USS Georgia comes home

"Bring the USS Georgia home," has echoed throughout the state for more than 14 years. And soon, the 560 foot trident submarine will be stationed at the naval submarine base at Kings Bay.

The USS Georgia was launched in 1982 as an Ohio class nuclear powered fleet ballistic missile submarine and the third ship to bear the name of this grand state. The keel laying ceremony was presided over by First Lady Rosalyn Carter and her initials can still be seen on the ship's hull.

After 18 years of faithful service to the US Navy, the ship's fate was in jeopardy. The Nuclear Posture Review Committee determined that the Navy had too many nuclear submarines and the vessel was slated for salvage. But re engineering proved that the ship could be retrofitted to accommodate tomahawk missiles allowing enough room for a special operations platform. This conversion happened over the last two years while the ship was in Norfolk.

The Return to Service Committee (RTS) led the effort to have the ship stationed in Kings Bay. Sheila M. McNeill, past President of the Navy League of the United States, chaired the RTS and Governor Sonny Perdue served as Honorary Chairman.

The Central Savannah River Area Regional Development Center, in conjunction with the USS Georgia Return to Service Committee, is participating in a statewide effort to have a Georgia State Flag presented in all 159 Georgia counties and to hold a signing ceremony for the official log entry documenting the flag's presentation, which will become a permanent part of the ship's records.

The USS Georgia Flag Project will be in the CSRA region for two short weeks beginning on Feb. 6. During this time, CSRA RDC Executive Director, Andy Crosson will be visiting each county along with a representative from the Return to Service Committee to collect signatures on the Official Log Entry document. The Flag project will be in Jenkins County noon, Thursday, Feb. 14, at the Jenkins County Commissioners' conference room on the third floor of the Jenkins County Courthouse.