These are some pics of the USS Marlin (SST-2) Training Submarine. It operated out of Key West I believe while Dad was on Chivo. Used as a sonar target for exercises, I think is what he told me.

Port side view of the Marlin (SST-2), underway, late 50’s, place unknown.
US Navy photo courtesy of St. Marys Submarine Museum, submitted by Thomas Denton, Submarine Art, www.submarineart.com and courtesy of http://www.navsource.org/

This is a shot of Marlin now at Freedom Park, Omaha, NE where she is on display. I found it quite amusing to realize she was there while I was assigned to HQ Strategic Air Command at Offut AFB, NE. Kinda just down river from her. I had the opportunity one weekend to crawl through her and take some shots. I’ll scan and publish as soon as I find them.

These deisel SSTs were half again smaller than the fleet boats they sailed with out of Key West.

Marlin (SST-2), on permanant display at Freedom Park, Omaha, NE. Courtesy of Historic Naval Ships Association (hnsa.org) Photo courtesy of http://www.navsource.org/

Nine years ago today, the greatest influence in my life started his eternal patrol. This is the information from Beaufort National Cemetary in South Carolina:

Photo courtesy “Speedy” Gonzalez

Kilgallon, James R,
b. 08/26/1925
d. 01/05/1996
US Navy, LT
Res: N. Charleston, SC
Plot: 60 0 255
bur. 01/08/1996

Dad died from a brain tumor. He was tired of Chemotherapy, tired of being weak and thin, tired of being nauseous. He never really “quit” smoking, never really “quit” drinking, never really “quit” swearing. I guess he was a sailor even at the end.

He did “quit” worrying about the family name when we introduced him to his 9 month old grandson the previous summer (1995). It was during that summer visit with his typical irreverent humor, “Killer” told me not to worry about dying. After giving him a puzzled look, my Dad went on to explain: Mom, a devout Catholic, had died swiftly nearly 10 years earlier. We are all convinced she’s “Upstairs.” Dad basically looked me in the eye and said, “John, after I’m gone, you won’t have to worry about where you go after you die—you’ll now have family in both places!” As a World War II Subvet, Dad had spent a lot of time “down below” already.