27 August 03 – The USS Connecticut (SSN 22) was participating in ICEX 2003, and surfaced through the artic ice near the North Pole. Some of the crew were playing a hastily organized game of football while others hit golf balls, or engaged in a contest to see who could slide the farthest on the ice. During the various activities of horseplay, a lookout spotted a polar bear several hundred yards away, but heading slowly toward the boat. “Ice Liberty” was cancelled and the crew returned to the safety of the boat and “buttoned up”. The polar bear approached the stern of the boat where the top of the rudder protruded up through the ice. From the bridge a photograph was taken of the bear standing on the ice and appearing to appearing nibble on the top of the rudder. Releasing the photo soon after the incident the Navy enjoyed considerable the considerable attention it gathered from the news media.
© Gregg Smith
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