The Puget Soundings

Editorial and Regular Columns

The View from the Bridge
National Commander Jon Jaques opens the issue with a candid state-of-the-organization report. He covers USSVI activity levels, membership growth, financial stewardship, cybersecurity threats, and the continuing importance of the magazine itself. Equal parts encouragement and warning bell, written by someone who has stood real watches.

Chaplain’s Corner
National Chaplain Jim Sandman reflects on leadership, faith, and service through the lens of retired Captain Robert “Navy Bob” Roncska’s career and book Beyond the Sea: Leading with Love. It is less sermon, more sea-tested wisdom about character, pride, and taking care of shipmates.

Mail Buoy
Letters from readers range from historical footnotes, like John Wayne’s uncredited submarine film appearance, to deeply personal reflections on fate, survival, and asbestos exposure. This section remains the magazine’s conscience and memory bank, raw and unfiltered.

Kap(ss) 4 Kid(ss)
A report on the Mid-Atlantic Base’s outreach to children at Nemours Children’s Hospital. Submariners turn storytelling, teddy bears, and dolphins into morale medicine, proving the service still knows how to show up quietly and do good.

Feature Articles and Narratives

Centurion Submariner Celebrates with Subvets
The story of John “Jack” Hagen’s 100th birthday celebration, tracing his service from World War II through post-Navy civilian work with Electric Boat. A reminder that longevity in submarines is less about steel and more about stubborn camaraderie.

Kris Kringle and Cod — A Cool Christmas Combo!
A warm historical echo linking USS Cod’s 1951 Christmas charity for orphans to the modern museum boat’s holiday traditions. Santa, torpedo rooms, cocoa, and continuity across generations.

Snook Base’s Generosity Brings Food to Those Who Need It Most
How USS Snook Base quietly turned holiday spirit into real dollars and real food for veterans and families. No speeches, no slogans, just checks written and boxes delivered.

This ain’t no sh*t!
The sea-story section, and proudly so. This issue includes high-stress near-disaster aboard USS Barb, a prank involving WAVES that spiraled magnificently out of control, survival lessons learned the hard way, and an unforgettable dinner with Smiley Chow. These are not tall tales. They have grease under the fingernails.

Historical and Technical Features

The First ICEX: A Historical Journey by USS Nautilus (SSN-571)
The anchor piece of the issue. Jason Reagle delivers a deeply researched, narrative-driven account of Nautilus and Operation Sunshine. It connects Cold War politics, Sputnik panic, inertial navigation, under-ice hazards, and presidential image-making into one cohesive story. This is not just submarine history; it is American technological confidence clawing its way back after embarrassment.

Memorials and Community

Lost Boats
A solemn accounting of submarines lost and remembered. Brief, factual, and intentionally understated.

Eternal Patrol
Names of shipmates who have made their final dive. No commentary needed. The silence does the work.

Upcoming Boat Reunions & Welcome New Members
One page looks backward, one forward. Both matter.