BIRMINGHAM INACTIVATION

USS BIRMINGHAM (SSN 695) was inactivated with a grand ceremony and festivities on 27 March, 1997.

The following are email messages I recieved from crewmates who were at the inactivation

Quote from Rick Penza: Fare thee well! The price of razorblades is about to plummet!

From:"Harris, Jeff " Hello Rick, A short report back to you on the inactivation ceremony...but first, thank you for taking the time and energy to gather up all of the names and addresses of the former B-Ham crew. We really appreciate your hard work in helping to organize the 'list' and thank you very much. The inactivation ceremony was a very moving experience. It was conducted with the highest of Navy formality and pomp complete with formal dress whites, red carpet, artillery gun salute, moving speeches, and tribute to those who served on the Birmingham over the years. It is difficult to express the mixed feelings I had while listening to how the Birmingham has served the US over the last 18 years. It was pointed out by Vice Admiral Jones that the pre-comm crew 'drove the shipyard absolutely crazy in their desire for the perfect ship'. (remember all of those 'trouble reports' we had to fill out?) He also pointed out that it was because of the hard work of the pre-comm crew that the Birmingham was able to serve her country so well over the years. Paul Callahan, Kirk Mathews, Bill Rath, Steve Ketchell, David Harry, E.T. White, Bucky Buchanan, Bob Massie, Dave Findley, Mark 'Chumley' Riethmeier, Gale Brown, and I were the Plankowners in attendance. The ceremony was held at the Pearl Harbor Subase at pierside to the Birmingham. She looked different in some respects ... acoustic tiles installed on the entire exterior; however, except for a few minor changes on the inside, most all of the equipment, piping, valves, electronics, etc. was just as I remembered it from 1980. Even after all of these years, I think any of us could have given the 'tour' of the boat as was provided by current crew members. The memories, positive and negative, came rushing back. Believe me, it was an exciting experience to be there and to participate in the ceremony. Their was a nice reception following the formal ceremony and it gave all of us a chance to get re-acquainted with our past as well as get to visit with the other fomer crew and current crew of the Birmingham. I look forward to the next get together of the Birmingham crew. I hope all is well with you and your spouse. Any baby yet? Best Regards, Jeff Harris

Chaz, Here's a list of who attended: Gale Brown, Paul Callahan, Dave Harry, Jeff Harris, Steve Ketchell, Finley, E.T. White, Bill Rath, Mike Buccanan, Natthews and Myself. Bucky and I were there solo while the rest came with their significant others. Following the ceremony, the ship had a filling reception followed by tours of the boat. That evening, all (except Jeff Harris) met at Benihana's Japanese Steak House for dinner. I have been in contact with Lt. Perry from the boat who is looking into getting copies made of the video recorded by both local and Navy cameramen (persons). He will let me know when they are available and for how much. As far as pictures, I haven't gotten them back yet and our scanner does not seem to be operating correctly. Will be in touch. I had a great time.

Chumley: EMAIL: Riethmeier_Mark@hq.navsea.navy.mil

From : Steve Ketchell Charlie, I have a bunch of pictures but are not developed yet. They videotaped the ceremony, and I, amongst others, want a copy. Chumley said something about getting a copy and making copies for those who want one, but I haven't heard a word from anybody yet, or even if its available to us. The ceremony was fun, but more geared towards the current crew/officers. Us plankowners were sort of ignored, at least that's my opinion. Bill Rath and myself, finished off the keg with the current and previous COBs, and a few of the crew. Then went to a plankowner dinner party at Benihana's. Tall Paul was pretty friendly, but refrained from telling me to get a haircut. Of course Gale Brown mentioned that "it looks like the nukes still need haircuts". Most everybody had changed, either grey or bald. Massey, in summer whites, was talking about retiring in a couple of years. He's still in Norfolk. E.T. White works at Portsmouth Shipyard but he didn't talk much to me. Always was kind of quiet. Jeff was there but then disappeared, so I think he had to catch a flight. Massey left the same afternoon, also. "Bucky" Buchannan was there, who now goes by "Mike". Didn't recognize him at first, but I didn't realize that he left the Navy, and then came back in a year or so later, back to the B'ham. Wierd. He just retired a few years back. Dave Harry and his wife were there. Dave hasn't changed much either. They both work for a communications company in Raleigh NC. Them and the Rath's were heading to Maui to play. After the ceremony we took a tour of the boat. Chumley said that you had the plankowner plaque from crew's mess. That true? E.T. had paperwork to allow him back in the engineroom, but nobody else went. The computer room went away and is now bunks. A nuke that sleeps there said its about 30 degrees on a warm day. Same-o same-o. The diesel was painted black with little state flags adorning it. Tall Paul would NEVER have allowed that. The boat had literally not changed at all. The plan I heard was to pull the core at a new facility at Pearl Harbor in May, then tow the hull to Bremerton to the mothball fleet here. This was actually a de-activation ceremony. The actual decom's in May. Big deal. It was fun seeing everybody and the ceremony. Rained like hell for part of the show. The XO and crew got drenched. Pretty funny. Callahan was talking about seeing everybody at Birmingham later. That still on? They had some stuff for sale at the party, so I picked up a coffee mug for Mannhalter and Frietas, if they want one. I was hoping to get a copy of the videotape so we could have a party. If you hear about it, let me know. Later. Steve Ketchell EMAIL: stk2053@dop.fse.ca.boeing.com

UNCLAS //N5700// MSGID/GENADMIN/COMSUBPAC// SUBJ/FAREWELL TO USS BIRMINGHAM (SSN 695)// RMKS/

1. FOLLOWING NEARLY 19 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE NATION AND THE NAVY, THE NUCLEAR ATTACK SUBMARINE USS BIRMINGHAM (SSN 695) WILL BE HONORED ON 27 MARCH 1997 DURING AN INACTIVATION CEREMONY AT SUBMARINE BASE PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII. VADM JONES, DEPUTY CINC U.S. STRATEGIC COMMAND, WILL BE THE PRINCIPAL SPEAKER. FORMER CO'S, WHICH INCLUDE VADM JONES, AND RADM SULLIVAN, PAGE 02 RUHPSGG3867 UNCLAS COMMANDER SUBMARINE GROUP NINE, ALONG WITH CAPTS CALLAHAN, NESTLERODE AND CASSIAS WILL JOIN THE CURRENT CO, CDR KENNY IN SENDING BIRMINGHAM OUT IN STYLE.

2. SERVING WITH DISTINCTION IN THE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC FLEETS, BIRMINGHAM HAS CONDUCTED HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC, INDIAN OCEAN, ARABIAN SEA, NORTH ATLANTIC AND MEDITERRANEAN SEA. BIRMINGHAM COMPLETED HER MISSIONS SUPERBLY AND SUCCESSFULLY, WITH THE STYLE THAT WAS THE TRADEMARK OF THIS SHIP AND CREW. IN RECOGNITION OF HER OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES, BIRMINGHAM HAS BEEN AWARDED A NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION, FOUR MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATIONS, NAVY EXPEDITIONARY MEDALS IN SIX DIFFERENT THEATERS, AS WELL AS FOUR BATTLE EFFICIENCY "E" AWARDS. BIRMINGHAM CONCLUDES HER ACTIVE SERVICE ON TOP AS THE SUBMARINE SQUADRON SEVEN BATTLE "E" RECIPIENT AFTER COMPLETING HER HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL FIFTH AND FINAL WESTERN PACIFIC DEPLOYMENT WHERE SHE WAS RECOGNIZED AS SEVENTHFLT'S TOP ANTI-SURFACE WARFARE SHIP IN 1996.

3. TO ALL WHO SERVED ABOARD BIRMINGHAM, I EXTEND MY DEEPEST APPRECIATION AND ADMIRATION TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES ON BEHALF OF A GRATEFUL NATION. YOUR PERSONAL SACRIFICES, VIGILANCE, AND DEVOTION TO DUTY CONTRIBUTED DIRECTLY TO OUR NATION'S DEFENSE.

4. MANY THANKS TO USS BIRMINGHAM FOR A JOB WELL DONE.

WARM REGARDS,

RADM JERRY ELLIS.