'This is our park': Sub vets gather at park created 50 years ago in honor of fallen shipmate

Petty Officer First Class Michael Clayton, a corpsman aboard the USS Lewis and Clark, died in a car crash in Port Orchard in August 1971.

But his memory is alive in Port Orchard more than 50 years later, as about three dozen fellow submariners gather in Kitsap County this week to honor him and their time serving aboard the ballistic-missile submarine while it was being overhauled at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton.

The sub vets came from all corners of the country for a reunion this week, and to honor Clayton, who has long had a park in Port Orchard ⁠— Clayton Playground — named after him. A plaque made by the shipyard marks the playground.

Tom O’Donnell, who served on the submarine from 1970-1973, serves as the president of the USS Lewis and Clark SSBN644 Crew Member Association and came from Iowa for the event.

O'Donnell said the city adopted the submarine when it arrived in 1971 and made the sailors feel welcome.

The submarine was commissioned in 1965 and was overhauled at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard from April 1971-June 1972, according to a press release. The city of Port Orchard donated property between Dekalb and Dwight streets, and Clayton's shipmates and their wives turned it into what is known as Clayton Park.

Most of the crew members are now in their 70s. Some have lost wives or children and gathered to catch up on each other's lives at the park during a rededication event on Thursday.

Port Orchard Mayor Rob Putaansuu, who hauled a grill to the event and cooked for the veterans, said the city was "proud to once again welcome the crew members of the USS Lewis and Clark for this important and historic reunion."

"We’re proud of our shared maritime and naval history that has shaped our city and I believe Port Orchard is better for the contributions of the Lewis and Clark,” Putaansuu said.

Former crew members caught up with old friends and shipmates. Larry Wallis led the group in prayer and a moment of silence for Clayton.

Clayton, as the corpsman, was affectionately called “Doc” by his fellow shipmates. Like most submarines still today, doctors are typically not onboard for the 60-70 day patrols.

“Corpsman, like Michael Clayton, were our doctors and in some cases did minor surgeries while we were on patrol,” O’Donnell said.

Larry Johnson served for 17 patrols between 1966 to 1979. He was an auxiliaryman, or A-ganger, and ran the O2 generators and worked on other mechanical things around the sub. He made chief and was the head of a division.

Johnson drove up to Kitsap County from San Antonio. He previously lived in the area for 24 years, working as a real-estate agent.

“This is our park,” he said. “Port Orchard supported us. In 2012, everything was redone.”

Crew members last gathered in 2012 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of leaving the shipyard.

As children played on the playground while the sub vets arrived on Thursday, Johnson commented on how well the park has been kept up.

Johnson said there is still a strong brotherhood and camaraderie among the crew.

“We still get together,” he said, adding that crewmembers enjoy sharing sea stories

Johnson said he knew Clayton; the pair were fellow petty officer first classes and diving officers. He described Clayton as a good person and a good corpsman. He’s happy that a plaque will forever mark the park as theirs in honor of Clayton.

“It’s one of those histories of Kitsap County that needs to be remembered,” Johnson said.

Johnson recalled the support of the city and the shipyard during the sub's stint there. The submarine was supposed to be there for an 18-month overhaul, but the shipyard had it finished in 14 months.

The sub was decommissioned in 1992 and it was scrapped via the Navy's recycling program at PSNS, a process that was completed in 1996. Today, its sail and rutter sit at a submarine Cold War memorial in Charleston, South Carolina.

James Golec, who served as a sonar technician aboard the boat from 1983 to 1987, has seen the sail in Charleston, adding it was "nice to see a piece of the boat again."

He said he loved being stationed in Kitsap County, noting that his children were born at the Naval Hospital.

He said he loves sitting down with other retired sailors, sharing their memories and making new ones. He considered the Lewis and Clark his “qual boat” and has a deep connection to his shipmates.

Frank Reno was on the submarine from 1974 to 1978 and worked as a sonar technician. He, like Clayton, qualified for his “dolphins” after a year — the insignia sailors earn to indicate they are qualified to operate systems aboard the sub. He retired after a 20-year career.

He also attended the reunion in 2012, and spent 20 years total in the Navy.

During their stay in Kitsap, the sub vets will be touring Bangor and a submarine. They'll spend time at the Horse and Cow bar in Bremerton, then attend a banquet at the Harborside Conference Center.

Thirty-four sailors and about 20 of their guests are spending the weekend in Kitsap, most leaving Sunday.

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Sub vets gather at park created 50 years ago in honor of fallen shipmate