May 17, 2012
1,372 - May 17, 2012
May 7, 2012
Past Reunions
PHOTOS
By Location
By Decade
Oct 11, 2011
March 30, 2009
June 24, 2009
Aug 18, 2011
Apr 29, 2012
July 5, 2010
May 27, 2009
Feb 1, 2012
Welcome to the SSBN 657
USS FRANCIS SCOTT KEY
Crew Home Page - Blue & Gold
This web site is dedicated to the men of the Key and their families, and to the 41 for Freedom FBM submarines, anyone else just would not understand. As George Orwell wrote: "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." The Crew List of the Key contains the names of those men.
From Greg Ott: The
picture on the home page of the Key emergency surfacing was taken in Eluthera
Sound at AUTEC during acoustic trials. The photo was taken from the deck of the
sound trials ship, not the Pulaski. I was on the boat standing OOD and we staged
the picture. The boat came up much closer than anticipated.
Key News 
May 2012 - New Key shipmates added in May 2012. Polley, Gary 81 - 83; Nason, Frank Plank Owner 65 - 68; Morrow, Jack 73 - 76. Check Crew List for details.
May 17, 2012 - Reunion pictures are online. Click Reunion 12 to see them. If you have pictures of different scenes or people, please send them in so I can get them on the site for everyone to see.
May 13, 2012 - Below is one of the group pictures taken at this years Key Reunion just completed in Charleston. What a great time had by all. The tours were first rate and the people were even better. There will be many more pictures and stories of the reunion online shortly so keep checking back.
May 7, 2012 - For all those able to attend the reunion this week in Charleston, I hope to see you there and get to meet some of the screen names. Be sure to bring any pictures or "souvenirs" of your time on the Key.
April 2012 - New Key shipmates added in April 2012. O'Neill, John 84 - 88; Kuhlmann, William 68 - 70; Cabalona, Ramon Plank Owner65 - 68. Check Crew List for details.
April 29, 2012. I just updated the Reunion 12 Attendee List. Check it out to see who is going, then sign up and come on down to Charleston. The reunion is just around the corner - May 9th.
April 29, 2012 - I received this newspaper article from Bob Reese - MT1 Blue Crew announcing that the Key had just completed the 600th deterrent patrol of the FBM fleet. It does not have the date but I estimate that it was in 1970.
March 2012 - New Key shipmates added in March 2012. Crawford, Kevin 83 - 85; Kinney, Vernon 70 - 74; Moss, Paul 89 - 92; Wood, Christopher 89 - 92; Hansen, John Jr; Smith, Jack Plank Owner 65 - 68; McCracken, Edward Jr 86 - 89. Check Crew List for details.
February 2012 - New Key shipmates added in the month of February 2012. Mink, Joey 81 - 84; Poole, Jim - Plank Owner 65 - 69. Check crew list for details.
February 10, 2012 - Thinking about going to the 2012 Key Reunion? Then send in your name and I will put you on the list of possible attendees. This way other shipmates can see who may attend and also add their names. Click here to see the 2012 Reunion Attendee List.
February 1, 2012 - Received an e-mail from Mary Claxton letting us know that her father Gerald "Jerry" Dearborn had passed away in July 2007. Jerry was a cook on the Key in the 1970's. Here is Mary's e-mail to me:
"My daddy Gerald Dearborn was a cook on the Key in the 70's and I didn't know if y'all knew that he passed in July of 2007. He was a great man and my hero and missed everyday so if you could please add his name to the eternal patrol . He is survived by His wife Gloria of 42 years and his children Barry Dearborn and Mary Claxton . After he passed I got my tattoo in his honor." Rest in peace shipmate - job well done - and I hope my daughters will remember me as fondly as has yours. See Mary's tattoo below. Jerry is now listed in the Eternal Patrol area of honor.
January 2012- New Key shipmates added in January 2012. Williams, James 87 - 91; Sadler, John C 71 - 74; lakin, Paul 67 - 68; Droegemeier, Robert 87 - 88; Brewer, Stephen 91 - 93. Check crew list for details
January 19, 2012 - Just received notice of the passing of Steve Berry TMC 70 - 75 Gold Crew. Steve passed on January 13, 2012. Our deepest sympathies go out to Steve's family in Summerville, SC. Steve has been added to the Eternal Patrol list. Rest in peace shipmate.
KEY NEWS Archives - Be sure to check out the previous month's news.
REUNION 2012
The next reunion of the crew of the KEY will be held in 2012 in Charleston, SC May 9 - 13, 2012. Click on Reunion 2012 on the left menu for details.
That's all the news that's fit to print. We are always adding new material so check in often. Below most of the section links on the left side of the page is the date that section was last updated. Check there to see if anything has been added since your last visit. This is your site so please contribute content where ever you can. Send your material to ssbn657@comcast.net.
(began 9/14/06)
Key Webmaster is Russ Christie MT1 Blue & Combined Crews 70 - 75 - Please hold your applause.