Our December volunteer profile is on Senior Chief Sid Busch. Sid grew up in Brooklyn, New York and joined the Navy in February 1965. He did his basic training at San Diego, California and then received orders to Sonar school at the submarine base in Key West, Florida. As a submarine sonar technician Sid served on numerous submarines beginning with the USS Baya, SS-318.
His next two boats were USS Clamagore, SS-343 and USS Irex, SS-482. As seen above, USS Clamagore is now a museum ship at Patriots Point and Sid is once again back aboard explaining to visitors all the marvelous things he used to do onboard and how everything works on a diesel boat.
Sid went nuclear after diesel boats and served on the attack submarine USS Shark, SSN-591 
and the USS Lapon, SSN-661.
After serving in attack boats, Sid finished his career with multiple patrols on the following boomers (nuclear ICBM missile submarines) USS Abraham Lincoln, SSBN-602 , USS John Marshall, SSBN-611 , USS Mariano G. Vallejo, SSBN-658, USS John C. Calhoun, SSBN-630, USS James Monroe, SSBN-622 , USS Casimir Pulaski, SSBN-633 , and his last tour on the USS Florida, SSBN-728 . Senior Chief Busch retired in May 1991 after 26 years of service to the nation in submarines.
Sid's most memorable story is when he was the boat's diver on the USS John Marshall conducting operations in the Pacific Ocean. One day they were conducting TPU ops on the boat (dumping trash via cans out of a tube on the submarine) and were called to battle stations in the middle of TPU ops. A can in the tube unfortunately swelled during the battle stations drill and could not be discharged when TPU ops recommenced after the finish of battle stations. This made it necessary for the boat's diver, Sid, to go outside and physically remove the can with a hammer and chisel. Sid departed through the escape trunk and made his way to the tube. He began to beat away with hammer and chisel and after 15 minutes decided to take a short break.
Sid looked down under the sub while taking his well deserved break and noticed six to seven sharks swimming around and watching him. Sid said that suddenly the theme to Jaws began playing in his head.
He went back to work furiously and was able to finally pry the can out of the tube, after which he quickly returned to the escape trunk to reenter the boat.
Sid has been a volunteer at Patriots Point for five years now and anyone who accompanies him onto Clamagore for a tour will have an experience they'll never forget. Sid is also an avid marathon runner and has run in many marathons across the nation. He tries to do one every year and so he is in super shape. With his energy and submarine knowledge we certainly expect Sid to be here for many years telling the stories of America's amazing submarine forces. We salute you Sid!!!