Uss Greeneville In the News
Whitfields Tour USS Greeneville
Laughlin Hospital President Calls Visit To Submarine 'Fantastic Experience'
BY TOM YANCEY
STAFF WRITER
Chuck and Sheri Whitfield were able to tour the USS Greeneville, the fast-attack nuclear submarine named for this community, while on vacation in Hawaii last month.
"It was a fantastic experience," said Whitfield, president of Laughlin Memorial Hospital, in a telephone interview last week. "We really enjoyed it."
Chuck Whitfield said the submarine's commanding officer, Cmdr. Anthony C. Carrullo, the ship's officers and crew made them feel welcome, and seemed pleased to meet people from Greeneville.
"We got a very extensive tour," he said. "We really appreciate the captain and his executive officer for taking the time and spending it with us."
Whitfield added, "I think our community can be extremely proud of the outstanding men serving on the submarine that bears our name. They're just top-notch. The few we had the chance to meet were all extremely nice and extremely bright fellows."
He said the billion-dollar nuclear submarine itself, armed with Tomahawk missiles, "is quite impressive."
The Whitfields ate lunch in the sub's wardroom, and saw many working and living spaces, including the submarine's operations center.
IMPRESSED BY CREW
"That was impressive," he said, but what made the biggest impression, he said, "was the people we had the chance to meet. You couldn't ask for finer young men."
The Whitfields dined with the captain, Cmdr. Anthony C. Carrullo, and Lt. Commander Albert Alarcon, the executive officer.
In an e-mail to The Greeneville Sun, Alarcaon wrote: "They enjoyed the tour, made some new friends onboard the ship, and we had a great conversation about Greeneville, Tenn, over lunch."
Their tour was led by Senior Chief Petty Officer Paul Davenport, the "Chief of the Boat."
They also looked at the Pearl Harbor naval yard using the advanced optic capabilities submarine's periscope, an experience they both enjoyed.
Whifield added, "Sheri and I really want to thank Dale Long for making this possible, and organizing everything."
Long is president of USS Greeneville Inc., the local organization that works to maintain this community's ties to the submarine. Long has arranged a number of tours of the sub for Greene Countians visiting Hawaii.