As I look through my scrapbook of memories I’m sorry to say that I don’t have many tangible items of John Phillips. We served on two subs together, and when I retired, he wasn’t all that far behind being put out to pasture as well. Forced out, he wrote me later, being passed over for promotion to Captain, not once, but twice which meant he was out of the Navy.

 He was a good man and already had three commands under his belt, but   the Navy just  didn’t see him as a full bird. It was unofficially offiical that he seek employment elsewhere.

My plans for Seaview hadn't come to fruition yet, but I promised him that should she be born, he’d have first choice as her master.

A few years later she was and I was pleased her maiden voyage was under his command. Little did we know that he had less than two years before he was so tragically taken from us.

In retrospect I can see  that compared to Lee, he didn’t have the same kind of brilliant intuition and initiative; but still he was a good Captain and and more than that, he was a good friend, and always enthusiastic about my dreams. I miss him still.  I think he'd be proud of Lee too.