MCPON Highlights Contributions, Sacrifices of the Submarine Force

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (EXW) Jennifer A. Villalovos

April 12, 2010 - GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) visited Naval Submarine Base New London and the World War II National Submarine Memorial in Groton, Conn., from April 8 to 10 to mark the Submarine Force's 110th birthday and commemorate the 47th anniversary of the loss of USS Thresher (SSN 593).

This was the first time MCPON (SS/SW) Rick D. West visited Groton since he took the position as MCPON. He toured the Naval Submarine Base, visited USS Philadelphia (SSN 690) where he ate lunch with the crew, then toured USS Providence (SSN 719), received a firsthand look at the escape trainer at the Naval Submarine School (NAVSUBSCOL), and pinned a couple of Submarine Warfare pins on newly qualified Sailors from Philadelphia and USS Toledo (SSN 769).

"It was a pretty big opportunity to have MCPON here today, not everyone can say they were pinned by the MCPON," said Electronics Technician 3rd Class (SS) Benjamin Chance, attached to Philadelphia.

During MCPON's visit to NAVSUBSCOL, he spoke to a group of around 1,400 Sailors currently in school and talked about the first time he walked through the building as a young Sailor in 1981, how far things have come since then and how he would trade places with anyone of them to start his Navy career all over.

Also during the trip, MCPON spoke at the 47th anniversary of the tragic incident of the Thresher. Thresher, a nuclear powered submarine, sank on April 10, 1963, as it conducted deep-diving exercises about 220 miles east of Boston. Everyone on board died in the accident which included 129 Sailors and civilians.

"This memorial stands to honor the sacrifices of those gallant Sailors and civilians in their service to our country," said West. "Today's ceremony reminds us of the courage and bravery these men demonstrated in risking their lives in the development of the Navy's submarine force, a force which has proven to be of tremendous value to our great Navy and our Nation."

The U.S. Submarine Veterans WWII and U.S. Submarine Veterans Inc. put together the memorial that included a Tolling of the Boats and a wreath laying ceremony at the U.S. Submarine Veterans WWII National Submarine Memorial East.

"The submarine profession is a demanding one. Submariners go to sea in ships that sink by design and operate over the vast expanse of hydrospace. Some days, it can be quite exciting. It is certainly satisfying and rewarding, but it can also be a dangerous profession with most missions being completed beyond the public eye," said West.

West concluded his visit to Groton by attending and speaking at the 110th Submarine Birthday Ball which boasted more than 2,300 guests.

The ball was held at the MGM Grand Casino where MCPON was the guest speaker. He spoke to the Sailors and guests about the critical missions the submarine community is performing to maintain the security of our nation and freedom around the world, and expressed how proud he is of the Sailors.

"As a new student at sub school, I thought it was a very great honor to meet the highest enlisted man in the Navy and for him to be a member of the submarine force. He was really down to earth, and it gave me hope that anyone one of us could one day get to his position," said Seaman Recruit Jeffery Chambers.

The theme of the ball was the celebration of the 50th anniversary of USS Triton's (SSRN 586) magnificent accomplishment of successfully executing the first submerged circumnavigation of the world in 1960, covering 3,335.1 nautical miles in 60 days and 21 hours at an average speed of 18 knots. Triton's crew followed the same track as the first surface-circumnavigation of the world led by Ferdinand Magellan in the 1500s, which took almost three years to complete.

"I'm continually amazed at the enthusiasm, hard work and team work of our Sailors, and it's because of their efforts that we are more ready and more capable than we have been in the history of our great Navy," said West.