Free Republic

Lots of people worry what the neighbors think. Brad Braastad isn't one of them. First, he installed a mailbox shaped like a yellow submarine at the end of his driveway. Now the 84-year-old Navy veteran and his pals are building a replica of a nuclear sub in the backyard of his South Side home. "The neighbors think he's crazy," joked Braastad's buddy, Carle Blackwell . "They think I've spent too much time underwater," chimed Braastad, who actually spent much of his 25-year military career below the sea. Beyond the mirth, serious work is under way for the group of former...

PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII (NNS) -- The nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Tucson (SSN 770) departed on a Western Pacific deployment from its homeport of Pearl Harbor March 21. According to Cmdr. James Pitts, Tucson’s commanding officer, the crew prepared by conducting standard pre-deployment upkeep and maintenance. “In the last few months we went through a fairly sizable maintenance period. We needed to make sure the equipment is up to standards for deployment,” said Pitts. “We also held routine and operational training to help us support the nation and [U.S.] 7th Fleet’s mission.” He said overall, the crew handled the maintenance and...

Official U.S. Navy file photo of Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered submarine, USS Asheville (SSN 758). View Larger Download HiRes   Pacific Submarine Force: A New Era of Warfare Story Number: NNS040122-16Release Date: 1/23/2004 10:00:00 AMBy Chief Journalist (SW/AW) David Rush, Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public AffairsPEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) -- In a January interview, Rear Adm. Paul F Sullivan, commander, Submarine Force Pacific, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC), said his submariners are ready for 2004. The attack submarines (SSNs) stationed in Pearl Harbor, San Diego and Guam, as well as the "boomers" (SSBNs) homeported in Bangor, Wash., are ready...