Herein are the names of Veterans
of the USS John C. Calhoun (SSBN630), a nuclear powered warship. These men successfully participated in the preservation of
world peace, through deterrence, during a period that is now called the Cold War.
Peace in the world often means an easier period for some of our nations military services.
But not for the Submariner!
These
men spent years plowing holes through most of the worlds oceans. They spent countless hours performing their duties and providing
a constant threat against any adversary who might consider attacking our country. They knew and understood the dangers and
the tribulations involved while on patrol. And there were many.
These men performed their duties at the great expense of not seeing their children grow. They missed their
children's significant lifetime events that included their births, their first tooth, their first step, their first day
at school, graduations, engagements, achieving their college of choice, marriages and even their deaths.
These men performed their duties at the great expense of
knowingly placing a heavy burden on their wives. For two-thirds of their tours they placed their wives in a position of running
the home, raising the children, attending PTA meetings alone.
These men carried with them on patrols the knowledge that their intrepid wives would have to deal with deaths
and sickness in their family, car repairs, broken washing machines, budget concerns, flooding basements, bill collectors,
teachers and sometimes neighbors. It was not an easy life for any of the family. But it had to be done. And it was.
Now that these men have slipped their cable and taken their
last walk across the prow to their final duty station, we dare not to forget these Submariners or their families. They sacrificed
large portions of their lives doing their duty for our country.
These men were American Patriots, Submariners, and our Shipmates.
(above contributed
by Steve Richey)
If a name appears as a link (underlined name), that shipmate has a biography posted on the site. Simply click the
link to take you to the biography.
Below is the report of Dr Jonathan Weisbuch (LT MC Gold) after attending the June 18th memorial
service for Capt. Bush:
"Mary Ellen and I spent yesterday afternoon at the Arlington Cemetery
Memorial
Service for CAPT. James Ter Bush, USN Ret. His remains were
placed in a casket on a caisson drawn by 4 white
horses, and led by
another officer on horseback. A marching Navy Band and a squad of
Sailors
led the caisson to the burial site, where family and friends
(probably 30 or more) were in attendance. We
sang the Navy Hymn,
followed by a three gun salute, and TAPS. The flag, held by the honor
guard over
Jim's remains, was folded and given to Mrs. Bush at the
completion of the ceremony by a Captain of equal or
superior rank to
Jim. A most moving ceremony, for a very impressive man. Jim Bush, an
exceptional
Naval Officer, a leader, a thinker unwilling to accept the
conventional wisdom, a paradigm of patriotism.
He was dedicated to
service, committed to his country, willing to take risks, and always
committed
to truth, honor, concern for the disadvantaged, and the
support of peace over war.
After the service,
we repaired to a friend of Mrs. Bush, the wife of
another submarine Officer with whom Jim had served in the Pentagon.
We talked about the Navy, about submarines, about the collegial nature
of the "silent service"
as compared to the surface or aviation
counterpart. Our host was a close friend of CAPT Ned Beach, the
author of "Submarine," "Run Silent, Run Deep," and several other books
about the service.
I appreciated the chance to learn something about
the man whom I know only as an author. As Mary Ellen and
I drove back
to her son's place, where we are staying, I realized how much my two
year stint in
the Navy has given back over the 44 years, since Jim
Bush administered the oath to protect the Constitution on
the pier of
the Newport News shipyard. One small act, one huge impact."________________________________________________________________________
