BULLETIN 44
STILL MORE ON FAMOUS PEOPLE
WITH SUBMARINE BACKGROUNDS
The last two bulletins have raised a great deal of input from submariners around the country The following information gives credit to those who have provided some interesting dope.
Correction from Fred D. Wagner:
Jimmy Carter attended the basic officer submarine course at New London in 1948.
Additional information on George P. Steele from L. Mueller, SSBN-629
George P. Steele was skipper of SSBN-629 Blue when the boat was commissioned in April 1964 and made several patrols out of Guam. He was on Sea Dragon before that and was engineer on the Nautilus.
Glen Ford a submariner?
A reader says Glen Ford came from submarines. He was a naval reserve officer who achieved rank of captain, but we can't find any submarine service in his history. Anyone having dope on him is invited to let us know. He made "Submarine Command" in the 60s which was shot on the Sterlet before her conversions.
Robert Marble is our expert on torpedoes. He answers the tough ones that come our way on anything to do with torpedoes and tubes. He did some research on famous people coming from submarines. Here is his report.
Vice Admiral Yogi Kaufman served on many submarines, both diesel and nuclear. He was involved in the development of major submarine programs since World War Two. After retiring from the navy he became a professional photographer. His work appeared in Audubon, National Wildlife, International Wildlife and other publications. He also authored, "Sharks of Steel" in 1993 and "Silent Chase, Submarines of the U.S. Navy" in 1998.
Michael DiMercurio is an Academy graduate who served as navy paratrooper and diver. He was a lieutenant on the Hammerhead (SSN-663). He authored, "Phoenix Sub Zero", "Attack of the Seawolf", "Voyage of the Devilfish" and "Final Bearing".
John McCain, Jr. was a distinguished submarine commander of the Second World War. He made four stars as admiral and was CincPacFlt during the Viet Nam war. John McCain, his son, was Navy Air during Viet Nam, became a U.S. Senator and wrote, "Faith of My Fathers, A Family Memoir" in 1999.
Captain Chester M. Mack was commanding officer of the Lapon, (SSN-661). The boat went on patrol in 1969 to find a Yankee class Soviet submarine. He followed it for 47 days without the Soviets becoming the wiser. He is featured in Sontag and Drew's book, "Blind Man's Bluff".
Roger C. Dunham, M.D. was a nuclear reactor operator in the Navy's submarine service during the 1960s. After discharge he attended UCLA School of Medicine. He authored, "Spy Sub, Top Secret Mission to the Bottom of the Pacific" in 1969.
Marvin McCamis served on the Piper, (SS-409) in the 1950s and was transferred to the Navy's only hydrogen peroxide submarine, the X-1. He retired from the Navy and was hired by Wood's Hole Oceanographic Institution to operate the deep-diving submarine Alvin. It located and retrieved a lost hydrogen bomb from the collision of a KC-135 tanker and B-52 off Spain. The story is told in Flora Lewis' book, "One of Our H-bombs in Missing".
Lcdr. Roy Boehm founded the Seals and as a UDT and Seal instructor rode many submarines. He authored, "First Seal" in 1997.
Admiral Carlisle Trost served aboard the Sirago (SS-485) and was exec of the Von Steuben, (SSBN-632). He later was CNO and has been active in submarine affairs since his retirement.
Note from SRC - Carl Trost has been an inspiration to many submariners including the staff of SRC.
This bulletin concludes our casual investigation into famous people who got their start in submarines. Thanks to all of you who have helped in this fun project.