USS CASIMIR PULASKI SSBN-633
Fleet Ballistic Missile
Submarine
FBM boats had two crews designated Blue &
Gold
They rotated on an approximate ninety
day cycle.
I made
a "routine" patrol aboard this fine vessel in the Spring of 1967 (Blue
crew). I was a Senior Chief Firecontrol Technician (FTCS) and was responsible
for the "block-house" or Missile Control Center. We deployed from Rota,
Spain. We submerged near the hundred fathom curve and surfaced more than
sixty days later. During the "off crew" period following this patrol, I
was promoted to Warrant Officer (W-1) and transferred to the Naval Ordnance
Test Unit at Patrick Air Force Base for 'shore duty'. Spent about 23 months
of that two year tour on temporary duty (TAD) aboard U.S. & U.K. FBM
Submarines! Responsible for the instrumentation package (~100 ton) and
team for Demonstration and Shakedown Operations (DASO).
A very significant morale item for all military personnel
in all branches of service was always "mail call". In the tradition of
the Silent Service all electromagnetic radiation was controlled to preserve
our security. Outgoing personal communication was totally out of the question.
The FBM submarines had a secure method to receive encrypted radio traffic.
One of the functions of the "off crew" was to collect and send Family Grams.
These were fifteen word "letters" including the name of the addressee and
originator, permitting only 13 words of text. It was remarkable to see
the exercise of ingenuity applied in saying so much in so few words. I
would like to share with you the four letters or FAMILY GRAMS that
I received during a patrol. FG1
FG2 FG3
FG4
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