Chief of the Boat, ETRCM (SS) Chip Alger will be swapping positions with CSSCS(SS) Mark Shipley, COB on PCU Iowa (future SSN797) which is under construction on at Electric Boat. The changeover should occur by mid-March. The Command plans to do a Zoom meeting with the CO, XO and introduce the new COB to Association Members in the near future.

Commander Steve Col, Commissioning XO on COLORADO, has recently relieved as Commanding Officer of USS Rhode Island (SSBN 740)(Blue) at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia. Steve participated in several crew visits to our state during the construction period. We wish him all the best for his Command Tour. 

Recently came across a documentary on YouTube from the 1980s about submarine life.  The documentary won the blue ribbon at the American Film Festival. 

Video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Qt7dyhB-jg&feature=youtu.be 

As we get into the holiday season, we are encouraging Coloradans to send Holiday Greetings and notes to the crew for Thanksgiving and/or December holiday delivery. If there are any schoolteachers on our list, or if you know of any that are interested in having their students participate in this effort, please contact Association President, Don Price by email at donpriceusna73@gmail.com. or mail cards directly to the boat at:

     USS COLORADO (SSN 788)
     UNIT 100493, BOX 1
     FPO, AE 09594

USS Colorado CO/XO/COB will hold Zoom briefings for the Association and other supporters and interested persons as follows:
 
Tuesday August 11 at 4:45 – 6 PM Mountain Time

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88270457530?pwd=QzJNcGd0WC9ycWN2VElYYzZMKzBrQT09

Thursday August 13 at 5:45 – 7 PM Mountain Time

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84580952071?pwd=V2FqcGVhMCszY1pkbTJadno0bDJzUT09

 
The first 15 minutes are to allow all guests to check into Zoom prior to the start. On the hour, the session will begin with a short introduction by Don Price, USS Colorado Association President, followed by about a half-hour presentation by the Command and another half hour of Q&A with the CO/XO/COB.
 
For those new to Zoom, please download the application to your device prior to the meeting and use the above information to log-in and join.
 
Each session will provide the same briefing, so it is only necessary to attend one of the two sessions.

The first USS Colorado Scholarship has been awarded to Renee Prieto of Mystic, CT. Her sponsor is former crew member STS1 Messina. Renee will commence studies in Nursing in the fall.

The scholarship was established by the USS Colorado Commissioning Committee with money raised in conjunction with fundraising for Commissioning Week activities. It is administered by the Dolphin Scholarship Foundation (http://dolphinscholarship.org/), a non-profit organization that raises funds to ease the financial burden of education for eligible member or the Submarine Force and their dependents.

Lt. Anthony Matus, from Yuma, Arizona, was recognized as the Commander, Submarine Squadron (COMSUBRON) 4, 2019 Junior Officer of the Year (JOOY) for contributions while serving aboard the Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Colorado (SSN 788) in Groton, Connecticut.

More information can be found at https://www.dvidshub.net/news/374287/yuma-native-named-subfor-submarine-squadron-4-2019-junior-officer-year?fbclid=IwAR2mnbPsj5XcR7AtZPktTGQsUReemLA86RjxDMsUD1JI2-y1yVURYH5I0GE.

https://www.facebook.com/NavalBasePointLoma

Battle flags in World War II kept an unofficial record of the number of ships a submarine sank. Today, crews adorn the flags with their achievements during deployment. USS Colorado (SSN 788) returned from her maiden deployment Feb. 20 with a fully decorated flag flying from the bridge. The crew now proudly has the flag displayed in the Crew’s Mess.

The battle flag displays the crew’s port visits to Haakonsvern, Norway and Faslane, Scotland and notable accomplishments, including earning submarine warfare qualification, known as "dolphins," advancements and significant missions.

The Colorado Battle Flag Breakdown:
 Starting with the upper left are the three port calls, Royal Navy Dolphins for their 1st Faslane visit, “Norge” patch for Haakonsvern, Norway, and another Scotland patch for their second visit.
 20 Silver Dolphin and five Gold Dolphin patches represent the Sailors who earned their Submarine Warfare insignia during deployment.
 Crew-designed deployment patch with the three watch-section mascots represented – Leviathan, Kraken and Triton.
 The “1” represents the boat’s first deployment.
 The USS Harry S. Truman patch represents operational support to the ship.
 The 18 Colorado insignia patches represent significant mission accomplishments.
 Finally, rank insignia patches for Sailors who advanced during deployment – three Chief Petty Officers, two first classes, four second classes, and 10 third classes.

Today, on Armed Forces Day, we wanted to take time to honor all active duty service members. We humbly thank you for your service and sacrifice.

On August 31, 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy and Air Force Days. The single-day celebration stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under one department - the Department of Defense. Each of the military leagues and orders was asked to drop sponsorship of its specific service day in order to celebrate the newly announced Armed Forces Day. The Army, Navy and Air Force leagues adopted the newly formed day. The Marine Corps League declined to drop support for Marine Corps Day but supports Armed Forces Day, too.

In a speech announcing the formation of the day, President Truman "praised the work of the military services at home and across the seas" and said, "it is vital to the security of the nation and to the establishment of a desirable peace." In an excerpt from the Presidential Proclamation of Feb. 27, 1950, Mr. Truman stated:

"Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 20, 1950, marks the first combined demonstration by America's defense team of its progress, under the National Security Act, towards the goal of readiness for any eventuality. It is the first parade of preparedness by the unified forces of our land, sea, and air defense".