These pages have been constructed as a tribute to the Andrew Jackson because of her many silent years of service protecting our country, her crews, and myself. This website also stands in honor of all the Boats, past and present, of their Silent Service, and their crews who return to the deep to keep this country free; And to the many who will never return from Eternal Patrol.
It is winter, early in 1969. Men have not yet walked on the moon. The Cold War is hot in Viet Nam. Sabers are ratteling throughout the world. Submarines are going about their silent business throughout the oceans of the world.
This is a picture of the Jackson when I reported aboard her in Portsmouth Naval Shipyard right after I completed Sub School. This was My first boat after serving on two surface craft and completing electronics and nuclear power schools.
She was in the shipyard undergoing a major overhaul including replacing the reactor core and conforming some of the systems to subsafe.The down side was that a submarine is not a submarine when tied to the pier. The best part was being aboard during system changes and installations, sea trials, transits, missile shots, and becoming a qualified submariner.
The USS Andrew Jackson and the other forty Ballistic Missile Submarines, 41 for Freedom, comprised the devastating power that detered a third world war and ultimatly bought time for the economic downfall of the Soviet Union. I sincerly hope the Ohio boats can do the same for our country with China.
This is a picture of the Jackson cira 1969, after the yard period,probably taken on sea trials.
The music is a period peice from the Doors, Roadhouse Blues, which has included these pertinant lyrics:
Woke up this morning and had myself a beer
Woke up this morning and had myself a beer
The future's uncertain and the end is always near