As XO, picked up the Dutton in Norfolk yard and took her though Panama Canal to the Pacific. We made the unclassifed chart that I know of by deep ocean units. We made chart for the Alvin's Galapigose rift zone dive. I had come from Chauveney in WestPac hoping for some Med time.

Friday 26 Sep 2025

It's been 61 years since I first reported aboard the Michelson in 1964 and 53 years since leaving the Mike/Tags in June 1972. Hard to believe that much time has slipped by, almost unnoticed.

Do miss the ships and all the folks I sailed with. It is a Great Honor to have played a small part along with you all in this great endeavor that continues to help save the world from Nuclear War. Hope it remains that-a-way.

Best Always,
God Bless all who have served our Country

Chris Headley Phoenix Arizona USN

Hi. Enjoy ship spotting.

Served Dec 1988 - Sept 1989 Decom. I was the last USN Sailor to step of the brow during Decom ceremony. It was an awesome experience, working with the scientist was very rewarding!

WOW - was an amazing journey for a young sailor! I met the ship in Guam - went to Japan and hit that side - went thru Panama Canal - and the other side!

I would like to propose the USNS Sgt. George D. Keathley (T-AGS 35) be added among the ships that were operated under the US Navy Oceanographic Office.

During my time as a Geophysist
with NAVOCEANO, the Keathley had a proud record of surveying in the North Atlantic region and contributed significantly to the Nations' defense program during the Cold War period.

What a great tour of duty. Enjoyed every day on board and had the time of my life when we pulled into port. Can't forget Mr. Bill great guy and was an awesome friend. Had a blast going thru Shellback Initiation. Would have done 30 years on board if possible but had to go to the Casimir Pulaski SSBN 633 Gold. Anyone still around, feel free to reach out.

ET(N)-3 (SS), Navigation ET (3339) - LORAN-C; NAVSAT/BRN-3 and various miscellaneous time standards and time keeping devices.

First off, nice website. Well done!

I was the classic underachiever of the vaunted "Silent Service"--drafted in 1967; I ran for the Navy/Air Force and a field that would keep me away from SE Asia. I was lucky to find the US Navy and made nine (9) deterrent patrols and then got out. I did my job well and somewhat enjoyed it, but "making rate" wasn't my top priority. What they taught me was put to use in the 80s, 90s, 2000s building computer networks LANs, WANs, MANs, et. al.

Along the way, TAGS ships and their missions were often discussed among us NavCenter watch standers during the seemingly endless hours of making sure our SINS didn't run off the plot page and we could meet the position requirements of the next WSRT. We marveled at how much accuracy and detail the systems that we ran (and y'all made possible and viable) were. I ran into one TAGS sailor in New London during some refresher training and his description of your mission made me wish I'd been assigned to a TAGS ship instead of a submarine... oh well.

Thank you for the website. A fun trip down memory lane from a user and benefactor of your efforts.

Communicated from NCS Londonderry via encrypted to these ships as well as MERCAST broadcast Morse code.

As always, just passing through.