USS Francis Scott Key SSBN 657 Home Page

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: "we sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm."

Key surfacing from emergency blow drill. Picture taken from the USS Pulaski. and provided by RM 1 Pat King. Picture was taken by ET1 Peter Bentivegna of the 633 - now on eternal patrol.

Key News

July 2008 - New Key shipmates added in July 2008. Edwards, Jerry 72 - 75; Milby, Bill 68 - 71; Latscher, Mike 72 - 76; Mattson, Larry 68 - 69; Benshoof, Mark 77 - 79. Check crew list for details.

July 18, 2008 - We were just contacted by Dolores Spaulding, the wife of Richard Spaulding - Plank Owner, Cook, Gold Crew notifying us of Richards passing on June 27, 2000. She wrote "He would be proud to be on your web site with his friends." Richard has been added to the Crew List and to the Eternal Patrol area. If any of you guys remember Richard and would like to add some comments to his memorial page, please send them to ssbn657@comcast.net.

July 8, 2008 - I just created a new section that gathers the information that has been collected on the decommissioning of the Key in September 1993. Just click on Decomm to read about it.

July 4, 2008 - Scroll down this page to view the Key Picture of the Week. "Where am I?"

July 4, 2008 - A happy July 4th to everyone. Remember, keep those pictures ands stories coming.

June 2008 - New Key shipmates added in June 2008. HolyBee, Michael 77 - 78; Minnick, John 81 - 86; Seaward, Mike 82; Lehman Howard Tom 68 - 71; Sargent, Bradford 87 - 91; Gonzales, Pedro "Pete" 65 - 67 Plank Owner; Griesbaum, Jack 65 - 70 Plank Owner; Blackwell, David 81 - 82; Ubelhoer, Dale 65 - 69 Plank Owner; Graber, Fred 70 - 74; Bieker, Michael 83 - 87. Check Crew List for details.

June 27, 2008 - I would like to create a new area on the web site called Home Ports. To do this, I need your pictures of Holy Lock and Rota. If you have some of New London, Charleston and St Mary's that would be of interest, send them along. Also, any pictures of the 1972/73 overhaul in Bremerton would be great. I already have many of the Newport News overhaul in the 80s.

June 20, 2008 - I received an e-mail the other day from the daughter of a Key shipmate. She had Googled her father's name and in the list of search responses was a link to this web site and a picture of her father back in the 1970s on the Key, a picture she had never seen before. E-mails like this make doing this web site worthwhile.

My name is Kathy Roux (formerly Cortell). I don't have a clue why I did this but just a few minutes ago I punched in my father's name (James Cortell) into my search bar. I was looking through the results when I saw his name with his nickname "Brutus". I clicked the link and there just as plain as day was a picture of my father aboard the Key.

I don't remember exactly when he was on the Key, but I remember him talking about it. As a matter of fact I believe that I would go with him to the ship yard when they were in dry dock and go aboard the Key as well.

I was young then (born in 73) so my memory could be wrong. My dad moved to California when he retired. I live in Virginia. My daughter is turning 16 this weekend and my dad and brother are at this moment driving across country to surprise her.

I understand that the pictures are now archives of the Key and its history, but I would like to find out if there are any more pictures of my father and if there is any way that I may be able to have a copy of the pictures. I am a very sentimental person and to be able to have pictures of my dad when he was in service would be great for the family history as well as a great surprise for my dad.

I can't wait to show him this web site. Thanks for all you doing keeping it going. And thanks to ALL the crew members who were on the Key and knew my dad for keeping him safe while I was growing up.

June 18, 2008 - We recently learned of the passing of shipmate Mark Helmase. Mark passed on 11/29/94. We do not have any further details. If you served with Mark and can contribute any comments for his memorial, please send them in.

June 18, 2008 - As of today we have a picture and/or history of every commanding officer of the Key except one, CDR H.M. Spruitenburg, Blue Crew 79 - 83ish. If you have a picture or info on CDR Spruitenburg please send it in. The best source is the ship's handbook that is given to each person as he reports on board, so dig through those cardboard boxes and send in a copy.

June 16, 2008 - Just added a couple of new items in the Key Ship's Store. A Key Coffee Mug and a Key Pen. Check them out. Ship's Store

June 3, 2008 - During the 2008 Reunion we toured the USS Providence. I just received this e-mail from Bil Hole saying that the Providence had been awarded the Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy.

2007 ARLEIGH BURKE FLEET TROPHY AWARD RECIPIENTS

UNCLASSIFIED// PRECEDENCE TO: ROUTINE DTG: 280149Z MAY 08
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N00//

SUBJ/CALENDAR YEAR 2007 ARLEIGH BURKE FLEET TROPHY AWARD RECIPIENTS//

RECOGNIZING SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE IN THEIR IMPROVEMENTS IN BATTLE EFFICIENCY, IT IS AN HONOR TO ANNOUNCE THE CALENDAR YEAR 2007 ARLEIGH BURKE FLEET TROPHY AWARD RECIPIENTS:

A. ATLANTIC FLEET: USS PROVIDENCE (SSN 719) B. PACIFIC FLEET: USS KEY WEST (SSN 722)

SELECTION FOR THIS AWARD IS A REFLECTION OF THE PROFESSIONALISM AND DEDICATION OF THESE COMMANDS. THE CREW OF THE USS PROVIDENCE (SSN 719) IMPROVED THEIR OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE SIGNIFICANTLY, AND SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED A DEMANDING SEVEN MONTH ROUND-THE-WORLD DEPLOYMENT, INCLUDING THE EXECUTION OF THREE MISSIONS IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC. THE WIDE RANGE OF OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS MADE BY USS KEY WEST (SSN 722) RESULTED IN AN EXCEPTIONALLY STRONG AND HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL DEPLOYMENT TO THE WESTERN PACIFIC.

CONGRATULATIONS TO USS PROVIDENCE (SSN 719) AND USS KEY WEST (SSN722) FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE. YOU HAVE RAISED THE BAR.

RELEASED BY ADMIRAL G. ROUGHEAD, CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS.//

Key Picture of the Week - a picture is selected from the Key photo area and featured here each week.

Where are you on the boat? Can you recognize this location. If not, you need to get re-qualified and fast.

The next reunion of the crew of the KEY will be held in 2010. Date and location to be determined.

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.

Key Webmaster is Russ Christie MT1 Blue & Combined Crews 70 - 75 - Please hold your applause.

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