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A Case Study of the Loss of USS Thresher

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A Case Study of the Loss of USS Thresher Calhoun: The NPS Institutional Archive Theses and Dissertations Thesis Collection 1964 Public relations aspects of a major disaster: a case study of the loss of USS Thresher. Stierman, Joseph William. Boston University . ': ' —. N PS ARCHIVE i*i ,-, 1964 STIERMAN, J. PUBLIC RELATIONS ASPECTS OF A MAJMAJOR DISASTER: A CASEW\5E STUDYS1UUI OFur THEi LOSS OF USS ' IHCEDU WILLIAMWll I IA STIERMAN, JR. Thesis S723 LIBRARY POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA 9394 BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC COMMUNICATION PUBLIC RELATIONS ASPECTS OF A MAJOR DISASTER A CASE STUDY OF THE LOSS OF USS THRESHER by Joseph William Stierman, Jr, (B Ao, Louisiana College, 1953) Lieutenant Commander > U.S. Navy A Thesis Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science in Public Relations May, 1964 I library U. S. Naval Postgraduate Sch^l Monterey, California DUDLEY KNOX LIBRAM ''WEYCA 93943-5701 . FOREWORD Almost as soon as the loss of the nuclear submarine USS Thresher, with a crew of 129 men, had been confirmed, the author began investigating the possibility of preparing an extensive study of the public relations aspects of this disaster, a study of public relations matters associated with a disastrous ex- plosion aboard an aircraft carrier in the Boston Naval Shipyard in 1950, prepared by Lieutenant E.L. Castillo, United states Navy, has proven to be of great value in the curriculum of the Navy's journalist school, and suggested the study of the loss of THRESHER. With assurances of cooperation from IMavy public in- formation officials in Washington and Boston, the study began. In the months that have followed, the author has received the complete cooperation not only of iMavy officials, but also of newsmen who covered various aspects of the story of the loss of ThnhibHu^R . Their cooperation and canaor have been, in some in- stances, surprising, and in all instances, gratifying. Without their assistance this study could not have been complete. It could not have been accomplished at all if the author had not been stuaying at Boston University during this period, under a program administered by the haval Postgraduate School, wonterrey, California As the story of the loss, search for and investigation of the submarine has developed, the author, on several occasions, was given the opportunity of working with the press in his ca- ii „ pacity as a Navy public information officer. The opportunity to deal with newsmen and Navy officials during a period of stress has provided material that could never have been obtained in in- terviews conducted subsequently . For providing these opportu- nities, and for their helpful commentary on the entire sequence of events, the author is especially indebted to Commander ueorge Hall, United States Navy, public information officer for the First Naval District, and Commander James Gormsen, United States Navy, the specially-appointed public information officer for the court of inquiry which investigated the loss of the submarine The cooperation of these individuals is gratefully acknowledged, although the responsibility for the contents of this study rests entirely with the author,, it should be spe- cifically noted that this study does not necessarily consti- tute the official views of the Department of the Navy. 111 . PREFACE Organization of the Department of the i\lavy The requirements of maintaining a large seagoing force sup- ported by an equally extensive land organization have led the wavy to adopt a unique administrative organization. The following description of the organization, as it existed in April, 19o3, is designed to assist the reader who is unfamiliar with the Navy. The Department of the wavy is divided into three principal parts: (1) The Operating Forces, which include most of the forces afloat along with a few specified land activities, whose identi- fication is not essential to this study. (2) The wavy Department, or central executive agency, lo- cated at the seat of government. (3) The Shore Establishment, consisting of all remaining activities The responsibility for the direction of the Department of the Wavy rests with the Secretary of the iNiavy, who is appointed by the President of the United States, and reports to him through the Secretary of Defense. The Chief of waval Operations (CWO) is the senior military officer of the Department of the Wavy. Although the Secretary of the Wavy retains policy control over the Wavy, he has delegated some of his authority; for iv , instance, the Chief of IMaval Operations is responsible for the military direction of the IMavy. The Secretary retains direction of "business" activities, and, pertinent to this study, of public relations, legislative affairs and morale and welfare of per- sonnel of the department. For administration, the operating forces are divided into fleets according to area of operation (e.g. Atlantic and Pacific), and, within the fleets, into smaller forces according to ship type and function (e.g. Destroyer and Cruiser Force, Submarine Force or Amphibious Force.) The Commander in Chief, United States Atlantic Fleet (CliM CLAIM TFLT) is in command of all operating forces mentioned in this study. He is a full admiral, with headquarters in iMorfolk, Virginia. Subordinate commanders include: Commander, Submarine Force, United States Atlantic Fleet (CQMSUBLANT) a vice admiral, with headquarters in IMorfolk, Virginia; Com- mander, Destroyer and Cruiser Force, United States Atlantic Fleet (COMCRUDJESLANT) , a rear admiral, with headquarters in Newport, Rhode Island; and Commander, Amphibious Force, United States Atlantic Fleet (COkPHlBLivisiT) , a vice admiral, with head- quarters in Little Creek, Virginia. For administration of the shore establishment, the con- tinental United States is divided into ten geographical areas called IMaval Districts. Each district is headed by a rear ad- miral, whose title is Commandant. The Commandant exercises mili- tary control over all shore activities in his district, though normally he does not command fleet units. The New England States all fall into the First Naval District. The Commandant of the v " First Naval District (GQMONE) , has headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts. Public Information Organization The Army, Navy and Air Force each conduct their own public information program, receiving broad policy guidance from the Department of Defense. All military information released at the seat of government must be coordinated with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs. Within the Navy, the Secretary of the i\iavy maintains im- mediate supervision of those activities "which involve vital relationships with the public. The Chief of Naval Operations is responsible for assuring the effective implementation of the public information policies of the Secretary of the Navy within all units of the operating forces and certain other units under his coriimand. The Chief of Information (CH1NFO) , however, is the direct representative of the Secretary and the Chief of Naval Operations in all matters of public information. The Chief of Information is a rear admiral who directs the operations of the Office of Information, which consists of about 100 persons located in the Pentagon building in Washington, D.C. Not only is the Chief of Information an advisor on public information policies and pro- grams, but, through his office, information and regulations on such matters is disseminated throughout the Navy. Members of his 1Navy Public Information Manual, NaYEjCOS P-1305 (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1955i, p. 7. vi staff also collect information of national importance originating within fleet commands and coordinate its release by the Department of Defense. The Office of Information is an integral part of the exe- cutive offices of the Secretary of the Wavy. The Chief of i^aval Operations does not have a separate public information staff, but utilizes the Office of Information to conduct such programs as he considers appropriate for the fleets. The Chief of Naval Operations does have an Assistant for Information, but his duties are primarily concerned with information matters which personally affect the Chief of Naval Operations. Fleet Commanders are the direct representatives of the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations for public information within their commands. Regulations provide that They will prepare and disseminate to all units under their command such supplementary instructions as are necessary -, to implement Navy Department public information policies. Naval District Commandants are the direct representatives of the Navy Department, and are assigned public information responsibilities similar to those for Fleet Comma riders. General Order 19, a basic Navy regulation concerning the relationships among various commanders, provides that iMaval District Comman- dants are responsible for the coordination of all Navy public 2 relations matters within their districts. Ibid . , p £. 2 General Order 19, though officially a separate document, is appended to Navy Regulations. 1948 (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1948 K vii Subordinate fleet commanders and commanding officers of ships and stations are also responsible for implementing wavy Department public information policies. To assist commanders in the fulfillment of these respon- sibilities, public information personnel are assigned to duty on their staffs—the number of personnel varying with the size of the command. The public information
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