|
| |
Welcome to the homepage of the USS Cusk (SS/SSG-348).
In her 24 & 1/2 years of service, the Cusk served in three wars, made submarine and US
Navy history many times, and never failed to complete a single mission.
Those of us who sailed this great ship are very proud to be a part of her
history.
The 2019 Cusk Reunion in Little Rock, Arkansas
was WONDERFUL!. Click here for 2019 Reunion
pictures & info.
USS CUSK (SS/SSG-348)
U.S. Navy's First Missile Submarine & First Guided Missile Submarine
 |
 |
 |
| 1945 to 1947 |
1947 to 1954 |
1954 to 1969 |
"In
each submarine there are men who, in the hour of emergency or peril at sea, can
turn to each other. These men are ultimately responsible to themselves
and
each other for all aspects of operation of their submarine. They are the
crew. They are the ship." - The Submariner's Creed (Excerpt)
The "Summer 2019 Cusk
Reunion Newsletter" (Reunion Edition) is now available in .pdf format - Click here.
Click here to access all Cusk
Newsletters.
...and check out this great submarine
website =>
"Of all the branches of men in the forces there is none which shows more
devotion and faces grimmer perils than the submariners." - Sir Winston
Churchill
Click on any picture to see its larger size:
|
Memory Lane
Some sweet memories of Cusk's Ports of Call
Two sailors walk past the "Brass Rail" kicker bar in Yokosuka.(Picture courtesy of Rick Greer)
Visit
Memory Lane
page for more pictures & information |
Sights & Sounds
of the Cusk
Listen to actual audio
recordings of the Cusk and her crew in action:
Watch a YouTube video of
the Cusk crew assembling and launching a missile, and then submerging.
Dive! Dive! Hear the roar of air escaping the
ballast tanks, the ladder clanging as the lookouts rush down off the Bridge, and
then the silence as the Conn hatch is closed and the OOD reports, "Last man
down, Sir."
Make
your depth one-five-zero feet The Cusk has just submerged and leveled off
at 65 feet. The Conn officer gives the order to do deeper.
Set Condition Baker
- Prepare the ship for one of her most dangerous maneuvers - coming to periscope
depth.
Surface,
Surface, Surface!
- Listen to the thunder of the High Pressure Air Banks pushing air out of the
Cusk's ballast tanks. Then as she breaks the surface, the Low Pressure
Blower roars to life.
Visit
Sights and Sounds
page for more sound clips |
Awards & Patches
The USS Cusk was one of only four submarines to
earn this ribbon. Because the missions were so classified, the crew was
not informed of the award until it was discovered by accident almost forty years
later. The award was for two of her most daring missions conducted in
North Vietnam and
nearby hostile waters.
Republic of Vietnam
Meritorious Unit Citation for Gallantry
Visit
Cusk
Patches page for more pictures and information
LT-1
"Loon Missile"
Pictures and history of former Nazi terror weapon that
facilitated the birth of the Cusk's missile history. This missile was
captured after World War II, replicated by the U.S. Navy, fitted with a guidance
system, and then launched by the Cusk on February 12, 1947.
Visit the
Loon Missile
page for more pictures & information
|
USS Cusk Museum Display
Located in the Brevard Veteran's Memorial and Museum on Merritt
Island, Florida, this permanent display contains a scale replica of the Cusk from her missile period
and many other items from the Cusk including her Deep Depth Gauge, numerous patches, pins, lighters, news articles, letters, pictures, etc.
Click
Cusk
Display
for a full size picture of the display
|
|
Inside the Cusk
See the Cusk's interior compartments from bow to stern
Looking forward from the aft end of the Control Room. The
Radio Room is on the left and the High Pressure Air Manifold and Low Pressure
Blower above that on the right.
(Picture courtesy of Eric Copt)
Visit
Compartments for more pictures & information |
Outside the Cusk
See the Cusk's exterior from various points of view and years
Picture is looking down and aft on the port side from the front
of the Sail.
(Picture courtesy of Dennis Schultz)
Visit
Outside for more pictures & information |
Life at Sea
Pictures and historical information about life on and under the Pacific Ocean
SWIM CALL!!
After
several days at sea, few things were more welcome than hear the Cusk's engines
slow and the announcement over the 1MC that it was time for a dip in the
Pacific. |
Reunions
The 2018 Cusk Reunion will be held in Richland, Washington from 2 to 6 April.
More details are available on the Reunions page.
2012 Reunion group picture at the Naval Undersea Museum in Bremerton, Washington
1990
1992 1994 1996
1998
2000
2002 2003
2004
2005
2006
2007 2008
2009
2010
2012
2014 2016
2018
Visit
Reunions for more pictures & information |
|
Newsletters
Newsletters from across the years, including those published by various
crewmembers when the Cusk was in service, and years later during the reunion
years.
Visit the
Newsletters page for more |
Sea Stories
Some humorous, but all 'generally" true stories from Cusk
crewmembers.
What's the difference between a Fairy
Tale and a Sea Story?
A Fairy Tale begins with,
"Once upon a time...".
A Sea Story begins with, "This is no sh*%..."
AIR POWER - Norm Carkeek tells how the Cusk fanned the
air with her screws.
What Grandpa did during the
Cold War
- Some great stories, reminiscing, and Cusk history by Billy
Hrbacek
BUNK BAGS -
Unique to submarines, these all purpose nylon bags were priceless.
THE SUB
THAT SANK A TRAIN -
The only ground operation against the Japanese motherland during WWII was
carried out by crewmembers from the USS Barb including one who would later be
COB on the Cusk.
THE PUPPY - Sam Lyons tells what to do with a puppy at
sea when it's got to go.
PAINT JOB -
Ken Van Hoy's innovative way to paint the deck in record time.
|
Eternal Patrol
Names, pictures and obituaries (where available) of former USS Cusk crewmembers
who have departed on Eternal Patrol
"All submariners are brothers - We just haven't met
yet!" - USSVI Chaplain
Visit
Eternal Patrol for more pictures & information |
Hollywood Movie about the
Cusk
The historical accomplishments of the USS Cusk
are portrayed in a Hollywood movie. Actual scenes of launches by the Cusk and USS Carbonero are
incorporated in the movie.
Visit
Flying
Missile for more pictures & information |
|
The
Cusk's Service Years
The following sections detail the Cusk's history and crewmembers on a year by year basis,
from the laying of her keel in 1944 to decommissioning in 1969. |
|
1944
The USS Cusk is born as the keel is laid 25 May
1944
The location is the South Yard at Electric
Boat Company in Groton, Connecticut
Visit
1944
for more pictures, information & crewmember names. |
1945
The USS Cusk is launched "Down the Ways", July 28,
1945
The Cusk slides down the ways at Electric
Boat Company in Groton, Connecticut
Visit
1945
for more ppictures, information & crewmember names. |
1946
The Cusk is commissioned on February 5
Admiral Chester Nimitz congratulates the Cusk's first Captain,
CDR Paul Summers
Visit
1946
for more pictures, information & crewmember names. |
1947
The USS Cusk becomes the Navy's first missile
submarine with the launch of a Loon LT-1, 12 February 1947
The Cusk slides down the ways at Electric
Boat Company in Groton, Connecticut
Visit
1947
for more pictures, information & crewmember names. |
|
How long will it take the
average sailor to become a submariner? The average sailor will never
become a submariner. |
|
1949
SubRonFive - 30 December 1949, Ballast Point Submarine Base, San Diego,
California
Visit
1949 for more
pictures, information &
crewmember names. |
|
1948
During a launch attempt on 7 July
1948, a Loon Missile exploded on deck just prior to launch. When the smoke cleared,
the Cusk had disappeared leaving witnesses on nearby Navy ships
thinking that the Cusk had been sunk by the explosion.
Fortunately, the quick thinking Captain Fred Clarke had submerged
the Cusk immediately to put out the fire and save the boat.
Visit
1948
for more pictures, information & crewmember names. |
1950
Visit
1950
for more pictures, information and
crewmember names, or Visit
Flying Missile
for more pictures & information about the movie. |
1951
T-0 as the Cusk launches another missile on 1
October 1951
Visit
1951
for more pictures, information & crewmember names. |
1952
Clay Gatlin earns his Dolphins and is given the
traditional congratulatory throw overboard by the crew.
Visit
1952
for more pictures, information & crewmember names. |
|
I admired the PT
boys. And I often wondered how the aviators had the courage to go out
day after day and I forgave their boasting. But the submariners! In the
entire fleet they stand apart!” - James Michener
|
|
1953
11 January 1953, the Cusk is featured in a Parade Magazine
article about the
Navy's new missile weapon system.
Visit
1953 for more
pictures, information & crewmember
names.
|
1954
Underway near San Diego in July
Visit
1954
for more pictures, information & crewmember names. |
1955
The USS Cusk visits Dutch Harbor, Alaska
Visit
1955
for more
pictures, information & crewmember
names. |
1956
"Karaoke"
Where it all
began...
Unknown to many, "Karaoke" was actually invented by USS Cusk
crew members during a ship's party at Port Hueneme, California in 1956. They
are shown here singing Perry Como's "Hot Diggity". The Cusk sailor sitting down
with the cigarette is
Clarence "Ed" Brenke. He's holding up the words to the song on
poster board.
Visit
1956
for more
pictures, information & crewmember
names. |
|
1957
Underway out of home port of Pearl Harbor
Visit
1957
for more
pictures, information & crewmember
names. |
1958
The USS Cusk visits Dutch Harbor and Kodiak,
Alaska
Visit
1958
for more
pictures, information & crewmember
names. |
1959
Engine Room showdown - Paul Perry, Billy Nix and Idel Foster
clowning around for the photo op.
Visit
1959
for more pictures, information & crewmember names. |
1960
Visit
1960
for more pictures, information & crewmember names. |
|
I
saw the submariners, the way they stood aloof and silent, watching their
pigboat with loving eyes. They are alone in the Navy. |
|
1961
Cusk crewmember families get to experience some time at sea and
what it's like to dive on a submarine during a Dependent's Cruise.
Visit
1961
for more pictures, information
& crewmember names. |
1962
Publicity photo of the Cusk and the latest fighter jets, F
Visit
1962
for more pictures, information
& crewmember names. |
1963
(Photo courtesy of Herman Stickland)
Cusk is shown submerging off the coast of Oahu, 1963.
Visit
1963 for more
pictures, information & crewmember names.
|
1964
Looking forward in the Control Room near the High Pressure Air
Manifold
Visit
1964
for more pictures, information & crewmember names. |
|
1965
Eric Copt mans the port "Sticks" in Maneuvering
Visit
1965
for more pictures, information & crewmember names. |
1966
Nested at the Ballast Point Submarine Base in San Diego
Visit
1966
for more pictures, information & crewmember names. |
1967
"Swim Call" Ahead of schedule, we stop for a swim about halfway
between Pearl Harbor and Yokosuka, Japan.
Visit
1967
for more pictures, information &
crewmember names. |
1968
Christmas Eve - On recon patrol on Yankee Station off the coast of North Vietnam
Visit
1968
for more
pictures, information & crewmember
names. |
|
Togetherness is an overworked term, but in no other branch of our
military service is it given such full meaning as in the so-called
“Silent Service.” - Dr. Joyce Brothers |
|
1969
Last
patrol
At left, March, 1969, the "Reserve Pier" in
San Diego - the Cusk returns from her last Cold War and Vietnam War
patrols. A Navy band plays on the pier as friends and families
wait to greet their loved ones after an eight month absence. In the center
picture, LCDR Tom Arnold (left) assumes command as the Cusk's last Captain from
CDR Albert "Sam" Houston. On the right, Jerry Johnson and another Cusk
sailor take down the Cusk's in-port flag for the last time during
decommissioning ceremonies.
Visit
1969
for more pictures, information & crewmember names.
|
1971
Stripped and Mothballed at Hunter's Point
April 30, 1971 - Cusk is first boat on left.
To the right are the USS Rock (SS-274), Bashaw (SS-241), Spinax (SSR-489),
Pomodon (SS-486), Medregal (SS-480), and Diodon (SS-349). The Cusk was
scrapped the following year. |
Ours
is a brotherhood of volunteers, and
we wear our Dolphins with enormous pride. They are well earned, not
given. The privilege of wearing them
verifies hard earned proof to our Captain and crewmembers that we can save our ship and our shipmates, under any
circumstance and from any compartment. We are "Brothers of the Phin".
A brotherhood not of membership, but of a sacred trust.
In
Memoriam...Cusk sailors
recently departed on Eternal Patrol
|
"I can imagine a no more
rewarding career, and any man who may be asked in this century what he did to
make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and
satisfaction: 'I served in the United States Navy' " - John F Kennedy
|
|
2020 |
Years on Board Cusk |
Departure Date |
|
Jerry Mitchell, EMFN(SS) |
1952 |
January 8
|
|
Gerald W "Jerry" Knapp, RM1(SS) |
1963 to 1964 |
February 28
|
|
Harvey Canter, ICSN(SS) |
1968 |
March 14
|
|
George Arnold Tweter, EMC(SS) |
1964 |
April 21
|
|
Jerry Frank Bauer, LT |
1964 |
May 17
|
|
William J O'Halloran, ET1(SS) |
1951 to 1952 |
July 3
|
|
William A "Bill" Szymanski,
EN1(SS) |
1967 to 1968 |
July 6
|
|
William R "Bill" Sylar,
EM1(SS) |
1956 to 1959 |
July 19
|
|
Velton Parker, SD3(SS) |
1948 |
August 12
|
|
Emmanuel L Alcantara, SD3(SS) |
1959 to 1961 |
November 13
|
|
Roy Willis, EN3(SS) |
1964 to 1966 |
November 17
|
|
Reagan S "Ray" Ratliff, FTG2(SS) |
1963 to 1966 |
December 13
|
|
James "Jim" Branske, TN3(SS) |
1966 to 1969 |
December 23
|
|
2019 |
Years on Board Cusk |
Departure Date |
|
Edward Clinton Terney, YNC(SS) |
1963 to 1964 |
January 16
|
|
Rufino P Ibarra, SK2(SS) |
1965 |
February 11
|
|
Louis Edward Gamer, SN(SS) |
1948 to 1951 |
February 12
|
|
Garrett E "Lightning" Baker,
EM1(SS) |
1950 - 1955 |
April 1
|
|
James M Bovee, SA(SS) |
1946
(Plankowner) |
July 8
|
|
Richard R Alkire, FT2(SS) |
1961 |
August 31 |
|
Donald J Killian, LCDR
(Captain) |
1966 to 1968 |
October 5
|
|
James Leroy Carpenter, TM3(SS) |
1953 to 1956 |
November 1
|
|
Austin Jack Smith, Jr.,
EM2(SS) |
1950 to 1951 |
November 8
|
|
Julius George Shreve, YN1(SS) |
1963 to 1966 |
November 14
|
|
Lawrence "Larry" Gallagher,
ETR2(SS) |
1964 to 1966 |
November 18
|
|
Jimmie R Carnes, EMC(SS) |
1960 to 1962 |
December 17
|
|
2018 |
Years on Board Cusk |
Departure Date |
|
Larry D Franklin, LTJG |
1961 to 1962 |
January 14
|
|
Richard N Charles, LTJG |
1959 to 1960 |
February 2
|
|
Chuck Harner, LT |
1960 to 1963 |
March 1
|
|
Richard Rushlow, ET1(SS) |
Unknown, possibly
1953 |
March 4
|
|
Robert J Strosser, TM2(SS) |
1946
(Plankowner) |
March 6
|
|
James Gauthier, TMSN(SS) |
1958 to 1959 |
April 13
|
|
Mike Keelin, STS2(SS) |
1962 to 1965 |
May 31
|
|
Hermenegildo B Ferrer, SD2(SS) |
1967 to 1967 |
June 8
|
|
Phillip L Williamson, TM1(SS) |
1945 to 1946
(Plankowner) |
July 5
|
|
Ron Shook, STC(SS) |
1959 to 1961 |
July 12
|
|
William P Hrbacek, ETR2(SS) |
1959 to 1963 |
July 17
|
|
William J Weisensee, LT |
1965 to 1967 |
August 11
|
|
William Lee Hodnett |
1950 to 1951 |
August 27 |
|
Ernest J "Zeke" Zellmer, LT |
1946 to 1948
(Plankowner) |
August 27
|
|
Wesley Monroe Shrum, SA(SS) |
1945 to 1946 |
September 21
|
|
Jack Richard Trommer, ET2(SS) |
1961 to 1963 |
October 8
|
|
Joseph Talago, Jr., LTJG |
1950 |
October 12 |
|
Charles Harrison George,
QM3(SS) |
1948 |
October 26 |
|
Steve "The Codger" Rogers,
EM3(SS) |
1966 to 1969 |
Summer 2018 |
|
Carl Robert "Mark" Markham, Jr.,
TM1(SS) |
1952 to 1953 |
November 16 |
|
William "Mac" McKenzie, Jr. |
1952 to 1953 |
November 18 |
|
2017 |
Years on Board Cusk |
Departure Date |
|
Chuck Harner, LT |
1960 to 1963 |
March 1
|
|
Richard Rushlow, ET1(SS) |
Unknown, possibly
1953 |
March 4
|
|
Robert J Strosser, TM2(SS) |
1946
(Plankowner) |
March 6
|
|
Mike Keelin, STS2(SS) |
1962 to 1965 |
May 31
|
|
Phillip L Williamson, TM1(SS) |
1945 to 1946
(Plankowner) |
July 5
|
|
Ron Shook, STC(SS) |
1959 to 1961 |
July 12
|
|
Theodore W Beals, QM2(SS) |
1950 to 1951 |
October 3
|
|
James H Spivey, EN2(SS) |
1960 to 1962 |
October 13
|
|
John J Tracey, TM2(SS) |
1952 to 1954 |
November 11
|
|
Bertrice G Dollar, SA |
1963 |
December 30
|
|
2016 |
Years on Board Cusk |
Departure Date |
|
Edward "Ed" Heral |
1963 to 1964 |
January 20
|
|
William "Bill" Munson, EN3(SS) |
1949 |
March 4
|
|
Carl Bud Berg, ET1(SS) |
1956 to 1957 |
March 19
|
|
Alexander F Nieto, RM3(SS) |
1953 |
March 26
|
|
Maurice "Dusty" Knight, SA(SS) |
1948 to 1950 |
April 1
|
|
Les Atchison, RM2(SS) |
1960 to 1962 |
April 9
|
|
Garold E Prawl, FTCM(SS) |
Unknown |
April 26
|
|
William N Rowe, RM3(SS) |
1952 |
May 29
|
|
Bill Vincent, EN2(SS) |
1955 to 1957 |
June 27
|
|
Art Thomsen,
FTSN(SS) |
1959 to 1960 |
July 13
|
|
Joseph H Lowenhardt, EM2(SS) |
1960 to 1963 |
August 7
|
|
David P Hirt,
QM3(SS) |
1951 to 1953 |
August 22
|
|
Harold William Haynes, Jr.,
QM2(SS) |
1946 to 1948
(Plankowner) |
August 26
|
|
Arthur "Art" O'Meally,
RM1(SS) |
1964 |
October 5
|
|
William Hale Gignac,
EN2(SS) |
1958 to 1959 |
October 7
|
|
Michael King "Mike" Stevenson,
ET2(SS) |
1961 to 1962 |
November 22
|
|
James F "Jim" Johnson,
RMC(SS) |
1967 to 1968 |
November 29
|
|
Roger Hathaway, EN3(SS) |
1960 to 1961 |
December 11
|
|
2015 |
Years on Board Cusk |
Departure Date |
|
Arthur Q Merrill, EMFN(SS) |
1948 to 1950 |
January
6 |
|
James Franklin "Jim" Hume, TM1(SS) |
1956 to 1960 |
January
15 |
|
James E Walker, EM3(SS) |
1946
(Plankowner) |
February
2 |
|
Leo Kunkel, EN1(SS), |
1945 to 1948 and 1952
to 1958
(Plankowner) |
February 18
|
|
Harold M Page, Jr., QM3(SS) |
1948 to 1950 |
February 21
|
|
Clyde Kirk, FT/ST (MOMM) |
1945 to 1946
(Plankowner) |
February
28 |
|
Earl R "Dick" White, SN(SS) |
1949 to 1950 |
March |
|
Robert C Zimmerman, SM2(SS) |
1946
(Plankowner) |
July 2 |
|
Wendell Bud Reid, MOMM2(SS) |
1946
(Plankowner) |
August 15 |
|
William Walde Von
Christierson, LCDR |
1964 to 1966 |
November 15
|
|
Roland "Ronnie" J Quick,
CS3(SS) |
1959 to 1960 |
November 25
|
|
Robert Dominic Comperini,
EN3(SS) |
1949 to 1952 |
December 1
|
|
Rick Dale "Ptomaine" Greer,
CS2(SS) |
1965 to1967 |
December 24
|
|
Gerald "Jerry" Spielman,
EN1(SS) |
1960 to 1966 |
December 30
|
|
2014 |
Years on Board Cusk |
Departure Date |
|
Robert Walter Fellingham,
Sr., LT |
1960 to 1962 |
January 7
|
|
David C Lawrence
STS3(SS)
|
1968 to 1969 |
April 12
|
|
James Washington Holmes,
Jr., FCS1(SS)
|
1947 |
April 16
|
|
Charles
Edwin "Scurvy" Brown, CSC(SS)
|
1956 to 1957 |
May 13
|
|
Jack
Walter Nease,
SO1(SS)
|
1954 to 1957 |
June 28
|
|
Kevin F Flanagan
S1c(SS)
|
1946 |
July 26
|
|
Robert A Brown, TMCM(SS) |
1958 |
August 22
|
|
Glenn H Rowe,
RM2(SS) |
1953 to 1957 |
September 2
|
|
J W Hickman,
IC2(SS) |
1954 to 1957 & 1964 |
September 5
|
|
Robert
J "Little Mo" Geary,
EM2(SS) |
1959 to 1962 |
September 14
|
|
George Urban Harlow, SO2(SS)
|
1949 to 1953 |
September 16
|
|
Ray M Peckenpaugh,
EN3(SS) |
1950 to 1951 |
November 4
|
|
Craig "Barkel" Pagden,
EM2(SS) |
1959 to 1961 |
December
5 |
|
Gary Tucker,
MM1(SS)
|
1945 to 1949 |
December 31
|
|
2013 |
Years on Board Cusk |
Departure Date |
|
Gerald C Stratton, EN1(SS) |
1958 to 1961 |
February 19
|
|
Jacob P Wittman,
TM1SS) |
1963 to 1969 |
February 24
|
|
Roy
A Hopf, EN3(SS) |
1960 to 1961 |
March 17
|
|
Robert Bryan "Hoot" Gibson,
Jr., LCDR |
1958 to 1962 &
1964 to 1966 |
March 26 |
|
Charles Benjamin Stark,
EN3(SS) |
1953 |
April 17 |
|
Eugene P "Dennis"
Wilkinson, LCDR |
1947 to 1948 |
July 11
|
|
William D Karr, ETC(SS)
|
1963 |
July 16
|
|
Gary Jay Carr,
EMCM(SS) |
1963 to 1969 |
November 4
|
|
Greg Czech, LCDR
|
1959 to 1961 |
December
5 |
|
"I have
spread the mantle of my nation over the ocean, and will guard her
forever. I am her heritage, and yours. I am the American
Sailor." - Anon |
|
Sailors!
Rest
your
oars!
Visit the "Eternal
Patrol" section of this webpage for more information, pictures, and
obituaries. |
"They that go
down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these
see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep." - Psalm 107
We welcome your comments, and especially your historical
contributions if you have any to share or donate. If you are a former
crewmember, we especially anxious to hear from you so please contact us at your
earliest convenience. Many or your shipmates have been looking for you and
an email to the Cusk Webmaster (link below) will put you in touch with them.
Ask a former crewmember about the Cusk and the answer you will most often
hear will be, "She was a good boat, probably the best I ever sailed.
|
