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| Bishop's son, STSC(SS) John Bishop cut the ceremonial cake at the dedication ceremony, May 5. |
Thurs., May 13, 1999
A legacy of pride
By JO3 Phillip C. Hall
"I've got someplace I can always come home to." This is STSC(SS) John Bishop's feeling on the new barracks dedicated May 5 at SUBASE. Even though the barracks will only house third class petty officers and below, STSC Bishop's "homey" feeling comes from the fact that BEQ 560 is named for his late father, TMC(SS) Walter Bishop.
The dedication of Bishop Hall put a spotlight on TMC Bishop, Chief of the Boat, who lost his life with the rest of the crew of USS Scorpion (SSN 589) when the submarine sank in the summer of 1968 with all hands onboard.
SUBASE Commanding Officer CAPT H.A. Lincoln Jr. spoke at the ceremony and confessed his partiality when suggesting a name for the new $10.3 million building, and told the story from which this decision originated.
"On Narwhal, our sonar gang leading petty officer was a pretty squared away first class by the name of STS1(SS) John Bishop. Based on his superior performance and his demonstrated exceptional professional abilities, Bishop was selected for promotion to the rank of chief petty officer."
He continued by saying that a ceremony was held to promote the sonar tech Bishop in Charleston, S.C. At the ceremony, Bishop's wife, Darlene, removed his submarine warfare insignia from his shirt, and replaced them with an older, tarnished set. It was later revealed that these dolphins belonged to his father before the Scorpion disaster.
"That day, and that image of Chief Bishop wearing that set of dolphins that once belonged to his dad left an indelible mark on me - the passing down of the mantle of responsibility, the great legacy of leadership shouldered by our chief petty officers in the submarine force in the Navy."
Lincoln finished, "I want our young Sailors to walk by Chief Bishop's picture everyday, to see his name on this wonderful building which serves as his home, and understand the significance of leadership in our Navy. I want them to read his story, and know that their profession is an honorable one."
Following Lincoln, retired RADM Robert Fountain and Bishop's executive officer aboard Scorpion shared words about the chief of the boat.
"I left Scorpion early in January of 1968 for duty ashore, but I think it's fair to say that officers came and went and crewmembers, too," he said, "but the soul of Scorpion was embodied in Chief Torpedoman Walter Bishop, Chief of the Boat."
About five months after Fountain departed, he said Scorpion sank from unexplained circumstances. "However it occurred," he added, "rest assured that Chief Torpedoman Walter Bishop led the efforts to save her until the very end."
In attendance at the ceremony were his son TMC(SS) John Bishop; and his widow, Theresa Bishop.
Ms. Bishop said she was pleased with the ceremony, and the barracks. "It's nice to have Wally remembered like this," she said. Then she commented on the many features and conditions of Bishop Hall. "I wouldn't mind living here," she quipped. "It's beautiful."
So concurred YNSN Deidra Bell of floating dry-dock Oakridge (ARDM 1) and future resident of the new barracks. Bell assisted in cutting the ribbon at the main entrance to the building, and was taken aback by the barracks. "It's great. I have enough room for me and personal space." Bell is slated to move in as early as tomorrow.
Bishop Hall has 85 suites, each with two separate living spaces, and is capable of housing 160 Sailors. Each suite also has a common area, a full bath, and a kitchen with a microwave and refrigerator.
Each living space has a thermostat, wall-to-wall carpet and two telephone jacks (one for a telephone/one for a modem). The building itself has a pool table, a television lounge, and a multipurpose room for training or party functions. Lincoln said these living conditions "give real meaning to the term 'quality of life.'"
| The sinking of USS Scorpion (SSN -
589)
Crew complement: 9 officers, 76 enlisted men Keel laid: August 20, 1958 at Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corporation Sponsor: Mrs. Elizabeth Morrison Launched: December 19, 1959 Commissioned: July 29, 1960 with CDR Norman D. Bessac in command. The sinking of USS Scorpion (SSN 589) marked one of the most devastating tragedies to the Submarine Service during the Cold War era. A former New London-based submarine, Scorpion was homeported in Norfolk Va. during the time of her sinking in May 1968. On February 15, 1968 she got underway for a Mediterranean deployment following an underway period for training. She operated with the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean into May, and then headed west for home. On May 21, Scorpion's crew indicated their position to be about 50 miles south of the Azores. Six days later she was reported overdue at Norfolk. A search was initiated, but on June 2, Scorpion and all hands were declared "presumed lost." Her name was struck from the Navy's List on June 30, 1968. The search continued, however, and at the end of October, the Navy's oceanographic research ship, Mizar, located sections of Scorpion's hull in more than 10,000 feet of water about 400 miles southwest of the Azores. Subsequently, a court of inquiry was reconvened and other vessels, including the submersible, Trieste, were dispatched to the scene. Despite the myriad of data and pictures collected and studied, the cause of the loss remains a mystery. Scorpion rests at the bottom of the Atlantic in two major sections. The forward hull section including the torpedo room and most of the operations compartment is located in a trench that was formed by the impact of the hull section with the bottom. The sail is detached. The aft hull section including the reactor compartment and engine room is located in a separate trench that was formed by the impact of the hull with the bottom. The aft section of the engine room is inserted forward into a larger diameter hull section in a manner similar to a telescope. |