Send Photos to "Doc" Riojas
Robert Shouse R.I.P.
1926
- 2016
From: Rosalie Shouse
To: Doc Riojas
Subject: Robert "Bob" Shouse passed away Friday 15 April 2016
I have some very bad news, My Bob has passed away Friday. Bob was 89 years
old. He fell and hit very hard on the a concrete stone at the V.A. parking
lot. He damaged his brain because of the severe bleeding and in several hours he passed away.
He will rest at the VA hospital Cemetery and one half of his ashes will be sent to sea at the museum in Fort pierce, Fla. where all the UDT men are laid to rest.
love Rosalie
Folks
wearing the white T shirts with Bob's picture are either family or shipmates of
Bob. Woody Woodward, Doc Riojas , Rosalie Shouse, at the top: Lourdes
Tolentino
Robert Wayne Shouse R.I.P. Erasmo "Doc Riojas" SeaDaddy
standing: John Hobbs, Ernie Caltenbach, Erasmo Riojas, Bob Shouse sitting We all were instructors at the UWSS, Key West FL. at the same time.
Bob Shouse was one of my Sea Daddies, may he rest in eternal peace. Erasmo "Doc" Riojas
<center>
Rudy Bosesch
Rudy Bosesch
Jeff Nichols
Jeff Nichols
Mike Day
Mike Day ;
I believe holds the SEAL record for getting shot 27 times and is still alive
Minh page 1 from the UDT SEAL Magazine THE BLASAT
Minh page 2
NDCQ: "Mack" Machowicz
Richard "Mack" Machowicz
William C. Morterud
William R. Jaycox
https://www.sealtwo.org/seals/William J. Raycox
William R. Raycox
R.I.P. 1926 - 2018
William R Jaycox
Fred M. Buker II
From Salesianum to Navy SEALs command
James Fisher,
A Wilmington native and Salesianum graduate is about to become the top
commanding officer of the Navy SEALs.
Rear Adm. Timothy G. Szymanski will be assigned as commander of the Naval
Special Warfare Command in San Diego, Calif., the Department of Defense
announced Monday. The assignment moves Szymanski from Fort Bragg, N.C., where he
is assistant commander of the military's Joint Special Operations Command. The
Navy Times reported Tuesday that Szymanski has also been the deputy commander of
the storied and secretive SEAL Team Six.
A high school photo of U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Timothy
A high school photo of U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Timothy G. Szymanski, who graduated
from the Salesianum School in 1980. (Photo: Courtesy of the Salesianum School)
"Leadership takes practice, discipline and sacrifice," Szymanski told
a crowd at the Wilmington Country Club in the 2011 remarks. Leaders invest in
their people, lead by example, train themselves out of a job and "delegate
until you are uncomfortable," he said.
The commander Szymanski is replacing atop the SEALs is Rear Adm. Brian Losey,
who has been under investigation for retaliating against whistle blowers in his
command.
http://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2016/03/02/salesianum-navy-seals-command/81203542/
West Coast reunion 2011 - Charlie Platoon mates L to R: Hal Kuykendall, Mike Thornton, Tom Boyhan & Wayne Hampton
From: Tom & Janet
To: Hi Doc Rio,
Tom Boyhan here. Please keep me on your email list. BUD/S class 45 west coast graduated Jun 68 UDT-13 Deployed Dec 68 - Apr 69 SEAL One, Charlie Platoon Dec 69 - Jun 70
(you guest-operated with us on Dung Island) & Romeo Platoon Dec 70 - Jun 71 (unfortunately the last SEAL killed on the ground in VN was my point man Lester Moe)
Attached are a couple of pictures to jog your memory.
VC Flag - Long Phu Base, Dung Island - Charlie Platoon L to R: Rich Solano, R.E. Doyle, Lou DiCroce, Tom Boyhan, Mike Thornton and Barry Enoch. Sitting in front Joe Tvrdik
Thanks for all your work on your website to keep the memories, pictures & stories alive.
Tom Boyhan
John Roat
Arles Nash
Larry Theordine
Bill Holloway
Tom holloway
Moki Martin
Art Streeter
Dean Cummings
Bill Goines
Moki Martin
Phillip Gardner howe III
REAR ADMIRAL P GARDNER HOWE, III ASSISTANT COMMANDING OFFICER, JOINT SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND
Rear Adm. Howe is a native of Jacksonville, Fla. He was commissioned in 1984 following his graduation from the United States Naval Academy.
Howe’s operational assignments have included a full range of duties in SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV) Teams and SEAL Teams. He commanded Naval Special Warfare Unit Three in Bahrain, and Naval Special Warfare Group Three in San Diego. His service overseas includes multiple deployments to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf, and participation in Operations Earnest Will, Provide Promise, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom.
His key staff assignments include current operations officer at Special Operations Command, Pacific; chief staff officer, Naval Special Warfare Development Group; assistant chief of staff for Operations, Plans and Policy at Naval Special Warfare Command; and director of Legislative Affairs for U.S. Special Operations Command. He assumed duties as assistant commanding officer, Joint Special Operations Command in August 2010.
Fort Bragg admiral, JSOC assistant commander, is headed to Hawaii
New ORDERS:
Fort Bragg Rear Adm. Philip G. Howe will become commander of Special Operations Command-Pacific, the Navy announced today.
Howe is assistant commander for operations of the Joint Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg.
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, the chief of naval operations, announced the assignment.
In his new job, Howe will be in charge of special operations for U.S. Pacific Command at Camp Smith, Hawaii. The command has more than 1,200 special operations personnel, the website said.
The Pacific Command's area of responsibility encompasses about half the earth's surface, from the waters off the West Coast of the United States to the western border of India and from Antarctica to the North Pole.
Other subordinate commands include U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. Pacific Air Forces, U.S. Army Pacific, and U.S. Marine Forces, Pacific. The component commands have headquarters in Hawaii and have forces stationed and deployed throughout the region.
Howe graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1995 with a Master of Arts in National Security Affairs (Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict), and from the National War College in 2002 with a Master of Arts in National Security.
Phillip Gardner howe III
Richard "Mack" Machowic
Erasmo Riojas
Rick Powers
Don
Mann
Riojas Larry Bailey at Doc's home
Seal Team FOUR Grenada
Paul With ST-6 Panama
ST-6
H.E. Wasdin
SEAL Chapter Presidents
To:
Erasmo Doc Riojas
Cc: Bill Garnett; Jerry Todd; Bo Burwell; chuck detmer; Alvin McCoy;jim Finley;
Larry Rich; Denny Johnson; Gary Wilson; Mark Baum
Subject: Re: SEAL 2 rosters 1967-1971
Doc Riojas,
Here are the platoon rosters you requested. Names and ranks are per Vietnam-era
documents I hold; should be accurate.
Rick "Ranger Rick" Woolard
THIRD Platoon, SEAL Team TWO, Naval Base Nha Be, South Vietnam, June-December
1968:
LT(JG) Richard P. "Rick" Woolard
ENS John C. "Bubba" Brewton
ENC Solomon D. Atkinson
BM1 William A. Garnett
BM1 Jerry L. Todd
HM1 Paul (PT) Schwartz (returned to CONUS early, replaced by Burwell)
HM1 Lowell E. "Bo" Burwell
BM1 Charles "Chuck" Detmer
GMG1 Ronald Fox
BM1 Carl D. "Skip" Isham
ADJ2 Gerald R. McClure
SM3 Julius Ramos
MM2 Leroy P. Delaine
ADJ3 Alvin F. McCoy
AE3 James H. Warmack
-------------------------
THIRD Platoon, SEAL Team TWO, Advanced Tactical Support Base Song Ong Doc, South
Vietnam, October 1969-April 1970:
LT Richard P. "Rick" Woolard
LT(JG) Anthony J. Mihalic (returned to CONUS early, not replaced)
BMC William A. Garnett
BM1 Jerry L. Todd
HM1 Lowell E. "Bo" Burwell
BM1 James F. Finley
SM2 Michael D. Kelley
GMG2 Dennis H. Johnson
SFP2 Frederick J. Keener
BM2 William A. McCarthy
BM3 William F. Beebe
QM3 Laurence F. Rich
YN3 Gary S. Wilson
CYN3 Robert H. Gammell
EM3 Mark T. Baum
x
Tim
Hynds, Sioux City Journal
Chan Follen, sister of fallen U.S.Navy Petty Officer 1st Class John
Douangdara, stands Tuesday with a stature honoring her brother and his
K9, Bart, at the South Sioux City Public Works offices. The
Statue, created by California sculptor Susan Bahary, will be officially
unveiled during a ceremony Monday at the city's John Douangdara Memorial
War K9 Park. Douangdara and Bart died in a 2011 helicopter crash in
Afghanistan. Douangdara was one of 29 warriors lost during a helicopter attack
by the Taliban in Afghanistan in August 2011.
Jonathan
H. Kaloust, US Navy SEAL Killed And At Least Five Others Injured In Training Accident
Paul Szoldra and Michael Kelley | May 17, 2013,
Widow of 'American Sniper' Navy SEAL
speaks at NRA convention
Published May 05, 2013
142nd NRA Convention
Dave and Rio...Something for your archives: Winning PAC Fleet 1985 SEAL Team 5 Small Command Rifle and Pistol
Team Pictured right to left: PO 2 Gordon Evans PO 2 Jerry Parnin Lt jg Dave Courtney PO 3 Mike Bay LCDR RJ Thomas
PO 3 Jerry McCaully (KIA Iraq) SCPO Chuck Miller PO 3 Jessie
rt-lt: Gordon Evans , Jerry Parnin, Dave Courtney, Mike Bay, R.J. Thomas, Jerry McCaully, Chuck Miller, Jessie
As you can see I wasn't wearing my Distinguished Pistol badge despite having distinguished with
the short gun the year before (as far as I know, I'm the only Double Distinguished Navy shooter who Distinguished with
the Rifle as Enlisted and Pistol as a Lt) it took them two years to get me the DP Badge. I was the first UDT/SEAL to
Distinguish and the first to Double Distinguish. I made the Olympic trials with the Shotgun (Bunker was my chance to
triple Distinguish) but had to deploy with my platoon...wouldn't have mattered anyway...we boycotted the Olympics
that year. We have had several guys in the Teams Distinguish with the Rifle and Pistol and a couple Double Distinguish..
.I like to think that is my legacy at the Teams...I taught those fine young men how to shoot.
Out here, RJT
Pete Slempa was the MCPOC at ST1 when I arrived as an FNG. He was tough
but fair. He the epitome of the Quiet Professional.
John Chalus
John Darlowe Boswell, a true American folksinger, died
Saturday, March 23, at the age of 69, from complications of
pneumonia. John was born March 2, 1944 in Lubbock. He
attended Lubbock High School and Texas Tech University. He
was an assistant band instructor. John served in the Navy in
Vietnam from 1967 to 1970 on Underwater Demolition Team
ELEVEN as a frogman, and later was on the Apollo Ten capsule
recovery team. John spent several years in Hawaii as a scuba
diving instructor. John volunteered for duty with the
Underwater Demolition Teams and underwent the training
during 1967-1968. He then took advanced diving training with
mixed gas; in 1968 he graduated from the US Army Airborne
Training at Fort Benning Georgia and two survival schools
including "JEST" (Jungle Environment Survival
Training). During 1968-1969 he was the Officer-in-Charge of
a swimmer reconnaissance group that conducted clandestine
reconnaissance missions in enemy territory. He led as many
as four missions in a single day. During this time he earned
the respect of men and of commanding officers of the
commands he interacted with. He retained the loyalty and
friendship of the men he led throughout his life. When
members of the Underwater Demolition Teams and SEAL Teams
gather, John's name is mentioned with high regard. John
spent over 30 years traveling the entire U.S. and half of
Canada making his living as a folksinger and doing “odd
jobs” while living in his truck Old Blue. In his
On Thu, Nov 10, 2011 Mark Lookabaugh
mailto: mark_lookabaugh [at] att.net wrote:
Hi Doc,
Hope you are well.
Was updating my USS Brewton site today, looking at the pictures and
re-reading again about all the things you two went through together in
Vietnam.
Just wanted to say thanks again for everything you have done for our
country, and for everything you've done to help everyone learn about
and remember those times. You've given a lot, more than your fair
share, and it is appreciated.
Our country is very lucky to have men like you who are willing to
serve hard and give everything to protect us. I consider myself lucky
to call you my friend. If there is ever anything I can do for you to
help repay the debt in any small way, please let me know.
Hope you have a wonderful Veteran's Day.
Your friend,
Mark Lookabaugh
http://www.ussbrewton.com/book.
Doc Rioja' Note:
Thank you for your service. And let me know when the next BREWTON
reunion and if it is not too far, i may attend. Doc Riojas Thank you
very much Mark.
Tom Keith was on that Patrol, he remembers a lot and he also
collaborated with some of the SEALs that are still alive before
writing his book.
On 11/11/2011 Erasmo "Doc" Riojas wrote:
thank you Mark.] I am so pleased that the USS Brewton is still being
celebrated. I turned 80 yo this year. I never thought i would live
this long. LOOK: the story of Bubba Brewton in 'nam: SEAL Warrior: The
Only Easy Day Was Yesterday http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/B005CDV5OA/ref=sib_dp_pt#reader-link
J. David Heward, 96 SCARBOROUGH --
J. David Heward, 96, of Sebago Lake and South Paris, passed away on April 3, 2013. He was born on June 24, 1916, in Yarmouth, the son of Albert and Angeline Heward. Dave served in WWII and the Korean War. He was very proud of being in Naval Combat Demolition units that later became the Navy SEALs.
Who is Al Horner?..
.BUD/S 45-East Coast, UDT 21,
Team Leader Leap Frogs (UI with Hershel and Norm Olson),
OIC first SDV Group East Coast (UI with Tom Winter) ,
now Pres North Central UDT/SEAL Chapter.
Dick Payne
to me Chief
Thanks for your reply. You mention posting some pictures and story.
Did you find my Picasa web site?
That is an open site with anybody free to see it (although I
originally prepared it for my family) so you have my OK. There is not
much information available on the Internet about the Korean War. I
like to spread the word about it. Pretty soon there will not be many
of us left to do that.
Did you know Lt. George Van Sant? He was a big, tall guy, maybe
6'5"--pants legs always above his field shoe tops. He was my 2nd
Plt. Leader when I arrived in Korea in July, 1952. I just heard he had
passed on a few days ago. He wrote a book, his memoirs, "Taking
On The Burden Of History", which does an excellent job of
describing the fighting in 1952 for the Marines. My memory of events
differs from his in some instances but, all in all, an interesting
account. He really slams the Battalion commander for needlessly
getting Marines killed.
Sadly, too many of our Korean War comrades are leaving us. I attended
services today for a former Dog 2/1 Marine. About ten years ago I
organized bi-monthly luncheons for the former members of 2/1 that live
in the Puget Sound region. We started with about 15 to 20 Marines and
Corpsman. Now we are really lucky to get five and usually have just
three or four that meet due to deaths and the loss of mobility.
I appreciate having your phone number, but my hearing is very bad--too
many artillery and mortar shells too close plus a hand grenade which
exploded just next to me caused the problem according to the VA. My VA
hearing aids do not work well with telephone receivers.
Where did you end up after the 3rd MarDiv went to Japan?
The last entry Ancestry.com shows for you is:
Name: Erasmo Riojas Muster Date: Aug 1953 Rank: E4 Station: Transients
2D Prov Cas Bn Force Troops Fmf Pac Camp Pendleton Calif, Mri Camp
Pendleton
We are both listed on the same page of the muster roll for the outfit.
Did you also end up at Camp Lejeune? Or as I always think of it,
"Swamp Lagoon". Although I ended up with some good duty
there (TAD to Sick Call at the Camp Dispensary) and had been promised
the next Med Cruise, I was sure happy to be sent to a ship home-ported
at Brooklyn Navy Yard. Prior to my FMF time I had been at St. Albans
Naval Hospital so was familiar with the area.
A quick story. I served on a Hydrographic Survey Ship, the USS Maury,
AGS 16--a part of the working Navy. I think I was the only sailor on
the ship with combat experience. During the first inspection I stood
on ship the captain said, " I see you have a Purple Heart. How
did you get that?" I replied, " I served as a Navy Corpsman
with the 1st Marine Division in Korea, Sir." He smiled, nodded
his head and walked on. Every inspection after that he always nodded
his head and smiled at me as he walked past. Normally he was a real
stickler at inspection. I pushed things. I used to go without shaving
for a couple of days, wear an unpressed uniform, un-shined shoes, etc.
Always a nod and smile to me while other sailors were having their
names taken. I did not push him too far, but played the game of
staying at the edge.
I had many interesting experiences with the Navy and enjoyed my time
there, but since I primarily tell Marine stories, go to Marine
Reunions and events, visit with Marines, wear a Marine cap, and so on
my wife thinks of me as being a Marine. I do not know how she will
react if they hold a US Navy service for me at the national cemetery
when my time comes. I need to check into that.
Regards
Dick Payne
Hi Doc,
I saw this call for help for Minh and I thought I better respond. I
spent my 2nd tour in My Tho where I had the good fortune to have Minh
as my interpreter and friend for 6 months. I sent some money when the
teams called for assistance to get Minh and his family over here so
that they could live out their days in the comfort of America and
among friends.
I was disappointed, as I'm sure everyone was, that the red
tape of immigration services got in his way. He was a patriot and a
great friend to all SEALS. I am going to send you some money for Minh
but I need an address and information as to how to make out the check.
Frank Cleary told me your great story that you got out of the
Navy/Teams and went to med school and now your are practicing medicine
- what an absolutely great story!. What type of medicine are you
practicing? Now that I am in my "later years" I may need
your services.
I hope to hear from you soon
Bill Bishop
to wjdsfm, jhojr, Pbrvet6869, PBR534, RivDiv534, amay, Linecmdr, Lobstafish, MarvinMcFeaters, cpolynch, patrick.lee, Chinhle, jconnorton, tpac, richard.g.morg., sfbwr, rfriedman, geoleo, gsd.hawaii, peter, frank.sands, thodsdon, debra.mcguire, bnaples, johnmerson
Loving House Project
Everybody deserves a home
Dear friends,
I recently returned from My Tho, Vietnam where I
participated in the dedication of ten more new homes for
poor veteran families. The families, the local
government, Joe Hursey and I once again thank you for
your meaningful donations--every penny of which went
directly for labor and materials!
Like our trip in 2012, the project was highly
successful. All of the families chosen were extremely
poor, yet dedicated to working hard. Most had family
members with health issues that had led to their not
being able to afford decent living conditions. Attached
are a few pictures of some of the new homes, the
families and the local government. There were many
touching moments during these dedication ceremonies:
•One new home now has four generations living
together, finally, under a solid roof. The grandmother
and grandfather are both in their 90s. •During three
of the dedications, poor neighbors humbly came forward
with small envelopes containing cash donations. •One
family member, Dien, built the entire house himself.
Your contributions provided all the materials. •Cam
shook my hands with tears in his eyes. His hands, like
most working family members’, were hard and callused
from years of labor in the rice fields and at
construction sites. •
With grateful tears in his eyes, the District Leader
in Go Cong asked me to thank you all, personally, for
your generous contributions. We built eight of the new
homes in his District--one of the poorest in the
province.
We want to build ten additional homes in 2014! Mr. Tinh,
National Assembly member in My Tho Province, has asked
us to build ALL of the new homes in the District of Tan
Phu Dong, a group of several narrow islands at the mouth
of the Mekong River that have been affected by climate
change. This is the poorest district in the province and
one of the poorest in the entire Mekong Delta.
We once again ask you to give generously to provide some
of the poor of Tan Phu Dong with solid roofs,
electricity, running water and safe shelter to help
strengthen and sustain their families. We will be in
touch in the months ahead to give you more details and
remind you of this opportunity to give back to the poor
of Vietnam.
Please specify that your gift is for “Vietnam
housing” and mail your tax deductible contribution to:
The Loving House Project
With countless thanks and warmest regards, Cám on,
John J. Donovan
On Tue, Apr 16, 2013 at 8:15 PM, Dave Rogers <daver1235711@yahoo.com>
wrote:
Doc Rio,
I do not believe we have ever met, but as I do occasionally
I googled my own name just to see what is floating 'out
there' about me and stumbled upon your page, on which my
picture appears four times (two of me, on of class 150 and
my platoon in Panama during invasion.)
Just wanted to say thanks. Strange to find myself there, but looking at the company I am keeping on your page, I am highly honored to appear there, even if it was just random chance that you came across my pictures.
Dave Rogers
Chris Bent and Ray at Tortugas
Navy Frogman, Need an ID !
REALITY
CHECK
This information is presented on other web sites, both official and
unofficial, at various sites around the Internet. It is gathered here
in one place for those who have not had the time or opportunity to
chase it all down.
MANPOWER – The REAL Numbers
Since 1943 (during World War II) there have only been about 17,800 men
who have served in “operator” billets within the Naval Special
Warfare community. This number includes approximately 2,200-2,400 men
who are currently serving on active duty, as well as all of the men
who served with the various units that were precursors to today’s
SEAL Teams, going all the way back to the earliest days of WWII and
the Naval Amphibious Scouts and Raiders (S&R), the Naval Combat
Demolitions Units (NCDUs), the Underwater Demolition Units (UDUs), and
the Underwater Demolition Teams (UDTs).
In addition to the men currently serving on active duty, there are
only about 7,000 living "former" SEALs. Our nation's
population is roughly 330 MILLION. That means that there is one (1)
living "former" Navy SEAL for every 47 THOUSAND American
citizens. Although there are higher numbers of "former" Navy
SEALs residing in urban areas closest to east, west, and Gulf Coast
Naval bases and stations, it is still highly unlikely that you will
encounter a real Navy SEAL in person. You have far greater chances of
meeting or working beside a former professional NFL football player, a
professional "big league" baseball player or a famous
politician than you have of ever encountering a real Navy SEAL.
BUD/S TRAINING – How Many, How Often, How Long
First and foremost the only men who can serve as US Navy SEALs are
members of the US Navy. With the exception of a scant few specially
selected foreign military men, the only people who may attend SEAL
training are US Navy sailors. Those foreign military men do NOT
participate in any supplemental or secondary SEAL training, they NEVER
receive a designation as a US Navy SEAL, and they are NOT authorized
to wear the US Navy SEAL insignia. Those foreign military men return
to their home nations and carry the lessons they learned in SEAL
training back to their comrades in arms. Despite false claims made by
countless imposters to the contrary, members of other branches of the
US Armed Forces have NOT historically been eligible to attend SEAL
training. In 2008 a decision was made to open up access to the SEAL
program to select members of the US Coast Guard. By the end of 2008
only five (5) men had been selected for the training - four (4)
officers and one (1) enlisted man. In 2011 the experimental
"exchange program" was shut down by the USCG, with only a
handful of USCG men making it through training into the SEAL Teams.
Having the training program, those successful USCG graduates will
serve in the US NAVY as members of a SEAL Team for the duration of the
obligated service (4yr 4 mos) which is a part of that training program
contract. Thereafter they will have an option of returning to the USCG.
Navy Basic Training (Boot Camp) takes about 3 months. After boot camp,
a man who is destined for SEAL training may be sent to rate training
– formal schooling in one of numerous areas of technical
specialization that lasts from 5 to 14 weeks – prior to his
reporting to Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training at the
Naval Special Warfare Center (NSWC) in Coronado, California. Many
sailors who wish to attend SEAL training, and who have passed the
rigid prerequisite screening test, still spend a year or more in the
regular fleet before they are transferred to the NSWC for training.
Only about 2 men out of every 100 who take initial physical screening
tests for the SEAL training program manage to complete it with scores
sufficient to result in assignment to BUD/S.
BUD/S training classes are very limited, with only about four classes
convening each calendar year. Each class normally convenes with 150 or
more men. Training lasts for 28 weeks, and the attrition rate is
usually between 65% and 80%. While successful completion of BUD/S
training is an absolute prerequisite to becoming a US Navy SEAL,
graduation from BUD/S does not automatically qualify a man as a SEAL.
Those who voluntarily drop out of the program or who are disqualified
for any reason will return to the regular Navy fleet and be assigned
duties in the skill rating which they acquired prior to attending
BUD/S.
Following BUD/S training, graduates remain attached to the NSWC in
Coronado while they complete a secondary training program currently
known as SEAL Qualification Training (SQT). During the first decade
and a half of the SEAL Team's existence that secondary training was
actually conducted under the direction of the SEAL Team to which a man
had been assigned upon completing training. After a new BUD/S graduate
reported to the SEAL Team he underwent additional training which
lasted approximately six months. During that time period the new man
was "on probation" and did not officially hold full SEAL
credentials. At the end of that supplemental training program and
period of probation, the new man was evaluated by his superiors. If
deemed physically and mentally suited for SEAL Team duty and if he had
successfully completed all of the secondary training program, the new
man was officially granted SEAL status. An entry was made in his
Personnel Record designating him as a "COMBATANT SWIMMER
(SEAL)" and his Naval Enlisted Classification (NEC) code was
changed to reflect that new status. At that point he was a
fully-credentialed Navy SEAL.
SEAL QUALIFICATION TRAINING (SQT)
The 'old way' of handling secondary training caused new BUD/S
graduates to be listed on the manpower roster of the SEAL Team, but
prevented them being utilized by that Team until they had successfully
completed the full secondary training program, and the probation
period. The SEAL Team manpower roster may have been full, but not all
of the men listed there could be deployed as fully-trained SEALs. This
handicapped the SEAL Teams and effectively left them shorthanded,
despite a full manpower roster. To remedy this situation, the
secondary training effort was relocated to the Naval Special Warfare
Center (where BUD/S is conducted). The new BUD/S graduates would now
complete their secondary training and probation period, and became
fully-credentialed SEALs before ever being assigned to a SEAL Team.
This meant that every man assigned to a SEAL Team was fully qualified
and could be utilized by the command without waiting.
The 15-week SQT program includes Basic Airborne (Parachute) Training
at the US Army’s Fort Benning, Georgia, as well as numerous other
courses involving specialized skills and equipment. Like BUD/S, there
is no guarantee that all of the men who enter SQT will successfully
complete the program. At the end of SQT training, each graduate
receives his SEAL Trident breast insignia, and his personal military
record is updated to show he is officially designated as a US Navy
SEAL. Each man's skill rating is then changed from whatever it was
when he entered training to SPECIAL WARFARE OPERATOR or
"SO". Each graduate then receives an assignment to one of
the various SEAL Teams within the US Navy.
Many SEAL imposters claim to have attended “secret SEAL training”
and offer this as a reason why there are no records of their claimed
service. In reality, the BUD/S training program is completely
unclassified. While there are other training steps (as described
above) that must be completed on the path to becoming a fully
qualified US Navy SEAL, BUD/S training is the first and most vital,
and that training course is totally unclassified.
Without having first completed BUD/S training, a man cannot go on to
attend SQT or any additional courses, and absolutely cannot become a
US Navy SEAL. There are no exceptions and no “special cases”.
There are no special “tests” that a man can take in order to
bypass BUD/S training, there are no “short courses”, and no one is
sent directly from the regular Navy fleet to the SEAL Teams. Every man
who wishes to be a SEAL must successfully complete the entire BUD/S
training program, and then must successfully complete the entire SQT
program.
Before any secret missions are undertaken every man who participates
in “classified ops” has to have already successfully completed
BUD/S training, and SQT, including Jump School, SERE School, Winter
Movement training, Close Quarters Combat, and dozens of other physical
and technical training courses. The Navy maintains records of ALL of
the men who go through BUD/S and SQT, and ALL of the classes that
these men attend, and the units to which they are ultimately assigned.
Specifics about combat operations are not normally a part of a man’s
military record (unless as description of some particular action is
included in an award or commendation). Regular military personnel
records accurately track what schools a man has completed and what
rank he has achieved. These records are readily available from the
National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri and may be
obtained under the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA).
From the day he first reports for BUD/S training to the day a man is
ready to deploy as a fully trained, fully integrated member of an
operational SEAL platoon, requires a bare minimum of 18 months.
Depending on the amount of time between various training classes and
schools, it can very often take two full calendar years or more to
complete the process. Having spent considerable time and money to
train a man for duty as a SEAL, the Navy expects a return on the
investment. Therefore, once a man has successfully graduated from SEAL
training, he is contractually obligated to serve for a specific number
of years as an active duty SEAL before he may elect to leave the Teams
and return to the fleet, or opt to leave the Navy entirely. This
obligation may be shortened, of course, by injury or medical
circumstances.
SECRET “SEALED” RECORDS – A Movie Myth
Anyone claiming that their records have been “sealed” because they
contain information about their “classified missions” is making a
completely false statement. As noted above, individual “missions”
or combat assignments are NOT normally recorded or referenced in any
man’s service record unless they form part of a commendation or
award statement. There may be notations relating to “deployments”
(these are often referred to as “tours”), but NEVER to any
individual “missions”. Deployments take the form of a collective
assignment for all members of a given SEAL platoon and generally last
4 to 6 months. These deployments amount to temporary assignments,
either to a particular area of operations or aboard a naval vessel.
Anyone claiming that records of their service as a SEAL have been
destroyed “to protect them from repercussions” or that portions of
their records pertaining to SEAL service have been deleted “to
uphold National Security”, is making a completely false statement.
Such claims are invariably used in the motion picture industry to
heighten the “secret agent” aspects of a movie, but such claims
bear little or no resemblance to the factual world of the real US Navy
SEALs.
The Navy doesn't seal personnel records to prevent revelation of their
classified contents - that only happens in pulp fiction - or the
movies! NO records of SEAL training have been purposely or
accidentally destroyed by fire or other means. If you are told that
records were burned up in a fire at the National Personnel Records
Center, you should know that there was a fire at that facility in
1973, however, the fire only burned a relatively small number of Army
and Air Force records. You can read about this fire and the damages
which resulted at:
www.archives.gov/facilities/mo/st_louis/military_personnel_records/fire_1973.html
THE SEAL DATABASE
The SEAL Database currently lists slightly more than 17,900 men, of
whom (as noted above) about 2,400 are currently on active duty. That
SEAL Database is a product of the Naval Special Warfare Archives, and
while it is not “classified”, it is most certainly considered to
be “extremely sensitive” information and is not available for
general distribution or public dissemination. The SEAL Database spans
the time from early 1943, during WWII, to the present day. Information
related to the Naval Special Warfare units which served in the very
earliest days of WWII is held by the Naval Special Warfare Archives
and the UDT-SEAL Association. There is no other more complete resource
regarding the men who have successfully completed UDT/SEAL training,
and it is certainly the best and most accurate method of verifying an
authentic, genuine US Navy SEAL. This is the same database that SEALs
use for authentication among themselves when they are not known to
each other, and it is recognized by the UDT-SEAL Association, the UDT-SEAL Museum, and the US NAVY as a complete and comprehensive
listing of Naval Special Warfare members available.
The SEAL database is thoroughly researched and based on original US
Navy records and documentation dating from the present back to the
early 1940's. Principal in the compilation of the database are the
graduation records for the Navy’s UDTR/UDTRA, the older acronyms for
the training program which is now known as Basic Underwater
Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training program. As each new class graduates
from BUD/S training and the subsequent SQT training course, their
names are added to the database.
The SEAL database was created by a private, non-governmental
organization (the Naval Special Warfare Archives). While a copy of
this database was presented to the US Navy for their own use, and they
have expanded upon many of the information fields in that file, the
original database is still held in private hands, and has never been
subject to any manipulations by the Department of Defense. SEALs who
have been removed from the Teams or who have had their SEAL status
revoked are listed in the database along with those men whose service
is exemplary. Records are never deleted or altered, and they are not
subject to any control or censure by US government or US naval
authorities. The SEAL database contains the names of those who have
successfully completed the BUD/S program and SQT; if a man’s name is
not listed in the database, then he did NOT complete SEAL training…
and he is not a US Navy SEAL. The SEAL database is regularly updated
with the names of those who have successfully completed training, and
who are subsequently assigned to duty with one of the SEAL Teams.
It is important to note - and it cannot be overstated - that it is
possible for a man to successfully complete BUD/S training and still
NOT be a US Navy SEAL. Although the vast majority of men who complete
BUD/S training do, in fact, go on to successfully complete the
supplemental SEAL QUALIFICATION TRAINING course (SQT) and all of the
additional training courses needed to achieve SEAL status, there have
been and will continue to be a very few men who have not completed all
of those programs/steps, and who never become SEALs. The last step to
becoming a SEAL is the peer review and the award of SEAL OPERATOR
status. For enlisted men this includes a formal assignment of the
skill rating SO (Special warfare Operator), and the associated Naval
Enlisted Classification (NEC) code. For officers this includes a
formal designation as a Navy Special Warfare Officer, and the
assignment of the associated Naval Officer Billet Code (NOBC).
VIETNAM
Although there were a very few individual SEALs acting as military
advisors in Vietnam as early as 1962, the FIRST deployment of SEALs as
combat forces did not take place until February 1966.
The last full SEAL platoon deployed to the Republic of Vietnam in
1971, and returned to the United States about 6 months later.
Thereafter, only seasoned, experienced SEAL combat veterans were sent
to Vietnam, singly or in pairs, acting as military advisors.
The LAST SEALs serving in Vietnam were returned to the US in November
1972. The Paris Peace Accords were signed in January 1973, stipulating
a mutual cessation of hostilities, and an exchange of POWs. The last
US combat troops (from all branches of US armed forces) left Vietnam
and returned to the United States on 29 March 1973. Thereafter the
only US military forces in Vietnam were the mere handful of US Marines
officially assigned as the security force at the US Embassy in Saigon.
The Vietnam War was at an end for all US combat forces. Only a small
diplomatic embassy staff remained in Saigon.
On 30 April 1975 - two full years after all US combat forces left
Vietnam - the North Vietnamese forces invaded Saigon (in direct
violation of their agreements as stipulated in the Paris Peace
Accords). With the imminent threat of being overrun by NVA forces, the
US Embassy was evacuated… officially ending the US diplomatic
presence in Vietnam.
There were a grand total of no more than about 250 SEALs sent to
Vietnam, and only about 750 UDT “Frogmen” who served in the
Republic of Vietnam or the coastal waters immediately offshore during
the entire time span of the Vietnam War from 1962 to 1973. The Platoon
designations, dates of deployment, and duration of deployments are
known factors. Anyone claiming to be a SEAL during the Vietnam
conflict should be able to easily provide this information. While
specifics about duty activities during such deployments may be
considered “sensitive”, the facts regarding a deploying unit’s
identification, deployment start and end dates, and duration of
deployment are NOT classified and can be quickly verified.
POST VIETNAM ERA
From the end of the Vietnam War (for US forces) in January 1973 until
the military actions conducted on the Caribbean island of Grenada in
October 1983, there were very few Navy SEALs who saw any sort of
combat. BUD/S Training continued to turn out graduates, secondary
training was conducted to create credentialed SEALs, and additional,
supplemental training programs in various specialized skills were
carried on continuously. Funding was greatly reduced, and SEALs often
paid their own travel expenses in order to attend supplemental
training programs around the country. An entire decade of Navy SEALs
was fully and completely trained for war, but there was no war to
carry out. Some few Navy SEALs were tasked with assignments in foreign
locations, assisting other branches of the military, but the steady
platoon deployments of the Vietnam era were at an end... at least
temporarily.
IMPOSTER’S CLAIMS
As noted above, it is quite common for those making fraudulent SEAL
claims – especially claims involving extraordinary combat heroics
– to cite a “secret” training class or “secret mission” as
an explanation for the lack of military documentation to back up their
stories. Not being satisfied with SEAL claims alone, these imposters
often make additional claims of other very specialized skills or
assignments (sniper, courier, martial arts instructor, etc), or of
participation in covert operations for the CIA or other “shadowy”
government agencies. These totally bogus claims are made in order to
emphasize the “ultra-secret” nature of the work they claim to have
done, to underline their supposedly exceptional value as an
“elite” service member, and to underscore their claims regarding
the “extremely classified” and “inaccessible” nature of their
military records.
The overall intention, of course, is to convey to the listener the
idea that the person making the statements is not only an
“extraordinary and deadly warrior”, but also one of the select few
persons the government has decided to trust with the most sensitive,
highly classified information… all in an effort to make the
storyteller appear “better” or "superior" to those to
whom he tells his tall tales.
SEALS ARE NOT SPIES
Readers are reminded that the acronym “SEAL” is a composite of
three words - Sea, Air, and Land – the three environments within
which the men of the SEAL Teams are trained to operate. Contrary to
what many SEAL imposters would like you to believe, the acronym
“SEAL” is NOT a composite of the words “Secret” “Agent”
“Lad”! SEALs are military men, generally operating as a cohesive
unit – a TEAM - assigned to carry out legitimate (although often
covert) military assignments. They are not running around
individually, acting like spies, playing at being “James Bond in
uniform”, or carrying out any of the outrageous crap depicted on TV
and the movie screen. All too many of the bogus stories told by SEAL
imposters are based upon themes played out in spy novels and movies
– tales of daring lone operatives functioning as spies and/or
assassins far behind enemy lines. The SEAL imposters are counting on
the idea that civilians don’t know the real truth about SEAL duty,
and they are desperately hoping that listeners will believe stories
which sound like those depicted in thrilling and sensational movies.
INDISCRIMINANT KILLINGS – Another Myth
A huge number of the tales told by imposters include claims of having
performed heinous acts such as killing innocent women or children.
Invariably such claims are intended to convey a mixed message to the
listener… the story teller describes himself as being “sickened by
what he was required to do”, and often cites his personal disgust as
the reason he was “thrown out of the Teams”… and the reason that
all records of his service were erased. At the same time, by telling
such stories, the SEAL imposter communicates to his listeners the idea
that he is a violent, dangerous, and cold-blooded individual, that he
(supposedly) WAS willing to kill innocent women and children when
called upon to do so, and that because he is such a dangerous and
efficient killer, he is a person to whom great deference and respect
should be shown.
-SEALs ARE sailors serving in the US Navy – not soldiers, not
airmen, not coast guardsmen, and not marines…
-SEALs ARE highly trained, highly intelligent, extremely physically
fit warriors…
-SEALs ARE quiet, extremely self-confident professionals, not
generally given to bragging or threatening…
-SEALs ARE military men, subject to the restrictions and stipulations
of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ)…
-SEALs ARE NOT CIA “James Bond” super spy type operatives
single-handedly carrying out hair raising ultra-secret “missions”
against enemy governments and forces…
-SEALs ARE NOT indiscriminate killers, standing knee deep in grenade
pins and spent cartridge casings, wielding bloody combat knives,
assuming theatrical martial arts poses, and insisting that people call
them by insipid nicknames, supposedly official “code names”, or
ridiculously fabricated “call signs” such as “Creeping Death”,
“Death Merchant”, “the Angry Gorilla”, “Avenger”, or
“Lone Wolf”…
-SEALs ARE NOT war criminals committing indiscriminate mayhem and
heinous acts of mass murder at the ultra-secret behest of their
government, or piling up “body counts” in the hundreds or even
thousands.
WEEKEND MISSIONS and SURGICALLY IMPLANTED MICROCHIPS
Many SEAL imposters have convinced their listeners that they are
actually secret operatives for the US government, participating in
exciting, life-threatening covert actions around the world… but only
on the weekends! Many claim that while they go about their normal
work-a-day jobs they are also in weekly or even daily contact with
government authorities, waiting for crucial assignments that will take
them to far lands and high adventure. They often cite the names of
government officials currently mentioned in the news media as a way of
adding a sense of realism to their false claims. These tall tales
generally include claims of “leave-on-Friday-return-on-Sunday”
secret missions that make James Bond movies look like gentle nursery
tales. Several SEAL imposters have even added fantastic claims of the
government surgically implanting microchips and or long distance
communications devices in their bodies, ostensibly so they are never
out of touch and can always be located by their “government
handlers”. Of course they also claim that the surgery was so
skillfully accomplished that no scarring or evidence of the surgeries
remains to betray their existence.
There have been speculative documentary shows about the idea of
implanting microchips bearing emergency medical information in people
who have unusual medical conditions or who are under high health
risks, but this is not routinely done with US Navy SEALs. Real Navy
SEALs don’t have “GPS locator chips” surgically tucked away in
the muscles of their body against the possibility that they become
separated from their unit behind enemy lines. It happens in the
movies, but not in real life.
The truth is that only fully active duty members of the US Navy can be
Navy SEALs. They go to work at a military base or location on a daily
basis. They muster and train daily, follow a military schedule, wear
military uniforms, stand rotating military watches, and suffer through
regular uniform inspections… just like all the other members of all
the other branches of the US military armed forces.
The only “civilian SEALs” in existence are member of the US Naval
Reserves. They attend regular reserve unit drill weekends once a
month, and spend two weeks a year on Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA).
If a SEAL is serving in harm’s way, it’s because he is on active
duty. If he is a reservist, then he must first be called to active
duty BEFORE he is sent into harm’s way.
He will have printed orders to report for duty, uniforms and equipment
allotments, and very specific schedules to which he must adhere. If a
member of a SEAL reserve unit is called to active duty, it won’t be
for just a weekend, it will be for an extended period of time (6
months, 1 year, 2 years, etc), and it will be as a result of a
MOBILIZATION order affecting most or all of the members of his reserve
unit.
“SADDAM IN THE GUN SIGHTS”… and WHAT MAKES A SEAL DIFFERENT
One of the most frequently offered stories told by SEAL imposters is
the claim of having had Saddam Hussein, or Osama bin Laden, or
Mohammar Quadaffi (or some other high profile, newsworthy dictator) in
their gun sights, but not being given “green light authorization to
shoot”... as if SEALs in combat situations somehow need to
"phone home" for permission to pull a trigger!
More than half of what separates SEALs from other military men is what
is between their ears. SEALs are highly intelligent, and their
training emphasizes a reliance on their intelligence and initiative to
do their jobs without having to call for decisions from higher
authority. The situations under which SEALs operate often make such
contact with higher authority virtually impossible.
In war movies a constant dialog takes place between the main
characters, either through verbal discussions between buddies or
constant radio calls to "HQ". This is unrealistic, but it is
necessary to keep the audience informed about what is going on, and to
move the plot forward. In contrast to such an artificial situation,
real SEALs hardly ever speak when on an operation. Hand and arm
signals used by the SEALs carry as much information as sign language
for the deaf. The primary mission of the SEAL Teams is intelligence
gathering; absolute stealth and silence is required under such
circumstances. Many SEAL assignments are carried out without a single
word ever being uttered... or a single shot being fired.
AWARDS AND CITATIONS
To date there have only been three (3) living members of the Naval
Special Warfare community who have been awarded the Medal Of Honor
(sometimes called the "Congressional Medal of Honor"). All
three of those men served during the Vietnam War. Those three men are
Robert Kerrey (a former US Senator for the state of Arizona and former
Presidential candidate), Thomas Norris, and Michael Thornton. In fact,
Mike Thornton’s Medal Of Honor was the last one awarded to any
member of any branch of the US Armed Forces for combat action in
Vietnam, and it is also the most recent Medal Of Honor awarded to any
living member of the US Navy.
Since the end of the Vietnam War there have been two (2) Medals Of
Honor awarded POSTHUMOUSLY to US Army Snipers who gave their lives
while attempting to save the life of a downed flier during the famous
“Blackhawk Down” event in Mogadishu, Somali
There were no Medals Of Honor awarded to any member of any branch of
the US Armed Forces for actions during operation Desert Shield/Desert
Storm (1990-1991).
Navy SEAL Lt. Michael P Murphy was awarded the Medal Of Honor
POSTHUMOUSLY for his actions during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM
(Afghanistan) in June 2005. The CMOH was presented to Lt. Murphy's
parents by President Bush on 22 November 2007.
Navy SEAL Petty Officer Michael Monsoor was awarded the Medal Of Honor
POSTHUMOUSLY for his actions during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM in
September 2006. The CMOH was presented to Petty Officer Monsoor's
parents by President Bush on 8 April 2008.
There is no such thing as a secret award ceremony. At the present time
(2008) there are fewer than 140 living recipients of the Medal of
Honor. All awards of the Medal Of Honor are a matter of public record.
The detailed citations for all Medal Of Honor awards may be viewed
online at http://www.history.army.mil/moh.html.
Under Title 18, Section 704, of the United States Code, an amended by
the provisions of the STOLEN VALOR ACT of 2005, it is a federal
offense to falsely claim to have received the MOH or other medals of
valor. This includes the making of false VERBAL claims. The penalties
for violation of this statute include fines up to $10,000 and/or up to
one year in prison.
Second only to the Medal Of Honor is the Navy Cross. Only a handful of
awards of the Navy Cross have been made since the end of the Vietnam
War.
In the years following the end of the Vietnam War, a Navy Cross was
awarded posthumously to Navy SEAL Engineman Chief Petty Officer Donald
McFaul who was killed in combat in Panama in December of 1989.
No Navy Crosses were awarded for actions in operation Desert
Shield/Desert Storm (1990-1991).
Several Navy Crosses have been awarded to Navy SEALs for actions
taking place during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (Afghanistan) and
Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.
POW CLAIMS – Completely False
Another popular claim made by SEAL imposters is that of being a former
prisoner of war. Often such claims are accompanied by claims of being
the “only survivor of my unit”. Of course this particular tactic
is intended to elicit extreme sympathy for the person claiming to be a
SEAL POW, and at the same time it is intended to eliminate any
possibility of there being someone who can deny the claims.
The names of all US military personnel who have ever been held as a
Prisoner of War are a matter of record, and the POW Network (www.pownetwork.org)
can quickly and accurately verify or deny ANY claims of POW status.
The absolute truth is that there have NEVER been any UDT Frogmen or
SEALs captured, detained, or held as prisoners of war... not in ANY
war, not EVER!
In March 2002 during OPERATION ANACONDA in Afghanistan's Shahikot
Valley, an a ridge designated as Takur Ghar, Navy SEAL ABH1 Neil
Christopher Roberts was blown out the back of a helicopter during an
aborted attack when the aircraft was struck by several Rocket
Propelled Grenades. While the aircraft managed a 'controlled crash'
many hundred of yards down the mountain, the occupants were initially
unaware that Roberts was missing. When a head count revealed his
absence a rescue effort was undertaken involving US forces from
several branches of service. The incident was observed by an overhead
platform - an unmanned aerial vehicle with cameras (but no armament).
Via that UAV's cameras Roberts was seen to engage the enemy for a time
before being killed by them. His body was dragged some distance to a
location where it seemed obvious that the enemy hoped it would act as
"bait" for rescuers. At least two enemy combatants were seen
to stand over Robert's body, desecrate it with knife slashes, and
shoot it in the head. The initial reports offered by the news media
included claims that an American military man had been captured and
then executed. The truth is that ABH1 Roberts was KILLED IN ACTION
before the enemy combatants could reach his location. His dead body
was subsequently mutilated after the fact and dragged to a location
where it was could more conveniently act as bait for would-be American
rescuers. Some media organizations continue to reprint or reissue the
wording of their original press releases from 2002 wherein it was
erroneously reported that Roberts was captured, held as POW, and then
executed. Presumably these statements are intended to garner greater
shock from readers than the actual horrific details; the motivations
for repeating these stories appear to vary - some are motivated by
anti-war intentions, some by political agendas. Some actually appear
to be motivated by inter-service rivalries which paint the SEALs/Navy
personnel as less professional than members of the other service
branches involved in the Operation.
SEAL TEAM SIX and RED CELL
Many SEAL imposters have claimed they were either current or past
members of SEAL Team SIX and/or RED CELL. Some have even claimed
service with SEAL Team SIX in Vietnam, while others have claimed
service with that unit in Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring
Freedom (Afghanistan), or Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In actuality, SEAL Team SIX didn't come into existence until 1980.
Iranians had taken the US Embassy in Tehran in the spring of 1979, and
were holding Americans hostage. The US military staged a rescue
attempt called Operation Eagle Claw in April 1980. Three US aircraft
on the way to a desert staging and refueling waypoint called
"Desert One" were damaged in a sandstorm. Other aircraft did
successfully make it to the "Desert One" waypoint - a
section of desert roadway used as a landing strip. Loss of aircraft in
the sandstorm made continuing the rescue effort impossible and the
attempt was aborted. In the refueling and departure from the waypoint
to return to US territory a collision occurred, several aircraft were
damaged or destroyed, and lives were lost. SEAL officer Richard
Marcinko was serving in the Pentagon at that time and was dismayed by
the loss of life and aircraft in the effort to rescue Americans being
held hostage. He enlarged upon an existing idea ("Mob 6")
and proposed a unit of Navy SEALs which would be specifically tasked
as an anti-terrorist unit. The proposal was accepted and Marcinko was
made the Commanding Officer of the unit. He was also given the option
of naming it, and opted to call it SEAL Team SIX.
Marcinko began selecting SEALs for the unit in the summer of 1980, the
unit itself actually came into being on paper on the 15th of August of
1980 (12 years and 6 months after the end of the Vietnam War), and the
SEAL Team SIX commissioning party was held in November 1980. Six
months later the unit was fully operational, but it did not hear a
shot fired in anger until its participation in Operation Urgent Fury
on the Caribbean island of Grenada in 1983. By that point in time
Marcinko was no longer the Commanding Officer.
RED CELL was a small contingent of men who were specifically tasked
with evaluating the security capabilities of various US military bases
from the viewpoint of a potential Soviet threat. Red Cell, although
formed by SEAL Richard Marcinko and principally manned by ST-6
individuals, was not part of ST-6. It was actually the Navy Security
Coordination Team (NSCT) and was mostly based out of the Pentagon.
It's relationship to ST-6 was principally because of its founder and
the majority of its members. Red Cell no longer exists.
The popularity and wide availability of author Richard Marcinko’s
ROGUE WARRIOR books has put a lot of information about those
particular SEAL units into the hands of the general public. Marcinko,
as described above, was a real US Navy SEAL, and his books vividly
portray an exciting and dangerous sequence of military actions. Armed
with this apparent "inside information" a continuing
floodtide of phonies has developed, claiming personal acquaintance
with Marcinko, or claiming operating experience with SEAL Team SIX or
RED CELL. Many imposters even go so far as to falsely claim that
notable incidents (or slight variations thereof) from Marcinko’s
books are actually their own personal experiences.
As a function of making his tales enjoyable for his intended audience,
Marcinko’s form and style of writing are akin to a thrilling movie
script, concentrating heavily on the exciting moments of training
and/or deadly dangerous moments of SEAL operations, rather than on the
more mundane and normal day-to-day life of a Navy SEAL. No other SEAL
Team has been so widely described to the civilian public. In fact
members of the general public have little, if any, specific knowledge
about any other SEAL Team except Team SIX. Most don’t even know how
many SEAL Teams actually exist.
The tall tales of SEAL imposters generally follow the same heavy focus
on action and danger as presented in Marcinko's books, and ignore the
mundane aspects of day-to-day training and non-combat life. Any
descriptions they may offer related to “down time” between combat
actions generally seem to focus on drinking and partying, bragging
about their bedroom conquests, and always always always bragging about
their many claimed heroic combat accomplishments... and these rarely
bear any resemblance to the realities of SEAL duty.
The publicity which resulted from publication of Marcinko's ROGUE
WARRIOR book was entirely contrary to the Navy's desire to maintain a
low public profile regarding SEAL Team SIX. It was felt that the great
amount of publicity effectively made SEAL Team SIX's anti-terrorist
operations far more difficult, if not impossible. As a result SEAL
Team SIX was decommissioned "about 1989" [this date is
intentionally vague]. The officers and men were reassigned within the
SEAL Teams; many of them were specifically tasked with continuing
their anti-terrorist operations as a part of other SEAL units with far
less public profiles.
TATTOOS
Many SEAL imposters offer tattoos as evidence that they are actually
members of the US Navy’s SEAL Teams. They take advantage of the fact
that most people would not begin to give serious consideration to
obtaining such a tattoo without having legitimately earned the right
to display or wear the symbol. Upon displaying their tattoos, SEAL
imposters often claim to their listeners that “all of the men in my
class got this same tattoo when we graduated from training”. Others
have claimed that a particular tattoo was one that all the members of
their individual SEAL platoon got after completing a particular
deployment, operation, or “mission”.
Time and again reports surface of individuals offering or displaying a
SEAL Trident tattoo as “proof” of membership in the Navy’s SEAL
Teams. The truth of the matter is that a tattoo is nothing more than a
picture set into the wearer’s skin. It is not proof of anything
except the fact that the wearer had the cash to buy it. The government
does not issue and does not espouse tattoos of any sort or kind.
Anyone can purchase a tattoo. Anyone can obtain ANY tattoo image
(including any military insignia) if they are willing to spend the
money, and to endure the discomfort of having it pierced into their
skin.
It is perhaps appropriate to point out that the requirements of
Operational Security (OPSEC) and Personal Security (PERSEC) are not
well served if members of an elite military force like the SEALs are
wearing the identifying emblem of their unit tattooed on their bodies.
These are not the freewheeling days of wooden ships, canvas sails, and
sailors wearing exotic tattoos from unheard-of ports in the primitive
South Sea Islands. This is the 21st Century, and the modern Navy is a
completely different entity. The popularity of tattoos is increasing,
including the SEAL Trident emblem or variations on that theme, and
more SEALs do have tattoos today than 30-40 years ago. Still, those
tattoos are never offered as proof of SEAL training or SEAL duty.
There is no tattoo which is either currently recognized or accepted as
a means of identifying certain SEAL members.
When Navy SEALs go into combat they do not normally carry identifying
documents such as I.D. cards, drivers’ licenses, photographs of
wives or girlfriends, notes from friends, letters from home, or
paycheck stubs! Despite such strict observance being given to OPSEC
and PERSEC by these quiet professionals, the claims of special tattoos
as proof of being a SEAL or members of a SEAL unit are regularly
offered by countless imposters, many of whom have never served a day
in the military.
OPSEC and PERSEC are very real concerns, and tattoos – officially
classed as “identifying marks and scars” – pose a real threat to
both OPSEC and PERSEC. For that reason most real SEALs still do not
wear any tattoos, and avoid having the SEAL Trident permanently
engraved anywhere on their persons. There is no official ban on
tattoos (Trident emblems or otherwise) in the SEAL Teams. As noted the
popularity (fad) of tattoos is greater today than in years past.
Additionally, some former SEALs do obtain such a tattoo, most often
small and discretely located, after leaving active military service,
but this is far from a “standard procedure”. A Trident tattoo is
never offered by a real SEAL as proof of his Team membership.
"I WORKED WITH THE SEALS..."
The claim of “working WITH the SEALs” is often offered by
imposters who have been called to account for their false claims of
being a SEAL. When confronted with evidence that he is not listed
among SEAL Training graduates, the imposter often suggests that his
comments have somehow been “misunderstood”, and that he only
claimed to have “worked with the SEALs”. Of course that statement,
like his initial false claim of actually being a SEAL, is intended to
imply to the listener that somehow the claimant has acquired the
knowledge and skills, including both weapons proficiency and martial
arts abilities, required to be a SEAL Team operator.
In truth, since the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 there are
some non-SEALs being assigned to “work with” the Navy’s SEAL
Teams in combat zones, but those individuals do not participate in
combat operations and their assignments do not mean that those
individuals have been trained as SEALs, or possess SEAL skills or
credentials. These selected individuals are termed INDIVIDUAL
AUGMENTEES or IAs.
A specialized Individual Augmentee (IA) selection process was
developed that sends sailors with critical skills to support special
operations missions. In 2007, more than 20 percent of the personnel
supporting Naval Special Warfare (NSW) operations in Southwest Asia,
including Iraq and Afghanistan, were IAs. Most of the IAs are drawn
from other parts of the Navy and the Navy Reserve Force.
The IA selection process begins with a Combatant Commander who
identifies a need for support and then requests the personnel. Since
the IAs will serve side by side with their NSW counterparts, the
process is carefully reviewed and validated. After the request is
approved, personnel are identified. Once orders are in hand, a
predeployment battery of administrative and medical screenings are
undertaken. Physical checks, immunizations, passports and security
clearances are all obtained, and then the member heads to a TWO-WEEK
BASIC SOLDIERING course at Ft. Jackson, S.C., which includes weapons
training, land navigation and tactical combat casualty care.
The IAs then receive indoctrination at an NSW command. With their
newly-issued camouflage and protective gear, they are then assigned to
a SEAL Team, and with the Team become part of a Task Unit (TU).
IAs handle a variety of tasks when they get to their final
destination. One recent IA worked as a Civil Affairs Officer, and his
job included multiple Coordinated Medical Engagements involving site
surveys of local infrastructure such as water treatment plants,
emergency refuse cleanup, and assisting the local government with ways
to rebuild and manage their area. Another IA was primarily responsible
for restoring cellular phone service to an area damaged by warfare. He
also visited a poor fishing village and assisted the Iraqi Army in
passing out book bags to the local children, and distributing heaters
and blankets to their parents.
There are, indeed, men who “work with the SEALs”, but their
contributions do not entail combat or require specialized combat
training, skills, or abilities. Individual Augmentees or IAs have no
“SEAL credentials” and are not considered “SEAL Operators”.
IN SUMMARY
The US Navy's SEALs are arguably the most highly trained Special
Operations force in the world today, but even they have physical and
technological limits. Unlike the typical “super hero” SEALs
described in pulp fiction novels or presented in action/adventure
movies, today's real SEAL is very “low profile”, unassuming,
highly intelligent, highly capable, and extremely self-assured
military man. Real SEALs don't seek the public limelight or the
attention of the media. Real SEALs do not need to hang out in bars
regaling others with tales of covert actions as a means of boosting
their own sagging egos. The real SEALs are widely known as "the
quiet professionals". A good general rule of thumb in evaluating
someone’s claims of being a SEAL is this:
Those who talk the most, very likely did the least, and those who talk
the least, very likely did the most.
While Navy SEALs are in great physical shape compared with most other
military men, they rarely look like Olympic gymnasts, body builders,
weight lifters, or professional wrestlers. A real SEAL is more likely
to look and act like the guy next door – someone who works out
regularly at the gym! Unlike most people in today's work-a-day world,
men who successfully complete SEAL training have tested their mental
and physical limits and know their true capabilities. They are
self-assured, confident, rational and realistic. They are better than
most at rapidly analyzing a situation and determining a course of
action in times of crisis. More than half of the difference between a
real SEAL and a non-SEAL (military or civilian) is what goes on
between his ears.
The US Navy SEAL Teams are a MILITARY organization, and the details of
SEAL operations, tactics, and technology are disseminated on a
"NEED TO KNOW" basis. That "need to know" does NOT
include barroom drinking buddies, coworkers, or women or children we
are hoping to impress. Real SEALs are ALWAYS concerned with OPSEC and
PERSEC, and NEVER “confide” information about their work to anyone
outside their unit. Real SEALs don't go around bragging about their
“missions”, their "kills" or “body counts”, or their
heroic actions. Real SEALs rarely discuss their assignments or
accomplishments, even with other SEALs... and certainly do NOT discuss
them with non-SEALs.
Real SEALs rarely wear tattoos, and certainly not TRIDENT tattoos.
Tattoos can be bought by anyone with money and a tolerance for pain.
But no one can buy a billet on the US Navy’s SEAL Teams. The
legitimate right to the title “SEAL” must be earned through
personal dedication and sacrifice, through unbelievably grueling and
demanding physical and mental training; through sheer determination
and unshakeable will.
Statistics show that only 4.5% to 5% of the current living US
population – about 1 person in 20 – has any first hand experience
of any sort in the military. This includes all active duty personal
(both male and female), all current military reservists, all members
of the National Guard, and all living veterans of past service in the
US armed forces. The remaining 95% of the population must rely upon
second hand information for all knowledge of the military. This second
hand information comes from a wide variety of sources, many of which
have an underlying profit motivation for disseminating their
information.
News organizations (both print and broadcast media) relate what has
happened or is happening with the military, and ostensibly provide
that news without prejudice or manipulation. Viewers must keep in
mind, however, that advertisements underwrite those efforts… and the
success of advertisements is based upon high levels of viewership. The
more exciting, dramatic, or controversial the news story, the more
viewers there will be… and thus the more viewers who will see the
commercial advertisements which support the news organization
financially. Subtle pressures are constantly at work, influencing
writers to present sensational news stories … whether or not the
actual facts about a news story justify the sensationalism.
Entertainment television (non-news) and the motion picture industry
are equal competitors for viewer’s attention and the dollars which
those viewers have to spend. Sensationalism is the name of the game;
the more exiting, dramatic, and spell-binding the story, the more
money the storytellers stand to earn. With very few exceptions, TV and
motion pictures rarely portray characters who are file clerks,
typists, truck drivers, or cooks going about their normal, daily
lives. There is little excitement to be found in portrayals of retail
clerks or postal workers. Obviously such mundane and unexciting movies
or TV shows wouldn’t sell many commercials or theater seats.
Excitement is what sells, and stories about Navy SEALs are exciting…
but they rarely bear any resemblance to reality. More often than not
those TV and motion pictures portray incredibly heroic individuals who
are called upon to spy for their government, or shoot their way in/out
of a terrorist camps, all while facing incredible odds and extreme
dangers. Even “docudramas” are actually works of imaginative
writing and only loosely based upon actual historic incident, often
with unrelated and imaginative scenes of graphic violence thrown in as
pivotal plot points.
For every REAL SEAL, living or dead, there are countless barroom
braggarts spouting outrageous tales of daring SEAL combat missions to
their drinking buddies. For every REAL SEAL there are countless
back-alley bullies using false claims of being a SEAL to threaten and
intimidate others. For every REAL SEAL there are countless corporate
executives padding their resumes with exaggerated claims of military
service and awards for valor, and countless security and law
enforcement officials seeking positions of greater authority based on
fictitious SEAL experience. For every REAL SEAL there are countless
lascivious Lotharios preying on unsuspecting and trusting women who
believe their absurd lies and misrepresentations.
The Naval Special Warfare community lost TWO Teammates during the
Korean War, FORTY-NINE Teammates during the Vietnam War, FOUR
Teammates during the Grenada conflict, and FOUR Teammates during the
Panama conflict. Thus far FORTY-NINE SEAL Teammates have fallen in
Afghanistan and Iraq.
SEALs KIA SINCE 11 SEP 2001
---------------------------------------------
2002 AFGHANISTAN ABH1 Neil Christopher Roberts
2003 AFGHANISTAN HMC Matthew "Matt" Bourgeois
2003 AFGHANISTAN IC1 Thomas Eugene Retzer
2003 AFGHANISTAN PH1 David M. Tapper
2004 AFGHANISTAN BM1 Brian Oullette
2005 AFGHANISTAN LT Michael P. Murphy [MOH]
2005 AFGHANISTAN GM2 Danny P. Dietz
2005 AFGHANISTAN STG2 Matthew G. Axelson
2005 AFGHANISTAN LCDR Erik S. Kristensen
2005 AFGHANISTAN LT Michael M. McGreevy Jr
2005 AFGHANISTAN ITCS Daniel R. Healy
2005 AFGHANISTAN FCC Jacques J. Fontan
2005 AFGHANISTAN ET1 Jeffrey A. Lucas
2005 AFGHANISTAN HM1 Jeffrey S. Taylor
2005 AFGHANISTAN QM2 James Suh
2005 AFGHANISTAN MM1 Eric Shane Patton
2006 IRAQ AO2 Marc A. Lee
2006 IRAQ MA2 Michael A. Monsoor [MOH]
2007 IRAQ SO2 Joseph C. Schwedler
2007 IRAQ SO1 Jason Dale Lewis
2007 IRAQ SOC Marc Thomas Carter
2008 IRAQ SOC Michael E. Koch
2008 IRAQ SOC Nathan H. Hardy
2008 AFGHANISTAN SO1 Joshua Thomas Harris
2008 AFGHANISTAN SOCS John Wayne Marcum
2008 AFGHANISTAN SOC Jason Richard Freiwald
2010 AFGHANISTAN SOC Adam Lee Brown
2010 AFGHANISTAN SOC Collin Thomas
2010 AFGHANISTAN LT Brendan J. Looney
2010 AFGHANISTAN SO2 Adam O. Smith
2010 AFGHANISTAN SO3 Denis C. Miranda
2011 AFGHANISTAN LCDR Jonas B. Kelsall
2011 AFGHANISTAN SOCM Louis J. Langlais
2011 AFGHANISTAN SOCS Thomas A. Ratzlaff
2011 AFGHANISTAN SOC Brian R. Bill
2011 AFGHANISTAN SOC John W. Faas
2011 AFGHANISTAN SOC Kevin A. Houston
2011 AFGHANISTAN SOC Matthew D. Mason
2011 AFGHANISTAN SOC Stephen M. Mills
2011 AFGHANISTAN SOC Robert J. Reeves
2011 AFGHANISTAN SOC Heath M. Robinson
2011 AFGHANISTAN SO1 Darrik C. Benson
2011 AFGHANISTAN SO1 Christopher G. Campbell
2011 AFGHANISTAN SO1 Jon T. Tumilson
2011 AFGHANISTAN SO1 Aaron C. Vaughn
2011 AFGHANISTAN SO1 Jason R. Workman
2011 AFGHANISTAN SO1 Jesse D. Pittman
2011 AFGHANISTAN SO2 Nicholas P. Spehar
2011 AFGHANISTAN SO1 Caleb A. Nelson
Others have fallen as well, both in training and in actual operations.
In fact the number of SEAL deaths due to non-combat and training
accidents outnumbers SEAL combat deaths more than two to one.
Those who falsely claim to be one of our fellows, and on equal footing
with our fallen comrades, are not only a disgrace to every man and
woman who ever served the nation honorably in uniform, but they are a
direct insult and an affront to the memories of good men who truly
earned the right to be called SEALs; men who have given their lives in
the service of our nation.
As one of our Teammates from the Vietnam era once said; “the men
making false SEAL claims are walking on the graves of 49 of my
Teammates!”
More appropriate words than these do not exist.
Marge, daughter, and Rudy Boesch at Blackwater N.C.
From: Larry Bailey Maynard, I have permission to distribute this. The author's son
is a serving SEAL. Seems suitable for SEAL Ink.
Gordy
Boyce
Denis Drady
Wally Schwalenberger and K9
Silver elsonatasf
SAD AND DISGUSTING ARTICLE THAT WILL DO NOTHING BUT
HURT SEALS AND OTHER SPECOPS FORCES, PUT THEM IN NEEDLESS DANGER,
LESSEN THE LIKELIHOOD OF MISSION SUCCESS, AND PUT THEIR FAMILIES AT RISK.
Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2013
To: Maynard Weyers
Subject: SEAL Mom's Account of Chris Kyle's Funeral
LB
Chris Kyle, Patriotism and Texas February 12, 2013
I just wanted to share with you all that out of a horrible tragedy we
were blessed by so many people. Chris was Derek's teammate through 10
years of training and battle. They both suffer/suffered from PTSD to
some extent and took great care of each other because of it. 2006 in
Ramadi was horrible for young men that never had any more aggressive
physical contact with another human than on a Texas football field.
They lost many friends. Chris became the armed services number #1
sniper of all time. Not something he was happy about other than the
fact that in doing so he saved a lot of American lives. Three years
ago, his wife Taya asked him to leave the SEAL teams as he had a huge
bounty on his head by Al Qaeda. He did and wrote the book The American
Sniper. 100% of the proceeds from the book went to two of the SEAL
families who had lost their son in Iraq. That was the guy Chris was.
He formed a company in Dallas to train military, police and I think
firemen as far as protecting themselves in difficult situations. He
also formed a foundation to work with military people suffering from
PTSD. Chris was a giver not a taker. He along with a friend and
neighbor, Chad Littlefield, were murdered trying to help a young man
that had served 6 months in Iraq and claiming to have PTSD.
Now I need to tell you about all of the blessings. Southwest Airlines
flew in any SEAL and their family from any airport they flew into free
of charge. The employees donated buddy passes and one lady worked for
4 days without much of a break to see that it happened. Volunteers
were at both airports in Dallas to drive them to the hotel. The
Marriott reduced their rates to $45 a night and cleared the hotel for
only SEALs and family. The Midlothian, TX. police department paid the
$45 a night for each room. I would guess there were about 200 people
staying at the hotel. 100 of them SEALs. Two large buses were
chartered to transport people to the different events and they also
had a few rent cars. The police and secret service were on duty 24
hours during the stay at our hotel.
At the house (Chris & Taya’s home) the Texas DPS parked a large
motor home in front to block the view from reporters. It remained
there the entire 5 days for the SEALs to congregate in and all to use
the restroom so as not to have to go in the house. Taya, their two
small children and both sets of parents were staying in the home. Only
a hand full of SEALs went into the home as they had different duties
and meetings were held sometimes on an hourly basis. It was a huge
coordination of many different events and security. Derek was assigned
to be a pall bearer, to escort Chris' body when it was transferred
from Midlothian Funeral Home to Arlington Funeral Home and to be with
Taya. Tough job. Taya seldom came out of her bedroom. The home was
full with people from the church and other family members that would
come each day to help. I spent one morning in a bedroom with Chris'
mom and the next morning with Chad Littlefield's parents (the other
man murdered with Chris). Tough job.
Nolan Ryan sent his cooking team, a huge grill and lots of steaks,
chicken and hamburgers. They set up in the front yard and fed people
all day long. The 200 SEALs and their family. The next day a BBQ
restaurant set up a buffet in front of the house and fed all once
again. Food was plentiful and all were taken care of. The church kept
those inside the house well fed.
Jerry Jones, the man everyone loves to hate, was a rock star. He
donated use of Cowboy Stadium for the services as it was determined
that so many wanted to attend. The charter buses transported us to the
stadium on Monday at 10:30. Every car, bus, motorcycle was searched
with bomb dogs and police. I am not sure if kooks were making threats
trying to make a name for themselves or if so many SEALs in one place
was a security risk...I don't know. We willing obliged. No purses into
stadium! We were taken to The Legends room high up and a large buffet
was available. That was about 300 people. We were growing. A Medal of
Honor recipient was there, lots of secret service and police and Sarah
Palin and her husband. She did not impress me. She was taking the
opportunity to be interviewed for TV and dressed in high clog shoes
and corduroy jeans. She looked nice, but this was a very formal
military service. She was not dressed appropriately. The service
started at 1:00 and when we were escorted onto the field I was
shocked. We heard about 10,000 people had come to attend also. They
were seated in the stadium seats behind us. It was a beautiful and
emotional service. Bagpipe and drum corps was wonderful and the
A&M men’s choir stood through the entire service and sang right
at the end. We were all in tears.
The next day was the 200 miles procession from Midlothian, TX to
Austin for burial. It was a cold, drizzly, windy day, but the people
were out. We had dozens of police motorcycles riders, freedom riders 5
chartered buses and lots of cars. You had to have a pass to be in the
procession and still it was huge. Two helicopters circled the
procession with snipers sitting out the side door for protection. It
was the longest funeral procession ever in the state of Texas. People
were everywhere. The entire route was shut down ahead of us the and
people were lined up on the side of the road the entire way. Firemen
down on one knee, police officers holding their hats over their
hearts, children waving flags, veterans saluting as we went by.. Every
bridge had fire trucks with large flags displayed from their tall
ladders....people all along the entire 200 miles standing in the cold
weather. It was so heartwarming. Taya rode in the hearse with Chris'
body so Derek rode the route with us. I was so grateful to have that
time with him.
The services were at Texas National Cemetery. Very few are buried
there and you have to apply to get in. It is like people from Civil
War, Medal of Honor winners a few from the Alamo and all the
historical people of Texas. It was a nice service and the Freedom
Riders surrounded the outside of the entire cemetery to keep the crazy
church from Kansas that protests at military funerals away from us.
Each SEAL put his Trident (metal SEAL badge) on the top of Chris'
casket one at a time. A lot hit it in with one blow, Derek was the
only one to take 4 taps to put his in and it was almost like he was
caressing it as he did it. Another tearful moment.
After the service the governor's wife, Anita Perry, invited us to the
governor's mansion. She stood at the door and greeted each of us
individually and gave the SEALs a coin of Texas. We were able to tour
the ground floor and then went into the garden for beer and BBQ. So
many of the team guys said that after they get out they are moving to
Texas. That they had never felt so much love and hospitality. The
charter buses then took the guys to the airport to catch their
returning flights. Derek just now called and after a 20 hours flight
he is back in his spot.
Quite an emotional, but blessed week.
LDNN camp CamRanhBay 'nam 1970
THE ARTICLE DISCUSSES ADM "GORGEOUS GEORGE" WORTHINGTON TWO COMBAT DEPLOYMENTS TO VIETNAM. SOMETHING SMELLS HERE. I WAS AN EAST COASTER AND ONCE SOMEONE WAS AN EXECUTIVE OFFICER, HE DIDN'T TAKE PLATOONS TO VIETNAM. HE STAYED AND DID PAPERWORK AND I SUSPECT THAT IS WHAT WORTHINGTON DID ON HIS "COMBAT" TOURS IN VIETNAM. AT LEAST WORTINGTON DOESN'T CLAIM ANY COMBAT AS A SEAL. UDT AND SEAL MISSIONS WERE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT IN VIETNAM. UDT RODE SHIPS AND DID SHORELINE WORK PRIMARILY AS DID JESSIE VENTURA. THE SEALS WERE ACTUALLY STATIONED IN VIETNAM AND PERFORMED A VARIETY OF MISSIONS. I HAVE NEVER HEARD ANYONE SAY WORTHINGTON HAD ANY COMBAT EXPERIENCE. HE WAS NOTED FOR HIS FREQUENT STATEMENTS THAT ALL THE SEALS NEED TO "LOOK" LIKE SEALS. HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT MEANS. MOST OF THE GUYS WERE NOT DISTINGUISHABLE FROM OTHER FOLKS IN THE "LOOKS" DEPARTMENT AND NO ONE HAS ANY IDEA WHAT A SEAL SHOULD LOOK LIKE. WORTHINGTON KEPT HIS PARACHUTE ON THE FLOOR IN HIS OFFICE WHEN COMMANDER, NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE GROUP ONE. HE WAS ALL SHOW AND MADE MY LIFE MISERABLE WHEN I WAS COMMANDING OFFICER OF A SPECIAL BOAT UNIT IN CORONADO. WE WERE SO BUSY AND HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE BOATS THAT WE DIDN'T CARE WHAT A "SEAL" WAS SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE. POOR REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMUNITY.
IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS, SEALS HAD VERY LITTLE OUTSIDE SUPPORT, VERY LITTLE MONEY, AND NO REAL EXOTIC EQUIPMENT. RATHER THAN BE BATHED IN MONEY AND HAVE A LOT OF TECHNOLOGY, SEALS LIVED OFF THEIR WITS AND TALENTS AS BANDITS: LYING, CHEATING, AND STEALING TO GET WHAT WAS NEEDED TO ACCOMPLISH THE MISSION. THE NAVY DIDN'T LIKE SEALS BACK IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS. THEY THOUGHT NAVY PERSONNEL SHOULD BE DRIVING SHIPS OR FLYING ON TO THEM, NOT CRAWLING THROUGH THE MUD IN A JUNGLE KILLING COMMIES. AHHHH!
THE SADDEST THING IS THAT, AS THE TRAITOR PHOTOG AND AUTHOR POINT OUT, THE SEALS WERE OUTTED BY THE BIGGEST TRAITOR OF ALL, OBAMA. THIS PIECE OF CRAP HAS PUT ALL SPECOPS MISSIONS AT RISK AND I BELIEVE, IS ALREADY PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATH OF A SEAL IN AFGHANISTAN, ONLY ONE WE KNOW OFF AND THAT DOESN'T COUNT BENGHAZI. OBAMA'S LITTLE SPEECH ON THE OBL TAKEDOWN AND SUBSEQUENT APPROVAL OF GIVING CLASSIFIED INFO HIS HOLLYWOOD FRIENDS IS PURE TREASON. THE LAST FEW CHAIRMEN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS HAVE BEEN POLITICAL HACKS WHO LIKE TO HANG AROUND AND ASSOCIATE WITH SPECOPS FOLKS.
SEALS HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO WEAR CAMERAS AND ALLOW PHOTOS ON MISSIONS. WHY? SO THE ADMIRALS AND POLITICIANS BACK HOME CAN SEE AND INTERFERE. THOSE CLOWNS NOT OUT IN THE BUSHES OR MOUNTAINS SHOULD HAVE NO SAY SO AT THIS POINT. THE SPECOPS GUYS ARE NOT PLAYING POLITICS ONCE THE MISSION IS UNDERWAY AND DON'T NEED SOMEONE SITTING BACK IN A SAFE OFFICE, INCLUDING SENIOR SPECOPS PERSONNEL, TELLING THEM WHAT TO DO. IT IS RISKY AND DANGEROUS. I ALWAYS FELT THAT WAY AND WHEN ASKED BY A GOOD FRIEND TO DO AN INTERVIEW WITH MILITARY HISTORIAN ORR KELLY FOR HIS EARLY 1990s BOOK BRAVE MEN - DARK WATERS I AGREED. MR. KELLY WAS A PROFESSIONAL AND I WAS VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT I WOULD AND WOULDN'T TALK ABOUT. HE DID MISTAKENLY SAY I WAS ONE OF THE MOST "OUTSPOKEN" SEALS BUT AT LEAST QUOTED ME CORRECTLY. I SAID BASICALLY THE SAME THING I HAVE SAID HERE. I TALKED ABOUT RULES AND CHAIN OF COMMAND AND COMBAT. I TALKED ABOUT FOLLOWING ORDERS (WHICH WE SHOULD FOR THE MOST PART) OF THE BOSS. BUT STATED, AS I BELIEVED THEN AND STILL DO: "WHEN IT COMES TO MY PEOPLE, SCREW THE BOSS. HE'S NOT OUT THERE. YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP THESE GUYS ALIVE. YOU DON'T WANT ANYBODY GETTING KILLED." IF THE BOSS WANTS TO RUN THE OP OR ANYONE ELSE, HAVE AT IT. LET THEM GO OUT AND TAKE THE RISK AND SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES. IF YOU DON'T TRUST YOUR MEN TO GO OUT AFTER THE BRIEFING THE OP AND HAD IT APPROVED BY THE BOSS, LET THE BOSS GO OUT AND DO IT HIMSELF.
AS FAR AS TAKING PHOTOGRAPHERS ON THE MISSIONS, I WOULDN'T. THERE ARE A LOT OF CLASSIFIED REASONS FOR NO CAMERAS. AND THESE GUYS ARE NOT TRAINED IN COMBAT AND WILL PUT THE TROOPS AND MISSION AT RISK FOR POLITICAL GAIN OF THOSE BACK IN THEIR NICE CUSHY OFFICES. IF ORDERED TO DO SO, I'D LOSE THE GUY OR TELL HIM TO PUT AWAY HIS CAMERA AND KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT, DURING AND AFTER THE MISSION. AND IF THE JERK PULLS OUT HIS CAMERA AND STARTED SHOOTING, I'D SHOOT BACK. THAT PHOTOGRAPHER IS PUTTING THE SPECOPS GUYS AND MISSION AT NEEDLESS RISK. AND REMEMBER, NEVER TAKE A CAMERA TO A GUN FIGHT!
Steve Elson, Navy SEAL retired
An email only a sailor can truly appreciate. Almost brings tears to the eyes
when you compare it with today's atmosphere where they give breathalyzer tests
to sailors returning to the ship after 10PM. I am sure the present Secretary of
Defense (and the senior officers he and others like him bred) strongly
disapproves of even the thought of places like these, and could never fathom the
truth of these observations..
No doubt whoever wrote this had lived some of it. I had to modify it a bit as I
might have ... might have , I emphasize.. passed near one of these places once.
maybe twice in my short life.. think John Bulls in Pireus, Mama Germaines in
Villefranche, Le Gorille in Nice, Mama's in Naples, Jimmy the Greeks in Malta,
Pauline's in Olongapo, the Rio, the Admiral and the Three Sisters in Olongapo,
Kaoshung, Pusan, Hotel Street in Honolulu, the Pearl City Tavern, Captain
Harry's Blue Marlin Bar, the Savoy in Norfolk, Leo's First and Last Chance in
Newport, and the places in Key West where only diesel submarine sailors were
allowed! Think that was bad.. go where only the EOD guys were allowed!! . and
they cavorted with marine mammals!! We were paid to live a life of deprivation
from fresh milk and eggs, from no beer for months at a time, and we had to smell
stinky socks, smelly wet suits, and diesel fuel forfuqinever, and a life with a
few shots over the bow of some mideast creep that wanted to threaten the US of
A, but what a life we lived when we got ashore in the Med or in WestPac!! We wuz
SAILORs and we earned every right to be men ashore as we were at sea.
God, I miss it. I'd go back tomorrow.
The days of locker bars right outside the main gate. You'd scamper into one of
those and change out of uniform, and have your civvies right there, too. Have
your ID and liberty card with you to show to whoever (shore patrol, most
likely). Local cops were good at scooping you up and getting your
"fee" for letting you go.
This sea story has, HAS, to be published. OK, si o no?
thanks
Jack Rowell, Mike Boynton, were in ST-2 PLTN 7 back in "66 as were Herb
Clemens, my old Instructor from BUDs (aka UDTR Class 32). I know e.m.'s and
officers are not supposed to hang out together - but SCREW THAT!! Herb Clemens
and wife (name lost to my age), and Sue & Frank, and Stan and Kay Janecka
would all hang out at Clem's home on Friday nights sipping Clem's Home Brew - it
sure packed a whollop!! And they were sure great times!!
Gene Fraley was our instructor - and with all due respects to Instructor Blais
and Instructor Waddell - the only Instructor who could really keep us with us in
our runs. I remember him well and was so sad to get the message when he died.
Billy Burbank should remember Sue & Frank Cleary and this story. One night
at the Granboco Hotel in St. Thomas, some hot shit Marine Recons were giving my
new bride, Suzanne, some shit trying to pick her up. "Iron Arms" Billy
Burbank came to the rescue her in my absence! ANYONE want to go one on one with
Billy Burbank back in his younger days - I DON'T THINK SO!!
I happened to be in downtown Charlotte Amale that night with Tom Parkinson, Tom
Keith, and Larry Bailey.
Not that Billy would need this back up crew - but just some support for
"Iron Arms" All we needed was Tom Blais as a back up as well.
With all of the best of the iron arms, Ralph Debolt included, the best of the
bunch was my old very best SEAL Team buddy - Herb Clemens - hope you remember
him and his memory.
R.D. Russell Monty SEAL K9 Rinney and Doc Riojas
standing
lt-rt: Jack Rowell, Minh,Roy Dean Matthews, Gene Fraley, Erasmo Riojas, Fred
Keener, Mike Boynton. Sitting: Richard "Hook" Turre,
Robert "Eagle" Gallagher, Curtis Ashton and Harry
Constance the origional ST-2 7th Platton MyTho Vietnam 1967
Erasmo "Doc" Riojas Vietnam Baker and Riojas Korea police
ANGELS CAMP, CA - Local Navy SEAL Matthew Leathers disappeared off the coast
of Hawaii during a training mission in February. His father told News10 one of
the sacrifices the parents of Navy SEALs make is they can't always brag about
their sons the way they might like.
Saturday night, Tim Leathers held to that duty for the most part, but he wanted
to share just some of what those who knew Matthew best, loved most about the
33-year-old husband and father. When the search for Matthew Leathers ended, his
fellow Navy SEALs held a memorial service in Hawaii for the family, but it isn't
easy letting go of hope. "Matt's out there somewhere, sitting on a platform
of flotsam, growing a beard, catching fish, looking around, going, well, I
wonder when they'll find me," Tim Leathers said.
C. Gardner Sullivan II passed away on January 10, 2013 in
Scottsdale, AZ. He was 82 years old He was born on October 25, 1930 in Los
Angeles, CA.
Mr. Sullivan served in the US Navy as a Lieutenant for nearly five
years and was the Officer in Charge, Underwater Demolition Team
12, Kwajalien Detachment. His passion was for the Navy and the UDT-SEALs.
Franklin Anderson
Mar 6
to Joe, Maynard, Roy, me, thomasrtruxell, David.Janke, alanrouth, Al,
ronbell619, Rondarsam
Joe—Thanks for the memories---I was at Tan Son Nhut in late June 65—waiting
for Bill Earley to arrive as my relief. We met and he was a little
antsy---Wanted to know about how safe it was. I said, it’s quiet as can be. He
had to go in for the arrival briefing—While he was in there, I was waiting
outside, they blew up the airport---all kinds of debris flying around. Bill came
out and his eyes were like saucers—He said “ I thought you said it was quiet
around here”. A little later, they were having my going away party with the
LDNN. While in the Hotel, the lights blinked, went out and then back on. One of
the LDNN came in chattering. Mr Hung said they just blew up the Mai Cahn
floating Restaurant- We went down and it was a mess. Archie Kuntze came
barreling thru the crowd and bump Bill while making his way to the scene—He
was HEADQUARTERS SUPPORT ACTIVITY SAIGON—OR CALLED THE MAYOR OF SAIGON- Bill
bristle up, I said calm down, and introduced them---The Capt was in Civilian
clothes. Bill kept reminding me of what I had said. Yes Joe lots of memories.
THANKS AGAIN – Franklin
Minh pictured with Bob "Eagle" Gallagher c.1967
"This is to request help for a brave man who repeatedly risked his life to help SEALs during the Vietnam War.
Nguyen Hoang Minh operated with a number of SEAL platoons in the Mekong Delta in the late 1960's. He served as a field interpreter, fearlessly took part in some famous operations that helped to establish the SEAL reputation, and was wounded several times. After U.S. forces left Vietnam, the SEALs who knew him assumed he was dead.
Minh survived, but spent years in the notorious reeducation camps.
Having been on the losing side, he was ostracized by most of his countrymen and was never able to make a decent living. He and his family have endured great poverty and hardship over the past 38 years.
After his former Teammates found that he was alive, they raised money to bring him and his family to the USA. This proved unsuccessful, and the funds were given to Minh, who used them to build a small house for his family in My Tho and to help with medical expenses. The funds have long since run out.
Minh is now in his 70's and unable to work. Former SEAL Team TWO operator Erasmo "Doc" Riojas, in whose platoon Minh bravely served, has kindly and quietly been receiving donations from Vietnam-era SEALs and periodically sending them to Minh in Vietnam so he can live his final years with dignity.
Anyone who wishes to help this brave former ally is encouraged to contact Doc at docrio45@gmail.com or 713-575-5425
>Bob
Bill Bentley : Bruce Cullen<
robert8965 aol.com> Just wanted to share. cheryll
is the mother of a Navy seal, Derek who is deployed for his 7th time to
Iraq and Afghanastan. Have
known Cheryll in bible study for long time.
Wow, what an outpouring of love by the Dallas and Austin and Midlothian
folks. Makes one proud to be an American! Linda On Sun, Feb 3, 2013 at
2:55 PM, Dr. Dave Byers <dabyers@gmail.com>
wrote:
SEAL
Team TWO, Vietnam , 3d Platoon 1969- 1970
I hope you know I have not meant any anger, ill feelings or
anything like that towards you - I believe and have heard you
are a true gentleman and well thought of and well
liked by many Veterans. So, please know,
that I send you items out of good will and well meaning.
I am currently in Naples, Florida and will be returning to
Gloucester, MA., in a couple of
weeks. At that time, if you wish, I can make copies of the
1996 Vietnam trip onto a DVD and send them to you, everything
from the Cu Chi Tunnels to Watson breaking down and crying
about how he got so many people wounded, injured and killed
and vehicles damaged (the picture - but not the story is in
his book) because he was, as usual drunk that day.
I had to testify before Legislators multiple time inn
1971, 1972 and 1973 about Vietnam.
Attached are a couple of documents that are real. The One that
I cannot comment on any more is the UDT-SEAL Letter. It is
what it is. The Senators had to force the VA to produce
further documents as my DD214 does not say much about my
service other than I was a Radioman (RM3)
Lt. Denver in
Monrovia Harbor, Liberia, 2003." Photograph
courtesy of the author. From
"
Damn
Few: Making the Modern SEAL Warrior" Copyright 2013 Rorke
Denver (Rorke Denver)
9:42 AM (14 hours ago)
to me
Okay Rio, you asked for background: I was an MSC and I did two ST1 tours
as an HM1--HMC before commissioning. I returned to RVN as a jg
in a MILPHAP team in Chau Doc. During that
year 70-71, I did 3 visits with ST2 guys I knew and was in 4 Ops which
would have resulted in my court martial if something went wrong. I
worked with Macione and Bob Gallagher in Ben
Tre (I think) and with another group (I'll
send photos), in the Delta. When Nixon ran the VN's over the Cambodia
border, I lucked out and met an old friend MGYSGT Charlie Campbell who
was a temp Captain (USMC) then and had his VN's with him on a Mike Boat
that had stopped in Chau Doc. He said come
on and maybe you'll have some fun. So I grabbed my gear and hopped
aboard. I ended up on the Benewah with Watson, Scolise,
and Gary Smith and we made two Cambodian ops detailed in Smith's book
Death in the Delta pg 169-175 Your
name mentioned after those pages, too. He made a couple errors about my
status but most everything else was right. The platoon officer was in
Saigon and the admiral called down and said he wanted the SEAL boss to
come up--the guys grinned and said that be
you. I had 2 jg bars so he never knew I was
a visitor and not an active SEAL--whew.
I missed operating so bad that I escaped everytime
I could.
When I returned to Chau Doc, my team of docs
received 1000 casualties via chopper over a 6 week period: 1/3 KIA, 1/3 misc
wounds, 1/3 amputees from the heavy mine fields--busy time.
That's my feeble story and I iz sticking to
it. With the $2 bills, I'll send pictures that will fill in some blanks
for youse.
Vaya con Dios, Amigo,
bill
----- Original Message -----
From:Bill Bentley
To: Erasmo "Doc" Riojas
Sent: Saturday, February 16, 2013 5:39 AM
Subject: Re: Ong Minh
Rio,
I explained my past in another email--no BUDS grad--just like you and Bo
Burwell and Clarke. I did do UWSS with 2dReconBn (SCUBA) and the mixed
gas with Class 32 at UWSS .
I saw you great post on Chris Kyle; great tribute and great photos of
yours. I read his book and I grieved for him and his family. Anti-gunner
pukes are saying: See--guns are bad. What morons.
Take care, as I said I'll send $200 to you in cash the first of March.
Read my other mail if you got it.
bentley
----- Original Message -----
From:Erasmo "Doc" Riojas
To: Bill Bentley
Sent: Friday, February 15, 2013 4:59 PM
Subject: Re: Ong Minh
An email from Bill Bentley !
and with a bit of history for
www.sealtwo.org, OK? with your approval.
Jim Finley, the mayor of MyTHO.
I tell you, one guy that Minh will never forget is Finley. LOL.
He got some stories about Jim that will crack you up.
Hey, what UDT class did you graduate from? Are you also a Med DV Tech?
You probably have done it all.
Of the old generation of team corpsman, you are the NUMERO UNO.
We will be at Panama City FL in May for the UWSS reunion. I doubt you
went through it as some of you trained SCUBA down in P.R.
Thank you for writing me.
Doc RIojas
HMC Retired and tired.
yes, i have an MD
degree, but i never got rich! LOL
On Fri, Feb 15, 2013 at 12:33 PM, Bill Bentley< bb_@bellsouth.net>
wrote:
Doctor Doc Riojas,
How are you, Sir? I met Minh when our ST1 platoon visited My Tho
when Findley was there in '67. I will be very happy to send $100 to him
or through you. I always regretted our leaving our scouts and LDNN's to
the butchers, but that seems to be the American way to an
"honorable peace". Makes me sick.
Let me know how and if cash would be better and I'll send immediately.
Hope you are well and happy as is your family.
Doc Bentley
Gulf Breeze, FL
to: Carl Christianson <cjchris44 hotmail.com>
date: Wed, Feb 20, 2013 at 10:30 AM
subject: Patriotism, Texas and Chris Kyle......Received from a
friend.......Assume this information is correct.
Subject: Services for Chris Kyle
Patriotism, Texas and Chris Kyle
I just wanted to share with you all that out of a horrible tragedy we
were blessed by so many people. Chris was Derek's teammate through 10
years of training and battle. They both suffer/suffered from PTSD to
some extent and took great care of each other because of it. 2006 in
Ramadi was horrible for young men that never had any more aggressive
physical contact with another human than on a Texas football field. They
lost many friends. Chris became the armed services number #1 sniper of
all time. Not something he was happy about other than the fact that in
doing so he saved a lot of American lives. Three years ago, his wife Taya
asked him to leave the SEAL teams as he had a huge bounty on his head by
Al Qaeda. He did and wrote the book The American Sniper. 100% of the
proceeds from the book went to two of the SEAL families who had lost
their son in Iraq. That was the guy Chris was. He formed a company in
Dallas to train military, police and I think firemen as far as
protecting themselves in difficult situations. He also formed a
foundation to work with military people suffering from PTSD. Chris was a
giver not a taker. He along with a friend and neighbor, Chad
Littlefield, were murdered trying to help a young man that had served 6
months in Iraq and claiming to have PTSD.
Now I need to tell you about all of the blessings. Southwest Airlines
flew in any SEAL and their family from any airport they flew into free
of charge. The employees donated buddy passes and one lady worked for 4
days without much of a break to see that it happened. Volunteers were at
both airports in Dallas to drive them to the hotel. The Marriott reduced
their rates to $45 a night and cleared the hotel for only SEALs and
family. The Midlothian, Tx. police
department paid the $45 a night for each room. I would guess there were
about 200 people staying at the hotel. 100 of them SEALs. Two large
buses were chartered to transport people to the different events and
they also had a few rent cars. The police and secret service were on
duty 24 hours during the stay at our hotel.
At the house the Texas DPS parked a large motor home in front to block
the view from reporters. It remained there the entire 5 days for the
SEALs to congregate in and all to use the restroom so as not to have to
go in the house. Taya, their two small
children and both sets of parents were staying in the home. Only a hand
full of SEALs went into the home as they had different duties and
meetings were held sometimes on a hourly
basis. It was a huge coordination of many different events and security.
Derek was assigned to be a pall bearer, to escort Chris' body when it
was transferred from Midlothian Funeral Home to Arlington Funeral Home
and to be with Taya. Tough
job. Taya seldom came out of her
bedroom. The home was full with people from the church and other family
members that would come each day to help. I spent one morning in a
bedroom with Chris' mom and the next morning with Chad Littlefield's
parents (the other man murdered with Chris). Tough
job.
Nolan Ryan sent his cooking team, a huge grill and lots of steaks,
chicken and hamburgers. They set up in the front yard and fed people all
day long. The 200 SEALs and their family. The
next day a BBQ restaurant set up a buffet in front of the house and fed
all once again. Food was plentiful and all were taken care of. The
church kept those inside the house well fed.
Jerry Jones, the man everyone loves to hate, was a rock star. He donated
use of Cowboy Stadium for the services as it was determined that so many
wanted to attend. The charter buses transported us to the stadium on
Monday at 10:30. Every car, bus, motorcycle was searched with bomb dogs
and police. I am not sure if kooks were making threats trying to make a
name for themselves or if so many SEALs in
one place was a security risk...I don't know. We willing obliged. No
purses into stadium! We were taken to The Legends room high up and a
large buffet was available. That was about 300 people. We were growing.
A Medal of Honor recipient was there, lots of secret service and police
and Sarah Palin and her husband. She did not impress me. She was taking
the opportunity to be interviewed for TV and dressed in high clog shoes
and corduroy jeans. She looked nice, but this was a very formal military
service. She was not dressed appropriately. The service started at 1:00
and when we were escorted onto the field I was shocked. We heard about
10,000 people had come to attend also. They were seated in the stadium
seats behind us. It was a beautiful and emotional service. Bagpipe and
drum corps was wonderful and the A&M men's choir stood through the
entire service and sang right at the end. We were all in tears.
The next day was the 200 miles procession from Midlothian, Tx.
to Austin for burial. It was a cold, drizzly, windy day, but the people
were out. We had dozens of police motorcycles riders, freedom riders 5
chartered buses and lots of cars. You had to have a pass to be in the
procession and still it was huge. Two helicopters circled the procession
with snipers sitting out the side door for protection. It was the
longest funeral procession ever in the state of Texas. People were
everywhere. The entire route was shut down ahead of us the
and people were lined up on the side of the road the entire way.
Firemen down on one knee, police officers holding their hats over their
hearts, children waving flags, veterans saluting as we went by.. Every
bridge had fire trucks with large flags displayed from their tall
ladders....people all along the entire 200 miles standing in the cold
weather. It was so heartwarming. Taya rode
in the hearse with Chris' body so Derek rode the route with us. I was so
grateful to have that time with him.
The services were at Texas National Cemetery. Very few are buried there
and you have to apply to get in. It is like people from Civil War, Medal
of Honor winners a few from the Alamo and all the historical people of
Texas. It was a nice service and the Freedom Riders surrounded the
outside of the entire cemetery to keep the crazy church from Kansas that
protests at military funerals away from us. Each SEAL put his Trident (
metal SEAL badge) on the top of Chris' casket one at a time. A
lot hit it in with one blow, Derek was the only one to take 4 taps to
put his in and it was almost like he was caressing it as he did it. Another
tearful moment.
After the service the governor's wife, Anita Perry, invited us to the
governor's mansion. She stood at the door and greeted each of us
individually and gave the SEALs a coin of Texas. We were able to tour
the ground floor and then went into the garden for beer and BBQ. So
many of the team guys said that after they get out they are moving to
Texas. That they had never felt so much love
and hospitality. The charter buses then took the guys to the
airport to catch their returning flights. Derek just now called and
after a 20 hours flight he is back in his spot.
Quite an emotional, but blessed week.
Thought you'd enjoy these if you haven't seen them
before
True stories...
FYI Spottswood was
drinking buddies with my Dad. Remember him getting
dropped off at home in Spottswood's
big black caddie smoking a stogie.
They were plotting and scheming to resurrect the
Casa Marina Hotel (was a derelict then - Marriott
resort now).
Another deal was to buy a PBY and offer exclusive
dive trips to virgin reefs in the Caribbean.
Another fun fact. Spottswood
owned the Japanese patrol craft they used in the
movie "PT 109" which was shot in Key
West. {see pic}
I also used to deliver the Key West Citizen aka
"Mullet Wrapper". Two sheets of news
print on Tuesdays. Most money I ever made as a kid
.
That is all...carry on.
Dave Byers
Subject: Re: FW: Correction to
Request for Assistance - Nguyen Hoang Minh
From: mailto:docrio45@gmail.com
To: rungsat@msn.com
Bob,
you very much.On Mon, Feb 18, 2013 at 7:51
PM, Bob Gibson <rungsat@msn.com>wrote:
One of the
people the Viet Cong had agreed to talk about was Nguyen
Hoang Minh, however, the 2 SEALs I
mentioned really screwed things up. The Viet Cong
talked about him for approximately 10 minutes one day.
However, due
to the behavior of Watson & Marcino,
the Viet Cong retained me on 2 different days.
JOJO
TRAN
led us and he did a great job. After we returned to
the United States, JOJO "escaped." I went to
New Orleans and testified for him. A few years later,
I testified at his hearing in Seattle, Washington.
And yes, I am
a member of the Association - and Yes, I have Video's,
Films, Photos, etc.... to prove exactly what I am
saying.
Bob Gibson <rungsat@msn.com>
Date:
Mon, 18 Feb 2013 17:01:14 -0800
From: adjjtran2u@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: Correction to Request for Assistance -
Nguyen Hoang Minh
To: rungsat@msn.com
Hi
Bob,
According to the message
Minh now in his 70's.
Minh lives in My Tho
,
where we and the group had been there.
Nguyen hoang Minh is a
familiar,common
name.
The question come to my mind is
if we know what Minh's needs is
and try to directly help Minh as much as possible,
for example:
does Minh need multivitamine,cane,wheelchair,what
assistance Minh need ,rice ,bean,foods,medicine..
Thanks much
All the best
JOJO TRAN
Robert S. Harward
Tom Hawkins
Did you ever
hear of the gentleman they are talking
about?
Rorke
Denver UDT Class
Korean War Frogmen
Shooter Afganistan Viet Cong Guerrillas, Vietnam
Bob
Army Troop Organization
Squad -- The smallest military unit, it usually consists of 10 to 11 soldiers.
Platoon -- A platoon is usually four squads. Platoons are usually led by
lieutenants, with sergeants serving as their second-in-command.
Company -- Companies consist of four platoons, a headquarters and some
logistical staff. They are normally commanded by captains.
Battalion -- A battalion is usually made up of four to five companies, including
a support company and a headquarters company.
Brigade -- A brigade is a collection of battalions, usually 2,000 to 3,000
troops. Brigades are most often commanded by a colonel.
Division -- There are at least three brigades in a division. They are usually
commanded by a major general.
Corps -- Made up of two to five divisions, corps are the largest tactical units
in the U.S. Army.
Marine Organization
The Marine Corps, a branch of the Navy, has some unit classifications that are
unique.
Marine Expeditionary Force -- An expeditionary force is made up of two or three
divisions of Marines. The force is usually deployed on helicopter carriers or
amphibious assault ships. Its equipment and weaponry includes tanks, artillery,
Harrier jump jets and attack helicopters.
Marine Expeditionary Unit -- Each marine division is known separately as a
Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit usually includes a battalion landing team,
helicopter squadron and support unit.
KOREAN WAR (POLICE ACTION) Vets Ignored
On 25 June 1950 Communist backed North Korea invaded the Republic of South Korea. The United Nations designated a U.N. Command, led by America's General Douglas MacArthur, to help South Korea. Participating countries, mainly the U.S., started sending troops. Units from all five U.S. military services were eventually involved, and included one Marine division, and several Army divisions. The Communist invasion pushed South KoreanForces, and early arriving U.S. and other U.N. troops to the southeast corner of the country at Pusan by August.
The Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Cates, was ordered by the Joint Chiefs to deploy the 1st Marine Division to Korea by mid-September, but the Division was below strength in equipment and men. Commandant Cates 'requested President Truman to mobilize all reserve elements of the Marine Corps and attached Navy medical personnel to bring the division to wartime strength...'
Navy Hospital Corpsman James Crow, 18-years-old, was stationed at the Naval Hospital, Oakland, California, when transferred to the U.S. Marine Corps 1st Marine Division in Korea. He arrived October 1950, turned 19 that same month, and came home September 1951.
The 1st Division assigned Crow, along with 21 other Navy Corpsmen, to spend his tour assigned to the tough, elite and highly respected South Korean Marine Regiment attached to the division. The first 15 months of the war saw heavy action, and the 1st Division was in the thick of many operations, working alongside Army divisions in X Corp.
In August 1950, during the fighting at Pusan, all three separate Korean Marine Battalions were organized into the 1st Korean Marine Corps Regiment (Hae Pyon Dae), and attached to the U.S. 1st Marine Division 05 September 1950 for operational control. Thereafter, the ROK Marines performed 1st Division combat activities.
During this conflict, foreign media dubbed the [Republic of Korea Marine Corps] the 'Invincible Marines' after an incident in which a squad of ROK Marines wiped out an entire battalion of Communist forces. The ROKMC also saw action during the Vietnam War while stationed in DaNang.
Korean War vets missing from popular culture: America's prime transmitter
of cultural "values" has ignored the 1.8 million Americans who
served in the 1950-53 war even during the 50th anniversary years.(portrayal of
Korean War veterans in literature, film, television, media )
| From: VFW Magazine | Date: August 1, 2003 | Author: Van Ells, Mark D.
The Korean War was a crucial
moment in American history. When the United States sent troops to stop
Communist North Korea's invasion of South Korea in June 1950, it signaled the
nation's determination to check the spread of communism. It was the first war
fought under the authority of the United Nations. American troops remain in
Korea today.
But sandwiched between the titanic scope of World War II and the vitriolic
debate over Vietnam, the Korean War never really captured the public
imagination. The year 2003 marks the 50th anniversary of the armistice ending
the fighting in Korea. In that half century, the image of the Korean War
veteran at the movies and on television remains vague, imprecise and
influenced by the experiences of other wars. The Korean War is the
"Forgotten War" in popular culture, too.
Korean War films of the 1950s and early 1960s were much like the scores of
WWII movies popular at the time, but modified to meet the realities of Korea.
The typical "melting pot" platoon, for example, now included black
Americans and those of Japanese ancestry, acknowledging the racial integration
of the armed forces.
New technologies also made appearances, such as helicopters in Battle
Taxi (1955) and jet aircraft in films like Sabre Jet
(1953), Jet Attack (1958) and most notably The
Bridges of Toko-Ri (1954) based on the novel by James Michener.
In reality, the Korean War differed from WWII in many respects. For one, it
was not nearly as large. The war directly involved 1.8 million Americans, as
opposed to the 16 million who served in WWII. Indeed, Korea was often referred
to as a "police action" and not a war at all. Korea was a remote
country unknown to most Americans.
Although most Americans accepted the logic of Cold War containment, the
primary adversary in their minds was the Soviet Union; Korea seemed to be
merely a sideshow or prelude to a larger war. Its ambiguous conclusion--a
cease-fire remarkably close to the prewar boundaries--also lacked the
decisiveness of WWII. To Americans, the Korean War was an uncertain and
unsatisfying affair.
Hollywood Takes the Dark Side
Hollywood dealt with the ambiguities of the war by sidestepping them or
ignoring them altogether. Korean War films tended to avoid the war's "big
picture" and focused instead on small groups of fighting men--often lost
or isolated units--in films such as Fixed Bayonets
(1951), Combat Squad (1953) and Hold Back
the Night (1956).
In Pork Chop Hill (1959), Gregory Peck stars as a junior
officer fighting the military bureaucracy, as well as the Communists, in a
seemingly meaningless battle late in the war. During the battle one young
officer asks pointedly, "Is this hill worth it?" The men agree that
it is, but only because they had fought so hard to take it, and not for any
larger goals.
Many Korean War films fall into the film-noir style that was popular after
WWII. Film-noir is characterized by dark psychological dramas in which the
motives and morals of the protagonists are unclear and troubling. These films
often take place in exotic settings, and contain shadowy lighting and
uncomfortable camera angles that elicit feelings of anxiety, loneliness and
vulnerability.
In the 1951 film The Steel Helmet, for example, Gene
Evans stars as Sgt. Zach, a battle-hardened WWII "retread" who teams
up with some inexperienced soldiers to establish an observation post in a
Buddhist temple. But beneath Zach's tough-as-nails exterior is a softhearted
man who befriends a Korean boy, removes his helmet before a gigantic statue of
Buddha and orders that the temple not be damaged.
In the midst of battle, Zach breaks down, flashing back to D-Day. Zach is
bitterly critical of a green lieutenant. When the lieutenant is killed, Zach
mournfully places his lucky steel helmet (it has stopped a bullet in a
previous engagement) on his grave.
The Korean War also took place at a time when fears of disloyalty and domestic
subversion had reached hysterical proportions. The war fueled such fears.
During the war, the Communists beat and tortured American POWs, and then
pressured them to sign "confessions" denouncing the American cause.
Only a small fraction of POWs "confessed," but news reports and
political opportunists seemed to suggest that Korean War soldiers routinely
collaborated with the Communists, perhaps contributing to the war's uncertain
conclusion.
The concern that Korean War veterans might have been "brainwashed"
by the Communists was the subject of several films, most notably The
Manchurian Candidate (1962). Frank Sinatra plays Capt. Marco, a Korean
War officer who leads a patrol and is taken prisoner. The Communists brainwash
Marco and his men, erasing any memory of their captivity. One of the men,
Staff Sgt. Shaw (Lawrence Harvey), is programmed to carry out political
assassinations back home. Marco unravels the plot after the true nature of his
captivity comes back in his dreams.
The Manchurian Candidate has been acclaimed as one of the best political
thrillers ever made. However, Korean War veterans have charged that the film
only reinforced the erroneous public notion that Korean War veterans were
collaborators. Portrayals of the war's veterans as weak-minded and
psychologically unbalanced came to symbolize the war for many Americans and
anticipated public perceptions of Vietnam veterans.
Influence of M*A*S*H
The Vietnam War also has shaped popular images of the Korean War. The 1970
comedy classic M*A*S*H focused on the exploits of undisciplined Army surgeons
near the front lines. Though set in Korea, the language and looks of the
hospital staff are reminiscent of Vietnam. In fact, the film is an
impressionistic journey into the behavior of men and women under the unusual
circumstances of war. It reflected the growing public cynicism about military
authority in the Vietnam years.
The television program M*A*S*H, which aired from 1972 to
1983, was the most extensive look at the Korean War in American popular
culture. The TV show did a better job of portraying the war than the film. For
example, several episodes dealt with issues like McCarthyism and fears of
subversion.
However, most of the program's storylines could have come from the Vietnam
War, or from any war--boredom punctuated by intense activity, the tragic tales
of the wounded, the absurdities of bureaucracy, the gulf between soldiers and
civilians. Anyone who has ever been associated with the military can
appreciate the humor of M*A*S*H. But once again, the audience learns precious
little about the Korean War.
In the decades since Vietnam, the American entertainment industry has devoted
considerable time and money to portrayals of war. As a nation, we have
celebrated the 50th anniversary of WWII (Saving Private Ryan, Band of
Brothers) and reexamined our painful experience in Vietnam (most recently, We
Were Soldiers) on both the big and small screens. Korea is once again missing
in action.
Since Vietnam, Hollywood has released no more than a dozen films related to
the Korean War. In some films, like MacArthur (1977) and For the Boys (1991), Korea is just one of many conflicts
depicted. Inchon (1981), a portrayal of the brilliant
1950 amphibious invasion, was a box office flop and labeled by one critic
"quite possibly the worst movie ever made." With no clear public
images of the Korean War, both Hollywood and the American public barely
acknowledge it.
The lack of public recognition for their sacrifices has rankled many Korean
War veterans. "I know teachers who never knew there was a Korean
War," complained one Missouri veteran. As the nation marks the Korean
War's 50th anniversary, Hollywood continues to churn out movies about WWII and
Vietnam. Perhaps one day the Korean War will be the subject of an insightful,
widely circulated film that does justice to the significance of the conflict
and to those who served in it. As one veteran from Florida noted, "It's
nice to be remembered."
MARK D. VAN ELLS, author of To Hear Only Thunder Again, is an assistant
history professor at Queensborough Community College in Bayside, N.Y.
COPYRIGHT 2003 Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
"Doc" Riojas' HELL Weeks were in Korea ! Too many to count !
Smallest Photo Ablum of Ole SEALs
"wasn't he lovely."
Erasmo "Doc" Riojas taken in Saigon RVN on R&R : 'nam war games
Sol ATKINSON: A Native
American SEAL Warrior
Visit Metlakatla AK the Home of it's Mayor Sol Atkinson and his wife JoAnn and family.
A place to see if ever you are in Anchorage, AK Alaskan Indian Heritage
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"LONE SURVIVOR" the movie showed an "FNG" reciting SEAL's well known poem: AROUND THE WORLD TWICE but in the film it was edited Here is a LINK to the real one: AROUND THE WORLD TWICE!
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Notice:
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or all of this material was written collaboratively by Teammates or visitors to
this website.
Mi Vida Loca - Copyright ©1998 - All Right Reserved Webmaster: Erasmo "Doc" Riojas email: docrio45@gmail.com
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Charity watchdog criticizes Va. Beach SEAL nonprofit
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.
If interested in looking further, just click this link and as-if by magic you
will be transported to Amazon and the books listing. It’s available in both
print and Kindle formats.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Indomitable-Patriot-Submariners-Volume/dp/1530641098?ie=UTF8&keywords=carl%20mclelland&qid=1459365936&ref_=sr_1_4&s=books&sr=1-4
I hope, regardless of your decision to check out the book, everybody is healthy
and prosperous.
All Best, Carl McLelland, Vietnam Veteran