This list was provided by Frank Knapp and Tracy Howard.
This is an email from Tracy Howard the Engineer of the Birmingham, he provided the following info:
The ship just recently received a Meritorious Unit Citation for our work with the Nimitz Battle Group in 1995 and early 1996, we are awaiting final approval of a Navy Unit Citation for operations conducted on our most recent WESTPAC. Additionally, this week we earned the Squadron SEVEN Battle "E" for 1996. So we all hate to see the Birmingham go, but she is going out in style fitting of our unofficial nickname: "Best in the West" Tracy Howard, dated Dec. 30th 1996.
The following was lifted from Gary Flowers page about the Birmingham
USS Birmingham page by Gary Flowers.
In March 1985, Birmingham was reassigned to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The ship completed her first Western Pacific deployment in July 1985, and then commenced a major overhaul at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. Following overhaul, Birmingham completed a Western Pacific deployment in 1990 and a Northern Pacific deployment in 1991. In February 1993, she commenced a highly successful six-month Western Pacific, Arabian Gulf, and Indian Ocean deployment. The ship was the first Pearl Harbor-based submarine to complete a deployment as a dedicated battle group support SSN. Breaking new ground in the area of submarine operations, Birmingham convincingly proved the capability of a submarine as a very effective force multiplier for a deployed carrier battle group. During this deployment; Birmingham operated in the extremely shallow water of the Arabian Gulf longer than all previous submarines combined. In February 1994, Birmingham conducted a surge deployment to the Western Pacific in response to national tasking. Following this deployment this ship conducted a four month shipyard maintenance period. USS Birmingham has earned three Meritorious Unit Commendations, a Navy Unit Commendation, three Battle "E"s, an Engineering "E", two supply "E"s, a Communication "C", a Damage control "DC", and an Anti-Submarine Warfare "A".
The following pics and info were provided by Marco Valdez. I wish to thank him and I am looking forward from hearing from other present crewmates.
A picture of the Nimitz Battle Group in summer 1993 taken in the Indian Ocean. SSN 695 is there if the front. We were doing 97-99 turns on the shaft then, approx 14-15 knots on the surface. We have the front cover of Proceedings with a frontal picture of us and you can see the Nimitz bearing 180 right on us in the background. If you are really interested, I think you can find this picture somewhere on the web.
This was a periscope picture of the USS Independence. We were doing war games and had this picture taken. Location was West Pacific near Japan. Taken March 1994,
A exercise shot of a harpoon off the coast of Southern California.
We targeted a barge and scored a direct hit. Taken December 1992
That's about all the pictures I have to offer of the ship. All the other
pictures I have are of me and my friends that I do miss. I feel a kinship with
you since we have lived most of our lives on board that ship once in our
lifetime.
I hope you enjoy the pictures.
Marco Valdez
The above photos were taken by By E.J. (Gene) Doyle LCDR, USN, Engineer Officer, USS HENRY M. JACKSON (SSBN 730 G) who was assigned to the BIRMINGHAM from 91 thru 94.
Click here for memories of our shipmates.