Remembering sacrifice in defense of the nation

Remembering sacrifice in defense of the nation

August 2023 Update Never Forgotten Americans justly take pride in remembering the men and women who died in the Armed Forces. Since 1868 those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the nation were commemorated on Memorial Day, and other ceremonies at other times. American Submariners are proud of their forerunners in the Silent Service, especially those who have gone on “Eternal Patrol.” Across the country there are memorials dedicated to the men who were lost, in cemeteries, public…

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Remembering Pearl Harbor and American Submariners’ Sacrifices

Remembering Pearl Harbor and American Submariners’ Sacrifices

December 7, 2022 Hello friends, Today we mark the 81st anniversary of the surprise attack at Pearl Harbor that plunged the United States into a World War that touched every country on Earth and every family across America. From the “dastardly” attack on December 7, 1941 that killed over 2,300, until the Japanese Empire surrendered 1,347 days later U.S. submarines carried the war to the enemy. It was from the deck of a submarine, USS Grayling, three weeks later at…

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Memorial Day 2022 | Remembering Lost Submariners

Memorial Day 2022 | Remembering Lost Submariners

HELP US BUILD A MEMORIAL TO SUBMARINERS IN TENNESSEE May 30, 2022 Hello Friends. The Tennessee Submarine Memorial Association joins our fellow citizens today in commemorating the Americans who have made the supreme sacrifice for the United States. Among them were 87 men from Tennessee who were lost in war and peace serving in U.S. submarines and related duties. We invite you to visit the TSMA’s web site (Link) and contribute to that effort. Today, we would like to share…

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Remembering the USS Scorpion | May 22

Remembering the USS Scorpion | May 22

Today we remember our 99 Submariner brothers who were lost onboard USS Scorpion (SSN589) in the Atlantic Ocean on May 22, 1968 and their families. The exact cause of Scorpion’s sinking about 400 miles southwest of the Azore islands, in 10,000 feet of water, is unknown. There are numerous theories based on extensive analysis of the wreckage and acoustic recordings and some conspiracy theories that seek to explain the loss. We will leave those conversations to others. Virgil Alexander Wright,…

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Remembering the USS Thresher | April 10, 2022

Remembering the USS Thresher | April 10, 2022

  Today we remember our 129 Submariner brothers and shipyard personnel who were lost onboard USS Thresher (SSN593) during testing in the Atlantic Ocean in the morning hours of April 10, 1963 and their families. There are numerous, excellent resources that discuss the Thresher, lead ship of a revolutionary class of nuclear powered attack submarines; about the disaster; and about the men who braved the depths of the oceans to serve aboard her. Many of them are provided below. At…

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Lost Tennesseans | LCDR Pat Garner

Lost Tennesseans | LCDR Pat Garner

LCDR Pat Mehaffy Garner of Memphis Tennessee was Executive Officer aboard USS Thresher (SSN593) when she was lost on April 10, 1963. Lieutenant Commander Pat Mehaffy Garner, US Navy Pat Mehaffy Garner was born September 26, 1931, in Memphis, Tennesee. He majored in psychology at Vanderbilt University after attending various local schools in Memphis. While at Vanderbilt, he was active in the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps, and a member of the Phi Theta Fraternity. He was graduated and commissioned…

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Lost Tennesseans | LTJG Frank Malinski

Lost Tennesseans | LTJG Frank Malinski

LCDR Frank Malinski, USN, of Memphis Tennessee served aboard USS Thresher (SSN593) when she was lost on April 10, 1963. Lieutenant Junior Grade Frank Malinski, US Navy Frank John Malinski was born on August 6, 1939, in Glen Ridge, N.J., the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Malinski, Jr. He attended parochial schools as a youth, and was awarded the Ad Altar Dei Medal, highest Catholic Shout honor, for his outstanding performance as an Eagle Scout. Frank was an honor…

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Tolling of the Boats 2021 | Keynote Remarks | Amb Charles Bowers

Tolling of the Boats 2021 | Keynote Remarks | Amb Charles Bowers

TOLLING OF THE BOATS Every year the Tolling of the Boats Ceremony commemorates those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country while serving aboard U.S. Navy submarines. The U.S. Submariners fo the Volunteer Base of USSVI in association with the Tennessee Submarine Memorial Association hold a tolling every October at the Middle Tennessee State Veteran’s Cemetery. Keynote remarks were presented by Ambassador Charles R. Bowers, U.S. Foreign Service (Retired). You can read the Ambassador’s introduction following the remarks here….

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Tolling of the Boats 2021 | Videos

Tolling of the Boats 2021 | Videos

TOLLING OF THE BOATS Every year the Tolling of the Boats Ceremony commemorates those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country while serving aboard U.S. Navy submarines. The U.S. Submariners fo the Volunteer Base of USSVI in association with the Tennessee Submarine Memorial Association hold a tolling every October at the Middle Tennessee State Veteran’s Cemetery. The videos of our October 2021 memorial ceremony are in two parts. The first includes remarks about the tolling ceremony and keynote remarks…

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Memorial Day 2020 – Never Forget Our Fallen Heroes

Memorial Day 2020 – Never Forget Our Fallen Heroes

Memorial Day 2020 Dear Friends: History is replete with stories of small bands of gallant warriors who bravely took on tall challenges and took fierce combat to the face of an enemy against great odds and with great consequences dependent on their bravery. In the darkest days of the Nazi onslaught over the skies of England, Prime Minister Winston Churchill paid tribute to the intrepid RAF airmen defending the beleaguered island, “Never in the field of conflict was so much…

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