USS New Mexico

On October 3, 2006, the Northrop Grumman Newport News (NGNN) shipyard welcomed the crew of PCU NEW MEXICO. This is an important date for the Navy as this is when the Commanding Officer officially stands up the first increment of his crew. This is also an important date in the construction contract between the Navy and NGNN as space in the shipyard is made available for the crew.

By tradition, this important milestone is marked by a cake-cutting ceremony. At this special event, the Commanding Officer, CDR Robert Dain, offered a little perspective: “The first NEW MEXICO was battleship BB40 launched on April 13, 1917. She escorted President Woodrow Wilson’s transport to the Versailles Peace Conference in 1919, bringing to a close the First World War. She was the Pacific Fleet Flagship in the 1920’s. And, she was present at the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945, bringing to a close the Second World War. That is quite a history of bringing our enemies to submission and peace to the world.”

Officers and men of PCU NEW MEXICO and the ceremonial cake with
the bow section of our submarine as a backdrop.
Photo courtesy of Northrop Grumman Newport News

“As we look around today, we see that the bow, or business end that will contain torpedo and vertical launch tubes vice 14-inch guns, is pointed toward the James River. She wants to boldly go forward into the river and head out to face the challenges of our future. It is my hope that she will be able to see the end of the Global War on Terror as her predecessor saw the end of war.”

Cutting the ceremonial cake at the shipyard

CDR Rob Dain and Jay Rowe, Virginia-class Submarine
Construction Manager, shaking hands

CDR Dain passed on a few words from Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico: “Congratulations on standing up the first increment of crew for our namesake submarine. We are very proud of the officers and men who have been selected for assignment to Pre-Commissioning Unit NEW MEXICO… With the talent and dedication of the sailors who have reported aboard PCU NEW MEXICO, and those who will follow, we are certain that our namesake will be a great defender of our freedoms and will serve as a very special tribute to all New Mexicans who have served, and are serving in, our Armed Forces.”

With some concluding remarks, the skipper closed the brief crew stand-up ceremony: “I would like to thank the shipyard for their hard work, and the crew for their work to come, to build this new instrument of national power for the Navy and a source of pride to the citizens of New Mexico. I look forward to the partnership with the shipyard to deliver the best ship we can.”

The cake

CDR Rob Dain and Tom Ward, Virginia-class Submarine Program Manager

CDR Rob Dain and Jay Rowe

Miss New Mexico 2006, Christina Hall, and CDR Rob Dain, CO, PCU New Mexico

CDR Rob Dain, Commanding Officer, PCU NEW MEXICO, and his wife Lisa started their home state visit by attending Emilee Sena’s graduation ceremony at their alma mater, St. Pius X (SPX) High School on 5/21. We know Emilee as the winner of NEW MEXICO’s ship’s crest contest. Graduating with dozens of honors and awards, Emilee was the Salutatorian or second place in her class of over 240 seniors.

Chief of the Boat Roger Meffley MMCM(SS) and his wife Laura arrived in New Mexico a few days after the skipper. While they toured southern NM and ventured into Old Mexico, Rob and his parents, Dave and Judy Dain, journeyed to Santa Fe and met Dick Brown at the New Mexico History Museum to view part of the Tiffany silver service that once graced the wardroom of USS NEW MEXICO BB-40.

Chief of the Boat MMCM(SS) Roger Meffley and his wife Laura

The silver service was presented to battleship NEW MEXICO on August 10, 1918 by the State of New Mexico. The plan was to view the 24 dessert plates, each of which has a different scene with an engraved title such as Coronado’s Expedition 1540-42, San Miguel Chapel – Oldest Church in US, and First Locomotive through Raton Pass – 1879. Rob selected two plates, one depicting the Santa Fe Trail, the other Taos Pueblo. These will be loaned to the Navy for display in submarine NEW MEXICO. As an aside, after BB-40 was decommissioned and scrapped following WWII, the silver service was used on the carrier MIDWAY and then on the flat-top BON HOMME RICHARD. Return of the service to New Mexico came about as the result of a joint memorial passed by the State Legislature in November 1963.

Rob and Lisa, and Roger and Laura, attended the Military Coalition luncheon where Rob served as the guest speaker. He gave a PowerPoint presentation on the building of the submarine and her crew. Rob also took time to visit Ray Sanchez of New Mexico Fabrics to view options for New Mexico style bunk curtains for installation on our namesake submarine. Marlene Mathis helped him select six samples for review by the crew. Incidentally, Ray is also an SPX graduate.

Rob had interviewed with Albuquerque Journal staff writer Leslie Linthicum who had just returned from a VIP cruise on USS ALBUQUERQUE. When the May 27 th Sunday Journal came out, the front page was all about submarines, and it carried over to a full page of submarine coverage on page A6. As it turns out NEW MEXICO was upstaged by ALBUQUERQUE but Leslie wrote a nice article about CDR Dain and included his photo.

or the Memorial Day weekend, additional members of the NEW MEXICO crew arrived in Albuquerque: EDMC Bill Lamb MMCS (SS), and his wife Stephanie, Sailor of the Year Michael Buck MM1(SS), and Junior Sailor of the Year Justin Shaw EM1(SS). They all participated in the Memorial Day ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park.

Senior Chief Bill Lamb, his wife Stephanie and CDR Dain at re-enlistment ceremony

CDR Dain and Sailor of the Year MM1(SS) Michael Buck

DR Dain and Junior Sailor of the Year EM1(SS) Justin Shaw

The master of ceremony was Capt. Nori Ann Reed, USN, Commanding Officer of the UNM NROTC unit. There was special emphasis on the U.S. Navy and its Submarine Force. Petty Officers Buck and Shaw led the Pledge of Allegiance, Master Chief Meffley read a Memorial Day Proclamation, CDR Dain was the keynote speaker, and Sr. Chief Lamb became the first NEW MEXICO sailor to re-enlist in the State of New Mexico. Also during the ceremony, CDR Dain promoted Petty Officer Shaw to E6. The ceremony included remarks by Sen. Pete Domenici, medal presentations by Congresswoman Heather Wilson, and a salute to fallen warriors in the Global War on Terror.

Besides the Sunday Journal article, Rob did some stand-up interviews with two TV stations, KRQE and KOAT, after the ceremony and an in-studio afternoon talk show on KKOB Radio. All in all, the media coverage during the crew visit was very positive.

he New Mexico Council’s USS New Mexico Committee hosted a special dinner for the crew at El Pinto Restaurant. With Emilee and her boyfriend and parents, Merritt Allen and her husband, and Dave & Judy Dain, the count was over 40. Mark Welsh, Ray Sinwell and Lee Blansett represented the Council’s board of directors. Rob bestowed native NM wooden plaques to the SOY and JSOY and everyone received souvenir USS NEW MEXICO coffee mugs and ship’s coins plaques.

Front Row, L to R, Mark Welsh, COB Roger Meffley, Leo Davis, Joe Loisel,
Rod Stewart, Merritt Allen, Dick Brown, Marlene Mathis, CDR Rob Dain

Back Row, L to R, Justin Shaw, Emilee Sena, Damon Runyan, Michael Buck,
David Mathis, Jim Fordice, Senior Chief Bill Lamb

The crew have showered the USS New Mexico Committee with thank you notes and emailed letters of appreciation. A card from Petty Officers Buck and Shaw said, “It’s people like you that make us truly proud to represent the submarine that bears the name of the Great State of New Mexico.” Perhaps Master Chief Meffley put it best: “Laura’s dad was in the Army for 30 years and myself for 27 in the Navy, so all she has ever known is the military, yet she shared with me on the flight home that she has never seen in her entire life the military so revered, the veterans and active duty so well respected, and moments that brought tears to her eyes during the ceremony.” Our Navy friends returned safely to Norfolk on 5/30.