Diamond Dallas Page and Tool Time’s “Heidi” visit USS Key West

Pro Wrestler Diamond Dallas Page visits the Key West.
Photo by JO3 Corwin M. Colbert

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (August 11, 2003) -- Mondays are usually hard to face, but for USS Key West (SSN 722) Sailors, August 11th was a Monday they could live with.

“When the commander said some wrestler was coming to tour the ship with Debbe Dunning from ‘Home Improvement,' I asked him which wrestler,” said Key West Chief Electronics Technician Bennett Spencer.

Spencer said the commanding officer, Commander Kenneth Sault, stumbled over the wrestler’s name.

“I heard Diamond and I quickly said Diamond Dallas Page?” When Sault verified it was Diamond Dallas Page or “DDP”, Spencer quickly mimicked one of Page’s famous phrases familiar to all wrestling fans, “BANG!”

As Page and Dunning strolled down the submarine pier, they seemed excited about seeing a Navy submarine. “This is my first time visiting a submarine,” said Dunning.

Page and Dunning posed for photos with Spencer before proceeding with the tour. Their first stop was the crew’s mess where they signed autographs and took candid photos with their well-appreciated fans.

One Sailor asked Page for a picture with his world champion belt and Page replied, “Sure man, we are here for you.”

After the autograph session, they were led into the torpedo room, stopping occasionally for quick snapshots. After they toured the torpedo room, they were led through numerous spaces before reaching the control room, where they had the opportunity to look through the periscope and sit in the helmsman’s chair.

A few minutes later the commanding officer arrived and gave them Key West souvenirs including a command ball cap, ship’s coin, and an autographed photo of Key West.

In return, the duo gave Sault an autographed T-shirt and ball cap. “I think providing the Sailors opportunities and access to see entertainers and celebrities they can relate to is a great morale booster. These tours show celebrities coming down to show their appreciation of our Sailors and the job that they do,” said Sault.

Actress Debbe Dunning, “Heidi” from the sitcom "Home Improvement", signals that she understands the "silent service" after peeking through the periscope during a tour aboard USS Key West (SSN 722). Photo by JO3 Corwin M. Colbert

After the tour, they went to the Silver Dolphin Bistro for lunch. There they received the royal treatment by workers at the Bistro who were happy to serve the celebrity guests.

Pearl Harbor was the kick-off of the 10-day Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Tour, which was sponsored by Pro Sports MVP and MWR.

Lara Askerooth, Special Events and Sponsorship coordinator for Navy Region Hawaii MWR said, “For the last year or so we have been making efforts to bring and keep bringing celebrity tours to Pearl Harbor.”

In addition to their tour aboard Key West, Page and Dunning made stops at USS O’Kane (DDG 77), the Silver Dolphin Bistro, Liberty and Paradise, a single Sailors recreation center and the Beeman Center to sign autographs.

They also stopped at the Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe to visit the servicemembers there. Pearl Harbor was the first stop, and will be followed with a visit to Guam to tour USS Frank Cable (AS 40).

by JO3 Corwin M. Colbert

Commander Submarine Force, US Pacific Fleet Press Release