Dave's Photo Gallery

Dave's Gallery

A personal message from Dave

I do not exactly recall what was happening in this picture, but I am quite sure that I was in my dress whites, about to leave the Boat on liberty. At this time, I have my "Fish", Boomer pin, and a Sea service ribbon on my uniform. That would make me more confident then "Fresh Fish" at Shawshank, but still junior enough to not be too big headed. Cocky...yes. Big headed...No

This is aboard the Nuclear powered Missile boat USS James Madison 627 Blue crew. Circa early 1989. Sonar Shack

I hope you enjoy the pictures below.

Dave Morton

But first...

USS James Madison (SSBN-627)

USS James Madison (SSBN-627), the lead ship of her class of ballistic missile submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for James Madison (1751–1836), the fourth President of the United States (1809–1817).

If you are wondering, there are 41 of these original Missile submarines. (see below) Each named after great men in American history. Including a few Non-Americans. ex. King of Hawaii, Kamehameha and Casimir Polaski. Each of these Submarines had an Alias as well. The James Madison had a few. "Jolly Dolly" - "Mad Dog" and also "The pig in the ocean that had a bad ass wiggle when she went fast" (That last one was my embellishment) AND each of the came home safely every single time. Thanks in part to Hyaman pictured below.

How Subs Work

USS Thresher

How dangerous is serving on a sub?

The USS Thresher disaster

"Today as I write this 5/22/19, it is the 50th anniversary of the USS Thresher's fatal demise. While some things are humorous, I am always reminded of the honor and seriousness of the life we lived."

Read the article here

The Gallery

Dave's Personal Gallery

Stainless Steel Throne This is our "Shitter" I know of 10 on board. It looks way tougher then it is. It has a handle to open and flush, and a valve to fill with fresh sea water. Because this valve in the bottom of the toilet is expose to outside sea pressure, I have seen many guys flood "SHIT" back at them and yes, it puts toilet paper under your eye lids if you are standing over it and operate the valve incorrectly	No Space Unused There is never enough room for crew or food when loading out for an extended cruise. Here in USS Will Rogers (SSBN 659), sacks of potatoes are hung from the overhead and a temporary bunk is placed beneath them. In a submarine, no space is unused. (Photo: Steve Kaufman)
Submarine Qual Card This is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. This document shows the signatures of the men aboard after I explained to them how their systems worked. Should they die or get injured, everyone is expected to know general knowledge about their system in order to take over support. I was only expected to sleep 3 or 4 hours a day until it was completed a year later.	Last Sonar Shack There are 12 Sonarmen on a boat at any given time. 3 Sections are on watch 8 of every 16 hours. I miss these guys. We still talk to this day and I only knew them for 85 days.
Black beach in Panama Canal Loving the sunlight after 60 days without Sun. A BBQ followed. To be in Sonar, you cannot have any hair. You have to be soft and cuddly	Qual Front page Front page of my qual card
Polaris Missile There are 16 of these on a Sub with multiple heads. "To Russia with Love"	Miss Madison In today's standards this would be hazing and you would be brought before a firing squad, shot and then put on Yahoo.com. Back in the day, we dressed up the most Jr personnel, dressed them up and put perfume on them.... MMmmm Sexy!!
Miss Mad Dog Each Dept was expected to provide a "Girl" and she toured the boat with laughs and cat calls. It was all good clean fun. No snowflakes allowed	Topside These submarines are moored in Kingsbay Ga. Circa 1992. Mark Toline from Nebraska is pictured
The men of 41 for freedom There are actually 42 pictured. I was on the Madison and Calhoun	Admiral Hyman Rickover What a prick. I suggest you google him and read a few stories. No matter if he was a prick, he made sure our safety was paramount. So like a tough dad, you look up to him. Prick is a good thing
President Jimmy Carter Submarine Brother - Commander in Chief and a great humanitarian. The funny thing here is, he worked for Hyman, and then a few years later, Hyman reported to Jimmy. Karma's a bitch huh	Sub patches Just like you see with all WWII aircraft, each submarine had a logo. It is worn with pride
Greatest Russian Submariner I think of this guy often, and it brings a tear to my eye. I know I dont make a pimple on his ass. And yet I hope that I could live up to his expectations. I suggest you google him	Submarine Warfare pin Known as "Fish" or "Dolphins" Like Wings on a pilot, but lower on the scale then the Budweiser of a Navy Seal
My favorite meme I wanted to express that no one earns dolphins. A group of men determine if you are good enough to wear them. Team. Integrity	Dolphins The original are metal and have pins. They are punched into your skin until you are black and blue. * Note, no hair because my people lived in warm castles with fire hearths. While hairy monkeys lived in the plains outdoors - Evolution
Sonar shack I qualified Sonar Sup as a lowly 3rd class. I had to interview with the Skipper in order to complete this level. I was scared shitless	Destruction 16 Ballistic Missiles, each containing multiple re-entry pods. Each pod makes Hiroshima look like a stick of dynamite. It's basically a ship of mega death.
The Whole Kitchen I worked in the galley for 96 days. No sleep, 3 meals a day cleaning dishes by hand for 150 guys. You appreciate the guys that go after you a bit more.	The Carter's and Hyman Today there is a new SSN Submarine named the Jimmy Carter. It is the baddest bad ass there ever was. It does stuff we do not talk about
Neptune Rex If your boat goes past the equator or up to the polar north, you need to visit King Neptune and get the cherry out of his belly button. Go in slowly... but then NO!!! He grabs your face and pulls you into his "Realm" EWWWWW Bastard!!!

Dave's Gallery

A personal message from Dave

But first...

USS James Madison (SSBN-627)

How dangerous is serving on a sub?

The USS Thresher disaster

Dave's Personal Gallery

Stainless Steel Throne

No Space Unused

There is never enough room for crew or food when loading out for an extended cruise. Here in USS Will Rogers (SSBN 659), sacks of potatoes are hung from the overhead and a temporary bunk is placed beneath them. In a submarine, no space is unused. (Photo: Steve Kaufman)

Submarine Qual Card

Last Sonar Shack

There are 12 Sonarmen on a boat at any given time. 3 Sections are on watch 8 of every 16 hours. I miss these guys. We still talk to this day and I only knew them for 85 days.

Black beach in Panama Canal

Loving the sunlight after 60 days without Sun. A BBQ followed. To be in Sonar, you cannot have any hair. You have to be soft and cuddly

Qual Front page

Front page of my qual card

Polaris Missile

There are 16 of these on a Sub with multiple heads. "To Russia with Love"

Miss Madison

In today's standards this would be hazing and you would be brought before a firing squad, shot and then put on Yahoo.com. Back in the day, we dressed up the most Jr personnel, dressed them up and put perfume on them.... MMmmm Sexy!!

Miss Mad Dog

Each Dept was expected to provide a "Girl" and she toured the boat with laughs and cat calls. It was all good clean fun. No snowflakes allowed

Topside

These submarines are moored in Kingsbay Ga. Circa 1992. Mark Toline from Nebraska is pictured

The men of 41 for freedom

There are actually 42 pictured. I was on the Madison and Calhoun

Admiral Hyman Rickover

What a prick. I suggest you google him and read a few stories. No matter if he was a prick, he made sure our safety was paramount. So like a tough dad, you look up to him. Prick is a good thing

President Jimmy Carter

Submarine Brother - Commander in Chief and a great humanitarian. The funny thing here is, he worked for Hyman, and then a few years later, Hyman reported to Jimmy. Karma's a bitch huh

Sub patches

Just like you see with all WWII aircraft, each submarine had a logo. It is worn with pride

Greatest Russian Submariner

I think of this guy often, and it brings a tear to my eye. I know I dont make a pimple on his ass. And yet I hope that I could live up to his expectations. I suggest you google him

Submarine Warfare pin

Known as "Fish" or "Dolphins" Like Wings on a pilot, but lower on the scale then the Budweiser of a Navy Seal

My favorite meme

I wanted to express that no one earns dolphins. A group of men determine if you are good enough to wear them. Team. Integrity

Dolphins

The original are metal and have pins. They are punched into your skin until you are black and blue. * Note, no hair because my people lived in warm castles with fire hearths. While hairy monkeys lived in the plains outdoors - Evolution

Sonar shack

I qualified Sonar Sup as a lowly 3rd class. I had to interview with the Skipper in order to complete this level. I was scared shitless

Destruction

16 Ballistic Missiles, each containing multiple re-entry pods. Each pod makes Hiroshima look like a stick of dynamite. It's basically a ship of mega death.

The Whole Kitchen

I worked in the galley for 96 days. No sleep, 3 meals a day cleaning dishes by hand for 150 guys. You appreciate the guys that go after you a bit more.

The Carter's and Hyman

Today there is a new SSN Submarine named the Jimmy Carter. It is the baddest bad ass there ever was. It does stuff we do not talk about

Neptune Rex

If your boat goes past the equator or up to the polar north, you need to visit King Neptune and get the cherry out of his belly button. Go in slowly... but then NO!!! He grabs your face and pulls you into his "Realm" EWWWWW Bastard!!!