As I sat down to write this article, I started thinking back on all the fun I had with my involvement with the Yukon project. From interviewing the old-timers at the Naval Ocean Systems Center for my research for the EIR, to trying to figure out what materials and mounting methods to use for all the signs that were to be placed on board, and the fun I had installing them. I went through my project binder, and discovered to my amazement that there are 214 signs placed on the Yukon to date (though some of them are now in the sand), with approximately 8 to 10 yet to be installed. The last 12 Honor Wall Signs were supposed to be installed on the Friday before sinking day, as they were all engraved and painted at the last minute. A phone call that Friday morning changed those plans.

So what do you do when the ship sinks early? Your first job - after you stop looking like a deer in the headlights and wandering around in shock - is to do some diving to collect all the tools you left on board - you know - the $1200 Hilti gun that you borrowed and are financially responsible for, your $250 cordless drill, and any uninstalled signs you left on the chart table. The 8-ounce signs will be found right where you left them, but the 8 pound Hilti gun will be found three days later four compartments back from where you left it. The cordless drill will be found one compartment back, floating on the ceiling in your $60 fleece hunting backpack. Yes, my first three dives on the Yukon were search and recovery dives, but they were some of the most fun and memorable dives I think I've ever had. We didn't find any sign of the Hilti gun on that dive - and I'm glad that it wasn't found - because the next day was possibly the best dive of my life.

On Sunday morning the sinking site was still closed off to divers in order to accommodate the first to dive crowd. My wife Christine and I loaded up our little Boston Whaler and left the dock at 6 AM to find the missing Hilti gun. We wanted to be able to get in several dives before the crowds showed up and also get the best visibility, and boy did we get it! After jumping in the water I could not believe my eyes, snorkeling up to the bow buoy we were looking at all the bits of white paper on the bottom, and I realized - we are in 100 feet of water! We did our dive in awesome visibility - we dropped down the bow marker and swam through the dolphin, then up and across the forward gun. We entered the ship at 2P2 and back through the Operations room where the Honor Wall is located, then back towards the Captains cabin where I suspected the Hilti Gun was hiding. And there it was, as I looked through the captains head down on the port side wall - which is now the floor - the red box was lying in the corner just waiting to be rescued. After a brief celebration, we dropped down several decks to Burma road, and out the stern of the ship.

About this time, Christine signaled she was at 500 psi and we should make our way back. We slowly ascended while kicking towards the bow, and admired all the Salps and Pelagia jellies floating by in the blue water. At 40 feet a sealion came over to play with us, and followed us all the way to our 15 foot safety stop, looping and charging past by mere inches. Needless to say, I think we probably had the longest safety stop I've ever done - 15 feet for 15 minutes!

I'm still trying to install those last few signs; I made up a pneumatic drill set that is run off a high pressure 100 scuba tank. It works great, except I can only drill two holes on average before the tank runs dry, so it will be quite a few dives before all the signs are finally in place. The signs are held in place using 1/4 inch stainless rivets using a large rivet gun. The Honor Wall signs will be placed oriented with the existing signs - which means they will be sideways. I feel it keeps the continuity of the wall in place. All of the rest will be installed oriented vertically in relation to the ship. Now that I'm a dry suit diver, the installation will continue through the winter, slowly but surely as time permits. If you are still trying to find your name, have patience - it will eventually get there! Anyone interested in seeing a sign installed is more than welcome to accompany me on one of the dives - and maybe even help out - between signs, rivet guns, drills and the tank there is plenty to carry. Every time I do an installation I discover an easier way to get something done, so by the end of this I'll be an expert - hopefully just in time for the next ship!