ANOTHER DICK LANING STORY
April 29, 2001
Bill Matson’s article about Dick Laning in the April SUBMARINE REVIEW brought to mind another anecdote about that fine guy. During the pre-commissioning days Dick was constantly on the lookout for opportunities to enhance SEA WOLF and its capabilities. I was the pre-commissioning torpedo officer and became one of Dick’s targets for seeking out ways to better the boat’s offensive capabilities. In pursuit of this, he arranged for a 1956 visit to MIT’s Lincoln Lab. He hoped to gain some insight into how the Lincoln Lab SAGE system could benefit submarine search and attack capabilities. As we explored the cavernous halls of their site in Lincoln, it soon became clear that digital computers were a tremendously powerful tool for data analysis. But, with the then state-of-the-art, significant advances would be necessary to make the computer of the mid ’50s submarine compatible. (As we now know, that was done in time to outfit GEORGE WASHING-TON with NAVDAC and the MCC computers.) As we drove home, Dick, with his usual insight, commented, “one day we’ll be able to walk around with a computer as powerful as those SAGE computers, and it will fit in the palm of our hand”. Thank God Dick lived long enough to see this prediction come true.
Thought you might be interested.
Best wishes,
Charles A. Orem
284 High Head Road
Harpswell, ME 04079
A REMINDER TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE NSL FAMILY
June 2, 2001
There are many highly visible advantages to being a member of the Naval Submarine League. We are all cognizant of these outstanding advantages and utilize all of them to our own personal needs.
I would like to get members to think about those small, but very important uses, things that may seem to be just a routine, but on closer examination these small things become increasingly more and more useful.
First, I would like to applaud the staff for our annual roster. I belong to many organizations, fraternal, military, and civilian oriented. None of them, not one, publish a complete annual membership roster as does the staff of the NSL, especially Mary McKinney, (round of applause) and probably ably assisted by others on the staff. (Continue the round of applause.)
And another kudo for the annual up-to-date roster. I think it should be considered as a very important feature of our overall operation of our organization and I think it is a useful tool in getting new members to sign up.
I have been an information booth for many people to call and inquire about many problems, many people, odd ball questions, “how do I do this”, “can you help me get in touch with”, “what is the procedure for getting ashes scattered at sea”, and a multitude of other questions concerning submarines or submariners.
People are pleased that I can, in most cases, come up with a quick answer to their questions. How do I do this? Nothing magic; I use my NSL roster, USS Sub Vets WWII roster, local listings, and books on hand about the Force, lists supplied by other organizations, and rosters that I try to keep current.
Keep a zero bubble,
Joe McGrievy
PNP Sub Vets WWII
