KEY NEWS

03 Jan 2024

crew list

03 Jan 2024 - 1548

Eternal Patrol

03 Jan 2024

Deck Log

18 Oct 2021

 

Reunion Info 

 

Reunion Assoc.   Members

 

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  Reunions 02 - 06

    Reunion 08

Reunion 10

         Reunion 12

    Reunion 14

Reunion 16

         Reunion 18

Reunion 2022

 

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July 31, 2019

 

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03 Jan 2024

 

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03 Jan 2024

 

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May 27, 2009

 

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  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   

3 Jan 2024 - New Shipmates added: Tomkin, Charles and Tubbs, David E. 80 - 82, 87 - 92. Check Crew List for details.

3 Jan 2024 - Here is the latest listing of shipmates attending or planning to attend the 2024 Reunion.  Reunion 24 Attendees  

3 Jan 2024 - Sorry to have to announce the passing of three more shipmates.  P W Louthian - Plank Owner 65 - 69; Charles Tonkin - Officer; Richard Rudolph ETC 66 - 69 Plank Owner. Rest in peace shipmates.  We have the watch.  Jobs well done.

    Louthian       Tonkin     

6 Dec 2023 - System Update:  The Key web site is now operating as normal as it ever was.  Images should be visible now.  I am going to give it a few days before I try updating a few files.  It has been a challenge trying to figure out the new servers desires.  I was told by the servers customer service group that this old software would not work on their new server.  Well, since you are reading this, I guess it does. 

9 Nov 2023 - Recently our web service provider switched this Key web site to a newer server.  This caused problems due to the old software used to create this site. I have been working for weeks to try to get the new site to accept changes with little success.  Yesterday was the first time I got files to be accepted and was able to update the site with the last prepared set of changes from Sept 25, 2023.  There are some bugs like some pictures are not displaying and some formatting has changed.  I am working on these bugs and will update again as soon as I can. - Russ Christie Key Webmaster

25 Sep 2023 Reunion 24 News:  Letter from Diane Singleman

Shipmates,

      Click Here for the registration form for the 2024 reunion in Frederick, MD. It needs to be completed by all who plan to attend. The bus for the DC trip holds

50. Therefore, the first 50 who sign up for the trip will be going.  Otherwise, you will go on a waiting list in case someone cancels. Also

you need to pick the meal choice for each person attending.  If you think you might be going, please make a reservation at the

hotel. We only have  30 rooms saved in our block, but once these are used up they will add more rooms if there are rooms left at the hotel.

So reserve early. If you can cancel within 48 hours of your arrival date you will not be charged.

     If you have any questions, give me a call 518-355-2119, or drop me an email.

Diane

25 Sep 2023 - More of our shipmates have left us on Eternal Patrol.  Michael Marko on July 12, 2023; David A. Miller July 11, 2023; Jeffery S. Brown May 19, 2023;  Charles E. Hughes December 9, 2022; Thomas W. Turner May 15, 2023.  Please check the Eternal Patrol area to read their obituaries.  Rest your oars shipmates.  Jobs well done.

  M. Marko  D. Miller  J. Brown  C. Hughes  T. Turner

It has also been brought to our attention that three Key wives have recently passed.  Kathy Albright, wife of Marty, passed away on Sept. 29, 2022;Grace Maguire, wife of Brian in Aug, 
and Ann Selleck, wife of John in Oct.
They each attended many of the earlier reunions.  We send our deepest sympathies to our shipmates on their loss and wish their loved one a restful peace.

10 July 2023 - Newest shipmates added: Blankenship, Ervin; Lariset, Bill  86-92; Shank, Michael 86 - 89; Shoemake, John 88 - 91; Cherniawski, George 77 - 81; Sharkey, Ed 84 - 88.  Check Crew List for details.

10 July 2023 - Received notice of the passing of Bobby Joe Felton, who passed in December 2022; Ervin L. Blankenship on June 29, 2023: Barry Lewis Smith on Sept 4, 2022; Hunt, David on Feb 7, 2014.  Our deepest sympathies go out to their family and friends.  Rest in peace shipmates.  You will be missed.  We have the watch.

   Ervin Blankenship     Bobby Felton      Barry Smith

10 Jul 2023 - Diane sent out the below e-mail to all the names on her current list.  If you did not receive the e-mail, please contact diane at diane@ssbn657.com to update your e-mail address.

6 July 2023 - Received this e-mail from Diane Singleman regarding the next Key reunion on May 13 - 17, 2024 in beautiful Frederick, MD.

Shipmates,
I am working on the registration form and will send out emails as soon as I have time, but I wanted to let you know the date so that you can make plans to attend. If you have any questions, please call me at 518-355-2119. FYI This is not the same Hampton Inn that we stayed at in 2014. It is located in downtown Frederick, MD.
Hope to see you in May,
Diane

Reunion 24 Information

Pre-Registration is Mandatory
Date: May 13-17, 2024 Complete form (available soon) & return with check by April 12, 2024.  All needed information will be on the form.

Where:

Hampton Inn Frederick
5311 Buckeystown Pike

Frederick, MD 21704 

301-698-2500 

 

Queen (2 beds) or King study rate Monday May 13 to Thursday May 17 - Price:  $119.00/night

 

Weekend Rate, if you decide to come early or stay later- Queen or King - for Friday-Sunday (May 10-12 & /or May 17-18) Price: $129/night

Rooms have Refrigerator & Microwave, Coffee maker, Free Breakfast hot buffet, Wi-Fi and Parking

BLOCKED ROOM RATES GOOD UNTIL 4-9-2024

Call the Hotel at the above number to reserve your room.
" Identify yourself as a USS Francis Scott Key Reunion Attendee and give them our group code to obtain the above rate when you reserve your room. Our Group Code is FSK. If you prefer, you can go to this Reservation Link, https://group.hamptoninn.com/8wvw40. to make your reservations directly. This link can only be used on a desk top computer. A phone or tablet will not work. Rooms are subject to an Early Departure Charge equal to one night's rate + taxes and applicable fees. All rooms are non smoking rooms in the hotel.

 

 

KEY NEWS Archives - Be sure to check out the previous years Key News.

2006 Key News 2007 Key News 2008 Key News 2009 Key News 2010 Key News 2011 Key News
2012 Key News 2013 Key News 2014 Key News 2015 Key News 2016 Key News 2017 Key News
2018 Key News 2019 Key News Key News 2020 Key News 2021 Key News 2022

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.

 

 Next reunion will be held on May 13 - 17 of 2024 in Frederick, MD.  See you there!

Dive the Boat

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