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Families Brave Icy Temps to Welcome Home Memphis

Navy Newsstand

Story Number: NNS040122-05

Release Date: 1/22/2004 10:57:00 AM

By Journalist 2nd Class Steven Feller, Commander, Navy Region Northeast Public Affairs

GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow, nor subzero temperatures could keep 300 friends and family members of USS Memphis (SSN 691) Sailors from gathering at Naval Submarine Base New London (SUBASE) Jan. 16 to welcome them home.

Memphis returned to port on the coldest day of the year after a regularly scheduled six-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea.

Although people lined the waterfront to greet Memphis, they were not left out in the cold. SUBASE opened the old Squadron 2 building for those seeking shelter, and free donuts and coffee were provided by Dunkin' Donuts to the cold and hungry. WCTY 97.7 FM was also on hand to play music for those waiting.

Many friends and family came from all over the country, eagerly awaiting the crew's arrival. Johnny Crawley, a Vietnam veteran and father of Sonar Technician (Submarine) 2nd Class (SS) Jason Crawley, said he and Jason's grandmother came all the way from Houston to see his son.

"He's (Jason) been in the Navy now for five years, and this was his second deployment," said Crawley. "He said he's got orders to go back overseas, but for right now, we're going to enjoy his company."

Arguably, the most anxious family member on the waterfront was Megan McKinney, wife of Machinist's Mate 2nd Class (SS) Benjamin Smith. McKinney was the recipient of the envied "first kiss." McKinney said she and her husband got married just two months before he deployed, leaving her to find a new place for them to live.

"I'm very nervous and excited," said McKinney. "I have a home-cooked meal for him when he gets home, and then we are going to check out our new apartment. I've been waiting for this for a long time."

After waiting for nearly two hours in the bitter cold, family members saw Memphis pull into SUBASE and moor. Ice covered the sail, and many Sailors departed the ship without their coats, a sign that submarine living keeps them oblivious to the weather conditions of the outside world.

Nikki King, whose cousin Nicholas Coleman is a Sailor aboard Memphis, said she drove eight hours in the ice and snow to get to his homecoming.

"Our family is very proud of him serving (in the military)," said King. "As long as he is doing well and doing something he likes, we will support him."