In naming a ship is taken very seriously. It’s about more than just a label on a map; it’s about the spirit of the people the ship represents. Usually, big attack submarines like this one, the Los Angeles class, are named after major American cities.
But the USS Greeneville (SSN 772) is a bit of a “Pioneer” with a great story.
How does a submarine receive its name?
In the 1980s Dale Long worked at the Greeneville Metal Manufacturing Company. The company made parts used on submarines built at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Traditionally, the Navy named submarines after large American cities. Long wondered why a submarine could not be named after a smaller town, a town like Greeneville.
Long took his question to Greeneville Mayor G. Thomas Love and Congressman Jimmy Quillen. Quillen urged the men to rally local support and present a proposal in Washington DC. Armed with signatures of over 20,000 Greene County residents, the volunteer group met with Secretary of the Navy Lawrence Garrett.
Several larger cities competed with Greeneville for naming honors. Secretary Garret questioned the Greeneville contingent: “Why Greeneville?”. In response, a committee member answered: “because we are here, and they are not”. In November 1989, Navy veteran and Greeneville citizen F. D. McCorkle penned a supporting letter to the Secretary. By December the Los Angeles class submarine SSN-772 received a new name: USS Greeneville.
Tipper Gore, Second Lady of the United States, christened the Greeneville in 1994. The Navy commissioned the submarine in 1996 as part of the Pacific Fleet. Over 200 Greene County residents attended the ceremony.