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.)
Tomorrow is the 9th anniversary of the loss of the Russian submarine RNS Kursk (K 141). I plan on observing a moment of silence for my brothers of the 'fin who were lost that day.
And when at length her course is run,
Her work for home and country done,
Of all the souls that in her sailed
Let not one life in thee have failed;
But hear from heaven our sailor's cry,
And grant eternal life on high!
posted by Bubblehead at 5:08 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.)
23 Comments:
I got an email from a facebook group I belong to that wanted everyone to wear their dolphins to work tomorrow in remembrance of the Kursk. I'm thinking if I don't do it for the Scorpion or the Thresher (or any other lost US boat), why would I do it for some Ruskies I used to chase around?
8/11/2009 6:22 PM
I think if you had a chance to sit down and have a beer with the guys you used to chase, you'd find out you are more like brothers than enemies.
If John McCain can go back to Hanoi, and Corrie ten Boom can go back to Ravensbrück, you can honor the Russians who endured the living Hell of death in a cold, dark, watery submarine. I think all of us who spent time on or under the pond can relate. You need to get right with something if you can't feel any empathy for those guys.
I'll pray for you, and that we find a way in this world to reach the point where none of us have to go through that kind of Hell again.
8/11/2009 7:49 PM
They died while they were training on how to kill me, my countrymen and our allies and I'm supposed to observe a moment of silence for them? Really? I don't think so.
I have no idea what motivated McCain to go back to Hanoi nor do I care. You might think I need to "get right" also but no amount of chanting to your imaginary friend, sorry I meant praying, is going to change anything.
What's next? A moment of silence for suicide bombers who die before they get a chance to detonate themselves?
8/11/2009 9:20 PM
Why not wear the badge for 589 and 593?
8/11/2009 9:43 PM
What if we wear them for the Toledo instead?
8/11/2009 10:06 PM
I think that what motivated John McCain to go back to Hanoi was that the future is what we make it.
8/11/2009 10:48 PM
They died while they were training on how to kill me, my countrymen and our allies and I'm supposed to observe a moment of silence for them? Really? I don't think so.
Do you blame the sword, or the hand that wields it? In the end, the laws of the sea and of seamen are as timeless as they are unrelenting. We are all of the same blood regardless of the flag under which we sail or whose orders we follow. We may not like their politics, nor they ours, but we are all bound by the same code. Pity that something as (relatively) narrow as one's political views can cloud the real issue.
Off to work...educating tomorrow's seamen. (with my Dolphins proudly displayed in my classroom)
8/12/2009 4:33 AM
I often see military service members being perceived as chomping at the bit for the opportunity to kill their enemies. I prefer to believe that the sailors aboard Kursk were training to defend their homeland, just as we trained to defend ours. I do agree, there are many opportunities to memorialize our own sailors, in fact we do every year around the Submarine Birthday Ball time. We conduct wreath laying ceremonies, toll the bell, set up a table for the sailors still on patrol, and many other ceremonies. I don't remember being asked any other time to honor the memory of Kursk sailors, perhaps I missed it. I don't find it unreasonable nor offensive in any way to pin on my fish for one day to remember 118 sailors who died in the service of their country, even if it's not my own.
I'm wearing mine right now, and just like Ret ANAV said, I'm educating.
8/12/2009 5:48 AM
I do not wear the Dolphins, but my brother does. We all have a job to do and they were doing their job. I tend to agree with SJV among others that I bet there would be more similarities found. In my opinion, forgiveness and ones ability to do so are important. I think a moment of silence is in order. Great Blog Joel.
8/12/2009 8:23 AM
while sitting in ERLL, freezing my butt off, waiting for field day to start, I always imagined in that "other boat" out there, there was some poor sod, just like me, freezing his butt off in ERLL waiting for field day to start. I'm sure they complained about the midwatch, the COB, and what a lousy string of liberty ports they got, just like us. Not anything at all like suicide bombers, but just normal Joes doing their job the best they could. They don't represent the views and aggressions of their government any more then me or you did back when we were 3rd classes.
I will remember my brothers on the Kursk this day. Sailors, rest your oars.
MMCS(SS/SW) retired.
8/12/2009 9:15 AM
I would not shed a tear for anyone we kill during combat, but before the fighting starts, and once a little time has passed afterward, we are brothers in arms.
Submariners, as has been said here, are more alike than different the world over. And unless we are shooting at each other, we can still tip back a beer and salute each other.
Even as we train to kill them--and vice versa.
8/12/2009 9:32 AM
MMCS,
That's a damn fine way of looking at the other side. It's very easy to demonize our "enemy" when all you can see is the exterior of the submarine's hull or a trace on a sonar display. When you get right down to it, they're no different than you or I, they just sail under a different flag.
Thanks for putting into words exactly how I feel now, and felt then.
8/12/2009 9:34 AM
Well put MMCS!
Often in days of old, the first victory toast was to "victory" and the second was to "those who died in battle"...not to "those of our side only who died in battle".
I have traded dolphins and shared vodkas with Russian submariners and they were just doing their job too...and with far less safety than we enjoyed!
I too will give a moment of silence to the brave men of the Kursk.
8/12/2009 9:42 AM
Well said, Senior Chief
8/12/2009 10:05 AM
A little history here....
In the early 90's I collected an oral history from a retired EMC(SS) that was in the prize crew of U-2513. He along with 30+ other submariners joined the 2513 in Lisahally Northern Ireland in June 1945. He told me, "for the German crew, the war was over. We shared the boat with them for several weeks. They taught "school of the boat" for us. We would take them to the canteen (British) and buy soap, tooth paste razor blades, etc. for them. We had a bond with the German crew." FYI Rich Dotts EMC(SS)USN RET who died in 2002 made six war patrols on Sargo and three war patrols on Rasher. Even our WWII submariners recognized the "brotherhood of the phin"
My two cents, and keep a zero bubble............
DBFTMC(SS)USNRET
8/12/2009 11:05 AM
This reminds me of a report on the D Day 50th Anniversery at Normandy (at least I think it was the 50th).
Anyway the media did a report on an American vet and a German vet who had both fought and suvived at Omaha beach.
They shook hands and hugged, both with tears in their eyes and agreed on the question that "why did so many good men have to die".
It was very touching.
This is an individual decission on each of our parts. I agree that the Kursk was a tragic event and I salute the brave sailors who went down with her.
It does not bother me if others disagree and choose not to honor their loss.
8/12/2009 11:08 AM
Amen.
8/12/2009 2:05 PM
For all those that go down to the sea.
For U-boat crews?
8/13/2009 9:24 PM
May they rest in peace.
8/14/2009 8:45 PM
I remember when this happened, as I was out to sea when the Kursk went down. We changed the background on the laptop (always on) in Sonar to a photo of the Kursk. Part gallows humor, part memorial, we kept that up as a stark reminder of how dangerous a job we do every time we leave the pier.
May the crew of the Kursk rest in peace.
8/16/2009 6:49 PM
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8/16/2009 11:02 PM
On this date (August 18th) in 1991 was the attempted coup against Gorbachev. We were at sea and trying to pick up news via the XO's shortwave radio connected to the floating wire. STSC, do you remember that one?
8/18/2009 6:52 AM
I don't remember that specific event at all, but I was pretty junior back then so not likely to be listening to anything other than PBB. What I DO remember is alot of what we did that Fall, which we can't talk about. I can say I had to go through the Bluenose line 3 times because I was such a mouthy warm-body.
8/19/2009 2:54 PM
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