Welcome to the AFTER BATTERY!!

On the old diesel subs, the After Battery was the usual 'gathering place', where the crew took their meals, played cards, watched movies, held meetings, or just sat around imparting 'words of wisdom' to the lower-rated riffraff.

The following pages are courtesy of Bob 'Dex' Armstrong, fellow torpedoman extraordinaire, who served on Requin in the '60s, back when I was on the Runner. Although we didn't know each other at the time, we musta chased after the same collection of 'colorful creatures' that frequented Bell's, Lovey's and the Krazy Kat along the strip outside Gate 2, in Norfolk (after all, who could forget Thelma, anyway??). 

In 1993, some kid was trying to put together a story for the paper about life on the Requin and approached Dex for info. Well, he found the story, I posted it here, and as Dex so eloquently put it,

 "If the going rate for bullshit ever goes to a dime a pound, all diesel boat sailors will become zillionaires!" 

So here is the original 'Letter to Jason', as related by Dex:

Here are a few more 'gems' that Dex has put together...

Dex also provided 'illustrations' of characters and incidents mentioned in his 'Letter to Jason', and I've posted them here. Hmmm, bring back a few memories? And oh, by the way, I didn't put return tags on the pics, so just bang yur back button to get back here...

The following tales are from Mike Hemming MM1(SS), fellow USS CARP sailor, also affectionately known as 'Boy Throttleman'...

Not to be outdone, Adrian Stuke has a few things to say about Dex...

Another 'demented' contributor to the After Battery, Mr. Billy Bob "Launcher" Lary. This bubblehead actually went through a 'sex change' (he was a TM - Torpedoman, then became a MT - Missile Technician) and spent the lion's share of his Navy days riding 'boomers', those big as hell missle boats, plying the world's oceans.  Not to be outdone, he shares some of his experiences in the 'Moonbeam Navy'.

Now come entries from fellow boat sailor, Ron Gorence, QMC(SS) who shares his thoughts from the WESTPAC side of the house.

And to get a perspective from the SSN 'Fast Attack, Never Come Back' side of the house, Steve Gentry shares a few of his experiences.

Still another 'DBF'er has a tale or two to add to the 'collection' here.  Dave Eberhart was an ST1(SS) who served on a number of 'smokeboats', including BLENNY, CORPORAL, WAHOO, and TIGRONE.  Welcome aboard, Dave!

Another smokeboater snipe shares a few thoughts from his SIRAGO days.  Welcome Joe Roche, who is a 'little' diesel boat-qualified engineman with a 'big' heart, and who joins the reprobates here in the After Battery!

Ron 'WARSHOT' Smith, a World War II sub vet and author of his great book, TORPEDOMAN, joins the fray and shares some reflections on submarine life during the war.  I'm sure you'll agree that his 'story-telling' abilities rival the best of us!

Comes now Bruce Miller, LCDR USN (ret), bringing us a tale from the 'forward battery' boys!

Here is a smokeboat engineman, Ronald Mitchell, who has a few recollections from his Entemedor (SS-340) days.

Yet another entry from Chris Herst, a 'Sonar Girl' from the DARTER !

These stories were provided by Nancy Yockey Bonar, whose brother is the late CAPT Harry M. Yockey, (USN, Ret.).  CAPT Yockey served as CO, USS Salmon (SS-573) '70-'72; communications officer, USS Sirago (SS-485) '60-'62; engineer / navigator '65-'66; XO, USS Runner (SS-476) '66-'68.  He also served as the program manager for the Tomahawk Weapons System in '76-'83.

Thanks so much Nancy for sharing these wonderful 'recollections' with us!

Larry Dunn has crafted a wonderful poem that speaks volumes about our old diesel boat days.  This is one that's dedicated to every sailor that now wears, or once wore, that coveted insignia.

BROTHER OF THE 'PHIN

Finally, to put everything here in the proper perspective, John 'TwoScoops' Eckard has penned a marvelous piece that, in spite of the 'jabs, barbs & harpoons' that boat sailors like to sling at each other, his poem pretty much says it all.  Thanks John.

THE FURY OF THE SUN