Submariners Past
and Present Toast History
Story by JO3 McClain Shewman
October, 1999
Active Navy leadership and retired
submarine veterans were on hand for the reopening of the "Clean Sweep"
bar located in the historic Lockwood Hall, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Thursday,
October 7, 1999. The re-opening was one of the first events celebrating
the submarine centennial coming in the year 2000.
"The tradition of Lockwood Hall,
the Clean Sweep Bar, and the Skippers Lounge are the bedrock of our tradition
as submariners," said Rear Adm. Al Konetzni, Commander Submarine Force,
U.S. Pacific Fleet. "To have the traditions our veterans passed down
to us over the past 100 years is crucial as we move into the new millennium,"
said Konetzni.
"It will help to mentor our future
submarine warriors. We have over 400 people here at the reception. I think
it demonstrates to our submarine vets that we'll never forget their sacrifice,"
added Konetzni.
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Several senior submariners attended
the opening, including several admirals. Of note, Adm. Archie Clemins,
Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), who was slated to retire
the following afternoon, assisted in the formal ribbon cutting. Joining
him at the ribbon was Jean Clarey, widow of the late Adm. Bernard "Chick"
Clarey, former CINCPACFLT.
Lockwood Hall Bachelor Officers Quarters
was constructed in 1934, and was the architectural treasure of the submarine
base. Legend holds that during World War II, the concrete lanai was painted
with a map of the Pacific that submariners used to plot strategy while
Marines guarded the Lockwood entrances. Dozens of submarine veterans, including
many who served in World War II and during the Cold War, gazed with interest
several historic bronze plaques honoring submarines and their heroic crewmembers.
Lockwood Hall was named after Vice
Adm. Charles A. Lockwood in the 1960's for his legendary service as Commander
Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC) during WWII. Fifty-two
submarines - which were almost one of every five submarines, 3,131 men
and 374 officers were lost during the war. This seemingly invisible multitude
of Sailors conducted over 1,600 war patrols in a little over two years
and sank over 1,000 Japanese Merchant ships and a significant portion of
the Japanese Navy.
At that time of the war, U.S. submariners
composed less than two percent of the Navy's personnel, yet accounted for
over five million tons of shipping or 55% of all Japanese ship losses in
the entire war.
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