The Best

It’s a just a bunch of Submarine Vets sitting around, shooting the breeze before the 2019 Armed Forces Day Parade in Bremerton, WA.

Sea stories are swapped, laughs are had. Heads shake and low whistles express admiration or incredulity.

The man in the green vest is one of the last of the World War II Vets with War Patrol experience. Others in the photo sailed on Diesel Boats and Nuclear boats. With me included, that picture is a continuing history of US Navy Submarines from 1943 through 1991. From the crucible of World War II through the end of the Cold War.

We were the best, and most of us believe that we still ARE the best.

We walked along the parade route, the aches and pains of age slowing us down, waving to those who shouted to us their “Thank you for your service!” cheers. There were smiles, and there were salutes. There were jokes about our marching. We’re Submariners, we never could march in a way that impressed anybody.

There was a Boat Captain who told us that we were the backbone on which everything that his crew of kids does today is built. Those kids today, who seem far too young to be what we once were.

He leads them as our Old Man once led us. The Old Man seemed like the Ancient Mariner. Saltier than the Sea itself. Now we are the Old Salts.

We faced down every enemy that history could throw at us. We faced the Sea itself. We mourned those who the Sea took and believed that we were the best and it could never happen to us, even though we all knew it could. The Sea doesn’t care whether you are the best or not.

We walked the Parade route to remind those who watched us of those who never came back.

We walked it to tell you about those who did come back. What we did and why we did it. What we built, from the S-Boats to the Block V Virginias. From the George Washington to the on-the-way Columbia’s. The best of the best trod those decks.

And now, so many of them are gone. A few Gato’s are left here and there as exhibits. Nautilus and Blueback are tied up at museums. Most of them have been recycled into history. They are seen now only in our memories and our dreams.

Sometimes in our nightmares.

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, we were the best of the best of the best. We still are.