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A. M. D. G.
My U.S. Navy
Tour 1969-1975 and The USS SAND LANCE (SSN 660)
Author: Bernard F.
O’Neill, MAS/PMP – February 2003
Introduction
Since technology has given us all the capability to document and share
glimpses of times in our lives, I thought I would take advantage of that gift
and provide a view of a time when I greatly appreciated being part of, in my
opinion, the worlds greatest armed service, that being:
The United States Naval Submarine
- Silent Service -
Purpose
My purpose for writing this work
is very basic. I want to share what I consider the best opportunity that I
was part of in my life, so far, and thereby enlighten others who may be
considering a similar path in military life. In addition, since I so thoroughly
enjoyed this adventure, perhaps some readers may find these items interesting
or simply entertaining, in any case I would have achieved my purpose in
compiling this information. No matter what your personal reason is for
looking over these few pages I sincerely hope you take away with you the same
sense of pride and dignity that has implanted itself in my heart and soul. It
is my wish that I can effectively express my total respect, deep appreciation
and gratitude to the US Naval Submarine School Instructors of New London,
Connecticut; my fellow crew members of the USS SAND LANCE (SSN 660) and the women and men of the
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, in whose hands we placed our very lives. Thanks to
each and every one of these individuals, we all made it safely home to our
families and friends.
Commissioning Crew –
First Ships Patch – 1970
Note: Due to the age of some documents
and my lack of equipment to adjust “signs of age” some documents are dark in
appearance – an ever-present reminder of our temporary interlude with
history. I have made every effort to provide the “Source” of all material –
disclaiming original authorship and credit wherever possible.
USS SAND LANCE (SSN 660) Departing Charleston, South Carolina: First - Home Port.
Photo by: U.S. Navy Photographer
-Where It All Began For Me-
The timeframe was the later part of the 1960’s and early 1970’s. The Vietnam
War was a major part of the daily news, and the military draft lottery was
displayed on television as if it were some game show from time to time. I had
recently graduated in 1968 from Milford Mill, High School near Randallstown,
Maryland.
Milford Mill, High School 1968 Senior
Prom.
Bernard and Debbie (Jent) O’Neill
Photo by: Marie E. Griffith
I was fully aware of the brutality of the war and knew at some point I would
soon be faced with the decision – do I volunteer or do I wait on the draft?
After High School I began my formal work career as a Telephone Central Office
Installer Technician for the Western Electric Company, located in Cockeysville, Maryland a subsidiary of American
Telephone and Telegraph (AT&T). In 1968 as a single eligible male draft
candidate I gave much consideration to my military options so I began
investigating different military services and alternatives, none, by the way,
was to go to Canada.
-The Sales Pitch-
One summer afternoon I somehow found my way down to the U.S. Naval Reserve
Training Center located at the historic “Fort McHenry” home of the “Star Spangled
Banner” located on Fort Avenue in Baltimore City, Maryland. I was approached by one of the
recruiting officers and provided a memorable tour of the Training Center. To the rear of the building
there was an aging World War II diesel powered submarine christened the “USS
REDFIN (SS 272)” and no, it is not the same boat tied up to the pier in the
Baltimore Inner Harbor today. I was invited aboard and there I mingled with
some very good natured and cordial individuals who were charged with keeping
the inner mechanical equipment fully functional on this vessel; who, by the
way, were very successful at their assigned task. I then continued my tour
with the recruiting officer and moved on to see a Navy Reserve Construction
“Sea Bee” Division drill area, then another area designated as “The Naval
Communications Technical Squadron 5-1” which had numerous meritorious service
awards to the U.S. Naval Active Fleet posted on their drill hall area
bulletin board. (This Security Group would later be part of my Naval duty
tour.)
We soon got down to business and after I had filled out a plethora of
paperwork I was asked, “Well have you given it any thought as to which unit
you may be interested in joining here at the Reserve Center?” I clearly
remember being impressed with several of the proactive drill units and their
missions and promptly said – “no not as of yet!” The next response from the
recruiter was – well, how about the Submarine Service? My answer was – well I
thought that was a dying branch of the service in a post World War II era. He
laughed and said, no I think you’ll make an excellent submariner and you’ll
find it very challenging and technically educational. So with such glowing
comments and encouragement, I said “ok” “Submarines it is!”
My Family and I
visiting : USS TORSK (SS 423) Baltimore Inner Harbor
The first Naval Reserve Submarine, I ever toured was the USS REDFIN (SS 272)
When Deciding on Submarine Duty.
Photo by: William A. Jent, Major US Air Force - Retired
- Away To Submarine School Training -
I was soon placed on a waiting list for “Active Duty for Training” at the
noted U.S. Naval Submarine Training Base in New London, CT. It seemed like forever waiting
for orders to submarine school, so in my own enthusiastic way I went and
requested early assignment to report for training. I arrived in New London by train after departing
from the Pennsylvania Railroad Station in Baltimore, I was sent off by my fiancé and
her parents. Upon arriving at the Submarine Base Information Office I was
greeted by the Officer of the Day (OD) and one of the First Class Petty
Officers assigned to shore duty in personnel administration. I was then given
the grand tour of the Naval Enlisted Submarine School facilities. I was promptly shown
where I was to “bunk”. The place looked like a long building with hundreds of
bunk beds lined up side by side on both sides of the building and down what
appeared to be an endless hallway as far as one could see. The quarters were
painted a bright blue with individual lockers of dark “pea green” and crowded
sleeping accommodations that were “poor” at best, folded mattress about three
inches thick, however, I was here to be trained, and that was where my focus
would remain at this time. Reporting for duty over the weekend had its
advantages. I was able to take a quick look around the sub base and local
town before beginning training bright and early Monday morning.
Main Gate New London Submarine Base.
Photo by: William A. Jent, Major U.S. Air Force-Retired
Monday morning I found myself in class with a group of about 35 feisty but
determined enlisted sailors. The Instructor entered our classroom and
immediately took control. After a brief introduction of who everyone was and
where they were from the Instructor asked a final question: “Has everyone
heard of the Navy Great Lakes Basic Enlisted Training Facilities?” He then
proceeded to make the point that that particular facility was not a place
where anyone of us would ever want to be. He made the following motivational
statement, “Anyone who successfully completes this Submarine Training would
not have to report to “Basic Training at the Great Lakes Facility”. Enough
said, it worked for me and I immediately was convinced and made up my mind
that if this place was not all that great – then the “Great Lakes” had to be much worse – so it was
my intention to succeed right here and now.
On Tuesday we all had to go through physicals and psychological evaluations.
I made it through the medical physical and psychological training including
the hyperberic chamber training where four of ten of us who had been squeezed
into chamber (which was made for 4-5 people) had their ear drums burst and
several began bleeding, but in spite of all this I was determined to move on,
so I did, right to the eye examination and an - immediate release – the problem
– eyesight, measured 20/40 vision without correctable lenses.
Hyperberic Chamber
– New London Submarine School – Ouch!
Photo by: William A. Jent, Major U.S. Air Force-Retired
I was promptly advised to pack-up and go back to my reserve unit in Baltimore and await further instructions.
Upon arriving home I went directly to the reserve center and inquired what I
had to do to obtain permission to complete my submarine training. “Well”, the
Officer of the Day said, you need a “Waiver for Glasses” and that requires
the signature of the Commanding Officer of the Reserve Facility. Hearing
this, I made sure to get my waiver, and the rest is history. I promptly
returned to New London to complete my submarine
training. Upon my return it was pointed out to me that the newly forming
class got a break from nature – lightning had struck the 100 foot tall
submarine rescue escape training water tower on base and placed it out of
commission for an extended period of time, long enough for me to get through
Sub School and not have to worry about the challenging “Blow and Go” exercise
which was a mandatory part of Submarine Training and another filtering point
for the faint of heart. Quite frankly I have never missed not having to go
through that ordeal, however, I bet I would have entered that tower and
completed that task in record time (smile).
One Hundred Foot
High Under Water Emergency Escape Training Tower.
U.S. Naval Submarine Base New London, CT. – Base Store Post Card
- First Duty Assignment: Nuclear Submarine Pre-Commissioning Crew -
Time flew and Submarine School was down right challenging – having to learn
all about hydraulics, pneumatics, electro-mechanical and electronic life
support systems and ship maneuvering and control systems along with onboard
communications, diving controls and their importance to my survival and the overall
survival of the crew. Classes were finally over and I had obtained a 4.0
rating on a 4.0 scale for my personal student rating. It was now time for all
of us to obtain our orders and be notified of where and which submarine we
were going to be assigned. Several of my classmates were sent to boats
actively serving in the Viet Nam arena, others were sent to
Ballistic Missile Boats, often called “Boomers” and still others Nuclear Fast
Attack boats and some even went to Diesel boats. Me, well, I waited and
waited and waited, finally one day after about 3 weeks, I went to the base
Personnel Office and asked if anyone could find out what was the status of my
orders. The reply came one day later when I was informed that somehow I was
assigned to a Nuclear Submarine billet and nobody had completed a security
clearance background check on me. So a little while later the Security
clearance was completed and I was ordered to a pre-commissioning unit located
in the Portsmouth Naval Ship Yard in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Upon obtaining my orders I was
asked by the Officer of the Day: “Hey Sailor, how did you rate such choice
duty?” My response was simply a big smile and I replied “I have friends in
“High Places”. I then promptly went packing to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, without a clue about how
fortunate I was to have this type of duty assignment right out of submarine
school training.
Worth Every Minute
This Took To Achieve
Source: Personal Memorabilia
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard: Magazine Photo. New Hampshire.
Source: 170 years of service Portsmouth Naval Shipyard booklet.
I again traveled by train to my destination. Upon arriving in Portsmouth I was soon to find out that the
Naval Base while officially in Portsmouth, New Hampshire but was actually right next to Kittery, Maine and in walking distance to Pease
Air Force Base, It was at Pease my wife and I would entertain ourselves at
the air base movie theatre. I entered the Ship Yard through Kittery, Maine carrying my duffle bag over my
shoulder and was greeted by a U.S. Marine Guard. I displayed my orders and
was told someone would be over to show me to my quarters in a few minutes.
Sure enough I was escorted to a Navy Barge, “Well here you are pal,” my
escort said – “Welcome Aboard!” Within a few minutes I was given my quarters
– a third rack high bunk bed on a shipyard-floating barge. Again I thought
this is to be temporary and I can live with that. As soon as I unpacked I
inquired where the “Sand Lance” was located. I was again escorted to the dry
dock area where all at once I saw the entire boat elevated out of the water.
It was astonishing to me to see such a sight. I then moved to the boarding
area and was showed the entire boat inside and out. The inside at that time
was nothing but cables and piping as it was still entirely under
construction.
So, I asked how long until we are ready for sea? The escort smiled and said:
“well we have had to nearly rebuild this entire boat ever since the
“Thresher” was lost, you see we learned a great deal from that tragedy and we
are putting backup systems onto the backup systems to increase the safety
factor, it’s going be awhile.”
The USS SAND LANCE (SSN 660) was going to be the first
637 Class Submarine to go to sea from Portsmouth Naval Ship Yard since the
loss of the USS THRESHER (SSN 593) during her sea trials after
her 1963 modification. It was also during 1968 the USS SCORPION (SSN 589) was lost at sea.
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