USS Hassayampa (AO-145) USNS Hassayampa (T-AO 145) - "Finest Oiler in the Fleet, she was"

Hassayampa Pacific Northwest Mini-Meet
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Portland, Oregon
(in the spirit of regional get-to-gathers)

Portland, Oregon - Site of USS BLUEBACK (SS-581), sister ship to USS BARBELL (SS-580) that USNS HASSAYAMPA rendezvoused with in 1982 to offload Vietnamese boat people from its deck for transfer to Singapore. For a refresher on the matter click here. (USS BLUEBACK is currently on permanent display at Oregon Museum of Science & Industry)

Preparing to board USS BLUEBACK (SS-581), sister ship to USS BARBELL (SS-580)

The following images are of some sailors enjoying some second childhood

left, front to rear
Terry Babbitt and wife, Bill Miller, Terry Kuehn, Leo Kuehn, Ed Casten

right, front to rear
Russell Hawkins, Norm Strasser and wife, Bruce Wright, Mrs. Casten

Mrs. Casten, Terry Kuehn, Ken Mapes, Bruce Wright

Mrs. Casten, Terry Kuehn, Ken Mapes

left, front to rear
Terry Babbitt and wife, Terry Kuehn, Leo Kuehn, Ed Casten

right, front to rear
Russell Hawkins, Norm Strasser and wife, Ken Mapes, Bruce Wright, Mrs. Casten

left, front to rear
Terry Babbitt and wife, Bill Miller, Terry Kuehn, Leo Kuehn, Ed Casten

right, front to rear
Russell Hawkins, Norm Strasser and wife, Ken Mapes, Bruce Wright, Mrs. Casten

front to rear
Russell Hawkins, Norm Strasser and wife, Ken Mapes, Bruce Wright, Mrs. Casten

Bruce Wright at Oregon Museum of Science & Industry during wait to board USS BLUEBACK

l to r, Terry Babbitt, Ed Casten and wife, Leo Kuehn at Oregon Museum of Science & Industry during wait to board USS BLUEBACK

l to r, Ed Casten and wife, Leo Kuehn at Oregon Museum of Science & Industry during wait to board USS BLUEBACK

Bruce Wright and Russell Hawkins at Oregon Museum of Science & Industry during wait to board USS BLUEBACK

Leo Kuehn at Oregon Museum of Science & Industry during wait to board USS BLUEBACK

Ed Casten at Oregon Museum of Science & Industry during wait to board USS BLUEBACK

Ken Mapes, Terry Kuehn, Leo Kuehn at Oregon Museum of Science & Industry during wait to board USS BLUEBACK

Leo Kuehn, Mrs. Babbitt, Terry Babbit, Mrs. Strasser at Oregon Museum of Science & Industry during wait to board USS BLUEBACK

Norm Strasser and Terry Babbitt at Oregon Museum of Science & Industry during wait to board USS BLUEBACK

Bill Miller at Oregon Museum of Science & Industry during wait to board USS BLUEBACK

Exhibit at Oregon Museum of Science & Industry

Bruce Wright, Terry Kuehn, Leo Kuehn, Mrs. Babbitt enjoying exhibit at Oregon Museum of Science & Industry

USS BLUEBACK (SS-581)

U.S. Submarine Memorial
Dedicated to the memory of our shipmates who gave their lives while serving their country
in the U.S. Submarine Force. These gallant men gave the supreme sacrifice to protect our
freedom and the American way of life. Their legacy will continue to live on in future generations.

United States Submarine Veterans
BLUEBACK BASE
Portland, Oregon

Terry Kuehn, Bruce Wright, Russell Hawkins, Mrs. Babbitt, Terry Babbitt enjoying exhibit at Oregon Museum of Science & Industry

Terry Babbitt, Mrs. Babbitt, Russell Hawkins, Norm Strasser aboard USS BLUEBACK (SS-581)

During tour of USS BLUEBACK (SS-581)

Periscope shot of Portland

During tour of USS BLUEBACK (SS-581)

Portion of berthing spaces of USS BLUEBACK (SS-581)

Galley spaces of USS BLUEBACK (SS-581)

clockwise, l to r
Ed Casten, Terry Babbitt, Mrs. Strasser, Norm Strasser, Terry Kuehn, Mrs. Babbitt, Bruce Wright, Russell Hawkins

Flight Control

Exiting USS BLUEBACK

Left, front to rear
Norm Strasser and wife, Bruce Wright, Terry Kuehn, Leo Kuehn, Alex Wall and son
Right, fron to rear
Mrs. Babbitt, Terry Babbit, Mrs. Bruce Miller, Ken Mapes, Mrs. and Ed Casten

Left, front to rear
Ed and Mrs. Casten, Ken Mapes, Mrs. Bruce Miller, Terry and Mrs. Babbitt

Right, front to rear
Alex Wall, Leo Kuehn, Terry Kuehn, Bruce Wright, Mrs. and Norm Strasser

Howard Johnson Express Inn - Tigard

Madison’s Grill - Portland

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
Portland, Oregon

Home to USS Blueback (SS-581)

The Oregon Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Portland, Oregon

Rodney's Steak & Barbeque - Tigard

Evergreen Aviation Museum - McMinnville
Home to The Spruce Goose
~ Day Two Side Trip ~
Ken Mapes, Bruce Wright
Ed and Mrs. Casten
Leo Kuehn, Terry Kuehn