BOISE, Idaho — USS Boise crew members are visiting with students across Boise Wednesday and Friday.
The USS Boise is a nuclear-powered submarine. It is the second ship in U.S. Navy history to be named for Boise, Idaho. The first USS Boise was a light cruiser that saw extensive service during World War II before being decommissioned in 1946.
The submarine, commissioned in 1992, is a Los Angeles-class submarine. Also known as LA-class or the 688-class, Los Angeles-class is a line of nuclear-powered fast-attack submarines, which make up the majority of the U.S. Navy's submarine force.
The following three members from the USS Boise crew are visiting schools in the Boise School District:
- Commander Michael J. Humara, Executive Officer, USS Boise (SSN 764)
- Master Chief Machinist Mate Submarines Gerry M. Hooker, USS Boise (SSN 764)
- Petty Officer First Class Bryan R. Feierfeil, Machinery Division Leading Petty Officer, USS Boise (SSN 764). Petty Officer Feierfeil is an alumnus of Liberty Charter High School in Nampa and attended Boise State University before joining the Navy.
Feierfeil has served in the Navy for six years, and says he has "many more to go." He spoke Wednesday morning to third- and fourth-graders at Taft Elementary. While serving on the USS Boise, he works in the engine room and keeps watch on the sub's nuclear reactor.
The USS Boise's home port is Norfolk, Virginia. Feierfeil said the sub, now 30 years old, is currently in drydock for its overhaul maintenance period. Even though it's on the East Coast, the USS Boise's connection to Idaho's capital city runs deeper than the name.
"We have a whole bunch of Boise State decorations all over the whole submarine. I've seen less blue and orange in the Blue and Orange Store than I've seen on our boat," Feirfeil said, later adding that everybody's a Boise State fan when the game's on. "It really matters to everybody on that boat, because we have this great plaque from previous Governor Dirk Kempthorne that said if you are stationed on the Boise, if you were or are future, you are a resident of Boise, and you have all the rights that you can get here, we have on that boat. The amount of Boise 'swag' on our boat -- in our wardroom we have a gigantic Fathead that's a picture of the Treasure Valley from (Albertsons) Stadium... everybody really appreciates it."
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