Christmas with Submarine Pilots!!

We had a great time with Matthew Sands, and Joel Burchwell. Matthew is 31, from a small town in South Dakota he has been in the Navy with submarines for 12 years.  Joel is from a small town in Ohio, and has been in for 6 years.  They are young, and I must say a 'different breed' of our armed forces. 


Here is their boat the USS North Carolina coming in to Yokosuka Japan

They told us from the get- go to ask them anything we want to know--- if they can not answer it--they will just say "I do not know". I will say, they used that several times. They are both pilots of the sub, and the longest Matthew has been in under in the sub is 62 days, and Matt 31 days.  They can sometimes come up and download email, but it is not a regular basis. 


They are both based in Honolulu and are married--Matt expecting a baby girl in 2 weeks to join his wife and 18 month old. Joel's wife is having their first baby in March.  They are out now on a mission for at least 9 months. So it will be a while before they are able to see their new ones.   Steve asked them if they were headed to the South China Sea,,, and Matthew said,,,"I don't know",, and then grinned!! 


You know you really do not think of subs very often, but they are OUT there and EVERYONE knows it. Their job is to hide---Matthew says that is what they are constantly doing---- they do a great job of it. Our enemies KNOW we have them, just never know where. Of course-- they are loaded with payload!! 


Not sure I can tell this exactly right,,, but since Obama has been President, there was ONE TIME when tensions were difficult with North Korea. All Titan submarines through out the world were ordered to surface at the same time for 5 minutes, then go back down. Matthew said it was a first, and he thinks it worked---for the time being!!! 


TAC did NOT do a good enough job in letting the guys know that this was a semi-formal event!! Matthew had on jeans and button down shirt, Joel had on jeans, Ohio State t-shirt with a sweat shirt pull over. They were embarrassed when we arrived at TAC. I mean it is not FORMAL, but it is definitely NOT jeans and t-shirt place. It did not bother me, but I do know they were very uncomfortable at first. I hope we made them feel better---but I still think TAC should have told them. I mean they did not have to have on their 'dress uniform' but slacks and button down would have been more appropriate. They have been in Yokosuka Japan (1.5 hours from Tokyo) for 3 days, and have been off the boat--drinking and eating since then. They had no idea what this was about, but decided at least they would be able to eat some great food, that was not dehydrated or powdered!!!  They loved the food, and really dug right in for a nice feast!!! 

By the time the glass of champagne was consumed, they relaxed and really talked.  LOTS of stories as you can imagine----living in a tube, with 132 men for days at a time---they say time means nothing -----they work 18 hours a day the rest sleep. They have ONE TREADMILL and 2 spinning bikes for exercise. Someone is ALWAYS on them. The only way they know what time of day it is ---is by the food they are eating.  


We had to have them back at the USA Hotel by 8:30. So we had time to walk them to the 'edge' of Roppongi.  We stopped and had one more beer in Hobgoblin. They kind of joked and told us they would find their way back,,, just let them go on Roppongi  (every one of the troops know about Roppongi in Tokyo).  Steve and I laughed and said,,, NO this is as far as you go, then we are putting you in a taxi!!! That is what we did too.


They had a USS North Carolina hat for Steve, and gave me a very special medal from the boat.  (A submarine is called a boat not a ship,,,,a boat is made to sink, a ship is NOT!!) 

 Matthew on the left Joel on the right.

Joel is quite the character from small town in Ohio, VERY talkative!!

I tell you it is a totally different life for sure, but rest assured we are very well protected with very nice young men that take their jobs very seriously.  We also met several of their other mates who were with other families at TAC.