Navy Celebrates 110th Submarine Birthday on Guam

By Jesse Leon Guerrero, Joint Region Marianas Public Affairs

April 30, 2010 - TUMON, Guam (NNS) -- Nearly 500 Sailors, spouses and their guests gathered in celebration of the 110th Submarine Birthday Ball held at the Pacific Islands Club on Guam April 24.

Commander, Submarine Squadron (COMSUBRON) 15 hosted the party for Guam's submarine community.

Rear Adm. Paul Bushong, commander, Joint Region Marianas, delivered remarks as guest speaker. Bushong praised the submariners for their achievements and thanked them for all their support.

Bushong emphasized the importance of submarines in protecting the nation as it provides short-notice response capability for operations throughout the Western Pacific region.

"Just as the submarine force has a proud and distinguished history, Guam has a rich history of submarine operations dating back to World War II," Bushong said. "We stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us. Take pride in that history and in your contribution to it."

Guam currently is homeport to three Los Angeles-class attack submarines: USS Buffalo (SSN 715), USS City of Corpus Christi (SSN 705) and USS Houston (SSN 713). Crew members from USS Ohio (SSGN 726) (Gold) and visiting USS Asheville (SSN 758) also attended the ball.

Prior to Bushong's remarks, the attendees paused in silence as a video slideshow honored the sacrifices made by submariners lost at sea.

Electronics Technician 2nd Class (SS) Brandon Berry, of USS Houston, provided another highlight of the night when he accepted his submarine warfare specialist insignia in front of his friends and other attendees.

"It makes me as proud as anything, like there is nothing else I want to do," Berry said. "I want to be on a submarine."

Also known as "dolphins," the insignia is worn by both officers and enlisted who have passed proficiency tests for all systems aboard a submarine. As the most junior Sailor to earn the insignia, Berry assisted Bushong and Cmdr. Bruce Deshotel, executive officer of USS Frank Cable and the active duty Sailor present who had longest worn the insignia, in cutting the ceremonial birthday cake.

Fire Control Technician Seaman Edward Gingras III, of USS Ohio, said it was his first time to attend a submarine ball since enlisting 13 months ago. He said he enjoyed the time off with his friends.

"The sub community is nice because you know everybody," Gingras said. "It's a lot more close-knit. That's probably the best thing I like."

The submarine ball commemorates the anniversary of the U.S. Navy's Submarine Force. On April 11, 1900, the U.S. Navy purchased John Philip Holland's revolutionary submarine and renamed it the USS Holland (SS-1), America's first commissioned submarine. Since then, submariners have been patrolling the depths of oceans, taking the fight to enemies and providing maritime security around the world.