JAMES M. WHEELER, USN 1981-1985
PETTY OFFICER, HT2, US Navy

Nicknames:  Diesel, Wheels, Jimbo
Bootcamp:  Great Lakes
Training in Damage Control:  Philadelphia
Duty Station:  Groton C Naval Submarine Support Facility
Next Duty:  USS BARBEY, San Diego, CA

  Jim passed away in November 1989 at the age of 27 from acute lymphocytic leukemia.  In the last three weeks of his life, he told us he had been exposed to ionizing radiation while he was stationed at the nuclear submarine base in Groton CT.  I am looking for anyone who would have been stationed and worked with him at Groton (2/82-5/83) or the USS BARBEY: 

   IN GROTON, He worked ot the Naval Submarine Support Facility (NSSF), lower base  (a restricted area) as a shipfitter/welder on nuclear submarines and related  components.  Industrial Radiography would have been used to make sure there were good welds.  His work areas were in Building 478, R-1, X11A, Section 2.  Sub Section 2 included the following nuclear subs at that time: 

 1)  USS  SCAMP (SSN 588);

2)  USS SNOOK (SSN 592);

3) USS SHARK (SSN 591;

4) USS  TULLIBEE (SSN 597);

 5)  NR-1; AND

6) several precommissioning units under construction at Electric Boat Corp.