Mehl, Wayne J.
Person
Biography
Wayne J. Mehl served on board the submarine USS Growler (SSG-577) from March 1961 until the submarine was decommissioned in 1964. He was a lieutenant. During his years on the submarine, Mehl served as the engineering officer, the nuclear weapons officer and the qualification officer. As the nuclear weapons officer, his role was to arm the Regulus I missile prior to launch.
Before his time in the Navy, Mehl attended Stanford University, where he met his wife, Helen. After leaving the Navy, he went to work for the ROLM Corporation. Mehl became active in Beyond War, an anti-war movement that seeks to bring about a future without war.
The Museum recorded an oral history interview with Mehl, and a separate interview with Helen, in 2017. See OHP 137 and OHP 138.
Found in 3 Collections and/or Records:
Helen M. Mehl Oral History
Item
Identifier: OHP 138
Scope and Contents
Helen M. Mehl married Lieutenant Wayne Mehl in 1961, and spent three years living in Hawaii during Wayne’s service aboard Growler. Mehl began her interview by discussing her childhood and her upbringing in a traditional Methodist family. She then stated that after graduating high school, she attended Stanford University to study art and art history. This was where she met Wayne Mehl, and she noted that by her senior year, they were engaged. Mehl then continued, stating that she moved to...
Dates:
June 29, 2017
Richard Lee Meyers Oral History
Item
Identifier: OHP 037
Scope and Contents
Richard Meyers served aboard Growler as a machinist’s mate second class from October 1961 to September 1963. Meyers began his interview by explaining his decision to leave his construction job in Wyoming and join the Navy. He then discussed boot camp and volunteering for the submarine service. Meyers continued, recounting the first time he saw Growler. The submarine was in dry dock in Pearl Harbor, which gave Meyers the opportunity to walk underneath Growler and see the submarine from a...
Dates:
July 2, 2014
Wayne J. Mehl Oral History
Item
Identifier: OHP 137
Scope and Contents
Wayne Mehl served aboard Growler as the engineering officer and the nuclear weapons officer from 1961 to 1964. He began his interview by discussing his childhood growing up on a naval base in San Francisco during World War II and noting how his father, a lieutenant during the First World War, heavily influenced his decision to join the Navy. Mehl then discussed his education at Stanford University and explained his decision to join the NROTC program, stating that his engineering degree,...
Dates:
June 29, 2017
Additional filters:
- Subject
- Cleaning -- Laundry Operations 2
- Engines -- Heat Engines -- Internal Combustion Engines -- Compression Ignition Engines -- Diesel Engines 2
- Families (Human) -- Family Members 2
- Families (Human) -- Family Members -- Wives 2
- Fluids -- Liquids -- Water -- Distilled Water 2
- Japan (nation) -- Kanto (region (administrative division)) -- Kanagawa–ken (prefecture) -- Yokosuka (inhabited Place) -- Yokosuka Naval Base (naval base) 2
- John F. Kennedy Assassination, November 22, 1963 2
- Maintenance Equipment -- Drydocks 2
- Military Forces (United States) -- Navy 2
- Recreation 2
- United States (nation) -- Alaska (state) -- Aleutians West (national division) -- Adak (inhabited place) -- Naval Air Facility Adak (air base) 2
- Accidents 1
- Behavioral Sciences -- Psychology -- Behavior -- Emotions -- Anxiety 1
- Celebrations -- Holidays -- Christmas 1
- Communications Technicians, CTs 1
- Damage -- Damage Assessment 1
- Decommissioning, May 25, 1964 1
- Detection -- Submarine Detection 1
- Disposal -- Garbage Disposal 1
- Education -- Training -- Basic Training 1
- Education -- Training -- Military Training -- Naval Training -- Submarine Training -- Qualifying 1
- Engines -- Engine Components -- Crankcases -- Crankshafts 1
- Engines -- Engine Components -- Engine Fuel Systems Components -- Fuel Injectors 1
- Food 1
- Growler -- crew's quarters 1
- Growler -- engine room 1
- Growler -- engine room control booth 1
- Growler -- enlisted mess 1
- Growler -- forward torpedo room 1
- Growler -- galley 1
- Growler -- missile hangar(s), port missile hangar, starboard missile hangar 1
- Growler -- radio room 1
- Growler -- sail 1
- Growler -- stern room 1
- Growler -- wardroom 1
- Guided Missiles -- Cruise Missiles -- Regulus 1 1
- Hazing 1
- Humor -- Practical Jokes 1
- Hygiene 1
- Lieutenant, O-3 1
- Machinist's Mate 2nd Class Petty Officer, MM2 1
- Personnel Management -- Promotion (Advancement) 1
- Petty Officer 2nd Class, E-5 1
- Physiology -- Stress(Physiology) -- Motion Sickness 1
- Recreation -- Entertainment -- Movies 1
- Russia (nation) -- Primorskiy Kray (kray) -- Vladivostok (inhabited place) 1
- Security -- Information Security 1
- Security -- Information Security -- Classified Materials 1
- Strategy -- Deterrence 1
- United States (nation) -- Connecticut (state) -- New London (county) -- Groton (inhabited place) -- Naval Submarine Base New London (submarine base) 1
- United States (nation) -- Hawaii (state) -- Honolulu (county) -- Oahu (island) -- Honolulu (inhabited place) 1
- United States (nation) -- Hawaii (state) -- Kauai (county) -- Kauai (island) 1
- United States (nation) -- Midway Islands (possession) 1
- Vacuum -- High Vacuum 1
- Ventilation -- Venting 1
- Wounds and Injuries -- Bone Fractures 1 ∧ less
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