USS Thornback Reunion

A group of sailors who served our country aboard the USS Thornback in the 1960s shared memories and a few good laughs today in Biloxi. The men and their spouses traveled from all over the country for a four day reunion celebration. News 25’s Kristen Durand introduces us to some of these Navy veterans.
Ed Sirucci and Lynn Richard are among the sea of faces of sailors who served our country and served as crew members in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Thornback. Fifty years later, the two reminisce at a fitting site for seasoned sailors, Biloxi Maritime and Seafood Museum. “Submarine duty is 99, almost 100 percent pure boredom with one little bitty percent of ‘oh my God, we’re going to die,’” said Richard.
One of those moments was in December of 1965 as the Thornback went straight through a storm and the sub rolled about 65 degrees, nearly flipping over completely. “That was scary because if we’d have done beyond that 65 degrees, we would have been upside down and probably never came back,” said Sirucci.
But they lived to tell and even share a few laughs, as former crew members from across the nation rendezvous at a four day reunion in Biloxi.
The pair says they spent most of their time in the engine room. “I went aboard as a young guy that didn’t know what a crescent wrench was. By the time two years went by, this guy had me overhauling engines bigger than that boat behind us,” said Sirucci.
While the reunion wraps Thursday, they’ll carry their memories and camaraderie with them for the long haul. “We’ll take it to the last man living and I’m sure going to be sorry when they’re all gone because I’m going to be here if I have to kill the other last one,” said Richard.

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