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CHANGE OF COMMAND

On 17 January 1972 CDR Michael A. McBride relieved CDR Kenneth L. Highfill as Commanding Officer in Pusan, Korea during a port visit following an extended training cruise.

CAPT Michael A. McBride

The USS SARGO departed Pusan on 20 January for a transit to Subic Bay, Philippines, arriving on 26 January. Following completion of an upkeep at the Ship Repair Facility, Subic Bay, USS SARGO departed on 6 February for the War Zone. USS SARGO visited Hong Kong for six days from 12 to 18 February. Following USS SARGO’s departure from Hong Kong, a brief stop was made at Subic Bay, Philippines prior to departing for Guam to conduct an end of deployment upkeep. On 10 February, following the upkeep in Guam (4 to 10 February), USS SARGO departed for it’s homeport, Pearl Harbor, HI arriving on 20 March.

Courtesy Bob Gerle

In April the ship and crew of the USS SARGO hosted a dependent’s day cruise and the cruise was written up in the PATROL magazine (May 26, 1972) by JOSN Susan Breaux:

A Dependent’s Cruise in Sargo Recently I was fortunate to experience my very first submarine cruise in USS Sargo, along with many of the Sargo’s dependent guests, and ten Oahu high school students who had won Navy science awards at the recent 15th Hawaiian Science and Engineering Fair. “I was along with those who watched the dive, recognized HIC through the periscope, felt the jolt of firing a water slug, assisted in plotting the course out of the harbor, and enjoyed the delightful luncheon served onboard. “Aside from all fun I encountered, I found my first cruise in a submarine to very enlightening. A special thanks to the crew of the USS Sargo who helped make the day, one to remember.”

Courtesy PATROL Magazine		Courtesy PATROL Magazine
Dependent's Cruise		Dependent's Cruise

Courtesy PATROL Magazine		Courtesy PATROL Magazine
Dependent's Cruise		Dependent's Cruise

Courtesy Ralph Berry		Courtesy Ralph Berry
Dependent's Cruise (Front - Left to Right) - Unknown, John Goss MM3(SS/DV), Mike Contreras SK2(SS), Unknown (Back - Left to Right) - Unknown, Larry Showalter STS2(SS)		Photo of Ralph Berry IC3(SS) taken just prior to leaving the SARGO, notice the short-timers badge.

On 13 May the USS SARGO departed once again for a WESTPAC deployment, remaining deployed through June. USS SARGO visited Pusan, Korea from 6 to 12 July following completion of an extended training cruise. The ship left Pusan on 12 July to proceed to Guam for an upkeep prior to returning to Pearl Harbor. Following the upkeep which lasted from 21 to 30 July, the ship departed Guam for Pearl Harbor. On August 11, USS SARGO successfully passed an Operational Reactor Safeguard Examination (ORSE) and the ship entered Pearl Harbor. August and September were devoted to crew rest and rehabilitation and to the accomplishment of ship’s repairs. Following local operations from Pearl Harbor in October, the ship started installation of the WLR-8 ECM system for evaluation in 1973. USS SARGO spent November and December in port at Pearl Harbor.