Online Crew Registry 'G'

USS PUFFER (SSN 652)
Online Crew Registry

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Dates: Plankowner-09/69

Comments: I was a plank owner on Puffer, I missed the Decom. but got a last tour a week after Decom. in San Diego before she left.

10/97 Comments: Wanted to update my E-mail address. If any one knows how to reach John Wheatley please drop me a line.

Chuck Geer
chuck_geer@srtelecom.com

Dates: Plank owner

Comments: Since first visiting the site two weeks ago, have made contact with several of the old crew. Can't tell you how much this site means to me. Getting back in touch brings back a lot of great memories of friends and acquaintences that put their mark on history in the Silent Service. Thanks for all of your efforts to brig this site to life. Regards, Chuck Geer, Coral Springs, Fl.

Comments: As a Plank Owner of the Puffer, I was particularly pleased to find that the site was available. A friend from Texas sent me an email saying that he had browsed the site and found a message from Mike Sweny stating that he was looking for me. He did not play poker, so I knew it wasn't an old debt that I owed him and got in touch.
I would really enjoy re-establishing old friendships and acquaintences from the first crew of the Puffer, as well as hearing some of the war stories from following crews.
Those of us that made the first dive to test depth in the Gulf of Mexico, share a common bond. We all knew the yard birds that built the boat, and where very anxious about Puffer's ability to submerge, rather lone dive to 1300 feet. To everyone's relief we made it with flying colors.
I even have a picture of Puffer blasting out of the water from a test emergency blow from 1000 feet. Look forward to hearing from you all.

Comments: I was on the construction and commissioning crew of the Puffer, from Pascagoula thru a couple of missions in the Pacific.
Made the trip from Pascagoula to Ft. Lauderdale where liberty was cut short by Hurrican Camile. We then made the trip thru the Panama Canal and into Valero for refitting, then on to Pearl Harbor.
One trip took us to Korea where, once again, we were forced to weigh anchor and get out of the way of a typhoon.
Would love to hear from all of the old crew, and of any tales about the adventures of the Puffer.

Regards, Chuck

Michael Gallagher
mcg@lanl.gov

Dates: 11/73 to 1/77

Comments: This is a cool page. Didn't like the Navy much, but, the Puffer was a very different boat. That was a good time.

DOUGLAS GILLARD
Doug_and_Pat@msn.com

Rate: MM3/SS

Dates: 12/1974-3/1976

Message: I am looking for any reunion info.

Alan George
jgeorge42@comcast.net

Rate: MM

Dates: 1974 -1976

Message: M-Division

ROBERT (ROB) GARCIA

Dates: 1974 TO 78

Comments: ENJOYED MY SUBMARINER DAYS ON THE PUFFER. MISS MY FRIENDS, HOOTOWL, ROD, STEWART, AUGGIE AND SO MANY OTHERS.

Douglas G. Gillard
Doug_and_Pat@msn.com

Dates: 12/74 - 3/76

Comments: I was in the "A" gang. The Puffer was not the biggest nor the fastest of the three boats I served on but she was the best!

Eric V. Gruenloh
eric.gruenloh@lmco.com

Dates: 79-81

Comments: Reported on-board as a non-qual STS3 during refueling overhaul at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in 78. She was receiving BQQ-5 backfit at the same time. CO was CDR Mathowitz (sp) later relieved by CDR Habermayer. COB was QMC/SS Joe Ada.

3/99 Comments: Please replace my Email entry with this current Email address.

Great Web Site. Brings back some of the best times I ever had! Any possibility of starting a photo page for crew members to post to?

Pete Goolsby
rwle10@email.mot.com

Dates: Sept,77' - July,81'

Comments: During the recent 98' Holidays, for some odd reason my family started asking me questions about the Navy. I had not even thought about the boat in so long, after all, it HAS been almost 20 years now... So .. I looked up the USS Puffer and .....

I was suprised at how quickly all the memories of people, places and yes, even SMELLS came 'flooding' back. Something about scrubbers, the bomb, bilge water and Rick Tomaine's cooking that never leaves a persons soul,[ or nose ].

Somewhere, buried under a bunch of my memoribilia, I have an original 1980 WestPac collection of 'Blowfish Bugle' newsletters that Dennis 'Sparky' Sparks and many others had published during specOps to break up the monotony. What started as an underground paper to let off some enlisted steam, eventually came under the editorial auspices of the wierd-room, and ultimately was quashed from any future publication under penalty of court martial due to it's irreverent and saucy nature. Captain Habermeyer eventually, and I am sure under duress from Commander Reese, issued direct orders to halt publication. As I recall, Cmdr. Reese was one of the few 'Navel' Academy grads onboard, and although a superior Naval Weapons Officer, probably needed a knobber or two back then, to lighten up.

Now that the Puffer has been sliced and diced, this site and the webmaster have provided a way for us to relive, rekindle and extend our friendships to others in the same boat. Perhaps, someday the 'Blowfish Bugle' may grace this site as well.

Coolness and Grace to just a few of my shipmates that come to mind:

Joe Ada Bruce Avery Bobby Brown Bob Cibelli Jack Farris Harry 'The Chop' Johnson Joe Lucero Bruce MacPherson Jack O'Brian Albert 'The Enge' Schwartz Jeffy Sinclair Gene Skelton Dennis Skinner Dennis Sparks Bob Stump

If any of you remember me, drop me a line, I would be real happy to 'strike' up a conversation.

Best regards,

Pete Goolsby aka; Seaman Gang, Striker Data Systems Tech, Sonar Operator

Senior Staff Software Engineer Test Development Motorola, Flat Panel Display Division Arizona State University Research Park 7700 S. River Parkway; FPD21 Tempe, AZ 85258

602-755-5435 602-227-8282 pager 602-755-5066 FAX rwle10@email.mot.com

Mike Gainey
mgainey@erols.com

Dates: 79-83

Comments: Brought back alot of great memories. Started out on Puffer in the shipyard with "Dandy Don" as the skipper. Left Puffer with "Howie the Duck" at the helm. Through the years I have ran into some of the guys and talked about old times.

Rick Geiger
rwgeiger@hotmail.com

Rick Geiger
208 Landsrush
Sandusky, OH 44870
(419) 627-9861

Dates: 1981-1985

Chris "Gecko" Gallegos
crissub3@attbi.com

Dates: 9/86-11/89

Comments: So Don who was going to be the one to tell me about this page? Sure do miss you guys ,on my third boat now but "Puffer" is where I earned my first dolphins. All you guys that can remember little "Gecko" from the good old days,or can't write me back.

Comments: HEY GUYS! So any of you guys that can remember the little dragon let me know how things are. Still up here in Wash on third boat after spending 3 1/2 yrs behind a desk in New Mexico,6 hrs from home. Alot of you guys were there when I needed you so thanks.

Robert W. Graben
gargoyl222@aol.com

10/86 to 5/87

Comments: I transferred to the USS Puffer as the Leading ELT and to help take her into the shipyard at Bremerton, WA (PSNS). I served as Leading ELT on the USS Snook decommissioning crew before I transferred to the USS Puffer.

IC1(SS) Zachary Golson
golson@spawar.navy.mil

Dates: 89-92

Comments: Hello to all of the past and present puffer sailors, if you are still in and are looking for some good sea duty come over to the Dolphin if yoou want more info E-mail me. ZAC

Thomas R Gates
gatestr@dsu.nasni.navy.mil

Dates: JAN91-JUN94

Comments: If there was anyone on the boat during 1991-1995 then send me an E-Mail. This is a change to my E-Mail Address. Anyone interested in catching up on old times then drop me a line.

T.C. George
topcatg1@aol.com

Dates: 1991-1995

Comments: currently living in new london with the same wife and 2 beautiful daughters. i miss alot of the guys from the boat from the last 2.5 years. email me and let me know what's going on in your life. reporting to USS HARTFORD in AUG99. i just felt the need to go dink again

Brian Grabert (GB)
grabertk001@hawaii.com

Dates: 91-94

Comments: Hay, I have been trying to get intouch with all the guys from the puffer when i was there. E-mail me. Does anyone have any info on Brian Holden and Brian Jinkins

James Graham
jlgraham@cts.com

Dates: 10/23/92 to 10/31/95

Comments: This is probably the best tribute I have seen for the USS Puffer. I was proud to be on the Decom Crew even if was only for the first month of Decom.

Rick Gombos
RJGINLA@aol.com

Dates: Oct 92-Decom

Comments: I do not know how I ended up here, but I'm glad I did! This is a great site. I served onboard SSN-652 for almost four years and thought I hated every minute of it. While I hated the circumstances surrounding my work, I enjoyed and made some great friends. I hope more people find this site, so those friendships aren't lost. Thanks again for creating this site and I hope to hear from others who shared my experience.

P.S. This was a politically correct entry for Mike Atwell

Sincerely,

RJGINLA

Kelly Gorman
kelly.gorman@cwix.com

Dates: mar92-jun96

Comments: Where is everyone?

Michael L. Gustafson
gustafson_mg@discover.earthlink.net

Dates: 01JULY 1994 - END

Dustin Greenwood
grendage@ix.netcom.com

Dates: 94-decom

Thomas Gates
gatest@spawar.navy.mil

Rate: ET2

Dates: JAN 01 - JUN 04

Message: FYI, Currently working for General Dynamics in Norfolk Virginia area. Married for 5 years and have one beautiful daughter.