members of each organization to stand. The Puget Sound veterans groups included the
Submarine Veterans, World War II; Submarine Veterans League; Woodrow Wilson Association; Fleet Reserve Association; Retired Officers Association; The American Legion; and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

   Ed Ferris of SubVets WWII, ended the ceremony by naming each boat on "Eternal Patrol," as
FT3(SS) Anson Howard of USS Henry M. Jackson's BlueCrew, tolled the bells. "This is a tribute to the lost Sailors since we're doing the same jobs they did", Howard said after the ceremony. "I'm honored to be part of this ceremony because I want to make a career of the submarine service."

   Submarine veterans, like Leo Sweeney, seemed glad to honor the lost Sailors and see the naval
personnel of today. Sweeney enlisted in the Navy in 1941 and retired from the navy as a lieutenant
commander in 1967. He is part of the Charles Lockwood chapter of SubVets, WWII. "I had a lot of
good friends go down on those boats, so the ceremony means a lot to me." said the Sequim resident.
"It's important that these people be remembered for their sacrifice." Albert Reibold, also of
SubVets, WWII, concurred with his chapter member. Reibold enlisted in 1950, and retired as a
 Chief Petty Officer in 1970. Like Sweeney, he resides in Sequim. "The did it for their country, so we
should do this for them," said Reibold. "This ceremony lets these men, and their families, know they
didn't die in vain. I'm happy to be here to honor these shipmates."

   Capt. William Murphy, commanding officer of the USS Nevada (SSBN 733) Blue, said he enjoyed the ceremony.  "I was impressed because this is what Memorial Day is all about," he said. "It's always a moving experience to see military members honored.  Our submarine force lost over 50
submarines, so we're paying tribute to the real heroes."

   STS2(SS) James Sowa, of USS Florida (SSBN 728)(Blue), had the chance to honor the men who
died so they can ride in better submarines. "They died for the fleet, so I think it's essential that we
 honor them. They paved the way for us," he said.

   Deterrent Park is a pilot project of the Pacific Northwest Submarine Heritage Association, an
umbrella organization of several submarine veterans' organizations around the Puget Sound Area.
The park will feature a 400 foot long replica of ex-USS Woodrow Wilson (SSBN 624), a Lafayette
class submarine. The replica will consist of the preserved topside sail and rudder, with 6,000 black
commemorative bricks forming the submarine's topside and missile deck.  The ceremonial area and
parkway will be made up of 9,000 red bricks.  Deterrent Park is set for completion in April 2000, and
will open as part of the National Submarine Centennial Celebration, which will commemorate 100
years of submarine service. In addition to ceremonies, the park will also be used for studying and
quiet contemplation. There will also be story boards and picture displays of submarine history.

   The Commemorative Bricks used to finance the project are $40 each. Members can have
 messages engraved onto the bricks. Messages may include name, rate/rank, dates served, etc., at
no extra cost. Anyone interested in purchasing a brick can contact McColl at (360) 396-6731, Ed
Ferris at (360) 692-9654, or John Ghiselin (360) 692-8151, or order online at