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.)
Here's wishing a most safe and joyous Christmas season to all Submariners and those who love us; remember to keep in your thoughts those Submariners out on the "tip of the spear" this Holiday season, like the officers and crew of USS La Jolla (SSN 701):
posted by Bubblehead at 10:48 AM
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.)
39 Comments:
Merry Christmas, Fellow Bubbleheaads!
12/22/2012 11:11 AM
Welcome home, La Jolla!
12/22/2012 4:19 PM
Welcome home, La Jolla!
12/22/2012 4:20 PM
Welcome home, La Jolla!
12/22/2012 4:21 PM
Wow, I got out in '90 and LaJolla was in my squadron at Point Loma. That boat has been going a looooonnnnnggggg time.
12/22/2012 10:14 PM
Merry Xmas and F.T.N...
12/23/2012 7:10 AM
Hoo Ya La Jolla!!!
12/23/2012 7:31 AM
For those that don't know, the boat's name is Spanish for The Jolla.
12/23/2012 4:13 PM
Wow! I worked on her several times in the early 90's. Best group of TM's I ever knew. TM1 Smitty , and TM2 Perry
12/23/2012 10:08 PM
@ anonymous- La Jolla is spanish for 'The Jewel' which is quite fitting. onward USS MISSISSIPPI!
12/24/2012 1:44 AM
Less Merry for Some - How does the Idaho Senator pronounce his last name -
Crap'-Oh?
12/24/2012 2:51 AM
Merry Christmas to all of the boomer crews out right now, pointing big spears at the bad guys; and to all of the fast boat sailors checking on the bad guys and ensuring the safety and security of the sea.
Merry Christmas to all of the ground fighters still in foreign lands, saving our grace to the greatest extent possible; and to not just Americans, but to all defenders of Christian countries - those who will not be home for Christmas, because they are dedicated and caring individuals.
Finally, Merry Christmas to all who have lost a loved one in any of the many tragedies of the year, but any loss is tragic.
God's Love to all!
12/24/2012 5:28 AM
It really has no meaning in Spanish. Just a made up name for a town in California.
12/24/2012 7:19 AM
I was on board from 83-87. She's definitely been around the block a time or two.
12/25/2012 11:17 AM
Joel, thanks for running this forum. I contribute little, but read a lot. Sometimes even learn something! May God bless you and your family on this Christmas day.
12/25/2012 7:26 PM
That's not home. Home is Pearl. That looks more like Pusan, South Korea.....
12/25/2012 10:01 PM
La Jolla was an amazing boat. Hell of a wardroom in 04-07 range. Bunch of greats JOs went on to be successful DHs. A Gang was a bunch of studs too!
12/26/2012 7:11 PM
I could be wrong, but that area looks a lot like the outskirts of Chinhae Naval Base which I drove LJ into at least a couple of times back in '04. It was that misty and cold in summer too. The JOs rocked in large part because Bob Roncska was XO from '04 to '06.
For an idea of her age, consider that the slide to the end of Rickover's career began during LJ's sea trials: according to the book 'Running Critical', during a crashback drill Rickover overrode the CO and kept the astern engines going until the boat reached something like a 30-degree bubble going downhill backwards, just to prove he was in charge. Freaked everyone out and gave plenty of ammo to his critics.
12/27/2012 5:27 PM
Just heard through the grapevine that there were 3 1120's selected for 0-7 instead of 2.... Any word?
12/28/2012 5:40 AM
What gave it away? The Korean lettering on the side of the tug?
12/28/2012 12:53 PM
Let us also remember STS2 Mike Holtz and ETCS Thomas Higgins from The Mighty MSP, who were lost on 29DEC06 off of Devonport, UK.
12/28/2012 10:28 PM
Hope all ya all had a Merry Christmas. Also, anybody know the outcome of the Montpelier/San Jacinto collision? Maybe we have a firing hiatus!
12/30/2012 5:47 AM
Maybe no firing until 2013 to avoid driving the number up one more notch!
12/30/2012 3:32 PM
I find it hard to reconcile that the submarine force preaches that is "Holds Those Responsible for failures, especially for a Class A mishap like this that will prevent a deployment ACCOUNTABLE", for either intentional or mistaken failures, and have turned a blind eye to this CLUSTER FOXTROT.
I guess we've so degraded the Charge of Command at Sea to ensuring that the crew can make their squadron idiots happy, answer monitor watches quickly with BS bandaid fixes, over AVOIDING A COLLISION DURING PEACETIME!!!! ((Used to be THE CORNERSTONE GOAL of SCC ops (Command Training for COs), formerly headed by the current head of NR))
Just my 2 cents worth though....
12/31/2012 4:59 PM
^^^...said the CO(SS) selectee who has his SSN 756 letterhead stationery all picked out.
1/01/2013 12:41 PM
Last time I checked, the fundamental charter for Command at Sea in the Submarine Service during peacetime is not to "Scrape Paint"!
Not on a buoy, on the bottom, hard against the pier, and NEVER WHEN THE CO TAKES THE CONN TO GO TO PD WHEN FRUSTRATED! Clearly a failure of watchteam development, training, situational awareness, Command Leadership....shall I continue?
Just Say'in that I agree with 2 cents.
1/01/2013 5:13 PM
On the O-7 selection, the precepts this year has language for specific picks from the Financial Management Community and the Installation Command Community - so there is a possibility that one or both of those picks went to an 1120, increasing the total number picked. Could be good news for guys like Randy Crites (FM) and Rick Kitchens (Installation).
1/02/2013 5:14 AM
Interesting that both of these guys are not USNA grads and from what I hear, the board was also made up mostly of NON USNA GRADS this year. Curious to see the split and how it shakes out. Not Looking good for the Ring knockers this year..
1/02/2013 7:19 AM
Right, because part of the selection board oath is that you will only consider candidates from your own commissioning source. After all, it is the absolutely best way of grading performance and potential of others.
1/02/2013 7:25 AM
And by the way, two of the three 1120s on the board (Haney (Board President) and Hilarides) are USNA grads.
1/02/2013 7:32 AM
As a fromer COMSUBGRU2 that would seem to help Merz, Parks and Clark... however, not hearing THAT was in fact the case.
1/02/2013 7:48 AM
Who still thinks that Parks still has a shot at flag on this current board? He's far too junior, an idiot cork sucker, clearly exactly the Submarine Force DOESN'T NEED in their Flag Ranks now or EVER.
Unless it's parks that's trying to sell himself on this blog (wouldn't surprise me at all)
1/02/2013 6:29 PM
Merz, Crites, Kitchen
1/03/2013 5:11 AM
Not Correct
1/03/2013 12:45 PM
Not at all? Or not completely?
1/03/2013 1:09 PM
Agree with 12:45.. wish people would keep their anon pieholes shut unless those pieholes do in fact know what they are talking about. That is all
1/03/2013 2:01 PM
Was there an AP pick this year? Who is in line for it if there was?
1/04/2013 7:41 AM
My 2 Cents Said...
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2013/01/ap-sub-commander-removed-montpelier-collision-010413/
Don't Scrape Paint!
1/04/2013 7:18 PM
Merz, Crites, Caudle
1/11/2013 8:40 PM
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