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, 2008, 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."
___________________________________________________________________________
