U.S.S. Greeneville, TN preparing for 6th deployment

Honolulu, Hawaii - Fourteen years after it joined the United State’s Navy Pacific Fleet, the U.S.S. Greeneville, Tennessee is about to deploy on a critical new mission: to defend American interests in the one of the world’s most volatile regions.

Named for Greeneville, Tennessee in 1989 after a remarkable 3 month grassroots campaign, the U.S.S. Greeneville will launch this fall on its 6th deployment. The specifics of the mission are top secret; the Navy only will say the submarine will be assigned to the “western Pacific.” There, the U.S.S. Greeneville and its crew of 140 men likely will patrol the depths off the coasts of some of the world’s political hotbeds, gathering information and standing ready for orders as the Navy’s most state-of-the art warship.

While the U.S.S. Greeneville is halfway through the 30 year average lifespan of a submarine of its type, much of the inside of the submarine is brand new after what the Navy termed a “significant” technical upgrade from 2008 - 2009. In real terms, that means the submarine that carries Greeneville’s name carries military war technology that’s more advanced than ships built within the past few years.

For this sub, the upgrade and new mission represent new opportunities to move forward.

The U.S.S. Greeneville made world news in 2001 when it was involved in an accident with the Japanese fishing boat “Ehime Maru” off the coast of Hawaii. Nine people on the fishing boat died. The accident prompted a formal apology from the United States government and a reexamination of Navy protocol.

Almost a decade later with a new crew and an almost new boat, the Captain of the U.S.S. Greeneville told 11 Connects News he’s anxious to redefine The Greeneville’s legacy. "We're bringing that ship back to life and we're bringing that crew back to life, learning our jobs and our tasks to be able to take the ship on deployment," said A.C. Carullo, Commander of the U.S.S. Greeneville. "We're to defend freedom and democracy around the world. We say that creed a lot. We take that inside, and it helps us understand what we're out here doing."

An hour-long documentary called “The U.S.S. Greeneville Rising” will air on 11 Connects WJHL-TV (CBS) on Thursday, March 4th at 7 p.m. Several “sneak peeks” at the broadcast will air on newscasts next week, the first set for broadcast Sunday during 11 Connects News at 11 p.m. The documentary relies heavily on the archives of the The Greeneville Sun newspaper which played a critical role in the name of the sub and which remains the most complete source of the sub’s historical record.

11 Connects news anchor Josh Smith and digital journalist Phillip Murrell received clearance from the U.S. Navy to go to sea with the submarine. In mid-January, they traveled to Peal Harbor, Hawaii, home base for the U.S.S. Greeneville and the rest of the Pacific Fleet. Accompanied by Dale Long, circulation manager for The Greeneville Sun and President of the U.S.S. Greeneville Inc., they lived alongside the crew, sharing their food and their cramped living space and observing as the primarily young group off men endured a grueling training schedule.

“We felt it was time to retell this amazing story,” said Jack Dempsey, General Manager of 11 Connects WJHL-TV. “The city of Greeneville did something that no other city of its size has ever done in not only naming but supporting the crew of a Navy attack sub. And that connection continues to today.”

Dempsey said he’s anxious for viewers to see the documentary. “Our crew was given unheard of access to the submarine and its crew. I believe you will be amazed not only by the power of the ship named after Greeneville but the people involved in taking it to sea.”

“We’re grateful to the United States Navy and The Greeneville Sun for their assistance with this project,” Dempsey said.