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Leeland Campbell, CS1(SS), (7/61-7/62):
CS1(SS) Cambell was the ship's baker and was in the After Torpedo Room at the time of the accident. Last memories were of occupants running over him and the boat being into a steep dive. He was unconscious for the rest of the action and in the hospital for 4 days. He received back injuries, inflected during rescue, which later requiring surgery. (as told via telephone to D. Booth, 17 Aug 04)
Jerry Nietro, QMSN(SS), (8/62-6/64):
I was on board the Tiru when the awards were given after the torpedo accident. The Hospital Corpsman received the Legion of Merit. The last person to return to duty was the first class electrician that was on the sticks during the accident. He was in a coma for a couple of weeks after the accident. When the torpedo chewed through the inner door, the hydrogen peroxide fumes hit the crew members in the after torpedo room and maneuvering room. The after engineroom door was close in time. The Corpsman organized the resuscitation teams that were needed to revive the crew members after they were pulled from the aft compartments by the engineroom teams formed by the senior engineman. All crew members were revived by the crew except the one that went into a coma who revived in the hospital. That is why the corpsman received the medal. The Doc was a very special person on board and we were very lucky to have him. (email 26Jun04)
Denny Golladay, EN2(SS), (1/60-11/62):
I am, Denny Golladay EN 2 SS . I was aboard during that incident. I was EN3SS at that time. Was throttleman on watch in the forward engine room. I did receive a citation. My name was not in your list. The news articles that were released were not very factual.
Investigation, including actual sonar recordings taken aboard Tiru during the actual incident. "If you know any thing about Tiru during those Cold War years, You should be aware of the extremely sophisticated equipment she carried."
We were at 350 ft. when the torpedo was fired. We were not at general quarters. The collision alarm went off. The word was passed over the One MC, Collision aft, Fire and Flooding after room. Then the General alarm sounded. By that time the boat was pretty well buttoned up. I remember Mack (McDonald Corpsman) flying through the forward engine room before we could get the watertight door closed to the after battery.
Tiru was now descending stern first. ( sea pressure gauge on engine room gauge panel) Angle or about 15 deg. I herd HP air hit the safety & negative then other tanks. I found out later that we blew everything but that had air piped to it.
I remember hearing the contacts in maneuvering ( later saw the fireball burn marks on the maneuvering side of the engines aft. Water tight door. I remember feeling the boat shutter and cavitate as we went to all ahead flank series battery.
That sea pressure gauge started to move the other way in a hurry. It wasn't long and shipmates were being passed forward as we gave each one oxygen and pulled there tongues out of there throats. Engines in after engine room were fired on the surface to ventilate through the after torpedo room hatch.
That day all the training and drills paid off. (email 18Aug04)
Jack Jarvies, LCDR, (8/61-2/63)
That morning we were acting as a target for the Walke as she worked up for deployment. We were at 200 ft and the CO Ollie Hallett decided to put a circular torpedo in the water to confuse them.
He ordered the aft torpedo room to put a rudder lock on the practice Mk14 and prepare it for firing. When the tube ready light was lit and the room reported on the phone the Captain order the tube fired.
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