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.)
Thursday, June 04, 2009
USS Seawolf Returns From Deployment
Here's a story in the Kitsap Sun about the return of USS Seawolf (SSN 21) from a 6 month WestPac. It comes with a video of the homecoming:
That actually happened when we returned from a Med cruise. Seeing that sign sure ticked off a lot of the squids. Back then though, all I cared about was getting my laundry done and a bite to eat.
Returning from a deployment to the Med and all you were interested in was laundry and food? Is "laundry and a bite to eat" some kind of code for something a lot more fun, or are you gay?
It's always nice to be able to see these great homecomings. Makes me sort of jealous that while the FA wives and families get to stand by the pier, us trident wives get to wait up at the bowling alley.
Oh well.
Welcome home Seawolf! Enjoy the time with your families, and the wonderful weather!
"It's always nice to be able to see these great homecomings. Makes me sort of jealous that while the FA wives and families get to stand by the pier, us trident wives get to wait up at the bowling alley."
I'm sure many a FA wife would trade a six month deployment with your patrol (the equivalent of a POM workup) so you could wait on the pier.
"I'm sure many a FA wife would trade a six month deployment with your patrol (the equivalent of a POM workup) so you could wait on the pier."
WWow. That's a little harsh, don't you think? I meant nothing bad by writing what I did. I would love to be able to stand on the pier and watch them tie up. I've never had that luxury the 10 years I've gone to a homecoming. I'm sorry if feeling the way I do bothers you so much DDM, but I do not apologize for wanting to stand on the pier. I don't care if you're gone 1 wk to a year. It sucks having your husband is gone. Next time I am standing up at the bowling alley for 5 hrs waiting for the buses to make their way up there, I will just smile and think of you.
He wasn't being mean. The reality is that boomer wives have it much easier than fast attack wives. BOTH go through tremendous ordeals as Navy wives, but life on a fast boat is a whole other animal than the fairly well set schedule of a missile boat.
My wife of 15yrs (& 4 boats - 1 boomer & 3 fast attacks) will attest that she'd prefer the regular schedule and shorter periods away (patrols vice deployments) of a 2 crew boomer over the hectic and always changing schedule that is the norm on fast attack life.
Back to the Seawolf... I remember when they were the Pierwolf & the laughingstock of the Atlantic. Nice to see the growing pains have long since ended & they are kicking butt & taking names on deployment & have now made it back safely.
If I might try to add to what anonnymous was saying about standing at the pier...It has everything to do with security. So unfortunately for the wives of sailors on Tridents, regardless of how long they are or are not gone into comparison to FA sailors, the security and rules are obviously slightly different.
I don't think this person wanted to engage anyone in a whoa is me contest. She simply made a statement that did not need anyone telling her she was wrong in how she felt.
I do not believe that either set of wives have it easier than the other. But like the poster before me said, if you men want to engage in that sort of argument, by all means, argue away. It's ridiculous to even try to tell someone that another person has it worse than they do. You do not know circumstances surrounding their life.
All you should ever do is thank the women who sacrifice to help their sailor do his job. My wife would never dream of telling another wife that she has it harder than her. We are all in this together. Why can't we act like it.
And there's nothing wrong with wanting to stand at the pier to watch a boat pull in. It's a very cool thing to watch.
Standing on the fantail of the tender watching my boat round the corner at Dunoon and head for the port side berth was somewhat like standing on a pier watching as a FA pulled in.
The difference? The crew bringing the boat in was headed home to Groton while I had 90+ days of patrol ahead of me. Excited about the patrol but already missing my family and freedoms.
For the wife waiting at the bowling alley, hope you bowl a few frames while waiting.
"WWow. That's a little harsh, don't you think? I meant nothing bad by writing what I did. I would love to be able to stand on the pier and watch them tie up. I've never had that luxury the 10 years I've gone to a homecoming. I'm sorry if feeling the way I do bothers you so much DDM, but I do not apologize for wanting to stand on the pier. I don't care if you're gone 1 wk to a year. It sucks having your husband is gone. Next time I am standing up at the bowling alley for 5 hrs waiting for the buses to make their way up there, I will just smile and think of you."
I was on an old SSBN (eight patrols), a 637 class out of Hawaii (2 WestPacs), New Conn on SSN-23, and did a six month deployment as a hot fill on an SSN while in new conn. I believe that the sacrifice that most Navy wives make far outweighs the sacrifice the men make.
I apologize if you think I was being harsh. My bias comes from being around those who feel they are entitled to serve on Tridents. They have the best bases and the best quality of life on the boat. Who wouldn't want that for their family? What chaps my a$$ is those who think their time with their family is more important than my time I spend with my family.
My apologies for engaging in this discussion. The SEAWOLF is a good boat, I rode them quite a bit when they were attached to CSS-4.
Where's the Cake Lady?
ReplyDeleteWhere the hell is the Cake Lady?
Has the Submarine Force lost all ties to the past?
Is the Cake Lady related to the Church Lady?
ReplyDeleteNo.
ReplyDeleteOne-question qualie: who is/was the Cake Lady? (For you really old guys, 'is/was' is not another submarine reference - but it could be...)
I think she is the mother of Obama Girl.
ReplyDeleteWhere is the "Seawolf Wives Were Great" sign?
ReplyDeleteThat actually happened when we returned from a Med cruise. Seeing that sign sure ticked off a lot of the squids. Back then though, all I cared about was getting my laundry done and a bite to eat.
Returning from a deployment to the Med and all you were interested in was laundry and food? Is "laundry and a bite to eat" some kind of code for something a lot more fun, or are you gay?
ReplyDeleteThat cannot be Bremerton-too much sunshine and blue sky!
ReplyDeleteIt's always nice to be able to see these great homecomings. Makes me sort of jealous that while the FA wives and families get to stand by the pier, us trident wives get to wait up at the bowling alley.
ReplyDeleteOh well.
Welcome home Seawolf! Enjoy the time with your families, and the wonderful weather!
"It's always nice to be able to see these great homecomings. Makes me sort of jealous that while the FA wives and families get to stand by the pier, us trident wives get to wait up at the bowling alley."
ReplyDeleteI'm sure many a FA wife would trade a six month deployment with your patrol (the equivalent of a POM workup) so you could wait on the pier.
"I'm sure many a FA wife would trade a six month deployment with your patrol (the equivalent of a POM workup) so you could wait on the pier."
ReplyDeleteWWow. That's a little harsh, don't you think? I meant nothing bad by writing what I did. I would love to be able to stand on the pier and watch them tie up. I've never had that luxury the 10 years I've gone to a homecoming. I'm sorry if feeling the way I do bothers you so much DDM, but I do not apologize for wanting to stand on the pier. I don't care if you're gone 1 wk to a year. It sucks having your husband is gone. Next time I am standing up at the bowling alley for 5 hrs waiting for the buses to make their way up there, I will just smile and think of you.
He wasn't being mean. The reality is that boomer wives have it much easier than fast attack wives. BOTH go through tremendous ordeals as Navy wives, but life on a fast boat is a whole other animal than the fairly well set schedule of a missile boat.
ReplyDeleteMy wife of 15yrs (& 4 boats - 1 boomer & 3 fast attacks) will attest that she'd prefer the regular schedule and shorter periods away (patrols vice deployments) of a 2 crew boomer over the hectic and always changing schedule that is the norm on fast attack life.
Back to the Seawolf...
I remember when they were the Pierwolf & the laughingstock of the Atlantic. Nice to see the growing pains have long since ended & they are kicking butt & taking names on deployment & have now made it back safely.
STSC
Booyah! Go Harry Gantaume! Welcome home buddy.
ReplyDeleteWell. It's nice to see the guys jumping into the pointless "Who has it worse" argument.
ReplyDeleteWelcome home Seawolf.
If I might try to add to what anonnymous was saying about standing at the pier...It has everything to do with security. So unfortunately for the wives of sailors on Tridents, regardless of how long they are or are not gone into comparison to FA sailors, the security and rules are obviously slightly different.
ReplyDeleteI don't think this person wanted to engage anyone in a whoa is me contest. She simply made a statement that did not need anyone telling her she was wrong in how she felt.
I do not believe that either set of wives have it easier than the other. But like the poster before me said, if you men want to engage in that sort of argument, by all means, argue away. It's ridiculous to even try to tell someone that another person has it worse than they do. You do not know circumstances surrounding their life.
All you should ever do is thank the women who sacrifice to help their sailor do his job. My wife would never dream of telling another wife that she has it harder than her. We are all in this together. Why can't we act like it.
And there's nothing wrong with wanting to stand at the pier to watch a boat pull in. It's a very cool thing to watch.
Standing on the fantail of the tender watching my boat round the corner at Dunoon and head for the port side berth was somewhat like standing on a pier watching as a FA pulled in.
ReplyDeleteThe difference? The crew bringing the boat in was headed home to Groton while I had 90+ days of patrol ahead of me. Excited about the patrol but already missing my family and freedoms.
For the wife waiting at the bowling alley, hope you bowl a few frames while waiting.
"WWow. That's a little harsh, don't you think? I meant nothing bad by writing what I did. I would love to be able to stand on the pier and watch them tie up. I've never had that luxury the 10 years I've gone to a homecoming. I'm sorry if feeling the way I do bothers you so much DDM, but I do not apologize for wanting to stand on the pier. I don't care if you're gone 1 wk to a year. It sucks having your husband is gone. Next time I am standing up at the bowling alley for 5 hrs waiting for the buses to make their way up there, I will just smile and think of you."
ReplyDeleteI was on an old SSBN (eight patrols), a 637 class out of Hawaii (2 WestPacs), New Conn on SSN-23, and did a six month deployment as a hot fill on an SSN while in new conn. I believe that the sacrifice that most Navy wives make far outweighs the sacrifice the men make.
I apologize if you think I was being harsh. My bias comes from being around those who feel they are entitled to serve on Tridents. They have the best bases and the best quality of life on the boat. Who wouldn't want that for their family? What chaps my a$$ is those who think their time with their family is more important than my time I spend with my family.
My apologies for engaging in this discussion. The SEAWOLF is a good boat, I rode them quite a bit when they were attached to CSS-4.
Dear All,
ReplyDeleteI'm just grateful that I had the privilege of standing on the pier or waiting for word from a building and I know he was just grateful I was.
Welcome home...
This won't actually have success, I think so.
ReplyDeleteOh my god, there's a lot of effective material in this post!
ReplyDelete