For the Submarine Birthday Ball in Orlando, Florida
Present-day subs are sleek and stealthy
They can perform a myriad of tricks
But in 1900 things were different April 11th we launched HOLLAND No. 6
It was a small vessel of 53 feet
And had a very narrow beam
In a short time improvements were made
And diesel propulsion replaced the steam
In the first war, there were three distinct classes
They were First Line, Second Line, and Fleet
With the stories told about these submarines
It’s clear that serving on them was no treat
It became so clear during World War II
The value of the submarine came to light
With the crippling of the Pacific Fleet
The submariners had to carry the fight
The accomplishments of those submarines
Fill many a book it’s true
But we must always remember those still on patrol
The crews we lost totaled fifty-two
There was Daley on HARDER
Dick O’Kane commanded TANG
Mush Morton escaped Wewak Harbor
After his torpedoes delivered their bang
Submarines returning from war patrols
Surely became the toast of the town
But there is one who made the supreme sacrifice
From the bridge, Gilmore said “Take her down!’
We can not image their fear
When depth charges dropped like rain
But think about the celebrations that occurred
Like when Fluckey’s crew blew up a train!
Then came the end of the diesel boat era
The advent of the Nuclear Age
It seems we have jumped a light year
When we merely turned a page
The new era brought us many a first
Speed and endurance records seemed to snap
We accomplished what seemed unthinkable
Who ever dreamed of reaching the Polar Ice Cap?
We still have ties to our heritage
With modernization, it becomes a slight reach
Circumnavigating the world under water
Accomplished by TRITON’s crew and Ned Beach
Wherever technology takes us from here
Whether larger, faster or more quiet yet
We are here because of those before us
And this we should never forget
In our 96 years of advancements
Inception, the snorkel, and nuclear fuel
One saying has remained true through the ages
And that is “FROM THE DEPTHS WE RULE!”
Master Chief Beckman is a Class Director at Naval Nuclear Power Training Command, Orlando, Florida. He is in charge of 400 students and 10 staff advisors and directs one class from the beginning to the end of the 24 week class.
