Preserving the Legacy of SSN-698 & CA-130
Join us in developing a monument to the submarine, cruiser, their namesake city and the shipyard that cared for them
October 1986 Cdr Alan Beam brings Bremerton to Bremerton
“In preparation for the visit I wrote the Bremerton Yacht Club and volunteered to be their flagship. We rendezvoused with the Navy tug at Point-No-Point to load Mayor Glenn Jarstad and VIPs onboard. It was a typical Puget Sound October day. The fog was so thick that I could not see my starboard sailplane! When we rounded Glover Point and entered Sinclair Inlet the fog lifted revealing a bright sunny day. There were ninety small boats to meet me, and two Navy tugs spraying water. I was the only time I saw Washington State Ferry stop! He came out of the fog behind and joined the Parade into town. ” Alan Beam
Captain Douglas Scott Wright, USN (Ret.), of Oceanside, California, died peacefully on September 30, 2026, at the age of 84.
Doug was born in Annapolis, Maryland, the youngest of three children, to Rear Admiral William Dudley Wright Jr. (US Naval Academy, Class of 1923), a decorated World War II officer, and Helen Rolls Wright, an artist. Although the family moved often, he called Stonington, Connecticut, home. Doug returned to Annapolis as a midshipman at the US Naval Academy, graduating in 1965 with a degree in Systems Engineering. After Navy nuclear power training, he began a distinguished 26-year career as a submarine officer.
Early in his Navy career, Doug served on several submarines and went on to command the USS Bremerton (SSN-698) from 1982 to 1985—a tour that earned the Battle Efficiency “E,” Engineering “E,” and the Navy Unit Commendation. Doug later commanded the Naval Submarine Training Center Pacific in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and concluded his active duty at the Pentagon, retiring as a Navy Captain in 1991. His military decorations include two Legion of Merit awards, the Meritorious Service Medal, and three Navy Commendation Medals.
Following his naval service, Doug began a second career as an international defense consultant, first working with the South Korean Navy in Seoul. He then led US military assistance programs in Alexandria, Egypt, and advised several other international submarine programs before fully retiring in 2004.
In 1969, Doug met his future wife, Carol Anne Sturgin, in Maryland, where she was serving as an officer in the Royal Naval on exchange from the UK. They married in Reading, England, on August 21, 1970. During his active-duty years, they made their home largely in Hawaii, where their sons were born.
Together, Doug and Carol shared a love of home renovation and could practically build an entire house from scratch. Later in life, Doug took up golf—Carol’s lifelong passion—and the two frequently competed in couples tournaments. They treasured the close community and friendships they built living on the golf course at Ocean Hills Country Club, their home since 2004.
Doug is survived by Carol, his wife of 56 years; their sons, Colin Scott Wright, an intellectual property attorney, and his husband, Terence “Toby” Bryan, a banker; William “WillD” Douglas Wright (US Naval Academy, Class of 1995), a Naval aviator and pilot for UPS, and his wife, Dr. Joy Bloom Wright (US Naval Academy, Class of 1993), a Naval Flight Officer and psychologist; and three grandsons, Thomas Colin Wright, a US Navy Ensign in medical school; James Douglas Wright, a graduate of Stanford and current graduate student; and Jack Christopher Wright, an actor and online personality. Doug was preceded in death by his brother and sister, William Polk Wright and Barbara Hodsdon Ullyot, who affectionately called him Dougal.
A military honors service and interment will take place at Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego, CA, on December 22, 2026, at 11:30 AM (guests are asked to arrive at the staging area by 11:15 AM). A Celebration of Life will immediately follow at the Poway VFW.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or a local Alzheimer’s charity of your choice.
On May 13th Hunter Austin (Project Engineer – Art Anderson Associates), David Fergus (Project Architect). Jerry Logan (CO #10), and Tom Zwolfer (CO #11) had an opportunity to visit Puget Sound Naval Shipyard to view and take measurements on the USS BREMERTON (SSN 698) artifacts to help refine the monument design and start working on the engineering design for the monument and the foundations for the sail. While there, we also had the opportunity to see what remains of the boat, which was in the drydock next to the artifacts being recycled. By recycled, I mean being cut into large pieces for disposal. You could still recognize the stern section of the hull as approximately half of the boat was still in one piece. The shipyard was working hard to complete the recycling.
We recently received the photos taken by Puget Sound Naval Shipyard during the visit so we wanted to share them. Included are photos of the sail, fairwater planes, the articulating portion of the stern planes, rudder and a cleat. As you can see the artifacts are in rough shape and will need a lot of preservation prior to the sail being put back together.
Lower portion of the USS BREMERTON sail. As you can see it is marked to save for us. L-R PSNS Director of Workforce Readiness John Monroe, Jerry Logan, David Fergus, Tom ZwolferJerry Logan and Tom Zwolfer looking through the linkage between the articulating portion of the stern planes.Jerry Logan and David Fergus with the upper portion of the sail.Upper Rudder.David Fergus has some creative ideas on how to incorporate this cleat as well as five others into the benches at the monument.
The Ship’s sponsor, was Mrs. Helen Jackson, wife of Henry M. Jackson, US Senator from the State of Washington.
It’s been 50 years…Today we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the keel laying of the USS Bremerton (SSN-698). On May 8, 1976, construction officially began at Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut, marking the start of a proud chapter in U.S. Navy history.
As a Los Angeles-class submarine and the second Navy vessel named for Bremerton, Washington, USS Bremerton represents innovation, strength, and the enduring legacy of the sailors, shipbuilders, and communities who supported her mission. We honor all who helped shape her remarkable legacy over the past five decades. – John Scanlan
Plaque replica from USS BREMERTON (SSN 698) that was mounted outside the CO’s stateroom on the boat. Henry M. Jackson’s words are as timely as ever.
USS Bremerton Monument Executive Committee discusses changes to the Monument Site Plan. Clockwise from the Left: Designer David Fergus Project Architect, Mayor Patty Lent, Captain Jerry Logan President (CO #10), Commander Ken Jensen Plank Owner, Captain Ton Zwolfer Fundraising (CO#11). – Photographer Captain Alan Beam (CO#3).
Crews placed parts of the USS Omaha submarine at a new memorial at Levi Carter Park. They assembled several major components to recreate the profile of the submarine’s sail.
Major parts of the vessel were lifted into place by a crane, and crews worked to fit all the pieces together. The lower sail, fairwater planes and upper sail were connected to form the submarine’s sail structure.
According to the U.S. Submarine Veterans Charitable Foundation, the USS Omaha was a Los Angeles-class submarine, a type of nuclear-powered attack sub made famous by the movie “The Hunt for Red October.”
The USS Omaha was in service from 1976 to 1995, when it was decommissioned. It was used during the Cold War.
The project follows a 30-year effort to preserve American naval history. The memorial is meant to honor the service and sacrifice of the sub’s crew.
The memorial preserves authentic components from the Los Angeles-class submarine. The official relaunch of the sub and opening of the monument is on May 16.
Parking is available at the Lewis & Clark Interpretative Trailhead lot on Abbott Drive. Only southbound vehicles can access the lot.
USS Bremerton (CA 130) was commissioned on April 29, 1945.
The ship’s name was chosen following a bond selling competition between Bremerton’s Puget Sound Navy Yard and Mare Island Navy Yard in California. Bremerton won! As a result, USS Bremerton joined the fleet on April 29, 1945. She was too late to participate in World War II, but served through the Korean War, making multiple Pacific Fleet deployments and earning two battle stars before being decommissioned in 1960.
Rick Raymond presented a photograph of USS Bremerton CA-130 exiting San Francisco in 1955 to Mayor Greg Wheeler in a ceremony April 20, 2026. The ceremony took place in front of the ship’s bell on the sixth deck of city hall. The photo was donated by Charles Dachenhauson from his collection.
– John Scanlan
