today is the 45th anniversary of the sinking of the USS Thresher

[brokeplex]

An event mentioned in "Brokeback Mountain" the short story, today is the 45th anniversary of the sinking of the USS Thresher. lets remember those brave sailors who gave their lives for their country so long ago.

April 10, 2008 1:35 PM ET

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. (AP) - It was 45 years ago today that the nuclear submarine USS Thresher sank during sea trials out of the Portsmouth Naval shipyard, killing 129 men.

On April 10, 1963, the Thresher ran into trouble and radioed that it was trying to resurface. It never did, sinking to the bottom of the Atlantic, crushed by the enormous pressure.

A memorial service is being held Saturday at Traip Academy in Kittery, Maine.

[Penthesilea]

The Thresher was yesterdays featured article in the German wikipedia. I talked about it in the 1000+ Club.

Even after two years, reminders of BBM are everywhere....

[mouk]

Crushed by the enormous pressure - wow, isn't this what happened to the boys, crushed by the enormous pressure of society's prejudice, despite Jack's attempts to resurface. Little did they know when they talked about it round the campfire that their destinies were going to be similar

[Nevermore]

I was a machinist stationed at NAVSUBASE Pearl Harbor from 1990 to 1994, and I was there for two historic anniversaries, the fiftieth observance of the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the thirtieth of the loss of the USS Thresher. Of the two, it was the second that had a more direct impact on our lives--it was the Thresher disaster that led to the implementation of the QA system that governs all maintenance procedures on naval vessels, aircraft, and secondary materiel.
If I remember correctly, the boat had just undergone an overhaul of its hydraulic power plant--even though it had only been commissioned a year earlier, it had been depth tested continuously during that year, for it was the first of its class of nuclear subs. Testing on the wreckage revealed improperly brazed fittings in the engine room and metal chips left over from machining inside of seawater valves, either of which could have led to a catastrophic failure of the ship's controls.
The final report I believe is still classified, but it was and remains ultimately speculative, as there were no eyewitness accounts--the Thresher went to the bottom with all hands, 129 men, no survivors.
Something that was never far from our minds when we did any repair work or fabrication for any of the submarines.
Fair winds and following seas, shipmates.

    Eternal Father, Strong to save,
    Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
    Who bid'st the mighty Ocean deep
    Its own appointed limits keep;
    O hear us when we cry to thee,
    for those who serve beneath the sea.

    O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
    And hushed their raging at Thy word,
    Who walked'st on the foaming deep,
    and calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
    Oh hear us when we cry to Thee
    For those who serve beneath the sea!

    Most Holy spirit! Who didst brood
    Upon the chaos dark and rude,
    And bid its angry tumult cease,
    And give, for wild confusion, peace;
    Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee
    For those who serve beneath the sea!

    Lord God, our power evermore,
    Who arm doth reach the ocean floor,
    Dive with our men beneath the sea;
    Traverse the depths protectively.
    O hear us when we pray, and keep
    them safe from peril in the deep.

    O Trinity of love and power!
    Our brethren shield in danger's hour;
    From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
    Protect them wheresoe'er they go;
    Thus evermore shall rise to Thee,
    Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.


"Eternal Father, Strong to Save": The Navy Hymn

[Jeff Wrangler]

    Eternal Father, Strong to save,
    Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
    Who bid'st the mighty Ocean deep
    Its own appointed limits keep;
    O hear us when we cry to thee,
    for those who serve beneath the sea.

    O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
    And hushed their raging at Thy word,
    Who walked'st on the foaming deep,
    and calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
    Oh hear us when we cry to Thee
    For those who serve beneath the sea!

    Most Holy spirit! Who didst brood
    Upon the chaos dark and rude,
    And bid its angry tumult cease,
    And give, for wild confusion, peace;
    Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee
    For those who serve beneath the sea!

    Lord God, our power evermore,
    Who arm doth reach the ocean floor,
    Dive with our men beneath the sea;
    Traverse the depths protectively.
    O hear us when we pray, and keep
    them safe from peril in the deep.

    O Trinity of love and power!
    Our brethren shield in danger's hour;
    From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
    Protect them wheresoe'er they go;
    Thus evermore shall rise to Thee,
    Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.


"Eternal Father, Strong to Save": The Navy Hymn

And the tune is called Melita, named for the island where St. Paul was shipwrecked.

"They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters: These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep." --Psalm 107:23-24.

[Lynne]

Crushed by the enormous pressure - wow, isn't this what happened to the boys, crushed by the enormous pressure of society's prejudice, despite Jack's attempts to resurface. Little did they know when they talked about it round the campfire that their destinies were going to be similar

Noelie!  Thank you so much for sharing this.  I've wondered before about Annie's intention in mentioning the Thresher, but never quite understood it.  I think this is extremely insightful.

Lynne
 

[mouk]

Thanks Lynne,   just a guess, but it seems to fit somehow

[brokeplex]

Crushed by the enormous pressure - wow, isn't this what happened to the boys, crushed by the enormous pressure of society's prejudice, despite Jack's attempts to resurface. Little did they know when they talked about it round the campfire that their destinies were going to be similar

good point, they were "broken" like the Thresher by irresistable pressures.

[mouk]

... and the last sound we hear for Jack is the metallic tire iron and he drowned in his own blood;

and the last sounds for Ennis are the 'scratching of fine gravel and sand' (like the bottom of the sea under the Thresher) and a 'load of dirt coming off a dump truck', (as if he was being buried alive)

- all reminiscent of the metallic and grinding sounds of the sinking/breaking submarine

Horrible

[brokeplex]

... and the last sound we hear for Jack is the metallic tire iron and he drowned in his own blood;

and the last sounds for Ennis are the 'scratching of fine gravel and sand' (like the bottom of the sea under the Thresher) and a 'load of dirt coming off a dump truck', (as if he was being buried alive)

- all reminiscent of the metallic and grinding sounds of the sinking/breaking submarine

Horrible

again, good on point observations! I just keep learning new ways of appreciating Annie Proux. You must be an instructor specializing in the American short story.