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VETERANS DAY
KEY WEST WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 8, 2018
KRISTEN LIVENGOOD
BRITT MYERS
kristen@keysweekly.com
britt@keysweekly.com
VETERAN SPOTLIGHT: TODD STOUGHTON O
HISTORIC NAMESAKE VISIT BY THE USS KEY WEST SET FOR VETERAN’S DAY WEEKEND
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odd Stoughton, 52, served 27 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, 17 of them at Station Key West, as a part of Aids to Navigation Team Key West, and on multiple Coast Guard cutters out of Key West. Today, he is the risk and safety manager for the City of Key West. “I still get to make an impact on employees, residents, Conchs and visitors,” he said of his job. “I’m surrounded by another diverse workforce that gives the same effort day in and day out that I saw in the military.” He met his wife, Tania, in Key West and they married in 1990. His three daughters were born in Key West, and he is incredibly proud of his three grandkids. “After I transferred to Key West in 1986, I stayed on the East Coast,” he said. “Key West became home, and when I was transferred out of Key West, to places like Sandy Hook N.J., St. Petersburg, Fl., Beaufort, N.C., we were always planning on returning to Key West as quick as possible.” He traveled nearly the entire Caribbean Ocean, and visited more than 100 islands, including all the U.S. Virgin Islands, all the British Virgin Islands, and still knew Key West would be home one day. His tours included Antarctica on the initial tour on the Coast Guard Cutter Glacier, and Australia, South America, Hawaii and Samoa. “I was considered operational most of my career as a boat coxswain, deck watch officer, and boarding officer and got to see Cuba change over the years, and Haiti change over the years,” he said. “What I’ve learned is that we are a blessed nation, and the citizens and residents of the United States are very fortunate to live where we do.” When he isn’t working, he loves to be on the water as much as possible with his family – especially spearfishing, or taking boat trips to Snipes on the weekends. When he retired in 2014 as a chief warrant officer 4, his pins
included a permanent cutterman pin (gold for officers), coxswain pin, and Boat Forces insignia. He retired after his last tour at Station Key West, where he was stationed twice, in 1990 as an E-5 and then as commanding officer in 2009. During his career, he said, he valued the “men and women that proudly served our nation through the good times and the bad times,” he said.“I have seen young men and women be put in the most strenuous of situations, and perform with perfection.” Today, he still keeps in touch with more than 100 men and women he has served with and takes pleasure in hearing about their advancement in their personal and professional careers. “I was also pleasantly surprised to find out how many City of Key West employees have served in the military,” he said.
nly three U.S. Naval ships have ever carried the name of Key West. The third, the USS Key West (SSN-722), is the only submarine on the list — yet the Los Angeles-class sub and its crews have played a historic role in protecting the nation’s interests and freedoms for more than three decades. Leading up to this weekend’s Key West Veterans Day events, crew members of the USS Key West will make a namesake visit from Guam and participate in Saturday’s parade. Visits to a U.S. Navy namesake are rare, with the last seven years ago. “This is truly a historical moment,” said Ron Demes, whose accolades and title include site manager for Atlantic Targets & Marine Operations of the Naval Air Warfare Center’s Aircraft Division. “I feel it is important that we make the crew feel at home here in their namesake city.” Demes said namesake visits don’t come around that often and “it is a great way for us to thank these men and women for their service.” Not to mention, Demes said, “the crew is proud to represent their namesake and they want to experience Key West while they are here.” Demes has been instrumental in the crew’s visit and itinerary. On Friday, he will accompany the team to Rotary presentations, mayoral visits, a stop at Horace O’Bryant Middle School and Key West High School — along with other meetings. And after the parade, the crew will squeeze in time to view the Superboat Races and a sunset cruise — all before departing on Monday. Those attending the Key West Veterans Day Parade will have a special opportunity to see the sub’s crew, along with a replica of the USS Key West that was constructed by Demes, Key West City Manager Jim Scholl and former Commanding Officer NAS Key West Captain Pat Lefere in 2011.
Ron Demes stands along the replica of the USS Key West, which will be displayed in Saturday’s parade. Britt Myers/Keys Weekly
“I told the commanding officer (in 2011) if he would come to Key West, I would make a submarine to look like their boat,” said Demes. “He was blown away with the distinct details we put into the submarine. We wanted to reflect the same pride in this project that the crew holds for the Key West namesake.” One of the distinct details that Demes referenced is the sub’s command emblem. The emblem features a conch shell with Key West emerging from the shell. According to the sub’s Wikipedia page, the shell is “the focal point of the submarine’s emblem for the fabled horn of the Greek God Triton and the symbol of the submarine’s namesake city.” Along with countless military operations that included Tomahawk missile attacks against Afghanistan immediately following 9/11, the USS Key West was featured in Tom Clancy’s novel “Red Storm Rising” and John Schettler’s novel “Kirov III-Pacific Storm.” Visit the sub’s Wikipedia page for more on the USS Key West and be sure to attend Saturday’s parade for a look at the crew and the replica. The Annual Key West Veteran’s Day Parade takes place on Saturday, Nov 10 at 4pm.
The USS Key West Submarine is Stationed in Guam. TRICE DENNY