231 - August 17, 2004 8:00 pm

Name:

Thomas Burckhard

Tender:

USS Frank Cable AS-39

Comments:

When the AS-39 Frank Cable was launched at Lockheed shipyard on the Duwamish Inlet the launching area was directly in line with a Seattle Fire station,when the ship was launched there were 3 tugs 2 were for big ships the 3rd was a small one,when the ship was moving thru the water the Cable just about swamped the small tug the other 2 working really hard could not stop the ship and she came within 6ft of the fire station everyone was holding their breath,everyone thought the fire station was history. My father was a sheetmetal worker on all of the subtenders, and he invited me to see the launching of the Cable after seeing her come so close to creaming the fire station we couldn't believe it. The next day the local newspaper had a picture of the close call. I was wondering if there is an official U.S. Navy photograph of the close call, and if there is if my father and I could each have one? Thomas and Leroy Burckhard

232 - August 11, 2004 8:00 pm

Name:

Norm Woelk

Tender:

USS Proteus AS-19

Comments:

I was a corpsman (HM-3) on the Pro when she was decommed. I have a few photos and will be glad to answer any questions about our last 2 years.

233 - June 18, 2004 8:00 pm

Name:

Frank Adams

Tender:

USS Canopus

Comments:

My father was a supply clerk on the Canopus from 1983 to 1987, he was on the crew that got the E ribbon for combat service after the GITMO shakedown in 83 or 84, I can't quite remember. I wanted to commend you on your very informative webpage and to share a bit of news on the AS-34. I've come to find out recently that she was sold from the MARAD ready reserve at James River to some shipbreaker in the UK called Able UK that doesnt even want to do the job because they think she's got her original boilers that were changed during the refit at charleston right when my father joined the crew. Apparently they think the ship's a huge contamination hazard and they don't want the work, I know for a fact that our shipyards could use the work but thats neither here nor there because we all know the Navy isnt going to drag her back across the Atlantic to a yard here. Its just quite a sad end for a ship and a name with a history like that. I was very young when I was last aboard but I do remember quite a bit about her from the way the vestibules smelled to the way the chair squeaked in my dad's office and I felt compelled to share this with you. The Canopus association has some more information about it and the BBC news of all places had been covering it earlier this year if you want to know more. We can only hope the old school Tenders will come back in an incarnation or another, maybe to provide hydrogen for a future fuel cell submarine perhaps? or maybe as Special Forces support ships. Anyway, keep up the good work, not many people know it was the tenders and their service along with that of the SSBNs that beat the communists, one part couldnt have functioned without the other but the tenders get no glory or even a footnote in the history books. Its an injustice and a bloody shame. The tenders and their crews are one of the many unsung heroes of the cold war and maybe someone will bring some attention to them. We can only hope, right? -Frank Adams

234 - May 25, 2004 8:00 pm

Name:

Glen Cortez

Tender:

USS Emory S. Land

Comments:

I served in the Navy from July 79 to July 87. I served onboard the USS E.S. LAND in R-2A division and SIMA Norfolk in the MIRCS Lab. After I got out, I worked for NAVSEACENLANT/FTSCLANT doing calibration audits and training until 96. I've worked on many ships during my 17 years of service association and met many great people. I am just trying to touch base with many of the good people I have run across.

235 - May 23, 2004 8:00 pm

Name:

Andrew Griffith

Tender:

USS Simon Lake AS-33

Comments:

I was on board the vessel from Nov 1989 to Sep 1991. During the entire time I was on board, it was located in Holy Loch, Scotland. As I was leaving the ship, it was preparing to depart the site. In late 1991, the vessel set sail for Norfolk, VA.. I spoke with a few members of her crew (old shipmates) while she was in Norfolk, VA during 1993. I know she was still in Norfolk, VA in Jan 1993. At that time, she was preparing to go to Italy. I hope this helps some... Andrew Griffith, MM3 R-2 Div, Repair Dept, USS Simon Lake AS-33 from 11-89 to 9-91 A-Div, USS Virginia, CGN-38 from 11-91 to 1-93

236 - April 6, 2004 8:00 pm

Name:

Stan Stoner

Tender:

USS Sperry AS-12

Comments:

I was a DK2 aboard the USS Sperry on June 12, 1967 when she ran aground soon after leaving Portland and the Portland Rose Festival near Longview, Washington. At the time, I collected photo copies of all the newspaper articles I could find about the incident and filed them away. I recently came across them, and amaziingly, for 37 years they held up pretty good. Anyway, I transcribed the articles, scanned the photos and put them in a .pdf file, in a "newsletter" setting. I thought it might be of interest to some of your visitors. Feel free to post it on your website. [Posted in the Sea Stories section] After leaving the Sperry, I went to the USS Harnett County (LST-821) on the Vam Co Dong River in Viet Nam, then was discharged in 1969. In 1982, I affilitated with the Naval Reserves and retired in 2001 as an IT1. Almost 11 years of my reserve duty was with U.S. Transportation Command, Scott AFB, IL. I did one year of active duty for Operation Desert Shield/Storm at Scott AFB. Stanley L. Stoner

237 - April 4, 2004 8:00 pm

Name:

Charles F. Tucker Jr.

Tender:

USS McKee AS-41

Comments:

I was onboard USS McKee AS-41 during the Gulf War as an HM3.

238 - March 20, 2004 7:00 pm

Name:

John Eells

Tender:

USS Hunley

Comments:

I was on the Hunley from 1967 to 1971. As you know, we relieved the Proteus in Guam in 1968, but that was before your time I guess. I was an ET2 in R4 calibration shop. My memories of the 5 months in Guam were all work and no play. Right now I am thinking of building a scale model of the Hunley. I can't find any blueprints or detailed pictures. Especially critical is detail of the cranes, which are complicated structures. Anyone have anything in your collection that can help me? Thank you John Eells

239 - February 20, 2004 7:00 pm

Name:

Frank J Prophet

Tender:

USS Bushnell

Comments:

I served on the Bushnell Sept 59 to April 63 in the S-3 division. As I recall we had two barber shops, 1 enlisted, 1 officers, ship store, gedunk (soda fountain) tailor shop, cobbler shop, laundry, dry cleaning. I worked in the laundry and cobbler shop. I trained in the tailor and barber shops. My spec rate was ships cobbler. I ran the cobbler shop for over two years. until my discharge in 63. My other duties were compartment watch,( at sea), Duty driver (in port), powder man in mount 5-4 handling room at G. Q. From 19 June 1959 to April 30 1963 were the most learning and fun years of my life. The Bushnell years were the best. Smooth sailing, again great sight. I belong to the burning bush group . Frank J Prophet SHSN.

240 - February 3, 2004 7:00 pm

Name:

DAVE ECKRICH

Tender:

USS Apollo

Comments:

I have not found much info on the apollo. Do you have any suggestions? My father-in-law who is 91 served on the apollo in the pacific in 1943-45. Thank you