Chief Boring,

That must have been a different experience for a Photographer to go aboard an FBM Submarine underway. The policy in those days was crew members could not bring cameras onboard. You had to be doing something special for the USN. The Washington and the Von Steuben and the rest of the “41 for Freedom” boats have all been turned into scrap metal with some portions having been saved for posterity and display across our nation. The sail and diving planes from the USS Lewis and Clark (SSBN 644) one of those same “41 for Freedom” Submarines is on display at Patriots Point, Mt Pleasant, SC across the bay from Charleston. There is no access to anything on that sail. And it is supposed to represent a Boat coming home from deterrent patrol.

I am a little familiar with FBM Submarines having spent 3 years and 7 patrols as COB and senior Weaponeer on the USS Tecumseh (SSBN 628) we were out of Holy Loch, Scotland but our families were right here in Charleston.

Right on, all the Boats now are out of Kings Bay, Georgia, none sail from Charleston today. But there are a load of us Submariners here due to the Boats being here for most of the Cold War.

Thank you for your recognition,
E. A. Hughes, FTCM (SS)
USN (Retired)