SSN 764. A one-ship fleet.

She's named after a Brooklyn class light cruiser that served with distinction during World War II. Her namesake raided Japanese shipping lanes. Covered the landings on Guadacanal. Provided fire support for Marines on a little chunk of island called Leyte. She even served in the Med during missions in Sicily and Salerno. A strong crew, complimented by fifteen 6" guns and eight 5" guns, delivered their own brand of naval justice to those enemies of America who would do her harm.

Sounds a little like Casey's boat 50 years later.

The USS Boise is a Lost Angeles-class fast attack submarine commissioned on November 7, 1992. A nuclear reactor propels the steel fish through the water (submerged) at roughly 32 knots (actual speed is classified). She carries with her Harpoon and Tomahawk missles fired from VLS tubes to "talk" with land targets and four 533mm torpedo tubes for MK-48 torpedoes to "discuss" situations with other vessels. But that's not what makes her, or any ship in the fleet for that matter, effective. It's the 13 officers and 116 enlisted personnel who make her tick.

It's guys like one of our own.

It's guys like Casey, who served on her during the early days. And if we're not mistaken, he was with her when she first slid into the drink. He, along with a number of other recruits straight from the high school cafeteria, signed a piece of paper and took an oath vowing to keep you safe at night. When you slept, they listened. When you partied, they hunted. When the alarm was raised, they were there watching over you from below.

The least we could do is say thanks.

So while the BDS continues to make waves with this minor-league blog, the real warriors are out there under the waves protecting our right to look stupid in public. While we complain about red/blue states, they're watching red/blue lights flash on a fire control panel. While we bitch about the size of our office desk, they hot-rack bunks and live out of a small drawer.

So to every person who has worn or is wearing the uniform (including you, Pie-rez), we say thanks. Thanks for the sacrifice. Thanks for the commitment. Thanks for the professionalism. Thanks for giving us the freedom to not think about you, what you did or what you do every day.

Which is all the more reason we should.


The Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Boise (SSN- 764) leads the fast combat support ship USS Seattle (AOE-3) and the guided missile cruiser, USS Hue City (CG-66) as the ships of the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) Battle Group transit the Suez Canal in March 2002. The Kennedy battle group is arriving to relieve USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) to conduct missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.