Anchors Aweigh: Central Oregon honors submariners with SS Redside commissioning
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Central Oregon submarine veterans commissioned the SS Redside at Riverbend Park on Saturday, marking the beginning of a new memorial dedicated to post-World War II service members. The model represents the Sturgeon-class submarines, a vessel type known as the workhorse of the Cold War.
The commissioning is part of a multi-year effort by the Central Oregon United States Submarine Veterans to create a lasting memorial for Oregon submariners. For many veterans in attendance, the Sturgeon-class, or 637-class, was the first type of submarine they served on during their military careers.
Approximately 60 people attended the ceremony, including 30 veterans and members of the public who stopped at the park to participate. The gathering allowed former service members to share stories and connect with other submariners who were not previously aware of the local organization.
Rick Neault serves as the base commander of the Central Oregon United States Submarine Veterans. He expressed satisfaction with the completion of the model after several years of effort by the group.
"It was, you know, really it's kind of rewarding," Neault said. "It just feels good to be able to create something and, just have it turn out better than we had expected."
Retired Lt. Cmdr. Thomas Keane of the U.S. Navy helped build the model and has a personal history with the original vessel. He first boarded the submarine more than 50 years ago.
"I was part of the team and I was actually was actually my first submarine was the U.S.S Sturgeon and I would have board her in January 1969," Keane said.
Anne Graham, a retired submariner and builder of the SS Redside, said the project is necessary to recognize the loss of life within the submarine community.
"We honor that submarine veterans who've died in the service," Graham said. "There's a lot of them. And we think it's time to have a memorial to that service."
Michael Lewis is a retired U.S. Submarine Force captain and Mountain View High School graduate who attended the park ceremony. Lewis, a 30-year submariner, noted the significance of the model for all generations of the force.
"Well, it's very special because this represents all the submarine force, past and present," Lewis said. "And it's an honor of the shipmates that have gone before those that perished in their service of duty and all that."
The event included a formal christening by Ileene Davis, who sponsored the vessel. Davis is the Bremerton base commander of the U.S. Submarine Veterans.
"I mean, not every day someone gets to do that," Davis said. "So I mean it. It's the great women, you know, the first ladies that got a chance to do those."
The Central Oregon Submarine Veterans intend to use the SS Redside model as the first step in their broader plan to establish a permanent memorial. The project will continue to focus on honoring Oregon submarine veterans who served from the end of World War II to the present day.
