Farewell USS North Carolina

We have wrapped up a remarkable week here in Wilmington. It was one of those weeks that reminded me of why I love this business. Learning and seeing new things.

I found the entire encounter with the submarine North Carolina and its sailors fascinating. It is a remarkable vessel and the men who run it are a special breed. To live and work in those close quarters 24/7 in the “silent service,” you have to be incredibly dedicated to serving your country.

I am truly sorry that public access to the sub was so limited. I wish all of you who wanted to see the North Carolina could have. I wish you could have had a tour. I wish you could have met the crew. I also fully understand the rigid security concerns and the immense logistics involved. To that end I felt privileged to help serve as your eyes and ears all week. I was pleased that WWAY management made the investment to broadcast the commissioning live Saturday morning. That ceremony generated red, white, and blue goose bumps several times.

The Navy could not have had a better “front man” than Captain Mark Davis. He was gracious and enthusiastic. I considered it an honor to get to know him and many of his crew. That sub is in good hands. These guys really care about what they do.

It was also an honor to talk to many of the vets at the Port. I could have listened to their stories for hours. Much of what was once classified has finally been made public. From World War 2 through Viet Nam and the Cold War, those guys quietly, and often secretly, paved the way for the North Carolina.

The sub itself is an incredibly capable vessel. I went onboard twice. Once with cameraman Mike Pelzer for the official media day. We did all of the visual things, highlighted by the state-of-the-art control center and all of its new technological capabilities. I went a second time two days later with a weapons officer and no camera… and got an entirely different perspective of the sub and its military abilities. It is a formidable weapon.

And now that submarine is inextricably linked with Wilmington and North Carolina’s history. Just like the battleship that preceded it.