Tollaksen, Duane, LT

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE NAVY.
My grandfather, Oystein (Mike) Tollaksen, went to sea as a teenager back in the days of sail, leaving Norway as a seaman on a German sailing vessel. He became a naturalized US citizen in 1885 in Port Angeles, WA. His life then was sailing on various types of vessels up

Duane Tollaksen 2015

and down the West Coast and Alaska. Specializing in steam vessels, he worked the tug boats in Puget Sound, qualifying as Master and later owning a 75-foot coal-fired tug engaged in towing log rafts, sailing vessels, and general towing operations. He also was an Alaskan Pilot, guiding ships in the Inside Passage to Alaska.

My father sailed with him during the summers when off from school and big enough to join the crew. In high school and at the U of Washington, my father, Leslie Bliss Tollaksen, sailed on merchant ships during the summer to the Orient and Alaska as a Merchant Seaman. He was appointed to the US Coast Guard Academy and graduated early with the Class of 1927, chasing rum runners! He spent most of his career at sea, including before and during WWII, both in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Pacific theaters. One of the ships he commanded, MOBERLY (PF-63), was one of the ships sinking the U-853 off Block Island. In 1946 he retired as a Commander. During this time, he also qualified as merchant ship Master, any ocean, any tonnage, and Chief Engineer, any ocean, any tonnage.

When I was 9, my mother, father, and I sold our home and moved onto a 56-foot-long cruising houseboat, cruising the Intercoastal Waterway and living full time on board. I learned basic seamanship and engineering for the next few years until we settled down to care for my grandmother in Washington, DC. There, I learned all about the Army during my high school years while a cadet for three years in the high school Jr. ROTC program.

During my last year of high school, I applied for all the Service Academies and Navy ROTC, taking all the exams. I was accepted by West Point and the Air Force Academy but turned them down while waiting for the Naval Academy's acceptance to arrive by Western Union telegram. I reported to the US Naval Academy about two weeks after graduation from high school and was appointed a Midshipman in June 1956.

WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BOOT CAMP AND WHAT UNITS, BASES, SHIPS OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
More or less, I had a 37-year love affair with the US Navy. A career, although only on active duty for 9 years, it stretched for another 24 before I retired as a GM -14 General Engineer at Naval Sea Systems Command, Submarine Directorate, Deep Submergence Systems Program Office (PMS-395).

I served one year on a destroyer in Newport, R.I., and then was 6 months in Officers Basic Submarine School in New London, CT (Class #117). The new nuclear Navy was getting off the ground but, I was not called! Instead, I spent 2 tours in diesel-electric submarines (GUPPY II and GUPPY III) and a tour in between in San Diego, CA, for about 2 years in COMSUBRON 3, at the Deep Submergence Group, Bathyscaph TRIESTE II. This duty changed my career path because it was at the beginning of the push to develop new capabilities for deep-ocean search, rescue, and useful work on the ocean floor.

I was able to make a civilian career as a planning officer and general engineer in the Navy, Civil Service for 24 years, serving in the Deep Submergence Systems Project/Program (DSSP) and other R and D programs.

IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?
No combat operations, but was with the group of officers (hydronauts) from the Deep Submergence Group (bathyscaph TRIESTE II) in San Diego who were sent to Spain as part of staff CTF 65 in efforts to recover a nuclear weapon lost by the USAF. The bomb's loss was a result of a refueling incident between a B52 and KC135 in December 1965.

The weapon was lost off the coast of Palomares, Spain at a deep depth in rugged underwater terrain. I was onboard the civilian submersible ALUMINAUT as it rendezvoused with the Navy submersible ALVIN at 2850 feet below the surface in order to mark the bomb's position while ALVIN surfaced to charge batteries and replenish air/oxygen. ALUMINAUT spent about 23 hours as close to the bomb as we could get while the position was plotted topside. ALVIN returned, and ALUMINAUT surfaced once the dust had settled and ALVIN could see the bomb. Months later the bomb was recovered following several attempts and delays caused by bad weather and sea conditions.

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
The tour in San Diego as a prospective TRIESTE II pilot, diving on this and other submersibles, set my course until I retired in 1993. The unit was a hand-picked group of officers and enlisted personnel, operating semi-independently from the chain of command and with our own R and D funding from PM-1 SSPO (Special Projects Office). We were receiving the equivalent of submarine pay, called hazardous duty pay. Our goal was to bring TRIESTE II from the control of civilian scientists into the Navy and to make it useful in carrying out planned search and recovery operations at extreme depths (20,000 feet or more). We eventually succeeded in doing this, however, much remains classified.

There were no real least favorites. However, I was glad to leave the surface Navy and immerse myself in the Submarine Navy!

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
Diving to 3000 feet in the civilian submersible ALUMINAUT off the coast of Spain during the Salvage Operations Mediterranean in 1966. ALUMINAUT assisted in the recovery of a nuclear weapon that dropped into the sea following a mid-air collision by a B-52 and its tanker plane. The Deep Submergence Group of COMSUBRON THREE was asked to provide officers from TRIESTE II to be a liaison for the operation.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
Qualification as a submarine officer (Gold dolphins).

OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR OTHER MEMORABILIA, WHICH ONE IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
The Submarine Officer's Gold Dolphins were the most meaningful to me as they represented qualification and full acceptance into the submarine force.

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
Certainly, the Commander of the submarine GRAMPUS that I qualified on, LCdr. Don Kilmer was the role model for the type of Commanding Officer I wished to be. LCdr (later RADM) J. B. (Brad) Mooney, Officer-in-Charge of the TRIESTE II and the Deep Submergence Group in COMSUBRON Three, was the role model for the rest of my life.

CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
When the USS GRAMPUS (SS-523) was in port in San Juan, Puerto Rico, several officers and I went into town. After a few drinks and well into the night, we all decided to go to the old fort, El Morro. We spent what seems now to be hours getting there and wandering around inside in the dark. I do not remember how we returned to the boat without getting caught or injured, but this is a story I tell my family, and we all shake our heads at the comedy of it.

WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY?
I continued my profession in submarines in Navy Civil Service for the next 24 years, working at NAVSHIPS/NAVSEA headquarters, Submarine Directorate, Deep Submergence Systems Project/Program (PM-11/PMS-395) and in the Office of Naval Research (ONR 421/NORDA 180). I am fully retired now, having retired from NAVSEASYSCOM HQ in 1993 following a total of over 37 years of government service.

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
I have been a member of several associations associated with the military especially with the Navy and Submarines. These included The Navy League, The Retired Officer's Association (now MOAA); The USAA; The Naval Academy Alumni Association (Life Member), The Military Order of Foreign Wars of the United States (MOFW); The United States Submarine Veterans Inc (USSVI); The Deep Submersible Pilots Association (Associate Member). I also support the WWII Memorial in Washington and the Submarine Force Museum in New London, CT; The USO; and The United States Navy Memorial in Washington, DC.

Some of the benefits include meeting old friends at meetings and reading the current news of military, Navy, and Submarine affairs. In addition, some, like USAA and MOAA, have insurance and credit card benefits.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER? WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT YOUR TIME IN THE SERVICE?
I grew up in a military family that formed the foundation of honor, service, and duty. These were reinforced in the Boy Scouts and high school military training in the Washington DC Army Junior ROTC. The rest is history--four years at the US Naval Academy followed by nine years active duty and 24 years as a submarine engineer in Navy Civil Service. Duty--Honor--GOD and Country.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE NAVY?
I would tell them to work hard, get as much engineering and science education as possible, and to get as much practical experience, too.

Go into a branch that they are interested in spending a lifetime.

Of course, I would recommend the Submarine Force!

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
It has allowed me to concisely summarize 37 years of United States Navy service.

KC 11.20.23