USS Columbia plans for MU tailgate party while at sea

COLUMBIA — To celebrate the halfway mark of its six-month deployment, the USS Columbia Navy submarine crew will throw a tailgate-style party in September and cook using Flat Branch Pub and Brewing recipes.

Columbia left Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on June 21 for the western Pacific.

“It’s a good morale booster,” said Cmdr. Christy Hagen, public affairs officer for Submarine Force Pacific.

MU donated 2010 season football DVDs, door prizes and sports apparel, including Mizzou T-shirts, said Renee Graham, spokeswoman for the city.

“Those Mizzou T-shirts will be worn in foreign ports,” said Hagen.

“The tailgate party will also consist of pictures and video tours of Columbia while the cooks try to do a Flat Branch recipe justice,” Chief of the Boat Don Williams said.

Flat Branch's Chokes & Cheese, Spicy Spinach Dip, meatloaf and bratwurst were some of the private recipes emailed to Culinary Specialist Chief Brian Broughton, said Flat Branch chef Matt Arnall.

“We don’t just give our recipes to anyone,” Arnall said. “We chose these foods because of their popularity and because their recipes can be easily translated into what they have in their kitchen.”

The Columbia Submarine Committee sent games and puzzles, said Joy Jackson, a committee member and a retired Navy registered nurse. The committee was appointed by the Columbia City Council in 1994 to foster a relationship with the submarine.

Flat Branch also donated door prizes for games, Arnall said.

"One sailor who racks up the most miles on our exercise gear for the ‘Walk, Run and Bike to Missouri Iron Man Competition’ will be the proud recipient of one of the Kindles,” said Williams, whose responses went through Hagen because he is at sea. “My chiefs are busy coming up with a plan for the second one, possibly ‘Columbia, Missouri Jeopardy’ during our tailgate party.”

Chief Richard Gould, formerly on the USS Columbia crew, said donations made deployment easier.

“I’ve been on seven different subs during the past 20 years, and I’ve seen quite a few relationships,” said Gould, who lives in San Diego. “The relationship with your city is probably the best I’ve seen. I appreciate the way Columbia shows its appreciation and everything it does for the USS Columbia.”

Hagen said it means a lot for sailors to know they are representing a community of people who are behind them. "They take pride in representing Columbia.”