Captains and Executive Officers of the USS Cusk

    This page honors the Cusk's 15 commanding officers.  No words can adequately describe life at sea, or the relationship between a submarine's captain and his crew.  It is also unlikely that our beloved Captains will ever really know the amount of respect, loyalty and admiration that each crewman feels for him.  It transcends understanding, except for those of us who sailed under his command. 

    Over the years, we'll forget many of our shipmates - but we'll never forget our Cap'n.

Apologies to Mr. Walt Whitman for this paraphrased and slightly adapted version of his wonderful poem,

                    "Captain, Oh My Captain!

O CAPTAIN! My Captain! our fearful trip is done;

The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won;

The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,

While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring:

O Captain! My Captain! we rise and hear the bells;   

We Rise—for you the flag is flown—for you the bugle trills;

For you bouquets and ribbon’d wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding;

For you they call, the grateful men their eager faces turning;

The ship is anchor’d safe and sound, its voyage closed and done;

From fearful trip, the victor ship, comes in with object won;

Exult, O shores, and ring, O bells!

Cusk Captains:

Year	Captain
1944 to 1947	Paul Summers, CDR
1947 to 1949	F. B. Clarke, CDR
1949	Fred Berry
1949 to 1951	F. B. Tucker, CDR
1951 to 1953	C. B. Momsen, Jr, CDR
1953 to 1955	E. Pridonoff, LCDR
1955 to 1957	R. M. Clark, LCDR
1957 to 1959	R. J. Cooke, LCDR
1959 to 1960	R. E. Crawford, LCDR
1960 to 1962	W. T. Mawhiney, LCDR
1962 to 1964	Campbell, CDR
1961 to 1965	G. Frank Comstock
1965 to 1966	William W. Von Christerson
1966 to 1968	Donald J. Killian, LCDR	Official Navy Photo (Photo courtesy of Don Killian)	Relinquishing command of the Cusk (Photo courtesy of Don Killian)	At sea during WestPac, 1967 (Photo courtesy of Dave Duerr)
1968 to 1969	Albert "Sam" Houston, CDR	The famous "Buddah" hat (Photo courtesy of Lee Krabill)	Taking command of the Cusk (Photo courtesy of Don Killian)	Entering Pearl Harbor early in 1968 WestPac (Photo courtesy of Sam Houston)
		Mooring in Pearl Harbor, 1968 (Photo courtesy of Sam Houston)	Watching the Cusk Softball Team at the San Diego Sub Base, 1969 (Photo courtesy of Lee Krabill)	"That danged Redfish coat" The Cusk put to sea shortly after Sam Houston took command and before he could get more appropriate attire on his new command (Photo courtesy of Lee Krabill)
1969	Thomas F. Arnold, LCDR