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USS Benjamin Franklin (SSBN 640) Crew List
The table below contains the names of sailors who served aboard the USS Benjamin Franklin (SSBN 640). Please keep in mind that this list does only include records of people who submitted their information for publication on this website. If you also served aboard and you remember one of the people below you can click on the name to send an email to the respective sailor. Would you like to have such a crew list on your website?
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There are 139 crew members registered for the USS Benjamin Franklin (SSBN 640).
Select the period (starting by the reporting year): precomm – 1973 | 1974 – 1980 | 1981 – 1989 | 1990 – now
| Name | Rank/Rate | Period | Division | Remarks/Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engelberger, Charlie | en2ss | 1964 – 1967 | aux | |
| Shaffer, William (Bill) | MM1(SS) | 1964 – 1968 | M Division | Reported to pre commissioning crew at EB. Was original log room person and was MM2(SS) at that time. After commissioning Made MM1(SS) and made six patrols before discharge from Navy. Was the best duty in my Navy career. |
| Snell, Leonard | MM1 | Jul 1, 1964 – Jul 1, 1966 | Aux | Looking to catch up with others I served with. I was with the commissioning crew. |
| Schwartz, Jr., Ernest | TM1(SS) | Aug 9, 1964 – May 2, 1968 | Weapons | Plank owner gold crew. Made 5 patrols. Out of the 4 commands I served on the 640 was the best. Best GOLD crew. Came aboard as TMSN left making TM1(SS) .CO presented me my Father dolphins to me on patrol 1966. |
| Chiappi, Bill | EMC(SS) | Sep 10, 1964 – Aug 10, 1968 | Electrical | Served on launching and commissioning crew and six subsequent patrols. Wonderful guys and lots of good times as well as hard work. Made Warrant Officer on last patrol. |
| Heltsley, James/ji M | ET1(SS) | Oct 1964 – Oct 1967 | Navigation | New construction, made all sea trials and shake down cruise transit to Pearl and completed three patrols. |
| Azbill, Gerald (Gary) | MM2 ss | 1965 – 1969 | auxiliary | transferred to ssbn623 in 69. discharged in 71. |
| Maloney, Dick | EN(3) SS | Jul 28, 1965 – Aug 15, 1968 | A Gang | Plank owner, on 1st deep dive since Thresher sinking, 5 Pacific patrols, "Guam is Good", great Hawaiian memories. |
| Swartz, Bernie | ET1SS | Sep 1965 – Jul 29, 1967 | Navigation | Joined crew during construction in New London as SINS tech. Completed all shakedown and PSA in Newport News, VA. Can't forget the snow! Made 3 patrols following transfer to Hawaii. |
Deveau, John  | MMC(SS) | Sep 1965 – Jan 1970 | Machinery | Plank owner, reported late in pre-comm as a Nuc EN1/ELT. Qualed in submarines on 1st patrol. Rating changed from EN1 to MM1 during 2nd refit in Guam. Made 6 patrols 1st from HI then to Guam. Made Chief Dec 1969. |
| Estes, W.c. | SK2 (SS) | Mar 1966 – 1969 | Supply | Kept the boat supplied and Stood Sonar watches underway, Great group of guys, wonderful experiences |
| Amick, Glen | SWK(SS) | Jul 15, 1966 – Mar 1, 1968 | Supply | |
| Sisson, Dave | E5 | Sep 1966 – May 1969 | Sonarman STS E5 | I made 5 patrols on the Benjamin Franklin, based out of Guam. Great memories and great times. |
| Coughlin, Jack | 2ND CLASS PO TORPEDOEMAN / LAUNCHER TECH. | 1967 – 1970 | Weapons Gang - Missile Compartment | Came aboard from Dam Nick, VG as Seaman 2nd Class and left as 2nd Class PO. Had 4 patrols before taking her from Gaum, to Charlston, to New London into the shipyard, the long way around. Was transfered off for not re-enlisting for two more years. |
| Slaughter, David | FTG2(SS) | 1967 – 1969 | Weapons | On commissioning crew as Gold, then was transferred to Blue. Made 5 patrols, then on to Sub School Instructor. Transferred to merchant marine, retired as Captain 1992. |
| O'Ryan, Terry | MM2 SS | Mar 1967 – 1970 | Machinery | Hi to everyone. |
| Smith, Pete | ET 1 | Mar 17, 1967 – Apr 19, 1970 | Navigation | |
| Tingwall, Jerry | STS2 (SS) | Apr 1967 – Dec 1969 | Sonar | |
| Obrecht, Robert ( Obie ) | MM2 (SS) | Jan 7, 1968 – Jan 22, 1971 | A Gang | Had a great time and alot of fun on auxilliarymen forward watch. Water gun fights with captain for two patrols. Didn't like Guam, armpit of the pacific. |
| Jackson, Michael | MM2 SS | Jun 1968 – 1970 | Machinist mate | Assume Boat & crew! |
| Smith, Craig | MM-3 | Jun 10, 1968 – Nov 5, 1970 | Engineering | |
| Miller, Brian/bw | TM1/SS | Sep 1968 – Dec 1974 | Weapons | My 2nd sub. Came on the 640 as a seaman - left as a TM1. We all worked hard and played hard. She was the best in her day and I think of many of my ex-shipmates often. Longest patrol was 77 days submerged - the long way from Guam to Groton. |
| Freyn, Raymond | MM1 | Sep 3, 1968 – May 1, 1973 | M Division | |
| Robison, Phil | MM2(SS) | Dec 26, 1968 – Mar 1, 1973 | M | Would do it again in a heart beat ! |
| Johnson, Ed | EM2 | 1971 – Jun 10, 1971 | EM | I was in the blue crew and left the boat in the ship yard. |
| Campbell Sr., Michael (Soupy) | RM1(SS) | May 1971 – Mar 1974 | Operations Radio Gang | Picked this one up in the yards at EB. Good boat. Good people. No one should forget the El Bolero, Alfies, and the drink the Three Deuces...Lots of good memories. |
| Johnson, Charles | TMSN/TM3(SS) | Aug 1971 – Jul 1974 | TM/Launcher Tech (Missile Compatrment) | Reported @ EB Groton. Assigned to Gold crew with TMC Bishop TM1 Foltz, TM2 Cameron, TM3 Hager/Rook/Miller.Got out Jul74, Reenlisted Jan77 as PN3 thru YNC switched to US ARMY Dec88 and retired 1998 as SFC. |
| Mook, Donald | EM2 | Oct 1971 – Dec 1972 | E | I was the Throttleman when we sank the tug, actually the tug back over our stern planes and sunk itself. |
| Bryant, Harry | RM3 & RM2(SS) | 1972 – Oct 1976 | Communications | Reported onboard while she was in EB for Poseidon upgrade. Made 7 Med patrols then off to shore duty. |
| Robert, Flood | QM3 ss | 1972 – 1973 | NAV/OPS | hello |
| Paul Kershner, Paul | ET 1 | Jan 4, 1972 – May 24, 1972 | Engineering | Arrived from sub school after a tour in Vietnam as a naval advisor on a river patrol boat. Application to NESEP was in process. Went to Penn State and on to Naval Reactors, retired as O-4. I remember Eric Street. |
| Fetters, Thomas | HMC | Mar 10, 1972 – Oct 20, 1974 | medical | remember the med and rotta. and Shipyard |
| Kelly, Patrick | ? | Mar 19, 1972 – May 9, 1975 | ? | anybody know what idid? had a great time i think |
| Carlson, Ben | ET2(SS) | Oct 24, 1972 – Oct 21, 1974 | Reactor Controls | Memories of good friends onboard. Great food. Worked many long hours 6 on watch, 6 doing maintenance, 6 on watch, and 6 to rest, eat & shower and everything else. Looking forward to reunion in Philadelphia Sep 2023. |
| Gossett, Leo | QM3 | Dec 1, 1972 – Dec 1, 1974 | Quartermaster / very young / troubled / though I did qualify in less than 2 patrols. Out of Rota and Groton. | |
| Soden, Bob | MM1(SS) | 1973 – 1976 | Engineering | |
| Watkins, Derek | QM2(SS) | 1973 – 1976 | Quartermaster | |
| Goldman, Rich | STS1 | 1973 – 1975 | Sonar | |
| Stebbins, Richard | EM1(SS) | May 1, 1973 – Aug 1, 1975 | Engineering-Nuke Electrican | Made 4 Patrols out of Rota Spain. Earned Dolphins on my second patrol. |
| Rainey, John | E6 Electrician | Jun 1973 – Aug 1979 | Electrical | I great growth time in my life. Lots of living and lots of learning. Set a standard to measure how i lived the rest of my life so far. Some good folks and some jerks. |
| Barlow, Peter | IC2 | Sep 1973 – May 1975 | IC | |
| Tansky, Richard | MM1 | Oct 1973 – 1975 | M Div | Left the Navy in 1975, went back to school. Worked at Knolls Atomic Laboratory then a contractor instructor for NRC oper lic candidates, then Indian Point 3 Trng Mgr. then to Savanah River Site Trng Mgr |
| Albert, Jimmy (Prince) | QMSN | Oct 13, 1973 – Feb 19, 1975 | Navigation | I am currently the Secretary of the USS Benjamin Franklin SSBN 640 Association. Currently a US Merchant Marine Captain aboard the M/V Naples Princess and own Naples Boat Charters. |
| Black, Kevin | mm2ss | Nov 1973 – Mar 1976 | M | TAKE A BREAK,....great crew,lots of stories and memories from that bunch of lunatics,..chuck-a-luna |
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Select the period (starting by the reporting year): precomm – 1973 | 1974 – 1980 | 1981 – 1989 | 1990 – now
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