USS Plunger (SSN-595)

----------------Wikipedia (highlights)

USS Plunger (SSN-595), a Permit-class submarine, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for the plunger, a diver, a daring gambler.
The contract to build her as a guided-missile submarine (SSGN) was awarded to Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 23 March, 1959 but by the time her keel was laid down on 2 March, 1960 she had been redesigned as an attack submarine (SSN). She was launched on 9 December, 1961 (sponsored by Mrs. Clinton P. Anderson), and commissioned on 21 November, 1962, with Commander William M. Adams, Jr., in command.
Following a trip to Puget Sound on 27 November to test torpedo tubes and sound gear, Plunger departed Mare Island on 5 January, 1963 for shakedown to Pearl Harbor. Plunger next was homeported at Mare Island and operated to test the performance of sonar and the fire control system. In April she changed homeport to Pearl Harbor, where she became flagship of ComSubDiv 71, 1 April.In 1986 she won the Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award.
Plunger was deactivated, in commission, on 10 February, 1989, decommissioned on 3 January, 1990 and stricken from the Navy Register the following 2 February. Ex-Plunger entered the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program in Bremerton, Washington, on 5 January, 1995 and on 8 March, 1996 ceased to exist
---------------------------
If you are like me, you are wondering: "What is the Majorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award, and how can I win it? Where did it come from? Why would a submarine win something called a battleship fund award?

Some further delving into Wikipedia tells us: "Generally the recipient is the ship with the highest score in the fleet's annual competitions for Battle Efficiency Awards". Go Plunger!

Of course you are likely asking: Who is Marjorie Sterrett? Well she wrote a letter in 1916:

"To the Editor of the New York Tribune

"Dear Sir:

"I read in your paper every morning a lot about preparedness. My grandpa and my great grandpa were soldiers. If I was a boy I would be a soldier, too, but I am not, so I want to do what I can to help. Mama gives me a dime every week for helping her. I am sending you this week's dime to help build a battleship for Uncle Sam. I know a lot of other kids would give their errand money if you would start a fund. I am 13 years old, and go to Public School No. 9, Brooklyn.

Truly Yours,

MARJORIE STERRETT

I am a true blue American and I want to see Uncle Sam prepared to lick all creation like John Paul Jones did.

P.S.—Please call the battleship America."

Apparently, they collected a lot of dimes (20K) worth, and ended up giving the money to sailors who performed well. And the Marjorie Sterrett battleship fund award was born. And that folks is today's story from "the Real America".