Joel,

I found a picture that I think you might want to add to the site. I've attached it to this e-mail.

It was taken in #1 Engineroom right after the commissioning ceremony on 11 September 1976.

The people in the photo are:

Kneeling (left to right): MM1 Vincent Draper, MM1 D. W. Hardee

Standing (left to right): MM2 David Sutton, MM1 Hans Schuemacher, CAPT G. W. Davis, MMC Ronald Anderson, Secretary of the Navy J. William Middendorf II, and LCDR Ralph Lipfert.

I was in #1 Engineroom during the commissioning ceremony, standing watch (meaning I was in #1 EOS drinking coffee and talking with the Reactor Operator). I think it was Schuemacher who came into the EOS and told me to go put on a set of clean dungarees and be back in a hurry. I remember asking what was going on, and Schuemacher saying something along the lines of "Just hurry the f*** up, Sutton." Anyway, I scurried to the M-Div berthing compartment, put on a clean set of dungarees, and got back in a hurry.

Within a few minutes the Secretary of the Navy comes down the ladder to the 23-9 level with CAPT Davis, LCDR Lipfert, and MMC Anderson in tow. The photographers directed us where to stand. Click, click, click. Quick shaking of everyone's hand and then they all went back up the ladder.

I don't think the picture was published anywhere, but I hung on to my copy.

If you have any problems, let me know. I've got the original and I can scan another copy.


David L. Sutton, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Communication & Journalism
211 Tichenor Hall
Auburn University, AL 36849-5211
suttoda@auburn.edu