Celebrating New Year's--Submarine Style

"Never Give In, Battle Cry:

Take her fast,

Take her deep,

Take her where the fishes sleep...

Damn the depth,

Damn the pressure,

Take her down just like the Thresher..."

That memorable quote (author unknown) from a USS Olympia (SSN-717) book of poems gives you some idea of the proud heritage shared by all those Navy men and women who wear Dolphins on their chest.

In recognition of all past, present and future submariners, or "bubbleheads," as they sometimes are known, I'm posting a couple of old New Year's Eve deck logs written by those who often sail deep into dark and always dangerous waters. This first midwatch log entry is from USS Requin (SS-481) (pictured above). It was drafted Jan. 1, 1961.

Now listen my mateys and you shall hear,

Of the good ship Requin and her crew of good cheer,

Moored starboard side to, all snug in the nest,

Of three submarines in a straight line abreast.

Her lines are all doubled, she's inboard too,

At berth two twenty-three, pier twenty-two.

Weather has changed, wind is now quite a blast,

Cloud coverage has changed to complete overcast.

ComSecondFleet on the CAC One,

That by the way being the Northampton,

Who's only one of a few left in her class,

Is SOPA now as has been in the past.

Duty section, poor souls, are all standing by,

To welcome the new year with a magnificent try,

Of sounding the ship's whistle at twenty four hundred,

With a force that will carry as when Thor thundered.

It's an old fleet custom when a new year is born,

To welcome it loudly with every available horn.

The time has arrived; the racket has started,

And many an eardrum shall soon be parted.

It's now twenty four hundred, plus five,

And the fleet that moments ago was alive,

Has died and returned to its well-earned sleep,

And left the watch for the "mid" to keep.

Here's to all you fine people out soaking up cheer.

You should have been with us, it was a hell of a "new year."

Credit must be given where credit is due,

The foregoing was composed by just we two,

The quarterdeck watch and the CDO,

Seaman Armstrong and Lieutenant Schilling,

Who are heading below...

Moored as before.

And following is the Jan. 1, 2000 midnight deck-log entry from USS Topeka (SSN-754) (pictured above), as penned by ET1 Keightley:

Here's to remembrance on this New Year's Day,

And here's to the Sailors who showed us the way;

Here's to old-timers on decks made of wood,

They forged our traditions the best that they could.

Here's to the diesel boats that snorkeled at night,

They proved that America was ready to fight;

Here's to past shipmates wherever they are,

May we never forget them regardless how far.

We still sound a Klaxon as loud as can be,

Each time that we dive deep into the sea;

We're here all wearing Dolphins,

Except for a few.

A new century is here, goodbye to the past,

We're the first to have seen it, and we'll be the last;

Such is life on our ship that we call a boat,

We're not like the others, we don't always float.

If you've never worn Dolphins, you probably missed out,

My shipmates are brothers, I haven't a doubt;

So stay on the shore where it's safer you see,

And leave this hard life for my brothers and me.

Wherever there's trouble in some distant land,

You can bet that Topeka will be close at hand;

The reactor is critical, our torpedos are ready,

The helmsman's on course and keeping it steady.

Today we can celebrate on this New Year's Day,

But tomorrow may find us turning into harm's way;

So here's to the crew, both present and past,

That keep these subs going and getting there fast.

Here's to the good times; there's always too few,

Here's to us all that wear Navy blue.

In closing, I would like to leave everyone with this: Wishing all of you beautiful moments, treasured memories, and all the blessings a heart can know. Stay safe, and have a Happy New Year!