Click on the pictures to enlarge!

CHANGE OF COMMAND

On 06 January 1979 CDR John H. Cox relieved CDR Henry J. Barfield as USS SARGO's Commanding Officer.

Courtesy John H. Cox

CAPT John H. Cox.

During January the USS SARGO completed a Pre-Overseas Movement Upkeep and departed on 29 January for a deployment to the Western Pacific. In February USS SARGO transited to the Western Pacific and participated in MULTIPLEX 2-79 prior to mooring in Yokosuka, Japan on 21 February for a one-week upkeep. In March USS SARGO departed Yokosuka and participated in exercise TEAM SPIRIT prior to arriving in Subic Bay, Philippines on 18 March. Following another upkeep SARGO departed Subic Bay on 26 March, arriving in Hong Kong on 30 March for a five-day liberty call. After leaving Hong Kong USS SARGO returned to Subic Bay, Philippines, departing Subic Bay on 10 April to participate in Exercise SEA OF SIAM and MULTIPLEX 3-79. On 25 April USS SARGO arrived in Guam for an upkeep with USS HUNLEY (AS 31). In May the USS SARGO continued the ongoing upkeep in Guam, departing Guam on 06 June on a mission of national security. On 28 July the USS SARGO arrived in Yokosuka, Japan, departing the same day. On 03 August USS SARGO arrived for a five-day upkeep with the USS HUNLEY (AS 31) in Guam. On 18 August the USS SARGO arrived in Johnston Island, departing the same day. USS SARGO successfully passed the Operational Reactor Safeguards Examination on 20 August and arrived in Pearl Harbor, HI on 21 August completing a long and arduous deployment.

Courtesy Lance Hagele

USS SARGO (SSN 583) returning from WESTPAC 1979 - Taken off a Torpedo Retriever.

In September, following a one month standdown, the USS SARGO began an upkeep at SUBASE, Pearl Harbor, completing the upkeep in October. The USS SARGO spent the remainder of October and November conducting local operations in the Pearl Harbor area. In December the USS SARGO was visited by the Board of Inspection and Survey in preparation for the upcoming overhaul. The ship entered the holiday standdown period on 21 December. For service on USS SARGO ETC(SS) A. R. Thomsen, RM1(SS) W. E. Carlson, and LCDR T. M. Rechert were awarded the Navy Achievement Medal. For service on USS SARGO MMCM(SS) R. J. Hernandez was awarded a COMSUBPAC Letter of Commendation. For service on USS SARGO MMCS(SS) R. K. Scheble was awarded a CINCPACFLT Letter of Commendation. For service on USS SARGO QMCS(SS) J.E. Winningham was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal. For service on USS SARGO MS1(SS) M. J. Laurent, QM2(SS) C. T. Wallace, MM2(SS) J. A. Houston, and LTJG D. B. Newberry were awarded Commanding Officer USS SARGO Letters of Commendation.