Keeping the blogosphere posted on the goings on of the world of submarines since late 2004... and mocking and belittling general foolishness wherever it may be found. Idaho's first and foremost submarine blog. (If you don't like something on this blog, please E-mail me; don't call me at home.)
The third Saturday in May is designated as Armed Forces Day. Let's hear it for all the services! In celebration, here's a video taken from the bridge of USS Toledo (SSN 769) during a recent media availability:
posted by Bubblehead at 12:43 PM
I'm Joel Kennedy -- a married, 50-something year old retired submarine officer and esophageal cancer survivor with three kids who has finally made the transition to civilian life. Politically, I'm a Radical Moderate. (If you don't like something on this blog, please E-mail me. Don't call me at home.)
25 Comments:
"Armed Forces Day." Now that's a Hallmark Holiday if ever there was one.
"The day was created in 1949, and was a result of the consolidation of the military services in the Department of Defense." from Wikipedia.
So really it's 'Department of Defense Day.'
Submarine Birthday, Navy Birthday, Marine Corps Birthday - those are real. This is a phony non-celebration.
5/16/2009 1:36 PM
Agree with R.D. And...why create this "Day" so close to Memorial Day? No celebration in this house...
5/16/2009 4:52 PM
Missing the rear cross bar, aren't they?
5/16/2009 7:33 PM
There are probably as many different ways to rig the bridge as there are submarines in the fleet.
5/16/2009 9:35 PM
Well let me be the first then! Great job Toledo!!! Despite the tag that the day is phony it does give us a chance to display a piece of the Navy to the public. With so much anti-military attitude out there I applaud any effort to thank those who sacrifice for the defense of our nation. HooooRaaaah Toledo!!!
5/17/2009 9:14 AM
Toledo looked good. Anyone noticed that the CO wore the new camis? Good looking uniform...
5/17/2009 9:27 AM
"With so much anti-military attitude out there..."
Where? Be paranoid about something real - that ain't.
5/17/2009 9:56 AM
It's nice if anyone thinks about the Forces, but if I don't get the day off it isn't much of a holiday.
5/17/2009 5:44 PM
Huh!!?? Never heard of it and I been around the block a couple of times.
Memorial Day (observed) this year is on Monday May 25 2009. I got a BIG ISSUE with our national holidays that get shifted so we can have a three day weekend.
Cheapens the purpose of the holiday in my view. Just another couple of days off from work rather than recognizing the purpose of the NATIONAL HOLIDAY.
As a member of VFW Post 7705 and Cuttlefish Base USSVI I'll be putting out flags on the graves of our Trinity County vets on the 23rd. Selling/giving away poppies at our local food store on the 24th, and participating in the memorial service for rememberance of our deceased vets on Monday may 25, 2009 representing USSVI.
What are you'all doing for Memorial Day observed?? do you know the history of Memorial Day? I hope you do.
DBFTMC(SS)USNRET
5/17/2009 9:31 PM
"What are you'all doing for Memorial Day observed?"
Standing watch. Just like I did yesterday, Veterans' Day, and last Memorial Day.
5/17/2009 10:56 PM
Smoking on a sub?!
5/18/2009 1:06 PM
Dallas class submarine?
5/18/2009 2:04 PM
A Dallas class submarine? Really?
Is that a new DOUBLE TOP SECRET class of boat(s) in which I've never heard of? I'll bet there are female super models serving on it too. So how do I PCS over to such a boat?
In all seriousness however, Memorial day is a big deal. Just stop and think about the guys over the years who didn't make it home. They no-longer have the luxury of bitching about not getting enough sleep, standing in freezing afternoon rain when loading missiles or having to stand topside watch 2 nights in a row. They don't get to out for a few beers when pulling in or going home to visit family when we're done.
That's what Memorial day means to me. I get to live another day, but they don't. To me that very real concept in life is very humbling.
MT2 WidgetHead
5/18/2009 3:29 PM
I'm skeptical of the authenticity. Where is the CO screaming at the JO's about the autodog or Coke machine not working? Where is the routing of a message five times through six people each time because they can't decide if it's a "boat" or a "vessel"? Hmmm.
5/18/2009 4:53 PM
As a former nuc on Topeka, I loved performing reactor startups at 4am on a Saturday so we could take a group of "VIP's" out to sea.
Jablonski and Cooke were douchebags. Wegmann...didn't like him at the time, but in retrospect--a solid officer. Valley, Alkhas, Ross, and Kennedy...those guys were all aces, in my book.
5/18/2009 5:52 PM
What??? You didn't love WilllBURR...? Whatsamatta you...? You got a big problem with fat ass paranoid retards from Georgia?
5/18/2009 6:29 PM
Besides field day, painting, and 3 section duty...Wilbur (and his ilk) was one of the main reasons I got out. I had zero respect for that hillbilly.
Now, Reichert...he was solid, but got f'd because he didn't give a reach-around to squadron.
5/18/2009 8:38 PM
Nice video clips. The crew did a good job representing the force, and the reporters were very appreciative. How they managed to get two CS's of that caliber made me a bit jealous though. BZ!
STSC
5/18/2009 10:43 PM
Those are some really cool videos. Thanks for posting this stuff. While I feel that a lot of the bubblehead community are a bunch of arrogant asses who think they're crap don't stink (but the boats do after deployments), the navy wouldn't be the same without you guys.
5/18/2009 10:49 PM
I got sent a link to look at a Typhoon. It was in Russian, so I sent it through Google Translator: http://translate.google.com/translate?prev=hp&hl=en&js=n&u=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.livejournal.com%2Fru_submarine%2F17486.html&sl=ru&tl=en&history_state0=The Original site was http://community.livejournal.com/ru_submarine/17486.htmlThere's a pretty good picture of the interior (including RC) and exterior of the boat.
5/19/2009 10:43 AM
On the Typhoon: NO RAT GUARDS? Or do they not have rats at that latitude?
5/20/2009 11:20 PM
Beats me about the rats.
I just thought the pictures were cool. That, and the Russian Federation is probably going to take them down at some point.
5/21/2009 7:06 AM
Former ELT:
Thanks for that link...it provides us with a perspective on the material condition of Russia's fleet...I am amazed at the amount of rust. The sail coating is in terrible shape and it is no wonder that the missile silos leak with sea water, which also provides an added danger to the submariners at sea...I can imagine that sea water and missile fuel don't mix well!
5/21/2009 7:54 AM
"I can imagine that sea water and missile fuel don't mix well!"
Yeah, ask the guys off that Delta in in the North Atlantic in the eighties.
5/22/2009 11:49 AM
Getting zapped by that radar every time it swings past. No little submariners in their future.Well, maybe some with 3 arms...
6/11/2009 8:04 AM
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