Posted on 04/10/2010 9:53:22 AM PDT by Irenic
On Saturday, April 10, 2010 a memorial service will be held at the R.W. Traip Academy honoring the loss of 129 crew members, US Naval Submarine Officer Observers, and civilian support personnel aboard the USS Thresher during sea trials off of the New England coast 47 years ago to the day on April 10, 1963.
The Memorial Service will begin at 1300.
The R.W. Traip Academy front doors will open at 1130 and remain open until 1500.
On April 10, 1963, the USS Thresher, the lead ship of a new class of nuclear-powered attack submarines, was conducting sea trials off the coast of New England with another ship, the USS Skylark (ASR-20). The two ships were in communication by means of underwater sound telephone. At 0747 the USS Thresher started a deep dive.
Everything was fine until 0913. At this time the USS Thresher sent this message. "We are experiencing minor difficulties, we have a positive up angle, and are attempting to blow. Will keep you informed". At 0916 & 0917 respectively, the USS Skylark received two garbled messages followed shortly by SONAR detection of a high energy, low frequency disturbance. This disturbance was the crushing of the USS Thresher as it had fallen below crush depth. One hundred twenty nine men had perished, including crew members, PNSY Officer Observers, PNSY civilian workers and contractor technicians.
http://www.ussthresher.com/memoriam.htm
BTTT
RIP, brave Sailors.
A guy in my class at Naval Nuclear Power School lost his dad on the Thresher. He was planning to serve on subs like his father.
IIRC some years ago a deep-dive ROV, possibly on one of Ballard's expeditions, found the sub, and took pictures, which were published. I think it was the USS Tresher..but could have been of the USS Scorpion, which was lost a few years later..amid rimors that it collided with a Soviet sub.
For those who are interested in the history of the "Silent Service", here's a link to the USS Bowfin Memorial at Pearl Harbor. It's a wonderful website...great audio and video. I last visited Pearl about 7 years ago...spent a day at the Bowfin and the Arizona...hard to image 80 crew living in a space that small..and what really amazed me was the galley..about the size of a closet..that they could prepare meals 24/7/365...in that small a space..I vowed then never to complain about a "perceived" lack of counter space in our kitchen..
Tribute to an Unknown Father
A poem by Tim Noonis, Son of Chief Petty Officer Walter “Jack” Noonis
http://www.thresherbase.org/index.htm
How I often think about that fateful morn
Our hearts to be broken, all hope forlorn
On a fog shrouded morning the Thresher headed for sea
The date was April 10th. Nineteen Sixty Three
She was sleek and fast; a proud ship was she
The 1st of her class, her number 593
With her faithful sub tender Skylark in tow
To test depth that morning the Thresher would go
Skylark to Thresher... “Are you ok?”
Thresher to Skylark... “Having troubles today.”
Skylark to Thresher... “Are you still there?”
...... Nothing ..... from Thresher but bubbles of air
Did you have time to think, or a chance to pray?
Had you any idea what would happen that day?
With a loud clap of thunder, her fate was sealed
What happened to Thresher would not be revealed
One hundred and twenty-nine men on a ship in harms way
Their god, they would meet before the end of the day
Thresher now lay in pieces on the ocean floor
Those fine, handsome sailors ... forever ... no more
They all died together ... yet ... each one alone
Their last thoughts I’m certain were of loved ones at home
Wives, sons and daughters, uncles and aunts too
Waited on shore and prayed for you
The news came slowly ... and when it did, it was grim
All souls lost! ... My thoughts were of him
Her end was violent and quick we were told
Twas thought with this, our hearts be consoled
The consolation of our hearts would remain an elusive goal
The best we could manage was to pray for their souls
With not a gravesite to visit, nor a body to grieve
There’d be no respite from anguish, no sorrow’s reprieve
You were thirty-four, and me, just one
A heavy burden to bare, for a life just begun
No game of catch would ever be played
Nor pictures of fishing on the wall displayed
No advice ever given on how to be a man
For the Thresher lay deep, a crumpled tin can
What happened to Thresher, the Navy wanted to know
The finger of blame, surely would show
Silver brazed joints were suspected the cause
Her emergency blow system gave others to pause
Their sacrifice, however, wouldn’t be for not
Sub-Safe was the program to spare others, their lot
Thirty years and more since this day passed by
Why do we still remember and sometimes still cry?
For we hear their souls call out from the sea
Remember! Remember! Remember me!
So remember we do and fondly so
Of the loved ones we lost so long ago
Time cannot dry the tears that I shed
Thoughts of an unknown father still fill my head
Written by Tim Noonis
December 8,1999
Tim is the Son of Chief Petty Officer Walter “Jack” Noonis.
There’s a great museum in New London, Ct, right next to
Electric boat. The old Nautilus can be toured while there.
IIRC, the submarine crews suffered the highest percentage of losses (KIA) of all the different components of the military in WW II, followed by the aircrews of the 8th USAAF. Yet they went out, the continued to go out..on patrol after patrol, on mission after mission..well aware of the odds they faced..
My sweetie is a former sub guy. When we were looking for a house to buy he got all excited over little teeny tiny rooms, while I was looking for big, open areas. I guess that’s why he enjoyed submarine service so much!
I was just a kid at the time, but I remember the Thresher, and her gallant crew.
May they rest in peace!
Ping.
Thanks for the ping. I’m glad they are having this memorial service.
Portsmouth, NH, and Kittery, ME, were in deep mourning for a long time after this happened, because those who were lost and their families lived there.
I SERVED ON BOARD THE DACE, ssn-607.
Prayers for their loved ones.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.