I first toured TORSK in 1989. I was really excited about it. My beau and I had toured CROAKER [in Groton when it was listing from having only one side of batteries removed], BECUNA [several times when Navy folks from the shipyard kept it shipshape] and LIONFISH [which was great but too much plexi]. TORSK was so bad I turned to him and said, "That boat is dead. We're NEVER going back." We did, however, enjoy talking to BATFISH veteran, Mr. Joe.
I would not have gone back to TORSK but for my being in Baltimore on some kind of business shortly after the KURSK sank and saw that the sail of TORSK had been creped. I thought that was a lovely gesture and I had taken flowers to the Russian consulate the week before. So, on a lark, I paid my money and ventured aboard and met Larry "Doc" Derouin and Big Al Becker. The rest is history.
But, prior to the volunteers it was just sad.