USS Thomas Jefferson (SSBN-618)

The third Thomas Jefferson (SSBN-618) was laid down on 3 February 1961 at Newport News, Va., by the Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co.; launched on 24 February 1962; sponsored by Mrs. Robert S. McNamara, wife of Secretary of Defense McNamara; and commissioned on 4 January 1963, Cmdr. Leon H. Rathbun (Blue Crew) and Cmdr. Charles Priest, Jr., (Gold Crew) in command.

After shakedown training by both crews and a yard availability period, the fleet ballistic missile submarine was assigned to Submarine Squadron (SubRon) 14 in early October. On 28 October, the Blue Crew took the submarine on her first deterrent patrol which ended at Holy Loch, Scotland, in December 1963. Thomas Jefferson continued patrols from Holy Loch for the next four years and also acted as flagship for SubRon 14. In 1966, she returned to New London, Ct., for two training and rehabilitation periods. She began her 15th deterrent patrol on 12 January 1967 and, upon its completion, returned to Newport News, Va., for her first overhaul and refueling. On 17 June 1968, the submarine was ready for sea, and refresher training was held for both crews. Her 16th patrol began on 29 October and terminated at Rota, Spain, on 5 December 1968.

Thomas Jefferson made four deterrent patrols in each of the following years: 1969, 1970, 1971, and 1972. She also conducted special operations in 1970 and 1971, then completed two patrols in 1973 before returning to the United States to hold midshipman training from 18 June to 31 August. Her last patrol of the year terminated on 12 December 1973. Her 36th, and final, patrol in the Atlantic lasted from 31 January to 22 March 1974. After calling at Norfolk, Va., and Charleston, S.C., the submarine returned to New London on 22 May. Thomas Jefferson was then reassigned to the Pacific Fleet with her new homeport at Vallejo, Calif. She stood out of New London on 7 June en route to the west coast and arrived at Mare Island on the 27th.

On 1 July 1974, Thomas Jefferson entered the Mare Island Naval Shipyard for overhaul, refueling, and conversion to the Polaris A-3 missile system. She remained in the yard until 17 November 1975 when she got underway for Bremerton, Wash. The submarine remained in Puget Sound for a month and then moved to San Diego, California.

During the period January to March 1976, Thomas Jefferson's Blue Crew conducted post-overhaul shakedown operations and then transited the Panama Canal to conduct a Polaris missile firing off Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Gold Crew took over the ship on 4 April and conducted additional post-overhaul shakedown operations which included a missile firing at Cape Canaveral, a transit of the Panama Canal, and a missile loadout at Bangor, Washington, before resuming deterrent patrol operations with the Pacific Fleet on 8 August. Thomas Jefferson continued these operations as a unit of SubRon 15 throughout 1977 and 1978, at the end of which she completed her 44th deterrent patrol.

Decommissioned on 24 January 1985, Thomas Jefferson was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 30 April 1986, and, ultimately, was disposed of, by submarine recycling.

During her career, Thomas Jefferson was awarded two Meritorious Unit Commendations (17 August-8 September 1970 and 1-31 August 1971), and two Navy "E"s.

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Virgil Lusk Hill Jr. (born April 2, 1938) is a retired rear admiral in the United States Navy. He was Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland from August 18, 1988 to June 15, 1991. Hill attended Iowa State University for one year on a Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps Scholarship prior to his four years at the United States Naval Academy, where he graduated with distinction in 1961, receiving his diploma from President John F. Kennedy. There he was a candidate for a Rhodes scholarship. Following graduation he went directly into the Nuclear Submarine Service. After retiring from the U.S. Navy in 1993, he was president of Valley Forge Military Academy and Collegein Wayne, Pennsylvania, before retiring seven years later. He was then asked to teach Leadership and Ethics in the Business School at Villanova University, where he taught for two years.[1]