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CLICK HERE SAIL DEDICATION CEREMONY PHOTOS! This site was last updated on 1/31/2008 The Parche Association Menu |
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This page is dedicated to the individuals who designed, built, and served aboard the submarines bearing the name "Parche." We recognize and celebrate the heroic USS Parche (SS 384) of World War Two (six war patrols, a Presidential Unit Citation, and a CO who won the Congressional Medal of Honor) as well as the achievements of the follow-on USS Parche (SSN 683) during the Cold War and beyond which earned her the distinction of being the most highly decorated vessel in U.S. Naval history. Together, they form a proud tradition of hard work, sacrifice, and dedication to their country. They toiled in quiet anonymity and continue even today to honor the Submariner tradition of being "The Silent Service." |
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USS PARCHE (SSN 683) SELECTED TO SUBMARINE HALL OF FAME! Alcon, This year the USS Parche SSN 683 has been selected as the 10th inductee into the Submarine Hall of Fame. The history of the event is that in 1999 LCDR McCall then Tactics Department Head of Submarine Training Facility and myself were trying to think of a way tying the sacrifices and successes of the WWII vets with those that are serving today. The result was the addition to an inductee presented at the end of the Tolling of the Boats ceremony. A shadow box would be constructed by STF to honor a submarine selected by USSVI HRB for furthering submarine tactics or submarine engineering. With the addition of this small part to the ceremony (and the free food and liquid libation provided by Sub Force) participation has been on the increase since 2001. Previously honored submarines have been the USS Norfolk (first Navy ship to have all tomahawks hit top dead center on their targets), USS Narwhal (25 years of spook ops), USS Nautilus (first Nuke), USS Irex (first fleet snorkel), USS Triton (first to circumnavigate the world submerged), USS Grenadier (forced Soviet Zulu to the surface proving the Reds were sending out patrols). This year is the USS Albacore for the improvements in hull design (even though John Holland thought of it first L.Y. Spear wouldn’t let him run with it), USS Skate (First to Surface at the North Pole), USS Growler (Regulus Missile System) If you can attend it is a great way to kick off the Memorial Day Weekend. So what I need are items that will go into the shadow box for display. These items are to be donated they will not be return. The shadow box will be on display in Alcorn Auditorium at Submarine Learning Center Norfolk VA. If at some point in the future this command is move (which is not foreseeable) the Shadow Boxes will be moved to the Museum at the Washington Navy Yard in D.C. Items should be ship specific such as patches etc. Or mission specific such as the bottle of Jack Daniels Black Label for the USS Grenadier. All should be Unclassified. Any help you could provide to this end will be appreciated. For those who wish to provide a name of a boat for nomination next year you can contact me in October when we put up the names for nomination. Thanks for reading this and again if you are a former Parche sailor and would like to participate/attend please contact me ASAP. Thanks in advance, Contact info Work paul.rice@navy.mil 757-847-8025 Snail Mail Paul Rice |