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USS Parche Decommisions at PSNS
Story Number: NNS041028-07
Release Date: 10/28/2004 11:07:00 AM
By Journalist 2nd Class Mary Popejoy, Naval Base Kitsap Public Affairs
SILVERDALE, Wash. (NNS) -- USS Parche (SSN 683) Sailors - past and present - paid tribute to Parche and its 30-plus years of dedicated and faithful service to the U.S. Navy during a decommissioning and change of command ceremony at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (PSNS) Oct. 19.
Cmdr. Bill Guerrero relieved Capt. Charles Richard as commanding officer of the Sturgeon-class attack submarine in front of former Parche crew members, distinguished guests and family and friends of the crew.
The guest speaker for the event was Rear Adm. Paul Sullivan, commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (SUBPAC).
During the ceremony, Sullivan spoke about how proud he was to be on hand to witness such a special occasion.
"Capt. Richard, you and your crew have never looked better," said Sullivan. "The Parche crew members and reunion group embody the motto of the Parche herself - 'Par excellence.' Your steadfast devotion to duty, ingenuity, boldness and competence of Parche crew members past and present symbolizes the very essence of our nation and is a clear demonstration of your love and passion for freedom."
"It's because of each Sailor's exceptional service that Parche was able to take the ship to sea safely and provide the nation with national security through their warfighting readiness," added Sullivan.
Richard praised his former crew and said it was a pleasure to serve with them.
"Parche has consistently set the standard for material readiness," said Richard, "right up to her last day under way a few weeks ago. You just can't find a more dedicated, enthusiastic, hard-charging group of men willing to go to sea for extended periods of time away from family and friends doing a job that needed to be done, not for favor or reward, but because their country asked them to. They are true American heroes."
For former crew members, witnessing the decommisioning of their ship was sentimental.
"I was a part of the commissioning crew, and I wanted to see it full circle and see the decommissioning ceremony," said former crew member Dennis Doering. "It was a great boat from start to finish. It ran well, performed all of its duties, and we did our best to make it look better."
And for those who were a part of the last Parche crew, the day will not soon be forgotten.
"Parche is the last of the old boats, the Sturgeon-class submarine, and I really liked it a lot because I've grown up with them over the past 20 years," said Senior Chief Machinist's Mate (SS) Gary Kernan, engineering department leading chief petty officer. "I'm going to miss the crew, because that's what makes the boat what it is. The camaraderie that we have here is better than any other sub I've ever served on."
Guerrero said his goal as new commanding officer of Parche was to close the doors on Parche's historic Navy career in the same fashion in which they were opened.
"My vision is that this will be finished with the same panache as all their previous exploits and faithful to the spirit of the ship's motto, 'Par excellence,'" said Guerrero.
Parche is named after its predecessor, USS Parche (SS 384), which was commissioned Nov. 20, 1943. The name Parche comes from a French butterfly fish, Chaetodon Capistratus, which is known for its remarkable navigation abilities.
Parche was commissioned in August 1974 and served as a unit of the Atlantic Submarine Force until 1976 before transferring to SUBPAC. Once arriving at its new homeport at Mare Island, Calif., Parche received ocean engineering modifications.
From 1987 to 1991, Parche began an extended overhaul at Mare Island Shipyard. The boat was refueled and modified for research and development, adding a 100 foot extension to its hull, and began a new mission as part of Submarine Development Squadron 5. Parche resumed Pacific Fleet operations in 1992 and was transferred to its new homeport at Naval Submarine Base Bangor, Wash., in November 1994.
Throughout its 30-year career, Parche has earned numerous accolades, including nine Presidential Unit Citations and 10 Navy Unit Commendations.
For more news from around the fleet, visit the Navy NewsStand at www.news.navy.mil.
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