North Charleston in Charleston County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

41 For Freedom

Photographed By Mike Stroud, June 16, 2013

1. 41 For Freedom Marker

Inscription.
The Navy's SSBN (Nuclear Powered Ballistic Missile Submarine) force enjoyed a unique relationship with Charleston. Operating from here with other submarines-the SS's (Diesel powered subs) and SSN's (Nuclear powered subs), these SSBN's, each with a Blue Crew and a Gold Crew, relied on the Charleston Naval Complex to provide in a timely manner the vast array of weapons, supplies and training required for the successful conduct of their repetitive 70 day submerged patrols in the oceans of the world. The first SSBN, the USS George Washington (SSBN 598), sailed from Charleston with her 16 Polaris Missiles onboard in 1960. By 1967, forty of her sister ships were at sea and, until replaced by the Trident Submarines, these 41 SSBN's and their Fleet Ballistic Missile Tender "Mother Ships", USS Proteus (AS19), USS Hunley (AS31), USS Simon Lake (AS33) and USS Canopus (AS34), operating out of Holy Loch Scotland, Rota Spain, Guam, Charleston and Kings Bay, Georgia, comprised the Navy's Afloat Strategic Deterrent Force during the tension-filled years of the Cold War.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, Cold • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1960.

Location. 32° 52.076′ N, 79° 57.918′ W. Marker is in North Charleston

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, South Carolina, in Charleston County. Marker can be reached from Everglades Avenue. Located at the eastern terminus Everglades Avenue, near the Cooper riverfront, Charleston Naval Complex. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: North Charleston SC 29405, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Gator Navy (here, next to this marker); Greyhounds Of The Fleet (here, next to this marker); Greater Charleston Naval Base Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Wooden Ships And Iron Men (within shouting distance of this marker); The Navy Base (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Navy Yard Officers' Quarters (approx. 0.2 miles away); Charleston Naval Yard Officers' Quarters Historic District (approx. 0.2 miles away); Charleston Navy Yard Historic District (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in North Charleston.

Regarding 41 For Freedom. The "Forty-one For Freedom" SSBNs:
USS George Washington (SSBN-598) • USS Patrick Henry (SSBN-599) • USS Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN-600) • USS Robert E. Lee (SSBN-601) • USS Abraham Lincoln (SSBN-602) • USS Ethan Allan (SSBN-608) • USS Sam Houston (SSBN-609) • USS Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610) • USS John Marshall (SSBN-611) • USS Lafayette (SSBN-616) • USS Alexander Hamilton (SSBN-617) • USS Thomas Jefferson (SSBN-618) • USS Andrew Jackson (SSBN-619) •

Photographed By Mike Stroud, June 16, 2013

2. 41 For Freedom Marker

USS John Adams (SSBN-620) • USS James Monroe (SSBN-622) • USS Nathan Hale (SSBN-623) •
USS Woodrow Wilson (SSBN-624) • USS Henry Clay (SSBN-625) • USS Daniel Webster (SSBN-626) • USS James Madison (SSBN-627) • USS Tecumseh (SSBN-628) USS Daniel Boone (SSBN-629) • USS Ulysses S. Grant (SSBN-631) • USS Von Steuben (SSBN-632) • USS Casimir Pulaski (SSBN-633) • USS Stonewall Jackson (SSBN-634) • USS Sam Rayburn (SSBN-635) • USS Nathanael Greene (SSBN-636) • USS Benjamin Franklin (SSBN-640) • USS Simon Bolivar (SSBN-641) • USS Kamehameha (SSBN-642) • USS George Bancroft (SSBN-643) • USS Lewis & Clark (SSBN-644) • USS James K. Polk (SSBN-645) • USS George C. Marshall (SSBN-654) • USS Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655) • USS George Washington Carver (SSBN-656) • USS Francis Scott Key (SSBN-657) • USS Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) • USS Will Rogers (SSBN-659)

Additional commentary.
1. Blue and Gold Crews
Each Fleet ballistic missile firing submarine is assigned two full crews. Called “Blue” and “Gold,” each has its own skipper and full complement of officers and enlisted men. While one crew has the ship on patrol, the other is back in the home port, undergoing refresher training, taking leave, breaking in new crewmembers, and, in general, getting ready to go back to sea.

Photographed By US Navy Photo

3. The first of 41 For Freedom
Commissioned, USS George Washington (SSBN-598), 30 December 1959; Decommissioned and simultaneously struck from the Naval Register, 24 January 1985;
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— Submitted June 22, 2013, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.

41 For Freedom image. Click for more information.

Photographed By US Navy Photo

4. 41 For Freedom

Commissioned, USS Patrick Henry (SSBN-599), 11 April 1960; Reclassified (SSN-599), 24 October 1981; Decommissioned, 25 May 1984; Struck from the Naval Register, 16 December 1985;
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USS Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN-600), image. Click for more information.

Photographed By US Navy Photo

5. USS Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN-600),

Commissioned, USS Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN-600), 13 February 1961; Decommissioned and simultaneously struck from the Naval Register, 1 December 1982;
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41 For Freedom Marker image. Click for more information.

Photographed By US Navy Photo

6. 41 For Freedom Marker

Commissioned, USS Robert E. Lee (SSBN-601), 16 September 1960; Decommissioned and simultaneously struck from the Naval Register, 30 November 1983;
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Photographed By US Navy Photo

7. 41 For Freedom

Commissioned, USS Abraham Lincoln (SSBN-602), 8 March 1961; Decommissioned and simultaneously struck from the Naval Register, 28 February 1981
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Photographed By US Navy Photo

8. 41 For Freedom

Commissioned, USS Ethan Allen (SSBN-608), 8 August 1961; Re-designated Attack Submarine (SSN-608), 1 September 1980; Decommissioned, 31 March 1983; Struck from the Naval Register, 2 April 1983
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Photographed By US Navy Photo

9. 41 For Freedom

Commissioned, USS Sam Houston (SSBN-609), 6 March 1962; Reclassified (SSN-609), 10 November 1980; Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 6 September 1991
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USS Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610), image. Click for more information.

Photographed By US Navy Photo

10. USS Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610),

Commissioned, USS Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610), 10 March 1962; Redesignated Attack Submarine (SSN-610), 6 October 1980; Decommissioned, 1 December 1983; Struck from the Naval Register, 30 April 1986;
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Photographed By US Navy Photo

11. 41 For Freedom

Commissioned, USS John Marshall (SSBN-611), 21 May 1962; Redesignated Attack Submarine (SSN-611), 1 May 1981; Decommissioned, and simultaneously struck from the Naval Register, 22 July 1992
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Photographed By US Navy Photo

12. 41 For Freedom

Commissioned, USS Lafayette (SSBN-616), 23 April 1963; Decommissioned, and struck from the Naval Register, 12 August 1991;
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USS Alexander Hamilton (SSBN-617) image. Click for more information.

Photographed By US Navy Photo

13. USS Alexander Hamilton (SSBN-617)

Commissioned, USS Alexander Hamilton (SSBN 617), 27 June 1963; Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 23 February 1993
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Photographed By US Navy Photo

14. 41 For Freedom

Commissioned, USS Thomas Jefferson (SSBN 618), 4 January 1963; Reclassified Attack Submarine (SSN-618), 11 March 1981; Decommissioned, 24 January 1985; Struck from the Naval Register, 30 April 1986;
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Photographed By US Navy Photo

15. 41 For Freedom

Commissioned, USS Andrew Jackson (SSBN-619), 3 July 1963; Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 31 August 1989;
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Photographed By US Navy Photo

16. 41 For Freedom

Commissioned, USS John Adams (SSBN 620), 12 May 1964; Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 24 March 1989;
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Photographed By US Navy Photo

17. 41 For Freedom

Commissioned, USS James Monroe (SSBN 622), 7 December 1963; Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 25 September 1990
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USS Nathan Hale (SSBN 623) image. Click for more information.

Photographed By US Navy Photo

18. USS Nathan Hale (SSBN 623)

Commissioned, USS Nathan Hale (SSBN 623), 23 November 1963; Decommissioned 3 November 1986; Struck from the Naval Register, 31 December 1986;
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Photographed By US Navy Photo

19. 41 For Freedom

Commissioned, USS Woodrow Wilson (SSBN 624), 27 December 1963; Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 1 September 1994
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Photographed By US Navy Photo

20. 41 For Freedom

Commissioned, USS Henry Clay (SSBN 625), 20 February 1964; Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 5 November 1990
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USS Daniel Webster (SSBN-626) image. Click for more information.

Photographed By US Navy Photo

21. USS Daniel Webster (SSBN-626)

Commissioned, USS Daniel Webster (SSBN-626), 9 April 1964; Decommissioned, and simultaneously struck from the Naval Register, 30 August 1990;
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Photographed By US Navy Photo

22. 41 For Freedom

Commissioned, USS James Madison (SSBN-627), 28 July 1964; Decommissioned, and simultaneously struck from the Naval Register, 20 November 1992;
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Photographed By US Navy Photo

23. 41 For Freedom

Commissioned, USS Tecumseh (SSBN 628), 29 May 1964; Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 23 July 1993;
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USS Daniel Boone (SSBN-629) image. Click for more information.

Photographed By US Navy Photo

24. USS Daniel Boone (SSBN-629)

Commissioned, USS Daniel Boone (SSBN-629), 23 April 1964; Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 18 February 1994;
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Photographed By US Navy Photo

25. 41 For Freedom

Commissioned, USS John C. Calhoun (SSBN-630), 15 September 1964; Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 28 March 1994;
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Photographed By US Navy Photo

26. 41 For Freedom

Commissioned, USS Ulysses S. Grant (SSBN 631), 17 July 1964; Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 12 June 1992
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Photographed By US Navy Photo

27. 41 For Freedom

Commissioned, USS Von Steuben (SSBN 632), 30 September 1964; Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 26 February 1994
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USS Casimir Pulaski (SSBN-633) image. Click for more information.

Photographed By US Navy Photo

28. USS Casimir Pulaski (SSBN-633)

Commissioned, USS Casimir Pulaski (SSBN 633), 14 August 1964; Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 3 July 1994
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Photographed By US Navy Photo

29. 41 For Freedom

Commissioned, USS Stonewall Jackson (SSBN-634), 26 August 1964; Decommissioned, and simultaneously struck from the Naval Register, 8 February 1995;
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USS Sam Rayburn (SSBN-635) image. Click for more information.

Photographed By US Navy Photo

30. USS Sam Rayburn (SSBN-635)

Commissioned, USS Sam Rayburn (SSBN-635), 2 December 1964; Decommissioned, 31 July 1989 and retained as a Moored Training Ship; Struck from the Naval Register, 28 August 1989;
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USS Nathanael Greene (SSBN-636) image. Click for more information.

Photographed By US Navy Photo

31. USS Nathanael Greene (SSBN-636)

Commissioned, USS Nathanael Greene (SSBN 636), 19 December 1964; Decommissioned, 15 December 1986; Struck from the Naval Register, 31 January 1987
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Photographed By US Navy Photo

32. 41 For Freedom

Commissioned, USS Benjamin Franklin (SSBN 640), 22 October 1965; Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 23 November 1993;
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Photographed By US Navy Photo

33. 41 For Freedom

Commissioned, USS Simon Bolivar (SSBN-641), 29 October 1965; Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 24 February 1995
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USS Kamehameha (SSBN-642) image. Click for more information.

Photographed By US Navy Photo

34. USS Kamehameha (SSBN-642)

Commissioned, USS Kamehameha (SSBN-642), 10 December 1965; Reconfigured for special warfare operations and redesignated, Attack Submarine (SSN-642), in July 1992; Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 2 April 2002;
Kamehameha was the last boat of the original "41 for Freedom" submarines, and the oldest submarine in the US Navy. Almost 37 years old, she held the record for the longest service lifetime of any nuclear-powered submarine.
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Photographed By US Navy Photo

35. 41 For Freedom

Commissioned, USS George Bancroft (SSBN-643), 22 January 1966; Decommissioned and simultaneously struck from the Naval Register, 21 September 1993
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Photographed By US Navy Photo

36. 41 For Freedom

Commissioned, USS Lewis & Clark (SSBN-644), 22 December 1965; Decommissioned and simultaneously struck from the Naval Register, 1 August 1992;
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Photographed By US Navy Photo

37. 41 For Freedom

Commissioned, USS James K. Polk (SSBN-645), 16 April 1966; Reconfigured for special warfare operations, and redesignated Attack Submarine (SSN-645), date unknown; , Decommissioned and simultaneously struck from the Naval Register, 8 July 1999;
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USS George C. Marshall (SSBN-654) image. Click for more information.

Photographed By US Navy Photo

38. USS George C. Marshall (SSBN-654)

Commissioned, USS George C. Marshall (SSBN-654), 29 April 1966; Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 24 September 1992
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Photographed By US Navy Photo

39. 41 For Freedom

Commissioned, USS Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655), 20 August 1966; Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 5 May 1993;
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Photographed By US Navy Photo

40. 41 For Freedom

Commissioned, USS George Washington Carver (SSBN-656), 15 June 1966; Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 18 March 1993;
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Photographed By US Navy Photo

41. 41 For Freedom

Commissioned, USS Francis Scott Key (SSBN 657), 3 December 1966; Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 21 September 1993
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Photographed By US Navy Photo

42. 41 For Freedom

Commissioned, USS Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN 658), 16 December 1966; Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 9 March 1995
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USS Will Rogers (SSBN-659), image. Click for more information.

Photographed By US Navy Photo

43. USS Will Rogers (SSBN-659),

Commissioned, USS Will Rogers (SSBN-659), 1 April 1967; Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 12 April 1993;
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Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 22, 2013, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 2,707 times since then and 124 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43. submitted on June 22, 2013, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.