Attack Submarine Boise comes home from war

Since 04-20-03

By JACK DORSEY, The Virginian-Pilot

NORFOLK -- The attack submarine Boise, among the first to launch Tomahawk cruise missiles into Iraq, returned home Tuesday with a broom tied to its sail structure, signaling it made a ``clean sweep'' of its mission.

``We had a 100 percent strike mission,'' said Master Chief Petty Officer Randy Shoe, the Boise's chief of the boat.

``Every missile we shot went exactly where it was supposed to,'' he said, standing on Pier 3 of the Norfolk Naval Station with his family and 200 other well-wishers and friends. ``We did a clean sweep. That's what the broom's for.''

``So what do you put up there if everything doesn't go exactly right?'' asked daughter Stefanie as she and her sister, Stacy, along with wife, Shirley, clamored for Shoe's attention.

Shoe laughed, and said: ``Well, we don't cut the broom in half or anything. Actually we just don't tell you anything.''

The sub's 138 crew members were welcomed by a band, placards, cheers and tugboats spraying water from fire hoses as they used their rotating drive propellers to spin 360 degrees as they led the submarine home.

They also were met by acting Secretary of the Navy Hansford T. Johnson. He accepted an American flag from the Boise's commanding officer, Cmdr. James M. Kuzma, who brought the ship back after two months in the Mediterranean and Red seas.

Asked when other deployed ships and units would return, Johnson said it would be up to the president, defense secretary and force commander to make that decision.

The Boise has been at sea for eight of the past 13 months, having come home from a six-month deployment in August and returned to sea in February for the Iraqi mission.

The sub is the first missile-firing ship to return from the war. The amphibious dock landing ship Portland came home Friday to Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base in Virginia Beach.

Without disclosing the number of missiles fired, or their destinations, Kuzma said the execution of 100 percent of his crew's missions ``is a testament to the fine equipment we have and my outstanding crew.''

``Everybody had a part. Certainly they were very long hours, awaiting tasking. It is funny even how mess attendants have a tremendous role in what goes on in keeping us fed at all hours of the night.''

The pressure was intense at times, he said. Most of the missions lasted for five to six hours, sometimes 12.

This trip had an open-ended return date, said Michelle Roth, who with sons Tyler, 8, and Devin, 9, waited for their dad, Petty Officer 1st Class Walter Roth, a torpedoman.

``We didn't know exactly when he would come home until just recently,'' Michelle said.

Dusty Kulavic, whose husband is a chief petty officer on the Boise, said she is thankful her husband is home and safe.

``It will be so much better when we have them home, can touch them -- we can see their eyes and hear their voices instead of e-mail,'' she said.

In the past year, she and her four sons have seen her husband just 4 1/2 months.

``That's part of being a Navy wife,'' she said.

Kristen Wannamaker, wife of Lt. Cmdr. Andrew Wannamaker, executive officer of the ship, waited on the pier with daughter Molly, who will celebrate her first birthday April 27.

``He was deployed for her birth, so we're thrilled he's here to celebrate her birthday,'' Kristen said.

More surprising than the sub's return was the presence of news media at the homecoming. The submarine force, known as the ``silent service,'' has not invited media to even routine sub returns during the past few years.

``I was shocked to see you here,'' said Hank Kuzma, father of the Boise's commanding officer. ``My wife took a picture of one of the television trucks.''