I copied this from ComSubPac's page for future use when they shut the page down. March 27, 1997


USS Birmingham (SSN 695)
Retires At Naval Submarine Base
Pearl Harbor

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii -- Along the waterfront of Pearl Harbor's historic submarine base, crewmembers past and present bid farewell to USS Birmingham (SSN 695) during an inactivation ceremony today as the boat took its own place in the proud history of the Pacific Submarine Force.

Former Birmingham Commanding Officer Vice Adm. Dennis A. Jones, currently the Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. Strategic Command, was the featured speaker for the ceremony. Admiral Jones was joined in celebrating Bimingham's exceptional 19 years of service by Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Rear Adm. Jerry Ellis, Commander Submarine Squadron SEVEN Commodore Bruce B. Engelhardt, Commanding Officer Cmdr. Mark W. Kenny, all but one of Birmingham's former commanding officers, citizens from Brimingham, Ala., and three crewmembers of HMS Birmingham.

"What I'm going to tell you is how proud I am to have had a boat like Birmingham as a member of the Pacific Submarine Force during my tenure as commander of this absolutely amazing team of officers, Sailors and Ship," Adm. Ellis told the assembled audience as a driving rain descended on the ceremony. He called Birmingham's crew a team of winners for their accomplishments as the warship neared inactivation.

"You see, it is the ship that is inactivating," Adm. Ellis added, "but it is the people who make the ship do great things. That is why our submarine force is the best: because of our great people."

Birmingham is the current holder of the Submarine Squadron SEVEN Battle Efficiency "E" award for most batlle-ready ship in the squadron. This is the fourth time the ship has won the annual competition.

During the ceremony, Cmdr. Kenny was awarded the Legion of Merit medal for his service as commanding officer of Birmingham. Cmdr. Kenny and Birmingham's Chief of the Boat, Senior Chief Petty Officer A. Letourneau, also received the Meritorious Unit Commendation on behalf of the crew.

USN

Photos above:
ABIRM1.JPG -- USS Birmingham's (SSN 695) brow
ABIRM4.JPG -- Rear Adm. Jerry Ellis is piped aboard for the ceremony
ABIRM6.JPG -- "In the home stretch, Birmingham's crew has really shown its colors with the style that has been the trademark of this superb ship and crew," Rear Adm. Jerry Ellis tells the audience.
ABIRM5.JPG -- The audience included present and former crew members and thier families, all former commanding officers but one, three crew members of HMS Birmingham, local residents, and citizens of Alabama.
ABIRM19.JPG -- Rear Adm. Jerry Ellis (center) presents the Meritorious Unit Commendation to Birmingham's commanding officer, Cmdr. Mark W. Kenny (left) and Chief of the Boat Senior Chief Petty Officer A. Letourneau.

Additional imagery


Featured speaker Vice Adm. Dennis A. Jones is piped aboard Birmingham.
Vice Adm. Dennis A. Jones enthralls the audience with tales of his days as the second skipper of Birmingham
"Farewell, proud lady," Cmdr. Mark Kenny tells his ship, "you have served your Navy, your namesake city of Birmingham and your nation well."
Birmingham's crew stands in formation during the ceremony.
Birmingham's ceremonial watch stands topside.

Chief of the Boat Senior Chief Petty Officer A. Letourneau leads the ceremonial watch ashore, signaling the inactivation of USS Birmingham.


If any info here is wrong please contact me.