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  1968 - USS Cusk (SS-348) Year by Year History

Crewmembers, Pictures and Memorabilia

The Cusk readies for her next and last WestPac in 1968 and Captain Don Killian relinquishes command of the Cusk to Captain Albert W. "Sam" Houston at the Submarine Pier in San Diego.  Shortly after the change of command on July 30, 1968, the Cusk depart on what would turn out to be her last WestPac.  Her trip would take her to Pearl Harbor for refueling and R&R, then a 14-day trip to Yokosuka, Japan.  Leaving Japan, the Cusk stopped on White Beach, Okinawa anchoring out in Buckner Bay for the first day and tying up to the pier for the next two days.  Heading south out of Okinawa, the Cusk found herself between two typhoons. To make matters worse, two engines failed and the boat limped into Sasebo, Japan for two weeks of repairs on the damaged engines.

Click here to see a list of the USS Cusk crewmembers who came aboard in 1968

USS Cusk memorabilia and crew pictures from 1968 (Click on any item to see its full size):

Change of Command Ceremonies

Captain Houston assumes command of

the USS Cusk from Captain Killian

(Photo courtesy of Don Killian)

USS Cusk Captain Don Killian

(Photo courtesy of Don Killian)

Change of Command Ceremonies

Inside of brochure

(Photo courtesy of Don Killian)

Captain Killian addresses the Cusk Crew

at the Change of Command ceremonies

in San Diego, 30 July 1968

(Photo courtesy of Don Killian)

Family and Guests

for the Change of Command ceremonies

in San Diego, 30 July 1968

(Photo courtesy of Don Killian)

USS Cusk Christmas Card, 1968

(Card courtesy of Don Killian)

Hot Bread

Bobby Maddox pulls fresh baked bread out

of the oven while on patrol in communist

Chinese waters, December, 1968

(Photo courtesy of Tom Roseland)

Chris Quijada shipping over with

Captain Sam Houston

(Photo courtesy of Tom Roseland)

Unidentified, Dave Lawrence, Dennis Schultz

and Tony Manning in a bar in Subic Bay

(Photo courtesy of Dennis Schultz)

Tom Roseland, USS Cusk Webmaster

celebrating Christmas Eve while on patrol

in communist China, December, 1968

(Photo courtesy of Tom Roseland)

Submarine Escape Tower in Pearl Harbor

(Photo courtesy of Tom Roseland)

R.G. Kroplewski, John Troutman & Dave Lawrence

At sea near the Philippines

(Photo courtesy of Tom Roseland)

Souvenir from the Dragon Boat Bar

in the Hong Kong Hilton

(Photo courtesy of Jim Branske)

Jim Branske and Keith Cisewski in the

Forward Torpedo Room

(Photo courtesy of Jim Branske)

Souvenir from the Hong Kong Hilton

Coffee Shop

(Photo courtesy of Jim Branske)

Matchbook cover from Iwakuni

(Photo courtesy of Jim Branske)

 

Ronnie Lane gets sworn in by Captain

Houston while shipping over on patrol,

December, 1968

(Photo courtesy of Lee Krabill)

Vietnam Patrol patch

(Photo courtesy of Tom Roseland)

Gary Shaw working on one of the engines

(Photo courtesy of Tom Roseland)

Shark watch during swim call

(Photo courtesy of Dennis Schultz)

Chief Kuharski writing a letter home

(Photo courtesy of Tom Roseland)

Cusk Sinks the USS Constellation

During an exercise off the coast of Long Beach, California, the Cusk penetrated a screen of three U.S. Frigates, anti-submarine helicopters, and anti-submarine P3 Orion aircraft to "sink" the USS Constellation, CVA-64 as she emerged from Long Beach.

Connie Down

A U.S. Navy helicopter can be seen through the Cusk's #1 periscope as it dips a sonar buoy in the water and searches in vain for the Cusk.  In the background, a Navy frigate, the USS William H. Standley, DLG-32, is blasting away with its SQS-25 sonar while trying to find the Cusk.  Minutes later, an attack approach was made on the USS Constellation (CV-64), a solution was obtained, the Cusk simulated firing a spread of torpedoes, and then launched a symbolic flare and "Black Smoke" from the Cusk's After Torpedo Room.  A brief message was also broadcast over the UQC-8 underwater telephone advising the task force that their screen had been penetrated, and the USS Constellation had been sunk.  (Boy, was the Admiral pissed about that!)

Souvenir from hotel above Sasebo, Japan

(Photo courtesy of Jim Branske

 

"War Shot" sign from Cusk torpedo tube

(Photo courtesy of Jim Branske)

Bob Nichols practicing semaphores from the bridge

(Photo courtesy of Dennis Schultz)

Matchbook cover from the

Star Light Submarine Bar

Yokosuka, Japan

(Photo courtesy of John Schmitt)

Matchbook cover from the

Fiddler's Green Bar

Sasebo, Japan

(Photo courtesy of John Schmitt)

Crew qualification & promotion ceremonies

Subic Bay, Philippines

Gary Gayda & Bobby Maddox throw Chris Quijada

into the water as Bing Bingman & Dennis Schultz

watch from the tank tops

(Photo courtesy of Tom Roseland)

Lovely bar girl in Sasebo, Japan, Oct 1968

(Photo courtesy of Tom Roseland)

 

Chris Quijada "ships over" while the

Cusk is on patrol in North Vietnam, 1968.

Captain Sam Houston administers the

oath to Chris in the Wardroom
(Photo courtesy of Tom Roseland)

   

Tokyo Lunch

Don Birch and Tom Roseland are smiling at

the camera while Bob Nichols, Bill Syzmanski,

and Neil Briggs work on a traditional Japanese

lunch at a restaurant in downtown Tokyo.

(Photo courtesy of Don Birch)

Arriving in Pearl Harbor enroute to USS Cusk's

last WestPac cruise.  L to R: Dale Tripp,

Charlie Tinkle, Steve Rogers, Don

Shoemaker, Richard Bingman, Don Fordney,

Chris Quijada

(Photo courtesy of Paul King)

Neil Briggs, Sandy Whitaker, and Tom Roseland

Sierra Club Bar, Olongapo City, Subic Bay, Philippines

(Photo courtesy of Tom Roseland)

Tokyo Tour

Bob Nelson talks with Don Birch, Bob Nichols

and Bill Syzmanski at a special lunch in Tokyo

(Photo courtesy of Tom Roseland)

George Peperyias & Tom Roseland hunting

in the mountains near San Diego

(Photo courtesy of Tom Roseland)

Thanksgiving Menu

November, 1968

(Document courtesy of John Schmitt)

Thanksgiving Menu 1968

(Document courtesy of John Schmitt)

Refueling while at Anchor

White Beach Naval Base, Okinawa

(Photo courtesy of Tom Roseland)

Last mooring in Pearl Harbor, March, 1968

(Photo courtesy of Dave Lawrence) 

SubFlot1 News, May 29, 1968

(Photo courtesy of Dave Duerr) 

Taking out the trash - Sasebo, Japan

Schenck gets a can of trash from Dennis Schultz.

Bob Nelson is in the back ground, Kroplewski's on

watch, and Tom Roseland's having a smoke.

(Photo courtesy of Tom Roseland)

Richard Bowman, Charlie Tinkle, Galen Shirley, and Dave Lawrence in Sasebo, Japan, late 1968

(Photo courtesy of Dave Lawrence)  

 

The USS Cusk sinks the USS Constellation (CVA 64)

 

During war games off the coast of San Diego, California near Marker #5 in early 1967.  The Constellation came out early in the

morning with a screen of five destroyers, P3 Sub hunters and helicopters dropping their active sonar buoys in

the water.  In vain, they searched for the stealthy Cusk, but she penetrated their screens and got within 800 yards, not just

to "sink" the Constellation, but she even got some pictures of the Constellation launching aircraft. 

    Said Captain Killian about the attack, "It was a helluva shoot!"

 

"Tubes aft, Conn, launch a black smoke!"

 

Click on any picture to see its full size:


Seen through the Cusk's #1 periscope, the

Constellation's destroyer screen comes out

of Long Beach Harbor for the war games.

Their active sonar is pinging loudly as they

search in vain for the submarine they know

is stalking them.  Look closely through the

hazy background and you can see the

Constellation emerging from Long Beach Harbor.
(Photo courtesy of Tom Roseland)



 

Still searching for the Cusk, the destroyers

criss cross each other as a search plane

attempts to help. Again, the Constellation can

be seen in the background.
(Photo courtesy of Tom Roseland)


 

The destroyer USS Stoddard (DD 566)

is centered in the cross hairs of the Cusk's

#1 scope as she searches for "enemy"

submarines.
(Photo courtesy of Tom Roseland)


 

The fast frigate USS William H. Standley

(DLG 32) is seen through the cross hairs of

the Cusk's #1 scope.  In the foreground, a

helicopter from the USS Constellation dips

an active sonar buoy in the water to try and

find the Cusk.
(Photo courtesy of Tom Roseland)


 

USS Constellation (CVA 64)

is centered in the cross hairs of the Cusk's

#1 scope as Captain Don Killian takes a

"final bearing to shoot."
(Photo courtesy of Tom Roseland)


 

Launching aircraft

The USS Constellation can be seen launching

aircraft through the Cusk's #1 scope.
(Photo courtesy of Tom Roseland)

 

 

 

Crewmembers who served aboard the USS Cusk in 1968:

Last Name First & MI City State Rank/Rate Years on Board Eternal Patrol Date Comments
Adams J M     ETN2(SS) 68 - 69    
Aguinaldo Angel San Diego CA SD2(SS) 65 - 68 Date Unknown  
Allen, III Walter New Smyrna Beach FL ENFN(SS) 65 - 68    
Aten Larry R Thomson GA ETR2(SS) 66 - 68    
Baze D W     TM1(SS) 68 - 69    
Benedict R L Jr     EN1(SS) 68 - 69    
Berry Lee     CS2(SS) 68 - 69    
Bingman Richard W "Bing" San Diego CA STCM(SS) 68 - 69    
Birch Don     ET3(SS) 68 - 69    
Blazi I A     HM1(SS) 68 - 69    
Boing John W     EM2(SS) 68 - 69    
Bowman Richard F Scarville IA TM2(SS) 68 - 69    

James "Jim" Branske

  Monmouth OR TM2(SS) 66 - 69 23 December 2020  
Brauch R D     QM1(SS) 68 - 69    
Briggs Neil A Olney Springs CO RM1(SS) 66 - 69    
Broadway Ronn     RM3(SS) 68 - 69    
Brown W Tyler Portsmouth VA LCDR 67 - 68   Executive Officer
Bustria Benjamin L San Diego CA EM1(SS) 68 - 69    
Canter Harvey "Big Harv" Carmichael CA ICSN(SS) 68 14 March 2020  
Carnes J J     EMC(SS) 68 - 69   Last COB of the Cusk
Carr Gary Bremerton WA EMCM(SS) 63 - 69 29 September 2013  
Castro Daniel J Seal Beach CA SKC(SS) 68 - 69    
Cisewski Keith L Tombstone AZ TM1(SS)(DV) 68 - 69 11 February 2005  
Clark G     CS2(SS) 68 - 69    
Cochran Leon Ogle Yellville AR   68    
Condron Raymond James "Red" San Diego CA CS1(SS) 68 - 69 22 August 2008  
Costa Louis Providence RI ICC(SS) 67 - 68    
Dietrich E M     IC2(SS) 68 - 69    
Dimalanta Fernando P San Diego CA SD2(SS) 68 - 69    
Dunn J W     FTGSN(SS) 68 - 69    
Ebue Simeon San Diego CA EMFN(SS) 66 - 68    
Emmons Stephen R.     FN(SS) 68 - 69    
Ferrer, Hermenegildo B Bonita CA SD2(SS) 67 - 68 8 June 2018  
Fisher Harold "Pops" Roseville CA QM1(SS) 65 - 68    
Fordney Don Porter Surprise AZ QM1(SS) 68 - 69    
Fox T L     LTJG 68 - 69    
Gemmill John W Cliftwood Beach NJ LT 67 - 68   Engineering Officer
Graves John Montrose CO HMC(SS) 68 - 69    
Hayden John W Kettle Falls WA YN1(SS) 66 - 68    
Henderson E A     STS2(SS) 68 - 69    
Henrion C L     FTG3(SS) 68 - 69    
Holland J T     EM2(SS) 68 - 69    
Houston Albert W "Sam" Cocoa Beach FL CDR 68 - 69 17 June 2005 14th Captain of the Cusk
Howell Donald L Houston TX EM3(SS) 67 - 69 16 July 2005  
James F "Jim" Johnson Plant City FL RMC(SS) 67 - 68 29 November 2016  
Kattner Donald M     EM3(SS) 68 - 69    
Killian Donald J Brooklyn Park MD LCDR 66 - 68 5 October 2019 13th Captain of the Cusk
King Paul G     ETR2(SS) 68 - 69    
Knight John R Edgerton WI RMC(SS) 68 - 69    
Korn T A     EN3(SS) 68 - 69    
Kosoff Tracy Monroe Portsmouth RI LT 66 - 68 10 March 2003 Navigation Officer
Krabill Earl Lee Cape Coral FL QM2(SS) 66 - 69    
Kroplewski R G     EM3(SS) 68 - 69    
LaFaunce Gary L     TM3(SS) 68 - 69    
Lawrence David C Marietta GA STS3(SS) 68 - 69 12 April 2014  
Longanilla Sinforoso San Diego CA SD2(SS) 68 - 69    
Lucien Paul L Seattle WA RM3(SS) 67 - 68    
Lyons       TM3(SS) 68 - 69    
Maddox B E     CS2(SS) 68 - 69    
Mallery James R Auburn CA TM2(SS) 68 - 69    
Anthony L "Tony Manning Kirkland WA TM3(SS) 67 - 69 7 June 2005  
Mariano R I     ENC 68 - 69    
Martinez Rogelio A San Diego CA TN(SS) 67 - 68    
McCarthy Chester M Malibu CA YN2(SS) 68 - 69    
McLeod Ken   CA CM3(SS) 68 - 69    
McQueen D W     TM3(SS) 68 - 69    
Morrissette Leo M   Williamsburg VA YN1(SS) 68 - 69   Retired as LCDR LDO
Natividad Perfecto A San Diego CA SK1(SS) 68 - 69    
Nichols Robert   CA QM1(SS) 68 - 69 2007  
Quijada Chris Groton CT RM1(SS) 68 - 69 July 2003  
Pacleb Emerito T San Diego CA TN(SS) 67 - 68    
Peperyias George Mystic Island NJ MM2(SS) 68 - 69    
Pickett Joel     YN3 68    
Quijada Christopher R "Chris" Groton CT RM1(SS) 68 - 69 6 July 2003  
Raymond David A Seattle WA LCDR 68 - 69    
Read M G     EMC 68 - 69    
Reef John S Tipton IN LT 68 - 69 20 January 2011  
Reynolds, Jr. John T Panama Beach FL EM2(SS) 66 - 68    
Rillamas Eugenio R "Gino" San Diego CA SD3(SS) 66 - 69    
 

Steve "The Codger" Rogers

Westminster CO EM3(SS) 66 - 69 Summer 2018  
Roseland Tom (a.k.a. Tom Bump) Merritt Island FL STS2(SS) 66 - 69   Cusk Webmaster
Rupert Lee E Worland WY MM2SS) 66 - 68    
Chester E "Chuck" Saunders Nahunta GA ICC(SS) 68 - 69 16 January 2009  
Sawyer Tommy D San Diego CA LCDR 68 - 69   XO
Schmitt John     EN2(SS) 68 - 69    
Schultz Dennis D Royal Oak MI STS3(SS) 67 - 69    
Schwenke Robert E     MM3(SS) 68 - 69    
Scott M R     QMSN 68 - 69    
Sedtal, Jr. Julius J Deer Park TX EN2(SS) 67 - 69    
Shaw Gary R   NE EN2(SS) 66 - 69 2008  
Shoemaker Donald E San Diego CA EMC(SS) 65 - 69  24 May 2013  
Smith, Jr. F J     ENC 68 - 69    
Starkey R L     LT 68 - 69    
Swinney Terry L M Nazareth PA YN3(SS) 68   Retired as Captain
William A "Bill" Szymanski

Lake Havasu City AZ EN1(SS) 67 - 69 6 July 2020  
Tharp Robert "Paco" Kingston WA EN3(SS) 67 - 69   Retired as CWO4
Thomas John J     STS1(SS) 68 - 69    
Thomas Tom C     ST1(SS) 67 - 68    
Tinkle Charles E   OK STS2(SS) 68 - 69    
Tomines Edgar Bonita CA MM2(SS) 68 - 69    
Tripp Dale A Las Vegas NV ETC(SS) 67 - 68    
Troutman John Leo Clarksville MD LT 68 - 69   Last Engineering Officer
Wade James E    

CS3(SS)

68    
Walbaum Donald D "Don" Litchfield PA EN1(SS) 66 - 69    
Whitaker Sandy E Colorado Springs CO RM2(SS) 67 - 69    
Wilson John Steve "Willie" Richland WA EM1(SS) 66 - 69   Author of "Cusk Raider" ship's newsletter
Wilson E R     TM2(SS) 68 - 69    
Wood Gary Stanwood WA FTE3(SS) 68 - 69    
Wood Larry The Villages FL SK3(SS) 68 - 69    
Young A     IC1(SS) 68 - 69    

If you have any information, pictures, history, or crewmember names/information from the Cusk in 1968 (or any year), please contact the Cusk Webmaster. Thanks!


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 All information and pictures herein were contributed by, and are the property of crewmembers of the USS Cusk.  It is intended solely for your enjoyment and education, and for preserving the memory and history of this great ship.  If you take anything or make copies, please give proper credit.  Your questions and comments are welcomed, as are any pictorial or historical contributions you might wish to donate or loan. 

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This page was last updated: 01/11/19