USS Montana crew visits Kalispell March 12
Crew members from the USS Montana lead the Kalispell Fourth of July parade in 2019. (Courtesy of Bill Whitsitt)
The Commanding Officer and crew members of the USS Montana are visiting Kalispell next week.
Over the years of the nuclear-powered fast attack submarine’s construction, testing, commissioning, and training, crew members have visited communities in the state. This time they will also make stops in Butte and Missoula.
Commanding Officer Cmdr. Jon Quimby and crew members will be in Kalispell on March 12 at the Kalispell VFW Post 2252, 330 First Ave. W, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The event includes a no-charge reception with hors d’oeuvres and cash bar.
This is likely to be the last group tour of an area of Montana until after SSN 794 moves in a few months to her Pacific Fleet home port of Pearl Harbor and has her first deployment, according to a release from the USS Montana Committee.
Crew members are expected to periodically return to different parts of Montana from Hawaii after their first Pacific Fleet deployments and missions, the committee notes.
The Kalispell event will provide opportunities to hear and ask questions about SSN 794’s planned move to Hawaii, ongoing crew mission training, and recognition of the Montana and her crew over the past months.
For more information, visit ussmontanacommittee.us.