Cheney Pays A Brief Visit To Submariners At Electric Boat

Since 06-29-04

NSL UPDATE 05-24-2004

Cheney Pays A Brief Visit To Submariners At Electric Boat
By Robert A. Hamilton, New London Day, 20 May 04, Used by permission

Groton - Vice President Dick Cheney got the first meal prepared on the Navy's newest class of submarine during a visit to Electric Boat on Wednesday - cold cut wraps, pasta salad and fresh fruit. The culinary specialists on board had to keep it simple because the boat is so new the galley isn't finished yet. But they wanted to do something special in appreciation of Cheney's visit.

A few minutes later, before the assembled crew in the torpedo room of the USS Virginia, Cheney said it was they who deserved the appreciation. "Sometimes the duty gets long and hard and we don't get a chance to say 'thank you'," Cheney said. "I used to, when I was secretary of defense, when I had a real job, have a lot more chances to do this kind of thing."

Later, Cheney toured the cargo bay, special operations room and other classified spaces on the Jimmy Carter, which will be christened next month. He then met with the crew of that sub. "No long speeches, just a chance to come by," he said. "We don't get a chance to do it often enough. We really appreciate everything you do for us."

On his way out Cheney shook hands with the sailors and asked a few about their Navy backgrounds. He commented to Cmdr. Frank B. Kelso III, captain of the Jimmy Carter, that the boat seemed to have a very experienced staff. "This is really a good crew," Kelso agreed. "Cream of the crop here."

Cheney had delivered the commencement address Wednesday morning at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London and he took advantage of his proximity to the shipyard to tour what will soon be the two most advanced submarines in the fleet. Boarding the 110-foot cutter Monomoy out of Woods Hole, Mass., where he was piped aboard as "United States arriving," Cheney made the 15-minute trip to the Groton side of the river with four 25-foot safeboats and 41- and 47-foot patrol boats as an escort. As the Monomoy pulled up to a barge at EB, workers in hardhats leaned over the rail to catch a glimpse of the vice president arriving. He was quickly whisked into the Virginia, where he had lunch with Capt. David Kern in the crew's mess.

More than 50 sailors and a handful of EB workers crammed into the torpedo room and waited anxiously. "It'll help the crew get rid of the butterflies they get before sea trials," said Senior Chief Sonar Technician James Walker. "It's clear we're getting a high-level look." Fire Control Technician 3rd Class Vincent Jackson occupied an honored spot, closest to where Cheney would enter the room. He said the highest-ranking political figure he had ever met before was the mayor of his hometown of New Bern, N.C. Cheney's visit would give him an experience akin to his dad, once a mess specialist on the aircraft carrier USS America, who met President George H.W. Bush when he visited the ship in 1989.

"It's exciting," said Chief Electrician's Mate Larry Mireles. "It's always exciting to have someone important come and visit - it keeps submarines in the news."