I joined Dutton at the Newport Shipbuilding and Drydock. She was having lead installed in the ballast tanks to help stabilize her in rough seas. We then took her thru the Panama Canal, to the equator and then to Seattle. My last trip was the one that broke the ship. I remember the Coast Guard coming aboard and asking me to join them on an inspection of the keel from beneath the engine room. Scary down there. I received orders while she was laid up for repairs. I'll always remember the volley ball games. Nice web site. Thanks

I was one of the gravity guys on all three ships (plus the USNS Shoup) from 1964 to 1967. Many fond memories, and I still have a photo of the Dutton on my wall..

Michelson - Jul 1964 - Dec 1965 SOGSN, ST3, ST2
Bowditch - Feb 1966 - Dec 1966 ST2
Dutton - 1964, 1966 - ST2 Visitor
Michelson - Mar 1967 - Apr 1968 GI Tech Rep
Michelson - Nov 1969 - Jun 1972 GI Tech Rep
Dutton - 16 Oct 2007 Good-by Visit
T-AGS, the only shipboard Navy I really knew. Life aboard them was the best seagoing life an enlisted sailor could ask for in my opinion. Better duty I could not have selected myself.

Met many nice and interesting people, military and civillian; my six years aboard the ships were some of the best years of my life. Hindsight being 20-20, I wish I had remained with the program until it completed its last surv-ops.

My visits to the Dutton were in Bayonne, New Jersey; Belfast, Ireland; Lisbon, Portugal; and Brownsville, Texas.

Still in contact with some of the crew and hope to hear from more.

Best wishes to all who sailed and their families.

Just prior to getting underway for my first survop on the Bowditch when hit by MV Po, helped in dismantling survey spaces in New Orleans. Went on to serve onboard NOAA Ship Discoverer, USNS Hess, USNS Wyman, Plank Owner USNS Maury, and USNS Tanner. Great times.

Glad to see there is more information out there on these ships than there were in past years. Good job. I have a few photos of the Dutton and crew, including some shots of us skeet shooting off the roundie end.
As with Philby, I have great memories of Barcelona and Marseilles. Remember how little ice, room service would bring at a time.

I reported to the Dutton in June 1969, newly married and right out of OCS. It was a great 13 months. We inported in Copenhagen, Amsterdam, and Trondhiem Norway, and several ports in England. We dry docked in NJ in January 70, then headed back to the North Atlantic. I left the shipped in July 1970, and took an early release from active duty. I have been able to maintain limited contact with only three people from my tour. LT Bob Zang, Lee (the baker_) Everette, and Peter Labyak, the CO when I left. Would love to hear from anyone.

During the late 1980's my daughter purchased a number of photographs of old and new hardhat diving taken by a navy photographer. Included in the items was a brass dolphin structure (like on the submarines emblem) with a divers helmet in lieu of the submarine conning tower. This looks like something that would have been mounted over the hatch for the "Diving Locker" I have a hat patch with the words "Oceanographic Unit One" . I wore this for many years and purchased from the sub school a Chief Masters Diver pin which I have placed on the middle of the patch. If this hat patch came from the same source as the photographs and the brass emblem, then they would all be related. Anyone interested in learning more about these items please send me an email. Happy New Year Larry Beaver, Gresham, OR

MSC daughter of George Keller

My father George Keller served on both the Dutton and the Michelson as cook and cook steward. I am trying to get any pictures or reminiscences from those who served with him. Dad passed away February 6 2007, and I just want to get a clearer sense of his life when he was away from his family. Your website is amazingly detailed, but so far I haven't seen anything with his name on it. I can't recall the years he was on the ships, but may have that info soon. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide. Lisa

Outstanding site...I can't tell you how much I'm enjoying looking around and reminiscing! I served as the XO starting in Southampton in May 74 and ending in a shipyard in Newark in Jun 75 (after the cargo hold fire in St John's). Tremendous memories ... both at sea and in port! It's 35 years later and I'm still telling stories of my experiences on the Bowditch...in fact, it's what lead me to find this site. I've got many pictures that I'll review and submit when I get a chance. Thank you for making this available!

What a great tour of duty. I served in the sonar shack with both Ray and Chet Headley and remember them both very well. Visiting Chet's site, I even saw my pictures "manning the motor-lifeboat on way to Iwo Jima. Also remember "great" poker games in the rope locker and playing volleyball in the hold of the ship. Great days,..great people. I also have some pics that I will scan and post very soon. Take care all TAGS 23 "Survivors".