Page 6. MAINE COASTAL NEWS May 2013
NAVY NEWS: BUDGET, USS THRESHER AND CHURCHILL Continued from Page 5.
Vicki Billings, daughter of Lt. Cmdr. John H. Billings, USS THRESHER spoke at the memorial, in addition to her brother, Dr. Blake Billings, who composed and per- formed a piece he wrote titled “In Memory of You.”
In addition to Billings, Chief Engine-
man Tilmon Joseph Arsenault’s daughter, Lori Arsenault, who serves as the director of operations/concert manager for the University of Southern Maine’s School of Music attended the memorial alongside her sister Debra Henderson. Both daughters performed the national anthem in memory of their father and the lives of those lost aboard THRESHER 50 years ago.
Arsenault said that various members of their family have attended the THRESHER memorials since the loss of the submarine in 1963.
“The thing that makes the THRESHER
families’ losses different than the loss of other loved ones is that it was a national tragedy, shared, and therefore larger than any single family,” said Arsenault. “Many of us feel that we have a responsibility to that larger community to keep remember- ing THRESHER’s legacy for the benefi t of generations to come.”
Arsenault said that her mother passed away last summer, but takes comfort in knowing that she is now with her father. “They are together now,” said Arse- nault. “My family has lost one parent at a young age, and another one in the later years. My mother was 86 at the time of her death, and there is no easy way to lose anyone.” Arsenault expressed appreciation for what came out of the loss of THRESHER. “We are so appreciative that something good came of this, with the creation of the SUBSAFE that the Navy has taught us about all of these years later,” said Arsenault. “USS THRESHER changed history.” When THRESHER sank, 112 Sailors, and 17 civilians, 13 of them who worked at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, died. Three of the Navy offi cers lost were stationed at the
• Expert Repair • Fuel Polishing • Haulout/Storage
• Brokerage/Rental • DIY Space
shipyard and several of the Navy crewmen were residents of Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts and all left behind grieving families, friends, neighbors and colleagues.
Arsenault refl ected on meeting pres- ent-day submariners and the lessons they shared with her.
“When I go to the memorial services and speak to people who served on THRESHER, other subvets, and those who are serving or who are working on subs now, they explain the signifi cance of the SUBSAFE,” said Arsenault. “They stop in their tracks when they hear that I’m a relative of a THRESHER Sailor. They make it a point to assure me that they remember everyday what the cost is.” Sailors such as Seaman Trevor A. Hee-
hs, USS THRESHER Class 13200, Basic Enlisted Submarine School is reminded the cost daily while undergoing training at Naval Submarine School, Naval Submarine Base New London. Heehs will take the les- sons he has learned from his THRESHER Class when he graduates on April 19, just nine days after the historic anniversary of the loss of THRESHER.
“I feel pretty honored to take part in
today’s memorial; the THRESHER sinking was the worst submarine tragedy the Navy has ever seen especially in the modern nu- clear Navy,” said Heehs. “I never thought I would have an opportunity to attend the memorial in Portsmouth and for me it is a real big honor and I take a lot of pride in attending.” The Town of Kittery, Maine, birthplace
and fi nal homeport of USS THRESHER, will dedicate a 129-foot fl agpole in Memo- rial Circle on April 7, 2013. The fl agpole height will serve as a permanent reminder of the 129 men who died that morning, en- suring they will forever be honored in and around the town where THRESHER was built and homeported.
The state of Maine issued a proclama- tion to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the loss of the submarine.
“The state of Maine and its citizens, and the entire United States of America and its
• Showers/Laundry
CHASE, LEAVITT & CO. The Chart Room
Flags · Books · Chart Kit · Paper Charts ·Navigation Tools Life Service Station
Abandon Ship · Floatation Gear ·Distress Signals · Overboard Rescue Inlatable Boats
Sales: Achilles, Caribe, & Highield Large Supply of Spare Parts Repair Professionals
144 Fore St., Portland (207) 772-6383 218 Bucksport Rd., Ellsworth (207) 667-9390
www.chaseleavitt.com
Superb Service Best Rates
Bob Turcotte Yacht Design translating dreams into yacht designs since 1982. Designing yachts that have a contemporary look using modern day technology in the down east tradition. We design yachts of power and sail as well as catamarans. We offer design, engineering, project management, and surveying services.
12 Hagar Dr., Topsham, ME, 207-729-7486 office 207-485-7486 cell
BobTurcotteYachtDesign.com
turcotte2@gwi.net
Moose Island 853-6058
MARINE
Commercial and Recreational Boat Supplies Boat Storage
INDOOR · OUTDOOR · POWER · SAIL 16 to 45 ft. Haul out to 40 tons
Boat Winterization
INBOARD · OUTBOARD · STERNDRIVE Boat Repair ·Restoration WOOD · FIBERGLASS Boat Repowering Save on winter jobs. Shrink Wrap
Hours: M-F 8:00-5:00 Online store:
www.mooseislandmarine.com
citizens, are greatly indebted to the sacrifi ce of these brave pioneers,” said Maine Gov. Paul R. LePage in his proclamation. “We commemorate the 50th anniversary of this terrible tragedy and honor the 129 Cold War casualties lost that day, men of genius and adventure who represented the fi nest quali- ties of our Nation.”
THRESHER changed the face of the submarine service and serves as a poignant reminder that ignorance, arrogance, and complacency can, and have resulted in trag- edy. The SUBSAFE Program is dedicated to the memory of those lost 50 years ago and works every day to keep such an event from happening again.
USS WINSTON S. CHURCHILL Returns Home
From USS Winston S. Churchill Public Affairs
NORFOLK (NNS) -- USS WINSTON S. CHURCHILL (DDG 81) returned to Naval Station Norfolk March 28, after a nine- month deployment to the 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility. CHURCHILL travelled more than 56,000 nautical miles under the leadership of Cmdr. Chris Stone, commanding offi - cer, while safely conducting 41 underway replenishments, 35 weapons exercises and more than 1,000 hours of fl ight operations. The ship made port visits to Albania, Jordan, Montenegro, Portugal, and United Arab Emirates where the crew participated in several community relations projects. “I couldn’t be more proud of this crew; the successes they have achieved over the past nine months are truly remarkable,” said Stone. “They met every challenge head on, adapting and overcoming time and again to set the standard for excellence. USS WINSTON S. CHURCHILL
made headlines around the world Aug. 20, 2012, when tragedy struck off the coast of Oman. The ship responded to an emergen- cy at sea aboard the civilian Motor Vessel Belde; one crew member had been killed and another required advanced medical care. The rescue, executed under adverse environmental conditions, led to a helicopter litter recovery from the vessel’s bridge wing and expeditious evacuation to a hospital, ultimately saving the mariner’s life. CHURCHILL made history by partic-
ipating in the fi rst U.S Central Command joint counter-piracy exercise between the United States and the People’s Liberation Army (Navy) of China. Three crew mem- bers served as translators throughout the exercise ensuring smooth communications. After her fi rst deployment, Ship’s Ser- viceman 3rd Class (SW) Qing Su, said she feels she came back a better Sailor. “It was a long time (at sea),” said Su.
“We can’t control how long we have to stay at sea or everything that happens out here, but we can make the best of it.” Su earned a promotion to 3rd class petty
offi cer via the Command Advancement Pro- gram (CAP) and became one of 65 CHUR- CHILL Sailors to earn their Enlisted Surface Warfare Qualifi cation (ESWS) during this deployment.
In addition to the exercise with China,
CHURCHILL participated in joint naval exercises and operations with Montenegro, Albania, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Australia, Britain, Spain, and Jordan, highlighting the importance of working with coalitions to preserve the Sea Lines of Communication.
“Our interaction with foreign navies, whether in a friendly game of soccer or ex-
Continued on Page 22.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32