The Loss Of The USS Thresher

On April 10, 1963, the USS Thresher, the lead ship of a new class of nuclear-powered attack submarines, was conducting sea trials off the coast of New England with another ship, the USS Skylark (ASR-20). The two ships were in communication by means of underwater sound telephone. At 0747 the USS Thresher started a deep dive. Everything was fine until 0913. At this time the USS Thresher sent this message. "We are experiencing minor difficulties, we have a positive up angle, and are attempting to blow. Will keep you informed". At 0916 & 0917 respectively, the USS Skylark received two garbled messages followed shortly by SONAR detection of a high energy, low frequency disturbance. This disturbance was the crushing of the USS Thresher as it had fallen below crush depth. One hundred twenty nine men had perished, including crew members, PNSY Officer Observers, PNSY civilian workers and contractor technicians.

The USSVI Thresher Base was founded
to perpetuate the memory of those lost on the USS Thresher
in the pursuit of their duties while serving their country.

Those Lost Aboard The USS Thresher on April 10, 1963

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USS Thresher Crew Members

HARVEY, John W.

LCDR

USN

USS THRESHER

GARNER, Pat M.

LCDR

USN

USS THRESHER

DI NOLA, Michael J.

LCDR

USN

USS THRESHER

LYMAN, John S., Jr.

LCDR

USN

USS THRESHER

SMARZ, John (n), Jr.

LT

USN

USS THRESHER

PARSONS, Guy C., Jr.

LTJG

USN

USS THRESHER

HENRY, James J., Jr.

LTJG

USN

USS THRESHER

BABCOCK, Ronald C.

LTJG

USN

USS THRESHER

WILEY, John J.

LTJG

USN

USS THRESHER

MALINSKI, Frank J.

LTJG

USN

USS THRESHER

COLLIER, Merrill F.

LT

USN

USS THRESHER

GRAFTON, John G.

LTJG

USN

USS THRESHER

ARSENAULT, Tilmon J.

ENCA(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

BAIN, Ronald E.

EN2(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

BELL, John E.

MM1

USN

USS THRESHER

BOBBITT, Edgar S.

EM2(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

BOSTER, Gerald C.

EM3(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

BRACEY, George (n)

SD3(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

BRANN, Richard P.

EN2(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

CARKOSKI, Richard J.

EN2(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

CAYEY, Steven G.

TM2(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

CHRISTIANSEN, Edward (n)

SN(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

CLAUSSEN, Larry W.

EM2(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

CLEMENTS, Thomas E.

ETR3(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

CUMMINGS, Francis M.

SOS2(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

CARMODY, Patrick W.

SK2

USN

USS THRESHER

DABRUZZI, Samuel J.

ETN2(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

DAY, Donald C.

EN3(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

DENNY, Roy O., Jr.

EM1(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

DiBELLA, Peter J.

SN

USN

USS THRESHER

DUNDAS, Don R.

ETN2(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

DYER, Troy E.

ET1(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

DAVISON, Clyde E., III

ETR3(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

FORNI, Ellwood H.

SOCA(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

FOTI, Raymond P.

ETI(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

FREEMAN, Larry W.

FTM2(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

FUSCO, Gregory J.

EM2(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

GALLANT, Andrew J., Jr.

HMC(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

GARCIA, Napoleon T.

SDI(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

GARDNER, John E.

YNSN(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

GAYNOR, Robert W.

EN2(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

GOSNELL, Robert W.

SA(SS)

USNR

USS THRESHER

GRAHAM, William E.

SOC(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

GUNTER, Aaron J.

QM1(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

HALL, Richard C.

ETR2(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

HAYES, Norman T.

EM1

USN

USS THRESHER

HEISER, Laird G.

MM1

USN

USS THRESHER

HELSIUS, Marvin T.

MM2

USN

USS THRESHER

HEWITT, Leonard H.

EMCA(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

HOAGUE, Joseph H.

TM2(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

HODGE, James P.

EM2

USN

USS THRESHER

HUDSON, John F.

EN2(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

INGLIS, John P.

FN

USNR

USS THRESHER

JOHNSON, Brawner G.

FTG1(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

JOHNSON, Edward A.

ENCA(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

JOHNSON, Richard L.

RMSA

USN

USS THRESHER

JOHNSON, Robert E.

TMC(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

JOHNSON, Thomas B.

ET1(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

JONES, Richard W.

EM2(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

KALUZA, Edmund J., Jr.

SOS2(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

KANTZ, Thomas C.

ETR2(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

KEARNEY, Robert D.

MM3

USN

USS THRESHER

KEILER, Ronald D.

IC2(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

KIESECKER, George J.

MM2(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

KLIER, Billy M.

EN1(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

KRONER, George R.

CS3

USN

USS THRESHER

LANOUETTE, Norman G.

QM1(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

LAVOIE, Wayne W.

YN1(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

MABRY, Templeton N., Jr.

EN2(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

MANN, Richard H., Jr.

IC2(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

MARULLO, Julius F., Jr.

QM1(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

MC CLELLAND, Douglas R.

EM2(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

MC CORD, Donald J.

MM1(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

MC DONOUGH, Karl P.

TM3(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

MIDDLETON, Sidney L.

MM1(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

MUISE, Ronald A.

CS2

USN

USS THRESHER

MUSSELWHITE, James A.

ETN2(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

NAULT, Donald E.

CS1(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

NOONIS, Walter J.

RMC(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

NORRIS, John D.

ET1(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

OETTING, Chesley C.

EM2

USN

USS THRESHER

PENNINGTON, Roscoe C.

EMCA(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

PETERS, James G.

EMCS

USN

USS THRESHER

PHILLIPPI, James F.

SOS2(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

PHILPUT, Dan A.

EN2(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

PODWELL, Richard (n)

MM2

USN

USS THRESHER

REGAN, John S.

MM1(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

RITCHIE, James P.

RM2

USN

USS THRESHER

ROBISON, Pervis (n), Jr.

SN

USN

USS THRESHER

ROUNTREE, Glenn A.

QM2(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

RUSHETSKI, Anthony A.

ETN2

USN

USS THRESHER

SCHIEWE, James M.

EM1(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

SHAFER, Benjamin N.

EMCM(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

SHAFER, John D.

EMCS(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

SHIMKO, Joseph T.

MM1

USN

USS THRESHER

SHOTWELL, Burnett M.

ETRSN

USN

USS THRESHER

SINNET, Alan D.

FTG2(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

SMITH, William H., Jr.

BT1

USN

USS THRESHER

SOLOMON, Ronald H.

EM1

USN

USS THRESHER

STEINEL, Robert E.

SO1(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

SNIDER, James L.

MM1

USN

USS THRESHER

VAN PELT, Rodger E.

IC1(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

WASEL, David A.

RMSN

USN

USS THRESHER

WALSKI, Joseph A.

RM1(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

WIGGINS, Charles L.

FTG1(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

WISE, Donald E.

MMCA(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

WOLFE, Ronald E.

QMSN(SS)

USN

USS THRESHER

ZWEIFEL, Jay H.

EM2

USN

USS THRESHER

Officer Observers

KRAG, Robert L.

LCDR

USN

STAFF, DEPUTY COMMANDER
SUBMARINE FORCE, U.S.
ATLANTIC FLEET

ALLEN, Philip H.

LCDR

USN

PORTSMOUTH NAVAL SHIPYARD

BILLINGS, John H.

LCDR

USN

PORTSMOUTH NAVAL SHIPYARD

BIEDERMAN, Robert D.

LCDR

USN

PORTSMOUTH NAVAL SHIPYARD

Civilian Support Personnel

PRESCOTT, Robert D.

      

Civilian Employee, Design Division
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

CHARRON, Robert E.

      

Civilian Employee, Design Division
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

GUERETTE, Paul A.

      

Civilian Employee, Design Division
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

FISHER, Richard K.

      

Civilian Employee, Design Division
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

WHITTEN, Laurence E.

      

Civilian Employee, Combat Systems
Division, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

BEAL, Daniel W., Jr.

      

Civilian Employee, Combat Systems
Division, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

DES JARDINS, Richard R.

      

Civilian Employee, Combat Systems
Division, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

CHRITCHLEY, Kenneth J.

      

Civilian Employee, Production
Department, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

CURRIER, Paul C.

      

Civilian Employee, Production
Department, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

ABRAMS, Fred P.

      

Civilian Employee, Production
Department, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

PALMER, Franklin J.

      

Civilian Employee, Production
Department, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

DINEEN, George J.

      

Civilian Employee, Production
Department, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

MOREAU, Henry C.

      

Civilian Employee, Production
Department, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

CORCORAN, Kenneth R.

      

Contractor's Representative,
Sperry Corporation

JAQUAY, Maurice F.

      

Contractor's Representative,
Raytheon Corporation

KEUSTER, Donald W.

      

Contractor's Representative,
Sperry Corporation

STADTMULLER, Donald T.

      

Contractor's Representative,
Sperry Corporation

The USS Thresher, SSN-593, was built by the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY), Kittery, Maine. Her keel was laid May 28, 1958. She was launched on July 9, 1960 and commissioned on August 3, 1961. The USS Thresher was over 30 feet in diameter and 275 feet in length. She displaced 3700 tons surfaced, and 4300 tons submerged. Her submerged speed was greater than 20 knots with a depth capability of greater than 400 feet.

Tribute to an Unknown Father
A poem by Tim Noonis, Son of Chief Petty Officer Walter "Jack" Noonis

USS Thresher SSN 593

Photograph of the postcard given to USS Thresher crew members

Last updated by Kevin Galeaz on April 9, 2007 22:14
webmaster@thresherbase.org