Episodes

  • S2 Ep 5 - Gill and Jim Smith
    Jul 18 2025

    This episode is a conversation with Gill and Jim Smith.
    Gill worked at the base at Sandbank and was one of the people who turned the key in the door at the shore facilities once the Simon Lake had sailed away, back to the States.
    Our conversation looks at the different roles Gill played at the base over the years, leading to those final moments.
    We talk, too, with Jim about the variety of jobs he had in connection with the base.
    Also in the room were Ann Campbell and Don Gable from the American Years teamand Alasdair Satchel, who also produced the episode.

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    23 mins
  • S2 Ep 4 - Steven T. Hammond
    Jul 11 2025

    In this episode Steven T. Hammond talks with Alasdair Satchel, who also produced the episode, about his time as a submariner here on the Clyde.
    Steven also talks about his life in Alabama before and after his naval service. This episode explores questions of identity and ethnicity onboard submarines and ashore in Scotland and in Navy culture at the time of Steven’s service.

    Steven very kindly also gives us some social media contact details at the end of the episode for any old friends looking to get back in contact.

    Thanks for listening, see you next time!

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    25 mins
  • S2 Ep 3 - The Gilettes
    Jul 11 2025

    This episode is a conversation with Trudy, Whitney and Jaime members of the Gilette family who came to live in Scotland when Trudy’s late husband worked as a dentist at Site One.
    The Gilettes talk with Alasdair Satchel, who produced this episode, through Jamie and Alasdair being old school friends.
    We hear tales of arriving in Scotland, cultural experiences, the role of women in Navy culture and operations here on the Holy Loch and also the experience of what it was like to go back to America after spending some of your most formative years in Scotland.
    Thanksfor listening!

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    44 mins
  • S2 Ep 2 - Erick Geisler
    May 29 2025

    Today’s conversation is with Erick Geisler . Originally from Ohio, Erick trained first as a welder before joining the Navy. His appointment here at Site One on the Holy Loch had a massive impact on his life, with one chance meeting changing it for ever.
    Erick rose through the ranks until he retired as Chief Petty Officer, before moving back to Dunoon.
    Erick talks with Alasdair Satchel, who also produced the episode, about the nature of his work at Site One, his later career developments and the nature of diversity at the base here in Scotland at the time and how he’s seen things change over the years.
    Thanks for listening!

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    32 mins
  • Diversity in Dunoon Before the Arrival of the American Navy
    May 20 2025

    Welcome back to American Years Revisited, the story of the American Navy on the Clyde at the Holy Loch. I’m Kate Simpson from the American Years Revisited team.
    Our focus for this season is diversity in its various guises.
    This first episode explores what ethnic diversity looked like in Dunoon before the arrival of the American Navy. Our American participants also talk about diversity in the communities they grew up with back in the States.

    In this episode you’ll hear from our project regulars: Andrene,Margaret, Gerry, Don and Phil. Ann, our project lead, joins theconversation, too. The discussion was facilitated by AlasdairSatchel who also produced this episode.


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    43 mins
  • Ep 08 - Audrey MacDougall and the Officers Wives Club
    May 18 2022

    In this episode John Kelly talks to Audrey McDougall about the officers' wives club during the American Years in Dunoon.

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    28 mins
  • Ep 06 - A diver’s story - ex-American Navy diver Don Gabel talks about his life
    May 17 2022

    Don was a diver at the American military base on the Holy Loch in Argyll Scotland. Don tells us about his life in Hawaii then travelling to Italy and finally settling in Scotland at the Holy Loch. His accounts of life above and below the waves paints a very clear picture of operations at the base and why so many servicemen came to choose Dunoon at home.

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    27 mins
  • Ep 05 - Cuban Missile Crisis - Gerry’s Tale
    May 17 2022

    In this episode Gerry Pursley shares a first-hand account of active service on the Proteus at the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis. With no warning the Proteus left the Holy Loch and headed for the North Atlantic. The ship wasn’t quite sea ready as they left in such a hurry, this lead to all sorts of situations that you’ll hear Gerry describing in rich detail.

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    19 mins