Sailor Dies Following Accident on USS Frank Cable

[Gary Phaserman 0]

Sailor Dies Following Accident on USS Frank Cable

Story Number: NNS061207-12

Release Date: 12/7/2006 4:29:00 PM

 

 

 

From Commander, Submarine Force U.S. Pacific Public Affairs

 

PEARL HARBOR, HI (NNS) -- A Sailor assigned to USS Frank Cable (AS-40) has died from injuries he sustained when a steam pipe ruptured in the engineering spaces of the Guam-based submarine tender on December 1.

 

The crewmember, who was a Fireman assigned to the ship’s engineering division, died Dec. 7 at Brooke Army Medical Center in Fort Sam Houston, Texas. His name is being withheld pending next of kin notification.

 

“Our Navy is deeply saddened by this tragedy,” said Pacific Submarine Force commander Rear Adm. Joseph Walsh. “We are grateful for his service to our country, and offer our deepest sympathies to his family.”

 

The accident occurred on the evening of December 1 (Guam time), after the ship had returned from sea to Apra Harbor, Guam. Personnel were conducting routine preventive maintenance checks of steam safety valves when the #1 Boiler experienced a major steam leak into the fire box, rupturing an exhaust plenum and sending pressurized steam into the Fire Room.

 

Eight crewmembers were initially taken to Naval Hospital Guam. Two were treated and released in Guam, while the remaining six were flown the next day to Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu. There they were met by the Burn Special Medical Augmentation Response Team (B-SMART), a nine-member team comprised of the military’s leading burn trauma experts. After initial treatment and evaluation, the six Sailors were escorted to Brooke Army Medical Center for specialized burn trauma care.

 

Of the five remaining Sailors taken to Brooke Army Medical Center, four remain in very serious condition, and one has been released for outpatient follow-up.

 

USS Frank Cable remains in Guam while damage is assessed and the accident is investigated.

 

I've heard rumors that the sailor who died is a native of my hometown, Zion, IL., and a 2004 graduate of Zion-Benton High School. I haven't seen anything confirming this yet, but I don't doubt the reports.

[Odie 0]

Why I am not surprised by this sailor's death. B) Maintenance budgets and personnel for Naval Ships has down way to much IMO. :) I must pass the news on to my friends on other ships especial to those who work in Engineering. His death could have been prevented if the funds for maintenance where kept to levels they need to support the fleet. But hay, the funds for the war in Iraq has to come from so where. :P

 

USS Frank Cable is an old ship that needs to be in yards longer than just a few months fix and catch up all the maintenance needs. For those who want to know that mission Frank Cable does for Seventh Fleet they maintain subs. I believe they are the only ship or there is another one in the whole Navy. The Navy decommed the rest of these ships and gave it to civilians, which means more work for USS Frank Cable and her sailors. :P

Edited December 9, 2006 by Odie

[Gary Phaserman 0]

One of my employees knew the kid that died, and his dad used to work with my dad at NTC Great Lakes. Surprisingly, I haven't seen any civilian news coverage.

[Odie 0]

Do you really think there will would be civilian coverage for a junior sailor who was station in Guam who did not die in Iraq? I would be surprised if any civilian (not in the Navy) knows where Guam is, history of the island, and know that the island is just a territory of the United States.

[Gary Phaserman 0]

You'd think this would be news. If there is a car accident with a fatality, it gets at least local news coverage. The kid that died graduated from the same school as I did, and it's not even mentioned in the town's paper. I just have no faith in the American media anymore.

Edited December 11, 2006 by Gary_Phaserman

[Odie 0]

I have lost my faith in the media a long time ago. My prays does go out to his family. His death was a tragic loss that could have been prevented. So sad.

Edited December 11, 2006 by Odie

[Jim Phaserman 0]

My sister and my father went to MRFN Valentine's funeral. They said the Captain pretty much said Jack died a hero, and helped save the ship and the 1200 men and women aboard. Jack would have been 21 on December 27th.