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-Another Unexpected
Surprise-
After
my family and I were treated to a most unusual and exciting Submarine
School visit I was later invited back by the last Commander of the Sand
Lance to attend the boats inactivation ceremony. Below is the formal
written invitation from Captain Bud Baker, USN. I most certainly accepted
this honor and was also allowed to bring along a guest. I was not able to
attend this ceremony with any of my immediate family members, so in
recalling a special event, I remembered speaking to my sister Marie
(O’Neill) Griffith the day before we set sail out to sea trials. I had
reminded her that many of us were conscious of the fact that the Sand
Lance was the first 637 Class Submarine to go to sea trials from
Portsmouth since the loss of the USS Thresher. So who was more appropriate
to invite then she? We both attended and recall that time in very special
ways. It was then at the inactivation ceremony where Michael Hewitt
(Nuclear Engineering Officer on the Commissioning Crew) was the guest
speaker. He took the time to recognize my personal accomplishment of
earning the first set of Dolphins awarded from the Sand Lance to an
unqualified enlisted crew member.
Source: Personal
Memorabilia
-Inactivation Ceremony Booklet Cover-
Source:
Decommissioning Crew.
Some of the
commissioning crew who attended the inactivation ceremony.
Left to Right: Michael Hess, Harvey Cybul, Bernard O’Neill, Capt. William
Kennington, Nathan Isenhour
Photo by: Mark Henson, IC1/SS
-Miscellaneous Photos-
Sea Trials High
Speed Surface Run
Source: Sand Lance CD ship2.jpg
Sea Trials High
Speed Surface Run
Source: Sand Lance CD ship3.jpg
Source: New London, CT. Base Store Post Card - 1970
USS Sea Leopard
(SS 483) once assigned to search for USS Scorpion (SSN 598)
The first diesel boat I was at sea on for “Drill duty.”
The weather conditions were so poor we never attempted a dive.
http://www.subnet.com/fleet/ss483.htm
(Source)
A “Sand Lance” is
a type of fish, here, Capt. Bill Kennington holds a Maryland “Rock Fish”.
He seems to be in as much “command” of this Rock Fish as he was with the
“Sand Lance”.
NICE CATCH!
(Summer - 2002)
26 AUG 1970 Plan
Of Day
“The Navy has a Plan for Everything”
Source: Personal Memorabilia
A Treasure Chest
Full Of Memories.
CD Front Cover
CD Back Cover
Anchors Aweigh! My
oldest son: Ryan W. O’Neill.
The Naval Future Is Up To The Youth Of Today.
Photo by: A Proud Father of a Super Son!
Bernard F. O’Neill, MAS/PMP
Post Office Box #677
Mount Airy, Maryland 21771
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