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This is a long overdue Ahoy to my fellow shipmates of the SubCommittee. Nice to see the crew is still active, and that many more have come aboard. It’s been so long since I reached out to my fellow bubbleheads that I wasn’t sure who’s still active or not. Now that my kids teenage years are over and I enter life’s 3rd chapter I’m hoping to blow the dust off the old fleet and get them wet again.
First off, many of you who remember me would remember my son Ed, who ya’ll use to call “Little Sub Eddie†or “Sub Ed Squaredâ€. He’s not so little anymore! So I thought it would be nice for you all who helped teach him the basics of R/C Submarine modeling to hear what the next generation is doing nowadays, because as you will see, the apple has not fallen far from the tree.
You may remember I was at the 2nd Annual Subregatta (my third if we count Sayerville in ’91) while my wife was due any day with his birth. I was ordered to carry a “pager†(remember them?) by the Admiral in case she went into labor during that weekend in Groton. I mean, how much of a sub-driver can you be if you go to a Regatta with an overdue pregnant wife?? lol Ray Mason, who I travelled with for the first time, and many times afterwards, really demonstrated extreme patience with an expectant father who was trying to get his 70†DeBoer SEAVIEW trimmed and running properly. I also won awards that year as well, which still hang in my study to this day, ’93 was a great year for me for many reasons. I had also met a lot of you.
As “Little Sub Eddie†grew up with a father (and friends like you) obsessed with all aspects of Submarines, after all I am a veteran of the silent service, QM2(SS) USS ULYSSS S. GRANT SSBN631, it was little wonder what he would grow into!. Year after year we came to Groton CT and Johnston RI as he grew older. He learned, and built his own 1/96 scale ALFA, heavily influenced by members of the SubCommittee like Ray himself, or Mike Dory, Skip Assay, Jim Butt, Jeff LaRue to name but a few who know us. I think he even stole Dave Merriman’s heart when he replicated seagull poo on the rudder of his ALFA as he had seen on Dave’s own boats. Something about young boys and poo! He also built a 1/96 BLUEBACK. Both boats share the WTC.
Anyway, again I’m reaching out to let those of you who know him, learn where he is today. He spent 4 years in High School in the NJROTC program eventually becoming CO of the unit. During his senior year, he attempted to get selected for Annapolis, and then the Merchant Marine Academy in hopes of obtaining a Naval Commission. But alas, even with two Congressional Nominations, the competition was too fierce with economy being the way it is, so many young men and women applying for the Service Academies.
Regardless the kid is determined to live his dream, of becoming a Submariner in the US NAVY. So I wanted all of you who know and have certainly help influence this “child of the SubCommitteeâ€, is that on this past Friday, February 17th, I got to see my son "Sub Eddie" graduate from RTC, Great Lakes. As I did 33 years earlier.
I would like all my fellow SubCommittee members, as well as active , reserve and veteran Submariners here also to welcome the newest member of the US Submarine Force, Naval RTC Graduate Fireman Edward O. Tordahl
Awards
Left Ribbon: The National Defense Service Medal, authorized by Executive Order 10448 currently from 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined in support of the Global War on Terrorism.
Right Ribbon: Navy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon with "S" Device , The pistol ribbon is currently awarded for qualification on the 9mm Beretta M9 pistol in which the Navy issues the marksmanship ribbon in three levels — that of Marksman, Sharpshooter, and Expert. Ed qualified as sharpshooter, and is authorized to wear the S Device on the ribbon and appears as a bronze colored "S" for the Navy. FWIW, though quite familiar with a rifle, this was his very FIRST use of a pistol.
He is already down in Charleston, SC and will be attending Electricians Mate (EM) "A" School for 6 months which upon completion he will be automatically promoted to 3rd Class Petty Officer (NCO E4) and then attend 6 months of school at the Naval Nuclear Power School, followed by ANOTHER 6 months of training at Nuclear Power Training Unit (NPTU) which is a decommissioned Lafayette 627 Class FBM Submarine, either ex-Daniel Webster (MTS-626) or ex-Sam Rayburn (MTS-635). I’m hoping he gets the Webster (can anyone say Dave Merriman’s old boat? lol) What a trip that would be.
As a Volunteer for Sub Duty, in a year and a half he will join the fleet aboard any one of the currently commissioned US Nuclear Submarines in the Fleet.
However, during the "A" school, he plans to enroll in the NAVY's STA-21 or Seaman to Admiral - 21 is the U.S. Navy's commissioning program for the 21st century and is designed to enable active-duty Sailors to get a college degree and become commissioned officers. Hopefully fulfilling his dream to one day command a 1:1 scale boat of his own. (Did anyone say BOAT TOURS??)
BTW, he ABSOLUTELY loves the NAVY and the career he's chosen.
See folk’s, the circle is now complete; a true child of the SubComittee becomes a Submariner!
Hope to see ya’ll soon!
Also...I'm on FB as "Ed Tordahl" if any shipmates care to hookup!
First off, many of you who remember me would remember my son Ed, who ya’ll use to call “Little Sub Eddie†or “Sub Ed Squaredâ€. He’s not so little anymore! So I thought it would be nice for you all who helped teach him the basics of R/C Submarine modeling to hear what the next generation is doing nowadays, because as you will see, the apple has not fallen far from the tree.
You may remember I was at the 2nd Annual Subregatta (my third if we count Sayerville in ’91) while my wife was due any day with his birth. I was ordered to carry a “pager†(remember them?) by the Admiral in case she went into labor during that weekend in Groton. I mean, how much of a sub-driver can you be if you go to a Regatta with an overdue pregnant wife?? lol Ray Mason, who I travelled with for the first time, and many times afterwards, really demonstrated extreme patience with an expectant father who was trying to get his 70†DeBoer SEAVIEW trimmed and running properly. I also won awards that year as well, which still hang in my study to this day, ’93 was a great year for me for many reasons. I had also met a lot of you.
As “Little Sub Eddie†grew up with a father (and friends like you) obsessed with all aspects of Submarines, after all I am a veteran of the silent service, QM2(SS) USS ULYSSS S. GRANT SSBN631, it was little wonder what he would grow into!. Year after year we came to Groton CT and Johnston RI as he grew older. He learned, and built his own 1/96 scale ALFA, heavily influenced by members of the SubCommittee like Ray himself, or Mike Dory, Skip Assay, Jim Butt, Jeff LaRue to name but a few who know us. I think he even stole Dave Merriman’s heart when he replicated seagull poo on the rudder of his ALFA as he had seen on Dave’s own boats. Something about young boys and poo! He also built a 1/96 BLUEBACK. Both boats share the WTC.
Anyway, again I’m reaching out to let those of you who know him, learn where he is today. He spent 4 years in High School in the NJROTC program eventually becoming CO of the unit. During his senior year, he attempted to get selected for Annapolis, and then the Merchant Marine Academy in hopes of obtaining a Naval Commission. But alas, even with two Congressional Nominations, the competition was too fierce with economy being the way it is, so many young men and women applying for the Service Academies.
Regardless the kid is determined to live his dream, of becoming a Submariner in the US NAVY. So I wanted all of you who know and have certainly help influence this “child of the SubCommitteeâ€, is that on this past Friday, February 17th, I got to see my son "Sub Eddie" graduate from RTC, Great Lakes. As I did 33 years earlier.
I would like all my fellow SubCommittee members, as well as active , reserve and veteran Submariners here also to welcome the newest member of the US Submarine Force, Naval RTC Graduate Fireman Edward O. Tordahl
Awards
Left Ribbon: The National Defense Service Medal, authorized by Executive Order 10448 currently from 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined in support of the Global War on Terrorism.
Right Ribbon: Navy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon with "S" Device , The pistol ribbon is currently awarded for qualification on the 9mm Beretta M9 pistol in which the Navy issues the marksmanship ribbon in three levels — that of Marksman, Sharpshooter, and Expert. Ed qualified as sharpshooter, and is authorized to wear the S Device on the ribbon and appears as a bronze colored "S" for the Navy. FWIW, though quite familiar with a rifle, this was his very FIRST use of a pistol.
He is already down in Charleston, SC and will be attending Electricians Mate (EM) "A" School for 6 months which upon completion he will be automatically promoted to 3rd Class Petty Officer (NCO E4) and then attend 6 months of school at the Naval Nuclear Power School, followed by ANOTHER 6 months of training at Nuclear Power Training Unit (NPTU) which is a decommissioned Lafayette 627 Class FBM Submarine, either ex-Daniel Webster (MTS-626) or ex-Sam Rayburn (MTS-635). I’m hoping he gets the Webster (can anyone say Dave Merriman’s old boat? lol) What a trip that would be.
As a Volunteer for Sub Duty, in a year and a half he will join the fleet aboard any one of the currently commissioned US Nuclear Submarines in the Fleet.
However, during the "A" school, he plans to enroll in the NAVY's STA-21 or Seaman to Admiral - 21 is the U.S. Navy's commissioning program for the 21st century and is designed to enable active-duty Sailors to get a college degree and become commissioned officers. Hopefully fulfilling his dream to one day command a 1:1 scale boat of his own. (Did anyone say BOAT TOURS??)
BTW, he ABSOLUTELY loves the NAVY and the career he's chosen.
See folk’s, the circle is now complete; a true child of the SubComittee becomes a Submariner!
Hope to see ya’ll soon!
Also...I'm on FB as "Ed Tordahl" if any shipmates care to hookup!
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