Photo Album PAGE ONE of Largest SEAL photo album in the WWW

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Capt. Jerry Weber, USN (Ret.) relaxes in the den of his Fort Clark Springs home, largely furnished with sanded birch furniture of his own design and manufacture. Weber’s Navy career spanned three decades, high security clearances, and often dangerous assignments, none hinted at by the avuncular host’s keen intellect today. (LIVE! photo/Bill Sontag)

In 1969, Weber shipped out to Vietnam, as a flyer in the Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron 3—the famed “Seawolves.” “It was the most decorated Navy squadron of any kind in Vietnam,” Weber said. “You were there for a year, flying Huey gunships, and the average Seawolf pilot flew 320 missions in that time.” His first five months “in country,” Weber flew “slicks,” unarmed Hueys for transportation of logistical materials and men.

At the edge of the U Minh Forest, a coastal swamp of mangroves and other densely-grown salt-tolerant trees and shrubs, Rach Gia served as a staging area for support of Vietnamese and U.S. troops in the surrounding “free fire zone” with its latitude to fire at will at well-identified targets of opportunity. It was a dangerous place. “I went to Vietnam with six lieutenant junior grades, and only came home with three,” said Weber.

His first air mission in the UH-1B “Seawolf” Huey from Rach Gia illustrated the 300 missions Weber flew in his last seven months in Vietnam, flying above the U Minh forest in support of U.S. troops working with and ingratiating villagers, while staunching the flow of North Vietnamese soldiers into South Vietnam. His unit also flew air cover for Swift Boats and PBR (Patrol Boat River) watercraft of “The Brown Water Navy.”

“We flew in at 1,000 feet, and then turned our noses down—at 80 knots—and when we did, all that blanket of fire aimed at the MAT turned up to us. But we stayed there and fired for 20 minutes before we had to return to Rach Soi [another air base about 20 kilometers from the fire-fight] to refuel and get more ammo. Frankly, we were hoping we wouldn’t have to go back, but our relief, Army ‘Copperhead’ helicopters came in. They were all ‘cowboys’ who had gone in at 300 feet and got all shot up [aircraft disabled],” Weber explained.

But he still laughs about a team of Navy Seals who woke Weber up in the middle of the night, during driving monsoon rain and wind, to announce they were going up a canal. Later the Seals radioed to Weber for help, and the Seawolves flew upriver—only ten feet off water surface—as he repeatedly asked for directions to their location. “Can you hear us yet?” “No,” came back a strangled reply. Again, and again the same response. Finally, Weber asked “Why are you whispering?” “Because we’re surrounded, you asshole!” said the Seal, as his men finally ran for their boats, firing in 360 degrees. “They fired a flare, but straight up, so we still couldn’t tell where they were.”

After Vietnam service, Weber was promoted to commander’s rank (equivalent of lieutenant colonel in other services) and was named operations officer for the Navy’s duties in the Manned Space Flight Program. At Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., he was elevated to chief of the Recovery Division for the Department of Defense (DOD) Manned Space Flight (1972-1973), reeling in the Apollo astronauts and Skylab from the southern Pacific.

-----Original Message-----
From: John Leandro   Warrior26 [at] aol.com
Sent:   Thursday, May 22, 2008
To:      UDTSEAL1
Subj:   SEAL Missions in Vietnam

I don't know if this site will be able to help me or not, and if not maybe direct me to someone who can. I am trying to get some information with regards to a couple of SEAL missions I was involved in during the Vietnam War.

I was helicopter pilot in Vietnam 69-70; I was with the 336th Assault Helicopter Company, call sign Warriors. My call sign was Warrior 26, and I worked on different SEAL operations in the IV Corps. off of the Sea Float in the southern most delta AO, but there are two missions that I would like information from any SEAL's who may have been on those missions, or know anything about them.

* A SEAL team needed to be extracted. We were a two ship mission scrambled out of Soc Trang at about 23:00 hours. The initial briefing was that a SEAL team was in contact and needed to be extracted from the middle of Human Forest (sp). When we landed at the sea-float, we were brief by a Navy Lt. Cmd., who said, that the team had come across a number of sampans and intended to ambush the last sampan, which they did, however; it turned out to be the next to the last sampan, and were now in between the bad guys. They were supposed to have some prisoners with them, and they were going to be put into the second ship inserted into the PZ. (mine) As I started my approach to the PZ the flare ship kicked out two flares that lit up, but the parachutes failed to open. By this time I was on very short finial, and had lost all of my night vision, because of the bright flares. I did not want to make a go-a-round because we were the last ship in and by this time the bad guys knew we were getting the good guys out. I did the only thing that I could do which was to put on my landing light which exposed my ship, but I was able to pick out a spot to land. Once I was down, I turned off the light, pick up the team, and every one got out OK. I believe that this took place in April, or May of June, of 1970, but I not certain.

I would like to hear from anyone who may have been on that team that I picked up. I am very curious as to what the reason that we picked them up, and is what I remember what they told me in the briefing accurate.

The second mission I want to know about is:

* In May of 1970, my company was supporting a SEAL operation between the towns of Bac Lu and Cam Mau. A SEAL was wounded, along with some Vietnamese who were working with them. I pick up the SEAL, and Medivac'd him. He was pretty badly wounded; I believe he had a sunken chest wound. I about flew the aircraft as fast as that sucker would go trying to get him the hospital. I was just wondering if he made it. I sure hope so.

Thanks,

John Leandro

Warrior26@aol.com

Webmaster's NOTE: I hope somebody out there can help this huey pilot ! Doc Rio

While training off the coast of Virginia Beach, VA, Scotty was in a small boat that capsized when hit by a large wave in a winter storm on Thursday Feb. 22, 2001. When mustered back together, head count was one short. When his body was recovered it was discovered that he suffered a broken neck. Anyone that knew him would describe him as funny and the kind of guy that would do anything for a teammate. He was also a hell of a point man in the Teams. Dates of service: 1992 to 2001

Charles P. O'Bryan author: "Combat Swimmer" Doc Hammel also: was onUSS SKYLARK KIA 'nam ST-2, may RIP

<> I believe members of the 50's Frogs

Jeffrey A. Lucas Ryan Zinke Ted Alexander

Don Mann Jimmy Battista

Al Ashton Dan Toth

BUD/S Class 264 click to enlarge

UDT-SEAL ASSOCIATION
FIRST North Texas Chapter Meeting

Come and join the First UDT-SEAL Association "North Texas Chapter" event hosted by Roger & Debra GUERRA with the help of Bill Holloway and John Ware:

What:
"North Texas Chapter"
Get together and meeting

When:
October 25, 2008
4:30 PM (Notice its PM not AM)

Where:
Greater Fort Worth Area @
2112 Chaparral Rd
Azle, TX76020
email me for telephone: rdguerra [at] flash.net

Hey Guys, Gals, and Kids,

With the help of Bill Holloway and John Ware we will host your First "North Texas Chapter" meeting up here at my house in the country at Azle, TX. So, lookin forward to seeing all you Frogs & SEALs within shoutin distance!!!

This should be a great time and good ole Texas get together for our first meeting and family event. Anyway, for our first meet, I'll cook burgers and provide beer & soft drinks for $10 per couple please RSVP (important for food ordering). If you're coming stag, it's only $5 a head.

I want our first meet to be economical enough that everyone makes it and find out what we want to do from this point on. I live between Fort Worth and Azle, TX and the address is above. If you want to bring a covered dish, please call me and we'll figure something out! Covered dishes are great surprise foods that are usually fantastic and taste great.

We have a pool so kids can swim if they so desire, and so can the adults if you still remember how, this time it's not mandatory. I personally swim like a gaftop that had a quarter pounder dropped on him (you know laying on its side).

There are several hotels within shoutin distance on the west and northwest side of Fort Worth. Cowtown (north side) is 20 minutes from me for the really hearty! We'll start at 4:30 and go till someone yells uncle, so it could be a long night (we got a lot of meetin, greetin, and catching up to do!). I'll recover on Sunday with a strong sermon if any one is interested!

I received a good response in putting this group together and hope most of you can make it. There's a lot of team members not in the UDT-SEAL Association that hopefully participate and our welcome, this is about the Brotherhood so we'll see.

Bring your smiling faces and any ole Team related photos so we can all laugh and have some fun. Anyway, please respond by Oct 15 so we can finalize plans and have enough food and drink to accommodate everyone.

Looking forward to seeing you all,
Roger and Debra Guerra

Walter Diaczenko :I have 2 son’s that aspire to become Navy SEALs. Dillon the oldest, is in the NROTC at Penn State and will graduate in May 2009. He hopes to go directly into BUDS Training.

UDT-21, Captain Stanley "Pete" MestonFROM: Roger Guerra: Most of that memory is beered away but here goes with my best effort..... 1st row squated L-R Steve Dudley, don't know , isn't the last guy Pat Morgan?
1st row standing L-R Chief Schmidt, 3d man LTjg Ridgeway 6th man-Stan Meston, 8th man Drew Bissett
2nd row standing L-R 2nd man -Chief Janecka, 5th man was our Corpman Doc---???
1st row enlisted L-R, 2nd man Pierre Ponce, 3rd man- Keith Payne, 5th man- Red Hunter, 8th man- Jim Swatzell
2nd row enlisted-L-R 6th "man" ---yours truly
3rd row enlisted L-R, Winters, 7th man-Bill Sweeney
4th row enlisted, L-R 3rd man Dennis Berger (?) not sure but it looks like him, 7th man-Al Grills.?, last man on row looks like Jimmy Allgeier (pretty sure, but I thought he was in med)
Last row - L-R 4th man-Joe Hunt
If I remember any more names I'll get them to you but you might blast out and see if we can get any help!
Thanks Amigo!
ADDENUM: OK, one more, first row standing, L-R, 3rd man- LTJGRidgeway (he signed my discharge papers.) Need.....more....beer....to...recall, ......must .....get .....liquid.....refreshment.....
Another ADDENUM: First row standing correction: L-R 3rd man, Lt May?, 4th man- LtJG Barbata, 5th man-Lt Ridgeway and the last man in that row I believe is Chief Manard?
My NOTE: I am sure more to come?

Michael Welvaert

USS Michael Murphy
Navy Secretary Names New Guided-Missile Destroyer USS Michael Murphy