25Nov20165 Doc Rio remembers JOCKO,
our Team's Monkey: back in the 1960's
Monday,
Tuesday, Thursday SEAL Team Two's Rudy Boesch led PT after that, we ran to the
beach, ran to the right to the very end to the Lil Creek base fence and back to
the starting point. Sometimes we also swam out to a red bouy that was
anchored off the beach about 500 yards. After that we walked back to the
team, got showered, dressed and turned to.
Wednesday after the above PT, we went to
Fentress or Suffolk and with a truck load full of parachutes and jumped all of
them.
Friday, we had a choice of either
playing soccer, or running around the base and sometimes to the Obstacle course.
Read the below's BLAST story
about "Jocko" and then come back and read this:
It is what i remember the Monday morning
after Jocko died. We were running to the beach and Capt. Early ,
R.I.P., was leading the run. We got to the mangroves where he first
saw JOCKO. He stopped and went totally ballistic calling for "Rudy,
Rudy! find the sons of bitches who did this to Jocko and bring them to
me!"
A day of INFAMY in Team TWO ! Rudy
never did find out who placed Jocko there with the sign and Rudy had the guys
give Jocko a proper burial. I do not remember where he is
buried. "and that is all i have to say about
that!"
Erasmo
"Doc" Riojas 2009 RVN at the site where the USArmy base Dong Tam was
situated. Now a snake farm and a hospital that treats snake bites.
They harvest snake venom for sale to the world.
Monkey
Island Nha Trang RVN
Robert
A. Tolison Beret
Randy Raburn
The T-10 used static line jumping at Ft. Benning GA basic jump
school
used with Static Line parachuting
WWII airplane C-119 used at Ft. Benning GA in the 1960's.
Doc Riojas , was stick Leader; he jumped out of these type airplanes
during basic parachute training at Ft. Benning before going to ST-2
The "Tojo" static line maneuverable parachute is the
chute we jumped in SEAL Team Two originally
the Para commander fully maneuverable parachute used in free
fall. Very few bought by SEAL Team. Skydivers had to provide their own.
Roosevelt Roads Naval Base: NO MORE!
Dave Maynard Navy SEAL tour to Vietnam in
1970 "you know?". Dave my man, you flunked public
speaking 101 !
Tell us where you played college football !
Richard "Hook" Tuure's picture of
a picture in his wallet of "Hook" and Erasmo "Doc"
Riojas in 'nam 1967. He has carried this photo with him since 1967
! You DO NOT believe me? Next time you see him,
ask him to show it to you.
Navy SEAL camp fights back against criticism But congressman says
‘It’s my job’ to scrutinize from outside the SEAL ‘bubble’
I have a SEAL buddy who was
told he had to transfer from ST-2 to ST-1 and if he did not want to do that he
could go to the fleet. He was transferred to an Aircraft Carrier and he
did not bitch on inch ! The sign of a true warrior !
Women in SEAL BUD/S training? The way we do it
now? Yeah, Right !
HM1 Joseph Lee Wilson R.I.P.
1983 - 2016 assigned to NSWDG as a Hospital Corpsman/Diving Medical Technician died of undetermined causes Joe was an NSW Support Tech currently serving at NSWDG. No photo available of Joe.
A quick war story (that's true) from Rudy Davis
Denny, I was promoted to 'Gunner's Mate Guns' Petty Officer 2nd Class with the help of an unnamed Team Warrant Officer (open book test) in Viet Nam. Unlike yourself, I knew nothing - and was so stupid about the rate , that I thought a 5 inch 38 was a pistol! Later the next year, I got to personally air my gripes to CNO Zumwalt. I was picked by our command to represent the Team - and to tell Adm. Zumwalt what was wrong with our Navy.
I said, "Admiral you see these Ribbons and Medal on my chest!" He said, "Yes , son I do." "Well sir, they mean nothing when it comes time for me to compete against my fellow Navy men out in the Fleet, to gain rank. Sir, we have no service rate for us Team operators. I work each day in demolition, diving, parachuting, and land, and sea fighting tactics, and yet I have to be tested in a rate that I don't work in, around, or with.
I have been put in a situation that I must lie, cheat or steal to overcome and advance. Believe me we UDT/SEAL men will advance, but I wish you would look into our Teams as a Career Field." I said. He turned to a LtJG and said, "Write that down, and we'll look into it!" The Admiral was a man of his word! Rudy
Trey Gowdy Just Released This TRUTH
About “13 Hours”
Written by The Analytical Economist on January 15, 2016 Trey Gowdy
Michael Bay’s “13 Hours” hit theaters Thursday. The film depicts the
attack on the American consulate in Benghazi three
years ago. The film doesn’t include Hillary Clinton, but that doesn’t mean
that there wasn’t evidence of misconduct
on
the State Department’s part included in the film.
“For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf,
and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.” –Rudyard
Kipling, The
Law of the Jungle, The Jungle Book.
PROOF: JEB BUSH UNDER EMINENT DOMAIN TOOK A
DISABLED VETERAN'S PROPERTY
By Kelleigh Nelson February 14, 2016 NewsWithViews.com
“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually
come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State
can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences
of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its
powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and
thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.” —Joseph
Goebbels
A false witness shall not be unpunished, and [he that] speaketh lies shall not
escape. —Proverbs 19:5 "Accuse Others of What You Do" — Karl Marx
Bashing Trump with Eminent Domain Jeb should have his name legally changed to
Hypocrite Bush.
During the pre-New Hampshire ABC GOP presidential debate, Bush slammed Donald
Trump on eminent domain. He was playing to a clearly hostile anti-Trump crowd,
knowing that the Trump supporters only received 20 tickets for the debate. Jeb
used eminent domain as a club to bash The Donald, citing a decades-old case of
an elderly Atlantic City lady who refused to sell her property to Trump, which
he wanted for a parking lot. Atlantic City condemned her property, trying to
force her to sell, she challenged the condemnation in court and won. Trump
quickly abandoned the idea in favor of more willing neighbors who sold their
property to Trump for his parking lot, and he paid them quite well for their
properties.
The Atlantic City story is now being repeated over and over again by the
neo-cons to try to destroy Mr. Trump. They're using the tactics of Joseph
Goebbels, repeat a lie often enough....and people will eventually believe it.
As Florida Governor, Jeb Bush loved eminent domain and practiced it. Jeb Bush
and Jesse Hardy
The government wanted his land, but Jesse Hardy wasn't interested. He said it
wasn't about money, it was about fighting for what is his. Jesse James Hardy was
a symbol to some people of an individual besieged by government authorities and
their allies in the environmental movement. Think United Nations Agenda 21,
because that's what this is!
Governor Jeb Bush authorized the State Department of Environmental Protection to
begin eminent domain proceedings against an elderly man who just wanted to keep
his land.
Jesse Hardy became disabled from a chopper jump after 14 years of service as a
U.S. Navy Seal. In 1976, he bought 160 acres of swampland that nobody else
wanted. And he intended to keep it, but the State and Florida's EPA had
different ideas. [Link]
When Jesse bought the land it was nothing but shallow land on an underwater reef
which no one wanted, and no one owned. Jesse built a shed, then a house, and dug
a well, he made the unwanted rough land inhabitable. Life was pretty crude in
the beginning. He'd wait for a warm day to take a shower. Eventually though, he
had air conditioning, reverse osmosis, a washing machine, a cell phone, a
satellite dish. He had solar panels on the roof and a big generator out back.
Jesse was a businessman, he ran a limestone quarry on his property that
generated considerable revenue. His land, he said, was his life. Jesse Hardy fed
bread to the fish in one of the stocked ponds on his land. The ponds were a
byproduct of his limestone mining operation.
In 1995, the niece of a family friend gave birth to a premature boy with severe
medical problems. Tara Hilton, age 43, and little Tommy had nowhere to go. So
they moved in with Hardy, who raised the boy as his son.
A year after Tommy's birth, Hardy said he dug a test lake and stocked it with
catfish, bream and tilapia to see whether his dream of establishing a fish farm
could come true.
Like Tommy, the fish thrived, and Hardy and Hilton said they hatched bigger
plans to dig four 20-acre lakes for recreational and commercial use.
Jesse in front of his stocked pond
Then Naples started growing, and encroaching, as the everglades to the east
became drier.
Florida first laid the groundwork for taking Hardy's land in 1985, when it began
buying 55,247 acres of the bankrupt and largely abandoned South Golden Gate
Estates. Environmentalists considered the tract vital to restoring the natural
flow of the River of Grass and protecting the water supply.
(President Bill Clinton and Gov. Jeb Bush met in the Oval Office on Dec. 11,
2000, to launch a $7.8 billion effort to revive the Florida Everglades.)
Nearly 20 years and $121 million later, the state owned almost every inch of
South Golden Gates Estates, except 800 acres claimed by the Miccosukee Tribe of
Indians -- and Hardy's 160 acres.
Mr. Hardy's land was in the middle of the failed housing complex, Southern
Golden Gates Estates. The land for that development was carved out of a swamp
years ago, and subdivided by canals and dirt roads. State authorities and
environmentalists wanted to tear up the roads and fill in the canals, and allow
water to flood the land, to restore it to its natural wetlands condition.
Nancy Payton of the Florida Wildlife Federation, an environmental group that has
worked to restore the area for years, said Jesse's land was essential to the
project. "Southern Golden Gates is a keystone parcel, because it is
surrounded on almost every side by public lands, conservation lands," she
said. "It is remote from any public facilities. It is remote from schools
and from even a supermarket. It is not a good location for people to be, and the
best and highest use for Golden Gates Estates is to restore it."
Hardy paid $60,000 for his 160 acres, valued for tax purposes in 2000, at
$860,000. The state offered him $711,725 in 2002. He said no. It offered him
$1.2-million in 2003. He said no. $1.5-million? No. $4.5-million? No. No. No.
But the offers from the state kept coming, and the pressure kept mounting with
the price. So, too, did Hardy's status as a folk hero. His celebrity, though,
would prove no match for the state. After Hardy turned down the $4.5 million,
Gov. Jeb Bush and the Florida Cabinet authorized the state Department of
Environmental Protection to begin eminent-domain proceedings.
Hardy settled.
"I'm telling you, I got took," he said. "They stole my life. What
they're trying to do is take all the humans . . . bunch up people like in real
close proximity, get all the people in one damn bunch so they can say, 'Don't go
out over there! A chicken'll get ya!'" "They're trying to stop a way
of life."
William Blake Marston R.I.P.
Va. Beach-based
SEAL who died in accident was unconscious, never opened parachute
By Brock Vergakis The Virginian-Pilot
Carl McLelland
Jim White Carl McLelland and Boyd Van Horn
My “Gear-jamming, truck-driving buddy”
is Jim White. Boyd VanHorn is a retired USAF O-6 fighter pilot. Boyd
did two tours flying F-105 “Wild Weasels,” over 250 missions over Hanoi.
Doc
E. Riojas, "garden salad" upon returning from the Korean Police Action
in Jan 1953. Korea is known as the forgotten war.
Morning Folks,
Doc Riojas, if you want to publish it on your website, here’s a humorous
trailer for you of my next book. IF not, enjoy the read.... Later, Carl
Howdy men, I hope everybody is impatiently awaiting the arrival of the third
installment in The Indomitable Patriot series. The book takes us back to 1943
and the submarine USS Great White (SS-299), commanded by LCDR Marcus Spencer.
You will recall the Great White and Captain Spencer from the first book, FERTIG,
along with Evelyn “Pinky” Pinkert and LCDR (detailed OSS) David Meyers from
both FERTIG and book two, DEAN. The Great White is at Mare Island for overhaul
and installation of some OSS communications gear. After attending meetings at
OSS headquarters, Spencer, Meyers and Pinky drive the the OSS training academy,
the former Congressional County Club. All right, here’s a short, humorous
trailer from book three....
The meeting continued for a couple more hours before breaking. Meyers, Captain
Spencer and Pinky drove to the Country Club to spend the night with Pinky in the
guesthouse. The following morning they would fly to Fort Monmouth in Pinky’s
Staggerwing Beechcraft.
~~~ ~~~
“It never fails to amaze me, whenever I come down here,” Meyers said as they
parked in front of the administration building. “I’ll never forget the first
two weeks of the academy when Pinky shared a bunk in a dormitory with
twenty-three other men.”
“That’s all right, Mister Meyers,” Pinky said, ice in her voice. “We can
save that story for another time!”
“Now my interest is peaked,” Spencer replied.
“Later, sir,” Pinky replied as she deeply blushed. “Only after a martini
will I be able to tell that story.”
“My humble command,” Pinky said when Meyers and Spencer stopped and stared
at the barbed-wire encased Quonset huts. “Come inside administration for a
moment and I will introduce you to Colonel Godfrey, our administrator. Not even
the Colonel has clearance to enter the barbed wire. After meeting the Colonel,
David and I will give you a tour of the facility.”
As they drove around the complex, David and Pinky explained the training program
for OSS Special Agents. They were parked at one of the five-hundred yard ranges
when Spencer asked, “You went through all this firearms training, Pinky?”
“Captain Spencer,” Meyers answered, “Pinky is a distinguished master with
a rifle. She can outshoot me.”
Spencer glanced at Pinky. “My COB, or Chief Of the Boat on the Great White is
a thin, wiry fellow. Almost soft-spoken, but get under his skin or fail to obey
a command, he instantly becomes a grizzly bear. I suspect, ma’am, the two of
you are not that different.”
Pinky started up and then abruptly stopped their Jeep. “You see that man out
there, Captain, the one leading that squad. He will be going to Tinian with you.
His name is Carlos Hathcock, Senior. He can outshoot all of our firearms
instructors. He can hit bull’s eyes at a thousand yards with an iron-sighted
rifle.”
Spencer slowly shook his head as Pinky started up again. “Such young men we
produce, to go in harm’s way,” he muttered under his breath.
~~~ ~~~
Captain Spencer, David and I ate in the cadet’s mess. The food service was
very good for cafeteria-style service. Afterward, we adjourned to the recreation
room where I fixed martinis for the three of us. David brought up the subject of
the academy again… to my great embarrassment.
“You delight in forcing me to tell that story, don’t you, Mister Meyers,”
Pinky said as she broke out in laughter.
“Marcus (Spencer had told them to dispense with the Captain Spencer routine),
my family owns this place, the former Congressional Country Club. I lived in the
guesthouse when they leased it to the OSS for the duration of the war, under the
condition I continue residing in the guesthouse. My uncles didn’t want me
moving back to Chicago where I would be too close to them. The OSS hired me, and
I applied for special agent training. David and I were in the first academy
class.”
“For the first two weeks of physical, as well as stress training, everybody
lived in open barracks. If you survived that period, you moved into individual
rooms for the remainder of the training. Their theory, the enemy would neither
discriminate nor go easy on a female, so they lumped everybody together.”
“Sunday afternoon, the day before the training officially began; I’m
arranging my uniforms and gear in my locker… in an open bay with twenty-three
other guys.”
Marcus began to chuckle and then laugh aloud. “Excuse me, Pinky, I’m
picturing you bunking in the crew quarters on a sub and being with eighty men
who have not bathed in a week or two. It gets pretty foul at times on a boat!”
“We are all tending to our gear while our drill instructor marches up and down
the aisle, screaming ‘The enemy intends to kill you, pretty women as quickly
as big, tough men,’ and all that.”
“And then Gunny stops at my bunk. I come to attention. The rim of his Smokey
Bear hat a fraction of an inch from my forehead. ‘Pinkert, you get one
privilege,’ he screams… spittle landing all over my face. ‘There is one
stall in the head with a curtain. That stall is yours alone. In exchange for
that privilege, you shall not use the men’s urinal. Do you understand
that?’”
“Sir, yes sir,” I screamed in Gunny’s face, biting my tongue to keep from
laughing. Then Gunny screams, “Men, you will report immediately if you catch
Pinkert using your urinal. Do you understand that?”
“A chorus of ‘Sir, yes sir,’ rang throughout the barracks. By now I’m
about to explode with laughter.”
“It got worse when Gunny yelled at us about one shower for everybody,” David
interrupted. “I’ll save Pinky further embarrassment and leave that to your
imagination.”
“Pinky, water is in such short supply on a sub that bathing usually amounts to
a gallon of water, once a week if you’re lucky,” Marcus replied. “There is
an officer’s head on board, but it’s usually crammed full of supplies for
most of a patrol. Everybody uses one head in the after torpedo room. That, too,
becomes pretty foul after weeks at sea.”
Carl McLelland
Carl has done it again !
His latest NEW book is now available on Amazon.
Doc Rio is reading the proof copy it has captured his whole
attention
Roger
and Pinky Nash have come up through the ranks with the OSS and CIA.
Along the way Roger earned the Navy Cross fighting in the
Philippines, as well as a Bronze Star fighting with Merrill’s
Marauder’s in Burma.It’s now January, 1950 and Pinky assumes
command of the Japanese CIA office, as well as the responsibility
for gathering North Korean intelligence. Will their first battle be
with the NKPA, or the Supreme Commander Allied Powers, General
MacArthur? What happens when SCAP goes to war against the CIA
instead of the North Koreans? MacArthur has infiltrated and
corrupted the CIA office. Can Pinky turn it around? The CIA
immediately begins producing indisputable evidence the North
Korean’s are ready to wage war, but can they convince the powers
in Washington D.C.? What happens when Pinky’s personal life begins
to crumble around her? Has her anger with Roger caused her to seek
his replacement?
In
the early days of the war that was not supposed to happen, the North
Koreans capture Major General Wm. Dean, commander of the 24th
Infantry Division and hold him in a secluded prison. Several
attempts at repatriation fail. In addition to intelligence
gathering, the CIA plans a repatriation mission. Can Pinky’s CIA
team of special agents do a better job than the Army? Will the small
team of specialists thinking outside the box do a better job than
the military might with traditional operating procedures?
You
will be on the edge of your seat as real people, not storybook
fantasy characters take on the impossible and the story builds to an
exciting and unexpected crescendo. Don’t miss this exciting second
book in the Behind The Lines series. If you are like me
and want a real book to hold and fondle while you read, then simply
click this link and as-if by magic you will be transported to the
Amazon listing for “Dean, the Captured General.”http://www.amazon.com/Indomitable-Patriot-Captured-General-Behind/dp/1516991567/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1440898689&sr=1-2&keywords=the+indomitable+patriot+dean
If, on the other hand you are a technogeek and prefer the Kindle
edition, simply click this link and you will find yourself at the
Kindle listing for Dean. Further note... the price for the Kindle
edition is only $2.99, and you can download a Kindle reader for your
computer for free!
http://www.amazon.com/Indomitable-Patriot-Captured-General-Behind-ebook/dp/B014GA5Z18/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1440974531&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=Indomitable-Patriot-Captured+General-Behind+Enemy+Lines
Guys, this old Army dude thanks you for your continued support and I
hope you enjoy this latest book. I’ve got a ton of research ahead
of me, the next book will be advancing into the Vietnam era, late
‘53-early ‘54, with an exploratory trip to Dien Bien Phu to see
if we should support the French, or write them off. In Fertig Pinky
was behind the scenes at the OSS academy. She takes a leading role
in Dean, and hoo-boy, have I got some exciting scenes for her in the
next volume of Behind The Lines! The storyline will also be split
between Vietnam and the communists moving into Argentina, and some
of the characters introduced in Dean might just find themselves
fighting a totally covert, subversive battle in So. America.
As
always, I’ll do my best to keep the story historically accurate
and keep you on the edge of your seat as you read the story.....
Carl (Having spent the majority of my tour in the highlands at DakTo,
guess where we’re ultimately heading...).
X
THE INDOMITABLE PATRIOT Fertig,
The Guerrilla General
One of our guys, although he had the
misfortune of going Army instead of Navy, has become a writer in
his old age. His first few books were about the paranormal... he likes
to chase ghosts in his spare time. But his latest
endeavor; Wow! He has started a new series of books he calls Behind
the Lines. His first book, recently completed and
published is titled “THE INDOMITABLE PATRIOT: Fertig, the Guerrilla
General.” It’s a historically correct novel about Wendell Fertig
in the Philippines in World War II. Here’s what the book looks
like.
Cover Final :
May, 1942. General Wainwright has just surrendered the Philippines.
Wendell Fertig, a Corps of Engineers Lieutenant Colonel, refuses to
comply and flees into the mountains of Mindanao. Fertig is soon
joined by dozens of former Philippino Army scouts who encourage him to
form a guerrilla Army. Over the next few months Fertig is joined by
several other displaced American soldiers, one of whom builds a small,
makeshift transmitter and establishes contact with the Navy.
General MacArthur denounces Fertig, going on record claiming it’s
impossible for a guerrilla movement in the Philippines to succeed. The
O.S.S. decide to take a chance and covertly supplies Fertig by
submarine. Once he receives the tools to wage war, his achievements
become legendary. By the time MacArthur returns to the Philippines in
1944 he is met on the beach at Leyte by a force of over twenty
thousand of Fertig’s guerrilla Army.
This fictional accounting is based upon the actual military records
and reports of one man’s impossible achievements against
overwhelming odds; against an enemy who outnumbered him a hundred to
one. Wendell Fertig, a civil engineer and untrained amateur in the
ways of war, defied the predictions of the experts and brought the
Japanese Army to its knees. Enjoy this first installment in the new
Behind The Lines series of combat thrillers based upon historical
records.
.
About the Author
Carl’s professional career began as an
Army and then FAA air traffic controller. He advanced from a small
radar van in the Central Highlands of Vietnam to the TRACON in one of
our nation’s busiest airports. He also became a commercial pilot and
flight instructor, retiring after thirty-nine years of flying. By 1986
he was experiencing severe burnout. He put himself through the police
academy, resigned from the FAA and became a deputy Sheriff in Reno,
Nevada. He retired after a distinguished career on the street. Not
only the cop on the beat, Carl became a renowned traffic accident
reconstructionist on his departments Major Accident Investigation
Team, as well as a highly acclaimed crime scene investigator.
Throughout his life Carl has been a student of the paranormal and
often experienced the effects of the supernatural in his personal
life. In 2012 he became involved in the saga of the haunted Allen
House in Monticello, Arkansas and its resident spirit, Ladell Allen
Bonner. The result of dozens upon dozens of paranormal interactions
with Ladell led Carl to write his first book about Ladell’s life and
death. Writing that first book sparked a latent avocation in his life:
writing. Carl has always been a connoisseur of military history, and
that interest began a new direction for his writing. This latest book
is the story of Wendell Fertig, and the beginning of a thrilling new
series, 'Behind The Lines.' While the stories are fictionalized, they
are all based upon factual military history. Join in with Carl and
enjoy his books as you gain an interesting new insight in what war is
all about.
The following is typical of the reviews
I’m receiving on the book:
Just finished your book and you get 4.0 marks from this old Navy Seal.
Really enjoyed and it adds to my hobby of WWII.
Spent 22 years of my 34 in and out of the PI. Have traveled every
island and was trained a marksman by RJ when we were
stationed at Team 2 during Vietnam. Still a very good friend I keep in
contact with. Going to recommend it to my friends,
at least the ones that can read.
THE INDOMITABLE PATRIOT Fertig,
The Guerrilla General
Doc Riojas Comment: Once
i started reading this book, i have find myself hard to putting it down! because
of my very old age (84 yr old
eyes and at the end of being able to correct my vision) I
find that the way the paragraphs are other important text are spaced to be
extremly easy to read.
Having retired from the Navy
and traveled to that part of the orient reminds me of my days as a guerrilla
combatant as part of the Navy SPecial Warfare serving as a Navy SEAL in the
Jungles of Vietnam.
The author is equally as good a
military writter as Tom Clancy. This story may possibly be material for a
great movie similar to the the movie produced about the POW rescue in WWII by
Filipino Guerilla fighters and the U.S. Army Rangers.
"The Great Raid"
Do not wait to buy it tomorrow,
order
it today ! It was recommended to me by CDR R.D. Thomas (recommended
for the Medal of Honor by the US Army, but our politically correct US Navy
downgraded it to a Navy Cross. SHame on them !
Carl McLelland,
USMC Pilot: the author’s father
19 Jan 2016 : Navy SEAL who claims he shot Osama bin Laden
'turns over photo of terror leader's corpse and is now under investigation for profiting from business links
to military equipment suppliers'
•
Former Navy SEAL Matthew Bissonnette was under investigation for revealing
classified information after writing a book about bin Laden raid
Asia Pacific
A Deadly Deployment, a Navy SEAL’s Despair
By NICHOLAS KULISH and CHRISTOPHER DREWJAN. 19, 2016
Cmdr. Job W.
Price Navy SEAL R.I.P.
Commander Price, the 42-year-old leader of SEAL Team 4; His death was shocking:
Suicide was rare among SEALs “No matter how he died, if he did kill himself, he was a casualty of war.” Bronwyn De Maso, Commander Price’s sister
From left, Sgt. Clinton K. Ruiz, Staff Sgt. Kashif M.
Memon, and two SEAL team members, Matthew G. Kantor and Kevin R. Ebbert. All
were killed during Commander Price’s tour of duty.
The guy I bought the Lotus from in 2001 was a retired Navy pilot. He gave me the hat I’m wearing here. It’s an official Navy “Tail Hook Club” hat. Note the Naval aviator’s wings and tailhook for catching the arresting cable on a carrier
A very old SEAL Team TWO "BULL
SHEET", 'nam newsletter from the team departments
Report: SEALs who drowned were practicing breath-holding
Updated Nov 25, 2015 VIRGNIA BEACH, Va. (AP) -
Navy documents say that two SEALs who drowned in a Virginia training pool
were practicing holding their breath underwater after being told not to do so by
the facility's manager.
The Virginian-Pilot reports that it obtained the documents through a
Freedom of Information Act request. Thirty-four-year-old Brett
Allen Marihugh of Livonia, Michigan, and 32-year-old Seth
Cody Lewis of Queens, New York, died in the April incident at Joint
Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story in April.
A report by Rear Adm. Brian Losey, commander of Navy Special
Warfare Command, said the men "drowned during off-hour physical
conditioning in a combat swimmer trainer facility because they knowingly
disregarded breath holding safety guidance."
He wrote that such activity should take place only under supervision and
with appropriate life-saving equipment on hand.
Houston Chamber of Commerce SALUTE TO
VETERANS 06Nov2015
Houston Chamber of Commerce
SALUTE TO VETERANS 06Nov2015
Webmaster: Erasmo "Doc"
Riojas
THE DEMOLITION SONG
The following is sung to the tune, "I've
been working on the railroad." Originated
with the first demolition men at Camp
Peary, Virginia:
We're the demos of the Navy,
The Demolition crew,
A rough and ready bunch of blasters,
There's nothing we can't do,
From the reefs of Guam and Saipan,
To the shores of Tokyo too,
the best the Navy has to offer,
The Demolition crew.
“Another thing I remember is Jocko. He was a Vietnamese monkey that one of the
early platoons brought back in ’67. This monkey was the most vile, disgusting,
evil-tempered creature that ever walked, climbed, or crawled the face of the
earth. Jocko was kept in a big cage right on the quarterdeck of SEAL Team TWO,
though people occasionally let him out for sport. Jocko may as well have been a
new guy, because everybody who went by would harass him. He was so foul tempered
that they would stake him out in front of the entrance to the Team, even during
winter. This was a tropical monkey from Vietnam. Maybe that’s why he was so
mean, he was cold. Jocko bit. The duty section would stake him out on a long
chain with just enough range so that if a visitor walked all the way around and
hugged the side of the building, he could just reach the door without being
bitten or scratched. Jocko would be jumping up in the guy’s face the whole
time but he couldn’t quite reach. At first I thought it was disgraceful how
these nasty SEALs were treating poor Jocko. They would tease him unmercifully. I
was nice to him and brought him pieces of fruit and other food. Until… One
time Jocko got out of his cage during afternoon Quarters. I was standing there
in my ensign uniform along with a hundred other guys. This beastly monkey was
scampering about like a live gargoyle in the exposed overhead piping, under the
rafters in the old Team building. He singled me out of this whole sea of guys
who all looked the same in uniform, jumped down, and bit the hell out of me
right through my shoulder padding. No more ensign Nice Guy with Jocko after
that. Finally somebody had a lick of sense and figured out they had to get this
monkey out of this military command. A guy named Jerry McClure volunteered to
take him home. McClure was married, with a houseful of kids. He liked having
Jocko around; he was a soft touch. McClure deployed with me to Vietnam on my
first tour. (Third Platoon, Nha Be June 1968) I had to send him home early when
Jocko somehow got hold of a lighter and burned his house down, killing himself
in the process. I always thought that was Jocko’s final revenge on SEAL Team
TWO for taking him from his happy home in Vietnam.”
Captain RTP Woolard recalls arriving as the ‘new guy’ at
SEAL Two in 1968. Like It.
Johnny Copenhagen RDM ought not to have his bare feet so damn close to that
critter. Like it ·
Michael Knox I remember him,lol Like it ·
Command of DEVGRU is a Captain's billet. Ranks listed are the most recent if the officer is still on active duty.
Commander Richard Marcinko – Nov 1980 to July 1983[26] Captain Robert A. Gormly – July 1983 to 1986[27][28]
Captain Thomas E. Murphy – 1986 to 1987[27] Captain Richard T.P. Woolard – 1987 to 1990[29]
Captain Ronald E. Yeaw – 1990 to 1992[30] Captain Thomas G. Moser – 1992 to 1994[31]Admiral Eric T. Olson – 1994 to 1997[32]
Vice Admiral Albert M. Calland III – June 1997 to June 1999[33] Vice Admiral Joseph D. Kernan – June 1999 to Aug 2003[33]
Rear Admiral Edward G. Winters, III – Aug 2003 to Jan 2006[34] Rear Admiral Scott P. Moore – 2006 to 2008[35]
Rear Admiral Brian L. Losey – 2008 to 2010[36] Captain Perry F. Van Hooser – 2010 to 2012[37]
Webmaster: Doc Riojas
docrio45 [at] gmail DOT com
SEALTWO
. org is growing exponentially !
Email:
docrio45 [at] gmail DOT com with contributions/suggestions
Friday, January 21, 2011 Hank Weldon’s WWII Navy UDT crew helped pave the way
for the SEAL teams Hank Weldon (center, with arms on shipmate's shoulders) with
his crew for training on Catalina Island in 1944.
The full crew of UDT teams that trained on Catalina in WWII.
By DAN KIDDER
The United States Navy Sea, Air and Land (SEAL) teams are a fighting force that
has seen action in six major conflicts, been the subject of a handful of movies
and has even been featured in a line of video games. From the beginning, the
heroes who have served their country in the field of special operations and
unconventional warfare have been trained to be an elite force that finds a way
to complete the mission and get home, no matter what. Valley Center resident
Hank Weldon knows what those beginnings were like. Weldon was one of nearly 40
sailors selected to take part in the U.S. Navy’s Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT),
which were formed in 1943 under the direction of Rear Admiral Richard K. Turner,
and eventually came to be recognized as the beginning of the SEAL teams. Weldon,
who will turn 88 in May, recalls that he didn’t exactly know what he was
getting into at the time. “I was one of a hundred and eighty recruits, and
after we had graduated, there was an Army Master Sergeant and General [William
Joseph “Wild Bill”] Donovan came through looking for swimmers,” he says.
“Well, I had been a lifeguard at a country club back home in Tulsa, and when
they said it’s for a swim team, I had to go and open my mouth.”
General Donovan was the head of the Office of Strategic
Services (OSS) during WWII, the forerunner of today’s Central Intelligence
Agency (CIA). The team Donovan was putting together was to train for
reconnaissance, underwater demolition, infiltrating and exfiltrating by sea and
intelligence gathering.
“They had us doing things like diving down ten feet
and bringing a manhole cover back up, just to show what we could do in the
water,” Weldon says. “After I graduated, they picked out four of us and told
us, ‘Here’s your orders, get your rig and get moving.’” The unit did a
bit of traveling before settling in to its new home, and Weldon says that they
were still in the dark about what, exactly, they were training for.
“At first we trained with an Army Ranger battalion at Camp
Pendleton,” he says. “Then we trained with the OSS at a yacht club in San
Clemente, then we went back down the coast to Pendleton. Nobody knew what we
were doing.” The training intensified when the unit went to Catalina Island,
and Weldon remembers stealth being of the utmost importance “We got a rubber
raft with a car battery and a motor with a small propeller to haul our
demolition equipment,” he says. “When we got to White’s Cove [on Catalina
Island], we trained with the OSS. There were about thirty or forty of us, in big
part there were ex-lifeguards and guys from the Coast Guard. For practice, they
gave us a bunch of dummy TNT at high tide, dropped us off about a half-mile
offshore and told us to plant it all along the coast while our COs [commanding
officers] kept watch. One of the COs said he thought he saw something, but they
didn’t see us. When daylight came, the tide went out and all you could see was
the dummy TNT all along the shore.” The Navy UDT squads served in 12 different
missions, mostly in the Pacific Theater of WWII. Weldon and his team were nearly
deployed to China during the war, but, as he recalls, “MacArthur wouldn’t
let Donovan into the Pacific.”
The team did see action in the Battle of Peleliu, a fight for
control of a small, Japanese-held island in the South Pacific that had the
highest casualty rate of any battle in the Pacific during the war. The UDT
squads went in ahead of the Marines to clear the beach of obstacles, and despite
the battle’s high death toll, Weldon remembers every one of his shipmates
making it through unscathed. Both of Weldon’s older brothers also served in
the war. His oldest brother, Robert, was a B26 bomber pilot in Europe who flew
more than 60 missions. His brother William was a Navy pilot who escaped death
twice; the first time, he saw a kamikaze pilot hit his landing ship just before
he came in, and a few days later, he had just taken off from a different ship
when it got hit by a kamikaze. After the war, Weldon served in the Los Angeles
Police Department (LAPD) for 28 years and was a part of the original metro unit
of the force. He was even involved in the police efforts to quell the Watts
Riots in 1965.
“I worked with this hotshot lieutenant, and when the riots
started, he told me to grab my shotgun and come with him,” he recalls. “We
headed to 103rd Street, where it was just getting started, and I noticed these
jokers running back and forth from the gas station across the street. So I went
over and told the owner to shut the station down. He didn’t want to, so I
cranked off a shot in the air, pointed my shotgun at the nearest pump, and told
him he had thirty seconds to shut it down. When I went back to the lieutenant,
he asked what I was up to. I told him, ‘You don’t want to know.’”
Weldon later worked as a jail supervisor in Los Angeles and
had to oversee the incarceration of Charles Manson. He also worked in the
records bureau of the LAPD and was a part of the initial electronic transfer of
fingerprints. Weldon originally moved to Valley Center in 1967. Today, Weldon
and his wife, Donna, live in Skyline Ranch. Throughout his life, he has been an
offensive lineman at Villanova University, an oil rigger, an underwater
demolition expert, a police officer, a jail supervisor and an amateur
woodcarver.
To this day, Weldon says that one of the most important things
he’s learned in his life is to follow the Golden Rule. “I think it’s
important to treat everybody else the way you want to be treated,” he says.
“When I was in the Navy, we had a yeoman who we all knew was, you know, a
homosexual, and it didn’t bother us. Well, we had shore leave once, and a few
other guys were giving this guy a hard time. I went up there and grabbed them
and told them, ‘You’re going to start running as soon as I let loose, and
you’re going to keep running until I can’t see you anymore, got it? You
don’t bother one of our shipmates.’ They took off running. At one of our
reunions back awhile, it turns out this yeoman paid for a big part of it because
he wanted it to be something special for all of us.”
Written
by Hunter Grimes
posted on November 13, 2010 22:41
“Editor’s
Note: When I learned Hunter Grimes was writing about the River, I quickly
asked if we could have a peek! Martha Grimes promised to ask, and we
received this wonderful story. Most of us remember the first time we rode a bike
and the first swim, without a life ring. Enjoy.”
You
could always tell the river kids who were living the really good life from the
ones who were not. It had nothing to do with family fortunes or social status.
Quite simply, some kids could swim and the others had to wear life jackets. Life
jackets back in those days were not the racy type like the hotshot bass
fishermen wear today. They were big, fat orange things that made normal kid
stuff impossible. Non-swimmers had to have one on anytime they went near the
water and anytime there was a chance they night get out of sight of parent or
guardian. This meant almost all the time.
It
was a mighty bleak thing to even have a kid hang around with a life jacket on.
Things like that would severely hamper your group style. It was sort of like
being stuck with a little brother or sister….which was usually the case
anyway. They were the most apt to be unable to swim. The only way to get out of
the life jacket hassle was to learn to swim.
Swimming
was a big deal since the season for it started shortly after the ice went out
and went on into Fall. At least once a day after school and ten times a day on
weekends, someone would test the water to see if it was warm enough yet. About
mid May some kids would attempt immersion on sunny days. Being first to go in
was good for brief admiration from kids and a switch on your bottom if you got
caught. Sometime in mid-June the serious swimming season started.
If
it was a hot and sunny day, you went swimming sooner or later. The water
temperature might only be in the fifties, but it didn’t matter. Amid a lot of
shrieking, we jumped in over and over, only to dog paddle to a way out and do it
again. Most of us were so skinny we had to paddle furiously to stay up. None of
us knew anything about efficient swimming and the water was so cold early on
that getting a lung full of air to assist in buoyancy was impossible. Most of
our energy was expended trying to keep our bony heads above water. When we got
exhausted after ten feet or so, we would swim underwater. We must have looked
like a bunch of furless muskrats playing around. Since we were furless, we
eventually got awfully cold…teeth chattering, blue lipped, goose bumped cold.
After
a while one of the dominant kids would declare that it was to time to go lay on
the rocks in the sun. No towels or blankets were allowed or needed. In the
racking shakes of advanced hypothermia, you would just ease yourself down on the
sun warmed rock surface and revel in the heat from both sources. It worked best
if you put your backside up first. The wonderful heat of the rocks soaked
through your ribs and went right to your heart. Also, that way you could fold
your arms under your head. Kid talk would be spotty with all those chattering
teeth. Mostly, you lay there and stared at the icy looking drops of water on
your arms. Sometimes they would do neat prismatic things to little rays of sun.
Some drops would roll off and disappear. Some would cling mysteriously to an arm
hair and slowly evaporate away. It was all like magic because we did not yet
know about “evaporation”, or the color spectrum in sunlight, or any of that
stuff. After a bit, the shivering and goose bumps would disappear, too. Then you
rolled over and toasted for a while and asked the kids next to you what he was
going to do the next day. If it was real early in the season, this was also the
time you got a sun burn.
Sometimes
it felt like hours, but it was probably only minutes before both sides of these
bodies were done. Some kid would holler, “Last one in is a rotten egg”, and
the whole process would start again.
Yeah,
it was a real drag if you didn’t know how to swim. Lots of kids in these parts
learned to swim by being dropped in by a dad who thought this was the best way.
Ever notice how a lot of river people don’t care all that much for swimming?
Just as many kids learned by crawling around on the shallow bottoms until one
day they found themselves dog paddling. This method was nearly trauma free, but
took a long time. And, everyone could tell who was crawlin’ on bottom. Most
kids that did it would sneak a glance around first, knowing that it was
impossible to be out of the sissy stage, cheating like that.
The
way I learned to swim might have had a lot to do with things I found myself
doing years later. When I was in the early crawlin’ on bottom phase, my
father’s brother came for a visit. He was the first human I had ever seen that
was totally fearless in the water. I was too young to know much, but when I
watched him I knew instinctively that he was a magnificent swimmer. Family
legend had it that he swam against, and on a par with the great Olympian of old,
Buster Crabb. My uncle must have had huge lung capacity as well as swimming
prowess. He could stay underwater for frightening lengths of time and cover
amazing distances in that airless environment.
I
don’t remember much about his visit except him swimming in our river and
teaching me to swim. Since his resemblance to my father was strong, it was easy
for him to assume the role of taskmaster for this major event in my life. I had
been taught to respect my elders and do as I was told, no questions asked. On
the first day of my swimming lessons he told me not to be afraid. It wasn’t
allowed. I remember that I was, indeed, not afraid.
The
whole event was surprisingly fast paced. My uncle was in the water with a
plastic beach toy life ring beside him. He told me to jump into the middle of
the ring with my arms out. I did this several times and found it to be quite
exhilarating since I did pop up to fresh air every time. Next, I was told to
jump outside the ring and grab it as I went by. It took a little longer to come
up, but the result was pretty much the same. Then came the jump altered at the
last minute by my uncle, who moved the ring out of my reach while I was in
mid-air. I went down, came up and that was about all there was to it to convince
me this could be fun. All future refinement of my swimming was aimed at going
farther and faster.
For
all the water oriented way of life we led, it is surprising that little, if any,
formal swimming instruction was available. This, and the fact that most of us
were so skinny we had little natural buoyancy, caused us to rely on underwater
styles to go any distance over twenty five feet. With occasional deep breaths
and vigorous stroking a kid could get around easier under water than on the
surface. The technique eliminated the tiring work of keeping your head above
water and was probably good for developing lung capacity.
Proof
to your parents that you could swim underwater got you out of the dreaded
mandatory life jacket. Underwater was also a fun environment where adults almost
never ventured. All manner of ridiculous things could be tried down there;
stunts with the most satisfying results never got old. Banging two rocks
together near another kid’s ear always had great effect.
Unless
a boat was going by, it was quiet under the surface. We tried mixing
vocalization and making stupid faces at each other. You could hear yourself in
your head, but only bubbles would escape your mouth. The silence of the
underwater world also made it easy to sneak up on another, kid, preferably
smaller and younger, and give them a good scare.
At
least once a week a pecking order of sorts was established to add structure to
our watery cavorting. This was usually part of the process of evaluating new
swimming spots or new kids. You had to dive down and come back with a handful of
sand or mud to verify getting to the bottom. A handful of seaweed didn’t count
because everyone knew the weeds often climbed close to the surface. Of course,
if you got weeds and no one else had anything, you were begrudgingly recognized.
The
underwater world was blurry and dim. It is understandable that we never found
anything exciting, nor noticed much of beauty in the murky water. I don’t
think of my generation as having been kids in the “good old days”, but
looking back I don’t recall any of us having a face mask or goggles. Nor do I
remember any hanging on a rack in the local stores. Maybe those were the “good
old days”.
My
own most memorable unanticipated dip was in the dead of winter and probably gave
my father nightmares for years after. You don’t think of this until you have
kids of your own. Several of us were fooling around on the ice in front of our
neighbor’s house. Most of the ice was snow covered and the game got boring
real quick. At the end of the dock there was an inviting patch of dark, smooth,
glare ice. Too young and inexperienced to be suspicious of the lack of snow on
it, I got a running start and slid across the spot on my booted feet. The
desired effect did not last long enough to enjoy any childish glee. I remember
feeling like I had tripped, then seeing stars. The cold water closed over my
head, but I still saw the bright hole I had entered. I wasted only milliseconds
flailing back through that hole. My father happened to be home, and as he was
partial to doing, looking out the picture window in our living room. He saw me
break through and nearly dove through the window. However, he opted for the door
and by the time he reached the end of the dock in his sock feet, I had my head
out of the hole, supporting myself on the rim of ice. The cold water had robbed
me of the ability to cry and kept taking my breath away, as only cold water can
do. I am sure his gratitude was profound that it was now apparent he would not
be robbed of his namesake. He, however, would never pass up the opportunity for
an object lesson. When he finally did speak, he said, “You got yourself in
there. Now get yourself out.” I did, and I will never forget the overwhelming
numbness that lingered long after I was out. I was to fall in cold water many
more times through the years, but never like that first time.
Luckily
most kids fell in during warmer times because that was the best time to be
messing around the water. My younger brother and a friend were dangling worms
along side of the dock inside our boathouse, hoping to catch pan fish. I was
close enough to hear a splash and a yell…………..the splash being from the
little kid and the yell from my brother. I arrived on the scene fast, following
my brother’s bulging eyes downward to see this three and a half foot kid
scooting along the bottom like a mudpuppy. He probably had no experience doing
it, but he was swimming underwater. I was about twelve at the time and the water
was shallow so it was easy to grab this kid and yank him out. The whole scenario
couldn’t have lasted more than ten seconds, and resulted in no more than a
couple of really scared kids; scared at what might have been and what would
happen if either of the moms found out. It was a classical falling in and
variations on this theme occurred dozens of times in our neighborhood.
Thankfully, they all had happy endings.
Swimming
sessions got more demanding as we got older. We sought out cliffs and boat house
roofs to jump from. The “cannonball” landing qualified for double
competitive value. Esteem was earned by jumping from the greatest height, or by
making the biggest splash. This feat did not require much athletic ability and
was usually painless.
Diving
from these heights was a different matter. Most of our water sports took place
at the Edgewood Resort. The spring board on the platform was six or seven feet
above the water, but seemed like twenty. Bouncing, soaring dives hurt my bony
head even in well executed efforts. Mess up and do a belly flop, or go over too
far and land on your back and you really had to concentrate to pretend it
didn’t hurt. I never aspired to be an Olympic diver.
One
of these spring board sessions set up the major occasion in my development as a
swimmer. Edgewood guests often watched the local kids enjoy the water and one
singled me out to ask why I made such a chore of swimming. Out of curiosity, I
paid attention to his sage advice: that effective swimming was mostly a matter
of controlling breathing. After a few lessons of putting my head in the water,
exhaling at the right time and stretching in the desired direction I discovered
a practically tireless way of swimming. Unknowingly, I had already been doing a
fairly good breast stroke with my underwater limitations. Now, with rhythmic
breathing applied I discovered that a roll of the head slightly for a breath and
reaching out to grab a chunk of water, a kid could churn through the water
pretty good. My formal training was over in five minutes, but swimming was
profoundly different for me ever after.
I
soon discovered that how far I could swim was mostly a function of how long it
took to get miserably cold. If I wanted to go to the village in summer I was
likely to just jump off our dock and swim across to the dock near the boat
works, then swim home again…day or night. I took special delight in swimming
from the rocks at Sand Bay to Cherry Island, ducking underwater in front of boat
traffic just to be smart. The fun part was paddling quietly into the boathouse
and causing the caretaker to jump out of his skin when I came up by the dock to
yell, “Boo”. He would yell a few epithets at me for his revenge. By the time
I was a teenager I still had respect for cold water, but was quite fearless of
swimming any distance. It never occurred to me that I was a good swimmer and
that this might be a source of small personal pride. Being a quiet kid and
somewhat insecure, I could have used some pride. However, like most River Rat
kids, I just regarded swimming as a natural fact, like walking. I didn’t
imagine that all of this stuff would be important to my life someday.
My
generation was introduced to TV. If I had it to do over, I would choose to grow
up without the dubious benefits of that invention. Lloyd Bridges played Mike
Nelson in Sea Hunt, one of the early shows. After seeing the first episode, I
wanted to be Mike Nelson. There must have been a lot of people who wanted to be
Mike Nelson because scuba diving became a trendy recreational sport faster than
Mike could escape the clutches of a giant octopus. Acquiring a face mask would
at least put us on the road to being Mike Nelson. We ended up with one face mask
for about six kids. This turned out to be enough since you could only hold your
breath so many times without a rest in the warm sun. Even only down eight feet,
the water was noticeably colder.
Previously
our underwater world had been a blurry one. Now we could look right into the
eyeballs of a rock bass or perch. “Diving” was best when you actually found
something. The edges of docks were usually good for things accidentally dropped
in the river. One buddy of mine actually found a Rolex watch. Not having much
spending money, I was always happy to find fishing lures I couldn’t afford to
buy. We learned to make our ears pop and reach ever greater depths as we
expanded our search areas. I had a lot of ear infections in those days, but the
total effect was probably healthy. My diving career kept me occupied at all
sorts of strange times…like if I had been spanked and sent to bed, I would lay
there and hold my breath while watching a clock, or counting in my head.
Practicing this was important because I thought I needed to be able to hold my
breath for five minutes. This should have made up for not having tanks like they
had on Sea Hunt. Making it to a minute and a half was pretty good for a kid with
rather severe asthma.
One
summer day I found a neat anchor off the rocks at Sand Bay. It was machined
steel and worked by weight rather than digging in. It didn’t have any rope on
it and was down as far as I had ever ventured. It was my best discovery up until
then and I had to have it. It took many attempts. I hauled it up the ledge a few
feet, found a spot to set it so it wouldn’t roll back down and burst to the
surface for a breath of air. It is a wonder I didn’t do significant brain
damage from all the oxygen starvation and exertion. I was successful in getting
the anchor up and enjoyed using it for a long time. I eventually got it hung up
outside of Cherry Island in a hundred feet of water. Some other, better
equipped, Mike Nelson type has probably found it by now.
I
considered some of the folks who rented dock space at our small marina rich
because they seemed to have all the toys they wanted. One boater showed up one
summer with some honest to gosh scuba tanks and all of the Mike Nelson
paraphernalia. This was before the day of scuba training classes. This great guy
showed me how to wriggle into the straps on the tank and put the thing in my
mouth. Away I went. With that wonderful experience, I told the US Navy many
years later, “Heck yes, I can be a frogman.” And so I was.
It
now occurs to me that learning to swim in the St. Lawrence might be the same as
anyplace else. I don’t know. What made it a special part of a different sort
of childhood was that we didn’t have to go anywhere special to swim. The river
was right there and everywhere. It couldn’t be avoided. Everything revolved
around the river. Swimming led to everything else. Fishing, boating, water
skiing and regular River Rat stuff all came after your parents decided you were,
for all practical purposes, drown-proof.
By
Hunter Grimes
Hunter
Grimes served in the Navy from 1966-1970. In 1968-70 he was with UDT 21
and Navy Seals. He is currently owner of Diverse Construction Group, LLC.
He attended SUNY Oswego, University of Alaska at Fairbanks and Syracuse School
of Forestry. Hunter is certainly a genuine River Rat – a reliable term
given for those who spend their lives on, in or under the River. In 1989
Canadian author, Shawn Thompson wrote his book, “River Rats: The People of the
Thousand Islands”. Page 68 has the Hunter Grimes story. Hunter and
his wife Martha have devoted their lives to their community, both being
recognized for their volunteer and leadership.
Editor’s
Note: Having served on the Save the River Board of Trustees in the 1980s,
I knew Hunter as the president and a committee man for the organization.
When I see these photographs I realize he brought a wealth of experience on
River issues to the table. We are lucky to have Hunter and Martha as River
neighbors.
Written
by Hunter
Grimes
posted on August 13, 2014 07:37
I
am not really old and wise, yet, but I have been fishing the St Lawrence for all
of my 68 years. I am not a fisheries biologist but, I do have some environmental
education and have a pretty good understanding of aquatic habitats and the biota
there-in. The opinions to follow are my own, based on regular observations which
I hope, prove to be dead wrong, in the future.
All
of us who have been around here for thirty years or more, have seen some
dramatic changes on the River; changes which impact on our natural fishery.
Highlights of the list include: the completion of the “Seaway”; the
move to municipal sewage treatment plants; the arrival of the zebra mussels and
cormorants; the changes in regional agricultural practices; the arrival of
aggressive invasive aquatic plants and most recently the establishment of the
“gobies”.
Compounding
these influences was the increased fishing pressure brought by bass tournaments
and the new fishing habits that spun-off from tournament-style fishing.
(Another time perhaps, I can expound on my distaste for that sort of fishing.)
Considering
all the above, the stage is set for a drastic decline in the richness of our
natural fishery. I think the crash has started and I think the gobie has tipped
the balance.
The
gobie started appearing in numbers at least ten years ago. I used to do a lot of
work underwater and was fascinated to find the bottom in some areas covered with
a squirming carpet of these critters. They are ugly, almost pre-historic looking
things, which seem to consist mostly of head and outsized mouth. They don’t
have scales or sharp spines, so as one might expect, our local fish eat them
with gusto.
For
the last couple of years, bass fishermen in particular have been euphoric with
the results of this new forage base for our bass. It is now fairly common to
catch bass over 20 inches and five plus pounds in weight. Most bass now come to
the landing net looking like a football….they are gorging on gobies. The word
has spread and bass fishermen are excited. As I mentioned at the outset, I hope
I am wrong, but I have grave concerns about where this is all headed.
My
concerns began when I realized, I and others that I talked to were not catching
any of the pesky little eight to ten inch bass, which were common. Similarly,
rock bass and perch in deep water have just about disappeared. I am more of a
northern pike specialist these days and I have caught absolutely no
“hammer-handle” 18 inch pike in the last two years. The pike are also
gorging on the gobies and growing fat.
What
I believe has happened, is that spawning efforts over the last few years have
been hugely less successful because the gobie swarms are eating anything that
will fit in its face.
The
fish that it could not handle a couple years ago are in turn growing huge on
this abundant food source, but there is no replacement class behind them! I fear
we will soon see a major crash in our natural fishery….the big bass will
become more and more scarce. The northern pike, by standards of yesteryear, are
already scarce. I have recently caught some veritable monsters, as have others.
I catch virtually no skinny little pike as I commonly did a few years ago.
A
Possible Reason
This
year I was fortunate to see two things I had never seen before. First, prior to
bass season opening, I saw a large bass in about 15 feet of our now crystal
clear water. It was tending a typical spawning pocket on the bedrock and gravel
bottom. It darted frantically in and out of the little depression it had made,
trying to keep a swarm of gobies out of it and it was obviously a hopeless
effort. There was an ebb and flow of gobies in and out of that nest, depending
on which way the overwhelmed bass made its defensive rush. I doubt if a single
egg could have remained.
The
gobie is almost furtive in its efforts to cling to the bottom and squirm around
in the tiniest of cracks and spaces amongst the bottom rocks. It is definitely
where it thrives and feeds.
Second,
not long after seeing the bass episode, I saw a pike in about ten feet of water
in a rocky bottom area devoid of any submergent vegetation. This is not the
pikes classical habitat. This particular pike was well over “keeper” size
and was standing on its head rooting around amongst the rocks after the gobies
like a pig. I think this is pretty unusual behavior for a pike. They have
evolved with a long streamlined body with eyes on top of the head, all for
lurking around and running down prey like a barracuda all in a horizontal
attitude.
While
I am expounding on my own opinions, I’ll declare that the northern pike
resource has long been over-utilized. The closed season is far too short and
late ice fishing takes a terrible toll on hen fish which stage in shallow bays
prior to spawning runs. Twenty or more years ago, it was not uncommon for a
local fishing guide to catch dozens of pike in a day with a party of four. Now
it is not uncommon for a guide to go pikeless with that same party of four.
You
have my doom and gloom about a pending collapse of our game fishery. I think we
are long overdue for some regulatory changes and, perhaps, consideration of
hatcheries for bass and pike. Those of you who are ecstatic over our big fat
bass and bigger than before pike….well, I hate to burst your bubble, but… be
prepared for ceremonial fishing and much less catching.
By
Hunter Grimes III
Hunter
Grimes served in the Navy, from 1966-1970; in 1968-70 he was with UDT 21 and
Navy Seals. He is currently owner of Diverse Construction Group, LLC. He
attended SUNY Oswego, University of Alaska at Fairbanks and Syracuse School of
Forestry. Hunter is certainly a genuine River Rat – a reliable term given for
those who spend their lives on, in or under the River. In 1989, Canadian author
Shawn Thompson wrote his book, River Rats: The People of the Thousand Islands;
page 68 has the Hunter Grimes story. Hunter and his wife Martha have devoted
their lives to their community, both being recognized for their volunteer
efforts and leadership. To see other of Hunter’s essays in TI Life, click
here.
Let’s
Make Soup…and Thoughts on Overlooked Food Sources
Written
by Hunter
Grimes
posted on January 13, 2015 12:22
When
I was a toddler many years ago, there were several thoroughly river rat locals
who were known to relish the bounty of The River environs. They must have
endured the great depression, but I bet they seldom went hungry. Perhaps with
their encouragement and generosity, my Virginia transplant father was introduced
to delicacies which seem to get little regard these days. For several years now
I have been campaigning to renew appreciation for these delicacies and I am too
often not taken seriously.
Many
a time I was given a couple quarters and sent to Sid Patterson’s house to
“buy” a cardboard box full of muskrat carcasses. It was a hike of over a
mile, especially if the ice short-cut wasn’t strong enough to walk on.
Standard trapper practice was to hand over the rats minus the fur only. The
naked carcasses made the cardboard box soggy and hard to carry. My mother had no
problem removing heads, tails and innards and converting the rest to succulent
table fare…usually frying them like chicken. Muskrat meat is very healthy and
delicious. I have even made a very nice pate’ from their livers.
I
am really passionate about this. The lowly muskrat is only one of several
overlooked food sources generally abundant in North America. In our St Lawrence
River region, thousands of pounds of this meat are discarded every year.
A
few days ago I was called by a trapper friend to come over and pick up a beaver
tail I had “ordered”. You will note herein a picture of said tail.
Admittedly, it does not look very appetizing. Put it on a sheet pan and stick it
in a hot oven for about five minutes and watch the scaly looking skin puff up
like a football. It will look like it is going to explode but, I have never seen
that happen. When cool enough to handle the skin easily peels off from the
things within. Notice you are left with a nearly meatless tail. It is not fat,
but more like a unique cartilage with bone segments. This goes into a pot with
at least a quart of water and is boiled gently until the tailbone segments are
easily removed with a fork or slotted spoon. The odd whitish stuff left is a
somewhat the same consistency of fish without the flakiness. Dump the contents
of the pot into your food processor. With a few good pulses, it will look like a
rich cream. You now have a luxurious soup stock unlike any other. Add a few
diced carrots and dried green peas and you will end up with pea soup which would
be the envy of the finest French chef.
Enough
about the soup.
An
adult beaver is a big animal, often exceeding forty pounds. Like the muskrat,
the beaver eats simple plant life as well as tender bark of birch and aspen.
Many of you will have noticed than when pressed with hunger and over population,
they will go after your prized oaks, maples, and occasionally your conifers. In
any case the meat is clean with fat only on the surface. It can be prepared much
like beef. I have fooled picky eaters into thinking a slice off a roasted hind
quarter is beef. I think we all know organ meat is high in cholesterol, but
liver is rich in good things and there is no liver better than beaver’s ! It
can be as big as a small calf liver and is much milder and sweeter than any
other. I insist it is as decadently good as foie-gras.
When
the price of beaver pelts warrants their harvesting, trappers in northern NY
will collectively discard tons of beaver carcasses. This is so sad especially
considering the chemical and fat laden stuff that sells in stores for exorbitant
prices. I swear some folks would buy cow manure if it was displayed in a little
white tray with cellophane stretched over it.
Dear
reader, you may still be dubious. Consider this : A few years ago we were
invited to an extravagant Christmas party down in Syracuse at a lakeside
restaurant reserved for the occasion. Hosted by a very successful business man,
there were easily a hundred in attendance. Most were unapologetically affluent
and very well attired for the occasion. An avid outdoorsman, the host served
professionally prepared fish and game such as pheasant, trout and venison. When
inviting me, he requested I bring something from my own supplies to add to his
as he did not want to be short of good things to eat. I cut a couple beaver into
bite size chunks, marinated them a while and then grilled the pieces on skewers.
Of course, just like fine beef or venison it had a nice sear on the outside and
was rare inside. The results were carried about amongst the sequined gowns and
natty tailored suits by lovely waitresses. To avoid a scene I asked it to remain
a mystery meat for a while. The word quickly spread that the pieces of meat with
a toothpick handle was delicious. Not long after a ripple of exclamations could
be heard over the din of the partiers. Beaver ! Beaver ?? The lot of it was soon
gone and there was nary a complaint.
I
could wax philosophically about this for hours worth of print. My advice is to
befriend a trapper. He is a source of excellent free meat. If you are fearful
about preparation, invite me to come and cook for you. Once again our River can
provide for you in ways good for your palate as well as your soul. Incidentally,
the muskrats from the River environs are generally larger and better eating than
the swamp variety.
If
you are one of the over zealous versions of the animal rights advocates, take
heart. Beavers and muskrats are a naturally renewable resource which is not only
sustainable but constitutes a nuisance in many areas. In defense of trappers,
please consider that fur is a marvelous, durable material that has covered and
adorned hairless humans for eons. If you are a lady who abhors the thought of
fur garments you have surely worn another part of the beaver without knowing it
for the beaver caster is also saved and sold by smart trappers as it is still
the base of many high end perfumes. Now try the soup and enjoy !
By
Hunter Grimes III
Hunter
Grimes is well known in the region. He is certainly a genuine River Rat
– a reliable term given for those who spend their lives on, in or under the
River. In 1989, Canadian author Shawn Thompson wrote his book, River
Rats: The People of the Thousand Islands;
page 68 has the Hunter Grimes story. Hunter and his wife Martha have devoted
their lives to their community, both being recognized for their volunteer
efforts and leadership.
Hunter
F. Grimes III 69
yr.oldREDWOOD, N.Y. 1946toSeptember5 , 2015
Hunter
graduated with UDTR Class 40 on 29 August 1967 in Little Creek and served with
UDT-21 and SEAL Team TWO. Hunter was also a Lifetime Member of the
UDT-SEAL
Association.
As dictated to and edited by various
family members: Thanks
for noticing my auto -- obituary today;
the facts within are easily verifiable if
needed. Further defiance of a relentless
brain cancer and the fates being
impractical, I now embrace what comes
next and invite you all to share the peace I
have with it. I ho pe that I am a bit off
in my preparations, and that you are reading
this much later than late August
2015. I was the firstborn to Hunter F.
Grimes Jr. and Beverly J. Bailey in Malone N.Y. on July
21, 1946. My immediate family included my
brothers Rex and Geoffrey, and my sisters Penny and Kim.
A sister, Diane Grimes Sutton, and a
nephew, Jim Sutton, died before me. I was blessed with a childhood spent
entirely on and in the St. Lawrence River.
I graduated from Alexandria Central
School as a legendary ac a demi c underachiever with a Regents diploma.
I attended the University of Alaska and,
more briefly, SUNY Oswego. I entered the U.S. Navy in
1966 and served with Underwater
Demolition Team
(UDT) 21. As a diver I was a member of
the Apollo 7 water rescue mission. In 969 I served with SEAL Team 2 in Vietnam
and was awarded two Bronze Star medals
and
the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat
‘V’ for Heroic Achievement in an
enemy engagement on combat patrol in the
Cau Ke district. I returned to the United States a nd married my childhood
sweetheart, Martha Lee
Service; we celebrated our 45th wedding
anniversary in May
2015. We have two children, Hunter
“Gun” F. Grimes IV and Hilary G. Grimes -- Casey, and four grandchildren.
During my career I owned and operated
Diverse Marine Construction in the
1000 Islands area, building docks and
cottages, dredging, and performing diving services,
perhaps for many of you. I later operated
Diverse Construction Group and provided
small business contracting services for
government contracts.
I retired in early 2015. I was privileged
to serve as past commander of the John B Lyman Post of the
American Legion, past president of Save
The River, and also as a Trustee Emeritus of
Ducks Unlimited. I had a spiritual
connection to hunting a nd fishing and what it enabled me to
provide for my friends and family at my
table, which endured throughout my
lifetime. I was fortunate enough to be
able to experience big game and big fish all over North America.
You can find a few of my more local
experiences written in the
Thousand Islands Life magazine online at
www.thousandislandslife.com. There will be no calling hours.
A celebration of life will be held
Saturday September
12, 2 -- 5pm, at the Alexandria Bay
American Legion. In lieu of flowers please support
the Jefferson County Hospice or the UDT --
SEAL Association Scholarship Fund, P.O.
Box 5965, Virginia Beach, VA 23471. Arrangements are with Costello Funeral
Service, Alexandria Bay.
Information provided by Costello Funeral
Service and Newzjunky.com, Water t ow
IMAGE FADER : WWII photos of THEN and then fading into
TODAY ! Neat
stuff !
The Special Warfare insignia, also known as the “SEAL Trident” or its more
popular nickname, "The Budweiser" is earned after completion of BUD/S
and SQT, is one of the most recognizable military badges of the United States
Navy.
Established on 16 October 1970,[1] the insignia recognizes those service members
who have completed the Navy’s Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S)
training, completed SEAL Qualification Training and have been designated as U.S.
Navy SEALs.
The Special Warfare insignia was initially issued in two grades, being a gold
badge for officers and silver for enlisted. In the 1970s, the Silver SEAL badge
was abolished and the Special Warfare Badge was issued thereafter in a single
grade. The SEAL badge is therefore unusual in the Navy in that it is one of the
few badges issued in a single grade for both officers and enlisted personnel.
This is partly due to the combined training that both officers and enlisted
receive, side by side, when involved in BUD/S training.
The Special Warfare insignia consists of a golden eagle clutching a U.S. Navy
anchor, trident, and flintlock style pistol. The decoration is considered a
"successor badge" to the obsolete Underwater Demolition Badge.
The Trident is one of the few warfare specialty pins that is the same for
officers and enlisted. It symbolizes that Navy SEALs are brothers in arms - that
they train together and fight together. There are four parts to the Trident.
Each one symbolizes an important facet of the warfare community.
1) The anchor symbolizes the Navy, the parent service, the premier force for
power projection on the planet and the guarantor of world peace. However, it is
an old anchor, which reminds the SEAL's that their roots lie in the valiant
accomplishments of the Naval Combat Demolition Unit and Underwater Demolition
Teams.
2) The trident, the scepter of Neptune, or Poseidon, king of the oceans,
symbolizes a SEAL's connection to the sea. The ocean is the hardest element for
any warrior to operate in - it is the one in which SEALs find themselves the
most comfortable.
3) The pistol represents the SEAL's capabilities on land - whether direct action
or special reconnaissance. If you look closely, it is cocked and ready to fire
and should serve as a constant reminder that SEALs must be ready at all times.
4) The eagle, the nation's emblem of freedom, symbolizes the SEAL's ability to
swiftly insert from the air. It reminds them that they fly higher in standards
than any other force. Normally, the eagle is placed on military decorations with
its head held high. On the SEAL insignia, the eagle's head is lowered to remind
each of us that humility is the true measure of a warrior's strength. Designator
and title Rating Badge SO.jpg
An enlisted sailor who qualifies for the Special Warfare insignia is authorized
to place the designator (SEAL) after his rating. At the end of 2006, all sailors
having completed SEAL training and still serving in Naval Special Warfare had
their ratings reclassified to Special Warfare Operator (SO), with a new rating
badge. Previously there were more than 20 ratings which SEAL operators could
have.
x
Happy
Brother's Day To You!
You may have served in Combat or in non-combat.
You may have retired out or you may have served for a short time.
You may have been a draftee or a volunteer.
You may have served in the Corps, Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard or the
Marines,
BUT YOU SERVED. YOU DID YOUR JOB HONORABLY and for that I am PROUD to call you
Brother.
You may have served during Korea , WWII,. Vietnam, Persian
Gulf, Iraq or Afghanistan, But you served, you did not
run.
You have a DD 214 with those words "HONORABLY DISCHARGED" two of the
most noble words in the world.
Again I am proud to know each and every one of you.
Richard said he needs to sell a lot of these watches to send all his children
to College.
Why? one with white eye and the other with red
eye?
SEALs with tattoos
The Mighty Moe
On Mon, Oct 6, 2014 a, Franklin Anderson wrote an email to
SEALs Team ONE and TWO:
It will be 48 years ago (tomorrow 7 Oct) since the Mighty Moe was
ambushed—over 40 dead VC, and 19
Seal’s injured (3 had to retire due to injuries). HOOYAH – Franklin
From: Maynard Weyers Sent: Monday, October 06, 2014 To: 'Erasmo
"Doc" Riojas' Subject: RE: MIGHTY MOE
Doc,
As Franklin indicated in his email, the third guy was John Penn – I
was just drawing a blank on his name.
I wasn’t on the boat at that time. I was with another plt (Dave
Janke’s plt) and we were dropped off prior to the boat getting in the
ambush. I was the Det Golf honcho and I tried to go out with new plts
that had just arrived in country. Janke’s plt was on their first op in
country. The guys survey out were Bill Pechacek, Bob Henry and the third
guy (I can’t remember his name - black guy but, if I remember
correctly, he lost an eye). The plt I was with was about 3 kilometers
away from the action. They brought in a Spooky aircraft and they hosed
down the area quite a bit. I don’t know where that number 40 KIA bad
guys came from and I think that number would be somewhat suspect.
That was a long time ago and memories are also somewhat suspect. J
Maynard
Navy Frogman
is the source of the below articles: Web Page by:
RD Russell and Pam
to me If you're talking about the first time the mighty Mo got hit that was Mosconis platoon I think the reports was 65 people from captured documents I was on that op and those that had to retire
were Bob Henry John Henry Penn and Bill Pechachek
Dick Pearson
The Mighty Moe. SEALs Mike boat, Vietnam
Frogs of War
Talofofo Falls Guam UDT -12 2nd Platoon
Erasmo Riojas plays his Gibson at ST-2
Doc Rio at his COmuter
Kim and Roy Matthews
Gary
Denham
The role of character in the selection, retention, and performance of Navy SEALs
-
Gary Denham For 20 years Gary Denham served all over the world as a Navy SEAL. He continues to serve his country in the position of Director of Instructor Development fo r Naval Speci al Warfare Center. In this role, Gary has the opportunity to educate/develop instructors who are charged with the task of leading candidates through the BUD/s training program. Gary’s interactive presentation will explore some of the myths an d realities o f life as a SEAL.
Encapsulated in the "better pers on principle,” his talk will offer insight into why character is such a fundamental tenet of the SEAL program and culture and
described how it is purposefully developed.
The U.S. Navy Medical Department touches the lives of
every Sailor, every Marine, and every one of their loved
ones. Men and women of Navy Medicine work tirelessly around
the globe to promote good health in peace and to save lives
in war.
The United States Navy Memorial’s virtual exhibit,
“Navy Medicine: Saving Lives on Land and Sea,”
highlights the history and contributions of these medical
Sailors. The exhibit presents the role of Navy doctors,
dentists, nurses, Medical Service Corps officers, and
hospital corpsmen, as well as their many achievements. In
order to tell the story of Navy Medicine the virtual exhibit
examines its five corps, each of which plays a different but
complementary role. This exhibit was on display at the
United States Navy Memorial from April 12, 2008 - 2009. To
tell the story of Navy Medicine the exhibit will examined
its five corps, each of which plays a different but
complementary role.
The Medical
Corps, established in 1871, is comprised of the Navy’s
3,700 physician
The Hospital
Corps, created in 1898, provides some 28,000 enlisted
health care personnel to clinics
The Nurse
Corps, which celebrates its centennial anniversary in
2008, has the Navy’s 4,100 registered nurses.
The Dental
Corps, created in 1912, is comprised of the Navy’s
1,000+ dentists.
The Medical
Service Corps, established in 1947, includes nearly
2,700 healthcare professionals.
Navy Medicine Saves Lives !
Ho Chi Minh in England!
From: darren to: Doc Rio, Kiet Nguyen, date: 01 Oct 2014 Subj: Ho Chi Minh in
England
I hope you are both well and that life is being kind.
I was down on the South Coast of England earlier this week, driving to a business meeting in the small seaside resort of Newhaven. As I drove into the town they had an advertisement banner hanging from each streetlight advertising various tourist attractions... I nearly crashed my car when I saw one of them was HO CHI
MINH... they had a picture and statue of him!!!!
As soon as I finished my meeting I drove past it again, just to be sure... and sure enough, it was definitely him.
So I got home and googled "Ho Chi Minh - Newhaven" and a dozen links all came up with the same story. During/after World War 1 apparently Ho Chi Minh was in Northern France trying to set up the French Communist Party. Being a poor socialist the only work he could get was working as the pastry chef on the Newhaven (UK) to Dieppe (France) ferry. Apparently he spent a fair amount of time around Newhaven over the course of the next few years before officially founding the French Communist Party... and the rest as they say is history.
As interesting as that is, it's a small world. The irony is that Ho's VC were up against you guys as
SEALs... whose founding father Draper Kauffman attended WW2 OCS in Hove, England... TEN MILES AWAY from Newhaven where Ho Chi Minh had worked 30 years before!!!!
What you guys were all fighting for 40+ years ago, half a world away... both sides had their roots in the tiny little county of Sussex on the South Coast of England.
Doc Rio sporting the T shirt gift from Darren Greenwell
Miller & Riojas at a party sponsored by Raleigh Kraft at
Front Royal Virginia 2014
Outstanding Enlisted Minh Nguyen's Awards 2014 at Little
Creek VA. Rudy Boesch attending
Minh Nguyen Baptism in My Tho , Vietnam
My Friend Rolf Schmitz in Germany
Doc Riojas horseback ridding at the Big Sky Ranch, Front Royal
VA. home of Raleigh Kraft
Bob Holmes in Honduras 2007
Jimmy & Sgt. Gerry Flowers , USMC Ret. a Canadian Pilot extraordinaire
; yes that is young Gerry
Recon Vietnam, Gerry Flowers Sgt, squad leader:
the photo of my guys in Vietnam, I was not a Force
Recon Marine, I was a Battalion Recon Marine. The difference is that Battalion
worked on and at the Battalion Level and Force Recon meant Fleet Marine Force.
Same type of unit, just two different levels of reporting. Myself and those
eleven young Marines were referred to as a CAP...Combined Action Platoon and we
lived continuously in the field.
The picture of a Young me...was taken for a Vietnam
Veterans in Canada Fund raiser back in 1986. I think that we raised $800.00 that
night with good music, Blues, Jazz and a little Rock and Roll.
Don "Doc" Stone seastory about UWSS and Gene Cahill
and Dow Byers, UWSS instructions 1960's
LT. Fay and
Wife
The entrance, Main Gate, to U.S.NavStation Key West FL.
From Minh to Pete, Vietnam memories
Folks are asking Doc Riojas "how to
find a picture" on www.sealtwo.org
HERE IS NOW !
UPDATED: ARLINGTON, VA; OCTOBER 8, 2014 -- PBS will premiere a new
documentary about the history of the Navy SEALs. Narrated by actor and
humanitarian Gary Sinise, NAVY SEALS – THEIR UNTOLD STORY premieres on
Veterans Day, Tuesday, November 11, 2014, 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET. Despite
the widespread attention paid to the SEALs (Sea, Air and Land) since
they eliminated Osama bin Laden, the story of how these clandestine
commandoes evolved in response to changing threats — from WWII to the
War on Terror — and how their extraordinary abilities shaped U.S. and
world history, has remained untold. Few people know the unheralded tales
of the first frogmen who dared to face almost certain death with little
training, scant equipment and untested tactics.
PBS Distribution will release the DVD version of NAVY SEALS: THEIR
UNTOLD STORY on January 6, 2015. The DVD will be available for a
suggested retail price of $24.99. The running time is 120 minutes.
Normandy and in subsequent conflicts in Korea, Vietnam,
Afghanistan and Iraq — might have been written with different
outcomes.
This email was cleaned by emailStripper, available for
free from http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm
A FATAL ATTACK BY THE SHARK CARCHARHINUS GALAPAGENSIS AT ST. THOMAS, VIRGIN
ISLANDS
Found this: Richard N. Kurpiers July 28, 2004 12:44PM
Institute of Marine Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagdez, P. R.
Caribbean Journal of Science Vol. 3 Number 4 December, 1963
JOHN E. RANDALL
ABSTRACT: On April 20, 1963 a 10-foot ridge-back carcharhinid shark attacked and
killed Lt. John Gibson, USN who was swimming at the surface in Magens Bay, St.
Thomas, Virgin Islands without swim mask or flippers. The shark was caught the
following day in the bay with the right hand and other remains of the man in its
stomach. The shark was examined by the author and ultimately identified as
Carcharhinus galapagensis by J. A. F. Garrick who is revising the genus. This is
apparently the first authenticated shark attack in the Virgin Islands and the
first record of galapagensis from the western Atlantic.
WHILE IN residence for nearly three years on St. John, U. S. Virgin Islands in
1958-1961, the author made many inquiries of maritime people, doctors,
government employees, etc., concerning possible shark incidents in the area.
Although the Virgin Islands has long been a popular resort region, frequented by
many bathers and divers, no one could recall any shark attack resulting in
injury or death to man. One fatality off Reef Bay. St. John which occurred about
20 years ago was attributed by some to a shark; however, upon investigation, it
appears to have resulted accidentally from the whirling propeller of an inboard
motorboat.
The seemingly unblemished record of the Virgin Islands with respect to shark
attacks was resoundingly broken on April 20, 1963 when Lt. (jg) John Gibson. USN
of the Underwater Demolition Team was killed by a 10 foot shark in Magens Bay on
the north shore of St. Thomas, the most popular bathing site on the island. The
shark was caught on the following day, and the remains of the man were removed
from its stomach. The identity of the shark was variously reported in the Virgin
Islands and Puerto Rico newspapers and news broadcasts as a blacktip shark,
hammerhead shark, and thresher shark.
A phone call on April 22 to UDT headquarters on St. Thomas revealed that the
shark was still on hand at the morgue of the Knud-Hansen Memorial Hospital in
Charlotte Amalie, although in such poor condition that its disposal had been
requested by hospital authorities. The author flew the next day to St. Thomas to
examine the shark. It proved to be a male specimen of a ridge-back species of
Carcharhinus Blainville.
The assistance of various members of the hospital staff and of the Underwater
Demolition Team of the U. S. Navy is gratefully acknowledged. Thanks are due Lt.
George W. Kirby, Jr., USN who was assigned the duty of investigating officer of
the tragic incident. and who made the information of his investigation available
to the author and provided prints of photographs of the shark. of the body of
the
victim and the remains from the shark's stomach. One of the photographs of the
shark is reproduced herein as Figure 1. The remaining photographs of the shark
and those of the body have been deposited at the Division of Fishes of the U. S.
National Museum.
When examined, the shark was partially desiccated externally, the flesh nearly
liquefied medially in the body, and most internal organs were removed. The total
length was taken at 9 feet 7 inches without bending the upper lobe of the caudal
fin downward to the mid-line. The St. Thomas Daily News reported the length as
10 feet I inch, a measurement made when the shark was fresh and hence probably
greater than when the shark was somewhat dried. No accurate measurement could be
made of the greatest body depth or girth by the author. The body seemed slender
in spite of desiccation and removal of viscera. The newspaper reported the girth
when fresh as 45 '/~ inches. The snout was fairly short and bluntly rounded. The
pectoral fins were relatively thin. The origin of the second dorsal fin was
slightly anterior to that of the anal fin. The jaws and teeth (Fig. 2), second
dorsal and anal fins, one nostril, and a section of skin across the ridge on the
back between the dorsal fins were taken from the specimen and brought to the
University of Puerto Rico at Mayagiiez where they are deposited under UPR number
1140.
Counts of the teeth and vertebrae and measurement data from the specimen are
given in Table 1.
The precaudal vertebral count of 104 was made by dissection. The caudal fin was
Xrayed at the hospital to provide a count of the caudal vertebrae; however, it
was learned after the carcass of the shark was dumped at sea that one of the two
overlapping X rays did not include all of the basal caudal vertebrae. The
incomplete caudal vertebral count was 90.
Utilizing the most recent published papers that provide for the identification
of western Atlantic Carcharhinus (Bigelow and Schroeder, 1948; Springer, 1950),
the shark was tentatively labelled as C. springeri Bigelow and Schroeder. There
were differences, however, between the specimen and the descriptions of
springeri. The jaws, other pieces saved from the shark, and measurement and
meristic data were then sent to 1. A. F. Garrick who is working on a revision of
the difficult genus Carcharhinus at the Division of Fishes, U. S. National
Museum.
Garrick identified the specimen as C. galapagensis (Snodgrass and Heller), a
species recorded only from oceanic islands of the eastern Pacific (Rosenblatt
and Baldwin, 1958). Previously Garrick had seen specimens of galapagensis from
St. Helena, Ascension and Bermuda in the Atlantic. The occurrence of
galapagensis in the Virgin Islands is therefore not so surprising. The St.
Thomas specimen reported here does, however, represents the first published
record from the western Atlantic.
According to Garrick, springeri and galapagensis may be distinguished
principally by the number of teeth (springeri has 24 to 26 teeth in the outer
row of the upper jaw, not counting the small symphyseals, and 22 to 24 teeth in
the lower jaw, while galapagensis has 28 to 30 upper and 26 to 30 lower teeth),
vertical height of the second dorsal fin (2.9 to 3.2 percent of total length in
springeri and 2.4 to 2.8 percent of total length in galapagensis) and the shape
of the upper teeth (narrower and notched on both margins in springeri;
noticeably concave to notched only on the lateral margins of galapagensis).
The precaudal vertebral count of 104 in the St. Thomas specimen does not provide
for separation from springeri which seems to have approximately the same range
in the number of vertebrae as -alapagensis, nor would this one count distin-uish
the species from C. falciformis (Miiller and Henle), but it does from all other
known western Atlantic Carcharhinus (counts from Garrick, MS).
The St. Thomas shark has a shorter pectoral fin and slightly different shaped
teeth than typical galapagensis; however Garrick believes that these differences
will be shown to be within the range of variability of the species when more
specimens of diverse size and locality are available for examination.
Magens Bay, the site of the attack, is "Upshaped, 1.7 miles long and 0.7
miles wide and opens to the northwest. With the usual easterly tradewind it is
ordinarily calm and relatively clear, and April 20 was no exception in this re-,
ard. The water temperature, judging from readings made in Lameshur Bay, St. John
in April of
1960 and 1961 (Randall, 1962) probably approximated 280 C.
Gibson arrived at the beach at the head of the bay with a companion, Donna
Waugh. He suggested a swim from the beach near the southwest end across to the
rocky northeast shore. She declined and said that she would walk along the shore
and meet him on the other side. He entered the water and began swimming at the
surface without face mask or swim fins. He was well tanned and was wearing swim
trunks of a plaid pattern of deep red. Later, as Miss Waugh paused to talk with
someone on the beach, she thought she heard a scream from the water. Looking out
toward Gibson, who was then some distance from shore, she saw no evidence of a
struggle but noted that he had switched from a crawl to what seemed to be a
sidestroke. When she reached the northeast shore it became apparent to her that
Gibson was in serious trouble, for he rolled to one side, and she saw that one
of his hands was missing. Heroically, she swam to him in spite of his warning to
her to get out of the water, for the shark was still molesting him. She aided
him as he swam for shore. For her bravery Miss Waugh was later awarded the U. S.
Treasury gold life saving medal. When they neared shore, she perceived that a
man (Teddy Miller) had come to their aid, and she left Gibson and ran to two
fishermen, Paul and Aubry Bryn, who were standing near their
15-foot outboard motor boat at the northeast corner of the bay. The shark
continued to menace Gibson, and Miller threw rocks at it, while standing in the
shallow water, to try to frighten it away. The boat containing the fishermen and
Miss Waugh maneuvered in the bloody water between the shark and the injured man.
As Gibson was brought into the boat he was dead or nearly so, and it was noted
that very little blood escaped from his massive wounds into the boat. He was
pronounced dead at 2 p.m.
In addition to the loss of the right hand, there were enormous bites taken from
the left shoulder area and the right thigh and hip. The left foot was bitten,
but no flesh was removed. One of the UDT men theorized that Gibson may have been
bitten first on the foot and that he subsequently lost his right hand fending
the shark off. The huge bite on his thigh severed the femoral artery, and as
indicated later by a doctor, the man could not have lived more than about 15
seconds after this wound was inflicted. The wound must therefore have Occurred
when the man was near the rocky shore, probably either while Miss Waugh was
still swimming with him or Miller was trying to assist him. The first attack on
Gibson, which Miss Waugh presumes to have taken place when she heard the scream,
occurred at about 1:30 p.m. or slightly before. The depth of the water in which
Gibson swam probably did not exceed 40 feet at any place.
Beginning at 8 a.m. the following day, approximately 15 UDT men in two of their
vessels set shark hooks from six 55-gallon drums in Magens Bay. The hooks were
baited with goat meat. Shortly after 4: 30 p.m. one of the drums was observed
bobbing in the water. As the men rushed to the scene ' a large shark was
observed to be hooked. It was killed with a shotgun and transported to the UDT
base. The right hand of a man plus other human remains were removed from the
stomach. Several of the UDT men remarked that the hand showed little signs of
digestion, and this is evident from the photograph. The hand was preserved in
formalin and sent to the Navy Pathology Laboratory at Bethesda, Maryland.
It is not known whether galapagensis will prove to be a rare species in the West
Indian region or whether it is relatively common and has been recorded
previously under some other name or names. It is the author's o!)inion from
limited observations that the ciosely related C. springeri, which was not
described until
1944, will prove to be the most abundant inshore species of shark other than the
nurse shark, Ginglymostoma cirratum (Bonnaterre), in the West Indies.
On March 17, 1961 the author was frightened by an aggressive carcharhinid of at
least 8 feet in length believed at the time to be springeri, but which could
have been galapagensis. The shark, which was lacking the outer part of the upper
lobe of its caudal fin, passed nearby at a depth of 90 feet in the clear water
on the north shore of Tobago, British Virgin Islands. It made a broad circle as
the author rose in the water toward the safety of a vessel overhead, and then it
rushed upward. Acting on the belief that the usual first rea~ction of an animal
which is attacked is to retreat, an overt movement was made in the direction of
the shark, and it veered off. The boat was reached before the shark returned.
Email 10Jan2014
From: Dante Stephensen
Yes, Doc, I knew him (he was 2 or 3 classes behind me and an excellent competitive college swimmer.
1. He decided to swim the ˝ mile+ or so across shallow Magens Bay, St. Thomas as his girlfriend walked the beach to meet him on the other side. But more important, this was the finest largest most popular beach in all of St. T. and the locals understandably were both horrified & petrified.
2. This was the islands first known shark death attack and the victim was a frogman…unheard of. The fear on the island was intense. They worried that tourism might take a big blow.
3. His date actually walked into the water to pull him ashore and the shark tugged and dragged him back out into deeper water. By this time he was likely unconscious or dead.
4. So I suggested we set some traps and was laughed at. Point is, we might get lucky. We knew the shark was large, about 11 feet long. I summarized that this might be an older shark who could not fend for himself in the deep ocean and came to shallow water looking for a free meal. Turns out I was correct. He is also of an unknown breed which I cannot pronounce.
5. So I gathered some volunteers, those who did not volunteer thought I was nuts. Our skipper finally gave in and gave us two LCPLs to use. He stipulated that I be the OIC of this silly mission…
6. We worked all night preparing 55 gallon drums, rancid meat, shark hooks, etc.
7. Next morning we took the long trip around the island to Magens Bay. Yes it was hot out.
8. I ran my command post from the top of a hill so I could see the whole shallow clear bay.
9. All day we thought we saw a large figure swimming, but no one was sure; the water was both clear and shallow. We were all getting tired since no 55 gallon drum was seen bouncing.
10. The day was now over, all wanted to go have a beer, but I said no, not until we check each barrel. Since no one noticed one bobbing, my guys said I was nuts and resisted, but I held firm.
11. One by one each shark line at each barrel was examined.
a. Barrel 1. The shark hook was straightened out and the rancid goat meat was gone. Wow.
b. Barrel 2, Same thing. We began to get excited. Maybe we weren’t nuts, after all.…
c. Barrel 3, nothing had been touched. Now it was getting depressing…until the next one.
d. Last barrel. We caught a shark, very tired from fighting the hook, he was shot and brought aboard one of the LCPLs. As yet, no one knew if we got the right shark. He was enormous.
12. We headed for our base on the other side of the island. I was told Geo. Wall cut open the 11 foot shark and found inside him a hand, an arm, a UDT watch, etc. Yes, we got the culprit…
13. The island relaxed and returned to normal.
14. Our doc. Ken Faust, stipulated the found parts belonged to Ens. Gibson, our missing Frogman.
Since this was the “first” shark occurrence for St. Thomas, someone is writing a book about it and called me for help, not knowing I was involved in the capture. And so it goes.
Seven Characteristics of Highly Resilient People: Insights from Navy SEALs to the “Greatest Generation”Abstract: Having reviewed investigative methods such as structural equation modeling, seminal manuals ofwar (von Clausewitz, 1976, rev.1984; Clavell, 1983), as well as individual interviews and focus groups with highly resilient people such as Navy SEALs, law enforcement professionals, and the “children of the GreatDepression” now commonly referred to as the “greatest generation,” we sought to discover the commonthemes, or characteristics, of highly resilient people. In this paper, we present our initial impressions that there exist seven important characteristics that seem to be associated with enhanced human resilience. [International Journal of Emergency mental Health, 2012, 14(2)] Key words: Resilience, Navy SEALS, Johns Hopkins Model of ResiliencyGratitude is extended to CAPT Don Hinsvark, MA, Underwater Demolition Team Eleven, Naval Reserve Naval Special Warfare Detachment 119, United States Navy (retired) for his personal support and valuable contributions to this paper.
Thanks, also, to Jacqueline Hinsvark for her help in concept formulation and refinement. George S. Everly, Jr., PhD, ABPP, serves on faculty at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Dennis K. McCormack, Ph.D. served with Underwater Demolition Team Twelve, and SEAL Team One, United States Navy (retired). Douglas A Strouse, PhD is the President and CEO of Global Data, Inc in Towson, MD.
Correspondence regarding this article should be directed to geverly@jhsph.edu A review of current events reveals crisis in epidemic proportions. Political crises, not just in the United States, but in Greece, Syria, Egypt, and Italy, seem largely symptoms of a far more pervasive and malignant state of economic crisis. While crisis is becoming the norm, it is still anxiogenic.
From a community, or societal, perspective, crisis (or even the threat thereof) stifles innovation, is an impediment to investment, fosters a hording mentality, and is generally de-stabilizing. From a personal perspective crisis creates fear, unrest, and paralyzes inclinations to act, or leads to the opposite course, ie, impulsive, often regretful, actions largely because it threatens a core human need - the need for safety. The resultant toxic environment may erode organizational, community, and personal health. As dismal as this might sound, not every organization, community, or person is adversely affected by the toxicity of uncertainty and manifest crisis. Some individuals seem resilient in such George S. Everly, Jr The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Dennis K. McCormack Underwater Demolition Team TWELVE , SEAL Team ONE Supervisory Clinical Psychologist (Ret.) Douglas A Strouse Global Data, Inc Towson, MD Electronic copy available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2118935
138 Everly, McCormack, Strouse
• Seven Characteristics of Highly Resilient People circumstances; thus they are minimally affected. Others manifest such resilience that they seem actually to prosper in adversity. In times of prosperity, there is little motivation to study human resilience, but during times of uncertainty, crisis, and adversity the motivation is substantial. In previous publications
(Everly, 2009; Everly, etal, 2010), we have written about the elements of what we refer to as a resilient culture.Here we turn our attention to the individual. Thus, having reviewed investigative methods such as structural equation modeling, seminal manuals of war (von Clausewitz, 1976, rev.1984; Clavell, 1983), as well as individual interviews and focus groups with highly resilient people such as Navy SEALs, law enforcement professionals, and the children of the Great Depression, we present our initial impressions that there exist seven important characteristics that seem to be associated with enhanced human resilience. Resilience Defined Human resilience may be thought of as the ability to positively adapt to and/or rebound from significant adversity and distress. Bonnano (2004) defines resilience as the ability of adults to maintain relatively stable and healthy levels of psychological and physical functioning after having been exposed to potentially disruptive or traumatic events. Bonnano suggests that factors such as hardiness, self-enhancement, repressive coping (emotional dissociation), and positive emotions may
under gird effective resilience In a review of runaway children who showed remarkable resilience, key factors emerged as protective according to William, Lindsey, Kurtz, and Jarvis (2001). These protective factors include:
• determination and persistence,• an optimistic orientation to problem-solving,• ability to find purpose in life, and• caring for oneself.According to The Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, Fostering Resiliency [available online:
http://www.
nwrel.org/pirc/hot9.html, children who develop competence, despite adversity and difficult conditions while growing up, appear to share the following qualities:
• a sense of self-esteem and self-efficacy,• an action oriented approach to obstacles or challenges,• the ability to see an obstacle as a problem
that can be engaged, changed, overcome, or at least endured, • reasonable persistence, with an ability to
know when “enough is enough,” and• flexible problem-solving and stress
management tactics. Haglund, Cooper, Southwick, and Charney (2007) provide one of the most succinct analyses of the various components of resilience. They identify six primary factors that may protect against and aid in recovery from extreme or traumatic stress:
• actively facing fears and trying to solve problems,
• regular physical exercise,
• optimism,
• following a moral compass,
• promoting social support, nurturing friendships, and seeking role models, and
• being open minded and flexible in the way one thinks about problems, or avoiding rigid and dogmatic thinking. The Johns Hopkins Model Of Resiliency One integrative model contributing heuristic value to the construct of resilience is the Johns Hopkins Model of Resistance, Resilience, and Recovery (henceforth, the Hopkins Model). The Hopkins model served to advance the field by recognizing the importance of putting resilience on a continuum, and by separating out the notion of protective immunity from the notion of resilience as a form of rebound
(Kaminsky, McCabe, Langlieb, & Everly, 2007; Nucifora, Langlieb, Siegal, Everly, & Kaminsky, 2007; Nucifora, Hall, & Everly, 2011). The Hopkins model describes resistanceas the ability to withstand manifestations of clinical distress, impairment, or dysfunction associated with critical incidents, terrorism, and even mass disasters.
One could think of resistance as a form of “psychological immunity todistress and dysfunction” (Nucifora et al., p. S34). Resilience,in this model, refers to the ability to rapidly and
effectively rebound from psychological and/or behavioral perturbations associated with critical incidents, terrorism, and even mass disasters (Kaminsky, McCabe, Langlieb, & Everly, 2007). IJEMH • Vol. 14, No. 2 • 2012 139Finally, recovery refers to observed improvement following the application of treatment and rehabilitative procedures. Seven Characteristics of Highly Resilient People In an effort to integrate previous theory and research in human resilience, we offer a distillation of findings in an effort to better inform the enhancement of human resilience. We believe that the defining elements of human resilience reside in seven core characteristics, all of which can be learned
Présence d’esprit, or calm, innovative, non-dogmatic thinking, is an essential element in resilience. Having the presence of mind to think in a calm, rational manner, especially under stress is rare. The ability to see old problems from a new perspective is key to overcoming hindrances that stifle others. Sometimes referred to as “out of the box”
thinking, innovative thinking is characterized by highly flexible, nondogmatic cognitive processes. Such cognitive processing can result in a new level of decision-making efficacy. The key platform upon which innovative thinking rests is the belief that a solution can always be found. The SEAL Ethos states that, “We demand
discipline. We expect innovation. The lives of my teammates and the success of the mission depend on me, my technical skill, tactical proficiency, and attention to detail.
My training is never complete” (McCormack, in press). Navy SEALs embody many qualities which enhance their ability to succeed in the most arduous of situations. Innovation is perhaps one of the most powerful characteristics which may well define a crucial element in determining success over failure in any given situation. Change is inevitable, and the more predisposed one is to employ creative thinking in those critical moments when decisions made make the difference between life or death, the better position one is in to cope effectively and succeed. Innovation is a necessary ingredient of a SEAL’s personal arsenal. Innovation
is
synonymous with a solution-focused process leading to the implementation of decisions which will help ensure success. The essential focus is not concentrating on what is wrong, per se, but rather, having defined the problem, the focus is on finding a novel solution. Success as a team requires maximum participation of team members in this creative approach to problem solving. The pressure of problem-solving is often disabling, in short, the tyranny of the decision proves disabling to all but the most resilient. Once a decision has been reached, it is essential to
act decisively. Many people wait for the “moment of absolute certainty.” Sadly the moment of absolute certainty
seldom comes, or when it does, its often too late
. The English proverb, “He who hesitates is lost,” seems apropos in this context.
The hesitancy that typifies non-resilient decision-making is often the fear of making a mistake, or failing. The corollary to decisive action, however is the necessity to take responsibility for one’s actions. Taking responsibility is sometimes
difficult, especially if the action leads to an undesirable outcome. However, highly resilient people are often the first to take responsibility because they see that as the first step toward resolution and subsequent success. Sometimes, making a decision and acting on it in a timely manner is still not enough to warrant being considered resilient. Tenacity is essential. Great American success stories are replete with the theme of tenacity. In many cases it was not the genius that predicted success, it was the tenacity. Take the case of the electric light bulb. The first electric light was invented in 1800 by
Humphrey Davy, an English scientist. He successfully electrified a carbon filament with a battery. Unfortunately, the filament burned out too quickly to have practical value. In 1879, Thomas Edison discovered that a carbon cotton filament in an oxygen-free glass bulb not only glowed but would glow for up to 40 hours. This new bulb required relatively low levels of electricity and could be produced for a large market. With further time, Edison created a bulb that could glow for over 1200 hours. And what was the difference between Davy on one hand and Edison on the other? Edison persevered in his testing until he found the right combination of filament and bulb. But, according to Edison himself, it required over 6000 failed experiments to arrive at the right combination.
140 Everly, McCormack, Strouse
• Seven Characteristics of Highly Resilient People As Abraham Lincoln learned, numerous failures often precede remarkable victories. In 1833 Lincoln failed in business, but he was elected to the Illinois state legislature in 1834. In 1835, he lost his “sweetheart.” In 1836 he
suffered a “nervous breakdown.” In 1838 he was re-elected to Illinois legislature. In 1843, Lincoln was defeated for a congressional nomination, but was elected in 1846. In 1848, he lost re-nomination. In 1854, Lincoln was defeated in his run for the U.S. Senate and then defeated for nomination for Vice President in 1856. In 1858, Lincoln was again defeated for U.S. Senate. In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected 16th President of the United States.
Finally, On July 4, 1863, in the little town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, President Abraham Lincoln delivered in about two and one half minutes one of the greatest presentations of American oratory, his Gettysburg Address, wherein his words resound with tenacity and optimism. Interpersonal connectedness and support may be the single most powerful predictor of human resilience. In the military, the mantra is “unit cohesion, unit cohesion,
unit cohesion.” In the social and business worlds, sometimes it really is whom you that counts, and how strong the bond of affinity is. The benefits of interpersonal support have been known for over a century. Charles Darwin, writing in 1871, noted that a tribe whose members were always ready to aid one another and to sacrifice themselves for the common good would be victorious over most other tribes. One of the founding fathers of the field of psychosomatic medicine was a Johns Hopkins’ trained
physician by the name of Stewart Wolf. While Dr. Wolf made many important contributions, one of his greatest was his study of Roseta, Pennsylvania and is summarized in his book, “ThePower of Clan: The Influences of Human Relationships on Heart Disease.” The book told the story of the
socially cohesive community of Roseta and Dr. Wolf’s amazing 25year investigation of the health of its inhabitants. What made Roseta a medical marvel was that its inhabitants possessed significant risk factors for heart disease such as smoking, high cholesterol diets, and a sedentary lifestyle. Despite these risk factors occurring at a prevalence equal to surrounding towns, the inhabitants appeared to possess an immunity to heart disease compared to their neighbors. The death rate from heart disease was less than half that of surrounding towns.
Wolf discovered that the protective factor was not in the water, nor the air, but was in the people themselves. Research revealed that social cohesiveness, traditional family values, a family-oriented social structure (where three and even four generations could reside in the same household), and emotional support imparted immunity from heart disease. The people of Roseta shared a strong Italian heritage. They practiced the same religion. They shared a strong sense of community identity and civic pride. Unfortunately, with time, the young adults embraced suburban living and with the rise of suburban living, the residents of Roseta slowly abandoned the mutually supportive family-oriented social structure and, as they did, the prevalence of heart disease ultimately rose so as to be equivalent to that of surrounding towns. The immunity that a shared identity, mutual values, and social cohesion had afforded was lost.
Having just read of the importance of interpersonal support, one must wonder what characteristics are likely to engender the support of others? We believe amongst the most compelling is integrity. Integrity is doing that which is right. It is considering not only what is good for you, but what is good for others as well. Integrity isn’t just a situationby situation process of decision-making, it is a consistent way of living. When we see it in others, we usually admire it. Integrity engenders trust. It makes us feel safe. Mahatma Gandhi was said that there are seven things that will destroy society: wealth without work; pleasure without conscience; knowledge without character; religion without sacrifice; politics without principle; science without humanity; business without ethics. Self-discipline and self-control are the hallmark characteristics of SEALs. Interestingly, compared to subsequent generations self-discipline and self-control appear to be hallmarks of the “greatest generation” as well. Self-discipline
and self-control is another factor we believe engenders resilience. Perhaps the single most dangerous action one can take is the impulsive action. Road rage, airline rage, certain types of gambling, and even certain types of domestic violence may be related to the inability to practice self-control. On the other hand, we know certain health promoting behaviors, such as relaxation training, physical exercise, and practicing good nutrition require a certain self-discipline that many simply find too challenging to practice consistently. Sadly, these health promoting practices seem to engender resilience (and resistance) as we have discussed previously.
The seventh and final core characteristic of personal resilience, upon which the previous six characteristics rest, we believe is optimism and positive thinking. Optimism is the tendency to take the most positive or hopeful view of matIJEMH • Vol. 14, No. 2 • 2012 141ters. It is the tendency to expect the best outcome, and it is the belief that good prevails over evil. Optimistic people are more perseverant and resilient than are pessimists. Optimistic people tend to be more task-oriented and committed to success than are pessimistic people. Optimistic people appear to tolerate adversity to a greater extent than do pessimists. The optimist always has a reason to look forward to another day. Recent research (Everly & Firestone, in press) suggests there may be two types of optimism: passive and active. Passive optimism consists of hoping things will turn out well in the future. Active optimism is acting in a manner to increase the likelihood that things will indeed turn out well in the future. Active optimism has been described as a mandate to create a positive future.
A common characteristic of a Navy SEAL is the presence of a strong positive mental attitude which expects success. Success is a way of life for SEALs. It must be. The difference between success and failure is too often the difference between life and death. The optimistic attitude that expects, if not demands success, positively impacts upon all aspects of living. Success does not happen by chance; from the SEAL perspective, it exists because one makes it so. The optimistic expectation of success occurs, from that perspective, because of relentless preparation, understanding only too well the meaning of sacrifice. For the SEAL, success begins with an optimistic attitude. In his groundbreaking book, Learned Optimism, Dr. Martin Seligman (Seligman, 1998) argues that optimists get depressed less often, they are higher achievers, and they are physically healthier than pessimistic people. In his other book, The Optimistic Child, Dr. Seligman (Seligman, Reivich, Jaycox, & Gillham, 1995) makes the case that depression has become a virtual epidemic that has gradually increased over the years to the point that, in one research investigation, the incidence of a depressive disorder was found to be 9% in a sample of 3000 adolescent children in southeastern United States. Prior to 1960, depression was relatively rare, reported mostly by middle-aged women. Now depression appears in both males and females as early as middle school and its prevalence increases as one ages. Seligman (Seligman et al,
1995) notes, “Our society has changed from an achieving society to a feel-good society. Up until the 1960s, achievement was the most important goal to instill in our children. This goal was overtaken by the twin goals of happiness and self-esteem” (p. 40). Now you might read this and
say, “What’s wrong with happiness and self-esteem?” The answer is: nothing, as long as they are built upon a foundation of something more substantial than the mere desire to possess them. Seligman argues that we cannot directly teach lasting self-esteem. Rather, he says, “self-esteem is caused by…successes and failures in the world” (p. 35).Seligman has shown that people can be taught optimistic behaviors. Dr. Albert Bandura would agree. Bandura’s (1997)work is summarized in his magnum opus on self-efficacy and human agency, entitled Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. Bandura defines the perception of self-efficacy as the belief in one’s own ability to exercise control in a meaningful
and positive way. More specifically, self-efficacy is the optimistic belief in one’s ability to organize and execute the courses
of action required to achieve necessary and desired goals. This perception of control, or influence, Bandura points out, is an essential aspect of life itself; “People guide their livesby their beliefs of personal efficacy” (p. 3). He goes on
to note: “People’s beliefs in their efficacy have diverse effects.
Such beliefs influence the courses of action people choose to pursue, how much effort they put forth in given endeavors, how long they will persevere in the face of obstacles and failures…” (Bandura, 1997, p.3).Bandura has described four sources that affect the perception of self-efficacy and are particularly relevant in terms of the building of stress resilience.
They are as follows: self-efficacy by doing things successfully; self-efficacy by watching others be successful; self-efficacy through coaching, encouragement, support; and self-efficacy through self-regulation. Consistent with our previous discussions, Reivich and Shatte (2002), define resilience as the ability to “persevereand adapt when things go awry” (p. 1). Most importantly
and relevant to the present discussion, they argue that resilience resides in the domain of cognitive appraisal, a theme we have discussed. Theory and controlled empirical investigations alike appear to converge on the conclusion that the response to any stressful event will be greatly influenced by the appraisal of the situation, the ability to attach a constructive meaning to the experience, the ability to foresee an effective means of coping with the challenges of a given situation, and the ability to ultimately incorporate the experience into some overarching belief system or schema (Everly, 1980; Everly & Lating, 2004; Reivich & Shatte, 2002; Smith, Davey, & Everly, 2007). A series of research studies was conducted to empirically examine the viability of the putative deterministic role of appraisal in health and work-related outcomes (Smith,
142 Everly, McCormack, Strouse
• Seven Characteristics of Highly Resilient People Davey, & Everly, 1995; 2006; 2007; Smith & Everly, 1990; Smith, Everly, & Johns, 1993). In a number of investigations, acute cognitive or affective indicators were predictive of physical health outcomes as well as work-related outcomes such as job satisfaction, turnover intention, and burnout. Replicated results indicate that adverse life events are not as important in the ultimate determination of physical health, psychological health, job satisfaction, job performance, and the desire to change jobs as are the cognitive or affective indicia associated with those events (Everly, Davey, Smith, Lating, & Nucifors, 2011; Everly, Smith, & Lating, 2010). Summary The preceding impressions may be more heuristic than determinative, nevertheless they may be worthy of consideration as the immediate future does not appear to hold any “quick fix” nor spontaneous healing for a world that, at
times, seems out of control. While one cannot always control the events that touch one’s life, there appears to be much one
can do to withstand (resistance) or bounce back from (resilience) adversity. . The characteristics of highly resilient people appear to be more easily stated and understood than widely embraced and implemented: We believe that the defining elements of human resilience reside in seven core characteristics, all of which can be learned: 1) présence d’esprit: calm,
innovative, non-dogmatic thinking, 2) acting decisively, 3) tenacity, 4) interpersonal connectedness, 5) honesty, 6) self-control, and
7) optimism and a positive perspective on life.
References
Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control.New York: Freeman. Bonnano, G.A. (2004). Loss, trauma, and human resilience: Have we underestimated the human capacity to thrive after extremely aversive events? American Psychologist,59(1), 20-28. Clausewitz, Carl Von (1976, rev.1984). On War. edited and translated by Michael Howard and Peter Paret.. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Sun Tzu edited by James Clavell (1983). The art of war.Delacorte Press. Everly, G.S., Jr. (2009). The resilient child. NY: DiaMedica. Everly, G.S., Jr., (1980). Nature and treatment of the humanstress response. NY: Plenum. Everly, G.S., Jr., Strouse, DA, & Everly, GS, III (2010). Resilient Leadership. NY: DiaMedica. Everly, G.S., Jr., & Lating, J.M. (2004). Personality guidedtherapy of posttraumatic stress disorder. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Everly, G.S., Jr., Davey, J., Smith, K, Lating, J. & Nucifora, F.
(2011). A defining aspect of human resilience in the workplace: A structural modeling analysis. Disaster Medicineand Public Health Preparedness, 5, 98-105. Everly, G.S., Jr., & Links, A. (in press). Resiliency: A Qualitative analysis of law enforcement and elite Military personnel. In Paton, D. and Violanti, J. (eds). Working inhigh risk environments: Developing sustained resiliency. Springfield, IL: CC Thomas. Everly, G.S., Jr., Smith, K, & Lating, J. (2010). Rationale for cognitively based resilience and psychological first aid (PFA) training: A structural modeling analysis. InternationalJournal of Emergency Mental Health, 11 (4),
249-262. Gladwell, M. (2000) Tipping point. NY: Little Brown Haglund, M., Cooper, N., Southwick, S., & Charney, D.
(2007). 6 keys to resilience for PTSD and everyday life. Current Psychiatry, 6, 23-30. Kaminsky, M.J., McCabe, O.L., Langlieb, A., & Everly, G.S., Jr. (2007). An evidence-informed model of human resistance, resilience, & recovery: The Johns Hopkins’outcomes-driven paradigm for disaster mental healthservices. Brief Therapy and Crisis Intervention, 7, 1-11. McCormack, D.K. (in press). Innovation: Life blood of Navy SEALs. The BLAST: Journal of Special Naval Warfare. Nucifora, F., Hall, R., & Everly, GS, Jr, (2011). Reexamining the role of the traumatic stressor and the trajectory of posttraumatic distress in thewake of disaster. DisasterMedicine and Public Health Preparedness, 5 (supplement
2): S1-4. Nucifora, F., Jr., Langlieb, A., Siegal, E., Everly, GS. Jr., & Kaminsky, M.J. (2007). Building resistance, resilience, and recovery in the wake of school and workplace violence. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness,
1 (Supplement 1), 33-37. Reivich, K., & Shatte, A. (2002). The resilience factor. NY: Broadway. IJEMH • Vol. 14, No. 2 • 2012 143Seligman, M. (1998). Learned optimism. New York, NY: Pocket Books Seligman, M.E.P., Reivich, K., Jaycox, L., & Gillham, J. (1995). The optimistic child. New York: Houghton- Mifflin. Smith, K.J., Davy, J.A., & Everly, G.S., Jr. (1995). An examination of the antecedents of job dissatisfaction and turnover intentions among CPAs in public accounting. Accounting Enquiries, 5(1), 99-142. Smith, K.J., Davy, J.A., & Everly, G.S., Jr. (2006). Stress arousal and burnout: A construct distinctiveness evaluation. Proceedings of the 2006 Annual Meeting of the American Accounting Association. Washington, DC. Smith, K.J., Davy, J.A., & Everly, G.S. Jr. (2007). An assessment of the contribution of stress arousal to the beyond the role stress model. Advances in Accounting BehavioralResearch, 10, 127-158..Smith, K.J., & Everly, G.S., Jr. (1990). An intra- and interoccupational analysis of stress among accounting academicians. Behavioral Research in Accounting, 2, 154 173.Smith, K., Everly, G., & Johns, A. (1993). Role of cognitiveaffective arousal in the dynamics of stressor-to-illness processes. Contemporary Accounting Research, 9, 432-449.s.William, N.R., Lindsey, E.W., Kurtz, P.D., & Jarvis, S.
(2001). From trauma to resiliency: Lessons from runaway and homeless youth. Journal of Youth Studies, 4, 233-253.
RUNG SAT SPECIAL ZONE: A SPECIAL KIND OF HELL !
Vietnam War, The Chieu Hoi
Program
A "monkey Bridge in the Vietnam Delta
This is an example of the "Agent Orange" defoliated
forrest in Vietnam which we, Navy SEALs, sometimes had to work in it.
More
Defoliated area in Vietnam, Notice it is inhabited !
Lt-Rt: Glen Grinage EN3, our STAB driver, Doc Riojas Chuck
Jessie, Bob Peterson on SEAL Mike Boat
After viewing some of the
SEAL "Wannabe's" lies and fabrications about being a SEAL
brother; that night I had this dream.
Curtis
Ashton (read "Good To Go"by Harry Constance and see their pictures on the cover) was KIA on his
second 'Nam War games Tour. Lil Ashton also AKA: "Butch" died a
young man doing what he had trained for and what he believed was the right
thing to do in his life. "Lil Ashton" my Teammate of SEAL Team TWO
Special Naval Warfare during the 1960's will be missed by all of us. May
he Rest In Peace !
I,
Erasmo "Doc" Riojas dreamed that Curtis Ashton, from Sweetwater TX,
talked to me through his God's Guardian Angel.
This is what "lil Ashton" said to me
in my dream:
"Doc, I was killed in action in the 'Nam
War Games, but I am not forgotten. I am always in the present minds of the
SEALs that lived thru that fiasco. You guys will never forget us or allow us
to have died in vain.
You and I made our first tour to Ho Chi Minh's
backyard together in 1967. We had a lot of fun and games with the original
Seventh Platoon.
Too bad we lost one man, Gene Fraley. I felt
sorry for "Rinney" his German Shepard, but we all worked it out and
we finished a fantastic tour of duty in 1968 at MyTho, Vietnam.
We got a little rattled during Tet when the VC overran
MyTHo, but we survived that and lived to send some of those 'cong to Buddha.
I miss you guys as much as you guys miss me. We are a tight family, remember:
"We are the> Frog Family, the
best family!" That is our song and it truly
explains us, right?
**************
Frog Family Running Song (lyrics)
Got drunk last night, Was drunk the night before,
I'm going to get drunk,
Like I never have before.
'Cause when I'm drunk I'm happy as can be,
'Cause I am a member of the Frog Family!
Chorus : GLORIOUS, GLORIOUS!
One keg of beer for the four of us!
Sing, "Glory be to God that there are no more of us,
'Cause one of us could drink it all alone - damned near!"
Oh, the Frog Family is the best family,
That ever sailed across the sea.
There's a highland frog and a lowland frog,
An underwater frog and a yachtsman frog.
Chorus : GLORIOUS, GLORIOUS!
One keg of beer for the four of us!
Sing, "Glory be to God that there are no more of us,
'Cause one of us could drink it all alone - damned near!"
**********
Doc, you are troubled by this new web site that
has popped up by some bitter person or persons because you guys are
intimidating some people claiming to be U S Navy SEALs.
Doc , you can see by their web site that they
are taking shots at us guys in the dark, just like the VC used to do, trying
to draw our fire. You can see from their dialogue that they do not have the slightest
notion what they write and suggest to those idiots claiming they are
Navy SEALs.
If they are Navy SEALs , they don't need a bunch
of split tails to try and do their own fighting' and arguing. If they truly were one of us, they would stand right up and let it "Rock and
Roll!" Doc, they are total assholes speaking thru their psychotic minds!
My country, The US of A is turning into a pot of
really sickos. Drugs, pills, uppers, downers, cough syrup, etc, now they are
trying to get high on a phony adrenaline rush that they are Navy SEALs!
I read the Guardian Angels Website. Doc, they
speak with forked tongue!
In the native American tradition, go clip it
off! Use nothing but the truth. No violence, no contests of endurance, just
the truth with words.
Invite one of these Angels to the Reunion, or the Ft. Pierce Muster and let
them see that we are a very small group of men that has a tradition that is
envied by the entire Armed Forces (this is not to say the sister services
don't have a tradition, but our's is the most copied by WannaBe's, they always
pick SEALs).
This is your buddy, Curtis "lil
Ashton" Ashton, you Texan swim buddy. We did six months in the 'Nam and
we lived thru it.
I am sorry I got zapped on my second tour, but
it did not hurt. You remember Fred Keener, my swim buddy, on our first tour of
duty. Fred was standing over me identifying my remains at graves registration
and I remember him saying "that is Curtis!"
The Graves Registration "dog faces"
were pissing Keener off because they kept asking how he could tell it was me
since I had my face blown off! It did not hurt me, I did not even know what
happened until i was on the chopper in a body bag.
Anyway, I came home to Texas and I was
remembered by all the SEALs that knew me that attended my funeral. I
know I
will never be forgotten even if there weren't a 'Nam Wall.
My name is on that Vietnam Wall, get a copy of
it and put it on your web site and show it to the Guardian Angels. My death is
real! So was my life!
Fuck 'em Doc, you guys are right! NO ONE should
be allowed to impersonate a Navy SEAL! That honor is reserved to us, the guys
who did the WALK, and earned the right to do the TALK!
Don't let us guys to have died in vain. Don't
let anyone do the Talk, unless they have Walked the Walk!
By the way, I am drinking some PBR's with
Fraley, Ramos, Rischer, Trani, Albright, and some of the other guys from ST-1,
Ike Rodriguez who got it in Panama is here playing his guitar, the guys that
died in Grenada are telling their story, and all those who died in training
are taking it all in.
We let them wear the BUDWEISER up here, they earned it because they never said
"I quit!"!
We are doing fine, and especially proud that
some of the buildings at BUDs and The Creek have been named after us!
Don't let anyone in the Teams forget that Pain
is temporary, but Pride is for life and after life!
Doc Rio, thanks for keeping our memories alive.
We Live!
Doc, now go do your job, Hunt down every scumbag
WannaBe SEAL and make him eat his phony stories.
Tu Amigo,
Curtis Ashton (SEAL) KIA
but living an eternally proud life in Frog
Heaven.
PS: Freakin Body Bags are COLD! can't somebody
invent warm ones?
U.S.
prosecutor says former Panther Valley superintendent changed military
certificates. Take caution! This can happen to any SEAL Wannabe!
Try us!
Another
Asshole goes down! Thanks to the Wannabe SEAL "mop-squad"
and article from the Reader's Digest Mag. with color
pictures.
This page has a collection of WannaBe SEAL web sites.
These
citizens are some of the most unsecure people in the universe who DO NOT HAVE
THEIR OWN LIVES!
It
is not against the law to become a SEAL WannaBe, but once you take that step,
in the name of our dead commrades, we will strip you of your bloated ego and
put you into your proper place in life.
I'll Fight to the death any
"SEAL WannaBe Asshole" that dares thread on my teammates
sacred
ground!
Curtis Morris Ashton on the Vietnam Wall AE1 - E6 - Navy - Regular
23 year old Married, Caucasian,
Male Born on Nov 30, 1946 From SWEETWATER, TEXAS
Length of service 4 years.
His tour of duty began on Apr 15, 1969
Casualty was on Dec 27, 1969 in BIEN HOA, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY MULTIPLE FRAGMENTATION WOUNDS
Body was recovered
Religion PROTESTAN
T Panel 15W - - Line 96
EUGENE
THOMAS FRALEY
SEAL Team TWO 7th Platoon: 'Nam 67-68
ADR2
- E5 - Navy - Regular
28 year old Married, Caucasian, Male
Born on May 02, 1939
From LANSING, MICHIGAN
Length of service 10 years.
Casualty was on Jan 21, 1968
in DINH TUONG, SOUTH VIETNAM
NON-HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
OTHER ACCIDENT
Body was recovered
Religion
PROTESTANT
Panel 35E - - Line 5
ROBERTO
RAMOS
ABH2 - E5 - Navy - Regular
23 year old Married, Caucasian, Male
Born on May 14, 1945
From NEW YORK, NEW YORK
Length of service 4 years.
His tour of duty began on Aug 18, 1968
Casualty was on Oct 29, 1968
in PHONG DINH, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE
Body was recovered
Religion
ROMAN CATHOLIC
Panel 40W - - Line 55
JOHN
COOKE BREWTON
LTJG - O2 -
Navy - Reserve
26 year old Single, Caucasian, Male
Born on Sep 05, 1943
From MOBILE, ALABAMA
Length of service 3 years.
His tour of duty began on Feb 15, 1969
severely wounded was on November 24, 1969
in GIA DINH, Rung Sat Special Zone, SOUTH VIETNAM
Hostile, died of wounds Jan 11, 1970
GROUND CASUALTY
MULTIPLE FRAGMENTATION WOUNDS
Body was recovered
Religion
PROTESTANT
Panel 14W - - Line
Lessons I've learned... I've learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is stalk them and hope they panic and give in. I've learned that no matter how much I care, some people are just assholes. I've learned that it takes years to build up trust, and only suspicion, not proof, to destroy it. I've learned that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes. After that, you'd better have a big dick or huge tits. I've learned that you shouldn't compare yourself to others - they are more fucked up than you think. I've learned that you can keep puking long after you think you're finished. I've learned that we are responsible for what we do, unless we are celebrities. (OJ come to mind?) I've learned that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades, and there had better be a lot of money to take its place. I've learned that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down will be the ones who do. I've learned that we don't have to ditch bad friends because their dysfunctional makes us feel better about ourselves. I've learned that SEAL WannaBe's are here to stay, but so am I, and there is a line of my swimbuddies waiting to take my place. I've learned that the people you care most about in life are taken from you too soon. I've learned to say "Fuck 'em if they can't take a joke" in 6 languages.
2. HUNTERS SEAL FATE OF ELITE `WANNABES' * GROUP UNMASKING IMPOSTERS SAYS THEY INSULT THOSE WHO SERVED. by CHRIS PARKER, The Morning Call
Robert Russell battled his way through the one of the most rigorous military training regimens in the world to become a Navy SEAL. After that, he battled his way through a four-year tour of Vietnam. He's still fighting. Russell is the founder of a small band of men who expose those who falsely claim to be Navy SEALs. In Vietnam, Russell wielded knives and grenades. Now, his weapons of war are computers, fax machines and a handful of retired SEALs scattered across the country. Russell, 56, of Fort Collins, Colo., is long retired from his active-duty SEAL days. Now, he and his comrades track down and expose those who would steal the elite status of Navy SEAL. Russell's quest began seven years ago, when he began compiling a history of the SEALs.
He asked former teammates to send original documents for him to photocopy and return. The problem was, many SEALs had lost their papers, or they had been accidentally destroyed. Undaunted, Russell contacted the National Naval Archives, which contains records from all military branches. Using the information he obtained there, Russell began to build his own database of every man who graduated from Basic Underwater Demolition/SEALs training. Only BUD/S graduates can become SEALs. The training is so grueling that only about one-third of those who start the course are able to finish, said Navy spokesman Lt. Cmdr. W. Jeffrey Alderson. The first eight weeks of the 25-week course focus on physical training, including timed runs, swimming in the ocean and obstacle courses. The first four weeks prepare students for Hell Week, when they train more than 80 hours in 5-1/2 days, sleeping no more than four hours a night.
It is designed as the "ultimate test of one's physical and mental motivation," the training manual states. "Hell Week proves to those who make it that the human body can do 10 times the amount of work the average man thinks possible," it states. The rest of the course focuses on further training and seamanship. "It's extremely tough and rigorous training," Alderson said. "Often people opt out for medical reasons; they break legs, for example. They put you through a lot of cold and a lot of hard work. They find out what's inside the man. "It really does take its toll. That's why the men who make it through are phenomenal people." One well-known graduate is Minnesota's new governor, Jesse "The Body" Ventura. Compiling the database led Russell and his wife, Pam, to become "wannabe-busters." They formed the Naval Special Warfare Archives, a band of former SEALs. When they receive an inquiry about someone claiming to be a SEAL, a member of the group calls the person and asks questions only a SEAL can answer. They ask about class number or details about former teammates. So far, they have exposed about 2,000 frauds, said former SEAL Darryl Young.
Only about 200 Navy SEALs served during the Vietnam War, Russell said. In addition to Russell and Young, Archives members include retired SEALs Ken Gless of Florida; Ty Zellers of Lebanon, Lebanon County; "Hoot" Andrews of Nevada, and Larry Bailey of Virginia. Another Archives member is underwater photographer Steve Waterman of Maine. Although he is quick to say he was never a SEAL, he worked closely with the fighting force and is an active "wannabe-buster." "We consider him a teammate," Young said. The Archives have earned the respect of the Navy. "The Russells have got the most extensive record-keeping of anyone," Alderson said. "They are our watchdogs. They are great. We send them the rosters of every BUD/S class that graduates." Alderson said he's not surprised they have found so many false SEALs. "People are drawn to the mystique of the Navy SEALs," he said. "Most real SEALs don't talk about it a whole lot." Those who make it through BUD/S training to become SEALs are a tightly knit group. "It's a matter of pride to be a SEAL," Pam Russell said. "After this training, these men form a bond. They are closer than brothers. "For someone who has never even attempted that, it's such an insult. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but these guys don't feel flattered."
3. Deceptions Prompt Background checks at Panther Valley Board Closely Screens applicants since suspending SEAL WannaBe AUCKER by CHRIS PARKER, The Morning Call
Rocked by several years of troubles with suspended Superintendennt Raymond E. Aucker, the Panther Valley School Board is digging deeper into the backgrounds of job applicants. In November, when the board hired Peter Miller of Somerset County for $73,000 a year to replace Aucker, it closely scrutinized him and six other candidates. "We used the IU (Carbon-Lehigh Intermediate Unit) to do a thorough background check on all the applicants," said school board President Ron Slivka. "This time, we wanted to make absolutely sure their education and past employment record was what they said it was." School directors admit they did not examine Aucker's background before hiring him with a five-year contract in 1995.
"They relied on the Pennsylvania Department of Education," said school district solicitor Robert T. Yurchak. The department certified Aucker as a superintendent based on information he supplied about his education and experience. School directors say they became aware they may have made a mistake after Aucker had been in the job for less than a year. In 1996, directors say, they were dismayed to learn his doctoral degree was from an unaccredited, mail-order company. The Department of Education said it didn't matter because the state does not require doctoral degrees for superintendent certification. Also in 1996, Aucker was sharply criticized by board members for taking his wife on a taxpayer-funded, five-day trip to California for a school administrators'
conference
. Aucker argued that he paid his wife's expenses for the trip. By 1997, the board was questioning Aucker's performance, particularly his frequent absences. In 1998, it began requiring all administrators and staff, except teachers, to clock in and out. This week Aucker, a Navy veteran and commander of the Coaldale American Legion Post, was exposed as having lied to local veterans, school directors and others about being a Navy SEAL. Aucker, who also is a retired Army reservist, did not list the SEALs on his application to the school district, but he did claim veteran's preference in hiring. State law gives veterans first chance at jobs.
He got the job, but school directors say he quickly slid down the performance ladder. The school board on Aug. 13 suspended Aucker without pay because, it said, he neglected his $69,000-a-year job. A closed termination hearing is scheduled for Monday. According to the school board, Aucker failed to show up for work, submit paperwork for grants, attend school meetings, communicate with home-schooling parents, attend interviews with potential employees and address teacher grievances. Attempts to reach Aucker for comment Tuesday were unsuccessful.
Suspended Panther Valley School District Superintendent Raymond E. Aucker liked to show off the Navy SEAL emblem he wore on his veteran's cap. As commander of the Coaldale American Legion Post, Aucker routinely introduced himself as a SEAL and often spoke of his experiences in the elite Sea, Air and Land fighting unit. He was lying, the Navy says. Aucker, 45, whose ramrod posture, thick white hair and piercing blue eyes bespeak military discipline, served in the Navy but was not a SEAL, said Lt. Cmdr. W. Jeffrey Alderson of the Navy Special Warfare Command in San Diego.
Aucker was in the Navy 1971-75 and says he served one tour of duty in Vietnam. He also served in the Army Reserve from 1975 through 1994. His deception began to unravel at Thanksgiving when he bragged of his SEAL exploits to an Air Force veteran whose work brings him into contact with members of the corps. Aucker, who is suspended without pay for neglecting his duties as superintendent, declined comment on the SEAL matter. School Board President Ron Slivka was stunned that Aucker lied. "I didn't think anyone would lie about being a Navy SEAL.
I have the utmost respect for Navy SEALs and how they protect our country," Slivka said. "It's sad. I think it's just sad." The revelation is the latest in a series of troubles for Aucker. In 1996, school officials discovered his doctoral degree was from a non-accredited California company. In August, the board suspended Aucker without pay for failing to do his $69,000-a-year job. He didn't show up at meetings, failed to work the hours he promised and abused his sick day benefits, school officials said. American Legion officer Tom Sopko was dismayed to learn about Aucker's lie.
Sopko, the post's previous commander, said Aucker was nominated to the office in May, "when we didn't know as much about him as we do now." Sopko expects the matter to come up when the Legion meets Jan. 19. "Someone's going to want answers at that meeting," he said. "If he decides he wants to step down as commander, we'd go along with it, I'm sure." When the former airman, Ty Weaver, stopped in at the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Coaldale over the Thanksgiving holidays, he expected to have a drink or two and while away some time playing pool and chatting with fellow vets. Instead he set off a chain of events that exposed the post service officer as an impostor. Aucker, he said, introduced himself as "Ray Aucker, Navy SEAL," Weaver said. Weaver, a Tamaqua native living in Reston, Va., works for Heckler and Koch, a company that sells weapons and training services to the military and law enforcement agencies.
Every SEAL goes through training provided by the company, he said. However, Aucker did not recognize the name of the company, nor did he recognize the name of Roy Boehm, who in 1962 became the first Navy SEAL. "He was talking all this stuff, and it didn't sound right to me," Weaver said. Weaver contacted a retired SEAL, Larry Bailey, also of Virginia, who called the Navy Special Warfare Archives. The archives are administered by a small band of retired SEALs who keep a database, released by the Navy, of every man who graduated from Basic Underwater Demolition/SEALs training. Only graduates of BUD/S become SEALs. The records did not include Aucker's name. "It disgusted me," Weaver said of his discovery. "Think of the sacrifices those men sitting in those clubs have made. They don't brag. And here's this guy bragging he was a Navy SEAL. He's just a fraud, a disgrace to the men who have served."
Aucker's deception immediately earned the wrath of the SEALs, some of whose members now feature him on their "Wannabe" Web sites. One site, created by retired SEAL Darryl Young of Montana, lists Aucker as "Phony of the Month." The site, www.montana.com/seal1/phonym.htm, compares wannabes, those who falsely claim SEAL status, to fly larva and various body orifices. "They are walking on the bodies of our fallen comrades," Young said. "They don't even care that these real SEALs died horrible deaths in combat." About 200 SEALs served during the Vietnam War. The members of the Archives since 1996 have exposed at least 2,000 frauds, Young said. Falsely claiming SEAL status carries no penalty, said Alderson. "From the Navy standpoint, no, we don't go out and prosecute these guys," he said. Aucker, apparently confident his secret would be safe, told anyone who would listen that he was a SEAL, including reporters and Panther Valley school directors.
"Over the two years I've known him, he's mentioned it to me several times," said School Director Angelo Santore. Slivka said Aucker "talked at length about being a Navy SEAL and how tough it was." In 1993, he told a reporter for the Gazette newspaper in Armagh, Indiana County, that he was a Navy SEAL. In November 1997, he told a reporter for the Pottsville Republican newspaper he served in the "U.S. Navy Special Forces." Last November, he told The Morning Call he planned to fight his ouster from the Panther Valley School District. "I'm taking no prisoners. That's the Navy SEAL in me," he said.
Aucker also bragged to other military veterans. "He mentioned it at parades and gatherings. He's told many people he's been a SEAL," Sopko said. Sopko was baffled as to why Aucker would falsely claim SEAL status. "It wouldn't have mattered to us. He is a veteran and entitled to hold office in the Legion. To me, a vet is a vet. I don't care if he was a private or a general," Sopko said. While those who know him are dismayed and baffled by Aucker's duplicity, one mental health professional suggested a reason. Allentown psychologist Dr. Vera Hornstein said people who elevate their status may not like themselves very much. "I would imagine it would stem from having an inadequate sense of self, a need to enhance his self-image and self-worth," she said. "Apparently these people need to project something they are not."
5. ATTENTION LIARS AND FAKES! submitted by : Steve Waterman These are the laws pertaining to the illegal wearing/sale/manufacture of decorations and medals, and the laws governing the illegal wearing of the uniform of the United States Military.
THEY CAN BE ENFORCED, AND SOON WILL BE. Title 18 United States Code Sec. 702. Uniform of the armed services and Public Health Service Whoever, in any place within the jurisdiction of the United States or in the Canal Zone, without authority, wears the uniform, or a distinctive part thereof or anything similar to a distinctive part of the uniform of any of the armed services of the United States, Public Health Service or any auxiliary of such, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
Sec. 704. Military Medals or Decorations
(a) In General. - Whoever knowingly wears, manufactures, or sells any de
Jeff Utsch
Vietnam:
Navy SEALs S.T.A. B.
Email from my sewerpipe buddy MCPO Joe
Garrett in Groton Conn. Retired USN submariner.
Doc
Rio, We was in the yard (Phila.) with her in 61 and then back in NL when she
came in to be transferred
Thanks
Joe G.
While
being converted and overhauled, the submarine was recommissioned into the United
States Navy on 17 January 1961.
With
conversion and overhaul completed, USS Burrfish (SS-312), on 11 May 1961, was
decommissioned; then, in a ceremony with over 300 people attending, papers
formally transferring (under lease) the submarine to Canada were signed, and USS
Burrfish (SS-312) became HMCS (Her Majesty's Canadian Ship) Grilse (SS-71). Her
new crew marched aboard, and the submarine began her career in the Canadian
Navy. These events and ceremonies took place at the United States Naval
Submarine Base at New London/Groton, Connecticut.
The Anatomy of a Great Deception
USS
BURRFISH (SS-312) (SSR-312) /
HMCS GRILSE (SS-71) - SHIP'S HISTORY
Researched by: Robert Loys Sminkey
Commander, United States Navy, Retired
The formal legal steps leading to the acquisition of United States naval vessels
are confusing to many people but are very important to an understanding of the
United States Navy's submarine programs. Generally speaking, the Navy cannot
acquire a ship until Congress has both authorized the size of the fleet and
appropriated funds for the procurement of new vessels. This requires two
separate acts of Congress, as a result of which ships have frequently been
authorized several years before funds were actually appropriated for their
construction, and some authorized ships have never been built at all.
Authorization and procurement procedures are usually quite formal in peacetime
but more expedient methods are usually followed during wars or national
emergencies. In the past, Congress was often very specific in defining the
characteristics of particular ships, their cost, and sometimes even their names
and where they were to be built.
USS Burrfish (SS-312), named for a swellfish of the Atlantic coast, was
originally named "Arnillo." The submarine was authorized to be built
by the United States Congressional Act of 9 July 1942...which stated in part:
"...The authorized composition of the United States Navy in under-age
vessels, as established by the Act of March 27, 1934...as amended by the Acts of
May 17, 1938...June 14, 1940...July 19, 1940...December 23, 1941...and May 13,
1942...is hereby further increased by one million nine hundred thousand tons of
combatant ships,"...Provided, that the foregoing increases in tonnages for
each of the three classes of aircraft carriers, cruisers, and destroyers and
destroyer escort vessels may be varied downward in the amount of 30 per centum
of the total increased tonnage authorized herein, and if so varied downward, the
tonnage so decreased may be used to increase the tonnage of any other class of
vessel authorized above, or to increase the tonnage of submarines heretofore
authorized, so long as the sum of the total increases in tonnages of these
classes, including submarines as authorized herein, is not exceeded:...."
USS Burrfish (SS-312) was laid down on 24 February 1943 on Building Way 1A at
the Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, Maine. The submarine was christened by Miss
Jane Elizabeth Davis, daughter of the Senator from Pennsylvania, and launched on
18 June 1943. Commissioning took place on 14 September 1943 with Lieutenant
Commander William Beckwith Perkins, Junior, in command.
USS Burrfish (SS-312) was a unit of the Balao Class. The design development of
this class was accomplished by the Portsmouth Navy Yard...and she was built by
the Portsmouth Navy Yard. Thus, USS Burrfish was a "Portsmouth Boat."
One of the best-kept secrets of World War II was the increase in the operating
depth of our submarines, from 300 feet in the Gato Class to 400 feet in the
Balao Class. This was accomplished by shifting from mild steel to high-tensile
steel and increasing the thickness of the pressure-hull plating, using the
weight saved in previous classes by meticulous attention to design details in
every area. Naturally, the Balao Class boats became known as the "thick
skins"...while the Gato Class and earlier classes were dubbed "thin
skins." In outward appearance and internal layout, the heavy-hull boats
were practically identical to the earlier type, and many people--including the
Japanese--were unaware that there had been any change. Most of the other new
features in the Balao design had already been incorporated in the later Gato
Class boats as alterations or contract changes, so the Bureau of Ships skipped
the usual step of preparing a preliminary design and simply issued a so-called
Circular of Requirements setting forth the changes and new test specifications.
Orders were placed for 256 units of this class, but only 119 were completed to
the original design, the rest being either cancelled or reordered later in the
war. World War II losses totaled nine, the low toll being due to the completion
of many units too late in the war to encounter much opposition from the battered
Japanese antisubmarine forces. Most of the Balao Class underwent conversion to
new configurations after World War II, and made up the bulk of the Navy's active
submarine force until nuclear-powered attack boats replaced most of them during
the 1960s.
When commissioned, USS Burrfish was 311 feet 8 inches in length overall and had
a maximum beam of 27 feet 3 inches. Her standard displacement on the surface was
1,526 tons, her normal displacement on the surface was between 2,010 and 2,075
tons, and her submerged displacement was 2,401 tons. USS Burrfish was designed
to safely submerge to 400 feet...her operating depth. She has eight watertight
compartments plus a conning tower. The pressure hull plating was 35 to 35.7
pound high tensile steel (approximately 7/8ths of an inch thick).
The designed compliment was for six officers and sixty enlisted men.
Armament consisted of 6 bow and 4 stern 21-inch torpedo tubes. The maximum
torpedo load was twenty-four Mark 14 Mod. 3A torpedoes. In place of torpedoes, a
maximum of 40 mines could be carried. One 5-inch/25-caliber dual-purpose deck
gun was fitted. Antiaircraft guns consisted of one 40-mm, one 20-mm, and two
.50-caliber machine guns.
Fuel capacity was 94,000 gallons (rated) of diesel oil, which fueled 4 main
Fairbanks-Morse opposed piston 1,600 horsepower diesel engines, and one
auxiliary Fairbanks-Morse opposed piston diesel engine...which turned
generators...which made electricity...which turned two Elliot main propulsion
motors of 2,740 shaft horsepower...which could drive the boat at 20.25 knots on
the surface...and gave her a cruising range on the surface of 11,000 miles at
ten knots (rated). The generators were also utilized to charge 2 Gould 126-cell
main storage batteries...which could power the Elliot main propulsion motors...
which could drive the boat at 8.75 knots when submerged. Her submerged
endurance, at 2 knots, was two days. Her patrol endurance was rated at 75 days.
USS Burrfish had a mean draft of 16 feet 10 inches when on the surface in diving
trim.
USS Burrfish's World War II operations extended from 2 February 1944 to 13 May
1945 during which period the submarine completed six war patrols...sinking one
5,894-ton Japanese tanker. Her operating area extended from the Western Caroline
Islands to Formosa and the waters south of Japan. USS Burrfish also participated
with USS Ronquil (SS-396) in the destruction of a 200-ton patrol vessel.
During her third war patrol, the submarine accomplished several special
missions, conducting reconnaissance of the beaches of Palau and Yap...where
landings were planned. She also rendered invaluable services as
"Lifeguard" to Army B-29 fliers who were forced to bail out or ditch
as they returned from bombing missions to Japan.
The following awards were made to personnel in USS Burrfish:
Commander William B. Perkins, USN
- Legion of Merit, Bronze Star (2)
Lieutenant John J. Martin, USNR
- Bronze Star
Lieutenant Junior Grade Thomas C. Patterson, USNR -
- Letter of Commendation (with ribbon)
Machinist's Mate Robert L. Manning, USN
- Letter of Commendation (with ribbon)
Hospital Corpsman William J. Riddle, USNR
- Letter of Commendation (with ribbon)
Motor Machinist's Mate 1st Class Kenneth P. Rutherford, USNR
- Letter of Commendation (with ribbon)
Boatswain's Mate Geno L. Pernichele, USN
- Bronze Star
Coxswain Herbert A. Foster, USN
- Purple Heart
Torpedoman's Mate Roger Lopez, USNR
- Purple Heart
The following engagement stars were earned by USS Burrfish for services rendered
during World War II:
2 February 1944 to 22 March 1944. On the way to the Western Carolines made
contact with a large tanker, two heavy cargo ships and several escorts. After
several hours of tracking "312" fired four torpedoes, all missing
their mark. The submarine went deep as 3 escorts converged on her at different
angles. Four depth charges damaged the main induction valve...which leaked a
steady stream of water. Out distancing the escorts, BURRFISH surfaced to repair
the damage.
16 February. Two ships, one merchant and one escort, were tracked but could not
close within sufficient range to attack. Eight depth charges were heard but none
close enough to do any damage.
18 February. Radar contact was made with a large enemy ship with an escort. As
"312" closed for the attack, she was sighted by the escort. Clearing
the bridge, BURRFISH submerges and made her way to safety.
29 February. An enemy freighter guarded by two escorts was tracked and three
torpedoes fired...missing the freighter. The escorts were alerted and pressed
home an attack with thirty more depth charges causing damage to the submarine.
2 March. Three torpedoes were fired at a destroyer guarding a convoy already
under attack by USS Picuda (SS-382) but none hit their mark. The first patrol
ended when the submarine entered the port at Midway Island on the 22nd of March
1944.
PATROL NUMBER TWO.
14 April 1944 to 4 June 1944. On 7 May, a lone tanker was sighted and three
torpedoes were fired. Three hits were observed evenly spaced from bow to stern.
The submarine arrived at Pearl Harbor on 4 June and the Submarine Combat
Insignia was awarded for the patrol.
PATROL NUMBER THREE.
11 July 1944 to 27 August 1944.
Reconnaissance missions between Anguar and Peleliu Islands. Sighted by enemy
aircraft and three aerial bombs dropped. No damage reported.
The following writeup describes Underwater Demolition Team
operations conducted from USS Burrfish during her third war patrol:
During the period 9-20 August 1944, Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) operators
in the Pacific Theater of Operations conducted submarine launched reconnaissance
operations from USS Burrfish, which was under the command of Lieutenant
Commander (later Rear Admiral) William B. Perkins. The USS Burrfish mission was
unique, because it involved the only United States submarine-launched
reconnaissance operation conducted by a Underwater Demolition Team during the
entire period of World War II. Seven embarked UDT personnel were involved in the
nearshore reconnaissance operations: five from UDT-10 and two from the UDT
training staff in Maui. They were:
Bob Black - UDT-10
John MacMahon - UDT-10
William E. Moore - UDT-10
Leonard Barnhill - UDT-10
Warren Christensen - UDT-10
Lieutenant R. Massey - UDT at Maui
Chief Petty Officer Howard L. Roeder - UDT at Maui
With little time available, mission preparations commenced immediately. The
seven-man group conducted boat launch and recovery rehearsals from a destroyer
in the waters off Maui, and brushed up on hydrographic survey techniques. The
five men from UDT-10 were specially selected because of advanced swimming,
diving, rubber boat, and reconnaissance training they had previously taken as
members of the classified O.S.S. Maritime Unit.
During the same period, USS Burrfish was outfitted with free flooding,
eight-foot long cylindrical tanks. They were bolted to the deck aft of the
conning tower fairwater to house the deflated rubber boats. The boats were
inflated and deflated by a special device originally designated for United
States Army rubber pontoons.
On 10 July 1944, the UDT group embarked in USS Burrfish. The submarine slipped
out of Pearl Harbor and headed west southwest to her objective. Once aboard the
submersible, the recon group became integral with the crew. The problem was to
give them something to do during the run to the objective; so, a high periscope
watch was assigned to them during daylight hours...to assist in detecting any
approaching enemy craft.
Enroute, the submarine received word that carrier air strikes and bombing raids
had been planned for the Palaus, and that USS Burrfish was not to enter her
assigned area until 30 July. Further word was received from Commander Submarine
Force, United States Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC) that USS Burrfish was to collect
data on the ocean currents in and around Peleliu in addition to information on
reefs, water depths, and underwater obstacles.
On the night of 9 August 1944, USS Burrfish rendezvoused with USS Balao (SS-285)
at a point east of Angular Island to deliver periscope photographs and updated
charts. The submarine then returned to the waters off Peleliu.
Two nights later, USS Burrfish surfaced off Peleliu's southeastern tip with her
main deck awash. Assisted by submarine crew members, five UDT personnel, smeared
with camouflage grease, and equipped with fins, facemask, and knives, paddled
into the darkness for their first reef reconnaissance.
One man stayed with the boat approximately 1,000 yards offshore, while two swim
pairs separately gathered hydrographic information under the noses of enemy
beach patrols. All hands returned safely to the submarine after its sonarman
homed in on a pre-arranged signal tapped out on a piece of coral by the UDT men.
Bright moonlight and heavy enemy radar activity precluded further missions until
16 August. That night, Lieutenant Massey led a team into the southern Yap
Island's beaches. The valuable data they collected was never used. Yap, the
enemy's central Pacific command headquarters, was bypassed.
On the night of 18 August, another team was instructed to recon a beach on Gagil
Tomil's northeast coast. After departing the submarine at 2000, they paddled to
within a quarter-of-a-mile of their objective, where they discovered a barrier
reef just below the surface. Fearing breakers would carry their boat ashore,
Chief Petty Officer Roeder ordered the anchor dropped. Leaving Ball, his best
navigator, behind, he led the rest of the men on in. Fifteen minutes later, Bob
Black...one of the ten original 1943 Naval Combat
Demolition Unit (NCDU) volunteers...returned to the anchored boat with
Carpenter, who could not handle the strong currents. They reported to Ball that
they had found palm log crib barricades complete with wire-linked rocks. Black
then swam back to rejoin the other men.
Several hours later, well past the time of their scheduled rendezvous, a worried
Ball and Carpenter pulled up the anchor and commenced a sweep along the reef
looking for their overdue mates. They found no one.
At midnight, USS Burrfish surfaced at the pre-arranged rendezvous location.
There were no UDT men waiting to be retrieved. So, the submariners waited and
watched. At about 0300, a rubber boat's light was sighted. Fifty minutes later,
Ball and Carpenter were helped back aboard. The Captain had to dive the ship
almost immediately to avoid incoming radar-equipped Japanese planes.
Despite these and other enemy dangers, USS Burrfish patrolled off Gagil Tomil
beach until daylight on the 19th, then over the agreed upon escape course for a
daylight pickup. Search efforts continued into the 20th. The Commanding Officer
had to firmly but regretfully tell powerful UDT swimmers Barnhill and Moore that
their proposed rescue attempt would be suicidal in the existing stormy seas.
At dark, on 20 August, it became apparent that rescue of the three missing UDT
men was not to be. Accordingly, USS Burrfish departed the area and transited to
Majuro Island for refit. Later, an intercepted radio message confirmed the worst
fears of UDT-10 personnel. Black, Roeder, and MacMahon had been captured by the
Japanese. Before being killed, they provided false information under intense
torture - per instructions - about UDT capabilities. All were posthumously
awarded the Silver Star Medal.
Christensen, Barnhill, and Moore were also awarded the Silver Star Medal during
ceremonies at Maui, plus entitlement to wear the Submarine Combat Insignia.
Lieutenant Massey received the Navy Cross for his participation in the only
submarine-launched UDT recon in the Second World War.
PATROL NUMBER FOUR.
18 September 1944 to 2 December 1944. USS Burrfish, with seven other submarines,
join picket line north of Bonin Islands and Saipan ("Operation
Hotfoot"). Fired six torpedoes on 27 October with no hits. USS Ronquil and
USS Burrfish engaged heavily-armed enemy patrol boat where a surface gun action
ensued. Two USS Burrfish crew members wounded during exchange of fire. USS
Burrfish ended this patrol upon entering the United States Naval
Submarine Base at Pearl Harbor in the Territory of Hawaii.
PATROL NUMBER FIVE.
3 January 1945 to 24 February 1945. USS Burrfish arrived at lifeguard station
off Hachija Chima on 24 January 1945. Fired torpedoes at a surface vessel with
no hits. Continued lifeguard duties. Fired torpedo at a submarine chaser, with
target coming back down wake of torpedo track, rocking USS Burrfish with a
string of eighteen depth charges, causing some damage. A total of nearly forty
depth charges and twenty aerial bombs came her way before eluding the enemy.
This patrol ended with USS Burrfish's arrival at Guam.
PATROL NUMBER SIX.
25 March 1945 to 4 May 1945. USS Burrfish patrolled off Luzon Straits south of
the China coast as part of wolfpack operations...known as "Wallings'
Whalers" (wolfpack comprised of USS Burrfish, USS Bang, and USS Snook). On
11 April, USS Burrfish surprised by approaching aircraft. On 22 April, USS
Burrfish dives off Ryukyu Sho and was strafed as stern of submarine went under
water. Suffered no serious damage from floating mine that was encountered on 15
April. USS Burrfish shelled radio station on Bataan Island on 30 April. This
patrol ended with USS Burrfish's arrival at Saipan.
USS Burrfish (SS-312) transited from Saipan to Pearl Harbor from her last World
War II patrol...and arrived at the Submarine Base in the Hawaiian Islands on 13
May 1945. Three days later, the submarine was ordered to return to the United
States for major overhaul and arrived at the Portsmouth Navy Yard at Kittery,
Maine, on 19 June.
On 2 September 1945, representatives of the Empire of Japan signed the
instruments of surrender on board battleship USS Missouri, which was anchored in
Tokyo Bay, Japan...thus officially ending the Second World War.
Upon completion of overhaul on 10 October 1945, USS Burrfish conducted a two-day
transit to the United States Naval Submarine Base at New London/ Groton,
Connecticut, and, upon arrival, reported to the Commander of the Submarine
Force, United States Atlantic Fleet, for duty. The submarine participated in
Navy Day festivities at Baltimore, Maryland, on 27 October 1945. After
conducting various local operations off the east coast of the United States
during the next twelve months, the submarine was placed out of commission, in
reserve, at the New London/Groton submarine base, on 10 October 1946, and placed
in the "Mothball Fleet" in the Thames River in the northern portion of
that naval installation.
On 2 November 1948, USS Burrfish (SS-312) was recommissioned and assigned to the
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard at Kittery, Maine, for conversion to a radar picket
submarine. Her designation was changed to "SSR-312" to reflect the
submarine's new configurations and missions on 27 January 1949...and the
conversion work was completed by November of that year.
Upon completion of the "Migraine I" radar picket submarine conversion,
USS Burrfish (SSR-312) was 312 feet in length overall; had a maximum beam of 27
feet 4 inches; had a standard surface displacement of 1,525 tons, a normal
surface displacement of 2,085 tons, and a submerged displacement of
approximately 2,410 tons; was manned by 12 officers, 5 chief petty officers, and
77 to 85 enlisted personnel (approximately); was only armed with four bow
21-inch torpedo tubes and one 40-mm antiaircraft gun (mounted on the main deck
just forward of the conning tower fairwater); and had diesel-electric direct
drive (converted from original reduction-gear drive) which could produce 4,610
shaft horsepower on the surface. Small cell Guppy- type batteries were
substituted for the original type batteries. SS, SV-1, SV-2, and AN/BPS-2 radar
equipment was installed. So was a YE-2 beacon. Much equipment was updated and
rearranged...and a snorkel system was installed.
The United States Navy's first two radar picket submarines grew out of World War
II experience with Japanese kamikaze aircraft. These boats were put into service
in 1946 but neither vessel was classified as an SSR at the time. The
installation was rather hastily improvised using surface-ship equipment modified
for submarine use and mounted in odd places throughout the boats. As might be
expected, so many problems developed during the service evaluation of those
submarines that the Navy instituted the so-called Migraine program under which
three revised radar-picket designs were produced.
The Migraine I conversion was first applied to USS Tigrone (SS-419), a Tench-Class
boat, and later to USS Burrfish (SS-312) of the Balao type. The area formerally
used for the crew's mess and galley was turned into an air-control center while
the after torpedo room was stripped of its torpedo tubes and used exclusively
for berthing. In this conversion, the battery wells were made smaller by
substituting two banks of the small Guppy-type battery cells. Two of the six
torpedo tubes in the forward torpedo room were also removed to provide more
space for berthing and equipment.
Migraine II conversions was the name applied to a reworking of the original two
radar-picket conversion layouts...based on the lessons learned from those early
attempts.
The continued problems created by crowding so much electronic equipment, along
with a larger crew, into the fleet-boat hull led to the Migraine III program. In
this program, six submarines were cut in half so a 24-foot section could be
spliced between the forward battery compartment and the control room to
accommodate the air-control center and the electronic equipment.
USS Burrfish (SSR-312) transited from the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard to the Naval
Submarine Base at New London/Groton, following her conversion and trials, and
became an active fleet unit on 7 February 1950. On 15 March 1950 she commenced a
transit to the Destroyer-Submarine Piers at Norfolk, Virginia, and, upon
arrival, reported to Commander Submarine Squadron Six, embarked in USS Orion
(AS-18), for duty. The following month, USS Burrfish was conducting training
exercises out of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. She then joined a force of Navy ships,
which included the aircraft carrier USS Philippine Sea. These warships operated
in the Virginia Capes Operating Areas and northward along the east coast of the
United States. A port call was made at New York City during 19 and 20 May 1950.
USS Burrfish resumed local operations out of Norfolk. On 16 September 1950, she
completed a transit to Augusta Bay, Sicily...where the submarine joined units of
Submarine Division 61. On 30 September 1950, the radar-picket submarine was
operating in the Malta Operating Areas in the central portion of the
Mediterranean Sea.
Later, the submersible visited: Navaron Bay, Greece; Toulon, France; Souda Bay,
Crete; and Taranto and Naples, Italy. She put to sea from Naples on 3 January
1951 and commenced a transit to Norfolk. En route, the submarine visited Libya,
Tunisia, and Algeria. The transit was completed on 2 February 1951.
Local operations on the eastern seaboard of the United States were conducted
until 13 September 1951...when she arrived at the Charleston Naval Shipyard at
Charleston, South Carolina, for overhaul.
Completing overhaul on 23 January 1952, USS Burrfish (SSR-312) headed for a
refresher-training cruise to Puerto Rico...then transited to the Mediterranean
for another tour of duty with the United States Sixth Fleet.
From 24 August 1952 to 13 February 1953, the radar picket submarine operated out
of Norfolk along the east coast of the United States...and in the Caribbean,
where she deployed to Saint Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands with
other units of the United States Atlantic Fleet.
From 29 June 1953 to 18 December 1953, USS Burrfish was overhauled at the
Philadelphia Naval Shipyard at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Following overhaul,
the submarine conducted refresher training during a transit to Hamilton,
Bermuda. Alterations were made to the submersible in a dry dock of the Boston
Naval Shipyard at Boston, Massachusetts, during the period 27 March 1954 to 4
April 1954.
On 4 May 1954, USS Burrfish, once again, became a unit of the United States
Sixth Fleet upon completing a trans-Atlantic transit at Gibraltar, British Crown
Colony. Various maneuvers and operations in the Mediterranean ended in port
visits to Naples, Italy; Malta, George's Cross; and the French ports of Hyeres
and Cannes.
On 22 July 1954, USS Burrfish was back on ocean radar picket duty off the
eastern seaboard of the United States in the Virginia Capes Operating Areas. She
spent the winter months in the Caribbean...and returned to Norfolk on 4 March
1955.
USS Burrfish's last deployment for the United States Navy commenced during
September of 1955...while she was flagship of Submarine Division 62. USS
Burrfish and USS Redfin (SSR-272) transited, by way of Spitzbergen, Norway, to
the Arctic Ocean area.
The object of the mission was to collect intelligence on potential enemies of
the United States. During this operation, a damaged sea-flushing valve admitted
much water into the submarine, necessitating a pit stop at Reykjavik, Iceland,
to effect emergency repairs. During this cruise, the submarine negotiated the
Kiel Canal, ran through the Baltic Sea, visited Copenhagen, Denmark, and Oslo,
Norway. The submarine arrived back in the United States on two main propulsion
diesel engines (and those had leaky cylinder liners). And, the bow planes were
broken. USS Burrfish went straight to the Electric Boat Company's shipyard at
Groton, Connecticut. There, she was hauled out of the water on a marine railway
and given a complete survey.
Following repairs, the submarine transited to her homeport of Norfolk,
Virginia...from where she operated until June of 1956.
On 5 June 1956, USS Burrfish (SSR-312) transited from Norfolk to the United
States Naval Submarine Base at New London/Groton, Connecticut, where, upon
arrival, she commenced inactivation activities. The submarine was placed out of
commission, in reserve, on 17 December 1956, and placed in the Reserve Fleet on
the Thames River in the northern portion of the Connecticut submarine base.
Although the Migraine boats had more than their share of headaches, their
careers were terminated because the Navy decided to abandon the basic concept of
radar picket ships, both surface and submersible, after 1959. Most of the radar
picket submarines were either discarded shortly thereafter or reclassified and
used as general-purpose submarines and miscellaneous auxiliaries for several
more years. Few submariners were sorry to see them go.
In order to provide a submarine target for training Canadian antisubmarine
forces along the west coast of Canada and the United States, the Canadian
government decided to lease a surplus United States Navy submarine for that
purpose. USS Burrfish was the submarine selected to become the first submarine
of the new Canadian submarine branch in the Canadian Navy in forty years. USS
Burrfish was towed in late 1960 to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard to undergo
conversion from a radar picket submarine to a vessel appropriate for service as
a fleet-type submarine. After spending approximately $900,000, USS Burrfish was
restored to her basic World War II configuration...but with some alterations to
meet Canadian standards.
Additionally, the submarine would be given a new name, one that honored a famous
Canadian warship of the past..."Grilse." The original GRILSE was a
converted yacht that had suffered major damage during a storm during December of
1916. Thought to be lost, the battered yacht managed to limp back to port,
sparking the creation of a legend with her survival. In 1922, the decommissioned
GRILSE was put up for sale...and became the personal yacht TILLORA of an
American mining magnate named Solomon Guggenheim. The name GRILSE lived on, this
time being borne by a sloop-rigged yacht of the Royal Canadian Navy Sailing
Association from 1947 to 1960. When USS Burrfish was selected by the Royal
Canadian Navy, the yacht was renamed GOLDCREST, freeing up the famous name
GRILSE.
On 15 January 1961, USS Burrfish (SSR-312) was reclassified USS Burrfish
(SS-312). "SS" is the designation for "submarine" in the
United States Navy...that is: diesel-powered attack submarine.
While being converted and overhauled, the submarine was recommissioned into the
United States Navy on 17 January 1961.
With conversion and overhaul completed, USS Burrfish (SS-312), on 11 May 1961,
was decommissioned; then, in a ceremony with over 300 people attending, papers
formally transferring (under lease) the submarine to Canada were signed, and USS
Burrfish (SS-312) became HMCS (Her Majesty's Canadian Ship) Grilse (SS-71). Her
new crew marched aboard, and the submarine began her career in the Canadian
Navy. These events and ceremonies took place at the United States Naval
Submarine Base at New London/Groton, Connecticut.
HMCS Grilse (SS-71) was destined to spend her time in the Pacific, based out of
Esquimalt in British Columbia, where she would serve as an antisubmarine warfare
training ship for the Canadian Pacific Fleet.
After transiting the Panama Canal and making a port visit at San Diego,
California, HMCS Grilse arrived at Esquimalt on 14 July 1961. During her first
months in Canadian service, HMCS Grilse conducted some brief local operations.
For the next sixteen months, the submarine conducted extensive training
operations with surface units of the Canadian Navy and with air units of the
Canadian Air Force. During this period, HMCS Grilse transited 51,740 miles in
374 days at sea, spending 34 percent of the time fully submerged and 31 percent
of the time snorkeling.
During November of 1963, HMCS Grilse went into drydock, and spent the next six
months undergoing refit and overhaul.
In April of 1964, after completing her overhaul, HMCS Grilse conducted a set of
dockside "fast cruises," with the full crew aboard, operating under
"at sea" conditions. A week after these in-port exercises, the
submarine put to sea to conduct actual sea trials.
After completing these trials, the submarine returned to Esquimalt, where she
was provisioned and fitted out for thirty more months of operations. Her first
trip out of Canadian waters since the overhaul saw the submersible operating off
San Francisco, California, for refresher training, as well as operating with
United States Navy submarines off San Diego, California. A few weeks later, on
21 July 1964, HMCS Grilse again left Esquimalt, this time providing services to
the Canadian Navy's Fourth Escort Squadron in the Pearl Harbor,
Hawaii, operating areas. Returning to Esquimalt in August of 1964, the submarine
received a distress call from a burning tugboat, and assisted a United States
Coast Guard cutter in rescue efforts. The fall saw HMCS Grilse operating
according to her normal schedule, providing services to United States Navy
aircraft flying out of Naval Air Station, Whidbey Island, Washington State...and
services to Pacific Command ships.
HMCS Grilse (SS-71) commenced 1965 by conducting a series of dependents'
cruises, where the families of the submarine's crew got a taste of life aboard a
submarine. During March of 1965, HMCS Grilse was able to repay the hard work of
the Esquimalt dockyard personnel by taking the workers out on a series of brief
cruises. The submarine spent the next several months conducting local operations
and preparing for operations in the Caribbean in early 1966. That year,
HMCS Grilse saw extensive service. Spending a total of 175 days at sea during
1966, the submarine cruised 32,495 miles. From 4 January 1965 to 7 April 1966,
HMCS Grilse participated with Pacific Command ships in "Exercise Maple
Spring," which saw the submarine operating in the Caribbean. HMCS Grilse
conducted exercises along the Pacific coast during her return to Esquimalt, and
arrived there on 12 December 1966.
Spending most of the first half of 1967 in drydock, HMCS Grilse put to sea,
conducting various operations with Canadian Pacific Command ships and United
States Navy ships and aircraft.
The year 1968 started off with HMCS Grilse conducting a two-month long training
cruise in Pacific waters. During one part of that period, the submarine operated
out of Pearl Harbor...conducting exercises in Northern Pacific Ocean waters. In
another first for HMCS Grilse, Corporal Garry Sandercock of the Canadian Army
was stationed in HMCS Grilse, the first time an Army soldier was assigned as
part of a Canadian Navy crew. Corporal Sandercock not only served in the Medical
Department aboard the submarine; he also operated the bow and stern diving
planes as a watchstander during submerged operations. The remainder of 1968 saw
HMCS Grilse conducting local operations with ships of the Pacific Command.
The year 1969 saw the end of HMCS Grilse's service as an active Canadian
warship. After conducting operations with United States Navy and Canadian
Pacific Command units, preparations were made to return possession of the
submarine to the United States Navy.
On 31 July 1969, the loaned USS Burrfish (SS-312) was stricken from the Navy
List and was no longer an asset of the United States Navy.
After eight years of service in the Canadian Navy, the submarine was returned to
the United States Navy at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard at Vallejo, California,
during September of 1969. The submersible was towed from Canada to Mare Island
by the Canadian Navy tug HMCS Saint Anthony...in weather as miserable as the
occasion.
However, just as the tug and the submarine reached open water at the start of
the towing operation, the propulsion engine on the tug broke down. Then, one of
the submarine's main propulsion diesel engines was started by members of the
submersible's skeleton crew...and the submarine towed the tugboat back to the
Canadian base at Esquimalt.
A few days later, with a reduced crew of twenty personnel aboard, the submarine
headed south, once again...this time under her own power. She arrived at the
Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 26 September 1969, accompanied by Canadian warship
HMCS Columbia.
The last day of active duty life for HMCS Grilse (SS-71) came on 2 October 1969.
With bands playing and speeches made, The Canadian flag and commissioning
pennant were lowered, and the decommissioned HMCS Grilse (SS-71) was returned to
the United States Navy.
A few weeks later, submarine Burrfish would meet her end. Painted and rigged as
a radio-controlled target ship for testing the effectiveness of Mark 46
torpedoes, the submarine was towed to a position off San Clemente Island,
California. On 19 November 1969, a SH-3 helicopter dropped a Mark 46 torpedo
near the submarine, which subsequently acquired the submarine. The torpedo hit
the hull in the area of the pump room. The resulting explosion sent the
submarine to the bottom of the ocean...in 1,600 feet of water.
The final resting place of USS Burrfish (SS-312) (SSR-312) / HMCS Grilse (SS-71)
is: Latitude 32 Degrees 53 minutes North Longitude 118 Degrees 36.03 minutes
West
---end---
SEARCH
Engine ONLY for
SEALTWO.ORG
Web
Image
Sort by:
Relevance
Relevance
Date
Web
Image
SEARCH
Engine ONLY for SEALTWO.ORG
Web
Image
Sort by:
Relevance
Relevance
Date
Web
Image
Military Phonetic Alphabet and Morse Code
Military Phonetic Alphabet
The current phonetic alphabet was adopted in 1957.
Letter 1957-Present
Morse Code
A Alfa (or Alpha) . _
B Bravo _ . . .
C Charlie _ . _ .
D Delta _ . .
E Echo .
F Foxtrot . . _ .
G Golf _ _ .
H Hotel
. . . .
I India . .
J Juliett . _ _ _
K Kilo _ . _
L Lima . _ . .
M Mike _ _
N November _ .
O Oscar _ _ _
P Papa . _ _ .
R Romeo . _ .
S Sierra . . .
T Tango _
U Uniform . . _
V Victor . . . _
W Whiskey . _ _
X X-ray _ . . _
Y Yankee _ . _ _
Z Zulu _ _ . .
Hello Folks,
At long last I’ve published the third book in my Indomitable Patriot series,
The Indomitable Patriot: the Submariners.
The book takes us back to 1943 and the OSS. The USS Great White (SS-299) has
just put an OSS team ashore in the Philippines and has gone hunting for Japanese
tonnage to sink. She almost gets more than she bargained for when she tangles
with a Japanese battleship with five escorts. Will she survive her assault and
live to fight again?
Lieutenant Commander Marcus Spencer, captain of the Great White experiences a
number of twists and turns in his career as well, mainly involving the OSS and
their covert activities in the Northern Mariana Islands. I’ve also introduced
naval aviation into this book to present many thrilling scenes taking place
above, as well as below the surface of the Pacific Ocean.
As with my previous Patriot books, this book is historically accurate fiction.
The book is geared toward submarine warfare and along those lines I read and
reviewed dozens of actual patrol reports of USS Wahoo, Tang, and a number of
WWII submarines. I lucked out in one additional way however. My technical editor was a retired Navy Command Master Chief who
spent his entire naval career aboard diesel and nuclear submarines. His tireless
efforts have enabled me to write a book about submarine warfare a reader with no
knowledge of the boats will understand and enjoy, and a submarine sailor (also
called a “Bubblehead”) will enjoy the realism, jargon and accuracy of the
story.
Disclaimer
Notice:Some
or all of this material was written collaboratively by Teammates or visitors to
this website.
While every effort is made to ensure that the content of this website is
accurate, the website is provided “as is” and sealtwo.org makes no
representations or warranties in relation to the accuracy or completeness of the
information found on it.While the
content of this site is provided in good faith, we do not warrant that the
information will be kept up to date, be true and not misleading, or that this
site will always (or ever) be available for use.
For reliable information of any sort, you must consult an officially qualified
professional in The U.S. Navy, or the Department of Defense.You may use this site at your own risk that none, part of or all of what
is posted is factual.
By visiting this website you are accepting all the terms of this disclaimer
notice.If you do not agree with
anything in this notice you should not enter into this website.
Some material
on this website, including text and images, is protected by copyright law and is
copyright to sealtwo.org unless credited otherwise. It may be copied,
reproduced, republished, downloaded, posted, broadcast and transmitted
for your own personal only.
Erasmo
"Doc" Riojas gives up all rights to all articles and graphics on
www.sealtwo.org and seeks no compensation for its use. 2016