PigBoats.COM:About

PigBoats.COM was founded in 1999 by Ric Hedman. The original name was Through the Looking Glass. This site is essentially an encyclopedia of the first 41 years of the United States Navy Submarine Service. We like to call it a "photographic essay", as photos and pictures play a major part in how we preserve this legacy. This site is all about the men, the submarines, and our rich heritage and history.

This site is for informational purposes only. We do not sell anything, and we do not accept advertising in any form. It is entirely self-funded by the owners.

Your PigBoats.COM Staff

Webmaster TN(SS) Richard C. "Ric" Hedman, USN, a native of Washington state, joined the Navy in 1964. He put into commission the nuclear submarine USS Flasher (SSN-613) and took her to sea on her initial sea trials in the Atlantic and subsequent patrols in the Pacific. In 1968 he transferred to the Naval Reserve and in 1969 was sent to the diesel submarine USS Cusk (SS-348) as part of his annual Reserve training. He mustered out of the Navy in 1970 to pursue a civilian career.

His awards include the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon, Navy Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and the Korean Defense Medal. He is Qualified in Submarines.

Ric has been the webmaster of PigBoats.COM since 1999 and is a published historian and author, and technical consultant on submarine history for aspiring authors. He is an honored member of the Seattle Base of the United States Submarine Veterans, Inc.

Webmaster DCC(SS/SW) David L. "Dave" Johnston, USN (Ret.) is a native of Michigan and first joined the Navy in September, 1983. Over the course of a 21-year career Chief Johnston served on the USS Darter (SS-576), four Mine Countermeasures ships, and the USS Forrest Sherman (DDG-98). He has been on the staffs of Navy Operational Support Centers (aka Navy Reserve Centers) in Des Moines IA, Brunswick ME, Rochester NY, Battle Creek MI, and on the staff of the Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Bath ME. He has made four overseas deployments to Japan and the western Pacific, the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden. He retired from active duty in August, 2019.

His awards include the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Good Conduct Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/ “M” device, and a COMSUBGRU 7 Letter of Commendation. Chief Johnston is Qualified in Submarines and Surface Warfare.

During a break in service in the 1990’s, he worked in the travel, security, and retail industries.

Dave is a published historian, author, and technical consultant on submarine history for aspiring authors. He is a co-founder and webmaster of this site, a passion for him since 2001. He volunteers his time as an independent researcher for the Naval History & Heritage Command and was part of the team that identified the wreckage of the USS Albacore (SS-218) in 2023 and the USS Harder (SS-257) in 2024. Dave is also an enthusiastic member of The USS Dorado Project, an effort to find and document the final resting place of the USS Dorado (SS-248) and her crew. He has contributed research and analysis to the discoveries of five other lost USN submarines. He is active in the Hampton Roads Base of the United States Submarine Veterans, Inc. He resides in Norfolk, VA with his wife Theresa. He is a proud father and grandfather and an avid world traveler.

If you have any questions about our content, or if you would like to contribute photographs or information concerning a family member who served aboard submarines or about the subs they served on, please contact us at this email: webmaster@pigboats.com.