Give us a name, the Navy said,  which conveys a sneaking measure of dread;  Of shadows searching in waters still, where the lean barracuda lurks to kill; And they said "good sirs, we give you the SNOOK!" Now the snook is a killer which strikes where it sneaks, and which follows a scent without stopping for weeks; And when ready to strike it breathes a faint smell, of derision and sulphur and brinstone from hell; Which to those to be "snookered" is a little reminder. That the SNOOK can't be caught...                                        by those who can't find her.

Length Overall 310 Feet Breadth 27 Feet Speed Capability 21 Knots Depth Capability 250 Feet Displacement 1,500 Tons Launched 15 August, 1942 Commissioned 24 October, 1942 Presumed Lost 5 May, 1945

Length Overall 250 Feet Breadth 33 Feet Speed Capability In excess of 20 Knots Depth Capability In excess of 400 Feet Displacement 3,500 Tons Launched 31 October, 1960 Commissioned 24 October, 1961 Decommissioned October, 1986

USS Snook SS-279

On March 25, 1945 the SNOOK, under the command of Commander J.F. WALLING, departed Guam on her ninth and last war patrol. SNOOK returned to Guam for emergency repairs 27-28 March and then returned to sea where she was directed to join a wolf pack under Commander H. CASSEDY in USS TIGERONE (SS-419). On 8 April SNOOK reported her position to the TIGRONE. The next day SNOOK did not acknowledge messages sent from TIGRONE and it was assumed that she had headed eastward toward Luzon Strait. On 12 April Snook was ordered to take lifeguard station in support of a British carrier air strike. On 20 April, 1945, the British carrier task force commander reported one of his aircraft downed in the station assigned to SNOOK, but was unable to contact her by radio. SNOOK was never heard from again and the circumstances of her loss have never been verified. SNOOK was presumed lost on 5 May 1945 when she failed to return to port as scheduled. During April and May 1945, five Japanese submarines were sunk in the vicinity of SNOOK's last known position. Japanese submarine commanders had been instructed to watch for U.S. submarines on the surface conducting lifeguard duties. This suggests the possibility that SNOOK was sunk by an enemy submarine which was, in turn, destroyed at a later date. SNOOK was the 49th of 52 U.S. submarines lost in World War Two.

Going down with all hands, SNOOK left behind a superior record. She was credited with sinking 17 enemy ships for a total of 75,473 tons sunk. Somewhere in the Western Pacific USS SNOOK (SS-279) fought her last battle of the war leaving behind a 32 month legay of:

USS Snook SSN-592

In July 1980 SNOOK passed through the Panama Canal and became a member of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Ffrom 1980 to 1986, the ship conducted a total of six extended deployments to the Mediterranean Sea (2), North Atlantic, and South America (3). The ship was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation for operations conducted in 1984 with Commander C.W. OLSEN commanding. In May 1986 SNOOK returned to the Pacific Fleet for deactivation at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.

During her 25 year lifetime, SNOOK has steamed approximately 675,000 miles, the equivalent of 27 times around the world. Having been awarded unit commendations as a member of both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets when she was 4 and 24 years old, USS SNOOK (SSN-592) leaves behind a 25 year legacy of:

USS SNOOK is named for a fish known scientifically as Centropomus undecimalis (Bloch). It belongs to the family of spiny-rayed fishes known as the Centropomidae, which includes the robalos, constantinos, robalitos, and sergeant fishes. Members of this family may be recognized by the dark streak along the lateral side of the body, a pike-like appearance, and two fins on the back, of which the first contains very strong spines. They occur in tropical and subtropical waters, along both the Atlantic and Pacific shores of the American Continent.

The SNOOK ranges along our Atlantic and Gulf Coast from Florida and Texas southward through the West Indies and Panama to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, living along the coast and ascending fresh water streams a short distance. It is known to anglers in Florida as a fighting game fish.

The color of the SNOOK is bluish gray above and silvery below; the sides often have dusky puntulation; the fins are pale or dusky, but never blackish; the lateral line is black. It attains a length of about four feet and a weight of fifteen to twenty pounds. It is especially voracious, rushing its prey like a black streak. Food is quickly devoured by the aid of the strong teeth and large mouth. It is well protected from enemies by the sharo spines on the gill covers and the strong spines in the fins.
 
 

Guest Speaker VICE ADMIRAL BRUCE DeMARS, USN Deputy Chief of Naval Operations Submarine Warfare

Vice Admiral DeMARS, of Chicago, Illinois, graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1957. Following commissioning he served in the attack transports USS TELFAIR (APA-210) and USS OKANOGAN (APA-220) and, after Submarine School, the diesel-electric submarine USS CAPITAINE (SS 336). Following nuclear power training he served in the nuclear-powered submarines USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (SSBN 598), USS SNOOK (SSN 592), and USS STURGEON (SSN 637) before reporting for duty as Commanding Officer of USS CAVALLA (SSN 684).

Shore duty tours included instructor duty at Nuclear Power School and Submarine School and attendance at the Armed Forces Staff College. Following staff duty with Submarine Squadron TEN, he served as Senior Member of the Nuclear Propulsion Examing Board on the staff of the Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. He took command of Submarine Development Squadron TWELVE in New London, Connecticut in June 1978. He then served as the Deputy Director, Attack Submarine Division in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations until selected for promotion to Rear Admiral in 1981.

From August 1981 to June 1983, he served as Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Marianas/ Commander, U.S. Naval Base Guam and Commander in Chief Pacific Representative for Guam and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.

He assumed duties as Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Submarine Warfare (OP-02B) in July 1983. He assumed his current duties as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Submarine Warfare) in November 1985 and subsequent promotion to Vice Admiral, United States Navy on 6 December 1985.

His decorations include the Legion of Merit with three gold stars, the Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star, the Navy Commendation Medal with one gold star, and the Navy Achievement Medal.

Vice Admiral DeMARS is married to the former Margaret Ann Milburn of Chicago, Illinois. They have two children, Bruce and Margaret.
 
 

Commanding Officer USS SNOOK (SS-279) COMMANDER J.F. WALLING, USN        Mrs. Georgie L. Walling USS SNOOK (SSN-592)  SPONSOR

Commander John Franklin WALLING was born in Providence, Rhode Island on 2 February 1912. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1935 and reported to his first sea-going command, USS TUSCALOOSA, immediately after graduation. After two years of duty onboard TUSCALOOSA, Commander WALLING was accepted for submarine training at the Naval Submarine School, New London, Connecticut.

Commander WALLING completed submarine training in November 1937 and reported to his first submarine command, the S-37, for a three year tour of duty. He completed submarine qualification and qualified for command of submarines while attached to the S-37. In September 1941, Commander WALLING was ordered to serve as Executive Officer of the USS FLYING FISH (SS 229) which was being built at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. He remained on FLYING FISH through new construction and served onboard during the ship's first Pacific Ocean war patrol.

From April 1953 through May 1944, Commander WALLING served as Commanding Officer of the S-48 in the Atlantic. In December 1944, Commander WALLING was ordered to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and assumed command of the USS SNOOK (SS 279). Commander WALLING was presumed lost onboard USS SNOOK (SS 279) in May 1945 with his ship and crew while conducting a war patrol in the South China Sea.

Commander WALLING was awarded the Silver Star Medal, Purple Heart, American Defense Service Medal, China Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal with two bronze stars, and the World War II Victory Medal.

He was married to Mrs. Doris Annabella WALLING of Nantucket, Massachusetts.

Mrs. Georgie L. WALLING, Commander WALLING's mother, was the sponsor of USS SNOOK (SSN 592).
 
 

Commanding Officer USS SNOOK (SSN-592) COMMANDER ERIC L. OSER, USN

Commander OSER was born in Bethesda, Maryland. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in June, 1968. After completing Nuclear Training and Basic Officer Submarine School, he reported to the USS SWORDFISH (SSN 579) for duty and served as Supply Officer, Weapons Officer, Main Propulsion Assistant, and Damage Control Assistant. He attended the Submarine Officer Advanced Course in 1973, where he earned the L.Y. SPEAR Award for academic excellence. He then reported to the USS SKATE (SSN 578) for duty as Engineer Officer. After serving on the staff of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Submarine Warfare in Washington, D.C. he completed five strategic deterrent patrols as Executive Officer aboard the USS ULYSSESS S. GRANT (SSBN 631)(GOLD). From June 1982 through June 1984, Commander OSER served as Commanding Officer of the Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit, Windsor, Connecticut. He assumed command of USS SNOOK (SSN 592) on 11 January 1985.

Commander OSER has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and National Defense Medal. He earned a Master's of Science Degree from George Washington University.

Commander OSER resides with his wife Ruth and their four children Roger, Helaine, Jennifer and Ian in Gales Ferry, Connecticut.