Raton Sailors discuss SSN-711 Accident

Since 01-16-05

From: Bill Decker [mailto:bdecker@shentel.net]
Sent: Saturday, January 15, 2005 3:11 PM
Subject: Fw: San Francisco

Kenny,

I remember those bunks in the FTR. I also remember snorkeling. I had the top bunk in the CPO berthing. It was right under the ventilation duct that went the length of my bunk. Most of the time I froze. I slept with my clothes on and sometimes a foul weather jacket and a blanket. I remember snorkeling one time and had my face sideways on the flash cover. The electrodes shut the snorkel mast header and I took a suction on my head. It didn't take me long to get the message. My ear wouldn't pop and scared the shit out of me. I jumped down out of the bunk and when I hit the deck it popped. Was I glad.

I also remember running a little late on the Jack. We had to come to the surface to transit a safety lane and then dive again. We went under it and saved time. I believe that was deeper. It was a little scary but nothing happened and we made up our schedule. Angles and dangles was always fun on the nucs too. I preferred being in my bunk when they were doing them.

You never really thought much about the danger involved but going at a great deal of speed and making sharp up and down angles and left and rights. It was exciting at the time but I don't think I would like to do it today. I don't know why the SFRAN was going at the speed and depth she was but I also understand it.

Its easy to Monday Morning Quarterback anything. I have faith in the Submarine Force and the Navy. I believe it will eventually all come out and what went wrong and why. I just thank God that they made it home to safety.

Bill

----- Original Message -----
From: "kenneth shaum" <kshaum@yahoo.com> 
Sent: Saturday, January 15, 2005 2:36 PM
Subject: San Francisco


Dear Bill:

Just had a falcon land on my patio deck. I thought I was hallucinating. It was about a 2 minute visit. Pretty cool.

The more I read about the San Francisco, the more my heart goes out. I cannot imagine hitting a wall at 30 knots. I went 22 knots once and that made me more nervous than deep depth. It is just a miracle the crew survived.

Standing Chief of the Watch for a couple of years I now wonder if I would have been able to react in a manner to get that sub up. Someone did something right. Our sub sailors are still a crack team and trained to the limit.

I think about where I could have been standing when it happened. There are no airbags on a Submarine! Every thing is sharp and pointed. You fall and you will not land in a good spot.

There is such a thing as sea legs. I had good ones, but never ready for something like that. I could hang on for a 30 degree roll but not something like that.

On the lighter side of things, on the Raton I finally got what I considered the best bunk in The Torpedo room. I could even sit up in it. I would have to crook my head a little for there was a valve hanging in the middle. If you do not know which valve this was, you need to re qualify. Ha!! This valve got me alert early. I would sometimes wake up with a start and bonk my head on it. I quickly learned not to do that. I also learned not to put my ear on the flash cover. When we snorkeled your ear would get stuck to it. One could leave an eardrum if you woke too quickly.

This bunk was really up there, but I didn't mind. A guy that can do a 180 in a torpedo tube could certainly handle it. My locker was maybe one cubic foot. It's back was the pressure hull. 5/16 of an inch. I could only look through that locker laying on my back. Pig boat sailor.

Jerry and I got ripped in Hong Kong on our 64 WestPac. He had a bunk that really sucked. I had the same one for a while. It was a skid bunk. The one I am talking about slid out into the passageway. When you had it pulled out no one could get past it or use the forward hatch. It did not take much to make it fall on the deck.

Anyway, this one evening, I have to use the head. Blasted as I was, I fall on Jerry and, of course, his bunk crashes to the deck. I was unharmed, but had to listen to Jerry moan all night about what hit him. I was as silent as the service I was in.

I Am Always,

Kenny