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The final Deck Log Sheet (below) for the USS Sargo (SSN 583) shows that on 08 February 1988 the boat was moored at Pier B-8, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. On 23 February 1988 the ship was moved from Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard to SUBASE Pearl Harbor pierside at SIERRA-1A in preparation for the ship's pending decommissioning.

Courtesy Louis L. Braun

USS SARGO's Last Ship's Deck Log Sheet.

DECOMMISSIONING

On 26 February 1988, with the boat pierside at SIERRA-1A, the USS SARGO was decommissioned. On hand for the ceremony were the official guests RADM J. Guy Reynolds, COMSUBPAC, VADM John H. Nicholson, USN Retired, SARGO’s second Commanding Officer, and CDR R. Michael Camp, SARGO’s last Commanding Officer.

Courtesy Bob Gerle

USS SARGO pierside in Pearl Harbor for Decommissioning.

Courtesy Aaron Kam		Courtesy Aaron Kam
Ship's crew retiring the colors.		Ship's crew departing the ship for the last time.

Courtesy Bob Gerle		Courtesy Bob Gerle
In attendance were former USS SARGO Commanding Officers and Chiefs of the Boat. From Left to Right: CAPT Robert S. Holbrook (former Commanding Officer), CAPT John H. Cox (former Commanding Officer), CWO-2 Bob Gerle (former Chief of the Boat), CAPT Michael A. McBride (former Commanding Officer), TMCM(SS) Leroy Ingles (USS SARGO's first Chief of the Boat), VADM John H. Nicholson (former Commanding Officer), and CAPT Daniel P. Brooks (first Commanding Officer).		The "Order of the Silent Bell" presented to the decommissioning crew, as well as a few special guests.

To mark the occasion the Chief of Naval Operations sent the following message to the ship and crew:

AS USS SARGO NEARS THE END OF 29 YEARS OF SUPERIOR AND PROUD SERVICE TO OUR NATION AND THE FREE WORLD, HER DARING EXPLOITS WILL BE REMEMBERED AS HAVING MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, SUBMARINE KNOWLEDGE, AND INTERNATIONAL GOODWILL. DURING HER DISTINGUISHED CAREER, SARGO WAS THE FIRST SHIP EVER AWARDED FOUR NAVY UNIT COMMENDATIONS. SHE WAS THE FIRST NUCLEAR-POWERED SHIP TO CROSS THE EQUATOR, SARGO CONDUCTED PIONEERING SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN THE ARCTIC AND WAS THE FIRST SUBMARINE TO SURFACE THROUGH THE WINTER ARCTIC PACK ICE. SHE PROUDLY REPRESENTED THE UNITED STATES IN COMBINED EXERCISES WITH THE NAVIES OF THE FREE WORLD. HER MISSIONS ADDED IMMENSELY TO OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE OCEANS AND SUBMARINE TACTICS. ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE U.S. NAVY, I CONGRATULATE THE CREW OF THE USS SARGO AS YOU CLOSE THE FINAL CHAPTER OF THIS SHIP’S MAGNIFICENT CAREER. I ALSO SALUTE THE SAILORS WHO HELPED SHAPE SARGO’S DISTINGUISHED HISTORY, ALL OF YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AS I AM. BEST WISHES, C.A.H. TROST, ADMIRAL, U. S. NAVY.

In a message to the SARGO Commander In Chief Pacific Fleet said:

IT IS WITH RETRET YET PRIDE THAT THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE U.S. PACIFIC FLEET SAY FAREWELL TO USS SARGO UPON HER DECOMMISSIONING. SHE WAS THE FIRST TO BRING THE ERA OF NUCLEAR POWER TO THE PACIFIC FLEET IN OCTOBER 1958. USS SARGO GREATLY IMPROVED OPERATING CAPABILITIES, INCREASED SPEED, ENDURANCE, AND REVOLUTIONIZED PEACETIME PATROLS IN THE PACIFIC. DURING HER MANY DEPLOYMENTS, SARGO HAS SERVED WITH DISTINCTION. AS SARGO IS RETIRED, HER YEARS OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICE TO THE MISSIONS OF THE U.S. PACIFIC FLEET WILL LONG BE REMEMBERED. SARGO AND HER CREW, PAST AND PRESENT, HAVE EARNED THE RESPECT OF THE ENTIRE U.S. NAVY. ADM ACE LYONS, USN.

The Public Affairs Office for Commander Submarine Force Pacific Fleet provided the following announcement:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PEARL HARBOR, HI -- A PIONEER RETIRES. USS SARGO (SSN 583), THE FIFTH NUCLEAR SUBMARINE TO BE COMMISSIONED IN THE U.S. NAVY, WILL BE DECOMMISSIONED DURING A CEREMONY AT 1:00 P.M. ON FRIDAY 26, 1988, AT SUBASE PEARL HARBOR. THE GUEST SPEAKER WILL BE VICE ADMIRAL JOHN H. NICHOLSON, USN, (RETIRED). VICE ADMIRAL NICHOLSON WAS SARGO’S SECOND COMMANDING OFFICER, TAKING COMMAND OF THE SUBMARINE ON OCTOBER 1, 1959. USS SARGO, HAVING RECEIVED NUMEROUS AWARDS AND CITATIONS OVER HER 29 YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE, IS PERHAPS BEST KNOWN FOR HER PIONEERING EFFORTS IN UNDER-ICE OPERATIONS. FOLLOWING SEVERAL CRUISES UNDER THE ICE AND VISITING THE NORTH POLE, SHE IS THE FIRST SUBMARINE TO SURFACE THROUGH THE WINTER ARCTIC ICE PACK IN JANUARY 1960. SARGO’S OTHER ‘FIRSTS’ INCLUDE: FIRST NUCLEAR SUBMARINE TO BE CONSTRUCTED ON THE PACIFIC COAST; FIRST NUCLEAR POWERED SHIP EVER TO CROSS THE EQUATOR; FIRST NUCLEAR SUBMARINE TO BE REFUELED AT THE PEARL HARBOR NAVAL SHIPYARD; THE FIRST OF ANY U.S. NAVY SHIP TO RECEIVE FOUR NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION AWARDS. WITH A CREW OF 90 OFFICERS AND MEN, MANY SUBMARINERS, OVER THE YEARS, HAVE SERVED FAITHFULLY ABOARD SARGO IN THE DEFENSE OF THEIR COUNTRY. SARGO’S ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER WILL LONG BE REMEMBERED FOR THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION SHE MADE DURING THE EARLY YEARS OF OUR NATION’S NUCLEAR POWERED SUBMARINE PROGRAM. COMMISSIONED OCTOBER 1, 1958, AT THE MARE ISLAND NAVAL SHIPYARD, THE 267 FEET LONG SUBMARINE WILL LEAVE THE PACIFIC SUBMARINE FORCE A PROUD ‘FIRST LADY’.

Courtesy Scott Oney

The Decommissioning Crew of the USS SARGO (SSN 583).

Follow this link to the Decommissioning Crew

Courtesy Bob Gerle

The Invitation to the USS SARGO Decommissioning Ceremony.

Our Final Voyage The old girl moves slowly, For the last time she sails, Out in open ocean, Where her diving bell wails. The long years behind her, Etching many memories, Of underway moments, Of tranquility and ease. And the ports she has visited, All over the sphere, Each one holding something, To our hearts we hold near. Under Arctic ice packs, All kinds of expeditions, And across the equator, She’s made many traditions. Proud and majestic, The best in her class, She will go out in style, Til the very last. Courtesy Unknown Sargo Sailor

CAPT Ted Hamilton sent the picture below of a decommissioning party held at his home in Fairfax, VA following the ship's decommissioning in Hawaii:

Courtesy Ted Hamilton

(Front Kneeling Left to Right) - Lu Ann and LT Chuck Miller (1964) and Penny Vahsen (Seated) - CAPT Bob Douglass (1957-1959 and 1963-1965) and his wife (Standing behind) Marilyn (Standing Front Row) - LCDR Bill Honadle (1970-1971), CAPT Ted Hamilton (1964-1968), Sharon Olson, CAPT Ken Lee (1967-1969), Sylvia Hamilton, Marsha and LT Al Perry (1964), Em and Betsy Cobb, and LTJG Bob Burton (1968) (Standing Back Row) - LT Don Olson (1968), Sally and LT Doug Fuge (1968), LTJG Charlie and Annie Arnest (1964)

Following the ship’s decommissioning, on 21 Apr 1988 the USS SARGO (SSN 583) was stricken from the Naval Register. On 13 Jun 1988 the decommissioned SARGO departed Pearl Harbor, HI and towed by USS RECLAIMER (ARS-42) and escorted by USS TISDALE (FFG-27) for its final voyage to Bremerton, WA, arriving on 26 Jun 1988, where she was berthed in the inactive ship’s facility.