YARD BOAT MY ASS ©
SABALO'S
NORTHERN RUN OF 1960
What follows is a number of email messages
exchanged during mid August 2004 on the subject of what happened during
the "northern run" of the cruise of 1960 during April and early
May. Everyone has a little different take on things.
Hi Jeff,
Please accept my apology for the late notice, but I will not be able to
attend the reunion at Saratoga Springs this year. Recently, we went
through a Hurricane here in Orlando, Fl. and had some damage to our
home, which will now require all my resources.
However, I would like to make an appeal to the all of the crew members
of the Sabalo... I need your support to up-hold the Honor of our Boat.
According to the Veterans Administration (Mr. B. C. Gibbard) and
the Department of the Navy, the submarine Sabalo was nothing more
than a "Yard Boat"...that is
their words written in a recent letter to
me, after I described some events that took place during a "Northern
Run", while on a West Pac Cruise, North of Japan. The Navy Department
stated that they had no record of the Sabalo ever going on any secret
operations, "described as a "Northern Run" during a West Pac
cruise in 1960-1961. In fact they said that the Sabalo, entered "Dry
Dock" after reaching Yokosuka Japan and spent most of the
deployment in the "Navy Yards" and they used the term "Sabalo was a
Yard Boat".
I hope there are still crew members that may remember our West
Pac Cruise, the "People to People cruise" to all the Islands around
Japan and the "Northern Run", that took us way North of Japan for about
58 days... I am sure it is "OK" to talk about this operation
now, after reading the book Blind Man's Bluff, about submarine
secret Op's. I'm sure you guys remember the ship's party, that lasted
about 3 days after our return to Yokosuka... I believe the party was in
the Kanko Hotel...Our Captain's name was Artie Burki, the CO was Herb
Robisch and the COBB was Chief George Fedon.
We now need to correct the Navy's records about the Sabalo's operations
and although we were in the "Yards", up-grading the War World II era
boat, we need to remove the term "Yard Boat" from the Navy Historical
Center's records...because I remember, we did successfully complete our
share patrols too !
Again, sorry I will miss this next convention, but will do my best to
be there next year.
Regards, Earl Meggison (ETN3SS) Sabalo 1960 - 1962
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The following was sent to those with
email addresses that were on the roster of the Sabalo web site and
might have made the cruise.
Subject: USS Sabalo Activities in 1960
This is addressed to those who have been identified as possibly
serving during the cruise of Jan-Jul 1960 as described on the Sabalo
history page at:
http://usssabalo.org/historysabalo.htm#history
(There are some others, but without email.)
Earl's message below explains what is in question. I hope
each of you will respond with some comment.
Of course, we don't know how much actual research went into the
answer Earl received, and maybe Mr, Gibbard responded without having
full data at hand.
The ship's logs are no longer at the historical center, and so
maybe what ever is at hand there is incomplete. I have been
promising myself to go to the National Archives II in College Park, MD
where the logs are now stored to do thorough research on our boat, but
my plan always seems to get thwarted by other activities of life.
The official "Ship's History Report - Annual Revision" for 1960
[copies of which were recently obtained and provided to me by Larry
Douglas and others, but the set is not fully complete and missing some
later years] does not make any mention of being in the 'northern area'
although briefly describes some of the other activities and ports
visited. This information is brief and extracted info is all
contained in what's on the Sabalo history page of the web site.
I suppose it could be the case that something is still being
classified or obscured, but based on what I have been told by many from
all eras Sabalo never really did anything very monumental in the
espionage world, although some "incidents" have been mentioned.
It is even possible that something happened which has been obscured
because of its seemed importance at the time, and any researcher now,
including Mr. Gibbard, has no way of researching. Could be
documents have been altered???
Looking forward to bringing out the full story of Sabalo's
history because she, and many other boats, did risk themselves in
pursuit of what now seems like trivial missions in hindsight.
Hope you guys can help with some recollections.
Your shipmate,
Jeff Owens
-----------------------------------------------------
Parley "Art" Clement responds:
Sabalo was not a "yard boat". We did some
very special ops and guess what, we won't talk about them
forever. But, we did them and we were darned good at it too!
Take care,
Art
Art continues:
YARD BOAT MY
ASS!!
I had just made third class and was placed in charge of the seaman gang
by George Fedon, the COB. I really didn’t know my ass from a hole
in the ground but, thanks to Duster (bless him) and Braun they helped
me along.
I remember well prepping for that Northern run. We off loaded the
messenger buoys, stored them in a big warehouse next to our berth in
Yoko, and welded plates over where they were. We welded straps
over each hatch except for the conning tower hatch. We painted
out our hull numbers and we loaded the showers with garbage weights,
cut up electrical conduit, and removed the fuses from all the
heaters. We filled the torpedo rooms with eggs and potatoes and
all the rest of what ever we could pack in.
We all were issued winter clothing to stay warm with as there would be
no heat. We slept in that stuff and stood watch in them for 30 to
60 days. We smelled horrible at the end of each run. WE
stored our “liberty” clothes in double plastic bags to have fresh
smelling good clothes when we hit the beach back in Yoko. IT
STILL STUNK!!
I remember on that first run we had a noise over the fwd torpedo room,
and we approaching our Vladivostok destination, so up three of us went
to dampen the noise. Myself, the COB and Braun. It was VERY rough
and we were lucky as hell that we all made it back in the boat.
The COB and I were just going down in the super structure up fwd when a
big wave hit, we held our breath grabbed on to what we could and under
we went. I looked back and off the side of the boat by the sail
was Braun, out over the side of the boat on the end of his life line
and knowing he was dead. We couldn’t help him and somehow, he
made it back onboard. We survived crap like that.
I remember being in real close to shore and watching a Bee Hive radar
site through the scope and listening to the beeps in my ear
phones. Remember the one who got the most contacts both radar and
through the scope was given 30 days basket leave. I saw a Russian
soldier with a gun over his shoulder marching along in the snow
and thought how dumb we both were, him doing what he was doing and me
out here looking at him freezing my ass off too. GEE, were we inside
the “three” mile limit to be able to see something that close?
Duty, honor, country. Funny, I kept right on doing it and finally
retired in 1977.
As far as us being in the yards in Yoko, on that same northern run the
super structure from about the engine room hatch back to the Aft
Torpedo Room ripped off and went down over the side into the
screw. We came into Yokoska at night and the next day they
had a big tent all built around us so nobody could see the damage or
us. We were there about 30 days or so??
In 62 we got our ass caught up there and the CO did a super job of
getting away. WE even went so far as to flood down a fish.
Right scary for a Yard Boat!!
Funny, also that same yard boat went into Formosa through the mine
field with our escort, picked up some special people and then took them
to a delivery point. That trip was quite scary and “very” secret.
We also picked up a special team and delivered them into a beach that
was not friendly, details, we all signed that we wouldn’t talk about it
remember?
We did several operations like those in two different Westpac
trips and we won’t talk about any of them. But, we sure as shit
weren’t a Yard Boat!!
Myself , Frenchy, Vince, Johnny, Charlie, Otto, Spooks Merrill, and
many others worked in those Torpedo Rooms and operated the escape trunk
to put those “people” out. Where? When? and Why?
I hope this stirs up some memories in others.
Take care, Art Clement TMCS SS DV, USN RET
Is there any problem if I put
the whole story on the web site??
Jeff
Not a problem. By the way, I gave a talk several years ago to the
Navy League on the Mk 37 Torpedo that they, Blind Mans Bluff, blame on
sinking the Scorpion. Otto, Charlie and myself were unloading a
Mk 37 exercise weapon with the "new" battery that didn't run from the
after tubes when it exploded. The exercise head just missed
killing Otto and the rest of the weapon just missed myself and Charlie.
Same type of battery that was later used in warshots like the ones on
Scorpion.
There was always fun on Sabalo.
Take care, Art
------------------------------------------------
Steve Shelby responds:
Jeff,
I do remember making the trip(s) and I think we made two "Northern
Runs". The first the I remember was on our trip to Yokosuka from Hong
Kong for the first time during the WestPac run. As we left , Hong Kong,
one of the Qms made a statement that we would go North. He took bets.
Of course all of us were thinking about a Northern Run, but he was
meaning going north, because that was the only way to go to get to
Japan from Hong Kong.
As luck would have it, we did get a message to go on a Northern run
before getting to Japan. I remember hearing all of the Old Westpac
sailors in Maneuvering go crazy when the word was announced the we were
not going to Japan. I think Dutch was one of the electricians on watch
and Red Padgett had the after room watch at the time. Not very happy
sailors.
I think that was our first trip because I was still standing lookout
watches. The other time I we went North, I was standing Auxillary
Electrician watches and remember having to set up on numerous times for
silent running, which was a pain for me because I had to go through the
boat shutting down equipment and shortly there after restarting them.
The party was at the Kanko hotel. I had the duty so I missed all of the
fun. I do remember that the same QM who said we would go north,
before our first trip north, was visited by his wife during that time
in Yokosuka. They say the Capt. [Burki] sleeping on the train when they
were traveling somewhere.
We were in dry dock for a period of time, and it was to put some sonar
equipment on the ship. Of course we did not ask why!!
So I know that we made two trips. The other reason that I know that we
made two trips was the Leading TM, can't remember his name, had won a
pop corn poper at the club in Yokosuka and he was using it to heat
water and wrapped a blanket around it and him to keep warm.
I hope this helps. You can pass this on to everyone else and maybe it
will jog their memories.
Steve Shelby
[Steve's reference to two trips is
-------------------------------------------------------
Jack Jarvies responds:
I remember a lot about that deployment, but a lot I don't. I
reported aboard on Jan 1, 1960 leaving a wife and 5 kids in Honolulu
waiting for Navy housing. I was assigned as Navigator. The
skipper was Burki and the XO was Robisch. Remember trip to Subic
Bay to Sattihib Thailand and then Bankok. I recall a trip to the
Tsugaru Straits where we were hoping to find an exodus from Russia. As
I remember we were there for a few weeks and not seeing anything.
Remember the ship's party and Burki's hospitalization for about five
days.. Don't remember any prolonged stay in a yard. Also
made a Hong Kong trip
I made several trips to Wespac, and hope I haven't mixed them up.
In addition I believe the name of the boss of the spooks was Lt Connie
Stevenson. I know I wrote the Patrol report
Jack Jarvies
-------------------------------------------------------
Gene Merrill responds:
Hello Jeff,,
Boy !!! ,, Calling
SABALO a YARD BOAT is a low blow and most likely this GIBBARD character
surely didn't put much effort in researching SABALO's
History. It could be that many records of Diesel Boats
making Special Operations ( Northern Runs ) in the 50's and 60's
have all but been destroyed due to the fact that as far as the public
and most Government Officials knew "We were never there." And
during those years one NEVER said Submarine and Northern Run in
the same breath.
Everything Earl said is TRUE,, I was a TM1(SS)
in charge of the ATR during that time. I remember those
long COLD 58 days [see Mike
Elzinga's remarks] on station in the Tsugaru Straits watching
the ships go buy, and they were not ours! I also remember
steaming at full power on those four big Fairbanks from
port to port during the People to People show the Flag
trip. Field Day, and more Field Days, to make our Boat
shine for the hundreds of thousands of visitors. Also the
three day Ships Party. I
sure don't remember us going in dry dock anyplace!!!!!
During my 32 years in the Force I have never
heard any Boat called a Yard Boat... Except for a couple
experimental Boats the Diesel Boat Navy contributed significant
information to the espionage world long before Nukes.
Making a SpecOp on an Nuke is a walk in the park compared to a Diesel
Boat.
I'd like to have a chat with those
Department of the Navy folks, and Mr Gibbard
about how can they justify calling SABALO a Yard
Boat, for that matter any Boat. This really OFFENDS me as
I'm sure it does all concerned.
Well Jeff,,, thats my 2 cents worth,, We
are leaving this Friday for a Retired COB's reunion in Cripple Creek
Colorado ,, Then, Looking forward to seeing you
and others at Saratoga Springs.
,,, SEE YA ,,, Spooks
--------------------------------------
Mike Elzinga responds:
I was on that run also. My timeline on the Sabalo History
web site page is pretty accurate. I didn't tell where we went on
that Northern Run because I thought that might still be classified, but
the timeline is pretty good. I have pictures, letters, and items
in my service record that all corroborate the dates. [Mike's timeline puts the duration of the
'run' at ~44 days from Yoko departure and then back to Yoko.]
The Sabalo was a very busy boat during that period. I was also
involved in logging sonar contacts, and I remember the guys in the
radio shack, Ron Shea in particular, puzzling over the communications
they were monitoring and recording. This is what we all did, and
we were told at the time that no one was supposed to know where we were
and what we were doing. I understand that, but this Gibbard idiot
makes me mad also. He should at least read a little about those
times before he shoots off his mouth.
Mike Elzinga
------------------------------------------------------
Earl Meggison
responds to all the comments:
Hi Jeff,
I want to personally "Thank You" and my "Shipmates",
for the overwhelming response to my e-mail message, pertaining
to Sabalo being a "Yard-Boat"...It is not my intent to sully the
name
of the Veteran Administration, the Navy Department or those who labor
in it, but it was with shock and disbelief that their reply did not
only deny our Operations, but their records indicated our
diesel
-electric submarine spent much of 1959 through 1961 in shipyards.
Now, I feel compelled to share with you guys, a little
background as to what this is all about:
Upon my release from the Navy at Treasure Island, CA.
the Navy doctors stated I had a permanent loss-of-hearing in both ears,
due to perforated eardrums. The only thing I could remember
at that
time, was an event aboard the Sabalo during the "Northern Run of
1960-61". We were "snorkeling" and made an emergency dive, it seemed
like minutes before the main engines automatically shut
down, pulling
a vacuum and I was unable to equalize due to congestion. I remember
having earaches every time we snorkeled...the head valves always
cycled on a regular basis...Anyway this is something only a
diesel
boat sailor can understand...not the VA.
I can understand the Navy Department not wanting to
discuss the "Northern Runs", but to go on to imply the Sabalo was only
a "Yard Boat", made me want to set their records straight... I learned
that most of the "Cold War" veterans have also been denied claims
because there "Operations" never existed. A good example of this
was
the USS Liberty, a U.S. Navy Intelligence gathering ship that was
attacked off the coast of Gaza in 1967, killing 35 men and wounding
171...but the Navy Department "denied any knowledge of this incident".
It was only after their crew members came forward in a series of
letters and newspaper articles, did our Navy Department came forward
with the truth...The sad point here, is that Cold War veterans
were
denied there benefits and medals...many lost there lives, leaving
families with nothing, not even an "acknowledgement" from the Navy.
I plan to continue my correspondence with the VA and
Navy Department, until they correct there records and "again",
want to
thank all the shipmates for supporting me... I believe we owe it
to the
Sabalo 302, to correct her operational logs and acknowledge
her proud
crews.
Regards,
Earl Meggison
Received 14 Dec 2005
I joined the boat in Hong Kong in early '60 and was on board on the
northern run. We did in fact drop of some people somewhere at sea (I
remember it well) and recall they had little more than their wet suits
on.
We did enter a port somewhere up north under a surface ship, looked
around, and left under another surface ship. The bar girls in Yokosuka
told us where we were going before we left port. "The White Hat" was
the Sabalo's official meeting place in Yokosuka. We were officially
given some info only after we were at sea.
I remember the sea in the Straits of Formosa was as rough as they come,
and that we ported in the bay of Kaohsiung and the kids swam out to us
on bamboo rafts try to sell various items. Any one who didn't have
their sea legs certainly got them on that WesPac cruise.
I just had to comment on that trip after reading some accounts on the
web site. Thanks for letting me get it out -- hadn't though about it
for years.
Robert Mullins
More
to come??
© Copyrights reserved by Jeffrey S.
Owens, Nicholson, PA